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Plainville
Congregational Church's 150th Anniversary
The following is a Memorial
Article written by Howard
I was born in
Plainville on January 08, 1909. Both my father, Howard J. Usher, and
my mother, Ruby Cooke Usher, were also born in Plainville. I have
one sister, Mrs. Randolph Aurell. I attended the Broad Street School
and then the Bristol High School. After that I attended Norwich
University in Northfield, VT. During my youth I spent most of my
summers with my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Cooke in Short Beach,
CT. Sailing was my activity. It was at Short Beach that I met
my wife while I was in Norwich University. We were married in June
1934, and in March 1937 our son Howard Cooke Usher, Jr. was born, and in
July 1939 our daughter, Linda Christine was born.
After our marriage, I worked with my father at the
Usher Garage for eighteen years. Next I purchased the John Cooke
Co., insurance and real estate, and owned it for twenty-two years,
retiring when I became sixty-five years old. I have now been retired
for sixteen years.
The Plainville Congregational Church is the only church
to which I have belonged. I have served on the deconate, trustees,
stewardship committees and the building committee for the parsonage and
the addition to the church, and also for the restoration of the organ
pipes.
In the community I served on the Town Council, the
United Way, YMCA, Salvation Army, and Lions Club. I was also a
corporator of the Southington Savings Bank and the New Britain General
Hospital.
As a member of this church for over fifty years, I know
that it has influenced my life in many ways. I now take this
opportunity to extend my best wishes to my church's 150th birthday... June
10, 1990. |
The Plainville News
From an article
dated 27 March 1958:
HOWARD C. USHER
BECOMES OWNER OF JOHN COOKE CO.
Howard C. Usher, for six years connected with the John
Cooke Insurance Company as solicitor and office manager, has purchased the
company.
Mr. Usher is a graduate of the training schools of the
Hartford Fire Insurance Company and the Hartford Accident and Indemnity
Company. He attended Norwich University and the Hartford College of
Insurance and also completed courses in fire and casualty insurance of the
Aetna Insurance Group.
A corporate member of the Southington Savings Bank, Mr.
Usher is also a deacon of the Congregational Church, treasurer of the
YMCA, Chamber of Commerce director, and a member of the Area Development
Committee.
The John Cooke Company first sold insurance in 1922.
It purchased the Ryder Agency many years ago and later the Stanley Smith
Agency. In April 1944, it became a partnership of William L. Cooke
and Ruby C. Usher.
The agency represents several companies, providing insurance for the
individual, home, automobile and business against fire, liability,
burglary, accident, sickness and hospitalization. It also represents
a life insurance company.
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THE COOKE NAME
Then other side of the family (Usher's middle initial stands for Cooke)
has also been a part of history. His grandfather, John Cooke,
founded the real estate and insurance company which Usher owns and
operates today. And a great uncle, Jim Cooke, once owned Cooke's
Tavern. The soft spoken centennial chairman is right in style these
days. He has joined the ranks of the "bearded" ones.
Although he receives much good-natured kidding about the growth on his
chin, he is bound and determined to retain it for the June celebration.
Everything appears to be running smoothly for this year's Centennial, he
notes. The week-long birthday party in June will see the culmination
of over two years of planning. The first meeting of the planning
committee took place in the spring of 1967. A former member of the
Town Council, Usher also served on the Redevelopment Commission. He
has been a member of the Republican Town Committee for about the past
eight years. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Community
Chest, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and has been on the Board
of Managers of the YMCA for the past ten years. He is presently
serving as Treasurer of that Board. In addition, Usher is a corporate
member of the Southington Savings Bank as well as a corporate member of
the New Britain General Hospital. The Plainville native attended
grammar school here in town but had to travel to nearby Bristol for high
school classes. He graduated from Bristol High School in 1927.
That year's class was the last one which had to go outside limits to
receive a secondary education.
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(possibly from)
The Plainville News
From an article
with picture by Rosalie Knapp, date and
newspaper unknown.
(dated in Spring 1969)
HOWARD COOKE USHER
CARRIES ON FAMILY TRADITION
"Planning town celebrations has become somewhat of a family tradition
for the Ushers. At the helm of this year's Centennial Celebration is
Howard C. Usher, General Chairman. Fifty years ago it was Usher's
grandfather, Robert, who was in charge of the half-century birthday party.
Usher's family tree has its roots planted deeply in Plainville.
Robert Usher, whose portrait is displayed in Town Hall, was the first town
clerk here. Another relative, James Usher, once served as Treasurer
and was on the Board of Fire Commissioners. (NOTE by Howard C.
Usher, Jr. ---- It was Howard J. Usher, my grandfather who served as
Treasurer and on the Board of Fire Commissioners. James E. Usher served as
Postmaster, First Selectman and Town Clerk.)
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TEXAS
TRAVEL
In their travels they have also had the opportunity to
see the big state of Texas. Linda for a time lived in Houston.
There they has a chance to visit the Space Agency and the Astrodome in
Galveston. "Texas is really big," explained Usher.
"In between towns there is nothing whatsoever to see - it's all flat,
vacant land." The Texas tour gave them a chance to drop by and
visit former local residents. Ralph and Lillian Arnold and family
now live south of Houston.
