Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976: Roaring Brook, Spring Sports and a Town Getting Ready for the Bicentennial
- Richard {Reggie} Smith
- 7 days ago
- 11 min read
Richard Reggie Smith
Researcher/Editor Creative Commons License 4.0
(This is a recap of the Cheshire Herald which can be found in the Cheshire Public Library. Due to copy right restrictions all images are generated by Google Gemini and Chat GPT Many of the names will be misspelled due to the low quality image of dated newspaper microfiche images.)
By early April 1976, Cheshire was beginning to emerge from winter, but the town's calendar was already crowded. Town officials were considering the purchase of a large tract at Roaring Brook, sewer construction was moving ahead in Strathmore Woods, students were learning languages at Chapman School, athletes were collecting trophies, the YMCA swim team was celebrating a New England championship, and community organizations were preparing for another round of Bicentennial activities. At the same time, the advertisements in the April 1 Cheshire Herald offered a remarkably ordinary picture of life: used cars, nursery stock, bowling, square dancing, lawn care, insurance, restaurants, travel and spring home improvements. It was Cheshire in the spring of 1976—part civic debate, part school spirit, part small-town routine.
The supplied newspaper is an image-based scan and its text is not machine-readable in the file index; the retrospective below is based directly on the visible newspaper pages, with page numbers referring to the printed pages of the April 1, 1976 issue.
Roaring Brook: A $101,000 Question for the Town
One of the biggest local questions in the issue involved land.
The town appeared likely to purchase approximately 101 acres at Roaring Brook, a tract that had attracted the attention of town officials, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Department. The proposal came after the previous fiscal year's austerity budget had left Cheshire without a capital budget. As departments attempted to catch up, the question was whether the town should make a significant land purchase at a time when capital spending was under close scrutiny.
The newspaper reported that the proposed purchase price was considerably below the $275,000 price associated with an earlier proposed acquisition of a much larger 127-acre tract. That difference helped change the discussion.
Robert Niles, the town manager, questioned the idea of allowing what had essentially been an advisory group to make capital requests. But Kenneth Stevens, a Planning and Zoning Commission member, spoke strongly in favor of acquiring the property. William Broer also supported the purchase.
The property had recreational possibilities, particularly because of its relationship to Mixville Pond. Plans discussed in connection with the town's capital program included $50,000 for Phase I of Lock 12 Historic Park, $8,000 for sand excavation and construction of a sand beach at Mixville Pond, and $6,600 for improvements to 2.2 acres of Cheshire Town Park land recently acquired from the state.
The Roaring Brook discussion therefore was about more than one parcel of property. It reflected a town trying to decide what land it should preserve for future generations while simultaneously confronting the cost of doing so.
Another proposed development included approximately 21 clustered homes along Mountain Road, backed by 20 acres of dedicated open space. The newspaper reported that the George Dudley property and the surrounding land had become part of a larger discussion about open space, recreation and future development.
For Cheshire in 1976, the question was increasingly becoming not simply what could be built, but what should remain open.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, p. 4.
Sewers Come to Strathmore Woods
Growth also appeared in a more practical form: sewer construction.
The newspaper reported that the town had authorized the first private temporary pumping station for Strathmore Woods, clearing the way for construction of a temporary sewer system serving the development.
The arrangement involved dismantling the temporary pumping stations later and seeking state funding for a permanent system. The story provides an early glimpse of the infrastructure questions accompanying Cheshire's residential growth.
For residents reading the issue in 1976, the subject might have sounded technical. In retrospect, it is an important record of how the town's expanding neighborhoods required new approaches to water and sewer service.
The newspaper also carried discussion about the town's ambulance service and other public concerns, reminding readers that municipal growth involved more than houses. Roads, sewer lines, emergency services, schools and recreation all had to expand along with the population.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, p. 5.
A Different Kind of Classroom at Chapman
The April 1 issue also offered an appealing glimpse into education at Chapman School.
Photographs showed students participating in a language program. Sarah Ashton, a Cheshire High School language student, was shown placing the name tag on a child's Spanish name at Chapman. Another photograph showed Steven Proffitt, right, teaching French to students while Mrs. Joyce Flood read to the class.
The article, “Language Classes At Chapman,” described the effort to introduce younger children to foreign languages. Another photograph showed kindergarten children participating in a Spanish class, with Mary Ulbrich identified among the students and Mrs. Carol Roberg participating.
The program reflected a changing educational philosophy. Foreign-language instruction was no longer confined entirely to older students; Cheshire was experimenting with exposing children to other languages at a younger age.
It was a small classroom story, but exactly the sort of detail that makes a 1976 newspaper valuable today. The photographs preserve not just the educational program but the appearance of the classrooms, the children's clothing and the teachers who were introducing them to Spanish and French.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, p. 20.
The School Year Turns Into Trophy Season
At Cheshire High School, spring had not yet ended the athletic year. Instead, winter sports were being celebrated.
