'Turnback Tuesday' highlights FDR's visit to Main Street, Ansonia

Turnback Tuesday looks at a noteworthy event.

On October 22, 1936 a motorcade with President Franklin D. Roosevelt made its way through Ansonia.

In the car was the president, his wife, Eleanor, who was quite the political dynamo herself, and Governor Wilbur L. Cross. The car made its way down Main Street at 1:30 p.m. and was greeted by the largest crowd ever assembled in Ansonia. Schools were dismissed at noon so children could join their families for the event. The car continued down Main Street to Derby Avenue and then to New Haven where the president would be making a speech.

It was the first time a U.S. President visited Ansonia.

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