When the Ushers are not traveling they reside at 142
Bohemia Street. The couple has five grandchildren at the moment with
a sixth to arrive shortly. (William) For pure relaxation, Usher
enjoys sailing. At one time he enjoyed the golf links, but the clubs
have been put away. Not because he doesn't like the sport, but
because he was awarded the "worst golfer" cup when he played in
the Church League. Getting this award the first year wasn't too bad,
he noted, but when he received it again the second year it was a little
too much to take.
Usher is extremely concerned over Governor John Dempsey's newest tax
proposals. As a real estate and insurance man, he feels to have a
tax on insurance premiums would be "discriminating." |
FORMER
REPORTER
After high school graduation, Usher attended Norwich Academy in
Northfield, Vermont. Following his college days, he ventured into
the journalism field. For a time he was a reporter for the local
newspaper, The Plainville Pinnacle. The paper was owned by the
Prince brothers of the Hartford Times. It was a good experience for
the young man. However, the financial reward evidently left
something to be desired. There was considerable transportation
involved. "It cost me more money than I made to go back and
forth between here and Southington" Usher quipped recently. So
an end came to his newspaper venture. He then went into the garage
business with his father and helped run Usher's Garage once located on
East Main Street.
Howard and his wife, Clara, have two grown children,
Howard Jr. and Linda Beeson. The couple has become seasoned air
travelers in order to visit their son and daughter. "They don't
sit very long in one place," explained Usher. His son is making
a career of the service and as a Captain in the Air Force is now on his
second tour of duty in Vietnam.
In the past they have been to visit their son when he
was stationed in that area. (Homestead AFB, Florida) The trips gave them a
chance to see the Everglades and the Keys as well as coming face to face
with a giant sized barracuda. The encounter with the large fish is
an experience the Ushers will long remember. "It really scared the
heck out of us," Usher exclaimed. Out on a routine fishing
expedition his wife happened to snag onto the king-sized fish. Not
equipped to haul the large catch aboard the ship, they towed it back to
shore. "I think we probably drowned it on the way in,"
said Usher.
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Unknown Newspaper
with picture,
Tuesday, February 14, 1995:
CARING AWARD WINNERS
NAMED
Clifford W. Fulton and Howard C. Usher have been named
recipients of the Spirit of Caring Award, given by the United Way of
Bristol, Plymouth and Burlington and the United Way of Plainville.
The awards will be presented at the combined annual Awards Dinner on
Wednesday at 6:30p.m. at Nuchie's. Another highlight of the event
will be the presentation of the Lou Backman Award to the outstanding
volunteer of 1994.
The Spirit of Caring Award recognizes the caring and
compassion demonstrated by the recipients that best exemplifies the United
Way Mission to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one
another.
Usher of Plainville, has been involved with United Way
for over 40 years, from Red Feather, Community Chest, and United Fund to
United Way. A past president of the Plainville United Way, he served
as chairman of the professional division and was involved in a number of
other campaign duties.
A founder of the John Cooke Co., he owned the real
estate and insurance firm for 22 years. An incorporator for
Southington Savings Bank for 15 years, he served as chairman of the
Wheeler YMCA board. A Salvation Army volunteer for over 40 years, he
was a director for the American Cancer Society and a director of the Red
Cross.
For more information about the awards dinner and tickets call the United
Way at 582-9559.
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The Herald
New Britain, CT, 26 July 1996:
"FARMINGTON -
Howard Cooke Usher, 87, of Farmington, formerly of Plainville died
suddenly on Wednesday, July 24, 1996. He was the beloved husband of
Clara Olson Usher. He was a descendant of two prominent families of
Plainville, the Ushers and the Cookes. He was born in New Britain,
the son of the late Howard J. and Ruby (Cooke) Usher. He was
chairman of the Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, as was his grandfather,
Robert Cleveland Usher, in 1876. He attended Norwich University in
Northfield, Vermont. He owned the John Cooke Company, a real estate
and insurance firm, and managed it for 22 years. As an incorporator
of the Southington Savings Bank for 15 years, he served as Chairman of the
Wheeler YMCA board. He was a diligent worker for the United Way and
last year was a recipient of The Sprit of Caring award. He was the
Plainville General Chairman for the Salvation Army, serving for over 40
years. Driving Cancer Society patients was a service he enjoyed.
He was a member of the Republican committee and served on the town council
and was a life-long member of the Congregational Church of Plainville,
serving as deacon, and was on many boards of the church.
Besides his beloved wife, he leaves a son and
daughter-in-law, Howard C. Usher, Jr. and Billie Stoeckle Usher of
Wilmington, NC; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Thomas T. Beeson of
Wayland, MA; and a sister, Abbie Usher Aurell of Forestville; eight
grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 27,
1996, at 11:00 A.M. at the Congregational Church of Plainville, followed
by burial in West Cemetery in Plainville. Calling hours will be on
Friday evening from 7:00 to 9:00p.m. at Bailey Funeral Home 48 Broad St.,
Plainville. Contributions may be made to Book of Remembrance, c/o
Congregational Church, 130 West Main St., Plainville, CT 06062, or to the
American Heart Assoc., 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
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