USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 20
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On March 5, 1877, Edward W. Marsh was elected in place of Daniel H. Sterling, deceased, and on September 16, IS77, another memorial entry was made on the records: "Death has again visited our board during the year and removed the first president, the Hon. James C. Loomis, one of the warm- est friends of education in the State, and member of the State Board of Education at the time of his death. His memory we will ever cherish, remembering his worth to us, and ten- dering our warmest sympathy to the widow, who, more than any other, is bereaved."
On August 13, 1877, Daniel N. Morgan succeeded J. D. Alvord, resigned, and on October 8th of the same year David M. Read succeeded J. C. Loomis, deceased, for the remaining portion of the year. At the annual election in April, 1878, the Rev. Thomas J. Synnott was elected for three years, and Hon. Nathaniel Wheeler for one year, to fill a vacancy.
On June 21, 1877, Island Brook school house was burned and the present brick structure was immediately erected on the old site. On November 12, 1877, Julius S. Hanover was elected president, and F. W. Zingsen, vice-president. Ed- ward Sterling resigned March 12, 1879, on account of business engagements, and the board made the following entry : "Ver- ily ! in him we have lost a co-laborer-a member of the board since its organization-whom at all times we have found true to the great and important duty of educating the youth of his native city." George C. Waldo was elected in place of Mr. Sterling for the balance of the year ; and during the summer of that year the new heating apparatus was put into the Prospect school building, and a training school for teachers was established. On October 27, 1879, Edward W. Marsh was elected secretary of the board. At the spring election of 1880, Peter W. Wren and George C. Waldo were elected for three years, and following them the following persons have
28
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Pots Eno CAK
BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL. ERECTED IN ISS2.
17
PECOIL
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been elected, most of them to serve three years: Rev. Caspar Brunner, Frederick Hurd, Henry Cowd, Warren W. Porter, Marshall E. Morris, Emory F. Strong, Morris B. Beardsley, Thomas F. Martin, John H. Colgan.
The completion of the high school building, on Congress street, in October, 1882, and its opening for school purposes, was the marked educational event of the year. Its novel plan for heating and ventilating was a departure from the com- monly accepted theories, and its practical utility has been demonstrated during the four years since, as the best in the State, if not in the nation. The building has been visited by experts from all parts of the country, and the plan of heating and ventilation has been adopted by school boards, not only in this State, but in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York. It was built under the supervision of a committee chosen on the part of the town and one from the Board of Education. These committees were identical and consisted of the follow- ing persons : Julius S. Hanover, Nathaniel Wheeler, Edward W. Marsh, and George C. Waldo. At the expiration of E. W. Marsh's term in 1884, he declined a reelection.
The decease of the Rev. Thomas J. Synnot, pastor of the St. Augustine Catholic Church, April 30, ISS4, was noticed by the following : " The Board of Education recognize in the death of the Rev. Thomas J. Synnot a severe loss to the cause of education and one which it will be difficult to repair,-a man of education, tact and ability, and although a clergy man, still a man without prejudice or bigotry, his was a happy and tolerant disposition. Being pastor of one church in this city for more than thirty years, he has so borne himself through this long period as to endear himself to the entire community. As a mark of respect and esteem the members of the board will attend his funeral."
During the summer of 1883 the Washington school house, on Pembroke street, was repaired, new heating apparatus placed in it, and in the autumn the new school building on the Newtown turnpike was first occupied for school purposes.
Another memorandum is made of the departed : " When this Board of Education was organized in April, 1876, Au- gustus H. Abernethy, M.D., was elected a member, and con-
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PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOS. 2 AND 9. ERECTED IN 1884.
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tinued such until his decease on the evening of November 9, 1884. We make this tribute to his memory on our records : Resolved, That in obedience to the will of him who doeth all things for the best, we bow in humble submission, with the feeling that this community, and especially the cause of education in our city, has sustained a great loss; that as an honorable, upright and highly esteemed citizen and member of this board, we will ever cherish his memory."
