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The Amity Star
A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Best Interests of Bethany and Woodbridge
Editor and Publisher
George D. Vaill
Business Manager
Alice M. Vaill
Subscription Rates
Full year - 52 issues - $4.75
6 months - 26 issues - 2.40
3 months - 13 issues - 1.20
Single copy - .10
Litchfield Turnpike, Bethany, Conn.
Vol. I, No. 9     Thursday, January 25, 1951

Editorial Comment
In October, 1944, the Selectmen of the Town of Bethany appointed a Post War Planning Commission, composed of eleven men and women of the community. This Commission, after exhaustive work, submitted a report in May, 1946. making recommendations for both immediate and future action and planning. We intend to refer to these recommendations from time to time, and to try to find out (1) why action hasn't been taken on some matters and (2) what can be done to bring action about.
Under the subject of "Roads" we find, in the "Immediate" column:
"Creation of Road Board to recommend: 1. Needs; 2. Funds Available; 3. Program of Development. Town should prevail on proper authorities to eliminate dangerous curve hazards on Litchfield Turnpike."
The Special Town Meeting last Fall gave us some idea of how badly such a Road Board is needed. Why hasn't one been created, as these serious-minded citizens suggested?

Communications
Dear Editor,
Since I do not wish to challenge the professional etiquette of our paper, I must resort to this Communications column (a spurious sort of cover for people with axes to grind) in order to say again what seems to me to need saying. Namely, that one of the most important and often repeated reasons for starting "The Amity Star" was to provide full and impartial discussion of all public issues and interests. There are plenty of problems which are our common concern and are serious enough to demand a lot of talking and thinking about. There are also many interesting items of information which may be valuable to both private individuals and public groups. For instance, did the closing of the Bethany Post Office and the decline of the Small Beer and Soda Water Factory have anything to do with each other? Many of the buildings of the once-thriving industries in the area were destroyed by fire. Who, in the present generation, are related to the families who run them? When is the Community School driveway paving going to be completed and why not sooner??
Alice M. Vaill.
To the Editor:
It is with much pleasure that I write these few lines to thank you for the services you and your paper have rendered the Bethany Civil Defense Organization in the past and am in hopes that our friendly relations can be carried on in the future. You have been more than generous in giving space in your paper, and I feel that it is the one medium best suited to reach the Citizens of Bethany and keep them informed as to the progress that is being made in the organizing of Civil Defense in their town and to inform them that volunteers will be needed as the process of organizing goes forward. In closing I personally want to wish you every success with your new publication and to hope that it will be published for many years to come.
William J. Stevens
Local Director of Civil Defense
To the Editor:
Will you please write a long explanation of why people think "life in the country" is so restful? Ever since we moved to Woodbridge, my husband and I have found our lives filled with a thousand and one "most important things" to do. Your weekly record proves our point. Have you any city readers? How do they get along out there?
Bewildered,
To the Editor:
As a devoted reader, though not a resident of either Bethany or Woodbridge, I am beguiled by your occasional sorties into early American history. When reading the current issue of the "Connecticut Circle" I noted a reference to the steamcutter Thomas Corwin, active in early Connecticut Coast Guard Service. Could this vessel have had any connection with Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, present owner of the north shore of Bethany's Lebanon Swamp?
O. deF. J.
New Haven, Ct.

Bethany Notes --
(Continued from Page 1)
Doolittle, gave her a surprise birthday party at her home on Litchfield Turnpike. Those attending the party were: Mary Lynn Bloom, Pat Bloom, Kathryn Cartmell, Aletha Doolittle, Sugie Doolittle, Loraine Dowd, Lorna Hall, June Harrison, Kay Harrison, Cynthia Michaels, Nancy Plummer, and Earl Baldwin, Ray Hughes, Timer Downs, Neil Thompson, Dick Johnson, Richie Sargent, Russell Winter, Jr., Donald Sharon, Squint Sargent, Alfred Tong, and Joe Fortin.
Mr. and Mrs. T. Huber Carlson, of Fairwood Road, announce the engagement of their daughter, Betsy Ann, to Pfc. Raymond R. Sullivan, Jr., of Wichita Falls, Texas. Miss Carlson is a Sophomore at the New Haven State Teachers College. Pfc. Sullivan is an instructor at Shepard Air Force Base at Wichita Fals.
The Bethany Young People Fellowship met on Sunday, January 21, at the Library. The religious service was conducted
(Continued on Page 5)

