'Turnback Tuesday' features image of Flood of 1955 devastation

Turnback Tuesday shares this incredible view of the Flood of 1955.

It was taken from the tower of St. James Church on Minerva Street looking east towards the Naugatuck River. Red Star = Naugatuck River; green arrow = Freight Depot; blue arrow = Rt. 34; yellow arrow = Rt. 8; red arrow = Train Station; pink arrow = Farrel Birmingham; purple arrow = First Congregational Church; black arrow = St. Michael's Church and purple star = Housatonic River.

The devastation of the flood was not only to the landscape but to those living here.

The image was a gift from the Birmingham National Bank to Derby Public Library in November, 1955.

Thank you to Joe DiRienzo for his help in identifying landmarks.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' features money boxes Birmingham National Bank gave customers

Turnback Tuesday concentrates on saving.

The Birmingham National Bank of Derby and many other banks and building societies gave away money boxes to encourage savings.

These banks/money boxes/bank boxes came in many different shapes and sizes. Images and the name of the organization would be on the box as an advertisement. These metal boxes were sturdy and children could not access the money within without a key.

This coin bank is used by putting the coin in on the side of the bank, then sliding the lever to drop the coin inside.

It is a recent donation from the Stevenson family.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' (on Wednesday) highlights hardware manufacturer

Turnback Tuesday has a card sent to Wilcox & Howe Co. from the Birmingham National Bank. Wilcox & Howe, started in 1870 by D. Wilcox, manufactured all descriptions of carriage hardware and specialty forgings for light buggies.

As demand grew, they added bicycle forgings to their product lines. Wilcox & Howe had several buildings on the canal in Shelton.

By 1896, they were selling all over the US and exporting to South America, Africa, and Australia.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' features Birmingham National Bank in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the Birmingham National Bank. 

The bank was first organized in Crofut's Hotel in 1848 under the name of the Manufacturers Bank of Birmingham. In 1865, it entered the national banking system and adopted the new name of the Birmingham National Bank. 
Edwin N. Shelton was its first president and remained so until his death in 1894. 
In 1892-93, the building shown in the photo was constructed at 285 Main St., and the bank moved there.
In the early 1970s, the Birmingham National Bank merged with Home Trust and Second National Bank to become the Second New Haven Bank. 
Several mergers took place and what now remains of the Birmingham National Bank is technically part of the Fleet system. 
The Main Street building itself was subsequently converted into the Olde Birmingham Restaurant, then Tartaglia's Restaurant and eventually Twisted Vine Restaurant in 2005.

*Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing this interesting local history.