Two new school buildings were occupied at the com- mencement of the fall term of 1884, one on Myrtle avenue- school No. 2-the other on North avenue-school No. 9- corner of Oak street, which have commended themselves as models of convenience and adaptation to school purposes. They are warmed and ventilated by the same plan as the high school building, except that the air is warmed by fur- naces instead of steam coils. The internal arrangement of these buildings is regarded as very advantageous and com- mendable. See cuts on the two following pages.
In January, 1885, the Hon. P. T. Barnum donated $1,000, the income to be expended in the purchase of two gold medals, to be presented each year to the two students in the high school who shall write and publicly pronounce the two best English orations.24
24 Sometimes it is said that the higher grades of schools are maintained for the benefit of the wealthy classes rather than for the common people. In order to ascertain how far this view is correct, as applied to this high school, a careful examination has been made, which shows the following occupations represented among the parents of the pupils :
Mechanics 44
Farmers
2
Merchants
19
Policemen
I
Manufacturers
I3
Government officer. I
Clerks and salesmen II Town officer I
Laborers
9 City officer I
Supts. or foremen of factory 7 Bank officer I
Contractors
4 Doctor
I
Retired from business
4
Keeper of boarding house I
Clergymen
4 Photographer
I
Builders
3
Undertaker
I
Teachers
3 Coachman
I
Laborers
3 Truckman
I
Printers
2
In addition to the above there were the children of twenty-seven widows in attendance, making in all one hundred and sixty-seven families represented in the school. In other words, this high school fairly represents all classes in the city.
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The rooms for the accommodation of the Board of Edu- cation are now in the United Bank Building, corner of Main and Bank streets, they being very pleasant and commodious.
The population of the town of Bridgeport-including the city-as estimated by school enumeration, was in 1876-7, 24,745, and in January, 1886, 39,006. In 1876 there were 78 teachers, and in 1886, 120.
The cost per scholar of maintaining the Bridgeport schools, compared with others in the State as reported by the State Board of Education for the year 1884, is as follows : Hartford, $34.19; Norwich, $23.45; New Britain, $23.35 ; New Haven, $22.81; Stamford, $21.41 ; Norwalk, $20.05 ; Meriden, $19.65; Waterbury, $19.52; New London, $19.33 ; Danbury, $19. 17 ; Middletown, $19.03 ; Bridgeport, $15.43.
The officers of the Board of Education for 1885-6 are : Julius S. Hanover, President ; Nathaniel Wheeler, Vice-Presi- dent ; Morris B. Beardsley, Secretary. The members of the board are: Peter W. Wren, Henry Cowd, Frederick Hurd, Marshall E. Morris, Morris B. Beardsley, Emory F. Strong, William B. Hincks, Thomas F. Martin, Julius S. Hanover, Nathaniel Wheeler, David Ginand, John H. Colgan. H. M. Harrington, Superintendent of Schools.
The Bridgeport Public Library and Reading Room has acquired a high position in the estimation and care of the citizens of Bridgeport, as the beginning of what they hope to make a large and influential institution of culture in the city. About sixty years ago a boy wrote some brief articles which were printed in a newspaper of Bridgeport, and in them called for a public meeting of citizens for the purpose of establishing a public library. The meeting was held by a few persons, the boy being among them, but he did not at that time let it be known that he wrote the articles and called the meeting. The result of the meeting was that a library was established about, perhaps, a year or two before 1830. This library was continued until about 1855, when it purchased the library of the Calliopean Literary Society of Yale College, which had disbanded, numbering about 1,000 volumes, and the Bridgeport Library Association was estab-
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lished December 7, 1857. For many years it was supported as a subscription library, charging a fee for membership and its privileges.
1
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Photo / Kg. Co. NY
BURROUGHS PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING.
