TIGERTOWN 1900

Boys and girls growing up in Naugatuck 100 years ago had no television, computers, radios, or even family cars. Perhaps they had much more.

Tigertown was the name given to that part of town that included Cherry, Scott, Ward, Lewis, Gorman, Spencer, and Olive Streets. Picture Cherry Street without the road to the bridge. Imagine it before it was route 63! It was a narrower street, not yet paved, and the houses had small front yards.

Growing up on Cherry Street, my mother often told of going to Rubber Avenue School, (now the site of the Portuguese Club) which she thought was a “monstrous size building.” Upon completion of the five grade there, she and her classmates walked to 6th, 7th and 8th grades in Salem School. Remember, Meadow Street was not a through street then and everyone walked up Church Street. After graduation from Salem School, it was on to high school in what is now Hillside Middle School.

In those years, sliding and skating were “the winter sports”. Autos were very scarce and, when sliding down Cherry Street, it was horse and wagons the children had to watch out for. The sleds were pulled up to the crest of the hill on Cherry Street, just above Olive Street. But what a ride down, to the bridge, over Longmeadow Brook, just before Rubber Avenue. At night the older boys would ride the “rippers” down in the dark with much hollering to announce their approach to all pedestrians and horses.

Skating was a bit more of a challenge. To get to Hoadley’s Pond it took a walk to the end of Cherry Street, then at Spencer Street a climb over a split rail fence and then down to the pond. At night, branches and twigs would be gathered and a fire lit for warmth. No wooden, heated buildings, or rinks then.

The same pond was the summer swimming hole; however, it was for boys only who did not consider swim trunks at all necessary.

In other seasons, it was walking and hiking.. no mere twice around the block. People from about age 10 on would hike over Hunter’s and Andrew’s Mountains, picking berries, an apple here and there, taking a “short cut” through the cross lots. The cold spring water from the old “blue barrel” was the most refreshing drink in town.

It was a popular pastime and walkers would meet others they knew en route. Sundays were days for the young men to “walk to Oxford” and back over the mountains.

There was just too much happening outside; staying indoors was something you had to do when you were sick. No fear of stalkers, perverts and other unsavory characters approaching in those days.

A good deal of the daytime traffic was delivery wagons. There were no shopping centers, no coast-to-coast superchain stores. Privately owned business was the way it was done. Housewives didn’t have to leave the house to shop. Everything could be delivered to the door. The streets were busy with the horses and wagons carrying ice, groceries, bakery goods, coal and once in a while, a wagon loaded with brooms, pans, pots, all household items would arrive from Waterbury. Tea was bought from a Mr. Phalen who had a store on East Main Street, near Poli’s Theater. He drove all over Naugatuck to his customers. A few of the deliveries made on Cherry Street were made by Pat Daly, the Brennans, Grants, Jim Patterson, Ed Galvin, and Donovan. Call in the morning; delivery by afternoon.

South on Cherry Street from Scott Street was a “saloon” run by Johnny Breen, a brother of Margaret McAvoy and Agnes Breen of Ward Street. The sisters were retired school teachers. Mr. Breen had a horse named “Nellie” who led the neighborhood parade on the day of the annual outing held in an orchard behind the Breen saloon. Mr. Breen believed in giving the local boys a treat and would let one of them ride “Nellie” down Cherry Street. The saloon is now a real estate office.

On lower Cherry Street, across from Maher’s Lane, was the Wilson Clark home. Mr. Clark conducted a trucking and moving business. His stalwart horses were much admired in town. They not only pulled the business wagons, but drew the fire engines all over town. When the fire whistle (in the town hall) blew, the horses were un-harnessed wherever they happened to be and they took off for the firehouse to be hitched to the fire engines. People would clear out of the streets because these horses were on a call to duty! The office of a well-known businessman is now on what was the Clark property.

Life to all children centers around home, school, neighborhood, friends, playtime, and sports. This was true a hundred years ago and is true today. The children of that time became the parents, grandparents, teachers, corporate leaders, scientists, and congressional figures who led us to the world we know today.

— Helen McCarthy Wilmot
Source - Notebooks of Helen O’Langhlin McCarthy, 02 20 1900

Source: Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter, March/April 2000