Congregation Church Fire - 1941

The disastrous fire that decimated the 170 year old Somers Congregational Church on New Year's Day shows the frailty of our historic New England wooden structures. East Hampton has not been immune to such tragedies. On November 4th a month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Congregational Church, a mainstay of our Village Center, erupted into flames. Unlike Somer’s fire, our own was not started from some unknown origin. Three painters from the Goodrich Construction Company of Cromwell were using blow torches to soften and remove old paint. Wood beneath clapboards ignited near the northwest corner of the church proper carrying undetected flames throughout the balloon framing. Their job was nearly complete when the workers noticed smoke coming from the belfry where the fire had spread into the attic.

Two of the painters ran across the street to the Barton Drug Company (now Devine Jewelers) to get a fire extinguisher. Paul "Pat" O’Connell, assistant fire chief, in his barber shop next door, went to the firehouse (located on Watrous St.) and sounded the siren twice. He drove the pumper to the church and went back for a second pumper, sounding a 12 alarm alert to which Middletown and Portland fire companies responded. Within 20 minutes the fire had spread through the roof of the north end of the church.

The judgment of the firefighters was to grab hold of ropes hanging from the steeple put up by the painters. With assistance of the gathered crowd, they were eventually able to pull the steeple into the church and away from the parish house; quick thinking that saved the parish house as a steady stream of water from the local mill ponds poured onto the north wall of the church. In 1976, I had the opportunity to climb into the church attic and inspect the Chestnut beams and charred wooden girders that remain not only rock solid today, but a tribute to the firemen who were able to preserve them 70 years ago.

Off to War - December 1941

Typical holiday festivities changed abruptly after the attack of Pearl Harbor followed on Dec. 8th by a declaration of war after President Roosevelt made his memorable address to the joint Congress "this day in infamy.".  Although instituted during the prior year, the "draft" began calling men for active military duty.  After my last article, a dear friend, Rita Clark, called to talk about those days. She told me her brother Bill Clark and Francis O'Connell were the first two locally called to active duty and were to report for training somewhere in the Carolina's.  Rita's mother inquired as to where that was?  We forget how small our world has become as media take us live to interview troops in Afghanistan, see the wedding of a future British Monarch, or witness the stirrings of Democracy in Cairo or the overthrow of a dictator in Benghazi, Lebanon. Bye the way, Mrs. Clark was informed that where the boys were going, they wouldn't need snow shovels! Locally a Defense Council was formed to prepare our community should military attacks occur.  Harlan Hills, First Selectman, was appointed General Chairman with Teresa Valli our Town Clerk as Secretary; along with chief air raid warden, Howard Engel; fire protection, Merton Weir and Paul O'Connell (fire chiefs); police protection, Samuel Wallis, Roy Hallberg and Gustave Dotzauer.  (Notice no police chief participated?  EH didn't have a police department unitl 1963.); women's activities, Maude Clark and Mrs. Theodore Thomas; medical and health, Dr. Norman Gardner, transportation, Clement Wall and Reuben Ostergren, publicity, Albert Ellis, emergency housing, Meritt Cornwell; evacuation, Herbert Wall and Mrs. Samuel Wallis, volunteer defense bureau, Mrs. Paul Garvey; communications, Al Romane; welfare, Ruth Hopkins; nutrition, Mabel Colson; recreation, Ernest Olson; child day care, Mrs. Ralph Thatcher; and civil defense units John Kane and David Enegren.  If Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy and the US  can all become staunch allies, there is certainly hope for our future! I wish you and your families well and may this season of peace prevail.

