'Turnback Tuesday' features 1891 photo of ice on Housatonic River

Turnback Tuesday: Ice on the Housatonic River, 1891.

Reuben T. Patchet started as a pressed brick and blue stone dealer in 1883. By 1885, the business became R. T. Patchet and Son, dealing in marble and granite with two locations: office at 188 Minerva St., Derby; and yard/dock located at Riverdale Avenue, Shelton.

Photo shows the buildings surrounded by ice at the yard. Across the frozen river in the center of the photo, the white building is the location of the lumber mill of Derby Building and Lumber Co. Patchet and Son was in business til 1903 when it became R. T. Patchet, dealer in concrete walks.

Thanks to Joe DiRienzo for his help with this research.

Thanks to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!