The Hurricane of 1950 Note: This week, your Historian defers to a past First Church Historian, Marjorie Phelps, and part of a narrative she gave to the Vacation Bible School in August, 1960: Now, the front of the church where the steeple is … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner
Historian's Corner
Historian’s corner
Remembering Savin Rock Part III In 1900, Frank Wilcox, another pioneer in shore amusement, purchased Skeele’s and enlarged it to accommodate 1000 diners. His fifty-and-seventy-five cent dinners became famous up and down the New England coast. … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner
Historian’s corner
Remembering Savin Rock Part II See part 1 here. See part 3 here. In 1869-1870, George Kelsey built a 1500 foot pier off of Beach Street and inaugurated ferry service to both New Haven and the Lighthouse. He then built the Seaview Hotel, the … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner
Historian’s corner
Remembering Savin Rock Part I See part 2 here. See part 3 here. Today, many who stroll the Savin Rock “Boardwalk,” are quite unaware of the area’s colorful history. Some of us, though, can close our eyes and hear the sounds and smell the … [Read more...] about Historian’s corner
Historian’s Corner
Silver’s Drug Shop Part IV By Dan Shine Voice Columnist Over the years, Silver's employed dozens and scores of West Haveners. According to Dave Silver, "Many of the part time positions were held by high school students who remained with … [Read more...] about Historian’s Corner
Historian’s Corner
Silver’s Drug Shop Part III By Dan Shine Voice Columnist November 29, 1927 On a handwritten greeting card: “Dear Baby Philip H. Gesner, There is one pleasure we big fellows never pass by, and that is to extend a happy greeting … [Read more...] about Historian’s Corner
Historian’s Corner
Silver’s Drug Shop Part II By Dan Shine Voice Columnist According to the late West Haven Historian Harriet North, when twenty-one year old Bill Silver established himself as the new owner of the newly-named Silver’s Drug Shop, this quite … [Read more...] about Historian’s Corner
Historian’s Corner
Silver’s Drug Shop Part I By Dan Shine Voice Columnist The writer Horatio Algier died in 1899. Many people living today are unaware of his life or his many novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of … [Read more...] about Historian’s Corner