The Star Reporter
Two weeks ago this column carried a note about a handblown bottle, owned by Mrs. Stanley Parker of South Pease Road, Woodbridge, bearing the legend "Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic" blown into the glass. No one has offered any information on this yet -- but we have discovered something in our own printing-shop which may be related to the subject.
This printing business was established by the late Judge John E. Hinman in the town of Oxford in 1883. When we succeeded him in 1946, we fell heir to many interesting items relating to the early days of his printing career, such as his record books, type specimens, and samples of his work. In the earliest volume (covering the middle 'eighties) are copies of advertising leaflets which he printed, many of which sing the praises of this or that Indian juice, guaranteed to cure all human ills.
One of these ads reads:
Indian Show,
By the celebrated Kickapoo chiefs
War Dances, Scalp Dances, and Medicine Dances
A Free Exhibition Every Evening for one week, commencing Monday.
Come and see the Kickapoo Medicine Men, and buy some of their medicine:
Indian Sagwa
Indian Oil
Indian Worm-Killer
(For sale by Black Hawk)
Indian Worm-Killer
Indian Kin-ni-ke-nec
(For sale by Tecumseh)
Another leaflet is entirely dedicated to that great and extraordinary medication --
Kin-ni-ke-nec
Five and One cent packages
Good for colds and etc.
Indian Chew Chew
Good for sore teeth.
Made by Tecumseh I. M. M.
The letters indicating this physician's medical degree obviously stand for "Indian Medicine Man," the highest rank among the snake-oil mongers.
Another of Tecumseh's advertisements rings in a variation in the spelling of the name and mentions the price (presumably per box):
Kinnikinic
The Great Indian Tobacco.
One Fathom of Wampum.
It is possible that this aboriginal healer concocted and sold the first snakeoilomycin and penicilagwa seen in these parts. And it is perhaps not unreasonable to speculate on the connection he may have had with the bitters and tonic.
Most of the ads were illustrated with the Indian head which we show here. This reproduction is from the original die, which is still in the shop and in good condition, nearly seventy years after it first went into service.
We received a rude shock last Saturday upon encountering a troop of city-bred Boy Scouts who were invading the country, laden with pots and pans, hatchets, flitches of bacon, and other scoutish paraphernalia. Here, we thought, is tomorrow's citizen, bright-eyed, alert, ready to meet adventure and danger with a cool head and a strong arm. Then came the shock -- and we realized how well-prepared to meet the realities of life these young adventurers were: their conversation, which was carried on in ear-splitting explosions, was laced with enough profanity and naughty words to make the first mate on a whaler blush. Not content with such tame subjects as woodcraft and wild animals, they were obviously training themselves for the more stimulating life of the barroom, the poolhall, and the headquarters of the ward political boss.
(Continued on Page 3)

Complete Line of Cold Cuts -- Frozen Foods
Lou's Delicatessen
1350 Whalley Avenue
Tel. 3-0229
Open 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. weekdays and 7:00 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. Sundays

Marianne
Interior Decorator
Slip Covers -- Draperies -- Bedspreads
910 Whalley
Phone 3-0691 or 3-0135

55 Broadway New Haven
Broadway Bowling Alleys
(Fountain Service)
Telephone 7-5606

62 Dayton St.     Phone 3-2936
Corner Whalley
Reliable Food Market
Fresh Fish Every Thurs. & Fri.
Fresh Hamburg - 69¢ lb.
Fresh Shoulder - 45¢ lb.

Dine and Dance at Bence's Grill and Restaurant
Established 1905
Catering to Weddings
-- Banquets
-- Parties
Tel. 3-0904
1178 Whalley Ave.
New Haven, Conn.

Twining and Buck inc.
Salisbury, Conn.
P.O. Box No. 76
A new store for modern furniture and household accessories

Race Brook Road     Orange
Telephone: SYcamore 9-2288
Pyrofax Gas Service
Complete Gas Service for Homes Beyond the Gas Mains
New and Used Ranges, Refrigerators, Water Heaters, and Heating Equipment

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