Watertown History Page by Charlie Crowell

05/14/2026

Watertown McDonalds paystubs from 50 years ago.

The hourly rate for this 1976 summer position was $2.25. That seems insanely low but it’s was equal to about $13.93 today.

Connecticut's current minimum wage is $16.94.

The Watertown McDonalds opened in December 1975.

05/12/2026

From July 3, 1889, a temporary wood plank bridge was build on French Street. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that iron bridges arrived.

It isn’t known if the old bridge was washed away or simply rotted to the point of collapse or nearly so, but without a bridge at this location, locals endured a bit of an inconvenience getting to and from the east side of town.

There was a “deluge” that June 15th, so that was likely they cause.

Back then they also built “plank” roads. Basically they were roads made of wood. They were also called corduroy roads. This was back when lumber was cheap and plentiful.

Just three years earlier, a house near this spot on French Street was struck by lightning killing two young girls as they slept in bed.

After that, the house was known as the Lightning House” and the street was “Lightning Street”.

Years later when the streets were officially named, it became French Street, honoring the French family that lived opposite the present-day entrance to the high school.

05/08/2026

Here’s an unidentified baseball player for the Oakville Townies, 1941.

Baseball was a major obsession years ago. Not watching, but playing. All the local factories and churches had teams and the town had numerous teams that would play against neighboring towns.

The Gurnseytown neighborhood had the Gurnseytown Plowboys.

Baseball was indeed, “The Great American Pastime”.

04/29/2026

This handsome house was, for many years in the early 1900s, known as the Judson Inn. Located on Woodruff Avenue, it catered mostly to Taft School students at a time when Taft didn't have enough housing of its own.

Probably the inn’s most famous guest was First Lady Mrs. Herbert Hoover. She stayed there several times while visiting her son who was a student at Taft.

The house was built around 1856 for Julina Daily who owned it until 1901.

Sometime between 1880 and 1895 the turret and porch were added.

The next owner (from 1901 to 1942) was Sarah P. Judson who turned it into the inn. Her daughter Carrie became the proprietor later.

The next owner was the Princeton Knitting Mills (1943-1957). The textile firm housed factory workers there during and after WWII.

The house is still a multi-family dwelling today.

(See the comments for a present-day view.)

04/28/2026

Here are a couple of Watertown news items from April 1897. The lamb was to be part of an Easter feast.

Lamb pelts are soft, luxurious hides taken from lambs under 12 months old. They can serve a wide variety of uses.

The Mr. Munson mentioned was Joseph Marshall Munson (1825-1906).

The Sousa concert was that of the renowned John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) whose famous marches continue to instill patriotic emotions, particularly on patriotic holidays.

Emil Marggraff (1841-1908) was a German-born local harnesses maker and Civil War veteran. He lived on Main Street. His son and grandson both became well-known local dentists and operated their practices out of the old Marggraff home.

Emil Marggraff recorded all the gravestone inscriptions at the Old Burial Grounds shortly after the turn-of-the-century. His work was published and today is a valuable source of historic and genealogical information

04/28/2026

IDENTIFIED - SEE COMMENTS

According to the handwritten inscription on the back of this old postcard, this structure is (or was) in Watertown. If this is true, it’s certainly new to me.

The inscription (see the comments) says, “1 of the college buildings, Watertown, Conn.”

04/28/2026

Here's a then-and-now look at the house at 156
Hamilton Avenue.

This was originally a bungalow associated with the Jackson Sanatorium which stood a ways to the right. The sanatorium later became the M'Fingle Inn, and still later, was demolished in 1952.

Today, the structure seen here is a private residence.

Note how the wrap around porch was enclosed to add more interior living space.

Zillow reports that the house was built in 1928 but that is incorrect. We know, for example, on October 6, 1925, a dinner party was held her that resulted in the creation of the Watertown Foundation, a community service organization that carries on today.

This home goes largely unnoticed nowadays as it is a bit obscured from view by trees. Today it is painted blue.

04/18/2026

These were the residents living on Riverside Street in 1966. This was back when people didn’t move around as much and they got to know their neighbors well.

One home missing from the list was 167 Riverside, home of Anthony Palombo & family. That number was unlisted.

No doubt some will spot names they recognize here, despite the passage of 60 years.

03/12/2026

From my Waterbury page…

This was the Waterbury Rhythm Kings in 1956. The drummer was 13 years old Bob Pettinicchi. Bob went on to be a music teacher at Watertown High School as well as the long-time Watertown High School Band Director.

In Watertown, he became known as “Watertown’s Music Man.”

He was the Parade Chairman of the Watertown Bicentennial Parade in 1976.

Bob played in many Bands during his lifetime including the Mattatuck Drum Band and Connecticut Dance Bands, Jazz Bands and the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra.

Long since retired from teaching, Bob turned 83 back in October.

03/03/2026

The Watertown High School Class of 1964 in living color. This was the first class to graduate from the “new” high school on French Street.

The originally planned dedication of the school was delayed in November of 1963 due to the assassination of President Kennedy.