The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1946-02-09
.ctoryHouse Victim
OF VandaListic Acts
Supt. Curtin Deplores Damage Done
Since Structure Returned to Park

Waterways Victory House, re-
Gently removed from its wartime
site on the Green to its "rewarding
pasture" in Hamilton Park has
BEEN made the vistim of vandalism
during the past week.
Park Superintendent James j.
Curtin disclosed that nine panes OF
glass in the windows Of the struc-
ture have been smashed. The outer
paint has also been mutilated and
smeartd.
Can it be that the patriotic Ser
vice of this memorial building
during the war years can be so
quickly forgottenP" Mr.. Curtin
questioned.
Served in Two Wars
Victory House is a veteran of two
World Wars. During World War
I it was set up on the east corner
of The Green and served as the
focal point for spirited war bond
rallies and other patriotic cam
paigns. After that war it was re-
moved to Hamilton Park and set
up there as a memorial. At that
time it was known as Liberty
House symbolic Of the Liberty
war bonds Of that war.
At the onset of World War II
the late. Mayor Vincent A. Scully
decreed that the structure again be
removed to the Green to take active
part in the honefront prosecution
of the war. 1t was re-christened
Victory House as a symbol of the
Victory slogan of Warld War II.
mot once during its service IN
World War II was this building
molested," Mr.. Curtin pointed out.
Yet here it is removed but a week
and deliberate desecration sets in.
Il know for certain it was not
the fact it was in downtown area
that it wasn't harmed while on The
Green" he continued. Other pub
lie properties in that area were
harmed, particularly those without
any patriotic significance.
ITO me it seems that the cour-
ageouS and sincere symbols of the
war years are. forgotten too soon.
1t undoubtedly has been teen-agers
who smashed these windows but
they certainly are old enough to
know better" he emphasized.
Widespread Vandalism
Vandalism in Waterbury has
reached alarming proportions it
has been stressed by authorities.
During l945 a total of $1,000 worth
of school windows alone was
smashed.
Police Superintendent William J.
Roach, Mayor John S. Monagan,
Schol Supt. DR.. John G Gilmartin
and Mr. Curtin have appealed to
parents to stop the movement
In all city parks expensive and
sometimes rare shrubbery has been
deliberately up-rooted and tramp
led upon. Public drinking fonts
have been smashed.
That is plain righteousness"
the Park Superintendent said.
At Fulton Park, Hayden Park
ana Library Park each spring
benches are tossed about. In Full
ton park these benches have been
thrown into the big skating pond;
at Hayden park these benches have
been thrown down the embankmnt
onto the street; at Library Park
they have been heaved over the
wall down onto Meadow street.
Parents Problem
Toilets in all parks have been
severly damaged. These seem to be
a specific target for vandalism.
Many buildings have been damaged
to great extent. Lakewood park has
been the brunt of heavy destruc-
ton since it was closed in l94l.
1.-THE answer to the problem is
through the parents of these
youths committing these acts" Mr..
Curtin said. I'VE cannot afford
enough police to patrol every school
every night, every inch of each
park and other public facilities.
The children must be impressed
with the extent of their acts. The
parents should realize that it Is
their property being destroyed"