USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. I > Part 27
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A MODERN HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN
('zechs and Slovaks and Moravians and Bohemians. Seekers of liberty. appreci -. ating fully the privilege of American residence if not of American citizenship, they have proved, in the main, loyal citizens of this country even in the great war. Their location in the city is shown most noticeably in the returns from the Third. Fourth and Eleventh wards, but so scattered are they that it is not feasi- ble to trace them more exactly.
New Haven has a comparatively small number of French Canadians, found mostly in the Ninth and Twelfth wards. The sons of France itself, and of Den- mark. Norway, Sweden and Turkey are pretty evenly scattered. There is a fair sprinkling of Greeks, but not sufficient to give them a separate census classifica- tion. The Indians, Chinese and Japanese are found to be most plentiful in the First Ward, though there is a representation in every ward except the Thirteenth and Fourteenth.
The census considers the negro population by itself; New Haven in general has shown a like disposition as to segregation. Not that there is a deliberate resolve to draw the color line: there is, on the contrary, much pretense against it. But there is what amounts to a definite separation of these people by them- selves, and most of them, after a short experience with the spirit of New Haven, are resigned to what naturally appears to them the inevitable. The Ninth, as is well known, is their ward. New Haven has no ground for fearing any "black peril, " as the figures plainly show. There were in New Haven in 1850. 19,356 white persons to 989 colored persons. The number of so-called native born was only 16,641 to 3.697 foreign born. This indicated a percentage of 4.8 colored to the total population as against a percentage of 13.4 foreign born to the total population. Thirty years later the number of colored persons was 2,192 to a total population of 62.882; against this, the number of foreign born was 15.668 to 47,214 native. This was a percentage of 3.4 colored against a percentage of 24.9 foreign born. Thirty years more, and there were 3.56] colored in New Haven's 133,605 population. There were out of the same total 42,784 foreign born. This represented a percentage of 2.7 colored to 32 per cent foreign born. The colored percentage has decreased in every decade, reaching its lowest point in 1910. There has been since that date the notable exodus of colored people from the South to the North due to the disturbed labor conditions caused by the war, for which no reliable figures are available. This may show a marked change in the proportions, but there seems at present no real ground for regard- ing it as serions. In any case, the colored people of New Haven are well able to hold their course of steady progress and self respecting citizenship which has made them in the past an element of strength and value in the city's population.
III
New Haven has no genuine race troubles between colors or between tongues. It is a peaceful city. The very air is conservative. Its people dwell together in harmony. Each race and people is permitted, with a freedom that in the
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large view is most remarkable, to work out its destiny. There is, or was in the days when the realization of the alien flood first came upon the citizens of the older stock, considerable foreboding, publicly or privately expressed. But it has not been lasting, still less has it been justified by experience. The many of those who deem themselves the proper heirs of the land of New Haven have stood aloof as much as might be. and their chief assistance to the situation has been in hoping for the best. But there has been a minority that has wisely directed the process of assimilation. The most important of these have been the faithful teachers in the schools, especially some of the more far seeing prin- eipals who have served in the crucial districts in this period of change. They have met the tide of foreign invasion, standing as rocks that direct its flow. They have, to use a more adequate figure, taken the plastie clay and wisely molded it.
It has been a slow process, but it has been sure. Faithful work has won the victory. Never were there humans more eager to learn than the youth of the Old World, standing, as have those newly come to New Tlaven. in the light of the opportunities of the New. They could not have done better than to come to the sane, well organized. well officered and well equipped schools of this city. Their teachers cannot be too highly praised, but on the other hand, seldom have teachers had more thrilling inspiration. Never were brighter minds than those of the youth who were cracking the Old World shell, coming into the wonderful educational light of such a community as the New Haven of the opening twentieth century. The effeet has been marvelous. The schools have soundly, effectively trained these youth, and the training has reacted on the parents. It is to the schools, fundamentally and first of all, that the eredit must be given for making over the elders and forming the minds of the children.