Pearl Harbor - 70 Years Later

In the summer of 1941 battles for local boys were limited to being picked off between 1st to 2nd as a member of the East Hampton Bombers in the Middlesex County baseball league or factory and clerk league. That abruptly changed 70 years ago!  On Sunday Dec. 7th, the Japanese Fleet  attacked and destroyed much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor killing over 2,000 soldiers, sailors and marines.  I asked my dad what was it like that day. He recalled not hearing about Pearl Harbor until later that evening.  As done on most Sunday afternoons, he was watching the latest release at the EH Movie Theater on North Main Street (Cabinet Shoppe).   Ironically, there was little or no news.  Unlike today with immediate access to nearly any situation, storm, tragedy or military engagement, communication was a much slower and tedious process in the 1940s.  Reports came only through military channels on encrypted teletype.  The classified transmission required decoding and evaluation, then hand delivered  to appropriate officials such as President Roosevelt. The press would be summoned and radio networks (television did not exist) set up broadcasting equipment for a press conference or national address. Though suddenly catapulted into war, U.S. leaders had been preparing for the worst.  Since 1939 when Hitler's army brutally attacked Poland and rolled across Europe, there had become a growing anticipation that soon America would be drawn into battle.  The local news article on July 1, 1941, reported: 17 Young Men Register with Draft Board 34 -  Joseph Becker, Rev. John Dalhman, Gabriel Frontel, Frederick Galvin, Franklin Gates, Philip Goff, Walter Grant, William Hand, Stephen Hansuld,  Chandler Hicks, John Hicks, Norman Lapiene, Frederick Leonard, Harold Nichols, John Panonessa, Francis Sherman and Raymond Strong. As they had prepared for a July 4th celebration that year with picnics and baseball,  I'm sure the last thing on their minds was the upheaval about to unfold.

The Origin of TV Criminal Pathology Investigation

Popular TV programs such as CSI, NCIS, or CSI Miami, with their investigators and medical examiners solving crimes from an autopsy, dates back to the 1970s show Quincy. In all likelihood however, they all have their origins from a novel written in 1975 entitled Autopsy by John Feegel. Born and raised in EH, John and brother Richard were the sons of Fred and Eva Feegel. Fred (Buddy), a resident state trooper, was known as the “Singing State Cop” performing as a tenor in local productions.

Dr. John Feegel was the medical examiner in Tampa Florida and pathologist and chief of staff at South Florida Baptist Hospital earning his MD from the University of Ottawa in 1960 and his JD degree in law in 1964 at the University of Denver and also taught forensic pathology at Emory College. Autopsy, Feegel’s first novel, brings out in subterfuge the names of people and places that may well be recognized locally. Generally the book was about a man from Florida who is found dead in a Middleburg Motel called “The Brownstone.”

 

Local names are woven into the story including Tampa attorney G. Markham Hurst, Medical Examiner Dr. Mark Campbell and Merton Hitchcock of Hitchcock's Funeral home. It is the character Campbell that presumably emulates the exploits of the author. Dr. Feegel, author of seven mystery novels, was recipient of the prestigious “Edgar” award presented by the Mystery Writers of America in 1976.

A celebrated pathologist, Feegel was the medical examiner in charge of the investigations in Atlanta concerning the deaths of 14 black children in 1980 and was retained by ABC as a consultant in the investigation into the death of Elvis Presley and subject of the television show 20/20 in December 1979 when it was speculated Presley’s death was drug related – big news 30 years ago!

John R. Feegel (1932-2003) wrote, in addition to Autopsy, Legal Aspects of Laboratory Medicine (1973), Death Sails the Bay (1978), The Dance Card (1981), Malpractice (1981), Not a Stranger (1983), and Death Among the Ruins (2002).

Tennis Chamption - Howard Taylor

Although St. Clements (now a banquet and conference center) is situated in Portland just west of Cobalt, its builder and original owner, Howard Taylor and thereafter his daughter Prudence Palmer and their families, solidly identified with the Middle Haddam and Cobalt areas of Chatham - not Conway, Gildersleve or Portland - tracing their ties back to 1721 when great grandfather John settled in Chatham. St. Clements' construction commenced in 1902 by Howard and Gertrude Taylor on a bluff overlooking the Connecticut River in a design reminiscent of European castles overlooking the Danube or Rhine.

Howard matriculated to Harvard University after preparing at St. Paul's School, graduating in 1885. At Harvard, Howard was a member of the Cricket Club and varsity Tennis Team. While at Harvard, Howard Taylor captured the NCAA singles and doubles tennis championship in 1883.

Over the decade of the 1880s, Howard played in the U.S. Nationals which began its tournament in 1881 at the Newport Casino on Bellevue Avenue, a stones throw away from the famous Newport cottages such as the Breakers, Marble House, or the Elms built by the Vanderbilt's, Astor's and other wealthy elite of the late 19th century.

