50 Years Ago – September, 1969
Airman Walter J. Abbott of Smithfield completed basic training with the U. S. Air Force.
PFC Wilfred R. Beaudoin of Esmond was serving in Vietnam near Saigon.
On September 2, the first automatic bank teller machine, (ATM), went into service at a bank in Rockville Centre, New York.
Miss Robin Lynn Marshall, age 11, was crowned Homecoming Queen for the Smithfield Raiders football team. Members of the Queen’s court included: Kathy Troy, Cathy Averill, Chris Dio, Judy Harrison, Leisa Halligan, Suzanne Payette, Kathy Nangle, Rochelle Gagnon, and Barbara Zuba.
By the way, the Raiders won the homecoming game.
Smithfield High School Senior Gail Wilbur won an essay contest in which she articulated why her school should receive a free video tape recorder. Her essay was one of thirty-two entered.
Thanks to Miss Wilbur, the high school received a new SONY video tape recorder valued at $2,395. Keep in mind that this was 1969, when $2,400 could purchase a new car.
On September 13, the popular kids cartoon Scooby-Doo premiered on Saturday morning television. It was reportedly created in response to complaints that cartoons had become too violent.
Other well-known television shows introduced later in the month included The Brady Bunch, and Love American Style.
If one went to the movies in September of 1969, they likely saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford which, by the way, featured the popular song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”.
Fifty members of the Apple Valley Barbershop Chorus competed in the Eastern Seaboard Barbershop Chorus Contest held in Albany, New York. They brought with them fifteen bushels of locally grown apples to give out.
The Greenville Grange, once located on Austin Avenue just in from Putnam Pike, elected new officers. They were: Joseph P. Connetti, Master; John Aiello, Assistant Steward; Ernest Smith, to the Executive Committee; Howard Horton, Secretary; Earl House, Steward of the R. I. State Grange, and Installing Officer; J. Lester Tobin, to the Executive Committee, Christopher Cabral, Overseer of the Executive Committee, Americo Capanelli, Gate Keeper; Ruth Smith, Lecturer; Eleanor Wood, Chaplain; Mildred Steere, Flora; Anna E. Connetti, Ceres; and Mary Sheffield, Pomona.
