2016 inductee
Rutheva Baldwin Brockett
Rutheva Baldwin Brockett lived all her life in Milford, born Jan. 14, 1923 and died Dec. 22, 2001. Milford was such a part of her life that she had engraved on her gravestone, “She Loved Milford.”
Brockett graduated from Milford High School in 1941 and the following year from Weylister Junior Secretarial College which stood on the corner of High and West River Streets where Milford High, now Parsons Center stands now. She worked for several companies in Milford for several years before having a family. She married Peter Brockett in 1944 and had five children, two boys and three girls.
Brockett’s interest in history had much to do with the fact that her lineage dated back to John Baldwin, one of Milford’s founders in 1639. She became a genealogist with which she was able to draw a clear line of her family’s history to the present day. It was with this skill that she was able to handle inquiries as historian of other people’s families as well.
She strove to learn as much as she could about the city’s history. She became Milford’s first city historian and served in that capacity for 10 years, from 1988 to 1998.
Among her contributions to the City, she wrote “A Walking Tour of Milford” which still guides tourists and locals interested in town history around the center of town from the green, past three historic homes, up to the Duck Pond and sites of the Regicide House and Clark Tavern which once hosted George Washington and then back to the three ancient homes preserved in the Milford Historical Society compound. She also co-authored the extension, up to 1989, of the WPA Sponsored book “History of Milford, 1639-1939” as part of the city’s 350th anniversary.
She and seven other high school classmates kept in touch for years having periodic gatherings as the Mothers Night Out Club. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and historian for Milford’s First United Church of Christ Congregational.
Mrs. Brockett was a piano player who always had that instrument in her home eventually becoming part of the Milford Senior Center Band that would entertain at various functions around the city.
Charles R. Iovino
Charles R. Iovino was Milford’s first mayor in 1959, but he didn’t obtain that office in the conventional way. After serving as the city’s first city manager, he wasn’t nominated by either the Republicans or Democrats. So he ran and won as a write-in candidate for the Independent Party. This was a first for the State of Connecticut, and unheard of in the entire country.
Milford was governed until 1947 by a Representative Town Committee (RTC) with, essentially, a board of selectmen form of government. In 1947 it adopted the city manager plan. Iovino’s administrative record was conceded to be good, but growth increased taxes, and some taxpayers blamed the manager's plan.
By the late 1950s support was mustered by political opponents in favor of a strong mayor plus a Board of Aldermen. A mayor would be able to appoint the police and fire commissions, heads of sanitation and public works and other departments, which the city manager could not. The mayor-aldermen plan passed in a referendum in June 1959. The Connecticut General Assembly soon approved the change.
In the first election for Mayor of the now City of Milford, parties nominated Albert Stowe for the Democrats and Henry Foran, brother of long-time school superintendent Joseph Foran (MHOF 2009), for the Republicans as candidates.
Supporters of the nonpartisan approach in municipal administration persuaded Iovino to also run. That Iovino was being soundly vilified by the candidates who felt they could run the city much better may have gotten his dander up a bit as well. He filed a petition to be placed on the ballot. The political parties contended that he had filed late and refused to allow his name on the ballot. Five days before the election, the courts rebuffed his bid and ruled him off the voting machines. Nevertheless, Iovino persisted with a write-in campaign. Legend has it that Iovino passed out pencils with his name on it. This was not true. In an interview late in life he acknowledged that he did hand out a few pencils donated from a supporter but they did not have his name on them.
To vote a write-in ballot, voters had to click open a slot on the voting machine and write in Iovino’s full name. There was a 75 percent voter turnout that day, and clicks were heard all day long.
Iovino received 5,305 write-in votes, plus 258 that were disallowed by moderators because only his last name was written. They said they did not know whether this meant Iovino or his wife, Ann. Stowe garnered 3,975 votes and Foran, 3,088 with Harold Bassett, a persistent government critic of the 1950’s, getting 127.
Under a properly registered Independent slate, Iovino ran for re-election in 1961. His rival Campaigners pointed out that Iovino had to be "paid to come to Milford" while they lived here by choice. Nevertheless, he soundly defeated Arthur Bud Simpson (R) and Louis J Fernoy (D) with the turnout again around 75 percent. In 1963 Iovino declined to run as an Independent and neither party really wanted that uncontrollable fellow. Democrat Alan Jepson was the Democrat nominee and election winner.
