'Turnback Tuesday' highlights The Model Store in downtown Derby

Turnback Tuesday travels to 1929 and 1945 with more images of The Model Store on Main Street, Derby.

The height of fashion was displayed in the front windows, which was the "modern" way of advertising your store and products. Walking or driving by a beautifully decorated window would entice you to enter and possibly spend money.

The 1929 window is showcasing what is new for the fall, while the 1945 display highlights Christmas gift ideas.

Photos courtesy of the Berman Family.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' features furniture store in downtown Derby

Turnback Tuesday takes a look at the Lee Brothers Furniture at 57 Elizabeth St., Derby.

The Lees were the successors to D & S Champlain Inc., changing it to Lee Brothers in 1930, specializing over the years in furniture, floor coverings, bedding, appliances, and oil heaters.

The Lees ran a successful business until 1965. The building has long been removed, but it would have been located at the corner of what is now Elizabeth and 3rd Streets. The gentleman in the foreground is Officer Edward (Eddy) Slezak.

This photo is from 1955.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' highlights F. Hallock & Co. in downtown Derby

Turnback Tuesday remembers a landmark of Derby, the F. Hallock & Co. located at 114-118 Main St. 
The business was started in 1838 as the S.A. Downs & Co. Edwin Hallock along with his brother Franklin took over the interest of the business in 1865 and changed the name to F. Hallock & Co. 
They specialized in hardware, cutlery, paints, oils, glass, lime, and cement. The Hallock Co. remained in Derby until 1974. The original building was located on the corner of Factory and Main Streets.


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

Cellini Design Jewelers in Orange to host fundraiser for Seymour Pink

Shared from a Facebook event page:

Join us [at Cellini Design Jewelers] for our 6th annual, 1/2 Off Half the Store, Anniversary Sale!
For TWO DAYS ONLY, we'll be marking down half of the entire store to a whopping 50% off and some of the sale items will even include designer names too big to mention.

In addition to the the sale we are also hosting our annual fundraiser to benefit Seymour Pink, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Join us on October 17th from 4pm - 8pm for a fun evening filled with good food, good drinks, and help us raise some money for a great cause!
This year we are fundraising in memory of our beloved mom and grandmother, Jennie DeSimone.

Cellini Jewelers is located at 464 Boston Post Road, Orange.

Recuperation journey: I've been couponed

This afternoon I went to a local pharmacy to pick up a prescription and a few items.

I came home with three long strips of store coupons. 
Added together, minus the receipt info at the top of two of them, the coupons measured 10 feet in length! 
That's the most I've ever received in one shopping visit. 
I "might" use one for something I need next time I'm there. The others are going in the recycle bin.

I know I'm not the first to post about this and I won't be the last. 
But it seems like such a colossal waste of paper. 

My Sister's Place in Ansonia to close for remodeling

ANSONIA - Thanks to a generous grant from the Katharine Matthies Foundation, My Sister’s Place is getting a facelift.

The store and donation center at 380 Main St. will be closed from Jan. 20-27 and reopen Jan. 28.

Workers will replace the flooring, touch up paint, make repairs, and perform other housekeeping maintenance. 

A grand reopening celebration is anticipated for Feb. 1.

MSP, a program of BHcare, offers quality new and gently used clothing, furniture and house wares at discount prices. 

All proceeds from MSP support BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.  

Each year UCDVS helps more than 6,000 adults and children who are experiencing domestic violence; all services are provided free of charge.

Find us online at www.supportumbrella.org and www.facebook.com/MySistersPlace.

This is a press release from BHcare.

'Turnback Tuesday' features store advertisement for Derby confectionery

"Turnback Tuesday" remembers another old downtown business in Derby, the Ryan Brothers Confections & Ice Cream, established by John Ryan in 1910 at 40 Sixth St. 
John was a policeman as well as a business owner. In 1911, he was joined by his brother Edward and they located at 54 Elizabeth St. 

Then in 1912, John went back to being solely a policeman while Edward moved to Naugatuck. At this point, the business was taken over by William Ryan (relationship unknown), but unfortunately the business stopped in 1913. This beautiful fan was used as part of their advertising.


A big thanks to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

'Turnback Tuesday' features fan from Derby department store

"Turnback Tuesday" features a beautiful fan from the A. Cohn’s Department Store. 

In 1903, Abraham Cohn was a junk dealer out of his Caroline Street home. Cohn then established his dry goods and clothing store in 1904 at 176 Main St. in Derby that lasted until 1917. 
The fan pictured is made of paper with a wooden stick. 
Fans were a great way to advertise your business because hand fans were often used as a way to cool down. This fan is a part of the Derby Public Library’s historical collection.

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

Demolition makes way for construction of Big Y in Derby

DERBY - I noticed from blog stats that a post I shared Tuesday from Mayor Rich Dziekan about demolition of Walmart drew many readers, so Friday I photographed some work being done. 
A Big Y supermarket will be built in its place at 656 New Haven Ave. and opened in the summer of 2019, officials have said. 

Marks of Design celebrates grand re-opening at plaza in Shelton

Goldsmith and creative jewelry designer Kate Marks, center, thanks friends and supporters Thursday at the grand re-opening celebration of her store, Marks of Design. 
The new store is at 389 Bridgeport Ave., in the Marketplace Plaza in Shelton. Marks, a Shelton resident, opened her first jewelry store in 1999 at 500 Howe Ave., Shelton and recently moved to a much bigger location.

Shelton shop marks first anniversary

SHELTON - I was happy to meet Jon and Michele Vallee, owners of Lighthouse Rum Cakes at 480 Howe Ave., on Monday as they celebrated the first anniversary of their shop.
They now have crepes on the menu, and dare I say the crepes are delicious!

Stay tuned for a story in the Valley Independent Sentinel.