'Turnback Tuesday' features history of Sterling Opera House

Sterling Opera House on Elizabeth Street, Derby

Turnback Tuesday discovers the origin of the Sterling Opera House name.

The opera house, or “Borough Building” as it was referred to when being built from 1888-89, opened to the public on April 2, 1889 with a Grand Gala and a performance of “Drifting Apart.”

An article dated 1-25-1889 from the Evening Transcript said: “The courtroom is large and well-lighted as are all the offices; the fireman’s quarters cannot be excelled in the state. The opera portion is pronounced by experts to be most compact and the handsomest in New England. The cellar portion furnishes plenty of room for tramps and prisoners.”

Mr. Jean Jacques of Waterbury won the bid on leasing the Sterling Opera House at $2,000 per year for five years. Mr. Jacques stated in an article (above) on 3-26-1889 that he “considers it a happy hit to name the Sterling Opera House after one of the finest concerns in town and perhaps the most widely known throughout the country. Sterling instruments will be used.”

Charles Sterling was the founder of the Sterling Piano Co.

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

Griffin Hospital donates vehicle to Ansonia Library for book mobile

Contributed photo

All aboard the City of Ansonia’s BOOK MOBILE courtesy of an amazingly generous donation from our incredible community partners Griffin Hospital/Griffin Health!

Griffin has provided the city with a Winnebago that will be outfitted as a library on wheels, allowing Ansonia’s library services to reach our community as never before.

On Friday Mayor David Cassetti, Library Director Jenn Lester, Children’s Librarian Jen Shuart, Corporation Counsel John Marini and Public Works Director Tim Holman welcomed the vehicle to the Library for the very first time.

Mayor Cassetti thanks Griffin Health — and especially President Pat Charmel, VP Todd Liu, Director of Purchasing Rich Inzero, Deputy Counsel Nancy Marini — for their ongoing commitment to enrich the health and well being of the Valley community.

Interested in being a sponsor for this exciting initiative? Contact Mayor Cassetti’s office at 203-736-5900 ext. 1 and ask about Book Mobile Sponsorships!

This is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.