It’s a Wonderful Life
By David Wright
Town Historian
It’s a Wonderful Life
I realize I’ve shared this story many times in the past. My apologies if you’ve heard this story before, but it is my very favorite Stratford Christmas story. I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Robert Mackes when I first wrote this story. Knowing Mr. Mackes made this story come alive for me.
It’s a Wonderful Life is the quintessential American Christmas movie classic produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet, The Greatest Gift. The movie made its American theatrical debut on Christmas Day 1946. Three years earlier, almost to the day, a real-life version of It’s a Wonderful Life unfolded in the Town of Stratford.
Weather in Stratford for December of 1943 was unusual, with constant warming and cooling episodes causing ice on ponds to form and recede continually throughout the month. Residents, particularly in the South End, were being warned to stay off lake and pond ice due to the ice’s instability. Frash Pond, with its recurrent incursion of seawater, formed an even less stable ice surface.
The Stratford Housing Authority had been formed by the Town Council in August of 1943, due to dissatisfaction with the way in which the town’s housing projects were being administered by Bridgeport and the Federal Government. Francis Brennan, a very successful 59-year-old businessperson and community leader, was selected by the town from a pool of seven candidates to be the Executive Director.
When the Stratford Housing Authority was created, the Federal Government promised the Town there would be no out-of-pocket expenses for the Town. From the Housing Authority’s creation until mid-January of 1944, the Town received no money from the Federal Government to administer the Authority. Francis Brennan, consequently, had received no salary for his work through December.
Christmas break for the elementary students began after the end of the school day Thursday, December 23rd, and classes weren’t scheduled to resume until Monday, January 3rd. The children had to be delighted the afternoon of December 23rd to be free from school for several days. Additionally, Santa was coming in two days. Frash Pond’s ice-covered surface must have looked very tempting for an afternoon of play, now that school was out for the holidays. The outdoor temperature was reported at about 16 degrees the afternoon of December 23rd.
Early in the afternoon of December 23rd, eight-year-old Eleanor Baclawski frantically ran into Francis Brennan’s Main Street office, which was located across the street from the Chance-Vaught plant (today’s Army Engine plant). Eleanor shouted, “Two boys have just fallen through the ice on Frash Pond”.
Francis sprinted from his office, stripping off his coat and vest as he ran the 200 feet to where the boys had fallen through the ice. Seven-year-old Kenneth Mackes was under water, so Francis Brennan dove in to locate him. On finding Kenneth, Francis swam with him to the shore. On reaching the Frash Pond shore, Francis saw the ice that nine-year-old Robert Mackes was clinging to break apart. Robert was submerged. Francis dove back into the icy water and pulled Robert to the safety of the shore.
Now that both boys were secured on the shore, Francis began to administer first aid to the boys. Francis continued his ministrations on Kenneth and Robert until an ambulance arrived and took the boys to Bridgeport Hospital.
Francis Brennan retrieved his coat and vest and returned to his office to finish out his workday.
It’s quite apparent that the outcome on December 23, 1943 would have been tragic had Francis Brennan decided to leave work early either day; or, if Francis would have been one of the unfortunates to contract the flu on December 23rd. Disaster would have displaced rejoicing. Francis Brennan could have done what most of us would have in similar circumstances and just waited for the emergency responders to arrive and attempt to rescue the boys. Had he done so, however, two young lives would have been lost.
The Mackes family Christmas of 1943 had to be one filled with exceeding joy, realizing what might have been had Francis not been at work on December 23rd. In the ensuing years, the Mackes family moved back to their former hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. But they never forgot Mr. Brennan, and the Christmas of 1943.
It’s a wonderful life, indeed!
