50 years Ago – December, 1970
Navy Chief Petty Officer Paul E. Piggott of Greenville was serving aboard the submarine U.S.S. Tullibee.
Chief Warrant Officer Louis G. Therock of Esmond was serving in the Rhode Island National Guard and received an Army Commendation Medal.
Army Specialist Allen H. Uttley of Greenville was promoted to SP/5 while serving in Korea.
Air Force Major Vincent R. Suppicich of Greenville was awarded his third air medal while serving with the Strategic Air Command.
A new Boy Scout troop was established in Greenville – Troop 14. The scout master was George H. Vallee.
On December 5th St. Philip’s Church held a Christmas Ball at the Kirkbrae County Club. Music was provided by the Tommy Masso Orchestra.
The newly completed community room at the Greenville Manor was used to host the Manor’s first Christmas party.
Mrs. T. Frank Fogarty of Georgiaville returned from Hollywood, California, after appearing in a film segment for the television show “This Is Your Life” which would air in January of 1971. The show was paying homage to actress Ruth Buzzi of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in” fame. Mrs. Fogarty was a dance teacher, and Miss Buzzi was one of her former students.
On December 11th and 12th the Smithfield Players performed the play, “The Tender Trap” at the Smithfield High School. Joseph Janake played the character Earl Lindquist, William Johnson played Sol Schwartz, and Thomas Tobin played Charles Reader. The production was directed by Calt Calvo.
On December 12th a memorial mass was held at St. Michael’s Church for Smithfield police sergeant Norman Vezina who died in the line of duty on December 10, 1968 while attempting to rescue a 5-year-old boy who’d fallen through thin ice.
On December 14th to the 16th Senator F. Monroe Allen of Greenville attended a conference on ways to cut air pollution held at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
Dr. Thomas A. Manion of Greenville, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Bryant College, represented the college at the annual meeting of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools held in Boston.
The Georgiaville Volunteer Fire Department held its annual meeting to elect officers for the upcoming year. Edward Horan was elected President; Fred Andrews, Jr., Financial Secretary and Treasurer; Donald Brown was elected Deputy Chief, Harold French, Captain, Ronald Patterson, Rescue captain, and Edward Horan, Lieutenant.
Edward Kocielniak, Roger Desnoches, and Henry Tremblay, Sr., were elected delegates to various Rhode Island fire leagues.
The movie “Love Story”, starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal, was released by Paramount Pictures on December 16th.
A local electronics retail store was advertising Sylvania 25 inch color TV’s for the “low, low, price” of $559.95 as part of a pre-Christmas sale promotion. For those too young to remember, a 25 inch TV screen was considered massive in 1970.
A local car dealership was advertising a 1968 Ford Mustang with a “vinyl roof”. (Remember those vinyl roofs?) The car was also equipped with power steering and a V-8 engine. If it had a set of wings it could have flown, and it could have been yours for a mere $1,895.00.
The Smithfield Jaycees held a toys-for-tots drive for underprivileged children.
On December 23rd a Christmas Ball was held at the high school for the juniors and seniors and their dates.