Shows
The Cupheag CrierLew Knapp discusses Stratford's early historyIn a 1989 address to the Stratford Historical Society docents, Lew Knapp talked about how Stratford was named; where the Stratford settlers originated from in England; the early Stratford heroes; Goody Bassett; and, Flora the Slave Girl's silhouette. The photo accompanying this podcast shows Lew in a photo from the Bridgeport Herald in 1967 at the Housatonic Boat Club.
2020-04-2747 min
The Cupheag CrierVelmore Spamer discusses his research on Adam BlakemanElden Dustin, well known Stratford educator, interviews Velmore Spamer on September 13, 1989. Ironically, Mr. Spamer passed away exactly one week after this interview; fortuitous timing on Mr. Dustin's part. Velmore Spamer was born in Stratford September 26, 1916 and remained in Stratford for his entire life. He worked for the State Welfare Department and the State Transportation Department. Mr. Spamer served on the town's bicentennial committee in 1976 and served as President of the Stratford Historical Society in 1970 and 1971.
In this interview, Mr. Spamer discusses his research on his forebear, and Stratford founder, Adam Blakeman. Mr. Spamer traveled the United Kingdom to ga...2019-08-1121 min
The Cupheag CrierLew Knapp discusses Stratford School history with Frances RussellLew Knapp reviews photos (in slide format) of Stratford Schools with Frances Russell on February 14, 1986. Frances Russell was the first principal of Second Hill Lane School. She became principal when Second Hill Lane School first opened in September 1954. Ms. Russell was born in 1898 and was a lifelong resident of Trumbull. She began her teaching career in Trumbull, but shortly thereafter, moved to the Stratford School system.
Ms. Russell began teaching in Stratford in 1927. She taught at Honeyspot, Center, and Putney Schools. She retired as principal of Second Hill Lane School in June 1960.
2019-07-2151 min
The Cupheag CrierJ. Lewis Fletcher, Edwin Washburn and Lew Knapp reminisce about the Housatonic RiverOn April 4, 1964, J. Fletcher Lewis (Harbormaster), Edwin Washburn, and Lewis Knapp discuss the Housatonic River, the Stratford Point Lighthouse, the lighthouse keepers, Minor Smith's Shorehouse inn and restaurant on Housatonic Avenue, and the five Washington Bridges.
2019-07-141h 01
The Cupheag CrierLew Knapp discusses the historic house styles in StratfordLew Knapp, long time town historian, was interviewed on September 30, 1988 at his stately home on Shore Road. He was asked to discuss various house styles and house building periods in Stratford. Mr. Knapp details the Judson House, Lt. Governor David Plant's house, Samuel William Johnson's house, his own house, and others. He talks about the settling of Stratford and Mac's Harbor. The Mac's Harbor story alone is worth the listen as this story has largely been lost to history. Lew discusses the process of writing a history book as he was in the final stages of publishing "In Pursuit of Pa...2019-06-291h 25
The Cupheag CrierCarl Helbig reflects on Paradise Green in March 1988Carl Helbig was born in Bridgeport on November 1, 1899. He relocated to Paradise Green and opened Carl A. Helbig's meat market in 1920. The store was located where Paradise Pizza is now located. Mr. Helbig expanded his product lines and retired from business in 1951. Carl and his wife, Hilda, resided at 382 Wilcoxson Avenue.
Mr. Helbig was interviewed by Lew Knapp, Miller Walks, and Mr. Helbig's granddaughter in March 1988. Mr. Helbig reflects on 30 years of running his market in Paradise Green.
2019-06-231h 07The Cupheag CrierMemories of life in Stratford provided by Marion FingerMarion Beach was born in 1900. She grew up on Longbrook Avenue near the DC Wood saw mill and the blacksmith shop. She married J. Walter Finger. She lived with Mr. Finger at 2979 Main Street and they ran a bakery business from their home. She was Interviewed by Miller Walks in 1988 as part of the assembling of memories for the book In Pursuit of Paradise.
