New Street Named for
Frank Gates
On November 30, 2006 The Derby Board of Aldermen voted
unanimously to name a new street begin developed in the area of
the Hotchkiss Hose Company Frank Gates Lane. Ironically Gates'
grand father was one of the founding officers of Hotchkiss Hose
when it was located on the other side of town. The following
write-up by Robert Novak of the Derby Historical Society helped
the Board of Aldermen make their decision: Frank Gates was the
last in a long line in the Gates family, who became
quite wealthy. What was interesting about them is they became
wealthy
through business ventures in old Derby - as in what is now East
Derby.
They never really invested in Birmingham. There was a Gates Hall
in East Derby that was pretty much the central gathering place
for people in the mid 19th century in old Derby.
Frank was the Sherriff of New Haven County at one point. The
family lived in the same site, at the corner of Derby Avenue and
Bank Street for over 170 years. It evolved into Derby's most
beautiful mansion. Frank and his brother Ross never married, and
when Frank died he left in his will that he wanted no one
outside the family living in the house. Since he was the last
Gates family member, this meant the house was torn down shortly
after his death a little over 50 years ago. He left most of his
family's assets to the many organizations he was involved with
in the Valley, with the lion's share going to the New Haven
Foundation, in order to benefit charitable organizations in the
Valley area.
It is interesting that his family's monument at Oak Cliff
Cemetery, which could have been huge, is actually modest
compared to others, though it contains several pillars in it,
which I think is highly symbolic as the family really was one
the pillars of the community for many generations. His charity
was legendary, and a lot of organizations, from the Humphreys
House Association (who maintained the building before Derby
Historical took it over in 1961) to Highland Golf Course, to
attracting the Yale rowing team to Derby, to helping the
Military Order of the Purple Heart get on their feet, he was
pretty much involved in everything.
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