'Turnback Tuesday' features advertisement for Sterling Piano Co.

Turnback Tuesday remembers the Sterling Piano Co. 

This beautiful card is but a sample of what they used for images in their advertising. This image reminds us of spring, with a beautiful young lady holding flowers.

They used series of images like birds, children holding instruments and Aesop Fables to name a few. 

These cards would then be printed on with the name of the business selling the pianos in their shop.

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

 

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Cottages featured

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of Rufus W. Blake's cottages. R.W. Blake was born on May 3rd, 1841 in Massachusetts. He had a myriad of jobs until he took over as manager of the Sterling Piano Company in 1873. After Charles Sterling's death in 1887, Blake then became president of the company. Between 1873 and 1887, Blake had three cottages built on Cottage Street right beside Sterling's home in Derby (as shown.) The buildings still stand, having been converted to apartments in the 1900s.

[First posted on this date in 2017]

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

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Sterling Piano Co. in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" photo is of the Sterling Piano Company in Derby. It is shown overlooking the canal that united Ansonia and Birmingham in the Water Street area. It has since been filled in, with Home Depot now occupying the spot that was previously occupied by Farrel Corp. until the year 2000.

In the background is the Naugatuck River.

[First posted on this date in 2016.]

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

'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.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: View of old Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" photo features a unique and picturesque view looking down from where St. Michael's Church is now. You can see the First Congregational Church in the right foreground and across the Naugatuck River, the big white building is the former Sterling Piano Company.

The Derby Train Station is also shown while St. Mary's Church steeple is in the far right background. This picture was taken circa 1900.

[This was first published on Oct. 13, 2015.]

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

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Cottages in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of Rufus W. Blake's cottages. 

R.W. Blake was born on May 3d, 1841 in Massachusetts. He had a myriad of jobs until he took over as manager of the Sterling Piano Company in 1873. 

After Charles Sterling's death in 1887, Blake then became president of the company. Between 1873 and 1887, Blake had three cottages built on Cottage Street right beside Sterling's home in Derby (as shown.) The buildings still stand, having been converted to apartments in the 1900s.

[This was first published on this date in 2017.]

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

'Turnback Tuesday' highlights Sterling Organ Co. in Derby

Turnback Tuesday looks at the Sterling Organ Co. started by Charles Sterling in 1845 in Birmingham (now downtown Derby). 

The company added pianos to their line in 1860. Charles served as president until his death in 1887, and then Rufus W. Blake succeeded him. 

Sterling Piano was one of the largest factories in CT’s Lower Naugatuck Valley with a total of 16 buildings producing high quality pianos. 

This book was printed by the company in 1884 as an instruction book to learn to play the piano/organ. (A recent donation by the R. Ahern family.)

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

'Turnback Tuesday' highlights Sterling Piano Co. in Derby

Turnback Tuesday features the Sterling Piano Co. factory, along "The Embankment" (canal) near Water Street in Derby.

Organized in 1866, the factory produced superior pianos that were shipped worldwide. In this photo, the canal is up front and to the right. The Housatonic River flowing south is to the right of the smokestack.

This is approximately where Home Depot is today.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' features Sterling Piano Co. advertising cards

Turnback Tuesday remembers the Sterling Piano Co. of Derby. 
These beautiful cards advertised the product at locations all over the country. 
Some advertising cards ran in series such as flowering trees, children with musical instruments, and birds. They were beautifully designed and because of their beauty many survive today. 
These cards were generously donated by Joseph DiRienzo, formerly of Derby. Joe has a passion for Derby’s history and has shared his knowledge with the Library on many occasions.


A big thank you goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week!

'Turnback Tuesday' from 4 years ago features Sterling Piano Co. in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" photo is of the Sterling Piano Co. in Derby. 

It is shown overlooking the canal that united Ansonia and Birmingham in the Water Street area. 

It has since been filled in, with Home Depot now occupying the spot that was previously occupied by Farrel's until the year 2000. In the background is the Naugatuck River.

*Posting just for fun ~ something to read about other than, well you know.

'Turnback Tuesday' features Sterling Piano Co. in Derby

Turnback Tuesday gives a peek inside the world of the Sterling Piano Company in Derby.

Founded by Charles A. Sterling, the company started out as the Sterling Organ in 1845. 
The manufacturing then switched over to pianos by 1884. 
The first class workmanship of these musical instruments has shown the test of time. This rare look at the interior of the factory was recently donated to Derby Public Library.


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

Turnback Tuesday features Sterling Company in Derby

This week’s “Turnback Tuesday” features a Sterling Piano advertisement. 
This playful ad for the Sterling Co. shows an organ with a pipe top. 
The Sterling Piano Company, founded by Charles Sterling in 1866, initially produced organs until 1884, when the first piano was introduced. Sterling pianos and organs were known worldwide. 
And their ads boasted that the designs were tasteful, workmanship was first class, they were finished magnificently, could be tuned flawlessly, and were simply the ideal piano for the home, as this ad illustrates. 
Many different subjects were used in Sterling advertisements such as young couples, animals, and children. The piano and organs built by the Sterling company were built to last … and lasted they have. 
Two pianos are located here at the [Derby Public] Library (one on the upper level; one on the lower level.) A third one is on the main floor of Derby City Hall by the parking lot entrance and a fourth is fittingly at the Sterling Opera House.

Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing another interesting bit of local history!

'Turnback Tuesday' features downtown Derby cottages

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of Rufus W. Blake's cottages in Derby. 

R.W. Blake was born on May 3, 1841 in Massachusetts. He had a myriad of jobs until he took over as manager of the Sterling Piano Co. in 1873. 
After Charles Sterling's death in 1887, Blake then became president of the company. Between 1873 and 1887, Blake had three cottages built on Cottage Street right beside Sterling's home in Derby (as shown.) 
The buildings still stand, having been converted to apartments in the 1900s.