Book Explores Buchanan's Sexuality

Home , James Buchanan

INSIDE Football Whippets ECSU Iconic structures on TOMORROW’S look to rebound from Willimantic campus get CHRONICLE! opening loss | Page 9 makeover | Page 3 the Chronicle Serving the Communities of Eastern Connecticut Since 1877

Vol. 136 No. 222 Friday, September 20, 2019 Newsstand $1.00 Request for fee reduction is denied Mansﬁeld says ‘no’ Amera Love of Mamoun’s Falafel On Wheels takes orders during the 3rd to apartment developer Thursday Street Festival in Willimantic on Thursday. Rebecca Ingoglia | For the Chronicle MICHELLE FIRESTONE CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER MANSFIELD — Town council members have said “no” to an apartment developer’s Another summer request for a reduction in building fees. The town’s top government body nixed the building fee reduction request by Artisan Development, the developer of apartments on ends for festival North Frontage Road. Artisan had re- quested a building JACK LAKOWSKY Case in point is Jean de Smet, a volun- fee reduction for The expectation CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER teer coordinator of the festival. its Meadowbrook “We’re expecting a really great turn- The crowd watches in awe as fire eater Chelsey is the new WILLIMANTIC — The calendar Gardens project. out,” de Smet said. “Lots of vendors. Knyff, of Mansfield, throws a giant flame as part may indicate that summer ends next According to the apartments will We’ve had lots of input. There will be of her show. Rebecca Ingoglia | For the Chronicle Monday but, for all intents and pur- website for Meadow- pottery making, hemp clothing for sale, be leased in poses, summer ceased after Thursday’s brook Gardens, the crystal making and food, food, food.” final 3rd Thursday Street Fest in down- current apartments time for tenants She pointed out that September’s town Willimantic, which continued the are at 73 Meadow- to move in by event benefited from having Eastern event’s tradition of providing summer brook Lane. Those Connecticut State University students fall 2020. fun locally. include one-, two- back in town, further adding to the Under sunny skies that beget a cool, and three-bedroom event’s flair. crisp fall-like evening, summer’s last apartments, described “Students are back for this one and gasp brought the usual array of food, fun as a “student apartment community.” we’re seeing lots of Eastern students,” and community camaraderie to a closed The expectation is the new apartments will de Smet said. “This year we even have a Main Street. be leased in time for tenants to move in by fall fire eater.” In fact, the festival is great fun for 2020. De Smet and the dedicated team of vol- many. By the end of the project, there will be a total It also very hard work for some. ANOTHER SUMMER, Page 4 of 146 units at Meadowbrook Gardens, according to a press release from Peak Campus, which announced it was managing the apartments in February. “It’s within your purview to determine if you want to lower the fees or not,” Mansfield Building and Housing Director Michael Ninteau said at a town council meeting earlier this month. By a vote of two “yes” votes and 6 “no” votes, council members opted not to autho- rize Mansfield Interim Town Manager John Carrington to execute a $61,140 reimbursement to Meadowbrook Gardens. Deputy Mayor Antonia Moran and Peter Kochenburger were the only two council members in favor of the reimbursement. David Freudmann was not in the room for the vote. The Chronicle - 09/20/2019 The building fee is $22.26 per Page$1,000 : 01 of The Tim Vitullo Band, left, performs for the crowd. Luis Delacruz, 4, of Willimantic, right, jams on a set of homemade drums at work done. the Ton of Family Fun station. Rebecca Ingoglia | For the Chronicle REQUEST, Page 4 Inside Book explores Buchanan’s sexuality Abby ...... 6 CLAIRE GALVIN Classified ...... 11 CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER Comics ...... 6 Editorial ...... 5 WILLIMANTIC — Citizens and Features ...... 6, 8 political theorists alike have won- Best Gas Horoscopes ...... 6 dered when the United States will Local News ...... 2-3 elect its first gay president. Price Nation/World ...... 7 But, according to some historians, A-1 Main 2.37 Sports ...... 9-11 America may have already elected its Mobil Boston Post 2.49 State ...... 7 first gay president — 150 years ago. Shell Main 2.55 Television ...... 7 Eastern Connecticut State Univer- Shell Jackson 2.55 Weather ...... 2 sity history professor Thomas Bal- Cumbys Jackson 2.59 cerski recently published a book — Gasbuddy.com Around town investigating whether President James Buchanan may have been gay. Celebrate Mansﬁeld Contacting the Chronicle Festival, 2 to 8 p.m. “Bosom Friends: The Intimate Mailing Address: Saturday in Downtown World of James Buchanan and William P.O. Box 229, Willimantic, CT Storrs. See more calendar Rufus King,” was published earlier 06226. on Page 3. this month by Balcerski. Location: Balcerski is an assistant history 322 Main St., Unit 1-1B, Willimantic, a quarter-mile east Lotteries professor specializing in American of the Frog Bridge intersection. history. To Subscribe: THURSDAY He gave a lecture Thursday after- 860-423-8466 or Mid-Day 3: 5-0-6 noon at Eastern’s Science Building on [email protected] Mid-Day 4: 3-2-3-7 his latest research. To Report News: Play 3: 1-4-7 860-423-8466, ext. 3337 or “Why do Americans seem fixated [email protected] Play 4: 9-9-3-0 on making Buchanan our first gay Cash 5: 8-18-29-30-35 president?” Balcerski questioned. “In Lucky For Life Tom Balcerski, assistant professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University, talks about his book, ‘Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James my talk today, as I do in the book, I 13-21-27-28-39/5 Buchanan and William Rufus King,’ on Thursday. Roxanne Pandolfi | Staff BOOK, Page 4

