New Britain herald., 1925-04-28
COMMUNICATED
Mother Protests Against New Gas
 Station Site at Belyidere

Station Site at Belyidere
 Editor New Britain, Herald:-
 The doings in Belvidere within the past year or so as to the build ing question have ao doubt in the etes of our citizens taken on a farcical aspect; certain party pro- poses to a certain board that he de- sircs to put up building entirely out of keeping with the rest of beautiful Belvidere and as soon as that is made known. few Of those who have Belvidere at heart rise up in a body, make protests. procure signatures for that protest. have meetings, etc, etc., and To and De- hold. What is the result, the pro- tests arc ignored on such and such a ground the building is erected and beautiful Belvidere is few notches down in books. Just now the con- troyersy is a gasoline station. Sigma lures are being affixed to a written protest, with the Lord only knows what outcome. That does seem funny, doesn't 1t?
 Now as 6 citizen and taxpayer of that section I am taking the liberty to turn over a page in this so-called farce and endoaEor to show the serious, and perhaps sad side of this question: Our home is situated on etI nF ct one block before the snd of the car line, and while sitting on my veran- da 1 have made it point to watch traffic go by. Stanley street as a main highway is particularly nar- row especially with car line going through it. People trading at the various stores on the east side of the street near the trolley terminus drive up in cars and park on both sides Of the street. If the trolley is not there trafic keeps on just the same stops there for while which fills up the center of the road. Now the road curves few hundred feet south of Francis street so that north bound traffic is unaware of the trol- ley and parked cars near Francis street until they are almost there and cars going at a fast clip, which they usually do at this point must put on their emergency brakes or a collision Is inevitable. On numer' ous occa sions when in the house, have heard the griding of brakes and going out would find just a situation, viz, the trolley in the road. parked cars on both sides opposite the stores and traffic rounding the curve. Bear in mind dear reader that Belvidere has lost one of its worthy citizens hy being killed by an auto when emerging from trol- ley at this point. l refer to the late MT. Allen. We do not want an- other such occurrence.
 So instead of trying to alleviate the congested traffic situation at this point our city fathers are only en- couraging it by permitting the gaso- line station to be removed from it's present site near the Normal school to the most congested part of Stan ley street, Belvidere. which will only allow for more parked cars or more congestion and become a menace to pedestrians especially to the child. Children being sent 10 the store are unaware of approaching autos from the south owing 10 that curve and 1t is indeed a miracle that more acci- dents do not occur here. l myself have on several occasions on going from inc store started to cross the road only to get a glimpse Of the approaching auto rounding the curve through its headlights at night and through sound in the daytime, but a child is not so wary.
 So, as a mother, enter my protest here and now. l want my children safeguarded instead Of sacrificed 10 a merccnary idol. If the gasoline station is a detriment to the Normal 
 school and it's occupants, so is it a detriment to us and our children who live nearby. Furthermore, as a citizen and taxpayer l enter my protest against those who are en- deavoring 10 clutter up beauti- ful residential section with hideous looking obstacles thereby permit ting our property to deteriorate in value and making naught our efforts 10 beautify our homes. In a word, Belvidere instead of being a credit to the city of New Britain especially in the eyes of the passersby will become a blot on our escutcheon,
 MRS. NATHAN BERsON.
 1894 CfanIpy Strapf