USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II > Part 8
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Steuben Lodge, No. 83, of this city, was instituted April 1, 1867, and for a long time met at the old hall on Water street, but on July 9, 1879, having greatly increased in mem- bership and in funds, it removed to its present elegant rooms in Stanton block, on State street. The charter of the Pequon- nock Lodge was renewed February 2, 1869, on petition of Martin Concord, F. H. Stevens, J. L. Roberts, Ebenezer Wheeler, and Lewis Sherman, former members. Its meet- ings were held at first on Water street, but in January, 1871, it removed to the hall over the People's Savings Bank, corner of Main and Bank streets, and on April 19, 1873, to its present hall in the upper story of the Burroughs Building, on the corner of Main and John streets. These rooms were fitted, frescoed, furnished, and carpeted very handsomely by the lodge, and the hall is the largest occupied in the State by the order. Arcanum Lodge, No. 41, was revived March 17, 1875, and meets at present in the hall of the Pequonnock Lodge,
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while Lessing, No. 94, organized December 14, 1874, has always met over the People's Savings Bank, and, like its parent, Steuben Lodge, works in the German language.
In the year 1876 it was thought advisable to begin to hold meetings of the order in East Bridgeport, and Harris Lodge, No. 99, was begun October 27th of that year, at num- ber 224 East Main street, with thirty-eight members; but a severe storm having unroofed the building, the lodge removed to its present rooms on East Washington avenue, about Jan- uary 1, 1877. Charity Lodge, No. 4, and Friendship Lodge, No. 13, Degree of Rebekah, were instituted May 7, 1870, and on February 13, 1874, the latter working in the German language. Both of these bodies are composed of members of the other subordinate lodges and their wives, and are in a flourishing condition.
Stratfield Encampment, No: 23, was instituted July 16, 1869, with seven charter members, and meets in the hall of Pequonnock Lodge. The whole number admitted to mem- bership in it is 231. It now numbers about 100, including a battalion of about forty uniformed patriarchs. Bridgeport Encampment, No. 22, was chartered May 17, 1870, and meets in the hall of Steuben Lodge, on State street. Its member- ship is about ninety. Each of the lodges and encampments makes its own by-laws respecting the amount of admission fees and weekly and funeral benefits.
The Mutual Aid Association, composed of odd fellows throughout the State, has about 400 members in Bridgeport. It pays upon the death of a member $1,500 in one class, and $500 in another class. There is also a sick benefit association in connection with the Pequonnock and Arcanum Lodges, which pays five dollars per week during sickness, in addition to the regular benefits paid by the lodge. Another mutual aid association of members of these two lodges has about 100 names upon its roll, each one of whom pays two dollars upon the decease of any member of the association.
In addition to the necessary expenses of fitting up lodges and rents, there has been paid for relief of members of Bridge- port organizations since the revival of the order, in 1867, not far from $18,000, while the whole number of persons admitted to membership during the same period is about 1,200.
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In addition to the masons and odd fellows, there are in Bridgeport more than fifty societies of various descriptions, holding regular meetings, and some of them doing excellent work. Among them are some fifteen different temperance organizations, a Bible society, the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor, a dramatic society, a medical association, the St. George, Caledonian, Emmett, and other clubs, the Fireman's Benevolent Association, the Ladies' Charitable Society, a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, several military companies, and other singing and gymnastic associations.
Bridgeport Division, .No. 24, Sons of Temperance, meets every Tuesday evening at G. A. R. Hall. W. P., Ralph Ritch ; W. A., Mary Abbott; R. S., Minnie Hawes; A. R. S., Harry S. Gaylord; F. S., Robert P. Hinckley ; Treasurer, Henry Chewenhill ; Chaplain, William J. Smith ; C., Jennie G. Hawes: A. C., Drucillia Friar ; I. S., Charles Comstock ; .O. S., George J. Mills.
Living Spring Division, No. 22, Sons of Temperance. W. P., Frank W. Mellen ; W. A., Sarah F. Jackson ; R. S., Charles W. Hinckley ; A. R. S., Rosa Kinsella; F. S., Ste- phen L. Conger; Treasurer, Mrs. C. M. Conger; Chaplain, Mrs. Nellie Thompson; C., Mrs. Sarah Wooten ; A. C., Sadie McNaughton ; I. S., W. L. Bayles; O. S., Mrs. Electra Cot- trell; P. W. P., Mrs. Emma J. Emmons. The regular meet- ing is held every Monday evening, in Temperance Hall, at 18 Beach street.