Copyright (c)2019 Chronicle Media LLC 09/20/2019 September 20, 2019 3:19 pm (GMT +4:00) Powered by QContent 4 the Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn., Friday, September 20, 2019 Request for fee reduction denied Continued from Page 1 meeting, a reduction in building fees was granted previously to Leyland Ninteau said Artisan Develop- ment paid the full amount of the Alliance, a former developer of building fees, $175,609, via credit Storrs Center, several years ago. card. Freudmann has been very vocal “They are not required to pay about his opposition to fee reduc- this up front,” he said. “They could tions and tax breaks for developers certainly have asked for this before in Mansfield. they paid their fees and waited. “That was a special case,” he said, “But they were anxious not to referring to the Leyland Alliance. miss the construction cycle, so they “I know we were trying to entice a decided to pay their fees in full, developer that wouldn’t have come more or less, to meet their time- otherwise. That was a one-time thing frame.” and it was replicated and I hope it If the council had authorized the would not be replicated here.” fee reduction, Artisan Development Freudmann recently had work would have received a reimburse- done to his house, which he said ment. cost between $15,000 and $20,000, Council members voted against and he paid a $362 permitting fee. Families and friends enjoy all of the booths, performances, food and activities on Main Street during reducing the building fees to “That’s OK,” he said. “The town the last 3rd Thursday Street Fest of the season Thursday. Rebecca Ingoglia | Staff $114,469, which entailed a $61,140 has to get revenue somehow.” reimbursement to the developer. Freudmann said the fee Artisan Town council members are autho- Development paid was “compara- rized to reduce building fees under ble” to the fee he paid, with Artisan Another summer ends for a town ordinance. Development’s fees amounting to “It is based on a rough estimate 2.2 percent of the total project cost. of the actual cost to the town and, He said it would be unfair for therefore, I support it,” Moran said. the developer to get a fee reduction 3rd Thursday Street Fest Ninteau said the total cost of when he did not. the Artisan Development project is Council member Betty Wassmundt Continued from Page 1 $7.89 million. agreed. Council member Ben Shaiken “I would consider it grossly unfair unteers work every year to ensure a said he felt the building fees should to reduce the fee here, but Mr. safe and fun festival. be reviewed and for officials to Freudmann has to pay the full fee,” Volunteer efforts and diverse make sure they are more “reflective she said. vendors are what keep drawing new of the town’s actual costs.” Follow Michelle Firestone on faces to the festival. As was mentioned during the Twitter - @mfirestonetc. Lillian Rhodes, who works in community engagement for the local nonprofit Perception Programs, was one of them at 2019’s final soiree. “This is my first one,” Rhodes Mayor De Blasio ends said. “I wanted to learn more about our community.” Volunteers and vendors also presidential campaign inspire people to return year after year. ASSOCIATED PRESS to keep speaking up for working “I’ve been coming for a num- NEW YORK — New York City people and for a Democratic Party ber of years. Turnout has really Mayor Bill de Blasio ended his that stands for working people.” improved,” said Dean Vertefeuille campaign for the 2020 Democratic President Donald Trump, no fan of Willimantic. presidential nomination today after of de Blasio, tweeted: “Oh no, really Loyal attendees like Vertefeuille struggling to gain traction in a big political news, perhaps the big- are the reason businesses return to sprawling field of candidates. gest story in years! Part time Mayor the festival. Announcing his decision in an of New York City, @BilldeBlasio, Keifers Kettle Korn out of Volun- MSNBC interview, de Blasio did who was polling at a solid ZERO town has been a staple at 3rd not throw his support behind any but had tremendous room for Thursday for years. candidate but said he would support growth, has shocking dropped out Owner and operator Raina Haase the eventual Democratic nominee of the Presidential race. NYC is also offered sweet and refreshing “with energy.” devastated, he’s coming home!” Italian ice. “I feel like I’ve contributed all I De Blasio joins New York Sen. Some stands lining Main Street can to this primary election and it’s Kirsten Gillibrand, Washington Sen. were not there to promote their clearly not my time,” de Blasio told Jay Inslee, Massachusetts Rep. Seth small