Portland... On the Move

Issue 81 ~ News from your Town Hall ~ October 2000

The Fair Returns! Free Trigger Locks! Breast Cancer Awareness!

 

Portland Agricultural Fair October 6, 7 & 8      The return of the Portland Agricultural Fair is like the resurrection of another time. A simpler time. When hard working New Englanders tended their herds and fields, and proudly displayed the fruit of their labors.      The return is well timed. For the past few years many efforts have tried to recapture the essential Portland/Chatham of long ago. Not that the essence was entirely lost. Previous centuries have always lingered in the air here, like a shadow felt but barely seen.      The achievements thus far are plentiful: The acquisition of the quarries (now designated a National Historic Landmark), the renovations of Callander House Museum by the Historical Society, our own monthly articles by Doris Sherrow, along with the efforts of countless others, are bringing Portland’s heritage to the forefront. And the efforts are being noticed. PBS is including the Portland quarries in an episode of Positively Connecticut!      And lest we forget (from lack of inconvenience), even the Arrigoni bridge has been painted, and looks like new.      But the fair is something different. It’s about people having fun, a hands-on experience of what life was like for residents of Portland a hundred years ago. Booths and tents. Mooing and bleating. The smoky waft of grilled sausage, onions and peppers. Trodden straw under foot. Flower and art displays. Canned goods. Pastries you can barely resist. Clever needlework and crafts. And the obligatory stamping hooves of the horse and cattle pull. (Dare we forget the gruff, familiar drone of the announcer’s voice?)      Help celebrate the return of this nostalgic Portland tradition. Come and indulge in the many treats that await you. Meet your friends there. Make new friends as well.      Overalls, flannel shirts and straw hats are not mandatory, but certainly welcomed. Columbus Day      When Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492, he was searching for a direct route to the Spice Islands off Indonesia. There was a strong demand for spices in Europe at that time, because many foods were barely palatable and a little spice improved flavor, especially of meats and other foods prone to spoil. Pepper was particularly prized. In fact, many small towns kept their accounts in pepper, and dock workers had to have their pockets sewn shut when unloading such cargo. (Some historians believe that spice traders could charge a 30,000 percent markup).      Although Columbus discovered new lands, he realized that Queen Isabella of Spain – the sponsor of his expedition – would be disappointed if he did not return with spices. He found allspice in the West Indies and fruits of the capsicum family, which has a fiery taste like pepper. He called them "peppers," a name that is still with us.

Free Trigger Locks  Available at Portland Fair! October 7, 2 - 6 p.m. By: Dean Jacques, Dir. of Social Services      The Portland Police Department will be handing out free trigger locks to local residents at the newly recovered Portland Fair!      These locks have been donated by the Salvation Army Corps of Hartford county.      Another distribution is being planned for the spring, coordinated by a civic minded young Portlandite named Justin Ballinger, who is trying to earn his eagle scout badge.      "Trigger locks are not the final answer to gun control, but they offer a good start," says Lt. Ron Milardo, Portland Police. "Gun owners need to know that they are responsible for the safety of their weapons, especially when children are in the house."      The Police Department has a strong interest in public safety, which is why they agreed to be the vehicle for this program, handing out the trigger locks and explaining how to use them. While there is some validity in the maxim that "guns don’t kill people; people kill people," it is also true that "people often kill people… with guns." There have been too many personal tragedies to ignore the constant danger.      The Salvation Army of Hartford, which is providing 100 free locks, has long supported the citizens of Portland and neighboring towns. Just last year they paid for a series of workshops entitled The Challenge of Coping with Later Life, led by F. Marcus Brown. They also provide a voucher system that helps needy people with such benefits as a yearly clothing allowance. They provide these services through our own Department of Social Services.      Justin Ballinger, a Boy Scout and member of the NRA, is in the process of obtaining free gun locks from the National Shooting Association, for a distribution project in the spring. "You can use these locks on all kinds of guns," he explained. "And it’s important that gun owners use them! You can’t gun proof your child, but you can child proof your gun."      Even though his project is still some months away, Justin will be at the fair’s distribution site, along with other scouts, to demonstrate their support.      We at the Town Hall encourage resident gun owners to take advantage of this program, and do everything they can to make gun owning as safe as possible.      Please note: The distribution will be at the fair grounds on Saturday, October 7, between 2 and 6 PM.

