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March 7, 1917 – Old Wallace Stack is Being Torn Down
Old Landmark, 204 feet High, Has Been Standing Since Year 1875 Work of demolishing the old Wallace stack, 204 feet high and over forty years old, was begun yesterday. The…
Read MoreDecember 23, 1907 – Annual Letter comes from Santa Claus
St. James Sewing School had its Christmas entertainment in the Sunday school room, on Saturday afternoon. There were present one hundred and forty children, all scholars in the school and…
Read MoreMarch 30, 1907 – Maj. W. F. Osborne Died Suddenly To-Day
Maj. Wilbur F. Osborne died at his home on Hawthorne Avenue, Derby, this morning very suddenly. Mr. Osborne was taken ill with stomach trouble on Monday and was compelled to…
Read MoreMarch 15, 1907 – Many Improvements at Bassett House
The fact that the Bassett House1 is to be reopened for business on Tuesday evening next when a reception is to be given so that the people of the city may…
Read MoreThe Dutch in the Housatonic Valley
(Originally written in July 1998 by Former Executive Director, Robert Novak Jr. for the weekly newspaper Huntington Herald) Imagine the scene, not long after the year 1614 – The waters…
Read MoreThe Derby Silver Company
The Derby Silver Company was founded in 1872, and began operations on Shelton’s Canal Street one year later. The company soon outgrew its quarters and constructed a larger building, which…
Read MoreDavid Humphreys – In His Own Words
A speech by Derby Historical Society Executive Director Robert Novak Jr., at the 52nd commemoration of Roger Sherman and David Humphreys, at the David Humphreys gravesite at Grove Street Cemetery in…
Read MoreThe Creation of the City of Ansonia and Today’s Valley in 1888-1889
(originally written in March and April of 2003 by Robert Novak Jr. for the weekly newspaper Huntington Herald) Part I In November of 1888, a series of events began across…
Read MoreHow Ansonia came to be and Received its Name
From the book – History of Derby, Connecticut 1642-1880Published in 1880 by Rev. Samuel Orcutt & Dr. Ambrose Beardsley * Asterisks indicate insertions made by the Derby Historical Society After Birmingham…
Read MoreWilliam Adams Textile Manufacturing Chronology
by William Adams Hunter 1826 – William Adams immigrates to New York City 1829 – William Adams opens handloom in attic at West 4th Street 1832 – Formal business is…
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