Mrs. Finger recalled when Main Street was a dirt road. She remembered Stanley Beach's airplane and his trying to fly the plane giving First Selectman James Lally a ride. Her grandparents owned Beaver...2019-06-1759 minThe Cupheag CrierMary G. Clinton recalls her childhood in StratfordMary G. Clinton was born in 1880. She attended Center School and graduated from the 8th Grade. She married Marine Colonel Thomas Clinton and traveled with him, in their early married years, to the Philippines, Jamaica, and Washington DC.
Mr. and Mrs. Clinton lived at 2012 Elm Street. Mrs. Clinton passed away June 17, 1965.
In this brief recording, Mrs. Clinton is interviewed by Vivienne Knapp and Alma Fowler on March 3, 1964. She recounts the early Caribbean ship trade in town, Captain Benjamin Pulaski, her membership in the Housatonic Boat Club, shad fishing in the Housatonic, the Stratford Library, the Todd...2019-06-1132 minThe Cupheag CrierFerries, Docks, Bridges, and Boats which operated on the lower Housatonic RiverJ. Fletcher Lewis was born in 1889. Mr. Lewis was appointed by the State of Connecticut as Stratford's Harbormaster in 1951. Mr. Lewis served in that position for the next 20+ years. He was elected President of the State Harbormasters Association in 1959. Mr. Lewis lived at 138 Sutton Avenue from the 1920's through the early 1940's. He moved to 178 Housatonic Avenue in the mid-1940's.
In this presentation, Mr. Lewis addressed the Stratford Historical Society September 23, 1966 at Christ Episcopal Church. He had made an earlier presentation to the Society on July 24, 1958 at Boothe Memorial Park.
2019-06-0457 min
The Cupheag CrierThe Life and Times of William Samuel Johnson and Colonial MusicIn the 1975-76 school year of Bunnell High School, two seniors, David Lastomirsky and Barry Lessow, conducted an independent study project on the life of William Samuel Johnson. On March 31st, 1976, David and Barry reported the findings of the study to the Stratford Historical Society. In addition to David's and Barry's report, the Bunnell Choir performed music which would have been contemporary during William Samuel Johnson's life.
The Bridgeport Post
March 29, 1976
W. S. Johnson Topic Of Historical Group
“The Life and Times of William Samuel Johnson” will be the topic of a general mem...2019-05-2653 min
The Cupheag CrierLew Knapp recalls Lobell's FarmIn December 18, 1994 recorded his memories of William Irving Lobdell's farm. Lew began working on Lobdell's farm at age 5 as Lew tried to help his widowed mother with household expenses. Lobdell's farm house was located at 317 Huntington Road and is still standing today. Lobdell's farm was located between Huntington Road and Freeman Avenue. Mr. Lobdell was born in 1855 and died in 1954. In the 1920's and 1930's the farm was one of many "truck" farms in Stratford which began disappearing during World War II. The farm was 15 acres in size.
Lew recalls the products grown and marketed from Lobdell's farm, th...2019-05-201h 26
The Cupheag CrierElizabeth Sammis discusses early Stratford historyThis recording was made of Mrs. Frank (Elizabeth) Sammis at the Judson House in 1955. Mrs. Sammis lived her entire life in Stratford. When she married Frank Sammis, they bought a home on Academy Hill. Mrs. Sammis was one of the founders of the Stratford Historical Society, and its curator for 30 years. She was born in December 1861 and was 94 at the time of this interview. She was also Donald Sammis' mother. Donald Sammis was Town Manager from 1932 through 1934.
Mrs. Sammis discusses many interesting facts in this interview: a tunnel from the flagpole on Academy Hill which ran to the Ju...2019-05-1243 min
The Cupheag CrierDonald Sammis and William Howard Wilcoxson discuss Stratford history with Lew KnappThis is a classic Stratford history recording. In one room, simultaneously, sat three men discussing Stratford's history who undoubtedly knew more of Stratford's history than any other three people similarly assembled at that time or since. The recording was made February 8, 1964. Lew and Vivienne Knapp interviewed Donald Sammis (Stratford's first "home grown" Town Manager) and William Howard Wilcoxson (long time Stratford Town Clerk and Town Historian). Lew was 43, Donald Sammis was 74, and William Howard Wilcoxson was 68 at the time this recording was made.