His administration was seen as invigorating the city by bringing in new industries as well as establishing sound fiscal policies. He is remembered as strong-willed, generally fair in what he did, prudent fiscally and conservative in his political philosophy. The Milford Citizen, the city’s daily newspaper back then, called him “Charles I,” which some assumed to be an intentional comparison with King Charles I of England.
He was also seen as a dynamic speaker, but prone to malapropisms, such as “heart-rendering.” He was proud of his "Open Door Policy," a motto repeated by Mayor Jagoe in the 1980's, and his sound planning for materiel and supplies to keep the machinery of city operations and public works always up and running, a policy reinstated by successor Fred Lisman nearly 30 years later. Upon election in 1961 he was able to appoint 10 members to the new Planning and Zoning Board (5 year terms) and other positions with what he called "Blue Ribbon" people, not political hacks.
Before coming to the Milford Mayoralty, he served in India and was wounded during World War II. He had one of the most traveled educations of any mayor ever, attending Cushing Academy, Brown University, Harvard Business School, Washington and Lee University, Northeastern U., Institute of Municipal Management and took additional courses at Harvard and the International City Managers Association. Prior to coming to Milford he served as #2 at Kalamazoo (MI), Administrative Assistant at Quincy MA 1952-53, Town Manager at Randolf, MA 1953-1957 and Milford Town Manager '57-59.
He was very active in the Milford community beyond public office. Residing at 3 Beach Avenue in Woodmont, he belonged to Milford Rotary, Plymouth Men's Club, Woodmont PTA, K of C, St. Agnes Church, Milford Lions, Devon VFW, Milford DAV, Post 21 American Legion and the Alumni Associations of many of his alma maters. He outlived his wife Ann Marie Santagata of Providence, RI and had three children Charles J., Charlotte Ann and Janet Marie.
Iovino left Milford to become the city manager in Norwich, CT before entering the private sector as a management consultant for Combustion Engineering.
He died Sept. 5, 2009 in Gales Ferry at the age of 99.
James Martin Maher
Crime was not much of a problem for most of Milford's first two centuries. There was the local militia for serious concerns, even if they didn't involve Indians. Most families were church goers, even the Catholics who dutifully walked all the way to New Haven for services. Kids were well behaved or got a whoop'n, then were well behaved. Bad people, like drinkers would be ostracized. Ne'r do wells would usually move on as there was no food if you didn't work.
Society got more complicated after the Civil War. Illegal Prize fighting was taking place up and down the Connecticut Coast serviced by Streamer and Rail. On April 13, 1870 a prize fight between James Kerrigan and Edward Tuohey was set for Charles Island. The Local Milford worthies and constable got word of the impending event. Three companies of New Haven militia were sent to Milford to restore order. Fighter Tuohey, ironically didn't show up, at all. He nearly went down with his steam tug which foundered off Bridgeport. Milford had no means of dealing with the 90 rowdies who rioted through downtown. It took five militia companies, plus police from New Haven to curb the days of street fighting and vandalism.
Things calmed down but it was clear that a couple of constables and self help (not to mention no jail to hold the culprits) would not be enough for a modern community. Leaders went to the Connecticut General Assembly for help. Eventually, in April 1915 It passed legislation authorizing Milford to create a Board of Police Commissioners. The legislation also authorized the police commissioners to appoint a superintendent of police and the number of police officers the city deemed necessary.
The newly appointed Milford Board of Police Commissioners appointed James Martin Maher as the first police "Superintendent" with six paid officers on November 1, 1915. The then tidy sum of $5,700 with an extra $580 for equipment was appropriated for the 1915-16 fiscal year. The expanded city hall had a place for confinement in the basement, Milford's first Jail (though folks had been confined in the old meetinghouse from time to time).
One of five children of Thomas (1832- ) and Elizabeth Nolan Mahr (1834- ) both from Carlow, Ireland, Mahr (1865-1931) started out as a laborer like his dad. Eventually James obtained a horse and carriage advancing to the status of Liveryman and Chauffeur. He was successful enough to establish a chicken farm of four acres on Buckingham Avenue. He married Annie Healey (1868-1928) and had four children Thomas E. (1886-1949), James Jr. (1888-1932), Anna (1891- ) and Elizabeth (1898- ).