There were evening schools, too. for the older seekers of learning. They were many. and of many races. New Haven found here a problem too great for it at first. The evening schools of 1890 to 1900 were erude and comparatively unorganized, but they did, with all their handieaps, a tremendously valuable work. They tanght our eustoms, language, ways and laws. Gradually they became better organized, though they could not have more faithful teachers than those who served in the early days when this was settlement. missionary. as much as educational work. The increase of opportunity has been steady, and the effect increasingly apparent.
There has been along with this mueh wholly or partial settlement work which was worthy of note. Some mention has previously been made in these pages of the work of Saint Paul's and the Davenport branch of Center Church in the Wooster Square district, where the Italians most do congregate. This has been constant and consistent, and has borne its notable fruits. Welcome Hall and other church missions have done their part. There has been real settlement work at Lowell House, where lovers of humanity like Dr. Julia E. Teele and Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Crosby have lived in elose touch with the people in one of the most congested regions of the city, and served as the leaders
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for an earnest and increasing group of learners of the blessed privilege of helping humanity by the brotherly hand.
The direet work of the schools for the children came, as time went on, to be supplemented by positive community center work for which the sehool build- ing's facilities were employed as agencies. It took time and persuasion to con- vince the conservative taxpayers of New Haven that their expensive school buildings were not serving them adequately if open no more than six or seven hours for 200 days of the year, and that they had a still greater task to do. They would not, for a long time, see their responsibility for the help of those who had newly come, even their duty of self defense in aiding them to become better citizens. But the realization came in time. The reluctant consent of the Board of Education-reluetant not because of its own failure to see the point, but because of fear of the criticism of undiseerning citizens-was secured for the opening of the school buildings on certain evenings of the month for neighborhood and parents' meetings, for entertainments which parents and ehil- dren might share together, for lectures and talks on subjects coneerning the welfare of the people. It was an extension of the work of the schools, and it has had its material and growing result.
Another effort. in whose promotion New Haven had a substantial share, was the extension to New Haven of the influence of the "Guides to the United States," written by John Foster Carr of New York. These were little pam- phlets, published in the principal languages of the immigrant, whose purpose was to tell the newcomer in the simplest terms and the friendliest way the things he most needed for progress toward Americanism. They were easy, practical guides to America, real helping hands. They were inspired by idealism, by real understanding of the heart of the seekers of freedom and opportunity, by consecrated desire to help them, not to exploit them. New Haven had a share in these in a double way. It received the benefit which Mr. Carr's invaluable books afforded to many of the people seeking this city from foreign lands ; and as the Connectiont Daughters of the American Revolution in large measure financed the publication, New Haven, through a large number of its excellent women, was actively engaged in direet benefit to thousands of immigrants who went to other points. This guide-book has now been issued in five or six principal languages, and has done an incalculable amount of good in the forma- tion of worthy American citizenship.
New Haven has, however, been only a sharer in the contributions to new America which has come in through the Ellis Island gates. Every town in the eastern side of the county has had its melting pot. too, in some cases more taxed than New Haven's. Detailed census figures are available only for the larger towns, but these make a signifieant showing. Meriden, with its 32,066 people in 1910, had 27 per cent, or 8,704 of native born to 23.217 of foreign born or foreign parentage. These were mostly German, Austrian, Irish and English, with Italy a good fifth. Wallingford, just below, had 7,367 of foreign origin to 3.758 natives. Orange, which ineludes West Haven, and is in effect a
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suburb of New Haven, had in all 11,272 people in 1910; its growth has been very rapid since, and it may have twice as many now. It is more in the pos- session of the native sons than is New Haven, however, having slightily more than half its people native white of native parents. Branford's preponderance of newcomers has been marked for years, for out of a population of 6,047 in 1910, it has 4,025 either foreign born or native born of foreign parents.