businesses, but simply to the hosts of “Morning Joe.” ‘’So I’m Moulton, former Colorado Gov. offer comfort in the form in some- going to end my presidential cam- John Hickenlooper and California thing as simple as hydration. paign, continue my work as mayor Rep. Eric Swallwell, who have all Lebanon Veterinary Hospital put of New York City, and I’m going left the Democratic primary race. up a dog hydration station for any panting canines. Laurel Martin, head veterinary technician at the veterinary hospital, said her favorite part of helping at the festival was getting to hear great music. Others had more simple favor- ites. “I’m here for the Italian ice,” said Martin’s young assistant, Zack The ChronicleZichman - of09/20/2019 Lebanon. Johnnie Walker, of Mansfield, drives Kayla Cordero, 7, of Norwich,Page : 04 Follow Jack Lakowsky on Twitter through Main Street on a handmade horse. Walker has run the Ton - @JLakowskyTC. of Family Fun station for the past seven years. Rebecca Ingoglia | Staff Book explores Buchanan’s sexuality Continued from Page 1 intimacy in nineteenth-century America.” answer these questions and set the State police released this image of the man they believe may have Balcerski draws parallels to stolen items from a wallet at the Mansfield Community Center. record straight, so to speak, about today’s political realm. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police the pair.” In the 2000s, six congressman Buchanan was elected president decided to live together in a row Info sought on man who stole in 1856 and King was elected vice house on C Street in Washington. president in 1852 under Franklin According to Balcerski, the men Pierce. were deeply intimate friends. from wallet at community center The two lived intertwined per- Balcerski also references an inti- MANSFIELD — State police Tolland. sonal and professional lives, going mate relationship with two recent have asked for the public’s help The post indicates the suspect so far as to live together in boarding politicians, President Barack Obama identifying a male suspect accused was captured on security cameras at houses while remaining bachelors and Vice President Joe Biden. of stealing a driver’s license and the Mansfield Community Center for life. The pair’s jovial friendship has credit card from a wallet in the as well as on video surveillance at Around the nation’s capital, the even been referred to as a “bro- Mansfield Community Center lock- the Manchester Walmart, where he men were mocked in gossip and in mance,” a categorization Balcerski er room Wednesday. was seen using a stolen credit card. political cartoons for their effemi- believes could also be applied to According to a post on the state A screenshot of the suspect from nacy and possibly their sexuality. Buchanan and King. police Facebook page, the victim surveillance is posted on the state Critics went so far as to call ‘Bosom Friends,’ by Eastern “A generation of scholarship has reported the incident at the com- police Facebook page. them “Siamese twins” and “bosom Connecticut State University uncovered numerous intimate and munity center, which is at 10 South Those who can identify the sus- friends.” assistant history professor Tom mostly platonic friendships among Balcerski, explores the relation- Eagleville Road, in Mansfield, at pect are asked to call Trooper First Through his intense research men,” Balcerski said. ship between President James about 4 p.m. Class Matthew Benzie at 860-234- throughout the United States and “In the years before the Civil Buchanan and William Rufus Mansfield is covered by troopers 1954 or text “TIP711” with the even into London, Balcerski sur- War, friendships among politicians King. Courtesy of Amazon at Troop C, which has a barracks in message to CRIMES (274637). mised Buchanan and King’s rela- provided an especially important tionship was intense, personal and fided and commiserated as mess- way to bridge the chasm between intimate. mates and transatlantic correspon- the North and the South.” But, he said, likely not sexual in dents and, finally, they obtained the “Bosom Friends” is available the way it may be viewed today. highest echelons of elected office,” from Amazon and other booksell- There are no obituaries “As bosom friends, they navigat- Balcersi wrote in his epilogue. “In ers. ed the shoals of bachelorhood and retrospect, their example helps to Follow Claire Galvin on Twitter in today’s Chronicle American politics alike. They con- define the possibilities for male - @CGalvinTC.

TO PLACE AN OBITUARY: CLASSIFIED DEPT. AT 860-423-8466, ext. 3363, or 860-423-8466, ext. 3337 AFTER 5 P.M. ON FRIDAYS