The annual Booster Club Winter Sports Banquet honored the school's athletes, coaches and cheerleaders. The newspaper reported that more than 300 people attended the event, where awards and letters were presented following a meal served in the school cafeteria.
The individual awards reveal some of the athletes who stood out that year.
In girls' basketball, Anne Downes received the most valuable player award, while Joy Bundy was named most improved player.
In boys' swimming, Pat Coyne was recognized as the most valuable player. Hockey honors went to Robert Erickson as most valuable player, with Mike Plager receiving the most improved player award.
Sportsmanship awards were also presented, including honors to Rick Talley, Peter Cumpstone, Joy Bundy, Alphonse LaMartha and Jill Bales.
The banquet was more than a ceremony. It demonstrated the importance of high school athletics to the community. Parents, coaches, boosters and local organizations gathered to recognize students whose achievements had been followed in the Herald throughout the season.
One particularly notable recognition went to Chet Chmura, who received a special award for his work with Cheshire High School athletics. He was photographed with Al Webb, past president of the Booster Club, and Principal Robert Mischler.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, p. 26.
Five Cheshire Swimmers Make the All-Housatonic Team
Swimming received extensive coverage.
Five Cheshire High School swimmers were selected to the All-Housatonic League team. The newspaper described Cheshire as well represented on the all-league squad, with the swimmers' accomplishments reflecting the strength of the school's program.
The high school tennis team was also preparing to pursue a fourth consecutive Housatonic League title.
Four returning lettermen were listed: captain Andy Kalbach, Pat Coyne, Dick Lee and Dave Hanson. The team had 97 athletes report for its initial practice sessions, competing for positions on the squad.
The numbers themselves tell an interesting story. High school sports in 1976 were not simply a matter of a few varsity players. Nearly a hundred students were interested enough in tennis to report for practice.
Meanwhile, the newspaper reported on Cheshire's sixth-grade basketball team, which traveled to Milford and defeated the Milford Raiders 36–30 in one game. Jim Conroy scored 13 points, while other Cheshire players included Tom Cabral, Sim Kwiatkowski, Joe Cahill, Mallane and Kevin... The names are a reminder that organized athletics began well before high school.
Cheshire's Young Swimmers Win New England Title
Perhaps the most impressive athletic story in the issue came from the Cheshire YMCA.
The YMCA's nine- and ten-year-old swimmers won a New England title, a success the newspaper presented as evidence of the remarkable growth of the local YMCA swimming program.
The story traced that development back to the late 1960s, when the YMCA began by transporting local children to Meriden for afternoon swimming and gym instruction. The program eventually developed into a competitive swim team.
The New England championship represented a considerable achievement for a program that had begun so modestly.
The photograph showed the young swimmers with their coaches and a Cheshire YMCA Swim Team banner. Among those identified were Coach Mike Shuppes and YMCA director Ed Stubbs.
It was a classic local success story: a community recreation program that began with children being bused elsewhere for instruction had developed into a team capable of competing successfully throughout New England.
The April 1976 issue also reported on high school hockey alumni, local baseball and golf prospects, making the sports pages a snapshot of Cheshire athletics across several generations.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, pp. 26, 28–29.
From Hockey Alumni to the Local Nine
The Herald continued to follow hockey even after the winter season.
A feature titled “High School Tops Alumni In Hockey” compared Cheshire High School players with alumni in a series of games. The newspaper also listed the season's top scorers, giving readers the names and statistics that had become part of the local sports record.
Baseball was beginning to take over the calendar. The newspaper's “Local Nine” coverage included young players and sixth-grade and youth teams, while the sports pages were already looking ahead to the spring season.
The shift from hockey to baseball was itself part of the annual rhythm of Cheshire life. By early April, winter trophies were being handed out while spring teams were forming.
A Trip to Iran, a Cross of Nails and Other Stories of Cheshire People
The front page provided some of the issue's most human stories.
One was about Mr. and Mrs. Louis Jentzen and their sons, Peter, Jeff and Bunny, who were preparing to leave Cheshire for Tehran, Iran. The family was traveling heavily because of the long overseas move.
Jentzen was to work with a team from the American Telephone and Telegraph Company on the modernization of the Iranian telephone system. The article discussed the practical difficulties of moving a family overseas and the uncertainty involved in such a major transition.
At the other end of the spectrum was a story firmly rooted in local religious life.
At the Cheshire United Methodist Church, an eight-foot-high “Cross of Nails” had been created by Forrest Cramer of 214 Academy Road, a church member. The piece was based on the cross associated with Coventry Cathedral and was being displayed during Lent.
The cross incorporated nails and a representation of a crown of thorns. Cramer constructed it using a piece of pine lumber, hand tools and wooden dowels, with barbed wire incorporated into the design.
