Tony Bracha - Old Friend

My old friend, Anthony J. Bracha, passed away Wednesday at the ripe old age of 93. Known as “Tony” to one and all, he and his wife Ethel took up residence in the mid 1970s in their once summer cottage on Lake Drive in East Hampton, departing his home town of New Britain. Although retiring as an UAW Organizing Representative in 1977, life was just beginning for this affable fellow. Lifelong Democrats, Tony and Ethel became involved in local politics and within months, Tony was elected with his Democratic running mates, Eaton E. Smith and Rowland Beauleau, Sr. as majority members of our Board of Selectmen.

From East Hampton Democrats campaign brochure in 1977.

Tony at Democratic Headquarters.

Along with the likes of Gov. William “Bill” O’Neill, Raymond “Deke” Thatcher, Eaton E. Smith, my parents Donald and Pauline Markham, and some other friends such as William “Bill” MacDonald, John O’Neil, Charles Nichols and Anthony “Tony” Flannery, Tony Bracha was one of my early political mentors. As I look back at my own experiences and success, I am eternally grateful to the many, many people who worked for my campaigns, contributed funds, knocked on doors, and cooked or served meals for our famous “All you can eat for $5 - family spaghetti dinners!”

Paul and Elaine Puzzo cooking spaghetti in 1984.

Tony also played a very instrumental role that likely made a significant difference in my first campaign in 1978 and in the primary I faced in 1980. In 1978, Tony graciously took me to meet John Flynn, President of the United Auto Workers, lobbying him to support my candidacy. With Tony’s personal support, the UAW endorsed my candidacy, and that I’m convinced, made a significant difference in that first Legislative race.

Memorial Day Parade, 1979, l to r, Rep. Dean Markham, unknown, Selectmen Eaton E. Smith, Anthony J. Bracha, Chief Administrative Officer Eugene Shiller, Board of Finance Chairman James Standish, Selectmen Everett Breace and Mary Ann Barton.

Survived by a loving and caring family of his three daughters and son-in-laws, Patricia and Timothy Kaider who reside in Pennsylvania, Diane and Donald DeFronzo who reside in New Britain and our dear friends, Elaine and Paul Puzzo who reside in East Hampton, Tony also has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Recognizing Tony's retirement from the Board of Selectmen as he and Ethel prepare to move to Florida. Held in Tony's arms is David DeFronzo, son of State Senator Donald DeFronzo and his wife Diane Bracha DeFronzo.

Tony loved to fish. In fact, there have been times when he ventured out upon Lake Pocotopaug as dusk and after several hours, and the pitch black of night enveloping the lake, Elaine would become a bit agitated, strongly suggesting that Paul take the boat out and tow him back to the dock. Inevitably, Tony would pull up dockside with a string of fish. All was well.

Tony’s family and friends will miss him. But we don’t shed tears, but rather smile at having the privilege having known him.

The Moodus Noises

The horrendous and tragic explosion at the Kleen Energy Plant in Middletown Sunday February 7th touched us all. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families of those men who lost their lives and for a speedy recover to the many injured. And we can all be thankful and appreciative at the splendid and dedicated emergency response personnel – fire, police and medical – and the emergency crisis team at Middlesex Hospital and throughout our State for their swift and prepared action.

Each of us will retain our own memories of the blast and I’m sure they will become a topic of conversation, probably not on the same scale as where were you or what we you doing when you heard John F. Kennedy had been shot, but important in a local sense. As for me, I was engrossed in Pastor Shelly Timber’s sermon at Haddam Neck Covenant Church. The Church, located on Haddam Neck Road high over the Connecticut River Valley is just a few short miles away from the River Road site. With a momentary lull in the sermon, I and others winced, looking out the windows and speculating as to what might have occurred. To my wife Debbie and me, the blast reminded us of a natural phenomenon periodically experienced in our town - the Moodus Noises!