Pequonnock Lodge, No. 30, Good Templars. This lodge was instituted March 22, 1866. The following are the present officers : W. C. T., Thomas Walker; Secretary, Mrs. H. E. Havens; Treasurer, Annie E. Fox ; P. W. C. T., William H. Fosket ; Lodge Deputy, Frederick L. Bray. The regular meeting is held every Friday evening in Grand Army Hall, over the post office.
Nonpareil Lodge, No. 187, Good Templars. The reg- ular meeting is held every Thursday evening in Temperance Hall, in Beach street.
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Crystal Fount Temple of Honor and Temperance. -W. C. T., J. A. Keinsella ; W. V. T., L. C. Williams ; W. R., L. J. Maynard; W. A. R., Joseph Youngs; W. F. R., H. C. Bartlet ; W. T., T. Hands; W. Chaplain, C. Bogardus ; W. U., G. Ingalls; W. D. U., F. Jeffers; W. G., J. Rhodes; W. S., J. Sawyer; Trustees, J. A. Keinsella, C. Bogardus, R. W. Davis. The regular meetings are held on Thursday evenings, in Pythian Hall, at 45 Wall street, corner of Main.
Father Matthew Young Men's T. A. B. Society, was organized October, 1868. President, J. J. Hagerty ; Vice-President, John Reilly ; Recording Secretary, George T. Kelly : Financial Secretary, John Kearney ; Corresponding Secretary, W. H. Barry ; Treasurer, Patrick Kane ; Marshall, John Maher; Sergeant-at-Arms, Patrick Noonan. The regu- lar meetings are held on the first Sunday and the third Thurs- day in each month, at number 444 Main street.
St. Mary's T. A. B. Society, was organized May 24, 1868. President, John A. Muldoon; Vice-President, John Curran; Recording Secretary, John O'Hara; Finance Secre- tary, Thomas E. Hearan; Treasurer, Martin Quinlin. The regular meetings are held the first and third Tuesday even- ing in each month, in St. Joseph's Convent.
St. Patrick's T. A. B. Society was organized October, 1868. President, Timothy Shanahan; Vice-President, John McCarthy ; Secretary, James Noonan; Financial Secretary, John Nagle; Treasurer, Hugh McCaughalty ; Marshal, Ed- ward Hanley. The meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, at 444 Main street.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union .- Presi- dent, Mrs. C. E. Sanford; Secretary, Mrs. S. R. Wilmot ; Treasurer, Miss E. C. Porter; Executive Committee, Mrs. C. E. Sanford, Mrs. S. R. Wilmot, Miss E. C. Porter, Mrs. S. P. Gay, and Miss J. E. Prindle. Woman's meeting on Thursday at 3 o'clock P. M.
The Orphan Asylum .- The Bridgeport Protestant Orphan Asylum was organized December 11, 1867, and in- corporated May 6, 1868, " for the purpose of relieving, sup-
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porting, and educating children who are friendless and deso- late," Miss Lydia R. Ward, Mrs. Eliza S. W. Jones, Mrs. Mary L. Clapp, and forty-seven other ladies being the in- corporators. The building now occupied as an asylum, number 119 Lafayette street, was completed March 31, 1870, and cost $13,000. The land upon which it stands was the gift of Nathaniel Wheeler, Isaac H. Whiting, and Francis Ives. A new building for hospital purposes has been added at a cost of $1,000.
The officers of the institution are: Miss Lydia R. Ward, President ; Mrs. Edward Sterling, Vice-President ; Mrs. S. B. Sumner, Chief Manager; Mrs. Gustav Ohnesorg, Recording Secretary ; Miss Henrietta M. Noble, Corresponding Secre- tary; Miss Georgiana Gossling, Treasurer; Miss S. C. Ward, Mrs. Russell Tomlinson, Providers; Mrs. Russell Tomlinson, Miss S. C. Ward, Mrs. E. L. Gaylord, Standing Committee ; and Nathaniel Wheeler, George Mallory, E. S. Hawley, Edward Sterling, Clapp Spooner, and William D. Bishop, Trustees.