In 1881 Mr. Clarence Sterling, calling upon Mr. John D. Candee, then editor of the Bridgeport " Standard," requested that the "Standard" would favor the establishing of a free 29
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History of Bridgeport.
public library, in accordance with a recent law of the State, granting such libraries to towns and cities, to be supported by a tax on the grand list." Mr. Candee cheerfully took up the matter and Mr. Sterling started a petition to the Common Council of the city. Then upon consultation with Hon. D. B. Lockwood, president of the old library association, and others interested in it, that library was offered to the new project upon condition that the debts of the old society, amounting to about $Soo, should be assumed by the new society, which was accepted. Upon the matter coming before the Common Council the motion which gave to Bridgeport a free public library was carried with but one dissenting vote, and the Mayor, Hon. John L. Wessels, appointed the following board of officers: W. D. Bishop, President ; John D. Candee, Vice-President ; Charles Sher- wood, Secretary ; William B. Hincks, Treasurer; and Fred- erick Hurd, W. J. Hills, S. S. Blake, and Bernard Winghofer, who held their first meeting July 2, 1881.
By the lamented death of Mr. Winghofer, the removal from the city of Mr. Blake, and the resignation of the Hon. W. D. Bishop, three changes have since taken place in the board. The successors of these gentlemen are A. B. Beers, Patrick Coughlin, and W. D. Bishop, Jr.
The rooms of the old library association, at 440 Main street, were altered and enlarged, and on the 10th of January, 1882, the Bridgeport Public Library and Reading Room opened its doors. The first ticket of membership was issued to P. T. Barnum-occupation, showman-guarantor, James Staples. By the first of June the new library had 3,193 inembers, and had circulated 36,547 volumes. The difficulties arising from the small number of books were tided over by the gift of a hundred dollars from Mrs. James C. Loomis, and the purchase by the Hon. P. T. Barnum of a thousand dollars worth of the best recent works in science and general litera- ture. The original library hours were from 2 to 10 P. M. daily ; but it soon became necessary to open the institution from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. In November, 1882, at the request of
95 Manuscript of J. D. Candee.
Catharine A Burroughs Pettengill
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Public Library.
many intelligent workingmen, the directors resolved to try the experiment of Sunday opening, hitherto only attempted in the New England States by the public libraries of Boston and Worcester. The change was so greatly appreciated that in 1884 they determined to conduct the library on the " never- closing" system, and the reading room is now open every day in the year.
In January, 1883, Mrs. Catharine A. Pettengill bequeathed to the public library the valuable property known as the Burroughs Building, in order that it might be converted into a permanent home for the institution. The money accruing from the rental of the building has been left to accumulate towards paying for its alteration, and it is hoped that the library will occupy its new quarters by the winter of 1887.
In 1884 the Hon. W. D. Bishop resigned the office of president, and was succeeded by John D. Candee, Esq., who had rendered the library much valuable service as vice-presi- dent and member of the book committee. The career of the library has been one of unbroken success. During the year ending July 1, 1885, 91 030 books were circulated for home use, and 15,160 were consulted in the reading room. The present membership is above 7,000. The number of volumes contained in the library is 16,400.26
Officers of the public library for the year 1885: Presi- dent, John D. Candee; Vice-President, Frederick Hurd ; Secretary, Charles Sherwood ; Treasurer, William D. Bishop, Jr. The present members of the board of directors are : William D. Bishop, Jr., Frederick Hurd, William J. Hills, William B. Hincks, Charles Sherwood, Alfred B. Beers, David B. Lockwood, John D. Candee, Patrick Caughlin. Librarian, Mrs. Agnes Hills; Assistant Librarian, William J. Hills; Attendants, Theodore F. Crane, Jr., Robert Bruce Nelson.
Rev. Henry Jones, son of Daniel and Rhoda (Mather) Jones, was born in Hartford, Conn., October 15, 1801, gradu- ated at Yale College in the class of 1820, and graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1824. He married Eliza
26 Manuscript of William J. Hill.
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History of Bridgeport.
S. Webster, daughter of Noah Webster, LL.D., September 5, 1825, and was ordained pastor of the second society in Berlin -now the first Congregational society of New Britain- October 12, 1825. He was dismissed at his own request December 19, 1827, and in the following year opened a select school for young ladies at Greenfield, Mass., which he con- ducted with success nearly ten years.
In 1838 he removed to Bridgeport and erected a cottage he ever afterward occupied on the western slope of Golden Hill. Here he opened a classical school for young men and boys, and continued it with much success as to reputation and income, over thirty years, when he gradually closed his school and ceased active labor.
