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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. 10     Thursday, February 1, 1951

Editorial Comment
Since we belong to the Bethany Fire Department, we have naturally been accused of making invidious distinction between our own outfit and the stalwarts of Woodbridge, in last week's paper. We reported, in the Bethany column, that "sixteen members and two trucks" had responded to an alarm in this town; in the Woodbridge column we said "eight members and one truck" answered a call there. We hasten to point out that this does not necessarily mean that Bethany's firemen turn out in greater numbers than those of Woodbridge --nor does it mean that the latter department is twice as good as that of Bethany and therefore needs the services of only half as many men.
The clue to the real answer lies in the time of day: the Bethany alarm came at 1:00 A.M.; the Woodbridge call was at 1:19 P.M. Since most of the members of both companies work out of town, it is more difficult to assemble a crew for fire-fighting during daytime hours. Night fires, however, which rout the men from their beds, are always well-attended in both towns. It is important to the departments to have attendance numbers recorded, and we shall probably continue to print them in our reports. Don't let them worry you too much.

Communications
To the Editor:
I wish to express my appreciation for the wonderful thing you have done. I'm sure that I and all of the rest of the boys in the service from both Woodbridge and Bethany appreciate this great deed very much. Next to the letters I receive from home and friends, I believe that the "Amity Star" is one of the greatest papers ever written that the boys in service from the towns that the paper represents could appreciate. I hope that this paper "Amity Star" will bring a closer relationship between the two towns.
Thank you again.
Pvt. Robert J. Hickey
Camp Gordon, Ga.
To the Editor and Publisher and the Business Manager of The Amity Star:
Dear Sir and Madam,
We are in receipt of copies No. 7,6,8, of the above-mentioned paper, which arrived in the order stated on the 19, 20, and 21 inst. The daily arrival of a weekly paper strikes us as being -- to coin a phrase -- the neatest trick of the week (or day) and one to which we heartily subscribe. In fact, we heartily subscribe to the paper. ........ We have had two diametrically opposed reactions: (a) Bethany has changed very little since our departure: (b) We wouldn't recognize the place now! .... There are, of course, some new and unfamiliar names, and some new and unfamiliar projects -- Peck Pond for one ... and HOW the children grow! ... We furnish herewith a resume of the deeds and status of at least one of your Missouri recipients: (a) Alexander Duff Gordon, Sr., teaches Logic and Introduction to Philosophy to several dozen eager students weekly. He is also vice-president of the Y Board .. also ministers thrice monthly to two churches, one at Holliday, and one at Maud, which is 4 miles outside Clarence. .. has grown thinner and very little balder in these past 6 years. .... (b) Frances B. Gordon types theses when she can get them, is a Mothersinger, writes the monthly bulletin for the Girl Scout Council, is on the P.T.A. Board, and plays bridge at the drop of a joker ... has grown balder but, alas, no thinner. ... (c) Alexander D. Gordon, Jr., is a fifth grader, a Cub Scout, choir member, an accordionist of two or three notes, and has grown, period. ...... We hope to come East next summer .. who knows? ... we look forward to the continuance of your excellent publication. .... congratulations on the format. ... we are glad to have "The Star" ....
Sincerely,
Frances and Duff Gordon
To the Editor:
It was with much interest that I read your item under the heading "The Star Reporter" regarding the Kickapoo Indian Remedies, for it brought to me certain memories of my boyhood days in a small town in Iowa, fifty-odd years ago. In those days, medicine shows were a dime a dozen in my home town. Some were held in the small opera house and some had especially built wagons or vans, the rear of which could be made into a temporary stage. They generally made one or two night stands, but the show that stands out most vividly was the Kickapoo Indian Medicine show, for they sure did things in a big way.
Their personnel consisted of actors, Indian doctors, a few Indians in full dress that were used for display or atmosphere purposes, and various other help that might be required to operate the show. They had their own orchestra and band made up of the actors and other help, who, in the vernacular of the circus, doubled in brass or strings.
Their tent outlay consisted of a main tent in which the performances were held, a bunk tent for the personnel, a cook tent where the meals were prepared and served, and a small tent where those who wished to could consult with the Indian Medicine men.
The show consisted of what might be termed vaudeville acts of singers, dancers, comedians, jugglers, instrumental soloists, etc. Several times during the show, a smooth-talk artist would come on stage and extol the healing and curing powers of their remedies, and then the before-mentioned display Indians would pass among the audience and offer them for sale. Believe me, they sold plenty, but they had to make the sales the hard way, whereas today, the radio takes the place of those old medicine shows.
The show made one-week stands in the little town once every two or three years, and they always played to a full house, rain or shine.
When I came to New Haven thirty years ago, I was surprised to learn that New Haven was the headquarters and manufacturing center for the Kickapoo Indian Remedies, and that they were housed in a building somewhere on State Street. Whether these remedies were any good or not, I never know, for my brother was a druggist and their product never entered our home.
Let's hear more about the Bethany Post Office, the Small Beer and Soda factory, and other early industries that were once located in the area. You might also give some of the history of the old Fairs that were once held in Bethany or Woodbridge.
A Bethany Citizen
(We invite further comment on all of these items. Ed.)
Dear George,
Congradulations on your venture into the Weekly Newspaper field! The best of luck to you. Under separate cover I'm sending you copies of the magazine I edit so that you can see how I keep myself busy. Doing it all by myself is really a job.
Wish I were in Woodbridge so I could help you out once in a while. You'll be interested to know that at the college here we have what is known as a "Better Newspaper Clinic" which devotes itself to making constructive criticisms of the 50 or so weekly nwespapers issued in the state. I serve on the make-up committee. Your body type baffles me. It looks like typewriter type. What do you call it?
I hope mother continues to send me some more copies so I can follow your progress. You sure get in the names!
I should think your paper would fill a real need and should prove quite successful. Have you given up all other work for it, or is the paper just a part-time proposition?
Best of luck to you,
Alan Dodd
State College of Washington
(Full-time, plus! Ed.)