The Bridgeport Scientific Society .- In August, 1877, a society under the name of the Bridgeport Society of Natural Science, afterward changed to "The Bridgeport Scientific Society," was formed with the following officers : President, H. N. Powers, D.D .; Vice-President, Clarence Sterling ; Sec- retary, Geo. C. Waldo; Corresponding Secretary, W. L. Sherwood ; Treasurer, T. E. Peck; Curator, H. T. Hickok ; Librarian, Leonard Sterling. Miss Annie Sterling was after- wards appointed Historian, which position she occupied till her death.
It rapidly increased in numbers, the interest in its work developed largely and the community was very much im- pressed with its efforts and the various public meetings which it held from time to time. Its museum and library grew to very considerable proportions, and the success of its members in the various fields of study and research adopted by them has been very gratifying. The society has rooms in the Wales Building on Main street, second story, and all except its more important public meetings have been holden there. It has had hundreds of papers read before it, has given hun-
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dreds of public lectures by members of the society and scien- tists from abroad, which have been well attended, and its in- fluence is widely felt and acknowledged. Classes in various scientific branches have been organized under competent in- structors, and the work done is of a very satisfactory charac- ter. The Rev. Dr. Powers continued president of the society till 1885 when he left Bridgeport, and Mr. Isaac Holden was elected in his place. The present officers are: President, Isaac Holden, Esq .; Vice-President, Charles M. DePuy, Esq .; Secretary, W. T. Van York; Assistant Secretary, Dr. C. S. Hoag ; Corresponding Secretary, L. H. Baker; Treasurer, G. J. Brown; Assistant Treasurer, Rev. G. B. Day ; Curator, C. K. Averill; Librarian, L. H. Baker. The society has a very fine Herbarium, containing upwards of 500 specimens of local plants, collected largely through the efforts of the Presi- dent, Mr. Holden, and which is being increased from time to time as new species are discovered.
Hawes' Opera House, located on Fairfield avenue, is the only institution of the kind in the city. Mr. Edmund V. Hawes, a native of Sherman, Conn., came to Bridgeport in 1864, and commenced building this house for an Opera, in August, 1876, and completed it April, 1877, upon land pur- chased of Hanford Lyon. The dimensions of the theatre are : 60 feet by 110, on the ground floor, with balcony and gallery, having a seating capacity of 1,300. There are four aisles be- low making sections A. B. C .; three aisles in the balcony making sections D. E. F .; four proscenium boxes seating thirty persons. The proscenium arch is 32 feet ; stage 40 feet by 60; height of scenery 20 feet. The building is heated by steam, and is managed by Mr. Hawes, the proprietor. The theatre, for nearly ten years has been occupied by the highest class of dramatic and musical entertainments and lectures, and is a popular place of entertainment.
Bridgeport City Government for 1885-6.
Mayor-Hon. Henry H. Pyle.
Aldermen-Ist ward, Civilian Fones ; ad ward, Daniel W. Kissam ; 3d ward, Philo H. Skidmore, Jr .; 4th ward, Thomas Ronan, Jr .; 5th ward, Jerome Orcutt ; 6th ward, Aurelius Steward.
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Aldermen at Large-Jacob B. Klein, Henry A. Bishop, Henry R. Parrott, Wil- liam Lowe, Daniel M. Ford, Charles Paul.
Councilmen-ist ward, Richard B. Cogswell, Walter Nichols, William Couch ; ' 2d ward, George B. Whitney, Howard G. Hubbell, William F. Pinkham ; 3d ward. James H. Dorus, John N. Near, Michael Frawley ; 4th ward, Patrick J. Kelly, James A. Howard, John T. Logan ; 5th ward, Horace L. Eames, George E. Somers, Henry T. Hawley ; 6th ward, John B. Sullivan, Rudolph Laubscher, Jacob W. Greninger.
City Clerk-Christopher A. Mooney ; City Treasurer-Tracey B. Warren ; City Auditor-Bernard Keating.
Judge of City Court-Alfred B. Beers ; Deputy Judge-Charles A. Doten ; City Attorney-David B. Lockwood ; Prosecuting Officer-John C. Chamberlin ; City Sheriffs-Joseph H. Perry and Dwight Thompson.
Collector of Assessments-William W. Robinson.
Board of Public Works-Peter W. Wren, Edward R. Ives, George A. Nor- throp, Charles R. Brothwell, E. G. Burnham, Charles G. Sanford.
