The Nichols Flag Pole and the Mischievous Nichols Boys

On May 27^th, Nichols will celebrate Memorial Day by having its annual flag raising ceremony on the Nichols Green. Here in Nichols, we were saddened by the loss of our beautiful, giant Christmas Tree, which was a casualty of the last hurricane. However, many residents have also remarked on what a beautiful site the flag pole in the center of the green is when arriving at the 3 way intersection at Huntington Turnpike and Shelton Road. I found in our library an article from 1974 by Harold R. Curtiss about the history of the Nichols Flag Pole (along with a few funny Nichols anecdotes) and have copied it below for all to enjoy!

“Many of us living in Nichols remember the big flag pole that stood on the Nichols Green for many years. I have found one person, Miss Gertrude Smith of Noble Ave, Bridgeport, now 86, who lived on Unity Road and was only four years old and too young to remember the event. She has given me information taken from her mother’s scrapbook and from memories of family conversation. She is the only living member of a family, in this area, who took part in the raising.

                Miss Smith’s father Ezra and his brother Isaac came from Nova Scotia. Isaac was a mariner before coming to Nichols. Being familiar with ships masts he was just the man to supervise the raising of the pole.

                Great credit was also due Ezra for his continuous work in preparing for erection of it.

                The Chestnut pole came from Ezra Smith’s woods and standing 115 feet high was generally conceded to be the tallest flag pole in the State. It was in three sections. About twenty feet from the ground it was spliced to give additional height. The splice was held together with several heavy iron bands bolted together from opposite sides of the pole. The top section above the cross arms could eb lowered for painting and renewing the rope.

                Iron rods or pegs similar to those seen on some telephone poles today were fastened on alternate sides of the pole to enable on to climb it for painting. These were started about ten feet above the ground

                The ceremony for the flag raising was held on July 4, 1892 at 2 o’clock. After an opening prayer by the Rev. W. J. Whitney of the Methodist Church amid the cheers by the gathering of nearly everyone in the village, two little girls Ruth Reed, my Mother’s sister, and Rose Nichols came forward with the flag which measured 15’ by 25’. As the stars and stripes waved 115’ above their heads the entire gathering sang “The Star Spangled Banner” followed by a band concert and plenty of refreshments for everyone.

                The Grand Finale was an Anvil Salute. This was done by placing an anvil on the ground, spreading powder on the top and then placing another anvil upside down on top of it. The power was exploded by placing a long fuse between the two anvils. According to Edward Nothnagle, who was present at the time, the top anvil was thrown into the air with a most deafening report.

                Edward Nothnagle raised the flag on every patriotic holiday from 36 years. I remember, about 60 years ago, a group of teenage boys stood around the pole late one foggy evening and someone dared any one of us to climb the pole. Ed Marshall immediately volunteered if we would give him a boost so he could reach the first iron peg. Soon Ed was sitting on the cross arm shouting down to us. The fog prevented us from seeing him and no doubt it was less frightening for him because he could not see the ground.

                When lester Nothnagle, Sr., was young he not only climbed the pole but hung by his feet from the cross arm. I doubt if this stunt was ever duplicated.

                As a boy, I remember most Nichols Residents had a picket fence in front of their homes. Halloween night pranksters would often take the picket gates and leave them at different places in the village. I remember one morning after Halloween seeing someone’s gate swinging at the top of the flag pole.

                During the summer the village Green was a popular gathering place Saturday afternoons to watch baseball games between the Nichols team and opposing teams from near by towns.

                The big flag pole stood directly behind and not too far from second base. If any players from either team could hit the pole with a batted ball during the game Mr. Mill’s a local resident, would give the player a $5.00 bill. Several times during the summer a player went home with what was then considered a good days pay for his afternoon fun.

                After standing nearly 40 years steeple jacks, while painting, found it in a dangerous condition. It was then supported by three cables fastened near the top then to trees at the edge of the green.

                In may 1931 the big pole was taken down and replaced by the present wooden pole. My thanks to Miss Gertrude Smith for the information she gave to me.

                                                                                                                                                Harold R. Curtiss July 1974”