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Community Corner

A Place in Naugatuck History: July 4, 1898

Step back in time to Independence Day in Naugatuck, over a century ago.

On July 4th, 1898, the exciting news came to the Borough that the day before on July 3rd, U.S. ships off the coast of Cuba led by Admiral W.T. Sampson had destroyed a Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral P. Cervera.

The U.S. Navy did not lose a single ship though we did loose one brave solder from New York. This was considered the climatic naval battle of the Spanish-American War giving the U.S. Navy command of the waters.

At first residents weren't sure to believe the news as many thought that this day of victory would not come so soon. When a dispatch was sent by Sampson confirming the victory, the borough broke out in a full-blown celebration with more than the usual patriotism.

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The day had already been well planned out with I.A. Morse in charge of the bicycle races lasting most of the day.

The first race was a five mile open handicap at 9:30 a.m. The riders started at the trolley terminal, went up Main Street, around Platts Mills and finished at the corner of Main and Maple streets. There were 19 entries and the event was quite exciting.

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During the race, William Daly was thrown from his wheel in front of Hopson block and painfully injured.

A number of other riders were thrown from their bicycles as well and received severe scratches and bruises. Several hundred people, many of whom were from out of town, witnessed the races.

There was a picnic at Linden Park in the afternoon and evening where it was promised people who enjoy that kind of entertainment would be thoroughly delighted.

High Rock Grove had been remodeled for the season for the comfort of the many picnickers who would surely come for the day.

Those who enjoyed good horseracing spent a pleasant afternoon at the Beacon Valley Race Track, where there were some exciting races between local and out-of-town horses.

In preparation for the holiday, the merchants in town were fully stocked in everything patriotic.

John Stapleton and Son offered red, white and blue bunting or Federal bunting with stars and strips for 6 cents per yard. At the Church Street News and Depot, you could find 50” by 30" flags for 25 cents.

The merchants who sold fireworks for the Fourth said that the sales were enormous. Some of the dealers did not have any low-priced fireworks left the day before the fourth, which goes to show that Naugatuck was not behind the times in showing its patriotism.

A new flagpole was erected on Terrace Avenue standing 91 feet high, just in time for our Nations Birthday!

The Hellmann Brewing Company was even promoting their Woerzburger Larger Beer, pure malt and claiming to be especially adapted to invalids and convalescents. They suggested asking your physician about its sterling qualities.

It seems many of the younger crowd in town began there celebration early, on the third of July. It was reported that crowds of young men and boys paraded the streets and did about everything they could to make life miserable for the police and anyone else who interfered with their amusement.

They burned boxes, barrels and about all the wood they could find, but in no case did they light the fires where there would be danger of burning a building.

In the early morning hours, the church and school bells were rung by the unruly crowd and the regular and special policemen were kept busy chasing those whom they thought responsible for the breaches of peace.

Officer Kennedy caught a young man who was just getting out of the Salem school building after ringing the bell and brought him to the police station, where he gave him a severe lecture and then let him go. 

The paper concluded that the night overall was full of enjoyment for those who started in to celebrate early, but no very harmful acts were committed and no arrests were made.

The Hibernian Rifles had their annual field day at the Emmet Rifle Range in town on the Fourth with companies from Naugatuck, Ansonia and Waterbury participating. The day's program consisted of target practice and battalion evolutions. The field day exercises were inaugurated in 1895 and practice each year as been of considerable benefit to the members.

The Naugatuck Daily News reported the Fourth of July brought with it some injury to a couple unlucky folks. An 8-year-old son of Edgar Smith of Fairview Avenue extension accidentally shot himself in the left hand while firing off a 22-caliber revolver. The bullet passed through the fleshy part of the band but thankfully, no bones were broken

Herman Smith was firing off a cannon when he received a charge of powder full in the face. His hands were also burned. He was attended by a physician and the wounds, though painful, are not considered dangerous.

And then there was T.W. Richards, luckily only his cannon was hurt. He had attracted considerable attention several weeks before by driving through the town with a cannon decorated with American flags, was the maker of the cannon and at the time was taking it to his home. The cannon was used to celebrate the Fourth and it gave good satisfaction until an extra heavy charge was put in and the cannon suddenly went to pieces. Luckily, no one was injured and Mr. Richards expected to make another cannon soon.

The glorious Fourth of July of 1898 was celebrated in a most patriotic way by young and old alike. It was certainly a day of triumph as the news came in about our brave United States Navy. It was stated in the paper “The people on hearing this report, entered into the sport of celebration with a dash and vim that would make our brave forefathers feel, if they were alive, that the generation which followed them was ever ready to take their placed in defense of their country. Also that the efforts which they exerted and the gallant deeds which they performed in freeing the country were appreciated and honored.”

The day brought sunshine and though temperatures remained near the 100-degree mark, a shower came in that cooled the air and made for a delightful evening of fireworks displayed from Curtis Hill on the East Side of town.

I can see the red, white and blue buntings swirling about as the various horse and carriages, bicyclists, and walkers slowly made there way back home from their special vantage point of the glorious light show. Children waving their flags about and ladies dressed in their patriotic finery, perhaps humming the tune "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" written during the Civil War but recorded in 1898 for the Spanish-American War.

It was reported it might well have been one of the most patriotic Fourths the town of Naugatuck had ever witnessed.

On this July 4th, 2011, celebrate our beloved country’s birthday with your own style of Patriotism, but if you happen to have a Woerzburger Larger Beer in your hand, I may need to see a doctor’s note.

Until next week when we find another place in Naugatuck history, Happy Birthday America!

Credits: Naugatuck Daily News archives; http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/navalbattles1800s/p/santiago.htm

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