Long before colonial times, the rumblings emanating in the area where East Hampton, East Haddam and Haddam converge at the Salmon River, probably put the same fright into the populous that the gas explosion caused, albeit without the same loss of life or property damage. Named “Matchitmoodus” by our Native American predecessors, the rumblings surely caused them to ruminate on what they perceived as the voice of the supernatural. Literally translated as “Place of Bad Noises,” the area was supposedly the dwelling place of Hobomoko, their sinister god who was forever plaguing mankind and spoke to them in tones of thunder. Today, geologists explain precisely what occurs. As rock solid as this New England area is, we sit on a geological fault line. As such, periodic shifting of the earth’s crust results in small, but at times loud, tremors that have been thought to amplify from a local cave on the hillside to the east of the Cave Hill Camp.

The last significant shake occurred in the mid 1980s where numerous residents reported picture frames falling off the walls.

I also find that my great, great grandfather, Francis W. Markham (b. 1836 in East Hampton) had studied the “Moodus Noises” since he was a young boy and had been quoted in an article on “Volcanic and Seismic Disturbances in Southern Connecticut,” which appeared in the Connecticut Magazine Vol. IX, pp. 68-74 in the 1890s. He says of the “Moodus Noises”:
“It has long been a belief of my own, which has come to me after some years of study, that the famous ‘Moodus Noises’ was a result of, and connected with, the great volcanic eruptions and seismic disturbances in ancient days. Not a few people in our State today will pronounce these noises to be a myth; a tradition which has no foundation in fact, but simply a superstition of the fathers. Such persons are wholly wrong. The did exist and are matters of record in history, and many now living can testify to having passed through experiences with them……”
“I may be pardoned from mentioning I was about eight years old, when living in southern Chatham, East Hampton Society. It was a black, stormy night in January. My father and mother [Hiram and Laura Markham] were making an evening call on a neighbor and the boy was alone with his grandmother. Early in the evening, without a moment’s warning, there came what seemed to be a tremendous rattle of stones on the southern wall and roof of the house [this is the same house sited in my previous blog article located at 95 Young Street]. Chairs and other furniture were dancing about; dishes were tossed up and down. Every instant those stones were expected to break through. Consternation prevailed and the frightened lad sought the protecting arms of his paternal relative. She, good lady, did not say a word, but her face whitened, lips tightened and she was frightened, as well as myself. The discharge lasted only for a minute or two and suddenly ceased. After only a small space of time the battery opened again, but now it was not so loud, so fierce in its attack and soon died away altogether. The next hour we spent together was a miserable one, expecting at any minute a reappearance of the apparent deluge of stones. One central idea in a boy’s brain remains at the present, and that was the end of the world was at hand.”
“Soon after nine father and mother came home, and the still agitated old lady questioned her son, ‘Did you hear those dreadful noises an hour ago?’ ‘Certainly mother.’ ‘And what were they?’ ‘Why, don’t you know?’ ‘Those were the Moodus noises.’ Immediately gentle peace descended and rested upon that disturbed household.”

Francis Wells and Mary Elizabeth Ackley Markham at the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary on February 14, 1908, at their home at 95 Young Street.

Suggestions from Friends and Readers

I appreciate the kind words of support and genuine interest so many have conveyed concerning recent articles about our history. Having compiled a substantial list of topics, I have been pleasantly surprised by the frequent suggestions that have added to it. For example, Richard McKinney and Paula Free, the former working at the many factories in town such as Artistic Wire and Bevin Bros., and the latter, hanging after school at Barton’s Soda Shop, will provide some future stories.

The picture of Barton Drug, operated by Hubert Hodge for many years, became Barton's Soda Shop. Today this is the location of Devine Jewelers

Jim and Jill Swindal and Don Martin corrected facts on the age or ownership of their homes (much appreciated) and then there is Barbara Doherty. Barbara thought her house at 95 Young Street should have been on a list of homes built prior to 1799. My previous research taken from several studies of old EH homes had not revealed this. She had sent me a delightful email about her house and some history of her family in Town. Her grandparents had a cottage at the corner of Ola Avenue and Cornwell Terrace since the 1920s. Her parents, Michael and Beatrice Kripas were married at the Kayrock Inn in the early 1940s. Some of her stories and topics I plan to use in the future. But the heart of the matter was her house. I began to do a title search attempting to quantify the date it was constructed. To my surprise, my great-great-great grandfather, Hiram Markham had once owned this house. The builder however appears to be Clement Bates, and yes, around 1750.