When he came to Bridgeport he connected himself with the First Congregational Church, of which he remained a valued and useful member until his decease, November 9, 1878. The golden wedding of himself and wife was observed in September, 1875, and was a memorable occasion. His children were : Frances Julia, who married Rev. Thomas H. Beecher ; Emily Ellsworth, married Daniel J. Day, died July 23, 1869, leaving one son, Robert Webster Day, the only grandchild; Eliza Webster, died in infancy; Henry Web- ster, M.D., of Chicago.
Golden Hill Seminary for young ladies and children is located on Golden Hill street, an elevated locality, in the city of Bridgeport ; Miss Emily Nelson being the proprietor and principal. Miss Nelson came from New York City, purchased the old homestead of Alfred Bishop, and estab- lished her school here in 1880. The school has a first class standing and reputation in every respect, and the principal is highly esteemed by the citizens of Bridgeport.
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BRIDGEPORT.
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CHAPTER V.
THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT.
VERDRAWN pictures being unseemly in history, and there being no room in this book for mere word paintings, the substantial facts are given as the most agreeable and lasting to a prosperous city.
Bridgeport, as a city, was incorporated by act of the General Assembly in May, 1836, under the name of "The Mayor, Alder- men, Common Council, and Freemen of the City of Bridgeport." By several changes made, the incorporate title now is "The City of Bridgeport," and the title of its authorita- tive body is " The Common Council of the City of Bridgeport."
The city is located on Long Island Sound, fifty-two miles from New York City, and is a seaport town, with a good harbor. It is built upon a sandy and gravelly soil, and therefore, as well as from all its surroundings, is a healthy locality. It is spread over a large territory, for the number of its inhabitants, and has many square miles of available territory adjoining it on three sides-east, north, and west, for its indefinite expansion. It has three good sized parks within its limits-two of which are remarkably picturesque ; its streets are of good width, many of them made more so in appearance by the dwellings standing unusually distant from the streets; and the charac- ter and style of the public buildings are more than commonly elegant, and significant of enterprise and taste. A marked feature of its' private buildings is that of double residences with ample space and yards about them, which in the summer time, being ornamented profusely with flowers and shrubbery,
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History of Bridgeport.
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give it the appearance of a city of delightful homes. Another feature of this city is the large number of buildings of exten- sive manufactures; but these structures are all new and of elegant proportions and styles, so that they ornament rather than detract from the picturesqueness and beauty of the city. In addition, the shore of the Sound, bordering it on the south, without swamp or marsh, and especially as a part of this southern territory of the city consists of the already far- famed Seaside Park ; the whole city is one of attractiveness, health, and facility for general industry, enterprise and homes.
The Population of Bridgeport has increased rapidly since it became a city. The late Isaac Sherman, writing about 1860, estimated the number of people residing at differ- ent dates in the territory embraced within the city limits of Bridgeport, to be: in 1790, 110 persons; in 1800, 250; in 1810, 550 ; and in 1820, 840.
The first time the census of Bridgeport was taken sepa- rately was in 1810, it having been included in Stratford before that time. Jeremiah W. Beardsley was the enumer- ator that year, and his return is still preserved. According to this there were 94 heads of families in the borough, and the total population, including a negro slave in the family of Lieut. Salmon Hubbell, was 572. In 1840, Henry Edwards was the enumerator, and returned the number 4,570. In 1850 the late William R. Bunnell took the census, and reported 7,558 inhabitants. The number of colored persons was 286, and of foreigners 1,493, including 1,102 born in Ireland; 188 born in England ; 138 in Germany ; and 65 in other countries. In 1860, George W. Lewis was enumerator, and the popula- tion was 13,299, having almost doubled during the decade. In 1870 the census was taken under the supervision of the late Philo F. Barnum, and showed 19,876 inhabitants, and during the year 1880 it was taken by supervisor W. E. Dis- brow, and the population of Bridgeport was 29,153, the number living on the west side of the river being 19,770, and on the east side 9,383; and as estimated by the public school enumeration it was, in January, 1886, 39,000.
