Aspinock Memories
Priority Finishing-plus
Canal Street fire, 1987
By Bill Pearsall
Putnam Municipal Historian
If I can steal a line from one of my all-time favorite history programs, I might say like Walter Cronkite – “Wednesday, December 2, 1987, a day like any other day but you are there”.
At approximately 9 a.m. that day a fire broke out in one of the companies housed in a mill building on Canal Street. It is thought the fire started in Dimension Sail Cloth Company, then spread to a neighboring business, Priority Finishing.
As the fire quickly spread, a huge explosion occurred at Priority Finishing. The building collapsed onto Canal Street. Fortunately, the East Putnam Fire Department had repositioned their truck on Canal Street in time, thereby preventing its loss when the building collapsed. A black cloud of smoke was said to have blocked out the sun. The black clouds and the explosion were seen and heard up to 10 miles away.
Another dilemma facing the fire fighters was the antiquated Putnam water supply system. The huge volume of water needed quickly sucked the water from the hydrants. Businesses and homes were subsequently without water for an extended period. Fire departments were forced to take water from the Quinebaug River.
A huge pile of debris continued smoldering for days. Regulatory agencies were involved trying to determine if the hundreds of barrels inside the building reported by firefighters contained hazardous waste. Eventually, companies from as far away as Ohio were called in to assist in the cleanup.
As Putnam’s Municipal Historian, I would like to put together a booklet on this huge event. If you participated as a firefighter or have memories of that day, let me know. I am at the museum in the town hall Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or you can call me at 860-963-6800 x 301 and leave a message. And remember – “You were there!”
Information for this article is from the Aspinock Historical Society’s archives and from the Observer Patriot newspaper.
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.
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Devastating fire on Canal Street in 1987. Photos courtesy of the Aspinock Historical Society.
Canal Street fire 1987.
Putnam: Projects galore
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — What might be nice is a construction scorecard if you’re talking about Putnam.
Sidewalks, more sidewalks, a pedestrian bridge, more sidewalks, and — possibly a cherry on top — a public market/bar/hotel project at 88 Main, downtown. Plus Walmart began its complete renovation of its store July 21.
Downtown
The proposed downtown project presented to the Putnam Planning and Zoning Commission last week would involve, at 76-80 Main St. (Seder Building)., a Putnam Public Market and the creation of The Cargill, a boutique hotel and wine bar.
The Putnam Public Market would have 30 stalls for food vendors, artisans and small eateries.
At 88 Main, plans by 1 Design envision a wine cellar and tasting room in the basement; a hotel lobby and reception and a full-service restaurant on the first floor.
On the second floor: guest rooms, a wine bar and connection to the Seder Building containing guest room.
On the third floor: More guest accommodations, and a function room, The Exchange.
Rooftop Deck: “Sunset & Vine,” a rooftop café and bar area.
The plans would involve a zoning regulations amendment.
The “Putnam Downtown District (PD), would preserve the traditional focal point in the community for cultural, civic and commercial activities; to promote pedestrian friendly development; and to aid in the preservation and restoration of its architectural assets while providing for an environmental that fosters economic growth and diversity.”
Such a district would allow hotels, conference centers, restaurants, taverns, cafes, catering and more.
The proposed zoning amendment would not allow any building change unless off-street parking and loading spaces have been provided.
Public parking lots shall be available for parking for commercial uses within existing buildings if parking is not already provided on-site.
The property owner and developer is ICB Enterprises Initiative Inc. LLC.
Sidewalks – School Street
The town is currently drawing near to the finish of the sidewalk installation on School Street. A $2 million grant is being used for that. It will run down School Street to point near Mainely Seafood (but on the south side of School.).
More Sidewalks
The town is currently putting plans together to continue where the above project ends all the way down to the sidewalks already in place along School Street at Walmart.
Town Administrator Elaine Sistare said surveyors are gathering information which will be passed on to the NECCOG engineers who will put together a plan and help write a grant proposal for funding it.
