Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-05-24
REDDING

Redaing, May 23-The brightest
spot in Connecticut as regards accom-
plishment In the various lines of
patriotic endeaver was the distinction
claimed for Redding by D. s. Sanford
principal speaker at the flag raising
exercises at the Center last Sunday
afternoon. His concise narration of
facts and figures in support of this
assertion would probably fill news
paper column. Beginning with the
formation Of the local Home Guard
which organisation he described as
the pride and admiration of the town,
the speaker recounted the long list of
deeds locally done in response to the
successive appeals of the National and
State governments. He said it was
the only town in the State which had
record of four times over in sub
seriptions to the last Liberty Loan and
also the only town which had a 100
per cent. record as regards the pur-
chase of Thrift Stamps by the school
children. The total of local subscrip-
tons to the three loans was upwards
of $4,000 or about $50 for each in
div4dual resident. without special
campaigning Thrift Stamps to the
amount of over $4,000 had been alb
sorbed and cash contributions as dis
tinguished from investments of a
patriotic nature amounted to about
$66,ooo. The Red Cross was con-
tinuously productive. The exhibition
of war foods recently given was pro-
nounced by the visiting lady agents
of the State Food administration to
be the best Of the many they had at
tended. When the appeal came this
spring to eat more potatoes in order
to save other foods the 80 pupils of
the Umpawaug school devoured 500
| potatoes in one week. Gov. Holcomb,
said Mr.. Sanford, was star among
the country's war governors, Connec-
ticut matched up by shining as a star
| among the States, Fairfield county
| was pre- eminent among the counties
and Redding shone as the brightest
spot in Fairfield county This war,
said the speaker in another part of
his address, had united the country as
it had never been united in any of its
previous wartime or other periods
During the war of 1912 and the Civil
War dissent and to a degree open
opposition existed. Redding did well
for the Colonial cause in the Revolu-
tionary War but nevertheless no few
er than 40 of it's men out of a popu-
! lation of. about the same size as the
present left their homes here to Join
the British forces in New York. Sub
| sequently they former part of the
British forces which raided Danbury
and aided in carrying some of their
former neighbors into captivity and
placing them on the prison ships at
New York.
The flag raising proper was a dou-
lole event, the unannounced feature
being the hosting of a town service
nag with % stars as the companion
OF the honor loan flag with three
stripes signifying a quadrupIe sub
scr1ptlon. Captain Barnes, head of
the loan committee, made appropriate
presentation remarks and First Sc
lectman W. C. Sanford a brief speech
of acceptance. An address of some
length was also made by Rev. Father
Burns of Norwalk, who defined and
lO-~SSAASA
and enjoined upon all cheerful COM
pliance with whatever order or re-
quest came from the authorities
whether food economy, time economy
financial aid. or the more onerous
forms of service. His remarks, forci-
bly, phrased and uttered with much
sincerity, made a deep impression.
Previous to the exercises the Home
Guard marched from their drill
ground to the scene accompanied by
the Junior Guardsmen and the school
children. The singing by the latter
was a pleasing feature of the occa-
sion.
While at work on his large farm in
upper West Redding last Thursday,
Elmer B. Field was suddenly over
come with pains which proved to re-
suit from appendicitis in an advanced
stage. He was hurried to the Dan
bury hospital and Immediately oper-
ated upon, but continued to sink rap
idly and died the following morning
The funeral was held on Tuesday
services being conducted by the pas
tor of the Long Ridge Methodist
church and six nephews of the de-
ceased acting as pail bearers. Mr.
Field was 6s years of age and Is sur
vived by a widow. They had no chill
dren.
About a month ago George Vaughan
aged about 20 and living with an aun
in West Redding, disappeared with NJ
previous intimation of his purpose
He had been a member of the HON
Guard since it's organization. All Ell
forts to trace him failed and the mrs
tiding regarding him came in lettel
) from an officer of a Southern training
camp, saying that the missing NAL
was at the camp and seriously Ill VIII
pneumonia. Vaughan, it seems, max
gone away in order to enlist. A reia
tive at once journeyed to the CAM
and this week sent back word tina
! the young soldier was on the way
recovery.
Samuel Posen, young man
about rs whose home was in Brook
> lwn, N. Y, died suddenly last Satur
$ day morning at the home OF A. I
Barnett in hometown. He had com
2 to the place just a week before |
: help care for the poultry and do oth
err light work On the next Tuesoa
he had a hemorrhage of the lungs
but despite the persuasions OF his EN-
\ pIoyer and the orders of DR.. S1nlt
refused to remain in bed. His mothe