100 Years Ago – Jan. 3, 1913
The Punchard teachers were very pleasantly entertained on New Year’s Eve at the home of Principal Hamblin.
Mrs. John Morrill is teaching at the Bailey School, taking the place of Miss Violet Oates, who has resigned.
The body of Charles McPhail of Putnam, Conn., who died on Dec. 22, was brought to Andover last week for burial.
The attractive furniture shown in the views of “Hillside” in last week’s Townsman, was all supplied by Buchan & Francis.
William Donald and family are moving into their newly built house on Wolcott Avenue.
The Barnstormers are busily preparing for their next performance, which will be Sheridan’s “School for Scandal.” The play will be presented some time in February.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 31, 1937
Andover’s annual pre-election campaign, which started simmering earlier than usual this year, is expected to get going at full blast within the next few weeks. Present indications point to the tax collectorship as the most eagerly sought after prize, with William H. Cheever, one of the unbeatables, planning to retire when the new man is elected.
Many Andover residents will join on Monday in the rush expected at the Armory in Lawrence when registration for unemployment compensation will take place. Charles Bowman of Park Street will have one of the important posts on the working of the new law.
Principal Lottie Pettingill of the Rebekah assembly and the deputy district marshal and staff will be present at the Rebekah meeting on Monday night. Supper will be served at 6:30. Any member wishing to go should notify the noble grand or vice grand.
A New Years’s Eve show is to be presented tonight, starting at 11:30, at the Andover Playhouse. A complete new program is to be presented, and will not be repeated at the theater. In addition to the pictures, featuring “The Merry-Go-Round of 1938,” there will be a stage show by local and professional talent.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 3, 1963
The extremely cold weather, with gale force winds took its toll among local establishments and caused inconvenience and damage among residential properties as well. Reports of frozen water pipes were commonplace Monday. But fortunately few homes were without power to keep their boilers running. The Elm Farm supermarket in the Shawsheen Plaza suffered a crippling loss Monday when major water lines above the false ceiling burst, and flooded the store with water.
Firefighters fought a short but bitter battle against a partition fire at 19 Cuba St. at 10:42 Sunday night. They responded to box 564, on call from Joseph Sweeney, owner of the property. Deputy Fire Chief Albert Cole Jr., said the fire was in a partition in a bathroom.
Urban Renewal takes the spotlight as the top news story of 1962 for continuing interest and sheer magnitude of the proposal. But additionally the town saw many changes, witnessed many activities during the last 52 weeks. Politically, of course, the upset win of Vincent P. Davey, by seven votes over Mrs. Reta Buchan was the story of the year.
25 Years Ago — Dec. 30, 1987
Things went as expected last year, according to Town Manager Kenneth Mahony. “There was a little more action in the comprehensive permit area, but I wasn’t really surprised,” said Mahony. Eight affordable housing projects proposed for Andover were featured in headlines all summer.
One of last year’s goals—the Riverina pumping station—has been realized. The station needs two more weeks of work before it’s completely ready for operation, although its official opening was Saturday, Dec. 12.
Training at the police station is on-going, Mahony said, and he thinks the department will receive accreditation during 1988.
The Shawsheen Village Woman’s Club creative arts department held its annual Christmas party Dec. 8, at the home of Mrs. Anthony Mottolo. Sixteen members attended. Mrs. Helen Wainwright, co-hostess, provided a shrimp dip and everyone enjoyed crackers, cheese and wine. Recipes were also swapped.
The November Club will hold its first meeting of the new year Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. at Christ Church Parish Hall. Mrs. John T. Bangert and Mrs. Anthony Sakowich will greet members and their guests. Mrs. Ralph H. Hill will provide the tea table arrangement and Mrs. Charles MacKenzie and Mrs. John C. McClement will be pourers.
