'Turnback Tuesday' features Derby High School memories

Turnback Tuesday remembers all those Red Raiders fans. As the story goes according to Bill Pucci, early on, the Derby nickname was The Crimson. When the football team was treated to a game at Yale in the 1930s, one of the teams that played was called the Red Raiders. After much discussion, it was decided that Derby would also adopt this name.

Derby High School students have a history of pride and fond memories of their time at school. Nothing reflects that more than the incredible students who graciously allowed Derby Public Library to borrow their personal Derby High School uniforms and memorabilia.

A huge thank you to all who helped with the display.

Photo here is a Red Raider football helmet used by David Ahearn '83. The helmet is a recent donation to the Library for our historic collection.

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

Happy memories of a long-ago New Year's Day

We brought our first-born home on Jan. 1, 1989.  It was a perfect day to have our daughter come home with us.

Remembering the good times on a sad anniversary

Marking the first anniversary of a sad day

Ralph, center, served as chairman of the Ansonia Cultural Commission. 

Here he's posing with the city's Event Coordinator and commission member Rich DiCarlo, at left, and Mayor David S. Cassetti at the city's Christmas tree lighting ceremony in 2015.

Anniversaries usually are occasions to celebrate, but not always. 

Today is Dec. 2, and it’s a bittersweet one for me. It’s the first anniversary of my husband Ralph’s passing.

It’s a sad time, of course, but I have 36 years of memories that are happy - and that makes me feel like I can describe it as bittersweet.

It’s hard to believe a year has gone by since that morning when a close friend and I found Ralph in bed, no longer breathing. She performed CPR on him to no avail as I frantically called 9-1-1. The memory of that morning is forever seared into my brain.

I wish to thank my family, friends, and members of the community who have given me support through this difficult year. I am truly appreciative of all the kindnesses I’ve received. 

And I want to give a special mention to John Zaleski at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home in Ansonia, who made the entire process as painless as it could be under the circumstances. 

Ralph had quite the dry sense of humor. It was so dry that after all the years together he even fooled me at times.

An example is a quick blog post he penned in April, 2020 (see photo above). 

He wrote: “Grabbing some sun in the COVID era. Was I supposed to wear a mask when on my driveway???”

I'm glad I have many family photos to remind me of the good times as I attempt to go through 'stuff' on his desk, his computer, in his closet, and more. 

I've learned to never take life for granted. It all can change in the blink of an eye.

Sharing memories of 2018 taco-eating contest in Seymour

 

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Ralph

Today would have been Ralph's 70th birthday. 

I miss him every day but grateful to have wonderful memories to sustain me.

Here he is with his grandfather, Ralph I, and father, Ralph II, in his grandparents' home in Steubenville, Ohio. 

He wrote on Facebook that this was the last time the three of them were together.

From the photo archives: Halloween nor'easter in 2011

'Twas an October snowstorm to remember.

Sharing 'Turnback Tuesday' post from this date in 2018

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" is an oldie but goodie. 

This is a picture of the Derby Public Library staff dressed in all their finery for Derby’s 300th celebration in 1975. (l. to r.) Tom Moran, Olga Guilletti, Mrs. Kopp, Mrs. Helen Ahearn (Head Librarian), Joyce Tredinick and Betty Guilletti.

*The City of Derby is now in the process of planning its 350th anniversary celebration!

Wishing my husband a Happy Birthday in Heaven

Yesterday my computer popped up a reminder that I didn’t need, telling me that today is my late husband’s birthday,

I celebrated his birthday with him for 35 years ~ and this April 26 is the second year I'm wishing him Happy Birthday in Heaven. The years really do fly by.

Ralph posted this not-too-flattering majority card photo taken on his 18th birthday more than once to mark his special day. 

I much prefer this one:

💕

Recuperation journey: Another snowy memory

Today's Facebook memory from this date in 2015. I called this 'swirly snow shadows.' 

Marking the first anniversary of a sad day

Ralph, center, served as chairman of the Ansonia Cultural Commission. 

Here he's posing with the city's Event Coordinator and commission member Rich DiCarlo, at left, and Mayor David S. Cassetti at the city's Christmas tree lighting ceremony in 2015.

Anniversaries usually are occasions to celebrate, but not always. 

Today is Dec. 2, and it’s a bittersweet one for me. It’s the first anniversary of my husband Ralph’s passing.

It’s a sad time, of course, but I have 36 years of memories that are happy - and that makes me feel like I can describe it as bittersweet.

It’s hard to believe a year has gone by since that morning when a close friend and I found Ralph in bed, no longer breathing. She performed CPR on him to no avail as I frantically called 9-1-1. The memory of that morning is forever seared into my brain.

I wish to thank my family, friends, and members of the community who have given me support through this difficult year. I am truly appreciative of all the kindnesses I’ve received. 