Known today at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament played in Flushing Meadows, New York, this tennis equivalent of the Master's in golf, the World Series in baseball or the Super Bowl in football, is currently holding court ready to crown new champions. Taylor competed in the U.S. Nationals, being defeated in 1884 in the Men's Singles by Richard Sears and in 1888 by Henry Slocum. In 1886, Taylor and Godfrey Brinley were defeated in the U.S. National Men's Doubles by Richard Sears and Dr. James Dwight and also in 1887 when Taylor teamed up with Henry Slocum. But in 1889, Taylor and Slocum defeated Valentine hall and Oliver Campbell for the National Men's Doubles title.

A gentleman's sport, professional tennis players, like golfers, did not begin to flourish until 50 years hence with a total break from amateur champion not occurring until the 1950s.

Taylor, who never abandoned his love for the game, had courts constructed on the grounds of St. Clements, where he hosted a number of friends, colleagues and celebrities.

I thank my daughter, Nicole F. Markham, Curator of Collections at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport for suggesting this topic to me.

The End of Summer - Baseball Brothers

Although not officially summer's end, Labor Day puts an indelible impression of it coming demised and heralds the end of another baseball season. Previously writing about East Hampton baseball brother acts, the Bransfield boys - Hal, Jake, Ed and Bill - were not an exclusive club. Ozzie and Gabe Frontel, a twosome played for the Belltown Bombers and joined brother John and Joe in the town's factory / clerk league. Before the age of TV, computers, video games, and all our modern distractions, getting out to play baseball or do other activities such as swim in Lake Pocotopaug was the norm and many played in the factory league as practice for the Middlesex County League. Other brothers included Gerald and Tom Wall and brother-in-law Vinnie "Swede" Nelson and the Wylie's - Sam and Willie. In 1937, Tom Wall, Managed and played center field for a team that started slow but finished with a winning record despite the fact that Manager Wall was sidelined in August with appendicitis.

Tom Wall was Dennis Wall's dad. Dennis is now the Democratic candidate for Zoning Board of Appeals. What else would he be. Dennis's grandfather James was a Democrat elected as a Selectman for several terms in the 1940s and 1950s. Gerald, better known by his nickname "Butch," was the Manager and head bartender for O'Neill's Tavern when Bill was politicking in Hartford as State Representative up until the time he was elected Lt. Governor in 1978.

And baseball, like the flowers, blooms in the spring. In the second game of 1938, on May 16th, "Don Mack opened the game on the mound for the locals and lasted until the beginning of the seventh inning, when he was yanked by Manager dick Ferrari and was relieved by Gabriel Frontel, a young left-hander who finished the game in good style," making his debut that Sunday afternoon.

Gabe, husband of Christine, who is my mother Pauline's sister, are still going strong, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year.

Boys of Summer - The Bransfield Brothers

Baseball, at least in Belltown, often became a family affair. From the 1890s through the 1950s, the summer sport would see fathers who were succeeded by sons, or brother acts, such as the Bransfield's, dominate the diamond. Harold "Hal", Paul "Jake", William "Bill" and Edward "Ed" played side by side for the Belltown Bombers, in games that usually took place on weekends. They "practiced" in the East Hampton factory league playing along side brother John, Joe and Jim. And not to be outdone, sisters Ellen, Marion and Marge were active in ladies softball. The Middlesex County League was important for the Towns pride, but several of the factories, including Bevin Brothers, Gong Bell, Summit Thread and N.N. Hills Brass had a twilight league that more than 125 men participated in. It served as training for new talent or where semi-retired players could get some activity after they left the Bombers.



In the County League, I've been told that Hal Bransfield was one of the best to play the game, yet Paul, know as "Jake" with a .410 average, received the M. J. Higgins loving cup as the leading hitter in 1937. Brother Bill hit .342 that same year (sixth best in the league).

I remember Harold or as everyone called him, "Brandy" as the Assistant Post Master, who had begun his career as a postal clerk around 1926. I met him in 1961 when by father Donald was appointed by President Kennedy to succeed retiring Post Master Forest Thatcher. I remember this wiry elder. Little did I know he was one of the greats!

Brother Joe also worked at the Post Office as a rural carrier and would stop with his wife Connie for dinner or an ice cream sundae at Thatcher Drug. Working the old soda fountain, townspeople would be greeted and served by Mary Ann (Nichols) Wall, Donna (Skinner) Mitchell, Carol (Christopher) Hart or me (at least between 1964 to 1966), the blue plate special, a hamburger or a hot fudge sundae after a hard days work.