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    Legendary Locals of Middletown
    Legendary Locals of Middletown
    Legendary Locals of Middletown
    Ebook246 pages1 hour

    Legendary Locals of Middletown

    By Robert Hubbard, Kathleen Hubbard and Middlesex County Historical Society

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    About this ebook

    Although the town benefits from a position on a major navigable waterway, Middletown’s success is primarily due to the energy, creativity, and diversity of its people. These include James Riley, whose autobiography detailing his trials as a white slave in Northern Africa showed millions of Americans the evils of slavery; Max Corvo, who helped the World War II Italian underground defeat the fascist regime; and Christie Ellen McLeod, longtime chief pathologist at Middlesex Memorial Hospital. Middletown can boast of athletes such as Helen “Babe” Carlson, a tremendously strong competitor who participated on men’s baseball teams; Willie Pep, who, while going for the world featherweight title, had a record of 134 wins and only one loss; and Corny Thompson, who sparked the University of Connecticut basketball program’s rise to national prominence. More notables include Allie Wrubel, a prolific songwriter and Academy Award winner for his song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah;” Vivian McRae Wesley, a teacher, reading director, and leader of Middletown’s African American community; and Francesco Lentini, who was born with three legs and appeared in every major circus and carnival.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLegendary Locals
    Release dateApr 14, 2014
    ISBN9781439642894
    Legendary Locals of Middletown
    Author

    Robert Hubbard

     Robert Hubbard is professor of theatre at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. In addition to his scholarly work, he also directs plays and has written and performed one-person shows across the Midwest.

    Read more from Robert Hubbard

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      Book preview

      Legendary Locals of Middletown - Robert Hubbard

      Society.

      INTRODUCTION

      Composing Legendary Locals of Middletown gave us an opportunity to examine the lives of many interesting and influential people. We saw what motivated them, read or heard their extraordinary stories, marveled at the passion of their quests, and appreciated the humanity and determination that led them to success. It provides a platform that stretches across the years—from the past, through the present, and, because of their actions, into the future. Legendary Locals titles are not limited to a historical time period, so we were able to include current events and a diverse mixture of people. The book evolved into six chapters, covering people who were born in Middletown, relocated here for a period of time, or transplanted themselves here, staying for the rest of their lives. It was a daunting task to dip into the broad spectrum of life and organize people and events into categories—trying to portray each individual’s spirit while condensing their contributions into a brief synopsis.

      In 1650, a small group of Hartford men and women traveled south on the Connecticut River in a quest for a new home. They stopped at the only major bend in the river, the place now called Middletown. There, they built homes, planted crops, and tried to establish relations with the local Native Americans. Although the area remained strong agriculturally, it was the river and the trade it brought with it that was the key to Middletown’s growth and prosperity through the 18th and 19th centuries. Business leaders built the town into one of America’s foremost international trading ports. Even though it was about 25 miles from the mouth of the Connecticut River, Middletown was designated a US customs port in 1795.

      Although some individuals, such as Samuel Russell, continued to grow incredibly wealthy through the seagoing trade, the Industrial Revolution brought many factories to Middletown. This, in turn, led to the introduction of the railroad and the Middletown-Portland railroad bridge. In the 20th century, retail establishments sprouted up as Middletown became more of a residential community and served as the home of two institutions of higher education. Many of Middletown’s important business people are covered in chapter one.

      The second chapter, on athletics, highlights not only the stars of high school sports teams, but also includes athletes who have excelled in other areas, like running, bicycling, and prizefighting. Middletown has more than its share of these competitors, as can be seen by the long list of fine athletes who have been inducted into the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame.

      The third chapter, on the arts, recognizes musicians, writers, artists, and actors. Some names are immediately recognizable, while others might be best known from their work. Many of Henry Clay Work’s once-popular Civil War songs are little known today, but his classic Grandfather’s Clock is still a hit with schoolchildren. Not many of the 1930s movie musicals for which Allie Wrubel wrote are available on Netflix, but virtually every American recognizes Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah, which he composed for Disney Studios. Albert McCutcheon, a local artist, was commissioned by the Works Progress Administration to create murals in area schools. Fine arts programs at Wesleyan University have honed students’ creativity. Many well-known artists, such as screenwriter David Webb Peoples, are among its alumni.

