From 1896: Took Poultry Prizes - A Cider Shower - Fenwick Hall Cases

The following article is from exactly 115 years ago today, published on February 20, 1896 in teh Hartford Courant. The Brahma breeds of chicken are known for being large and cold-hardy, they are an all-purpose breed good for both eggs and meat. The image of the Dark Brahma is from Cassell's 'Illustrated Book of Poultry' edited by Lewis Wright (1838-1905), illustration by J.W. Ludlow.

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Captain W.A. Pease of South Farms has had remarkable success this winter at poultry shows, winning in every case several valuable prizes. At the recent exhibit of the American Poultry Association at Washington, D.C., his dark Brahmas won all the first prizes.

The students are very amused at the reasons which the Rev. W.W. Peck, Wesleyan, ‘95, of Wallingford gives for leaving the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Peck says he wants more freedom.

A popular clerk in a Main street store invited, as the story goes, several members of a local whist club, to a party at his house. It seems that he had last fall put in a keg of cider. The cider froze during the last cold snap and he had carried it ot the attic to thaw out. While the party was busy playing cards, there was a loud explosion in the upper part of the house. Nothing was thought of it until the cider came trickling through the ceiling upon the garments of the players.

Governor Coffin is not expected home from Washington until next Monday, and consequently will not attend the meeting of the trustees of the school for boys at Meriden to-morrow.

The interior of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank is being extensively altered. A metal ceiling is being put in and the fittings of the office are of new and modern pattern.

The shareholders of the Building & Loan Association, at their meeting Tuesday evening, renominated the old board of officers, who will be elected March 17.

The following attended the department of the G.A.R. at Norwich, from this city: A.G. McKee, Major John C. Brontch, F.D. Brewater, Joseph Ketzel, C.D. Rico, A.-O. Reed and Michael Dunn.

The Mansfield Guard has been forced to abandon the idea of forming a basketball team, as the armor was found unsuitable in which to play. A committee, composed of Corporals Fenn and Hamilton and Private Kidney, has been appointed to arrange for a smoker, which is to be tendered to Company K of Wallingford in this city at an early day. The guard has also had to abandon the idea of giving a dance Easter Monday night as the armory has been rented to Brigg’s Band for that night.

Allen Redford, the young son of George Redford, is becoming noted as a heavy-weight lifter. Although still in his teens, he can easily lift 175 pounds with one hand.

Miss May Vinal, niece of ex-Mayor Vinal, gave a charade party Tuesday evening. Eighteen couples were present.

There is one Fenwick Hall case about to be settled so far as this trial is concerned. In the appeal of the company from the assessors all the testimony and arguments are in, but Judge Hall has withheld his decision. The other case, the bridge case, will be argued March 4.

Fred S. Hall of East Hampton, a nephew of Amelia Ann Hall, has been appointed as the trustee of her property. The petition of the selectmen of the town of Chatham to have a conservator appointed has been withdrawn.

A meeting of the University Club will be held at the Psi U Chapter home, Saturday evening, February 29. Dr. Buckham, the president of the University of Vermont, will give an address on “Oxford, University and Colleges.”

During Lent there will be held at Holy Trinity Church a twenty-minute prayer service, at 12 o’clock each day, Saturdays excepted. During Passion week the rector, the Rev. E.C. Acheson, will give a series of ‘short’ addresses and the bishop during holy week.

Silas Meltre, a prominent consulting architect of New York, gives a lecture this evening in Holy Trinity chapel on “Religious Architecture.”