25 years ago: A four-screen cinema was proposed for an abandoned Porter Plaza storefront formerly occupied by Seasons Desires in Old Saybrook. The plaza of shops had been purchased by Willbrook Properties Inc., a general partnership between local attorney William A. Childress and R. Brooks Childress, for $1.8 million. The firm wanted to create the theater without expanding the parking lot and went before the Zoning Board of Appeals to request a variance of parking requirements in local zoning regulations.

25 years ago: The Republican Town Committee in Middlefield announced that they would be endorsing Rep. Julie Belaga as the Republican Candidate for governor. The committee also exhorted all Republican voters to participate in the primary.

25 years ago: The Copasetics, legends of tap dancing, performed at Valley Regional High School in Deep River at the High School and at John Winthrop Junior High School thanks to a program that was sponsored by a community support group. The Copasetics were a loosely-knit band of jazz tap dancers dedicated to the memory and legacy of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, who gave the meaning hunky-dory to “copasetic.”

25 years ago: Claire Anthony Smith was appointed to fill the vacant Republican seat on the Board of Finance in Westbrook. The vacancy was left when Robert H. Kindt Jr. had tendered his resignation from the board in July 1986 citing personal reasons.

25 years ago: Contaminated water leaking into wells through cracked walls was determined to be a fundamental cause of bacterial water pollution in Durham Heights. That was according to town officials and experts who had reviewed video tapes shot inside the wells. Residents there were asked at the time to repair their wells.

25 years ago: The “Valley Boosters” custom monopoly game, “Valleyopoly,” was printed and was offered to the public for $15 per game. The money raised went to the Valley Regional High School sports program and equipment. The game was available in Chester, Deep River and Essex at various local hot spots including gift shops and eateries.

25 years ago: Jack O’Brien, who served 26 and a half years as an Old Saybrook police officer, retired from his position at the time as sergeant. He had been a member of the force since 1959. O’Brien had said he felt ready for a change and decided to take advantage of new early retirement benefits. He was the fifth man hired as a patrolman after the fledging force had gotten under way in the 50s.
25 years ago: It was announced that two new fire trucks would be added to the fleet in Westbrook during 1986 if townspeople agreed to appropriate the necessary funds. That was according to the finance board for the town at the time, who agreed to recommend a town meeting for the purchase of the large rescue vehicle and the light-duty rescue truck. According to town treasurer Donald P. Morrison, the estimated cost was $180,000 with $218,000 in the fire apparatus sinking fund.

25 years ago: A new pipe organ was being installed at the Christ Lutheran Church on Washington Street in Middletown. It was an event that had not occurred in Middletown since 1969. The organ was built by M.P. Moller, Inc. of Hagerstown Md., the largest pipe organ builder in the U.S. Installation was done by Arnold Rathbun, of Cranston, Ri., the then Moller representative for southern New England. A special group of preludes, postludes and other musical selections were played during the organ’s first service by Andrew Huntington, organist and choir director at Christ Lutheran.

25 years ago: First Selectman of Middlefield James R. Blois said he was opposed to establishing a regional police force with the town of Durham. Blois made the comments after Durham First Selectman at the time Charles M. Mauro advocated the joint effort. At the time Middlefield maintained its own force of three constables and a resident state trooper and used coverage by state police if needed. Durham relied solely on the state police for protection.

25 years ago: The planned reconstruction of the Sibley Co. building on Bridge Road in Haddam took the first step to realization with a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission. Sibley Co. applied for a special permit to allow for the reconstruction of the factory building that had been destroyed during a June 15, 1986 fire. Jonathan Sibley, company president said he decided to follow the local permit procedure for the project although he was unsure if he needed one to make the repairs. The permit was eventually approved.

25 years ago: Members of the Water Pollution Control Authority in Clinton prepared a list of questions to present to a consulting engineer who was set to help the group decide how to sewer Clinton. Among the questions was whether or not treated wastewater could be pumped underneath Clinton Harbor and out to Long Island Sound.

25 years ago: The Rev. Leo J. Ovian, MSsA, Ph.D., stepped down as president and rector of the then 28-year-old Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell. The institution was founded to offer the priesthood as a second career vocation. The Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly, bishop of Norwich and college chancellor, announced the appointment of the Very Rev. Francis J. Lescoe as the new president and rector.

25 years ago: The town of Cromwell spent $5,000 for a return of nearly $2.5 million. The windfall was a result of a special audit of 31 personal property tax declarations and the outcome met the expectations of Assessor Robert Kemp who had advocated the expenditure. Cromwell resident Barbara Holstein, a certified public accountant, found the additional revenue in auditing a sample of 31 local businesses and industries. She designed The Personal Property Tax Audit as a project while working with a large auditing firm in the state.

25 years ago: The operator of an ultralight aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in a Clinton orchard, and according to police was not hurt during the event. The engine lost power and damage to the craft was minimal. The pilot was Charles R. Case of Madison.

25 years ago: John P. Syc, a 34-year-old Durham management specialist back in 86’, won the parking directorship with unanimous Council support in Middletown.

25 years ago: Over 15,000 people attended the Haddam Neck Fair this weekend in 1986. It was the largest attendance in history for the fair celebrating its 75th anniversary over the three day weekend. It was the first year the fair held their three mile road race with 75 participants.

25 years ago: According to Ann Street, director of the Greater Middletown Preservation Trust back in 86’, the Main Street Historic District in Durham was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Main Street had been selected for the recognition by the National Park Service in Washington.

25 years ago: Principal Raymond Wilson of Westbrook Elementary School announced that he would be retiring from the job at the end of the 1986-87 school year. Wilson had seen 25 first days of school in Westbrook up to the point of his retirement.

25 years ago: Concerned Salmon River property owners got together to discuss their concerns about excessive siltation, ice jams, and the state’s apparent reluctance to provide a solution for the problems at the time. The about 50 property owners, some seasonal, agreed to try and form an association to pressure state officials to take action.