From the beginnings of a small town along the Hockanum River in the early 1700s, Manchester developed into a major manufacturing center with a unique history. Events, personalities and inventions have reached out from this central Connecticut city to touch homes across the nation. Common daily objects invented right here include shaving soap and the envelope. Industries essential to everyday life once dominated the town, including the Cheney Brothers Silk Company, Bon Ami Soap, a Pitkin family glass monopoly and many others. Local author and historian Robert Kanehl brings these forgotten treasures to light through the stories from his beloved newspaper column.

THE STORY: Nick is a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey. His parents retired and moved to Florida. That doesn't mean his family isn't still in Jersey. In fact, he sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until