New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-06-29

he was elected by majority of forty
two votes over his opponent, c. L.
Dudley. His high standing as town
official has increased with each years
election, Mr., Gibney being reelected
last year by a majority Of 26s votes
When he steps from Office next fall he
will have rounded out thirteen years
OF I duty as a first selectman This
will be record in itself. no other man
ever having held the Office for such
long period in the towns history
When Mr.. Gibney first entered Of
flee more than q dozen years ago,
there was but one nacadam road In
Berlin. This was the road which was
built by George Fl. Sage. president Of
the Berlin Construction com pany,
about eighteen years ago. extending
from New Britain to Berlin street. To-
day Berlin can boast Of having as
good roads as any town in the state
for It's size.
Soon after entering Office Mr.. Gib-
ney commenced his campaign OF
having the roads mended. The road
from G. M. Jarvis farm to the Meri-
den line was macadimized This
was later taken over by the state as
O. trunk line. The Beach Swamp
road from the New Britain town line
to the overhead railroad bridge, Ken
siEgton depot, and a macadam road
from the American Paper Goods past
the Kensington Congregational church
almost to the residence of Fl. Ii.
Spooaer have Esen built. The town
purchased a piece of real estate from
Mr.. Wichel1 at a cost of $500 in or
der to straighten the road.
| The road extending from the Amer
lean Paper Goods factory down to
the railroad bridge, Kensington, was
naacadirnized with an asphalt top
During Mr.. Gibneys administration
the town voted to purchase a stone.
crushing plant which was erected IN
Grove hill where a large hedge oc-
,-apied the highway. The hill was
ftraightened out and Peck avenue
and sAlling street were macadamized.
4 The Strengthening Of the hill did
away with the Inconvenience caused
Tor generations as the ledge stood in
the middle Of the noad and It WAS
necessary to drive around it. Main
street, past I. M. II. a. and B. hall to
NJ ethodisU church, Kensington was
nacadamized In addition to. the maj :.
cadam roads, miles of roads i with
telford bottom and gravel. tops in
all sections of the town were built.
The increased number of Children
attending schools. made 1t necessary
to increase the school accom- odations
during the terms that Mr.. Gibney
has held. Office. The Worthington
town hall and the Kensington town
Il nall We're turned into school houses,
j leaving no place for town meetings
/ The Worthington Grammar school
i and the Hubbard school were bought.
| The w H. Brandegee hall was pui.-
/ chased in 1903 for $500 as a tow n
/ hall. The town records, before Mr.
/ Glbney. became selectman,s were kept
/ at the home Of William Buckley then
town clerk and treasurer "a new
4 1reproof vault was built and 1t can
be said that it Is as good as any coir-
| try town in the state can boast of.
While holding Office Mr. Gibney had
/ a bridge of concrete with steel Orders
I erected on the Beech Swamp road
/ near Towers clay pit. Another new
concrete and steel bridge was installed
between Berlin and East Berlin on
the main road. The CURLY bridge
i situated between Berlin and Crofn-
wells.swa sremode1led with new steel
beams and Orders, replacing the old
wooden Orders to meet the heavy
4 traffic over 1.-The. bridge The bridge
at Towers corner dividing Berlin ard
| New Britain, formerly an old irs
structure was erected with concrete
!. and steel Orders New Britain. Ber-
lin, and the Connecticut company
each paving a third Of the cost Of the