Anyone who has studied Stratford's history from the early years of the 20th ce...2019-05-0551 min
The Cupheag CrierDick Steele interviews Betty Applegate in 2004"Elizabeth P. Applegate, age 95, a life long resident of Stratford passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at her home. She was the widow of Russel C. Applegate Jr. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1937. She attended Pembroke College (Brown University) and earned a degree in nursing in 1942.
Betty was involved in many organizations including Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, 4H Club, PTA and many activities at Christ Episcopal her church. In later years she became a docent for Stratford Historical Society and Boothe Memorial Park. She was a member of the Housatonic Boat Club and participated...2019-04-2942 min
The Cupheag CrierElden Dustin interviews Cecilie M. Krueger in 1982Cecilie Marie Georgy Moore Krueger was born in Brooklyn, New York October 7, 1891. She graduated from Columbia University in New York City in 1912. At some point prior to 1920, she met and married Theodore Henry Carl Krueger who was born in Nebraska in 1889. The two of them lived, for a time, in Manhattan and at some point, prior to 1930, moved to the Putney section of Stratford.
The Krueger house was located at 5590 Main Street which house is adjacent to the Putney Cemetery. In 1933 Mrs. Krueger gave birth to her only child, Theodore. She lived the remainder of her life in th...2019-04-2134 minThe Cupheag CrierSea Captains of Stratford by Lew KnappLong time former Town Historian, Lewis Knapp, discusses sea captains who lived in Stratford. The recording is of a speech Lew gave May 24, 1974. Much of the research Lew did for this speech was later recorded in his books "In Pursuit of Paradise" and "Stratford and the Sea". Lew posits a theory in this speech as to how the first settlers traveled to Stratford. By 1989, he'd greatly altered this theory when he wrote In Pursuit of Paradise. This recording ends very suddenly at about 60 minutes when the cassette used to record Lew's speech was full. Apparently, the person recording Lew's speech...2019-04-131h 00
The Cupheag CrierEpisodes I Saw or Heard (CONTINUED) by Harold C. Lovell, Sr.This recording was made at a Stratford Historical Society picnic at Boothe Park on July 1960. Mr. Lovell was 74 years old. He relates his humorous stories of living in Stratford over those 74 years. This is a continuation of the speech Mr. Lovell gave to the Historical Society one year earlier.
Harold Lovell, Sr. was born in Stratford in 1886. He lived his entire life in town. He was active in the town and in the town's government. He was on the Board of the Stratford Trust Company. He was also a humorist. Lew Knapp wrote of Harold Lovell in his histor...2019-04-0641 min
The Cupheag CrierEpisodes I Saw or Heard by Harold C. Lovell, Sr.Harold Lovell, Sr. was born in Stratford in 1886. He lived his entire life in town. He was active in the town and in the town's government. He was on the Board of the Stratford Trust Company. He was also a humorist. Lew Knapp wrote of Harold Lovell in his historic book, In Pursuit of Paradise, "Harold lovell was voted 'best dispositioned' in his class at Bridgeport High in 1905. He never lost his sense of the ridiculous - all his life, his stories held his listeners spellbound." Mr. Lovell built the Lovell Hardware building which still stands in Stratford Center. Mr. Lov...2019-04-0644 min
The Cupheag CrierInterview with Frederic Curtis Booth January 21, 1964Frederic Curtis Booth was born in 1881. He was the Curator for the Stratford Historical Society from 1954 -1969. Mr. Booth recounts his memories of Stratford Center, Putney, and Oronoque including the Peck's Mill Disaster in 1899. Mr. Booth died on June 17, 1969. His interviewers were Vivienne Knapp, Jane Calkins, and Edmund Judson. (The photo to the left shows Mr. Booth working his farm in the 1930s).
2019-04-0535 min