Aspinock Memories - 1953
The Grant Farm plane crash – four killed
WEST PUTNAM — May 7, 1953 Mrs. John Grant was in her home when she heard a plane in distress overhead. She ran out into her yard but could not see the military plane because of the fog. It swooped overhead a second time and she saw a glimpse of it. 
Nearby Bert Packham had heard the same low-flying roar and saw the plane attempt to climb when it suddenly disappeared into some woods. A moment later there was an explosion and then a huge fire ball above the trees.
Both walked to the site and, as Mrs. Grant told the Providence Journal: “It was a mess. I saw one man on the ground about 15 or 20 yards away from the plane.” Peckham said he saw two bodies in the fuselage, another about 50 feet from the wreckage and a fourth lying 150 feet away near the edge of Carpenter Brook. 
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Quonset Point. All four men died on impact. Two priests administered last rites. 
The true cause of the crash is not known for sure. The report said “The plane initially hit some tree tops wheels down” supporting the theory that the pilot planned to make an emergency landing. Because of the cloud ceiling the pilot would have had to have been flying very low. One later report noted the presence of carboxyhemoglobin. The report hints that an exhaust leak into the cabin and bad weather contributed to the accident but the official cause is listed as “undetermined.” 
The Navy policy in 1953 was to bury downed naval aircraft where they fell. A bulldozer would have been used to make a trench and push the wreckage into it and then cover it with earth. 
Compiled by Linda Lemmon from report researched and written by Jim Ignasher in January 2008. The complete report is at the Aspinock Historical Society.
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.

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Putnam's 1st bulky waste collection,in Pomfret
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — March 1 Putnam residents will become acquainted with the new bulky waste disposal program down the road at POMFRET’s new transfer station.
The program residents are accustomed to, bringing bulky waste to a Putnam location and having the items off-loaded by helpers, is no more. 
The new system will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 1 at Pomfret’s new transfer station, at the end of Nora Lane, off Rt. 101 (turn at Paquette’s Electric), according to Putnam Highway Superintendent Travis Sirrine. Putnam is using Pomfret’s station. The details of the memorandum of understanding between the two towns are still being worked out.
Here’s what Putnam residents can expect. At the black entry gate Putnam residents will show their proof of Putnam residency (i.e. driver’s license, vehicle registration, etc.) and tell the gate person what types of bulky waste they have and the staff will tell them which dumpsters to head for.
It is a one-way entrance and residents will be directed to pull in next to the railing to unload into the dumpster. There will no longer be any labor to help unload. Residents need to bring their own labor. 
There is no charge. Casella will have placed the dumpsters at the station and will charge the town of Putnam based on the tonnage.
Sirrine said the town of Putnam is hoping to have Putnam bulky waste disposal at Pomfret “in the range of once a month.” Schedules are part of the discussions on the memorandum of understanding. The town of Putnam did the paving, as agreed upon, Sirrine said, but the memorandum is not done yet.
What can be dropped off: Furniture, electronics, computers, large appliances, monitors, plumbing fixtures, mattresses, TVs, microwaves, stereos, scrap metal, miscellaneous electronics, etc. No household trash and no hazardous materials.
Sirrine said the town is working on a hazardous waste disposal day for some time midsummer. A date and time have not been determined yet.
He said that items currently dropped off at the town’s Fox Road garage, such as tires, electronics and mattresses/box springs can still be dropped off there; however, once the bulky waste schedule is “sorted out” those items will go to Pomfret only. “The town will give (Putnam) residents plenty of notice when that happens,” Sirrine said.
The possibility of a “trade station” at the transfer station has been talked about, Sirrine said. Woodstock has a trade station at its transfer station. Residents put items that are in good shape but not needed and other residents look through the trade station for items they might need. If Pomfret does one, it would be in the future. Sirrine said the state encourages trade stations to encourage recycling. 

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Figure into Putnam's future
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM —Would you like a hand in creating your own future? How about your town’s future? Absolutely possible.
John Guszkowski, principal of Tyche Planning and Policy Group LLC, is helping the town set its future by helping write the town’s next 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development. 
State law requires every town to update its 10-year plan. Putnam’s is due in mid-2026. Key to Guszkowski’s work is a survey asking residents what’s important to them — about every aspect of the town.
The survey is online at:
https://surveymonkey.com/r/PutnamPoCD
In addition, for those who get completely frustrated by tech, printed copies of the survey are available in the Building and Land Use office and in the Putnam Public Library in the Municipal Complex.
Guszkowski said the surveys will be open for the next month or two.
The survey encompasses everything from economic development, housing, open spaces, trails, transportation, infrastructure, schools, affordable housing, climate change issues and much more.
“It’s basically how the town uses its land for the next 10 years,” he said. Where should the town make its investments? It asks the townspeople to prioritize, make choices. Should the town invest in more trails and parks? Or perhaps believe in not buying more property for uses but enhance what we have? For housing should the town concentrate on single-family housing or move toward town houses or mixed uses like Cargill Falls (without the mold and lead paint)? Expand its commercial zone around downtown? He said that a good bit of commercial property around downtown is unused/underused. Some 300,000 square feet of that type of space could be revitalized. And/or expand the commercial zones in East Putnam? Consolidate the Special Service District and East Putnam? And much more.
The survey also contains open-ended questions to take the pulse of residents’ hopes and fears. What concerns do residents have about living in Putnam? Flooding? Crime? What else? How do residents feel about the town’s future?
Everyone he’s spoken with so far is “united by the idea that Putnam is a special place,” he said. Downtown is more than the heart of Putnam, it is the heart of northeastern Connecticut. It’s a regional downtown, a hub.
He expects the plan will “lean in and build on that.” 
How can we make downtown Putnam even better, as a regional downtown, he added.
Why take the survey? “There are real choices that the town faces in the next 10 years,” he said. 
Participation in the survey portion of the plan is essential, he said. “It’s like what they say about democracy — the most important part of democracy is showing up.” He added that input is a “critical” part of this future.
The plan is a “celebration of the last 10 years and it will be our vision of what we want our future to be,” he said.

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