Applications available for home energy help
DANIELSON/N. GROSVENORDALE — Applications for Home Energy Assistance for the 2025-2026 heating season are now being accepted by Access.
Households must apply seasonally.  Applications can be done either by phone, by mail, in-person, or directly online at the CT Energy Assistance Program.
Residents of Windham and Tolland counties can contact Access in Willimantic at 860-450-7400 or in Danielson at 860-412-1600 to make an appointment.
Access has a new phone system and the phone menu has changed, please press 3 to reach the HEAP Department and follow the prompts to schedule your appointment, check the status of your application, and schedule a delivery. Appointments are currently available during the agency’s normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nearby offices: Danielson/ACCESS, 231 Broad St. 860-412-1600; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Monday-Friday 8:00 a. m.-4:00 p. m.
TEEG (Thompson & Putnam), N. Grosvenordale, 860- 923-3458, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Monday-Friday 9:00 a. m.-4:00 p. m. By appt. only

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Aspinock Memories
Step back to 1899 --- Putnam’s trolley system
By Terri Pearsall
AHS Museum Curator
 Let’s imagine that we’ve all stepped into a time machine today and walked out of it into 1899 when most people still had horse and buggy as their main mode of transportation.  There is much talk in town about “The People’s Tramway”, a trolley system that is being built.  Some people are excited about this new form of transportation and others are skeptical seeing only the possibilities of danger.  The excitement is contagious and grows as each day gets closer to the first trip of the trolley system.  Will this new form of transportation work?  Will people use it?  Will it be safe for us to use?  These are all the questions being discussed.
Today in our imaginary year of 1899, everyone is eagerly reading an article, Trolley Road Inauguration Putnam Has the First One in the Country, in the Putnam Patriot hoping to get answers to all the questions that are buzzing around town. 
The following is what the paper had to say:  “The guesses and prophecies indulged in for the past two months as to whether the trolley road would be finished through the city and the cars would be running when the Putnam Fair opened, were only partly verified and partly unfulfilled.  Three days before that date the cars ran from the Fairgrounds about half the distance into the city; on Tuesday night they were run three-quarters of the distance and on Thursday as far as the tracks were laid to the upper part of the city.
The general expression of feeling was one of exultation that they city possessed a line of electric cars and that the first built in the county was opened here.  Some there were who could but see the possibilities of danger from the trolley cars running along the narrower streets, some few preferring to have neither steam nor an electric road because of their special perils -  not thinking that would involve no city, no growth and few people to be hurt.  But these dismal feelings mean little and will be obliterated as the people get familiar with cars made to swing around so many curves that seem unnecessary to many and on beholding in how many ways the cars afford comfort to the people and benefit to the city.
Saturday, September 9, 1899, will go on records as an important day in the history of the town and city of Putnam and also for Windham County, for on that day; the first electric car was run within its borders.  Contractor Sanderson had announced that the People’s Tramway Co. would commence to run its cars Saturday night, but a whole regiment of doubting Thomas’s cried out “It is impossible”.  And so it is with some surprise that a large party of business and professional men received notification from Mayor Fuller to take the 2:05 train Saturday afternoon for Alexander’s Lake, where they would find the new electric cars ready for their first load of passengers.  Through the efforts of Mr. Fuller, the officials of the road stopped the train at the lake and the party walked up to the old brickyard crossing, where they found four handsome cars waiting.
It was expected that the cars would start at 4 o’clock, but it was exactly 5:20 when the flash of incandescent lights in the cars signaled that the current was on, and at 5:35, Mr. Sanderson stepped on the platform of car No. 11, grasped the controller handle.  The car moved backward a few inches, stopped, then started forward and amid the shouts and cheers of the party the “first car for Putnam” sped on its way.  The first stop for passengers was made just beyond the famous cornfield, where Mr. Philetus Heath and his son, Sidney Heath, boarded the car.  At Partelows Bridge a few minutes stop was made on account of necessary work on the approaches of the bridge, at the completion of which the cars moved on and at 6:19 the car rolled over the city line and at 6:20 the party stepped from the cars at the end of the trip.
The cars of the line are of the latest design, being open cars.  They are painted a light cream color.  On the top of each car is inscribed “People’s Tramway Co.” and on each end “Danielson-Putnam and Grosvenordale”.  The cars are lighted by 12 incandescent lights.  The cars are finished in the natural wood trimmed with copper.  The curtains are of brown awing cloth, and the curtains for each seat can be raised or lowered independently of the others.  Our citizens may take a just pride in the fact that the equipments of the road are up to date in every detail.”
As the article goes on, the inauguration ride was a completely different story.  The invited guests had to wait from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. to get the coveted inaugural ride.  There was difficulty in connecting the wires to get the needed electric power to move over the route.  None of the party were discouraged at this, but took an excursion to Alexander’s Lake, making the time pleasant until the cry was sounded “All aboard for Buck’s Corners” when swiftly the cars sped along without interruption.  It was in nearing their point of destination that the party had a joyous surprise of wonder displays of electricity.  Flashes of great brilliancy by millions were witnessed above, below and all around them like some fairy enchantment scene.  That beautiful scenic display was a filling celebration of the inauguration of the Putnam Trolley railroad.  The parties were more than compensated for all delays witnessing this beautiful electric display.  It was a sight, still more beautiful sight to those living in the vicinity, who were fortunate to be around to witness it.  They saw the beautiful open cars brilliantly lighted, moving through a halo of sparkling dazzling flashes that made their hearts jump at seeing such a bewildering fairy scene.  This was the way the first cars entered the city, and the fortunate few will never forget this first trolley ride that eventful night.
Trolley service began in 1899 and continued until 1925.  According to a booklet titled Taylor’s Railroad and Trolley Guide (1902) for Danielson, Dayville, Putnam, North Grosvenordale, Webster and Worcester, cost five cents.  The guide has a notice to trolley passengers telling them when they wish to board a car, raise the hand as a signal, and the car will be stopped.  Never board or leave a car that is in motion – it is dangerous.  Never get off from a car backwards or straight out from the car.  When you get out from a car face the way it is going. Trolley cars stop to take and leave passengers at white poles only.  All time tables in this guide are subject to changes and corrections without notice.  The Guide is full of advertisements for local businesses such as a pair of shoes is priced at $3.  Shaw’s Satisfactory Store sold pianos, watches, jewelry, silverware, musical goods, sewing machines, stationery, base ball, tennis and ping pong goods.  Chandler & Morse, Nolan’s Bread, Bugbee’s Dept. Store, Keystone Dept. Store featuring 5-10-15 & 25 cent goods are a few ads featured in this 48 page guide.
So we can get back into our time machine from 1899 now and walk back into 2025 realizing that some things have changed in Putnam since then, but some things haven’t.  It was a great place to live then and even better place now.
Everything in this article has been taken from the archives of the Aspinock Historical Society. 
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.

