50 years Ago – July, 1971
July, 1971
DC/1 Dennis J. Layfield, (United States Coast Guard), of Greenville, completed his service in Vietnam and was assigned to a military recruiting station in Rhode Island.
Staff Sergeant Benjamin Crossman, Jr., of Greenville, was home for thirty days before his deployment to Vietnam.
U.S. Air Force Captain Anthony J. Fascitelli, Jr. was serving at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.
James Coupe of Spragueville was honorably discharged from the U. S. Air Force after serving four years with the Strategic Air Command.
The 44th annual Ancients and Horribles Parade was held in Glocester.
Ground was broken for the construction of the Smithfield Boys Club at the bottom of Deerfield Drive. Today the building is occupied by the YMCA.
The advocacy group, “Citizens for the Preservation of Waterman Lake”, held a meeting at the Lakeshores Community Hall to discuss issuing boat stickers for those authorized to use the lake, weed control, and the possibility of having local police patrol the lake with a boat ten to twelve hours a week.
In the early 1970s there was a proposal to construct an interstate highway, (I-84), across northwestern Rhode Island to Connecticut. While some were in favor of the idea, others were against it. Locally, a group calling themselves “Stop I-84 Inc.” was established to prevent the highway from being constructed. In July of 1971 the group elected its first officers. History shows the Rhode Island portion of the highway was never built.
July, 1971
Members of the charitable organization known as “The Cranford Club” were honored for their volunteer work at Zamborano Hospital in Burrillville. They included: Viola Glasheen, Edith Scully, Hattie Knuschke, Cora Hopkins, Mrs. E. Spenser, Mrs. E. Knuschke, Mrs. A. Jordan, Mrs. M. Flynn, Mrs. M. Petersen, Mrs. M. Emma, and Mrs. I. Suppicich.
If one went to the Apple Valley Cinema in July, 1971, they would have seen “Klute” a crime drama starring Donald Southerland who plays a detective investigating a missing person’s case; or “Ryans Daughter”, a romantic drama set in England during World War I; or “The Andromeda Strain”, a sci-fi thriller involving a group of scientists trying to stop the spread of an extraterrestrial killer virus.
On July 15 the “Smithfield Neighborhood Association for Progress” held a meeting at the Esmond Recreation Center.
On July 19, the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City reached its maximum height of 1,362 feet making it, and the north tower at 1, 368 feet, the two tallest buildings in the world at the time.
On July 26 the Apollo 15 moon mission was launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida. The crew consisted of David Scott, Alfred Worden, and James Irwin. Scott and Irwin became the first men in history to drive a motor vehicle, (the lunar rover), on the surface of the moon. Out of safety and necessity, the total distance traveled was only 2.5 miles. The rover still remains on the moon to this day.
On July 27th a special state election was held to determine if a sewer line extension should be constructed from Cumberland, down Route 116 into Smithfield, and ending at Harris Road. The cost was to be borne by those who would be utilizing the line, and not Smithfield taxpayers.
People’s Bank was offering a set of six reversible Rhode Island scenic placemats for only $1.99 contingent to opening a savings account with fifty dollars or more.
On July 31, the Blue Gill Derby, sponsored by the Slacks Reservoir Improvement Association, was held at Slacks Reservoir. The event included fishing, swimming, and a row boat contests with trophies awarded to the winners.
