Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Wendy Taylor, Kent Memorial Library.
March 5
Arrangements have been made by the Bridge street school for a novel entertainment to be given in the school auditorium…a demonstration will be given of the operation of a telephone switchboard. The school has secured the co-operation of the telephone company and this demonstration, which has been given in several places of the state, has met with favor everywhere because it helps to explain to the telephone using public how to make the most of their telephone service and is highly entertaining and amusing. Twelve persons take part in the demonstration. A miniature switchboard is set up and in the first part of the program the operators show how a telephone call from one subscriber to another is handled. Other operators demonstrate on the switchboard how toll line calls are handled and there is also a complete explanation and demonstration of the so called A-B service.
The town’s snow removal expense thus far this winter amounts to about $3,000 more than has been expended in recent years. This was all used to clear the snow of the two heavy storms in February. Last year although the appropriation for snow removal was $1,000, only about $150 was used and that during March.
March 12
The annual sign-up meeting of members of the Connecticut Milk Producers’ Association took place in Union hall…, attended by sixty dairymen of this town. Charts showed ways of cooling milk and gave ideas of milk rooms and barns. In the sign-up of members more than fifty again signed agreements to furnish milk through the same channels as for the last three years. This so far has proven satisfactory to the milk producers here who have received from 7 ½ to 10 cents a quart for their milk. These prices have compared better the last four years than ever before for the cattlemen.
At a meeting of the legislators of Hartford county…, consideration was given to the condition of the Suffield and Thompsonville bridge, and it was voted to recommend the expenditure of $50,000 to put the bridge in proper shape, with the understanding that the work be started as soon as possible. The structure will be strengthened and other improvements will be made, and in the opinion of the law-makers the bridge can be made to last at least twenty more years before being replaced by a new bridge.
The horse sheds of the First Congregational church which were built over a hundred years ago and were used not only Sundays, but every day before the advent of the automobile, have been sold to Frank Orr, who is tearing them down and removing them.
March 19
Winter still seems to linger and the farmers report that the season is two weeks later than last year. The seed was planted in the tobacco beds by a number of growers last year on or before March 20th. To-day very few of the beds are sufficiently thawed out to sterilize. Farmers are looking forward to continued warm weather when the winter breaks.
Most important in the mechanical changes are the improved brakes.
March 26
Many of the trout brooks in and near this town have been stocked heavily with trout the past two or three years and ought to furnish some sport this year not many of the local fishermen are planning to spend much time at Congamond this year, owing to the fact that a non-resident license in Massachusetts costs $15.75. The brooks leased by the state and open to all fishermen will remain closed until April 15th and on these streams women will be required to have licenses in order to fish.