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Drat! Redcoats came and won
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
General George Washington said it best at the Battle of Fairholm Farm, the first big event in the Quiet Corner’s 250th Celebration of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence (2026).
The battle pitted re-enactors of the British ilk and the American patriots in a “what if” scenario: What if the American patriots and the Redcoats came across one another on some farmland in northeastern Connecticut?
What was the takeaway? General Washington: “Well, it is, of course, to push the British back into the sea.”
The patriots tried mightily but the British won the battle on the high hill at the Fairholm Farm. (perhaps if it had not rained the next day and cancelled the battle, the patriots might have won round two).
Washington and his horse Nelson (John Koopman of Colchester and his horse Bear) led the patriots. General Washington said he had always had a passion for re-enacting. “Sometimes I’m a private; sometimes I’m called upon to be a general,” he said. “It’s an enjoyable hobby that lets people know what happened.”
The immersive patriotic experience was the huge undertaking of the town of Thompson, spearheaded by Aaron McGarry and First Selectman Amy St Onge and others. It cost about $6,500.
Taking part for the “British” were: the 9th Regiment of Foot, the 10th Regiment of Foot and the 16th Queen’s Light Dragoons. For the Patriots: The 1st NH Regiment, the 5th CT Regiment and Crane’s Continental Artillery.
The “battle” included demonstrations of all aspects of “battle life” by musicians, women, soldiers, all in period dress and living in period tents.
General Washington said “You can look at a book or a screen but (with this) you have all the sights, the smells, the sounds” as a history teacher.
And speaking of sounds, Jeffrey Cooke, a member of Crane’s Continental Artillery, said he enjoys artillery because “they didn’t die.” Of course there was that time that they re-enacted a battle where some enemy artillery snuck behind them and fired. “I died in that one,” he said, laughing.
When it was time to engage the enemy, General Washington, perched on his horse, addressed the troops: “Our hearts behind them were stirred. By duty, by loyalty and by honor.” They go into battle with the “spirit of those who came before us. With discipline. With respect and pride. We honor all those who bore its weight.”
And off they went, the Americans and the French soldiers, up the hill to try to push the British back to the sea. 
No one died in the beginning because, with just 250 re-enactors, if they did, the battle would have been over in three minutes. The “dying” didn’t come until later in the battle.
The roiling gray clouds were a backdrop for the smoke. General Washington stood at the brow of the hill. Patriots and Red Coats see-sawed across the dirt road that divided them. Ebb and flow. Tan, red, green, blue coats swirled together, then parted. Blue-gray smoke and fire leaped out of the gun barrels and cannons. Soldiers yelling. Loud retorts from cannons and guns … and then the soft rustle of high grass in the quieter times as troops moved.
Immersive? Yes absolutely.

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caption, page 1:

Battle of Fairholm Farm
The Redcoats and their German allies advance on the American patriots. The air was full of smoke --- and history made real. More photos on page 6. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.

caption, page 6:

General Washington leading his troops.