Early Files: County nears 'Food for Freedom' egg production goal of 661,883 dozen in 1942

The Early Files includes stories from the archives of the Barnstable Patriot.

1862

Among the many curious Pot plants exhibited at the Fair, none was more rare and interesting than a fine healthy specimen of the Cotton plant, raised from seed and very tenderly watched and nurtured by Miss Octavia J. Smith of this village (Barnstable), who deserves great credit, beside her premium, for her skill and perseverance in bringing it to its present size. (Note: The article mentioned that the plant was about 2 feet tall.)

1872

Shall we have a Singing School this Winter? The people of Barnstable, young and old, are invited to meet at the Masonic Hall, next Friday evening, Oct. 25, at 7-1/2 o'clock, to spend an hour in singing, and afterward to consider the above question. Mr. J. H. Emerson of Boston will be present to conduct the exercises. Admission free. All come. Remember the evening and the hour.

More: This Marstons Mills house tour includes an 1885 hearse. What else will you encounter?

1882

Barnstable: The Unitarian church is to be closed for the present. Mr. Hinckley preached his last sermon Sunday; the funds subscribed for his support having been exhausted … Some rogue entered the Unitarian church during the past week and turned the seat cushions upside down, unhung the furnace door, and committed other acts of roguery.

1892

Hyannis: The new blacksmith shop of Mr. Henry C. Bacon is completed, and is a fine substantial building for that purpose, and an improvement to that locality. (Note: Two weeks earlier, the Oct. 4, 1892 Barnstable Patriot reported that Mr. Bacon’s old shop had been torn down and that a new one was being built.)

1922

Barnstable: Users of Bayside Farm milk will be interested to know that the entire herd has again successfully passed the tuberculin test made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and by the Federal Government, and therefore continues to be an accredited herd, as has been the case for several years, or since this method of testing was established by the Government.

More: Early Files: Scarlet fever outbreak in 1932 at Marstons Mills

1932

Although no figures are available to show the extent to which the new combination bathhouse and comfort station at Craigville bench was used, Chairman F. F. Scudder of the park commissioners is positive that its first season was a real success and that it has proved an asset to the town ... He admits he was surprised to learn that the summer people patronized the place more than townspeople and thinks that this is a sign that the place can be considered one of the attractions of the town.

1942

Barnstable County egg production nearing goal: Farmers of Barnstable County who last year produced 590,967 dozen eggs, are well on the way toward achieving their "Food for Freedom" goal of 661,883 dozen this year, according to a report released today by the Northeastern Poultry Producers Council. The report indicated that despite a shortage of labor that has taxed the ingenuity and lengthened the work day of most operators the goal already is in sight.

1952

Appointment of a committee to investigate the need for establishment of a new school for Barnstable Village with the recommendation that it meet with a similar committee in West Barnstable for consideration of a consolidated elementary school for both communities was made Tuesday night at the first meeting of the season of the Barnstable Parent Teachers Club. … The group, after conferring with the West Barnstable committee, will report their recommendations to the Barnstable School Board. Barnstable Village School is the oldest school building in town still in use. It was changed from a two- to a four-room school in 1912 and has been altered in recent years to accommodate a cafeteria.

More: Early Files: Poor cranberry crop at Cape bogs in 1872

1962

Ivar Sjostrom, eminent recitalist, will play a memorable program on the memorial pipe organ in Barnstable Unitarian Church on Monday, Oct, 22, at 8 p.m. under auspices of Cape Cod Chapter of American Guild of Organists and the music committee of the church. (Note: The program included, among other pieces, Handel’s Suite from the "Royal Fireworks," Bach’s Fugue in G Minor, and Vaughan Williams’ “Greensleeves.”)

1972

Cape Cod Lodge of B'nai B'rith will hold its monthly breakfast meeting Sunday, Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the Priscilla Alden Room, Barnstable Road, Hyannis. Guest speaker will be Guy Stroumsa of Israel who is going to speak on "Inside Insight on Arab-Israeli relations." A former press officer with the Israeli Defense Forces stationed on the West Bank, Mr. Stroumsa spent many hours with Arab leaders ... and gained considerable insight into the hopes and feelings of this troubled region.

More: Early Files: Unexplained tremors around Mid-Cape in 1952

1982

Work has begun on the $60,000 West Barnstable Community Building restoration voted by town meeting last spring. Town Engineer Frank Lambert said work on the building, which may date to the turn of the century and started life as a public school, is being done by contractors hired by the town. Lambert is scheduling first the outside work like roofing, glass replacement, painting, some carpentry, and some foundation repair to correct cellar leaks. (Note: It was estimated that three-quarters of the windows on the building had broken glass, and that glass alone would cost $1,000.)

More: Opinion: From the heart: Building community with the next generation

1992

Sunday openings hearing: As the Weld administration and Legislature continue to chip away at the state Blue Laws, package stores will be allowed to open on the Sundays before Thanksgiving to the end of the year, subject to local approval. The Barnstable Licensing Authority will discuss the openings Monday morning at 10:00. A discussion is scheduled as well as time for public comment. For the past two years, cities and towns, at their own discretion, could allow liquor stores to be open on Sundays during the final weekends in December. The board supported those openings both years. (Note: William Weld was Governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997.)

2002

At its annual meeting Tuesday, the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District celebrated progress on the shopping strand and reviewed further steps to returning the street to its status as a prime destination for Cape Codders and visitors … The BID continues to work with the town, the county and other business groups to realize improvements such as the West End Walkway.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Early Files: Sunday package store opening considered in 1992