If inquiry is made as to what has caused this city to be
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Railroad Enterprises.
what it is, and that, too, in the short space of fifty years-as it is just fifty since it was incorporated-the answer is given, somewhat minutely, under the two general subjects, Rail- roads and Manufacturing enterprises, for it will be recognized at once that however great the present facilities for freight transportation by water-and they are very advantageous- yet without the railroads the half of the water transportation would never have been wanted, and without the industries the railroads, steamboats, and inhabitants would have a starv- ation time, so far as this city is concerned.
The Housatonic Railroad .- The enterprise which resulted in the building of this road began in 1835, it being among the earliest roads of the kind in America. Seven years previous the first locomotive had been imported into the country, and only one year before the Boston and Albany, the pioneer road of New England, had been opened for travel.
The interest in railroad projects had become very marked. The Connecticut legislature had given charters in 1832 for the Boston, Norwich and New London, New York and Ston- ington, and Sharon and Salisbury railroads ; in 1833 the Man- chester and Hartford, and New Haven roads; in 1835 the Hartford and Springfield, Fairfield County, and the Worces- ter and Hartford.
The Housatonic road grew out of an enterprise, started in the Housatonic valley in 1822, to build a canal from Sau- gatuck to New Milford, for which a charter was secured, commissioners appointed, estimates of expenses and a survey made.
On the 23d day of December, IS35, a public meeting was held at Kent, composed of " delegates representing the towns on and near the contemplated route for a railroad from Dan- bury, through and along the valley of the Housatonic, to Stockbridge, in Massachusetts." Under the direction of officers appointed by that meeting a survey was made by E. H. Broadhead, in the winter of 1835 and 6, from Danbury to Great Barrington, and in the May session of the legislature of 1836, a charter was granted. By this charter there was to be selected one of three lines from Brookfield to tide-water. The decision to be made on this question was important to
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History of Bridgeport.
Bridgeport, and the inhabitants appreciated it and put forth efforts proportionate.
In the year 1836 Alfred Bishop, of New Jersey, settled in Bridgeport, probably led to this locality at the time for the purpose of engaging in building railroads, and immediately on being established devoted all his energy to the location and construction of the Housatonic Railroad.
In order to have this road terminate at Bridgeport, it was important that a considerable amount of the stock should be taken here, and after individuals had done their utmost enough was, not secured. It is possible that this idea first suggested the organization of the borough of Bridgeport into a city. Hence, in May, 1836, a charter was secured for a city, and afterwards the corporation loaned its credit to the rail- road company to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1838 the city issued coupon bonds, in favor of the rail- road, to the amount of fifty thousand dollars more.
This debt of $150,000 created much excitement when the interest had considerably accumulated, there being no pro- vision for payment. It was found that the city held no property, of account, and the question whether private property was liable in such a case had not been decided in the courts of this State at that time, and therefore a test case was allowed to be brought before the courts for the purpose of deciding this question, and also to make further proceed- ings in raising the money legal. The court's decision con- firmed the claim against private property, and at once a sinking fund was established and the whole amount finally paid ; and the full benefit has been already more than realized, for if railroad enterprise had not made the city a central point for business about the time it did, the half of the money now in it would never have come to the city of Bridgeport. It was in consequence of this matter going to court for a decis- ion, that the report of repudiation went abroad, which was without foundation, since it was of the utmost necessity to secure such a decision in order that in the further proceed- ings the officers of the city might be assured of the legality of their acts.'
1 See this matter as explained in the Report of the Board of Trade, 1877, p. 314.
Respectfully yours a. Bishop
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Railroad Enterprises.
In the starting of the road for a time ex-Governor Gideon Tomlinson acted as president of the company, but at the first regular election, April 5, 1837, the following officers were chosen : William P. Burrall, President; William H. Noble, Secretary ; Jesse Sterling, Treasurer; and William P. Bur- rall, Edwin Porter, Samuel Simons, Stephen Lounsbury, Charles DeForest, of Bridgeport, Anan Hine, Asa Pickett, of New Milford, Alpheus Fuller, of Kent, and Peter Bierce, of Cornwall, were Directors.
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