 

By: Doris Sherrow Center Cemetery      On October 22 (rain date: October 29), I will be leading a walking tour through Center Cemetery for the Portland Historical Society. When I agreed to do this about a year ago, I knew nothing about Center Cemetery, and its layout makes it sort of hard to get a grasp on. Fortunately, Di Longley of the Middlesex County Historical Society had some research materials from tours she had given, and the late Stanley Clark had compiled a complete listing of every grave in the oldest section, with its row number and position, which I could study.      When Portland was first settled in the late 1600s, it had no cemetery of its own. The dead were ferried back across the Connecticut River to be buried in Middletown's Riverside Cemetery. When 15-year-old Samuel Hall died in February of 1713, his influential father, who lived at 478 Main Street, had a cemetery established on the common ground at the end of Commerce Street, which was considerably longer then than it is now. Young Hall became the first settler to be buried on the east side of the river.      For years Portland families laid their loved ones to rest there, only occasionally going back to Riverside Cemetery in Middletown where earlier ancestors might lie. Then in 1767, a new burying ground was established on Bartlet Street Extension. Why?      I think the answer lies in the desire of Rev. Moses Bartlet's family and parishioners to bury him near his home and the church he had served for 32 years. I suspect that his was the first grave in the new cemetery. He died on December 27, 1766. On January 24, 1767 William Bartlet, his son, deeded a piece of land, which he had recently purchased from the Wangunk Indian reservation, to the Congregational Church for use as a burying ground.      Although Bartlet could also have been buried in the old Commerce Street Burying Ground and moved later when Center Cemetery became official, I suspect he was buried directly after his death in what would become Center Cemetery. In the 1700 and 1800s, many people were in fact buried in small family cemeteries near their homes, and Bartlet could have been in just such a lot until his son sold the land to the church.      For several decades after the establishment of Center Cemetery in 1767, people tended to bury their dead in the cemetery nearer their homes, Center for the northerners, and the Old Burying Ground for the southerners. Then, for reasons that aren't totally clear, the Old Burying Ground fell into disuse. Center Cemetery acquired additional land, and the Old Burying Ground may have been filling up. The Episcopal cemetery was also opened in the late 1820s, accommodating many of the people who lived "downstreet." The last burial in the old cemetery occurred in 1843, that of George Bush of 259 Main Street.      However, the old Commerce Street Burying Ground was sitting on top of a huge brownstone deposit. In 1870, after intense negotiation, the Middlesex and Brainerd Quarry companies paid $6,000 to acquire the land of the old cemetery, moving the graves either to other cemeteries, or to an addition on the Episcopal cemetery created especially for this purpose. In the bluster of March, 1870, surveyor William Sellew wrote out a methodical list of all the stones in the old cemetery, even including the ones which had become disassociated from their graves and were leaning against walls or trees or other gravesites. His list included about 400 people.      Records were kept of which bodies were claimed by relatives to be buried elsewhere, and where. Families who were now associated with the Episcopal Church moved their ancestors to the main part of that church's cemetery. Families who were Congregationalists moved their ancestors to Center Cemetery. Four bodies were moved to Indian Hill Cemetery in Middletown, and one to Farm Hill Cemetery. In 1882, the unclaimed bodies, ancestors of families who had died out or moved away, were reburied behind the Episcopal Church in the northernmost part of the cemetery.       In 1897, the Center Cemetery Association drafted up a booklet listing all the people buried there up to that date. That list shows about twenty gravestones that predate the 1767 date of that cemetery's establishment. Those would be the graves of people who were initially buried in the Old Burying Ground, then transferred to Center in the 1870s or -80s. However, two of those pre-1767 stones are not included on Sellew's 1870 list of the Old Burying Ground.      They are Rev. Moses Bartlet, who died in December of 1766, and his 12-day-old son, Elihu, who died in 1742. This means they were in Center Cemetery before 1870. Almost certainly, Bartlet was buried in his son William's Indian meadow before it was a cemetery. Presumably the baby's grave was transferred around the same time--its stone fairly touches Rev. Bartlet's.      Join us for the cemetery tour on October 22nd! The Future of Portland - is a matter of P.R.I.D.E.