Unlike the mostly Irish toughs who had turned the city upside down nearly half a century before, James Mahr was a no-nonsense Irish father and cop. Son James Jr. joined him in the department in 1925. When Annie died in 1928, Mahr moved in with James Jr. and his wife and seven kids. He was hard on his grandsons who were required to work the chicken farm, and if disobedient, locked in "jail" in the town hall basement. One Grandson, Edward Mahr, a future Milford High football star, likely resenting his stern treatment, ran away from home at twelve years old getting as far as Baltimore.
Chief Maher served from 1915-1931. He died December 1, 1931 of colon cancer. His son and namesake died the following month on January 16, 1932. He has been succeeded by eight chiefs to date.
Frank H. Stevens
In the early days of the colony, Milford defended itself with an active militia. Part of the defense included fire prevention. Fire was the nuclear weapon of its day. Hostile Indians would attempt to set the protective palisades afire or lob burning embers and arrows on to the wood shake roofs of the buildings within. Ever watchful citizens on a rotating basis were ready to repel invaders or fight the fires they might set.
Things did not change much for the next two centuries: Bucket brigades and self help of the citizenry. Then the entirely volunteer Milford Fire Company was formed in 1838, one of the oldest in the state. The name of the department was changed in 1858 to the Arctic Engine Company No. 1 in honor of a new horse drawn fire engine called the "Arctic." Space was provided in a firehouse located on Railroad Avenue on the North side of the Train Station (now a parking lot). In 1910 a brand new motorized fire truck was purchased and headquarters moved to Factory lane as the truck was too large for the old firehouse (this building still stands and is used as a dance studio).
After a number of large fires and the danger of fire in the large wooden hotels of the "gay 90's" and congested, pre-zoning, summer cottage along the beaches, and the near total destruction of Naugatuck Junction (Devon) in 1902, it was clear more fire defense was needed. "Artic 1" was joined by the Woodmont Fire Company (later the Woodmont Engine Co., #5) in 1897, Walnut Beach Company, in 1905, Fort Trumbull Beach Company (#2) in 1909, Devon Volunteer Fire Department (Devon Hose Co., #4) in 1910 and Myrtle Beach Fire Company (#3) in 1912, all with volunteer staff and, until 1917, under their own fire chiefs. The Point Beach station (#6) was built on land bought in 1944 to protect the eastern beach communities from Point Lookout to Burwell's Beach on the border of Woodmont.
By 1915 two paid firefighters were on staff along with the volunteers. In 1917 the newly established Board of Fire Commissioners was tasked with consolidating all the fire companies under the sole control of a single fire chief. In 1918 Frank Hanford Stevens was appointed to command the Fire Department of the Town of Milford. His title was "Foreman." Most likely, the volunteer "chiefs" of the various stations did not want to give up their titles. The Milford Fire Department under Stevens and his successors, all of whom who were called Chief after him, went on to great success making Milford one of he finest and most respected departments in the state.
Frank was born 9/7/1870 in Meriden, married Olive Edwards and had two sons, Harold and Kenneth, and a stepson, Raymond Parmalee. He died in 1943 in his home at 25 Factory Lane, near his old fire headquarters, of Chronic Asthma and cardio vascular disease, leading one to believe his death may have been work related. He is Buried in Milford Cemetery.
By 1929 the new Central Fire Station on New Haven Avenue was opened and paid firefighters were on duty in all Milford Fire Stations. Nevertheless, the bulk of the fire-fighters were still volunteers and would remain so into the 1980s. Many paid firefighters had to prove their mettle as volunteers before being hired. That ended before 1975. Milford's first "lady" firefighter, Maureen Hickey, joined in 2015. She too had served as a volunteer first, but in a different community.
Arctic's alarm bell, in use until the 1930s, is on the Green as a memorial to all of Milford volunteer firefighters. A wreath-laying service is held each year at the bell.
In May of 2016, 12 vintage brass "FD" buttons reputedly from Chief Frank H. Stevens' uniform were marketed on E-Bay by a Stafford, Virginia seller. They sold for $10.00.
Charles Edward "Shang" Wheeler
Charles Edward Wheeler was born in Westport in 1872, never married and lived 50 years with a family in Stratford. He spent 34 years across the river in Milford as general manager of Connecticut Oyster Farms Co., which, with seven boats, cultivated and harvested area oyster beds.