So it runs through all the smaller towns. Guilford, Madison, North Bran- ford and all the rest have been reached by the ramifying tide. The old farms have passed and are passing out of the hands of the old New England farmers, whose boys have, in many cases, moved to the tempting city and left them, fain to give up the unhelped struggle with the land. Thrifty, hard-working sons of the Old World have come in, have reclaimed the run-down farms, have repaired the falling or abandoned buildings. But there are whole neighbor- hoods where not a farmer of the old stock remains. It is a melancholy or a cheering change, according to the eyes with which one views it.
All in all, this radical change which the population of New Haven and east- ern New Haven County has undergone fails to disappoint the close observer. A dwindling native population in these communities has surprisingly held its own. To its honor be it said that, with few and unimportant exceptions, it has been able to impress its spirit on those who have come, to fraternize with them, to make them New Englanders. Something in the "rock-ribbed granite hills" has entered into the blood of those who have come. They have seen of the spirit of New England and become filled with it. The melting pot has done its work well, and those refined by its fire are content. New England is still New England, the same, yet changed, and not for the worse, in these cities and towns. Here as nowhere else in America is revealed that wonder of the New World alchemy, which brings forth as gold tried in the fire the varied metal which comes beneath its influenee.
Voi. I-15
CHAPTER XXIV
MAKERS OF MODERN NEW HAVEN
IN GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICE-MEN OF THE CHURCHES-LEADERS IN EDUCATION- COURTS AND LAWYERS-MEDICINE AND SOME OF THE PHYSICIANS-LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS-BANKS AND BANKERS-NEWSPAPERS AND PRINT- ERS-MANUFACTURERS. MERCHANTS, ENGINEERS AND OTHERS
I
God made the country out of which New Haven, the city, was earved. Men -- and women-have made the town, the modern community which now we view. To emmerate the makers would be almost an endless task. To tell the half of their work would be still nearer the impossible. No man may know who have deserved the more prominent mention. So one presumes not a little in selecting a few on whom the light has now and then flashed in such a way as to make it seem that they might be considered leaders in the community that is today.
In large measure the story of some has been told in the chapters that have preceded. and more of it will come in the chapters to follow. The test applied is the test of service in distinguished degree. Thousands of others served as well. even made possible the cumulative service of these men who are here called the makers of modern New Haven. The work of woman is in itself so important as to require a separate chapter. No attempt is made here to be bio- graphical. This is only an attempt to give a glimpse of now and then a man as he is assigned to his place in the structure of the community.
But for one man, it would be rash to select New Haven's foremost eitizen. But so few are the American towns who ean claim in their citizenship an ex-president of the United States that with them there ean be no question. Hon. William Howard Taft deliberately and advisedly chose New Haven for his place of residence when he retired from the presidency in 1913, and has ever since been an interested, loyal citizen of the town. participating, as far as so busy a man ean do, in all its activities. In public work through the Chamber of Commerce. through Yale, through other agencies, he has contributed more materially than one may reekon to the advancement of this eity. And he has always been an inspiration to the observing among his fellows. New Haven, as does the nation. knows his worth.
Reckoned, in his specialty of patent law, first in his eity and among the foremost in his state, George Dudley Seymour is even better known in New ITaven for other things. Few men have better deserved the designation "prac-
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NATHAN HALE STATUE ON YALE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, NEW HAVEN
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tical idealist." He has found time, apart from a very exacting practice, to contribute in more ways than any but his closest associates know to the welfare of his city. He would make it better in architecture, in plan of public places and streets, in symmetry and beauty. Ile would inspire in its citizens regard for true values, respect for noble traditions, truc patriotism and exalted com- mon sense. He has not merely sought a "city beautiful." Ile has striven after a city practical, noble, healthful, prosperous in the highest sense. He has promoted ideal architecture; he has also backed a manufacturers' exhibit. When some Yale men wanted to place on the Yale campus a Nathan Hale statue of the common melodramatic type, he effectually opposed them with a plea for "the familiar Hale." And he prevailed. Then, to prove his appreciation, he at his own cost purchased the Hale birthplace in Coventry, and held it as a publie memorial. The rest of the deeds he has done are not written. Most of them never will be. But in almost every truly valuable work done in New Haven in the past decade and more the searcher would find his hand.
