Stamford History Real Time

70 years ago today – or close: The Hurricane of 1938

Driving through town this morning, I listened to Connecticut Public Radio's Bracing for the Storm. (download this episode).  Not having tuned in at the beginning, I thought mistakenly that today was the actual anniversary.  However, September 21 is pretty close.  We do have a Photo Selection of the Month (2002): The Hurricane of '38 and the Floods of '54 an '55 on our website.

a still familiar location, flooded after the hurricane

The Great New England Hurricane of September 1938 lives in history as the worst disaster for Connecticut in the 20th century.

September Photo Selection of the Month: Ferries of Yesteryear

As there is intermittent talk about reviving ferry services between Stamford and Manhattan (Stamford Ferry Study Web Site) as well as across Long Island Sound (New York Times Archive), we thought it might be nice to take a look back to when ferries did ply their trade from Stamford … way way back! 

As the chapter Marine Commerce and Yachting from Picturesque Stamford (1892) shows, “steam communication by water with the metropolis was organized on a permanent basis, though for more than a score of years prior to that time steamers were running here more or less regularly, in connection with calls at other Sound ports.”

The most enduring and beloved boat seems to have been the steamboat/side-wheeler “Shady Side,” of which our archives have several images. It was called “one of the handsomest passenger-boats on Long Island Sound,” and it provided ferry service to Manhattan beginning in 1886. It burned apparently in 1931; we have a photograph of the wreck.

Read 'Ferries of Yesteryear'

2nd Annual Touch-A-Truck Event, Saturday, October 4 – mark your calendar!

Update 1:  Correction. This is the second Touch-A-Truck event.

On Saturday, October 4th the Stamford Historical Society will be hosting a Touch-A-Truck event from 1 – 4 p.m. in the afternoon.  In addition to the trucks, there will be free face-painting for the children.  “The little ones are so adorable,” says one of our teen face painters, “and the WWII halftrack was totally awesome last year.”  Drinks, healthy snacks, and baked goodies will be available for purchase.  Admission is $5/person. Children under 4 are admitted free.

New to the vehicle line-up this year is a military helicopter.  Visitors will be able to explore modern and historic fire engines along with a variety of construction trucks.  Young or old, come toot the horn on a “big rig.”

Download Press Release.pdf

A Tribute to John Scalzi

A few days ago we blogged Whitman Bailey's Old Swimming Hole, "Sandy Bottom," At Woodside Park and mentioned John Scalzi for whom the park was later named.

Since then, we have unearthed a 1963 tribute to John A. Scalzi, Jr. for the Old Timers' Athletic Association Annual Dinner brochure.

Download the tribute to John Scalzi.pdf

click on images to enlarge

Newsletter Stamford Pioneer, Summer 2008 Edition

The Summer 2008 edition of our quarterly newsletter, Stamford Pioneer, is available online now.

Download the newsletter.pdf

Look for Event Announcements, Volunteer Recognition, Chairman's Corner, Director's Report, and more.

View the related photo album: 2008 Dinner Dance Gala

The Summer 2008 edition of our quarterly newsletter, Stamford Pioneer, is available online now.

Download the newsletter.pdf

Look for Event Announcements, Volunteer Recognition, Chairman's Corner, Director's Report, and more.

View the related photo album: 2008 Dinner Dance Gala

Press Release: Stamford Historical Society Plans Urban Exhibit and Fund Raising Gala

Stamford Historical Society Plans Urban Exhibit and Fund Raising Gala

Download Press Release.pdf

Download Invitation.pdf

Old Swimming Hole, "Sandy Bottom," At Woodside Park – Whitman Bailey

A last look at summer sketched by Whitman Bailey:

Old Swimming Hole, "Sandy Bottom," at Woodside Park

Complete Newspaper Clipping of September 3, 1938 (PDF)