As general manager he saw the fleet off at 5 a.m., then took care of paperwork in his office. If there was time he’d go to his workshop next door to carve and paint decoy ducks for which he became famous. He'd greet the boats and go over the tally between 4 and 6 p.m.
All of his friends called him Shang.
The nickname was pinned on him at age 13 and lasted more than 60 years. Around the time he enrolled in Weston Military Institute in the 1880’s, one of the tallest breeds of chickens was known as Langshang. Showman P.T. Barnum, of Bridgeport had one sideshow giant in his entourage named Chang. Wheeler was thin and six feet tall. His classmates at WMI would call him Chang or Langshang. The nickname was later reduced to simply "Shang" Wheeler.
He filled out at 6 feet, 2 inches weighing between 190 and 220 pounds. He became very strong but with a gentle manner. He dropped out of Staples High School, left home and went to sea working on a fishing boat for the next several years out of Boston, eventually deciding he didn’t like it. He still wanted a job that kept him near water and where he could work with his hands. He found this in the 1890’s in the cultivating and harvesting of oysters in Milford which was the next town over from Stratford where he lived with a family.
Milford, with its good harbor, was part of a rich oyster growing area extending from Stamford to Guilford. The combination of tides, water temperature, salinity and food supplies produced an unusually succulent oyster prized by gourmets.
There was another aspect of Milford that also pleased Wheeler, the 800-acre salt marsh by Milford Point at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was simply called Knell’s Island at the time due to the one true island in the midst of silted up channels of the marsh. It was a fine nesting area for ducks and other birds. That brought in duck hunters. For years Wheeler was a market gunner out of Knell’s Island, shooting ducks for stores and restaurants. And What did duck hunters need? Wooden decoys which they usually carved by themselves, Wheeler became an exceptionally good decoy carver.
As Stratford attorney Raymond Baldwin, a fishing buddy of Wheeler’s who became governor and state supreme court justice, said: “ when they (Wheeler’s decoys) are placed it the water, they…look as real and natural in size, shape, color and posture, as if alive.”
Friends encouraged Wheeler to enter his work in decoy contests which he did and never lost one. A “Look” Magazine article in 1955, six years after he died, described a Wheeler work “as possibly the best decoy ever.” The article went on: “Walter Chrysler, the auto maker, once offered Shang $15,000 (more than $130,000 in today’s deflated currency) for 30 pairs of Connecticut waterfowl on display at a New York museum. Shang refused, because he carved for pleasure, never for money. Generally, if a friend admired one of his works, Shang gave it to him.”
Oystering was seasonal. In warm weather he was involved in that while in the cold weather he pursued other interests. During his lifetime, he was known as a superior football player, amateur boxer, a nationally known breeder of Llewellyn setters, a champion fly caster who also created many new flies, and a political cartoonist. He was among the nation’s leading experts on oysters and their cultivation, long before most Americans had heard of aquaculture and the possibilities of farming the oceans.
State rivers became excessively polluted around World War I, so he became active in politics as a way to help the oyster industry through clean rivers. Much politics were discussed with friends when they visited him in his Milford office while he continued to carve decoy ducks. In 1921 he was named to a state committee to study stream pollution. In 1923 he won his first election as a state representative. He served two terms as state rep and one as state senator before a law was passed in 1927 to create a state commission regulating water quality in streams. He later served as an advisor to the state fish and game commission.
National recognition of Milford’s shell fisheries came in 1918 when the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries established an experimental lab at Milford Harbor to observe conditions of oyster and clam cultures. In 1935 Wheeler was instrumental in raising the $60,000 to build a larger marine lab and dock on Rogers Avenue. The laboratory used the research vessel, R/V Shang Wheeler, a 50-foot copper clad wood hulled boat, from 1951 to 2001 when it was retired from service.
In 1969, all the oyster buildings at the mouth of the harbor gave way to condominiums and boat slips retaining the name of Oyster Landing. The oyster industry is remembered today with the Milford Oyster Festival each August. Wheeler is honored today by the renaming of the Knell’s Island and surrounding salt marsh as the Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Area. He is, thus far, the only Milford Hall of Fame member who did not actually reside in Milford, approved by special motion of the committee due to the extensive contributions, work and leisure time spent in our City.
