Phoenix

Richard "Reggie" Smith

Preserving the Past • Chronicling the Present • Celebrating Cheshire, Connecticut

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Richard Michael "Reggie" Smith is a lifelong resident of Cheshire, Connecticut, community historian, veteran, digital publisher, and storyteller dedicated to preserving the people, places, and events that define the character of Cheshire (06410).

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Reggie's connection to Cheshire began in 1960 when his family moved to Avon Boulevard where he and his three brothers Pete, Jeff and Bobby were raised by their parents Frank and Anna. His father, Frank Smith managed Cheshire's first W.T. Grant department store before later operating The Grog Shops of Connecticut with Ricks Uncle John Smith.

 

Growing up in Cheshire, Reggie attended Norton School, Dodd Junior High School, and graduated from Cheshire High School in 1974, where he served as Class Vice President and captained the soccer team and was named an All-Housy player along with Raymond Murphy. For many years he held the record of twenty one career goals and assist as a three year letter man.

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Following graduation, Reggie proudly served in the United States Army with the 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. During his military service he attained the rank of Corporal and earned the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB), one of the Army's highest individual proficiency awards, before receiving an honorable discharge in 1980.

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After returning home, Reggie devoted himself to serving the Cheshire community in numerous volunteer roles. Throughout the years he has been a New Haven Register newspaper carrier, Boy Scout leader with Troop 91, Norton School crossing guard, Community Chairman for the Cheshire Jaycees, Cheshire Soccer Club coach for his sons and daughter, community theater volunteer, and a current retired member of the Cheshire Historical Society.

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Today, Reggie combines decades of community involvement with modern digital publishing to document both Cheshire's rich history and its evolving present. His work focuses on preserving local memories, researching forgotten stories, recording oral histories, and providing balanced coverage of community events while making local history accessible to future generations.

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He is the founder and publisher of the Cheshire Ct Phoenix Hometown Local News, an independent volunteer-operated digital news outlet dedicated to "Preserving the Past, Chronicling the Present, and Celebrating 06410." Through in-depth reporting, historical features, opinion pieces, and community coverage, the publication seeks to strengthen civic engagement while documenting the town's continuing story.

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Reggie also operates All About Cheshire CT, where he curates videos and maintains a historical archive featuring extensive media on Cheshire's neighborhoods, schools, historic homes, businesses, notable residents, and community traditions. The project serves as an ever-growing digital repository for photographs, documents, and stories contributed by local residents.

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His digital presence extends to YouTube, where he produces educational videos and historical features through All About Cheshire CT, while CT Sports TV highlights local athletic programs, preserving the accomplishments of Cheshire athletes and celebrating the community's longstanding tradition of scholastic sports.

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Whether researching colonial taverns, Revolutionary War veterans, Cheshire High School athletics, local businesses, civic organizations, or everyday residents whose stories deserve to be remembered, Reggie's goal remains the same: to preserve Cheshire's collective memory for future generations.

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His work is driven by the belief that every town has remarkable stories waiting to be told and that local history is best preserved when the community itself becomes part of the storytelling process.

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Websites & Media

• Cheshire Ct Phoenix Hometown Local News
https://www.cheshirectphoenixnews.com/

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• All About Cheshire CT
https://www.allaboutcheshirect.com/

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• All About Cheshire CT YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@allaboutcheshirect06410

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• CT Sports TV YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@ctsportstv

 

• Cheshire Today Founding Member​

​https://www.cheshiretoday.com/rick-smith-cheshire-blog

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"Every photograph has a story. Every building has a history. Every resident leaves a legacy."

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