The Star Reporter
Tomorrow, so help us, is Groundhog Day, and although it is one of the least important of those outstanding annual festivals which have barely escaped being designated National Holidays, it will, nevertheless, inspire thousands of newspaper writers throughout this fair land to write columns of globber about the whole unfortunate business. Falling in line as duty dictates, therefore, we add our note to the general clamjamfry of the fourth estate.
The Groundhog, having stuffed himself with this and that last November, and having thereafter slept like a log deep in his burrow, will suddenly wake up tomorrow morning, crawl out of his hole, and proceed to eat his shadow. If he gets indigestion, he will sneak back into the ground and die of shadow-poisoning. If the shadow agrees with him, it means that you won't get your income tax return filed on time -- or something like that. It's all pretty mysterious. And no one is more mystified over the whole thing than the dirty old Groundhog himself (who doesn't even realize that he is a Groundhog).

American Legion Notes
Woodbridge Post No. 120, American Legion, will hold its regular meeting tonight at Legion Hall on Johnson Road. Refreshments will follow the business session.
On February 14 the Second District meeting will be held in West Haven, with dancing.
Legion Auxiliary Unit 120 will meet on Tuesday, February 6, at 8:00 P.M. at Legion Hall. Mrs. Marion Ryan anad Mrs. Josephine Ryan will be hostesses in charge of refreshments. Auxiliary Unit 120 has reached its 1951 membership quota.
The Auxiliary's Ham Supper, last Saturday evening, was attended by about 60 persons.

Strand Theater, Symour
Telephone 404
February 1 through 7
Thurs. - Perfect Strangers and The Great Train Robbery.
Fri. and Sat. - Force of Evil and County Fair.
Sun. and Mon. - Tea for Two and Redwood Forest Trail.
Tues. and Wed. - Miss Grant Takes Richmond.

Opening Soon
The Brown Stone House
restaurant and luncheonette on Dixwell Ave. opposite Hamden Town Hall.
Jess B. Davis -- Proprietor

D'Andrea's Pharmacy
Famous for Prescriptions
M. S. D'Andrea, Reg. Pharm.
911 Whalley Ave.     New Haven, Conn.
We Deliver     Phone 3-0642
Hallmark Cards - Fine Cosmetics - School Supplies - Magazines - Candy

Local Children Expected To Attend Opening Concert of 1951 Series
The New Haven Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Harry Berman, will present the first in a series of three children's concerts Saturday afternoon, Feb. 3, at Woolsey Hall. The program will be as follows:
Introduction of the instruments in the orchestra.
Four compositions by Rudolph Ganz illustrating the individual choirs of the orchestra.
Strings and Variations
Woody Scherzo
Brassy Prelude
Percussional Melee
Hungarian March from the Damnation of Faust by Franz Liszt.
Piano concerto, first movement, by Beethoven.
Pianist - Judith James
Scherzo from A Mid-Summer Night's Dream by Felix Mendelssohn.
Pee Wee the Picolo [i.e. Piccolo]
Narrator - Alden Hammond
At the close of the concert the children will sing the Round Row, Row, Row, Your Boat. They will be conducted by Harry Hadley Schyed, Director of Music in the New Haven Public Schools.
Many Bethany and Woodbridge children will attend this concert, ticket arrangements having been made through the schools.

Prescriptions     1325 Whalley Ave.
Whalley Pharmacy
Drive-in Parking
We deliver      Tel. 3-0453

A good deal for your dollars $$$
A good deal for you -- when you buy a used car at New Haven Buick
226 Whalley Ave.
Est. - 1919     Tel: 7-1101
open evenings
The Largest Used Ca[r] Inside Display in Town

Janice L. Harris
Sadye R. Abeshouse
Tel: 3-4811
House of Charm
opening Friday, February 2 at 1299 Whalley Ave.
Gifts - Antiques - Greeting Cards - Stationery