      The chapter on educators and government leaders includes a number of outstanding teachers and civic leaders who have been honored by having Middletown landmarks named after them. Many readers will wonder how Spencer, Wesley, Bielefield, Lawrence, and Keigwin schools received their names. Others ponder the origin of Sbona Drive, Nejako Drive, and Santangelo Circle. The stories of the people behind these names lie within these pages.

      The military chapter is a salute to Middletown men and women who have fought and, in all too many cases, died for their country. The chapter starts with the war that gave the nation its independence and progresses to the recent wars in the Middle East. In the Civil War, over 950 Middletown men served in the Union forces. As a salute to America’s veterans, a few of these gallant people are recognized in these pages.

      The last chapter, which focuses on unforgettable people, is a compilation of Middletown individuals who did not fit into previous chapters––the Native Americans who first lived on the land, the 17th-century English settlers, pioneers in medicine, community activists, health-care innovators, hospital volunteers, and other legendary locals.

      Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle stated, The history of the world is but the biography of great men. We might add that the history of Middletown is but the biography of men and women, both great and small.

      CHAPTER ONE

      Business People

      This chapter illustrates how business has changed over the centuries. In Middletown’s infancy, the first settlers were farmers making a living off the rich soils of the Connecticut River valley. As time went by, the river attracted traders, shipbuilders, and others connected with marine commerce. By the late 1700s, this resulted in Middletown becoming one of the most prosperous cities in Connecticut.

      As the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s brought in factories and mills, thousands of workers found new jobs. Middletown companies produced water pumps, marine hardware, typewriters, firearms, and swords. The city became the world leader in the production of elastic webbing. Employers included the J.R. Watkinson woolen mill, the Baldwin Tool Co., W.H. Chapman Co., I.E. Palmer Co., and the Wilcox & Co. Lock factory. Soon, electric trolley cars replaced horses, and railroads and bridges became more important than sailing ships and ferries. The Middletown Electric Light Co. made it easy to transition from the waterpower of the Pameacha and Coginchaug Rivers to electric power. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Middletown attracted ambitious and hard-working immigrants who established Irish, Italian, Jewish, Polish, German, and Swedish communities.

      In the 21st century, Middletown has been enriched by new immigrants from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Southeast Asia, India, and many other places. The diversity of successful ethnic restaurants reflects this trend. Many old names survive today. The Bishel family still operates the Smith & Bishel hardware store on Main Street, the Xenelis family still is in the business of selling the freshest fruit, John Sterry Jr. at Fox-Becker Granite Co continues to create and sell high-quality granite memorials, and the Vecchitto family still makes the best Italian ice in Connecticut.

      Simeon North

      Arms manufacturer Simeon North pioneered the use of interchangeable parts and developed what was possibly the first milling machine. This photograph shows his factory on the West River in the Staddle Hill section of Middletown. It was said to be the largest factory in the United States at the time it was built in 1812. For 53 years, North provided pistols, rifles, and other armaments to the War Department, the predecessor of today’s Department of Defense. North died in 1852 at age 87.

      Samuel Russell: Wealthy Trader

      Born in Middletown, Samuel Russell (1789–1862) was one of the city’s wealthiest businessmen and traders. In 1824, he founded Russell & Company, which by 1842 was the largest American trading house in China. It traded mostly in silks, teas, porcelain, and opium. In 1836, Russell resigned from company management. Upon returning to Middletown from China, Russell founded the Russell Manufacturing Company with his friend Samuel Dickinson Hubbard. The company manufactured suspenders and supplied cartridge belts, parachute harnesses, and other items to the military in both world wars. He passed away in 1862. Pictured

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