Home of Barbara Doherty at 95 Young Street

A Middletown taxpayer/landholder, Bates received one of the proprietor grants in the distribution of the 3-mile Division creating Chatham. So, I thank all of you and greatly appreciate your kind words and assistance and will continue to fulfill this creative urge by ferreting out additional information about our community.

Venture Smith - Africian Yankee

Chatham, Haddam Neck and East Haddam in the late 18th century all shared the industriousness of neighbor and friend, Venture Smith. Born “about 1729,” the son of Saungm Furro, the king of Dukandarra, in Guinea, West Africa, he was the equivalent of a “Crown Prince.” Captured by the ruler of a neighboring land, Smith, then a 7 year old boy, was sold into slavery, sent on a slave ship first to Barbados, finally ending up in Rhode Island. His African name Broteer was changed to Venture during this ordeal. Enduring a long and arduous life and being sold several times until a Colonel O. Smith bought him at age 31, who permitted Venture to purchase his own freedom, though on terms that yielded an exorbitant profit. Working on Fishers Island and Long Island for several more years he earned enough to purchase the freedom of his wife Marget and 3 children. At age 47, Venture sold his Long Island property and moved to East Haddam, finally buying 10 acres in Haddam Neck were he engaged in numerous businesses including owning a score of boats and sailing vessels. Smith wrote his autobiography in 1798 and lived to the year 1805.

One of his many stories related to the day he married Marget in 1751. Apparently, he threw a rope over his master’s house and told Marget to pull on one end, while he pulled on the other. Neither budged the rope. Then he called her to his side of the house, and together they pulled it off in a jiffy. He then told her, “Marget, if we pull in life against each other, we shall fail; but if we pull together we shall succeed.” And so, together they pulled all through their difficult life and their mutual affection continued to the end.

Our First Meeting Hall - Seibert's Opera House

Basketball, musical shows and town meetings! You might wonder what all these have in common. There has been talk recently to build a new town hall, take over center school and even construct a new school. But prior to 1913, we had no town hall and prior to 1939 when the high school was constructed (the Center School), no schools had gymnasiums. In 1913, the Town voted to convert the center grammar school (the current Board of Ed. Offices) to a Town Hall. So where did local teams play basketball? At Seibert’s Opera House of course. And where were theatrical productions and musical shows performed? At Seibert’s Opera House of course. And where were East Hampton Town Meetings held? You guessed it! So where is Seibert’s Opera House? It still exists located on the corner of Main Street and Walnut Street opposite Center Package Store and across from the Board of Ed. Building.

In recent years, the second story hall was converted to apartments, but in the late 19th and well into the 20th century, this was used for numerous community activities. One of the last public events occurred in 1985 when the Democratic Town Committee sponsored a Valentine’s dance. I recall it being a very cold February night and all the guests were waiting in anticipation for our home town friend, Governor Bill O’Neill. The Governor was running late. Ironically, a group of labor protestors were outside picketing, probably over some budget crisis. I suspect Governor O’Neill took his time coming from other stops on his schedule to let the protestors cool their heels. By the time he arrived around 10:30 p.m., demonstrators and a TV News Team that had been waiting to capture the confrontation had left, which was fine with all the home town folks since the protestors had been an unwanted intrusion to those of us in attendance anyways.

Sears Park - 100 Year Old Gift

On Saturday January 8, 1910, exactly 100 years ago today at a Special Town Meeting, the citizens of Chatham, voted to accept a most generous gift of 3.93 acres of land from the heirs of Stephen G. Sears on Lake Pocotopaug, creating “Sears Park.”

Recently, our Park and Recreation Department has begun planning a 100th Anniversary Celebration of “Sears Park” to unfold later this year and all are welcome as volunteers to assist with the festivities. You could make a difference to our community by joining the committee and contributing valuable commodities - your time and talent.

Much more will be written documenting the centennial span of Sears Park in coming months, but today’s date, coinciding with the acceptance by the people of Chatham (our name wasn’t changed to East Hampton until 1913), served as a wonderful reminder of certain aspects here that enhance our quality of life. Many communities glare with envy at this wonderful asset, the panoramic views all can enjoy from the casino (as it was originally called) deck overlooking the seven hills of East Hampton or just lounging on the beach.

