From 1910: Middletown Council to Meet Tonight

Below are extracts from an article published exactly 100 years ago today, on April 4, 1910. It seems that there were disputes then, as there are today, over the authority of the Mayor in ficscal and management matters.

The photograph is of a postcard from 1907. It shows the courthouse on Main Street.

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Several Matters of Importance to Come Up

Several matters of importance are expected to come up at the monthly meeting of the common council tonight, and it would not be surprising there should be some interesting developments. Since the last meeting of the council, Mayor Fisher has made known his stand on the Sunday closing law and has enforced it, and by so doing he has caused considerable dissension among the ranks of his own party. Councilman John Boylan, who until recently was one of the mayor's staunchest political friends, has been the most aggrieved by the mayor's action, and has threatened to resign, although he has not yet done so. It is understood that several other democratic councilmen are also quite wrought up over the Sunday closing matter, and speculation is rife as to whether the mayor's action will be brought up tonight. The row over the purchase of three new horses for the hook and ladder truck, without the authority of the council, or without consulting the fire chief, will come up for an airing. The members of the fire committee are all democrats. It is understood that the mayor did not approve of this action, when it came to his knowledge, and whether the committee will get a "call down" remains to be seen. Other matters that are to come before the attention of the council are those of the report of the Hale shortage, the accident to the fire truck, and the collection of back taxes, action on the resignation of two policemen and the Washington Green Improvements. Mayor Fisher has been away on a lecture tour through New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the past ten days, but is expected back today.

Clerks Entertain Carriers

The local post office clerks officially opened their new swing room in the post office building Saturday night, by pleasantly entertaining the carriers on both the city and rural routes. There was an attendance of about twenty-five, and the feature was a pinochle game between the clerks and the carriers, which was won by the latter. There were musical selections by the Post Office Banjo Club, after which refreshments were served, and cigars passed around.

Notes

The annual dance of the Middletown Social Club was held Saturday in Armory Hall and was largely attended.

A.N. Pierson of Cromwell, the florist, sails for Europe today for a vacation of two months.

Commencing with today the freights on the Valley Branch will be restored to the schedule which existed in 1908 and which was most satisfactory. This will mean two freights each way, daily, instead of only one which has been the order for the past two years.