'Turnback Tuesday' features Derby Public Library reference room

DERBY - Turnback Tuesday reminds us of the wealth of information and research materials available at Derby Public Library.

Published in 1935, "The Pictorial and History of the Lower Naugatuck Valley," written by Leo T. Malloy, is a treasure trove of information.

And it does not end there.

Our History Reference Room has many books on its shelves for you to peruse including those on genealogy, the history of neighboring towns, and about the Valley in general.

The room has a large table for patron use as well as a microfilm machine to view local newspaper archives.

Thanks go to Derby Public Library for making available its extensive amount of historical information about the Valley and surrounding communities.

Derby Public Library to host talk Saturday about Old Woodbury Path

 

New book features history of The Sterling Company in Derby

ANSONIA - The Derby Historical Society today announced its newest book about Derby history, "The Sterling Company". 

This hardcover, color book is the first comprehensive look at the fascinating history of the factory. 

It shows how the vision of a Connecticut native and the business savvy of a Massachusetts entrepreneur advanced the manufacture of parlor organs and pianos from humble beginnings to become a premier contributor to the music industry and, in the process, made a significant impression on the industrial, economic, and cultural development of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 

The book contains rare images and memorabilia from the records of the Derby Public Library, Derby Historical Society, and the author’s personal collection.

The book is currently available for sale at the David Humphreys House Museum Gift Shop open Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 

The House is at 37 Elm St.

Call 203-735-1908 for information.

[Please note that the house and gift shop are closed the weeks of Christmas and New Year holidays.]

This is shared from the Derby Historical Society's Facebook page.

 

Sharing Valley Indy's interview lineup for The Great Give 2024 online giving event

Wednesday, May 1

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part I

Click here to watch on Facebook.

7 a.m.
Live from 115 Main St. in Seymour!

8 a.m.
Great Give starts!
Donate.ValleyIndy.org if you can!

9 a.m.
Tom Simonetti, Valley Shakespeare Festival

10 a.m.
Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis

11 a.m.
David Morgan of Team Inc.

12 p.m.
Sara Pereiras of Bunlandia Rescue in Seymour

1 p.m.
Lunch

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part II

Click here to watch on Facebook.

2 p.m.
Jenn Moffat & Friends, Derby Public Schools

3 p.m.
Shannon Bullard, Seymour Food 2 Kids

4 p.m.
Lori Nespoli from the Love Mom XOXO Foundation

5 p.m.
Kristina Walton, Seymour Oxford Food Bank

6 p.m.
Dinner & drinks!

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part III

Click here to watch on Facebook.

Valley Indy Prize Alert! The Valley Indy is giving away gift cards to a few local restaurants during The Valley Indy Great Give Livestream.
To enter the contest, one must ask a question during our livestream or make a donation to The Valley Indy between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on May 1.
You do not have to donate to enter.

7 p.m.
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti & friends!

8 p.m.
David Lenart, Derby Storms

9 p.m.
Rick Dunne Valley Council of Governments

10 p.m.
Rich DiCarlo, Valley Arts Council

11 p.m.
Tears

Thursday, May 2

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part IV

Click here to watch on Facebook.

9 a.m.
Melissa Mongillo of Derby Pop Warner

9:45 a.m.
State Rep. Kara Rochelle

10 a.m.
Susan Agamy of Spooner House

11 a.m.
Dino Verrelli & friends of Project Purple

12 p.m.
Derby Mayor Joseph DiMartino!

1 p.m.
Grace Torres, St. Mary — St. Michael School

2 p.m.
Lunch!

Valley Indy Great Give Livestream Part V

Click here to watch on Facebook.

3 p.m.
Jim Gildea, Derby Historical Society

4 p.m.
Tanaya Henry, Traveler On A Mission

5 p.m.
W. Kurt Miller, Ansonia budget talk!

6 p.m.
DINNER!

7 p.m.
Jason Carlucci, Dew Drop Inn

8 p.m.
Great Give ends!

8:15 p.m.
Seymour budget vote results!

'Turnback Tuesday' (on Wednesday) seeks location of photo from 1955 flood

Turnback Tuesday has another image of the 1955 Flood for you to help us identify.

This looks to be a factory along the Housatonic River looking towards East Derby or Shelton. We would like to know where and what factory it is?

The Flood was caused by two hurricanes: the first, Hurricane Connie, went by CT on August 11, depositing 4-6 inches of rain.

Then five days later, Hurricane Diane left in her wake 13 to 20 inches of rain in CT over a two-day period.

This image was a recent donation from the J. Vagnini family.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the confirmation of location from our last Turnback flood post.

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

Sharing 2017 'Turnback Tuesday' memory featuring Flood of '55 in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the drive-in movie theater during the 1955 flood. It was located at 20 Division St. in Derby, where McDonald's and BJ's Wholesale Club now reside. 

The theater had opened in July of 1953 and thus was only open two years before the flood occurred. 

After the flood, the screen and concession stand were repaired and they remained in operation until the 1960s.

Note: In a comment on this post six years ago, David Lenart of Derby said he believed this photo was from the October flood. The first flood was on Aug. 19, 1955 and the second one was on Oct. 16.

Lenart is the grandson of the late Evening Sentinel photographer Edward J. Cotter Jr., who took this incredible photo.

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

Link to this week's Valley Voice newsletter shared

Dear readers,

Here's the link to The Valley Voice newsletter #2.


http://goo.gl/0VLStm


Today's snow delayed printing/distribution of the hard copies.

Please feel free to share the link!

Snow day in Ansonia

This morning.

Wednesday morning.

Ah, nature. Ever-changing and always beautiful.

Are you enjoying the snowfall? 
I was lucky enough not to have any appointments this a.m. so here I sit, staring out the window and hoping it will stop coming down sooner rather than later.

What does it look like in your yard this morning? 
Email me a photo of the snow in your neck of the woods and I'll post it!  

I'm at pmcv394@gmail.com.

Thanks ~

Local author to discuss 'Palace of Sweets' at Derby Neck Library

Photo shared from Derby Neck Library Facebook page.

DERBY - The Derby Neck Library, 307 Hawthorne Ave. will host Meet the Author with Salvatore Coppola at 2 p.m. Oct. 17.

“Palace of Sweets” (the beloved, long gone Vonetes ice cream shop on Main Street) is Coppola's historical novel dealing with happenings in the Lower Naugatuck Valley from 1967-1990. 
It includes the 1975 Sponge Rubber arson fire in Shelton and the 1985 explosion at the River Restaurant on Main Street, among other notable events. 

Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing. 

Light refreshments will be served. This is a free program.
  

For details call the library, 203-734-1492.


This is taken from a press release from Patricia Sweeney, reference librarian, Derby Neck Library.