She said there are Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP) grants that are continuously funded and there are also Community Connectivity grants on the state and federal levels.
The plan would have to include, probably, a cantilevered pedestrian “sidewalk” along the Little Dam Tavern Bridge on School Street (near Jim’s House of the Iron Horse) because there is not enough space for a sidewalk in that spot.
She said this sidewalk might be “two years” down the road.
Yes, More Sidewalks
Sistare said the town is also working on redoing all the sidewalks between Grove Street and School Street. This would include residential streets like King, Freemont, Center, Bradley, etc. The town uses NECCOG’s engineer and it is being worked on. Surveying work is currently being done. These are town streets, not state roads as the other two projects are.
She said this project could be eligible for LOTCIP or perhaps Community Connectivity money.
Putnam is hoping to build more sidewalks on School Street, to join up with the sidewalk in front of Walmart. The Little Dam Tavern bridge would require a cantilevered pedestrian bridge, though, as there's not enough room for a "regular" sidewalk. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Conceptual drawing of the proposed Cargill Hotel and Putnam Public Market. This is pictured on Main Street if you were looking from 85 Main.
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Sidewalks Proposed
Putnam is hoping to build more sidewalks on School Street, to join up with the sidewalk in front of Walmart. The Little Dam Tavern bridge would require a cantilevered pedestrian bridge, though, as there's not enough room for a "regular" sidewalk. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Hard-working Stringer promoted to sergeant
He'll help lead
second shift
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Driven by a lifelong desire to help people and trying to get justice for people who are victims, Richard D. Stringer July 11 was promoted to sergeant in the Putnam Police Department.
Surrounded by his family and work family, his wife Jamie pinned the sergeant’s badge on him and Julie Quinn of the Special Service District swore him in.
Stringer said when he came to the Putnam Police Department four years ago “I felt welcomed here. It’s like family.”
Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said Stinger joined the Putnam Police Department after six years with the New London Police Department.
He is a certified Police Motorcycle Operator and Putnam’s first Motor Officer in the department’s history. He is a certified Field Training Officer and is a Crisis Intervention Officer, specially trained in dealing with people in mental health crisis. He is a State of CT POSTC Certified Firearms and Use of Force Instructor.
He is also certified to teach Police Baton, OC Spray, and Handcuffing Techniques. For the past several years he has taught at the LEC Eastern Region Police Academy and the LEC In-Service Recertification Training classes.
He has attended numerous specialized training courses throughout his career and brings a wealth of experience to his new supervisory position.
He said advancing has been part of his whole career. “It’s always been a goal that I’ve been working for throughout my whole career,” he said.
“I’ve been studying and training my entire career since I started in New London. I’ve always taken advanced training classes.”
Stringer will be assigned to second shift. He said his job will be pretty much the same except “Now I’m responsible for others on the shift as well. I get to use my experience and knowledge to help led the shift instead of just being part of it.”
Sergeant Stringer was selected for promotion after a series of competitive testing examinations conducted by the Law Enforcement Council of Eastern CT.
Sergeant Stringer is a 2008 graduate of Griswold High School and a graduate from Lincoln Technical Institute.
He lives in Griswold with his wife Jamie and their two children.
“I’m looking forward to serving for a very long time to come,” he said.
captions:
Left: Sgt. Stringer's wife Jamie pins the sergeant badge on him. Above: A proud family, from left: father Richard Stringer, Stringer, Jamie Stringer and the kids, and mother-in law Kim Gunn. Below: Say hi to K9 Quin. Bottom: The "work" family. More photos Wed. night on our FB page.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
July 7
Lawrence J. Massey, 50, Brainard Road, Hartford; use of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance, first offense; carrying a dangerous weapon.
July 11
Kenneth W. Lippe, 25, North Main Street, Webster; first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, violation of standing criminal protective order, third-degree assault, second-degree failure to appear, first-degree failure to appear.
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