Then
The East Woodstock Congregational Church in East Woodstock around the turn of the 20th century. Putnam Town Crier file photos.

& Now
This is the church in modern times.

Roundup
Academy
wrestlers
take 1st
at Duals
In Woodstock Academy sports action last week:
Jan. 26
Wrestling
Woodstock Academy’s wrestling team took first place with a 4-0 tally at the Classical Magnet Duals.
Recap:
Woodstock Academy 57 def Brookfield 24
182: Mike Thompson (W) def Stephen Kaluwicz (B) by pin in :28
195: Tan Edwards (B) def Cody Lajoie (W) by pin in 4:27
220: Doug Putnam (W) win by forfeit
285: Avery Rollins (W) win by forfeit
106: Dustin Fowler (B) def John Currie (W) by pin in 1:02
113: Bran So (B) win by forfeit
120: Jacob Bowen (W) win by forfeit
126: Graysen DeLuca (W) def Jordan Lozada (B) by pin in :58
132: Tanner McReynolds (W) def Griffen Barbieri (B) 7-2
138: Blaise Boullianne (B) Ben Sylvestre (W) by pin in 3:19
145: Brent Sorensen (W) win by forfeit
152: Zach Hunt (W) win by forfeit
160: Cody Maiorino (W) win by forfeit
170: Devan Ciapocha (W) win by forfeit
Woodstock Academy 66 def Ellis Tech 15
195: Cody Lajoie (W) win by forfeit
220: Dylan Bouchard (E) def Doug Putnam (W) 5-2
285: Tanner Doucette (E) def Tim Davis (W) by pin in 1:37
106: John Currie (W) win by forfeit
113: Alex Marois (E) win by forfeit
120: Jacob Bowen (W) def Hayden Hamilton (E) by pin in 2:36
126: Graysen DeLuca (W) win by forfeit
132: Tanner McReynolds (W) def Kyle Moquin (E) by pin in 1:28
138: Brent Sorensen (W) win by forfeit
145: Ben Sylvestre (W) def Dan Selbe (E) by pin in 1:40
152: Zach Hunt (W) win by forfeit
160: Cody Maiorino (W) win by forfeit
170: Devan Ciapocha (W) win by forfeit
182: Mike Thompson (W) win by forfeit
Woodstock Academy 63 def SMSA 18
220: Doug Putnam (W) win by forfeit
285: Dashua Roldan (S) def Avery Rollins (W) by pin in 1:11
106: John Currie (W) win by forfeit
113: Jordan Ulett (S) win by forfeit
120: Jacob Bowen (W) win by forfeit
126: Graysen DeLuca (W) win by forfeit
132: Tanner McReynolds (W) def Christian Echevarria (S) by pin in 2:29
138: Ben Sylvestre (W) def Jose Torres (S) by pin in :53
145: Brent Sorensen (W) def Kwasi OBeng (S) 6-4
152: Zach Hunt (W) def Xavier Montanez (S) by pin in 1:05
160: Cody Maiorino (W) def Spencer Sisson (S) by pin in 1:29
170: Devan Ciapocha (W) win by forfeit
182: Kayrin Moccu (S) def Mike Thompson (W) by pin in 1:31
195: Cody Lajoie (W) win by forfeit
Finals Match:
Woodstock Academy 42 def Griswold 30
285: Jermaine Frazer (G) def Avery Rollins (W) by pin in 1:46
106: Carl Edge (G) def John Currie (W) by pin in 1:28
113: Fred Levesque (G) win by forfeit
120: Dylan Martel (G) def Jacob Bowen (W) 14-2
126: Graysen DeLuca (W) def Zac Cassidy (G) 7-3
132: Tanner McReynolds (W) def Jesus Garcia (G) by Inj Def
138: Brent Sorensen (W) win by forfeit
145: Kyle Dombrowski (G) def Ben Sylvestre (W) 3-1
152: Asa Scranton (W) win by forfeit
160: Zach Hunt (W) def Adam Davis (G) by pin in 1:18
170: Cody Maiorino (W) def Damien Currire (G) 3-1
182: Devan Ciapocha (W) def Jacob DeRosa (G) by pin in 1:17
195: James Walsh (G) win by forfeit
220: Doug Putnam (W) win by forfeit
Jan. 25
Boys’ Basketball
At a critical time one of the New London players went down with an injury. At the time Woodstock had the ball and were on the break. When coach Smith and the rest of the Woodstock Academy bench saw that the New London player came up lame Woodstock called a time out so the player could get medical attention instead of driving for the two points.
Earlier, the boys’ basketball team hosted the Whalers from New London High School and came away with a four-point victory, 32-28. Missing two key players off the starting roster, Will Bourgeois and Chris Lowry, coach Smith knew that offensive would not come easy for his team so he put a game plan together to slow down the pace, limit turnovers, take good shots, contest all of the opponent shots, and dominate the glass. The Whalers never got on a run and they had trouble putting the ball in the basket all night long. Woodstock also found it difficult to find the bottom of the net, but with the usual 17 points from Ian Converse and with Tristan Welch stepping it up offensively as of late and contributing 11 that was just about enough. It took just four more points by Sullivan Gardner, including a key basket down the stretch, to give Woodstock the 32 they needed to walk away with a victory. Woodstock Academy is now 12-1 this year and a perfect  6-0 in the ECC Large division to remain in first place.
The Woodstock Academy boys basketball team hosted two youth teams from the Frog Rock Recreational basketball program last week.The 5th and 6th grade Celtics and Lakers were announced prior to the game and they played a halftime game against each other. The two teams tied their game at 8 points apiece.
Jan. 22
After the fatal fire in Putnam Jan. 22, at the Woodstock Academy basketball game, $410.35 was raised for the families who lost their homes in that fatal fire.
If anyone still wants to send in donations they can be made to the PROSPECT STREET FIRE FUND c/o PUTNAM BANK and they can be dropped off at any branch of Putnam Bank or at WINY, 45 Pomfret St., Putnam. Clothes and furniture can be dropped off at Chace Building Supply, Rt. 171 in Woodstock Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Jan. 21
Girls’ Basketball
Woodstock 46 Windham 35
When the game began the Centaurs came out with fire and energy building and early 7-2 lead. After the first quarter Woodstock held an 11-4 lead. The Centaurs’ changing defenses and pressure gave the Whippets trouble throughout the first half and Woodstock Academy held a 15-point lead at halftime (23-8). Windham came out in the second half determined to cut into the Woodstock Academy lead, but every time they made a small run Woodstock would answer. The Centaurs held a 10-12 point lead most of the second half on route to a 46-35 victory. Woodstock Academy now has a record of 6 and 9 and they need to win two of their last five to make the playoffs.
Leading the way for Woodstock Academy was Harley Blodgett with 14 points and 4 assists. Lindsey Weigand had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Colleen Topliff had 8 points. Maryanna Leonard had 7 points and 6 rebounds. Bridget Matsas had 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Bridget Desautels led the way for the Whippets with 15 points. Nicole Moore chipped in 6 and Mariah Gonzalez had 5.
Stats
Woodstock: Blodgett – 6 fg, 2 of 2 = 14; Weigand – 4 fg, 2 of 4, = 10; Topliff – 4 fg = 8;
Leonard – 2 fg, 3 of 4 = 7; Matsas – 2 fg, 1 of 3, = 5; Nowak – 2 of 3 from the line for 2 pts.