Street Commissioner-Bradford D. Pierce.
Park Commissioners-William H. Noble, Albert Eames, William H. Perry, P. T. Barnum.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Edward Lehman.
City Surveyor-H. G. Scofield.
Fire Marshall-Joseph Hotchkiss.
Janitor-Patrick Lynch.
Board of Health-B. D. Pierce, Doct. Francis J. Young, William R. Palmer ; Clerk-Christopher A. Mooney ; Health Officer-Richard Fitzgibbons.
Mayors of the City of Bridgeport and year of their election.
1836 Isaac Sherman, Jr.,
1865 Stillman S. Clapp,
1837 Daniel Sterling,
1866 Monson Hawley,
1838 Alanson Hamlin,
1868 Jarratt Morford,
1839 Charles Foote,
1869 Monson Hawley,
1840 Charles Bostwick,
1870 Jarratt Morford, 1871 E. B. Goodsell,
1841 William P. Burrall, -
1843 James C. Loomis.
1874 Robert T. Clarke,
1844 Henry K. Harral,
1875 Phineas T. Barnum,
1847 Sherwood Sterling,
1876 Jarratt Morford,
1849 Henry K. Harral, 1878 Robert E. DeForest,
1851 John Brooks, Jr., 1879 John L. Wessells,
1852 Henry K. Harral, 1880 Daniel N. Morgan,
1853 Charles B. Hubbell, 1854 John Brooks, Jr., 1855 P. C. Calhoun,
1881 John L. Wessells, 1882 Carlos Curtis,
1883 John L. Wessells,
1858 Silas C. Booth,
1884 Daniel N. Morgan,
1860 D. H. Sterling,
1885 Henry H. Pyle.
1863 Clapp Spooner, -
1886 Civilian Fones.
1864 Jarratt Morford,
The following reduced fac-simile certificate was given, as it shows, upon the qualifying of the first Mayor of Bridgeport.
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History of Stratford.
hunely latify that strane Shermanfun appeared Before one that's day of luther? 2 1836 and took the oath required by the charter of the City of Brnoyaport to qualify him to act of Mayory Sau bay - Jaar Sharman Bringchant Vitotwo 5 1836 - Juster of Peace
Clerks of the City of Bridgeport and year of their election.
. 1836 Ira Sherman, 1868 William E. Barnett,
1844 J. H. Adams,
1845 Stephen Hawley,
1854 John M. Wilson,
1857 Samuel Jones,
1858 George F. Tracy,
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1864 John T. Shelton,
1874-5-6 Morris B. Beardsley, 1877-1882 Bernard Keating,
1865 David B. Lockwood,
1883-4-5 Christopher A. Mooney.
Representatives from Bridgeport.
1822 Enoch Foote, -- 1840 Joseph Thompson,
1823 Joseph Backus,
- 1841 James Fitch,
1824 William Peet, 1842 Abijah Hawley,
1825 William DeForest,
1843 Sherwood Sterling,
1826 Noah Plumb,
1844 Alexander Hamilton,
1827 Smith Tweedy, 1845 Dwight Morris,
1828 Thomas C. Wordin,
1846 Joseph F. Crosby,
1829 Smith Tweedy,
1847 Joshua Lord,
1830 Samuel Simons,
1848 Henry F. Huggins,
1831 Enoch Foote,
1849 Silas B. Booth,
1832 Noah Plumb,
1850 William S. Pomeroy,
1833 Smith Tweedy, 1834 Noah Plumb,
1852 Wyllys Lyon,
1835 Daniel O. Wheeler,
1853 Joseph F. Crosby,
1836 Smith Tweedy,
1854 Thomas S. Oakley,
1837 William S. Pomeroy,
1855 Silas C. Booth,
1838 Henry Dutton,
1856 James C. Loomis,
1839 Henry Dutton,
1857 Philo C. Calhoun,
The word " me" is out in the original fac-simile.