HALLOWEEN      In the 5th century BCE, October 31st was New Year’s Eve to the Celtic tribes of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. At this time of year, the Celts would bring their cattle and other livestock in from the pastures and harvest the last of their crops. They came to view this day as a link between the past (their harvest) and the future (the winter ahead) and believed that ghosts came back to mingle with the living.      The term "Halloween" comes from All Hallows, a holy day celebrated on November 1st. Thus, October 31st became known as All Hallows Eve (evening). From which followed Halloween. The custom of trick or treating comes from an early Christian practice called "souling," in which people would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," which were similar to slices of raisin bread. They believed that the more soul cakes they received, the more their prayers would help the souls of their dead relatives in limbo to ascend to heaven. Those who were stingy with soul cakes would be the objects of pranks.  Pumpkin Carving Tips For a happier Halloween, try these pumpkin-carving tips: For easier and safer carving, use a special "pumpkin knife" available at many supermarkets and farm stands during the Halloween season. Use an ice-cream scoop for cleaning out the seeds and pulp inside the pumpkin. Lighter-colored pumpkins are softer and easier to carve – but they don’t last as long. Have children draw a picture of what they want their Jack-o-lantern to look like, and transfer the design to the pumpkin by tracing it with a small knife, nail, or pencil. Carve slowly, because you can’t erase your mistakes. Try drawing with glow-in-the-dark makeup on the skin of the pumpkin for a spookier effect. Opt for a battery-powered light instead of a candle.   The Real Dracula The legend of the infamous Count Dracula originated with a real person who was, of course, not a vampire. The cruel Prince Vlad Tepes (pronounced "Tepesh") of Transylvania (now part of Romania), lived in the 15th century. He was known as "Vlad the Impaler" for once having skewered several thousand peasants on a hillside while he and his court enjoyed a picnic lunch. Ever Healthy, Ever Green Beans – A Convenience Food?      Most of us already know that beans are good for us. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends we make beans a regular part of a mostly plant-based diet for lower cancer risk. But many of us who aren’t accustomed to cooking with beans might think that soaking and preparing dried beans at home takes too long. It just isn’t worth the trouble. The good news is, canned beans offer about the same health benefits as dried beans, and they are ready for use in the time it takes to open the can. Home-cooked beans are a bit higher in some nutrients than canned beans. The latter lose some nutritional value due to processing and leaching of nutrients into the canning liquid. However, canned beans are still good sources of the nutrients that are found in especially high amounts in dried beans – minerals such as iron, zinc and magnesium, as well as vitamins B-6 and folate. Dietary fiber content of canned beans also remains high.      The main nutritional disadvantage of canned beans over those that you soak and cook home is their significantly higher sodium content. But draining and rinsing the canned beans eliminates enough of the sodium, except for those on a strict low-sodium diet.      How can you start using beans more often in your meals? Soups are an easy place to begin. Use your usual recipe (or even canned soup) for vegetable, minestrone, chicken or beef soup. You can omit meat completely, and make a delicious chili from beans and traditional chili seasonings combined with onions, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. Or try adapting recipes for some of your favorite casseroles and pasta dishes by using beans instead of meat, or simply replace a portion of the meat with beans.     There’s a whole world of easy dishes to try. Look for recipes in vegetarian cookbooks, or write to the American Institute for Cancer Research at P.O. Box 97167, Washington, DC 20090-7167, for more ideas. Special Hours! The 1st Selectman’s Office, along with the Planning Department, Building Department, Environmental Health Department, and Finance Office will stay open on Tuesday evenings until 7 PM. They will close on Fridays at noon. Other offices at the Town Hall will remain open at their usual time.

 

