Bedini, Americo Anthony “Ben”
NUGGET #66
Bedini, Americo Anthony “Ben,” (1921-2008), a Ridgefield native and Ridgefield High School 1939, was a star baseball player at RHS and taught and coached football at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, then at Rye (NY) High School, 1954-1961. At Housatonic Valley, his football record was 26-1; at Rye he had 69-5, with five undefeated seasons and six league championships. Then established and coached football for many years at Iona College, where he is called “the father of football.” In 1967, Iona had a perfect 9-0 record and a 20-6 bowl win over Kings College, to become the 1967 National Club Football Champions. At age 60, he became a college scout for the Cleveland Browns.
Jack Sanders, Who Was Who in Ridgefield.
More Historical Nuggets
First Pride Day, 1998
FIRST ‘PRIDE’ DAY: “A Celebration of Community: Straight, Gay and Lesbian“ took place in 1998, on the Community Center lawn. Just a year later, a Rainbow Flag was flown for the first time in the nation over a state capitol, Hartford, on March 21, 1999.
Hezekiah Scott (1789-1879)
Hezekiah Scott was a weaver and operated a distillery on the brook near his home on Barlow Mountain Road — a stream now called Kiah’s Brook.
Paving
The first road paving, part of a state experiment, was done on the eastern end of Branchville Road around 1912. Catoonah Street was paved in 1922.
Lillian Barnard Gilkes and Louise “Lulu” Davidson
Gilkes, Lillian Barnard, (1903-1977), was a nationally recognized scholar, author and critic who lived at 93 Olmstead Lane with stepsister.