The newspaper identified Rev. George Englehart as pastor of the Methodist Church and photographed him with Cramer beside the unusual Lenten display.
These two stories—one about a family preparing for Iran and another about a Cheshire resident constructing a religious artwork—illustrate the range of the Herald. International events could appear beside something created in a local workshop at 214 Academy Road.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, p. 4.
Girl Scouts, Brownies and the Community Calendar
The community pages were filled with activities.
The Girl Scouts were preparing to launch a sustaining membership drive, seeking financial support for Scouting programs. The article explained that Girl Scouting had a substantial local membership and relied on community support.
The Brownies were also active. A photograph showed young girls participating in activities that included crafts and community projects.
At St. Bridget's, the Ladies Guild was preparing a fashion show and card party. Child models were to participate, making it both a social event and a fundraiser.
The Jaycees were preparing for an April meeting, while the Newcomers League continued its daytime bowling activities.
A square dance was scheduled for Sunday evening at the Cheshire Cats Square Dance Club. For teenagers, there was also bowling—another reminder that a night out in 1976 did not require a multiplex or an elaborate entertainment complex.
The community's social life was built around schools, churches, bowling alleys, clubs and organizations that met regularly and knew their members personally.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, pp. 20–21, 30.
Spring Arrives in the Advertisements
The advertisements may be the most entertaining part of the issue for anyone trying to reconstruct everyday life.
Savelle Ford advertised 1975 Mustang models, including the Mustang 2-Door, Mustang 2+2, Mustang Ghia and Mustang II, along with other “demo's and leftovers.”
Mitchell Ford promoted used cars, while Wallingford Auto advertised Buick, Chevrolet and other vehicles.
For the home, spring meant wallcovering sales, carpet cleaning, lawn care and garden supplies. Cheshire Nursery advertised nursery stock, while Calvanese Nursery & Garden Center offered fertilizers, shade trees, ornamental trees, grass seed, roses, fruit trees and garden tools.
Westbrook Nursery offered fruit trees for $7.95, indoor foliage plants and hybrid rhododendrons.
The lawn was clearly becoming a spring project. One advertisement for Lawn-a-Mat promised to turn a lawn into a “thick, green carpet” and offered a Bicentennial special for $14.50.
For entertainment, the newspaper advertised DeVylder Florist, square dancing, bowling and local services. And for those dreaming about leaving Connecticut, Mercury Travel Agency advertised California round-trip packages beginning at $199.
Even the newspaper's classifieds and advertisements reveal a different economic landscape. A $199 airfare, a used 1975 automobile, a $14.50 lawn treatment and nursery plants were all part of the same springtime marketplace.—Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, pp. 16, 20–21, 30–31.
Looking Ahead to the Bicentennial
And everywhere, there was the Bicentennial.
The newspaper continued to publish a calendar of upcoming Bicentennial events, including lectures, historical programs, commemorative activities and participation in regional celebrations.
The timing is important. April 1976 was the month in which the nation's Bicentennial preparations were reaching their peak. In Cheshire, the celebrations were being woven into the existing community calendar rather than replacing it.
Historical lectures could sit alongside school sports. Church programs could be followed by town meetings. A Bicentennial event might be advertised beside a nursery sale or a used-car special.
That combination gives the issue its particular character.
What April 1976 Looked Like from Cheshire
The April 1, 1976, Cheshire Herald does not portray a town standing still for its Bicentennial year. Quite the opposite.
Cheshire was making decisions about 101 acres of Roaring Brook land, dealing with sewer infrastructure in Strathmore Woods, considering capital expenditures and following the continuing debate over how the community should grow. At the schools, children were learning Spanish and French, while older students competed for league championships and athletic honors.
The YMCA was celebrating a New England championship. High school athletes were receiving trophies. Tennis players were preparing for another title run. Sixth-graders were traveling to Milford for basketball games. Girls were participating in Brownie and Girl Scout activities.
Adults were bowling, square dancing, attending church programs, participating in civic organizations and planning social events.
And spring was arriving in the most ordinary ways: automobiles were being bought and sold, lawns needed attention, gardens were being planted, walls were being redecorated, carpets were being cleaned and families were making plans for travel.
That is what makes this issue particularly useful as a historical document. Its value is not confined to the major story about Roaring Brook or the sports championships. The newspaper captures the texture of Cheshire life in April 1976—the names of students, athletes, teachers, coaches, business owners and community volunteers; the organizations meeting that week; the prices being advertised; the places where people gathered; and the decisions being made about Cheshire's future.
The Bicentennial may have encouraged residents to look backward toward America's founding, but the April 1 Herald shows a town very much concerned with its own future: where its children would learn, where its athletes would compete, where houses would be built, where open space would be preserved, and what kind of community Cheshire would become.
Primary source: The Cheshire Herald, April 1, 1976, supplied newspaper scan. Printed page references in this retrospective correspond to the pages visible in the supplied scan.
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