caption:

Aftermath
This is what remains of 6 Prospect St., Putnam, after a devastating fire Jan. 22. The second floor wall and the third floor had to be stabilized by carpenters before crews could safety search the third floor and recover the two young sisters who perished. Linda Lemmon photo.


Fire dept.
offers safety
open house
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- After the heart-wrenching loss of two little girls in a fire last week, the Putnam Fire Department is redoubling its efforts to make each home safer.
Norm Perron, the town fire marshal and assistant fire chief, said the Putnam Fire Department will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 23 at the fire station on Church Street.
Members of the department, still devastated by the fatal fire Jan. 22 on Prospect Street, will be offering home fire safety lessons including fire drills plus information on smoke detectors, heaters, disposal of ashes, and more. Perron said the department will also be giving away free smoke detectors. Perron said the safety lessons are important for every family to remember and to incorporate into their lives. "I can go into any multifamily house, open smoke detectors and find no batteries," he said. "I went to a building on a call for a malfunctioning wall heater and found portable electric heaters by a bed." One recent fire resulted after a homeowner disposed of the contents of an ash tray into the trash. Perron said "he was sure the ashes were out. No they were not."
The fire call came in at 12:40 a.m. and 30 firefighters from the Putnam Fire Department responded, as did East Putnam on mutual aid, Dayville at the scene, the Community Fire Department  Rapid Intervention (rescue) Team from Thompson. In addition Woodstock was on standby at the Putnam Fire Department station, Perron said.
Perron said the fire started on the third floor, in the bedroom where Alexis Lynn Marie Auger, 3, and her infant sister, Ava Nicole Marie Auger were sleeping.
The third floor was heavily damaged and the roof caved in. The cause of the fire is accidental/undetermined and the investigation continues, Perron said.
Many families were displaced. If you'd like to: Donations can be made to the "Prospect Street Fire Fund," c/o Putnam Bank and can be dropped off at any branch of Putnam Bank or at WINY, 45 Pomfret St., Putnam. Clothes and furniture can be dropped off at Chace Building Supply, Route 171, in Woodstock from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.