And I want to give a special mention to John Zaleski at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home in Ansonia, who made the entire process as painless as it could be under the circumstances. 

Ralph had quite the dry sense of humor. It was so dry that after all the years together he even fooled me at times.

An example is a quick blog post he penned in April, 2020 (see photo above). 

He wrote: “Grabbing some sun in the COVID era. Was I supposed to wear a mask when on my driveway???”

I'm glad I have many family photos to remind me of the good times as I attempt to go through 'stuff' on his desk, his computer, in his closet, and more. 

I've learned to never take life for granted. It all can change in the blink of an eye.

Beacon Falls Public Library seeks photos of town for sesquicentennial celebration

 

Lilacs in bloom beautify grounds of First Congregational Church in Derby

Ralph and I are members of the First Congregational Church in Derby. 
When our pastor mentioned in his weekly email that the Lilacs were blooming we had to go there Sunday to see for ourselves!
The beautiful French Lilac is Derby's official bush.

Here they are blooming along a retaining wall next to the parking lot.

In May, 2004 our congregation planted a lilac bush in loving memory of longtime member Christine Ralph.

This is the bush 16 years later.

*The text below is shared from a Derby history quiz posted on the Electronic Valley.

On Thursday, May 13, 2004 (Derby's 329th birthday!) the Board of Aldermen named the French Lilac the official bush of the City of Derby.  See the information below to find out why.

When warm weather arrives, with it comes an array of beautiful spring shrubs and flowers. One of the loveliest and most fragrant is the Lilac which blossoms in May.
The story of the Lilac bush in the United States is a first for Derby, in fact, it's a Connecticut first. Dr. John Durand, a French Huguenot physician came to Derby about 1680. He purchased a house on Academy Hill now known to Derbyites as Brownie Castle. The house was supposedly built by Samuel Bowers, the son of one of Derby's first ministers. It is one of the oldest houses in Derby.
Derby was sparsely settled with only a few families. It was mostly wilderness. 
Dr. Durand missed the fragrant Lilac shrubs that grew in France, and upon making a return voyage back to France, he returned with a large number of Lilac roots which he planted on the grounds around his home. Thus, the first French Lilac bushes appeared in the United States. 
All of Dr. Durand's descendants were said to have the loveliest Lilac bushes surrounding their homes.
Dr. Durand is buried in the Olde Uptown Burial Ground.
The Encyclopedia Americana says that the most common and widely cultivated of the Lilac bushes in the United States is the French Lilac.

This quiz contributed by Joan Driscoll

Shelton History Center shares info about former Shelton Theatre

The donor of the Dish Night set from the Shelton Theatre (see today's previous post) also recalls there was a bowling alley in the basement of the theater and you could hear the pins being knocked down as you watched a movie. 
This flyer from the Shelton Theatre is from 1938.

And below is Tuesday's post on the Shelton History Center page that depicts the Shelton Theatre, 509 Howe Ave., as it looked in 1941.

The Shelton Theatre showed movies on Howe Avenue from 1915 to the 1970s. The building is still standing and is now a dance studio. This photograph shows the theater in 1941.


*Thanks go to the Shelton History Center for sharing interesting local history.

Recuperation journey: Fall foliage memory

This photo of a 'decorated' tree came up today in my Facebook memories from Oct.12, 2013.

Ansonia to celebrate recharged Abe Stone Park/Colony Pond Saturday

But first a look back, courtesy of the City of Ansonia Facebook page:

"With Abe Stone Park & Colony Pond set for a celebration event this Saturday (July 27), here’s a scene from the pond in 1956. 

"The building shown originally included a concessions stand, dressing room and showers. Note the cement and wood plank benches and lifeguard station on left. A man made beach extends from the building to water."
The Evening Sentinel photo caption read: “Colony Park Pond is a busy spot these warm, summer days as hundreds of youngsters with their parents, flock there daily following playground programs elsewhere in the city. Ansonia Recreation Commission supervises the popular swimming spot in conjunction with its summer program. Supervised swimming is provided daily and weekends.” — at Abe Stone Park.

*Credit This Week in Ansonia History post on the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

From the 2017 archives: Feathered friend

This photo came up in my Facebook memories from two years ago today.
Happy Friday!

Recuperation journey: Throwback Thursday

First day of school in 1997.

My mom would come over on the first day of school when the kids were little to see them off on the bus.  
Wonderful memories! 💞 💞 💞

On this date in 2014 Ansonia was a winter wonderland

It was quite pretty but I'm glad it doesn't look like this around here today. 

Snow, ice in Ansonia on this date in 2011

This photo from eight years ago came up in my Facebook memories this morning. I'm so glad it doesn't look like this today. 
Have a peaceful Sunday! 

Looking back at a January scene from 2016 in Ansonia

This was three years ago today. The photo came up in my Facebook memories. 
It's pretty but I'm glad it doesn't look like that around here today.