"Lights, Cameras,  Action!!!" PBS Focuses on Portland Quarries By: Dean Jacques Diane Smith, star of Positively Connecticut, came to town on September 8th to film a short documentary about the Portland quarries.      The film crew arrived around 10:00 AM at what is called the promontory (on Brownstone Avenue, just off of Silver Street). Jack Dillon was there to greet them, and took the camera man, a fellow named Kevin Kuhl, on a canoe ride around the base of the quarry wall. It was a beautiful day, but the sun was not in the best position for filming. The walls were still in shadow, but Kevin did his best to accommodate this.      As they canoed around the area, I spoke with the audio technician, Paul Smith, on shore. Paul is in the process of buying a house in Portland, and sometimes it seemed that he was interviewing me rather than the other way around.        They broke for lunch around 11:00, and we met again at noon, on an overlook on Silver Street. It was then that Diane Smith arrived. She is very much the pleasant lady she is on television, and had no qualms about my taking photos of what was going on (while deftly trying to stay out of the cameraman’s way).        We moved the film site to the WPA wall, where Diane interviewed Jack Dillon between the occasional interruptions of oil trucks. Jack, who has long collected information on the quarries, shared some of his vast knowledge and fascinating stories. This went on for about a half hour. Since the whole project will be whittled down to just four or five minutes of air time, it seemed a shame what would be lost on the cutting room floor.        First Selectman Ed Kalinowski arrived around 1:00. We moved the site all the way down the street to the active quarryworks known as Portland Brownstone Quarries. There we saw blocks of brownstone of all sizes scattered everywhere, with recently scarred walls in the background. This chiseled and dusty landscape gave a tantalizing impression of what the quarries looked like a hundred and fifty years ago, when 1,500 workers found employment there.      We located a shady spot nearby, with a quarry wall backdrop, where Diane interviewed Ed about his knowledge of Portland past and his vision for the future.      Michael Meehan, proprietor of Portland Brownstone Quarries, was next in line, discussing the latest market for his stone. Much of his market has to do with repairing the many century-old brownstone buildings in New York and Boston, that have sadly deteriorated over the years.      The articulate Nan Zimmer, a familiar face about town, represented P.R.I.D.E. and Brownstone Quorum. She explained to the camera (from behind the stately beauty of Trinity Church) how the advancement of the quarries will contribute to business development in town, on Main Street especially.      I spoke with Diane Smith some days after her filming. She said that she was considering doing a spot on a quarry in Branford when she first received my inquiry. She was going to cover the Stony Creek Quarry Workers Celebration. The fact that Portland’s quarries were much older than Branford’s impressed her very much. She was further hooked by all the information we sent her afterwards, and the excitement of those Portland contacts that she spoke with. Our plans to revitalize local business by utilizing the past further sparked her interest.      Since the final decisions regarding the quarries’ utilization have yet to be determined, she said that she might return to film an update sometime in the future.      Diane was struck by the immensity of the quarries, tucked away as they are behind Main Street. The views were "spectacular," she said, "that placid body of water sparking with emerald hues." The documentary will be aired on PBS as a segment for Positively Connecticut on October 25th at 8 PM. It will also be shown on November 4th, 2 PM November 5th, at 1 PM November 10th, at 9 PM November 12th, at 3 PM. It will also be shown as a PBS filler many times over for months on end. This will certainly give the quarries, and the town of Portland, some good publicity. We thank Diane Smith and the wonderful people from PBS, for responding to our request for a short documentary on the Portland quarries.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month The American Cancer Society recommends that a woman have a baseline mammogram done some time between the age of 35 and 39, so that doctors have a reference point against which to compare all future mammograms. Starting at 40, women should have one every year. Portland VNA Holds Breast Cancer Awareness Programs Did you know that 182,800 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2000? Because the best protection is early detection, the Portland VNA offers a Breast Cancer Education and Screening Program which involves outreach, seminars and convenient mammography screenings. As part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the Portland VNA will present two educational programs in Portland      On October 11, a free program will be held at the Portland Library in the Wagner Room at 7 PM.      A second free program will be held at the Senior Center on October 25 at 2 PM. Refreshments will be served at both events.      The programs will cover the importance and proper technique of breast self-exam, using models and a brief video. A breast cancer survivor will be on hand to share her experience and full recovery. Access to, and appointments for low cost mammograms will also be discussed. Seats are limited at both events, and can be reserved by calling the Portland VNA at 342-3300. West Nile Virus and Dead Bird reporting by: Don Mitchell, R.S., Town Sanitarian As part of the Statewide surveillance program for West Nile Virus, Portland residents and officials are requested to report dead bird sightings to Don Mitchell at the Portland Environmental Health Department – 342-6718. Residents should report the date of sighting, number of dead birds and species (if known) as well as the location of the sighting. Of particular interest are crows and raptors, but all reports will be recorded and investigated as necessary. Most significantly are those that died within the preceding 24 hours. A name and phone number of the reporter would be greatly appreciated. To date, 273 birds in 43 Connecticut communities (including Middletown) have tested positively for WNV (West Nile Virus). Mosquito sampling is being conducted as close as Cromwell. The results thus far are all negative for EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis). WNV has been confirmed in two pools of mosquitoes sampled in Norwalk and one in Stamford. We now have the first isolation of WNV in a human biting mosquito in Greenwich.      In an effort to minimize mosquito populations, the State Health Department suggests the following source reduction activities: Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property. Empty standing water from used or discarded tires that may have accumulated on your property (e.g. tire swings). Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Clean clogged roof gutters on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up drains. Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in bird baths. Change water in bird baths and wading pools on a weekly basis. Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in water that collects on swimming pool covers. Source reduction of breeding areas is an effective tool in control of insect population. No spraying is anticipated at this time.

 

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