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1867 George F. Tracy,
1869 Wilfred E. Norton, 1870 Stephen S. Blake, 1871 Morris W. Seymour, 1872-3 James King,
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1851 Wyllys Lyon,
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1858 Amos S. Treat, 1859 Allison A. Pettengill, 1860 James C. Loomis, 1861 George W. Bacon, 1862 Amos S. Treat, 1863 Russell Tomlinson, 1864 Dwight Morris,
1865 Samuel Larkin, 1866 Nathaniel Wheeler, 1867 George Mallory.
1868 Nathaniel Wheeler,
1869 Amos S. Treat,
1870 Nathaniel Wheeler,
1871 William D. Bishop,
1872 Nathaniel Wheeler,
1873 Goodwin Stoddard,
1874 Robert Hubbard, 1875 Carlos Curtis,
David B. Lockwood,
1876 Robert Hubbard, George W. Bacon,
1877 Carlos Curtis, George W. Bacon,
1878 Phineas T. Barnum, Stephen Nichols,
1879 Phineas T. Barnum, Amos S. Treat, 1880 Dwight Morris, John Sexton, 1881 David M. Read, Robert E. DeForest,
1882 A. H. Abernethy, Peter W. Wren, 1883 David B. Lockwood, Daniel N. Morgan,
1884 William H. Noble, Albert M. Tallmadge,
1885 John J. Phelan, L. Myron Slade,
1886 John J. Phelan, Henry A. Bishop.
The Fire Department of Bridgeport. One of the first public measures of the citizens of the village of Newfield, was to form themselves into a fire company, which was incorpo- rated in 1797. Another act in regard to it was passed in the following year, and in 1834 a third fire company was char- tered, followed, in 1840, by the Phoenix Fire Company, No. 4, and the Pequonnock Fire Company, of North Bridgeport, and in 1845 by the Bridgeport Hose Company. The engines at first were of the kind that the water was poured into them and then thrown by the instrument upon the fire, so that at the alarm of fire the citizens ran to the place with their fire bucket in hand, formed a line to a convenient well, and passed the buckets filled, and poured the water into the engine tank. The first very large fire occurred in 1835, when the buildings of a considerable district in the heart of the city were con- sumed.
A great conflagration occurred in the morning of Decem- ber 11, 1845, when the buildings on the eastern side of Water street and both sides of Wall and State streets were destroyed. Forty-nine buildings were consumed, and the loss was esti- mated at $125,000. See cut on page 769.
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The first effective engine was that purchased for company No. 5, which was built in New York at a cost of $1,000. Within a week after its arrival the steam flour mill near the corner of Water street and South avenue was burned, and ten days after the Methodist Episcopal Church edifice shared the same fate. Previous to 1847 there was no organized fire department, the several companies being not only independ- ent of each other, but frequently antagonistic. A by-law drafted by R. B. Lacey, providing for the appointment of a board of engineers and the enforcement of better discipline, was adopted in that year, and continued in force until the adoption of a paid fire department. The steam fire engine D. H. Sterling, No. 1, was purchased by the city in January, 1864, and proved so successful that in May, 1865, steamer Proctor, No. 2, was purchased, and in August of the same year steamer Excelsior, No. 5.
In October, 1872, the volunteer fire department was dis- banded, and a paid department substituted for it. Charles A. Gerdenier, who had been at the head of the volunteer organ- ization since 1869, was appointed chief engineer and has held this important office since that time. This department of the city government is equipped with the usual engines, bell- towers, alarms, common in the cities of the day, at a cost of over one hundred thousand dollars.
Besides the chief engineer, the active force of the depart- ment consists of nine assistant engineers, seven drivers, and forty-five hose and hook and ladder men; in all, sixty-two persons. The government is in the hands of a board of com- missioners. It has had good success since its organization in subduing fires, although there have been several serious con- flagrations effecting considerable loss of property, such as the burning of the steamboat Alice at the dock, July 22, 1852, loss, $25,000; the carriage factory of F. Wood and Company, on Broad street, December 22, 1865; the lumber yard of Beardsley, Wilson and Company, May 28, 1871 ; the planing mill and lumber yard of S. Nickerson and Son, September 30, 1872 ; the Courtland Block, February 21, 1873 ; the Pres- byterian church, December 9, 1874: the cabinet factory of the Wheeler and Wilson Company, December 14, 1875; and the
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hat factory of Glover Sanford and Sons, June 7, 1877, on which occasion eleven lives were lost by the falling of a wall ; and the burning of the large building of the Howe Manufact- uring Company in 1883.
