Exciting New Local History Programs

Hands on the Past

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I very much like this photograph I am calling "Hands on the Past."  Though there is no indication of who these boys were, my guess is that this daguerreotype is of Isaac Hagaman and his brother, Theodore. Theodore,  four years older than Isaac was born in 1839 and died in 1900.  Isaac Hagaman, who donated the funds for the construction of the present library building, was born in 1843 and died in 1925.

East Haven Topics And Shopping Guide

This 1953 issue of East Haven Topics and Shopping Guide announces the twenty-fifth anniversary of the present library building. The photograph was taken in 1938  when the the building was ten years old just before the hurricane of that year took down the elm tree shown in the picture.

If anyone has issues of East Haven Topics and would be willing to loan them to the library for digitization, please let us know. 

Virtual Museum

The library has started a  Virtual Museum.

The Virtual Museum  is an attempt to locate museum items that have been scattered over the years in various locations in the library, and present these items for public view as well as to create an interest in objects we may now view as quaint and curious. It is also an attempt to determine which items are now missing. 

Two items, shown below, have been pictured at this time on the Virtual Museum page. The first photograph is a coffee mill ca. 1850, followed by a detail of the decoration. The two photographs following are of antique furniture from the Isaac Hagaman house, who was the library's financial benefactor.
Please visit the page at the link above to see a list of other items which will be linked with photographs and for further photos of the items below. The link for the museum page is on the library's website www.hagamanlibrary.info on the left hand side.

East Haven's 175th Anniversary Parade and Celebration

Long months of planning and preparation went into the celebration and parade of East Haven's 175th Anniversary. Savino Caponera, plumbing inspector for the town of East Haven, as well as President of the East Haven Chamber of Commerce, President of East Haven Young Democrats club, New Haven Elks an Knights of Columbus member, served as the General Chairman of the 175th Anniversary Committee.

Robert Zampano, Attorney escorting the Queen of the East Haven's 175th Anniversary. Later, Attorney Zampano was the youngest federal  Judge appointed by President Kennedy.

Parade float for the East Haven Women's Club.

Girls with East Haven Women’s Club at the 175th Anniversary Parade. Men all had mustache or beard were “Brothers of the Brush” which was organized to see who had best beard which was part of the celebration 175th anniversary.

This parade float shows signs: "Bill's Belle's" and "Bro's of the Brush.' The woman facing forward is Joan Hurley. 

Open Trolley Car, East Haven Trolley Association

Far right is Lou Criscuolo  incoming  president of the chamber shaking hands with I outgoing president of the Chamber, Sal Capanera middle left next to Mr. Capanera is Robert Williams who owned a business on Main Street th other man is Anthony Panagrossi who owned ACP Electric at 15 Maple Street and 744 Foxon Road.

Annual East Haven Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner  1961 Held at the Foxon Country House.

The Last Gas Station

Mr. Louis Criscuolo writes concerning "The Last Gas Station in East Haven."

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My father started in the business in 1920 at 42-44 Wooster Street in New Haven, then it was named Socony Gas. The gasoline price then was 18 cents per gallon. No federal tax and no state tax!  As his sons, Louis and Andrew, we continued as gas station owners of our Mobil-Exxon station at 556 Main Street in East Haven.

In 1974 there was a gas shortage in the United States, as gasoline station owners, we had to wait 13 days for our next delivery.  We placed this sign in front of our gas station at 556 Main Street, East Haven and it created a lot of smiles. Patience was the word of the day! The New Haven Register came and took a photo, shown above.

At one time, East Haven had twelve gas stations on Main Street, but due to redevelopment those gas stations closed. The A. Criscuolo and Sons was the last gas station standing on Main Street in East Haven for many years. Now  we are retired. Below are the staff Jim Ward (body shop)  Bill Levine, (mechanic) Andy Criscuolo, (owner) Lou Criscuolo, (owner) Joe Oswald (tow truck operator),  Ed Maturo, (assistant to truck). 

 

Tow Truck for the station

 Lou Criscuolo and his brother, Andy.

Above, left: Lou Criscuolo at the gas station at 556 Main Street, standing under his father's photograph and the Prayer of St. Francis. Right: A close-up of Mr. Criscuolo's father and the Prayer of St. Francis. The prayer was posted on his office wall next to the founder, Andrew Criscuolo. "We attribute to the prayer on the wall that my brother and I were protected by this good prayer and enjoyed the good relations with our customers"

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord make me an instrument of Your Peace

Where there is hatred

Let me sow

 love

Where there is injury

pardon

Where there is doubt

faith

Where there is despair

hope

Where there is Darkness

light

Where there is sadness

joy.

Library Seeks Vintage Valentines for Display

Library Seeks Vintage Valentines
The Hagaman library would like to display your pre-1950 vintage valentines for the month of February. If you would like to loan the library a vintage valentine for display please call Fawn Gillespie at 203-468-3890. The valentines will be displayed in a locked case.