Memories of Wolcottville
Memories of Wolcottville by Charles H. Johnson was a series of articles about the Wolcottville section of Torrington, now known as downtown Torrington. At the time, Charles Johnson was the oldest man alive in Torrington and wrote what he knew and what his father, Linus Johnson, had relayed to him during the time of Wolcottville. These articles were written for the Torrington Register in 1939, later published as a pamphlet by the Torrington Historical Society in 1947.
Charles Johnson was the first born son (November 26th, 1855) of Linus Johnson and Mary Rosetta Johnson (nee Benham). Dubbed as the local historian and oldest person in Torrington at the time of his death in 1954, Johnson made his living as a toolmaker and member of the International Order of Odd Fellows. He was survived by his daughter Mable Johnson, librarian, and his son and composer Howard Johnson (who wrote the tune “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream”). In a series of articles written for the Torrington Register between 1936 and 1939, Charles discussed the history of Wolcottville and the downtown section of Torrington. He passed in June of 1954 after a bout of pneumonia the previous year.
Howard Johnson, Charles’ son, was born in 1887 and died before his father at the outbreak of the Second World War at the age of 53. Born in Waterbury, Howard studied as a private musician and eventually became a pianist in Boston and then a staff writer for a New York publishing company.
The book of articles published is available for download in PDF form.
Charles Johnson was the first born son (November 26th, 1855) of Linus Johnson and Mary Rosetta Johnson (nee Benham). Dubbed as the local historian and oldest person in Torrington at the time of his death in 1954, Johnson made his living as a toolmaker and member of the International Order of Odd Fellows. He was survived by his daughter Mable Johnson, librarian, and his son and composer Howard Johnson (who wrote the tune “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream”). In a series of articles written for the Torrington Register between 1936 and 1939, Charles discussed the history of Wolcottville and the downtown section of Torrington. He passed in June of 1954 after a bout of pneumonia the previous year.
Howard Johnson, Charles’ son, was born in 1887 and died before his father at the outbreak of the Second World War at the age of 53. Born in Waterbury, Howard studied as a private musician and eventually became a pianist in Boston and then a staff writer for a New York publishing company.
The book of articles published is available for download in PDF form.
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