cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 12, Number 47
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Town’s clock-making past includes some twists By Mitzi Romano Special to The Citizen
A HISTORY HOUND REPORT
One of the History Hound’s favorite rest stops in town is the grassy knoll in front of the Watch Factory Shoppes. That got us wondering about the original Watch Factory and Cheshire’s connection to timepieces in general.
While the Watch Factory is the most prominent reminder of Cheshire’s timekeeping history, it turns out that Cheshire’s first clockmaker was Reuben Merriman. During the 1790s, he built grandfather clocks (formally known as floor clocks or longcase clocks) in a building located at what is now the site of First Congregational Church.
The following is brought to you from the Cheshire Historical Society:
Interestingly, he built his clocks in Cheshire during the winter months and shipped them south in the spring. The clocks would travel by boat to New York, and then to Virginia, where Mr. Merriman would load them on a mule train and personally deliver them to The History Hound poses at the Watch Factory Shoppes as wealthy Virginia planters. he uncovers unusual aspects of the town’s connection to See History, A2
clocks.
Event honors bus drivers’ steady work
Local deals to be found Saturday
By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
The Rotary Club of Cheshire and the town-wide PTA feted public school bus drivers and transportation staff on Nov. 12, with an “Appreciation Breakfast” at Norton Elementary School. The PTA, local businesses and others donated pastries and fruits. Additionally, the Norton PTA came through with roses and elementary and high school Rotary Key Club students made cards for drivers and transportation staff. Aline Nichols, Rotary Foundation Chair and PTA president spoke with The Citizen and posted the group’s thanks on Facebook, noting, “The last two years have certainly been completely uncharted waters for everyone. Navigating through a pandemic was not something anyone had a plan for. It seems as if the entire world turned upside down for a period of time.”
Mitzi Romano, For The Citizen
If you’re looking for retail therapy, look no further than Cheshire’s Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27. Cheshire Chamber of Commerce President Yetta Augur wants everyone to shop local this holiday season, and for good reason. The bigger chains don’t seem to have the inventory, and there’s plenty of great gift ideas here in town, she said. Hazel Prinz, 5, with her mother Jennifer Prinz, front, holds a card she made for Bus Driver and Transportation Staff Appreciation Day, celebrated locally Nov. 12. At back, from left: Rotarian Yan Liu and bus driver Stephanie Clark. Submitted
“We would like to recognize our amazing bus drivers and transportation staff for always putting our children’s safety as their first priority.” Nichols’ post continues, “You were able to adapt to new protocols,
while still being able to reassure our smallest passengers that they were in a safe environment.” Nichols said the Rotary Club of Cheshire intends to make bus driver appreciation day an annual event.
Augur gave a number of examples of nearby places to puruse, including Bishop Farms, which has an “adorable Christmas shop.” Augur said some shops may surprise you with perfect gifts, like Main Street Caffe. “They have great coffee, but they also have fantastic gifts. They have scarves and jewelry and adorable plaques,” she said. See Deals, A3