Tom Belote
The biggest snowstorm since February 1962 hit town on the second Sunday of the new year, the January 16, 1964, Press reported. It snowed for 27 hours and temperatures dropped into the single digits. Some reports recorded 5 degrees below zero. High winds of 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph caused snow drifts up to six feet high.
The New York Giants star quarterback, Y. (Yelberton) A. (Abraham) Tittle, caused a stir in town when he and his family had dinner on Christmas Eve at Bongo’s Western Auto Supply Store on Main Street. Tittle and his wife and three children had come to Ridgefield to stay at Stonehenge for Christmas Eve and day to escape from sportswriters who were hounding the player at his home in Eastchester, N.Y. Stonehenge was officially closed and the Tittles had to have their Christmas Eve repast at Bongo’s. Bongo’s was a combination department store, soda fountain/diner and general merchandise retailer that moved into the former premises of the First National food store on Main Street in the early 1960s. It is now the location of the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance and occupied the ground level and basement level of the building. At the time there was no second floor of office space.
The Lincoln Development Corp. of Massachusetts acquired the option on the 230-acre Doubleday estate between Peaceable Street and Barry Avenue known as Westmoreland. The firm announced its intention to build a high-grade residential subdivision. The Tuccio family later acquired the property and developed it.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell De Franco of Peaceable Street in Georgetown announced the engagement of their daughter, Veronica Marie, to Michael Venus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Venus of Ramapoo Road in Ridgefield.
The Ridgefield Playhouse on Prospect Street featured Gidget Goes to Rome followed later in the week by Lawrence of Arabia.
In 1964, new car “options” were things like a radio, a heater, automatic transmission, and wheel covers. A “not loaded” Dodge from George T. Tator & Sons in South Salem was priced at $2,264, while a “loaded” vehicle ran the price up to $2,674.
Miss Patsy Sheehan entertained a few of her friends and neighbors at a party on New Year’s Eve, her birthday. The youngsters had lunch at the Hayloft on Route 35 and then went skating on Lake Mamanasco.
Richard T. McGlynn was elected chief of the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department. He defeated Mario Frulla, who was seeking a second term as chief. Mr. McGlynn became the first paid fireman in the history of the department to be chosen chief. Previous chiefs had all been volunteer members. When Chief Frank Santini was appointed as a member of the paid force a year earlier, he declined to continue serving as chief of the volunteers.
According to the Press editorial section, Ridgefield needed an established traffic pattern with one-way entrances and exits at the new shopping center on Main Street; the acquisition of land for future schools and open space; light industry; and a bowling area and snack bar for young people.