If the man who guides the feet of the stranger, who crystallizes local his- tory while it is nebulous, who makes practical in the intensest' ways the art preservative is a noble server of the public good, then Wilson II. Lee's contribution to New Haven must be multiplied by sixty-five, for he makes direc- tories for that many towns. Ile is proud that he is a printer, and would readily claim that as his vocation. But he is so good a farmer that he is a valued member of the State Board of Agriculture, and so good a dairyman that he has been president of the Connecticut Dairymen's Association. It's a way he has of doing everything he does in the best way, just as he does his patriotism and his public service. A few years ago he was president of the Connecticut Society of Sons of the American Revolution. Ilis standing in the directory world is indicated by his former presidency of the American Association of Directory Publishers, and all these things indicate his standing in New Haven, and his worth to the community.
Isaac M. Ullman would set himself down as a manufacturer, but though he is successful there. that seems the least conspicuous of his local activities. In the state as well as the city he is known for his participation in polities. He admits that. He knows what many citizens seem not to know, that the machinery of government will not run itself. He likes to participate in the management. It may be said of him without reproach that he has made mayors of New Haven, and has made at least one governor of Connectient. He has always worked as sincerely for the advancement of New Haven as he has in his terms as president of the Chamber of Commerce. He has set others at work, and led the way. When there is something to be done, from managing a city political campaign to managing a state Red Cross campaign, Colonel Ullman is the man who can do it.
Mr. Ullman has cordially given to Charles E. Julin, whose prominence in New Haven is largely due to his efficient work as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, much of the praise for success credited to himself. Certain it
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is that Mr. Julin's consistent, intelligent, industrious effort has told tremen- dously for the good of the city. He is a lawyer by education, but substantially all his practice is in the Chamber of Commerce office.
William S. Pardee has high standing among the lawyers of New Haven as an authority on the city charter, and his service for the general publie welfare, which in recent years has withdrawn him largely from private practice, deserves l'or him a high place. IIis contributions to local and state government, his constant thought of how he may improve the community he loves so well, his cordial good fellowship at every time-these and many other qualities make him to those who know him well one of the valued citizens of New Haven.
For a generation, extending well toward the present time, Max Adler was a powerful factor in the better life of New Haven. A philanthropist in the highest sense. he constantly gave of himself as well as his money for every good cause. Ilis fine loyalty to the faith of Israel but broadened him and made him the friend of every faith that was sincere. Educational, industrial, financial, administrative and social cireles as well had felt the touch of his brotherhood, the fineness of his spirit and the wisdom of his counsel, and all alike miss him yet.
A born newspaper man, Lewis S. Welch, throwing himself with all his heart into the public service of New Haven, has in later years come to an even broader position. His work on Hartford and New Haven newspapers after his graduation from Yale gave him a sense of publie opportunity. and his eontri- bution to journalism in the conduct of the Yale Alumni Weekly through some of its trying years gave him a strong hold on the gratitude of Yale graduates. But New Haven knows him in these days as a man ever ready to give his best for the city, through charter or Chamber of Commerce or Civie Federation committee or any other agency that offers.
New Haven may be presuming to claim Frederick J. Kingsbury, the younger, as a participant in its community work, for his birth and business interests are elsewhere. But because of his residence he has so heartily entered into some of the activities of the city that his association seems very close. Especially through the Young Men's Christian Association and the Civic Federation he has given public service of great value.
