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ALBERT F. SHERWOOD
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Albert Sherwood was born in Derby, grew up in Derby and lived and worked in Derby for 55 years. He grew up on a farm at the top of Sentinel Hill (see picture below) and served as postmaster. However, for the last 25 years of his life he lived in Waterbury. It was during that period that he turned a lifetime in Derby into a series of articles about his Derby experiences for the old Evening Sentinel which he later compiled into Memories of Old Derby which was published in 1924 by The Sarah Riggs Humphrey Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. you can still see this classic account of life in bygone Derby on Amazon. You can even read a digital copy here.
The stories recount Sherwood’s life on the 60 acre family farm located at intersection of Sentinel Hill Rd and David Humphreys Rd. It is roughly where the reservoir and Witek Park are now located.
Image from “Memories of Old Derby”
Albert Sherwood at the Old Well on Sherwood Farm Sentinel Hill. From Derby Historical Society's Bradley Glass Slide Collection
Albert F. Sherwood Is Buried Amid Scenes of his childhood
Masonic Honors Accorded Departed Brother at Grave, Following Church
Service.
As the setting sun kissed and made golden foothills of the Berkshires
and many spots beloved and written about in the past, the body of Albert
F. Sherwood of Waterbury, formerly of Derby, was lowered into its last
resting place in Oak Cliff Cemetery. Rev. Worthy F. Mayott, pastor of
the First Congregational Church, conducting the solemn committal service
while members of Hiram Lodge rendered final honors to the Masonic order
and paid farewell to their departed brother.
The burial and committal followed largely attended services in the First
Congregational Church, with Rev. Mr. Mayott officiating and members of
Hiram Lodge attending in a body. Many were present not only from the
associated communities but from Waterbury and other points in the state.
The church auditorium was crowded while the adjoining Sunday school room
was reserved for members of the attending Masonic fraternity.
The church auditorium was beautifully decorated, large branches of
leaves from the old oak tree said to be the oldest in the Colonial
cemetery. Mr. Sherwood had often made it the subject of his writings,
articles being frequently featured. The floral decorations also included
branches from the old trees in the church green and around his home in
Derby. These were tastefully clustered in leaves and flowers.
Rev. Herbert D. Galhuder, past pastor of the First Church of Waterbury
(which Mr. Sherwood was a member of) assisted in the service. At its
conclusion, the full Masonic rites were carried out in Masonic form at
the grave by Hiram Lodge members, with Rev. Mr. Mayott assisting in the
service