The present commissioners of the fire department are: Samuel W. Baldwin, William E. Seeley, Eli Dewhurst, Henry Atwater. The Chief Engineer is Charles A. Gerdenier, and the assistants are: Joseph B. King, Peter Ring, Daniel Holden.
Adams Express Company .- William F. Harden was the first man to commence running an express between Bos- ton and New York in February, 1839, and is regarded as the founder of the express business in this country. In May, 1840, Alvin Adams commenced in opposition to Harden, and for several years Mr. Adams was his own messenger, cashier, clerk and porter. In 1843, he first began to use horses and wagons in delivering packages, and soon afterwards Adams and Company made a contract with the Treasury Depart- ment for the transportation of government funds, which their successors still continue. On the opening of the New York and New Haven railroad, October 26, 1848, a daily express was established.
The office of the Adams Express Company was after- wards located under the Sterling House, but subsequently removed to the York House building, on the West side of Water, near Union street, and thence to its present loca- tion, in the depot building at the foot of Fairfield avenue. The Adams Express Company was formed by the consolida- tion of some half a dozen other lines, July 1, 1854. The head- quarters of the New England division were removed from Hartford to Bridgeport, April 2, 1865 ; to Boston, September 1, 1868; to Hartford, September 2, 1869, and again to Bridge- port February 6, 1876, which is still the central office in New England. The officers and representatives of this company residing at Bridgeport are : Henry Sanford, General Super- intendent ; Clapp Spooner, Resident Manager, and Superin- tendent of the New England Division; William L. Hubbell, Auditor ; S. J. B. Dibble, Cashier ; John C. Curtis, Agent.
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The Grain Elevator of Bridgeport is the only one on the coast between New York and Boston. It was erected in 1871, by the firm of Crane and Hurd, and grew out of their connection and experience with the grain trade in the West. It is forty by fifty feet at its base, and one hundred feet in height. It is run by a twenty-five horse power engine and the labor of five men, and is capable of taking in and storing eight thousand bushels of grain per day of ten hours, from either a railroad car or boat at the dock. As many as one and a half million bushels of grain have passed through this elevator in a single year. Mr. John Hurd is at present the proprietor.
The Gas Light Company of Bridgeport was incor- porated in 1849, and commenced business in December, 1851, with seventy-six private consumers and twenty-six public street lamps. Among the original corporators named in the charter were, Horace Nichols, R. B. Mason, W. P. Burrall, Philo Hurd, and Hanford Lyon. H. K. Harrall was the first president, and P. C. Calhoun the first treasurer. After the decease of Mr. Harrall, in June, 1854, his place was filled by the election of Hanford Lyon, who held the office until April 2, 1868, when he was succeeded by Amos S. Treat, who has continued in the same to the present time. The original cost of the works was seventy-five thousand dollars, but more than one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars additional has been since expended upon them. The late John Cornwall was secretary and treasurer for twenty years, from 1854 to 1874 and C. A. Gerdenier the present superintendent has been connected with the company since 1864.
The officers of the company at present are: Hon. Amos S. Treat, President ; L. N. Van Keuren, Secretary and Treas- urer ; S. B. Beardsley, A. S. Treat, William H. Perry, Horace Nichols, A. C. Hobbs, S. C. Trubee, H. L. Clark, William R. Higby, William B. Hincks, Directors, and C. A. Gerdenier, Superintendent.
The Horse Railroad Company of Bridgeport was incorporated in 1865, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, their charter giving the privilege to extend the line
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from the starting-point near Pembroke Lake to Mountain Grove Cemetery and Black Rock, with a branch to Seaside Park. Cars first commenced running from the Sterling House to the eastern terminus January 23, 1866.
Public attention was first called to this subject by an article in the "Standard;" and the next day Mr. Hanford Hayes called on the editor of that paper, Mr. John D. Candee, and stated that he had been considering the same subject. These parties invited a number of prominent business men of the city to meet and consider the matter. This was done and a charter was granted. The work was commenced by the president, Mr. George S. Sanford, digging the first shovel of earth at the top of the hill at the eastern end of Noble's bridge, in East Bridgeport.
The officers are: President, Albert Eames; Secretary and Treasurer, Frederick Hurd; Superintendent, B. F. Lasher; Directors, N. Wheeler, P. T. Barnum, C. A. Hotch- kiss, James Wilson, Albert Eames, H. E. Bowser, and F. Hurd.
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