In 1908 there appeared a remarkable book by a man born only thirty-two years earlier in New Haven. "A Mind That Found Itself," by Clifford W. Beers, has in the short time sinee proved an epoch-making work. It has proved so because it has been followed up by the inspired effort of its author, who believed and still believes in the purpose and conclusion of his book, that "what the insane most need is a friend." To tell in brief the outcome of his experienee and his writing is to say that, following the foundation of the Connectieut Society for Mental Hygiene in 1908 and the organizing of the National Com- mittee for Mental Hygiene the year after, there have come into being societies on the Connecticut model in Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Penn- sylvania, North Carolina, District of Columbia, Alabama, Louisiana, California,
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Rhode Island, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri. Indiana, Iowa, Virginia and the ('ity of Dayton, with all their wondrous influence for the improvement of the con- dition of the insane, and the prevention of mental disease.
From the university standpoint, Professor William B. Bailey's place is with the educators. But one who knows of the work which for the past four or five years he has done as director of the Organized Charities is bound to claim him for the city. His identification with this community had for several years before that been very elose in many ways, such as through the Foote Boys' Club, Lowell Honse, the Civic Federation and the Conneetient Society for Mental Hygiene. An eminent and able educator, a statistician of note, he has proved himself above all a wise and effeetnal humanitarian, and it is in no merely sentimental sense that multitudes rise np to call him blessed.
An instance of a lawyer who has broadened beyond his profession, withont disparaging that, is James T. Moran. He has brought fame to the eity now as president of the Southern New England Telephone Company, but in the years before, as member of the Board of Education, as banker, business man and faith- ful churehman. he has consistently promoted the best canses in New Haven. A man of brilliant mental and exeentive ability, he has been a fairly dynamic foree in New Haven's progress.
New Haven was and is conservative. but when a man comes bearing the light of brotherhood, it welcomes him with open arms. So it is that though his coming to the city was comparatively recent. Allen B. Lincoln already is one of the best known and respected of its citizens. The good works into which he has entered with all his zeal are almost too numerous to mention, but among them, of course. are the Civie Federation and the Chamber of Commerce. As business manager of the annual campaigns of the Mothers' Aid Society, as occasional organizer of other campaigns of the sort, his aid has repeatedly heen sought, and never in vain. His participation in the Davenport settlement work has already been mentioned.
For two-thirds of a century this eity has known the sterling citizen whom everybody lovingly calls General Greeley, now a veteran in years as well as of war. Successful in business as investor and banker, he has devoted his wealth without stint to every appeal, and has given his own effort unsparingly besides. Modestly avoiding prominence, he has had many important offices of civies and charity pressed upon him, and has earnestly accepted them.
The term "self made man" has been so overworked that it has come to have a little touch of opprobrinm. Yet it is proper to apply it to Dennis A. Blakeslee, for he has made other things than himself. and made them well. He has made his firm the leading contracting concern in the city, and one of the leaders in the county. There is hardly a town in the state or a trunk line highway that does not show his firm's work, while railroads, steam and electric, as well as many other considerable works in this and other states show its sterling mark. Their two most ambitious works of recent years are the "railroad ent" in New Haven, a fine example of engineering and concrete construction, and a seetion
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at Kitchewan, near Ossining, of the Catskills-to-Manhattan aqueduct, where they competed with the best engineers of New York and other states, and showed their superiority. Mr. Blakeslee, in addition to attending to his business, has found time to serve his town, his county and his state as representative, senator and lieutenant governor.
Though coming in recent years to be a leader in a city where real estate dealers abound, Frederick M. Ward has still found time for much publie work, and New Haven owes much for its advancement in good directions to him. A man of high ideals, sane and practical in following them, he is a strength to more good causes than most of his neighbors know.
The city "where he has his headquarters, and which has his first attention, gets only a part of the benefit of the large contribution to publie enjoyment of Sylvester Z. Poli. In twenty years or so he has made a wonderful record. Start- ing in a minor way in New Haven with a small amusement house, he has gone on until he has established a chain of theaters of varying types in eight cities. In New Haven he has three, the old Hyperion being the last to come into his hands. He has also one or more theaters in Bridgeport, Meriden, Hartford, Springfield, Worcester, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
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