90 Years Ago – 1929
The playground season is in full swing with Miss Alta B. Cheney in charge and assisted by Miss Alice Wheaton.
The new block on Union Street is nearing completion. One store has already opened this week by Mrs. Edward Sweeney, who is conducting an up-to-date gift shop.
75 Years Ago – 1944
Manchester has three Lieutenant Commanders now on duty. They are Lt. Commander Charles A. Herrick, Lt. Commander Gordon Abbott and Lt. Commander Whitefield Kimball, all of the United States Naval Reserves.
Anthony Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brown of Beach Street, stationed at Lake City, Florida, has received his wings and commission as ensign in the U.S. Naval Air Force.
60 Years Ago – 1959
The new gate for the Central Pond dam is being installed this week. The gate arrived in Manchester at the end of May. The dam is located alongside the police station. Installation is being done by the State Public Works Department, Waterways Division.
The Manchester Pony Leaguers combined the superb pitching of Elliot Crocker and the leaky defense of the Topsfield Club to win their opener at the Brook Street playground by a score of 3 to 0.
45 Years Ago – 1974
The Manchester Summer Playground program will begin Monday, June 24, and continue for an eight week period. The playground activities are supervised and available to all Manchester girls and boys six years of age and older; there is no registration.
The Friends of Manchester Trees Inc., wishes to post a notice to all residents of Manchester to make a “watch” on all hemlock trees on or near their properties for any signs of hemlock looper disease. The town of Manchester has heavy and widespread infestation noted particularly in lands bordering Rt. 127 from mid-town in the direction of Gloucester to the Magnolia border.
30 Years Ago – 1989
It was the fifth time that the police and fireman did battle on the softball field and the first time the police captured the trophy. It was a very happy Police Chief Ronald Ramos who graciously accepted the trophy and traditional handshake from Fire Chief Joseph O’Malley, as the police softballers gathered around the chiefs for the team picture. It was a seesaw game through much of the first five innings before the cops went up on top to stay.
John W. Gaythwaite, P.E., Consulting Engineer, has authored a book titled “Design of Marine Facilities for Berthing, Mooring and Repair of Vessels,” which was released this month by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company of New York, New York. The 525-page book is intended as a college-level test and reference work for practitioners in the field of marine civil engineering.
15 Years Ago – 2004
Mr. and Mrs. Foster Ball of Walker Rd., celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family gathering at their home on Saturday, June 20th. Virginia and Foster were married on June 19th, 1944, shortly before Foster left for Europe to fight in World War II where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor as a battlefield commissioned lieutenant.
Summer Street resident Larry Kirby turned 80 years old last week and celebrated the milestone by going to Orange Municipal Airport and parachuting from a plane at an altitude of 13,500 feet. (Approximately 2.55 miles.)