Up until the late 1960s, there were several concession stands operated along the southerly boundary line but these were demolished after an additional piece of property was acquired in 1968 from the Estate of Mary K. Nichols. The excursion boat moored here was one of several on Lake.

The outcome at that meeting in 1910 was obvious. Our forebearer’s valued the pristine waters of the Great Pond, Lake Pocotopaug, as described in the deed to the Town’s original settler, James Wright, from which this Sears plot of land emanated.

Sears Park’s value is explicably tethered to the abutting but fragile Lake Pocotopaug, which too needs our immediate attention. To once again enjoy crystal clear waters as seen in 1910, to witness a summer where the algae has not turned our Lake pea green, to once again have fresh water mussels abound and crayfish dwell along the rocky shores will take the voices and diligent efforts of us all. It will take every property owner in the Lake watershed to abate harmful fertilizers. The new “green” isn’t a lawn! It’s a way of preserving planet Earth and I for one Lake Pocotopaug.

Wreaths Across American - Remembering Veterans

At the Wreaths Across America ceremony Saturday, with the icy wind blowing against my back, my thoughts drifted to memories of high school and friends whose names are now engraved in granite. The Veterans Book of Names Memorial across from the VFW on North Main Steet honors men from East Hampton who gave the ultimate sacrifice in combat fighting for our freedom. Listed were Clarence Treadway and Patrick A. Cavanaugh from WW I; Raymond Fowler, Herbert Dix, Raymond Jones, Russell Strong, and Thomas Park WW II; Milton E. Nichols, Korea; and James H. Banning, Jr., Bernd U. Bachleda and David M. Swan, Vietnam. My thoughts were focused on the those who died in Vietnam. EH is a small, close-knit town. In the 60s, we only had a population near 5,000 and most everyone knew everyone else. At EHHS even if you didn’t know all the kids personally, you knew there faces. But I knew these three.

Jimmy Banning, a year older than me, lived around the corner on Forest Street. We were in Boy Scouts together and had gone to summer camp at Camp Tadma. He was our paper boy delivering the afternoon Middletown Press. I remember him having a great sense of humor. After graduation in 1965, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp.

From EHHS Class of 1965 yearbook - the Oracle

Bernie Bachleda who lived on Main Street, moved to EH in 1964. Bernie’s favorite sport was football and he would be at the Center School Grounds kicking a football up and down the field waiting for others to join in a pick-up game. Bernie was a great athlete and a star fullback on our 1965 soccer team that went to the State Championship. Bernie enlisted in the Army shortly after graduation in 1966, intending to follow in his father’s footsteps as a career Army officer.

From EHHS Class of 1966 yearbook - the Oracle

David Swan who graduated in 1967 was drafted into the Army as part of the massive call-up for Vietnam. He grew up on Abby Road. We played Little League Baseball, he on the Braves and me on the Cards. It still makes me sad and angry that these men lost their lives at such an early age.

From EHHS Class of 1967 yearbook - the Oracle - courtesy of Jean Barton '68

I, as well as all of us in East Hampton, should thank Linda Wallace for the tremendous effort to organize the Wreaths Across America program. Special thanks to the VFW Color Guard and all who participated including fifers Jennifer Jansenski and Karen Johansmeyer from the 3rd CT Regiment Fife and Drum Corp and remarks by Kathy Barber, President of the Ladies Auxiliary, Chaplain Laura Schnactner and Quartermaster Bruce Wark, VFW Post 5095.

Placing Memorial Wreaths at the East Hampton Veterans Memorial Monument representing the seven branches of the armed services were: EH VFW Post 5095 members from WW II Donald Tedford and Dennis Erickson and from the Cold War Rolland Jackson; Joyce Chamis, Ladies Auxiliary of VFW, Chief of Staff, District 6; Jody Drumeer, VFW Auxiliary and VFW State Teacher of the Year 2007; Robert Hodeson, Retired Chief Petty Officer Coast Guard and VFW State Teacher of the Year 2008; Kathleen Payne of Glastonbury, a member of the Nathan Hale Memorial Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. A special memorial wreath was laid in honor of Gov. William A. O'Neill, a former East Hampton resident who passed away in 2007. O'Neill had served a a tail gunner in the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Air Force.


It was a moving and well deserved tribute. I invite you to stop by the Memorial and be a part of local history.