Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Wendy Taylor, Kent Memorial Library.
December 4
Henry B. Richmond, aged 85 years, who had been in business in this town for nearly 40 years, died at his home…with pneumonia. He was a well known resident of the town and was a familiar figure on the streets going to his place of business every day, regardless of the weather. Mr. Richmond was born in Glasgow, Scotland…and came to this country with his parents when two years old. The family settled in Thompsonville, Mr. Richmond’s father being one of the six men that founded the carpet company.
When twelve years of age the deceased started to learn the harness-maker’s trade…in Springfield…After four years…he went to Washington, D.C.
Mr. Richmond became acquainted with President Abraham Lincoln, for whom he made a special riding outfit. Mr. Richmond remembered vividly the night the President was assassinated….Mr. Richmond [was] among those who escorted the body from the White House to the Capitol.
“Brownie” Karpinski is in the Hartford hospital suffering from an injury to his back which he received by splitting wood at his home…While swinging an axe with a chunk of wood on it over his shoulder the wood became dislodged, causing it to make a severe cut in his back and break a small bone there. Karpinski is in a serious condition and will probably be operated upon.
George Adams of West Suffield, local cattle dealer, is caring for eight cows which were badly bruised when a truck in which they were being brought here from New Hampshire turned turtle. None of the animals will suffer any permanent ill effects.
December 11
The tobacco damp which ended…gave the growers ample opportunity to take down their tobacco and probably 90 per cent. of the crop is in the bundle…the crop this year is said to be the best in several years.
The community Christmas tree on the park will be lighted next week for the holidays.
December 25
There has been considerable complaint the last two or three years of the wholesale destruction of evergreen trees around Christmas time by people who cut trees without permission of the landowners. The West Suffield Mountain has been the most frequented place by the tree hunters.
A beautifully mounted land-locked salmon in the window of the Martinez store has attracted considerable attention the past day or two. It was caught by Allen Scott in Maine last summer.
January 1
At the meeting of the fire department…it was voted to join the American Legion in giving a carnival in the new Bridge street school auditorium.
An aged farm horse was reported as wandering around the country in the vicinity of Taintor Hill.
January 8
A grass fire on Bridge Street gave the firemen a hard fight…About five acres were burned over and two large sheds were threatened. The fire was finally extinguished without damage.
January 15
Mrs. Sarah (McCaroll) Adams, aged 89 years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nelson A. Humason, last Saturday. Mrs. Adams was born in Kiltinney [sic] Ireland.
The fire department was called out for a chimney fire at the home of Nelson A. Humason Sunday morning. The fire proved to be a stubborn one and sixty gallons of chemicals were used before the fire was extinguished.
January 29
The nomination of Edward Perkins to be Postmaster at this place was confirmed by the United States Senate Tuesday. This is Mr. Perkins’ third appointment, having been postmaster here since 1913.