Derby Hall of Famer of the Week: Charles A. Sterling

Our Derby Hall of Famer of the Week built one of the largest and most prestigious businesses in Derby history. 

Charles A. Sterling started out manufacturing organs in enormous wood structures located along the canal near what today is Water Street. He later added pianos as the business thrived for decades. He had an easy walk to work as he lived on Caroline Street. 

He passed away in 1877 but left a lasting legacy in Derby. The Sterling Opera House is named for him. https://electronicvalley.org/.../Hal.../Sterling,Charles.htm

Shared from the Derby 350 Facebook page.

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Businessman's house in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of Andrew Johnson's house. 

It was built in 1798 on the corner of Bank and Gilbert Streets. The house was dismantled in 1928 and supposedly relocated to Westchester County, N.Y. 

Johnson was one of Truman Gilbert's business partners, who had established Derby's first lumber yard. Johnson was born in April of 1765, but details of his death are unknown.

[First posted on this date in 2018.]

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

From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: 1890 wedding photo

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of Edith and Robert Gardner's wedding.

The wedding took place in Robert's home at 22 Derby Ave. on May 29, 1890. Robert Gardner, born in 1867, was a jeweler and a member of the Derby-Shelton Board of Trade. He gave up his business when he became GM of F. Hallock Co. in 1890.

That same year, he married Edith Hallock, daughter of the deceased Franklin Hallock. Robert continued as GM for the Hallock Company until the death of its president in 1932, at which time, Gardner took over as President. Robert was also very active in the community. He served as Deacon and Treasurer for the Second Congregational Church and was also on the Board of Directors of the Derby Public Library in the 1920s.

A portrait of Mr. Gardner hangs in the Library’s Local History Room.

[First posted on this date in 2017.]

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

'Wayback Wednesday' features George Blakeman of East Derby

Shared from the Derby Historical Society Facebook page:

"On this Wayback Wednesday, we hope you enjoy this article by Dr. Joe DiRienzo!"

The venerable George Blakeman (1799-1899), shoemaker, merchant, investor, businessman, and politician, was a prominent fixture for a century in East Derby. 

George Blakeman (1799-1899)

He is pictured in the first photo (courtesy of the Derby Historical Society). He is instantly recognizable in turn-of-the-century photographs captured near East Derby landmarks. 

Photos two, three, and four are postcards showing Blakeman by the First Congregational Church, at the Derby Junction train station, and at the corner of Derby Avenue and Main Street. 

He was a corporator of the Derby Savings Bank, on the Board of Officers of the Manufacturers Bank (reorganized as the Birmingham National Bank), Secretary and Treasurer of the Shelton Tack Co., member of the Connecticut State Legislature, and local selectman.
Blakeman owned a grocery and dry goods business in East Derby and by 1893 was the oldest member of the King Hiram Lodge No. 12 of Derby (Order of Masons). 

He kept detailed records of his financial transactions as seen in one of his leather-bound receipt books (Fifth photo). 
Entries are dated from 1823-1843 and signed by local individuals. Examples are shown in the sixth and seventh photos.

When Mr. Blakeman reached his 100th birthday on October 10, 1899, the town had a massive celebration as detailed in his New York Times obituary (eighth photo) only several months later. 

In 1902 Mrs. George Blakeman sold their residence at 40 Bank St., East Derby to Dr. John W. Melbourne who turned the house into a sanatorium for cancer patients (subject of a future post).

 [The ninth photo is a Private Mailing Card showing the Derby Avenue side of the Melbourne sanatorium. Thanks to Don Bristol of The Valley Post Facebook page for alerting me to the Evening Sentinel article describing the sale of the Blakeman residence.]

Thank you, Dr. DiRienzo, for sharing this interesting information about the life and times of George Blakeman of East Derby. 

And thanks to Derby Historical Society executive director Dan Bosques for posting!

'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.