USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 34
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This building is a small but adequate structure north of the Ben Grosvenor, on Pomfret Street, and is the gift of Mrs. George L. Bradley, in memory of her husband, whose death preceded by several years her own in 1918. An excellent collection of books, largely fiction, is maintained and circulated here, under the executive management of a library board. A small reference library supplements this, while an unusual collection of poetry, the gift of Mr. Joseph Clark of Boston, extends its scope. At the death of Louise Chandler Moulton, who was, as has been noted elsewhere, born in Pomfret, the residue of her books came to the library, and have an alcove to themselves.
Aside from the church societies, two social organizations have focused the energies of Pomfret and have been the medium through which much public spirit and social tendency have operated. The Grange, which is elsewhere described, has throughout a long established career administered the agricul- tural interests, while the Pomfret Neighborhood Association has been active and efficient in many directions. It functions with the churches, regardless of creed; it is a channel for civic demonstration; it organizes and executes for everything and anything which involves its interest. It is for all creeds, all races, all classes.
The Neighborhood Association was organized in 1913, under the patronage and with the support of representative citizens of Pomfret. It was incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut the following year. Under the pres- idency of Mr. John Ash, and later of Mr. Warren Averill, with twelve directors, a lay secretary, and an advisory board, comprised of the clergymen of the town, it has completed seven years of constructive work and social life.
During that time it has bought and supported a Community House, in which a circulating library and an art shop are permanent features. It lias initiated and carried out all the activities incident to country life. It has held weekly meetings of social or business interest. It maintained for three years a glee club of excellence, and has directed lectures, readings, concerts, and dramatic performances. It has managed all occasional celebrations, such as Memorial Day and Fourth of July observances, and has been ever responsive in patriotic and civic interests. During the war it carried on independent work in addition to such labors as its members contributed through the Red Cross and the va- rious church movements. It cooperated in a practical and sustained campaign for food conservation, giving a successful exhibition of food substitutes and working in conjunction with the home gardens and the canning clubs. Its "art shop" is an exchange on a commission basis. Any one may consign products for sale. The art shop realizes four or five hundred dollars an- nually and an excellent opportunity is afforded for the sale of handiwork.
For several years the Neighborhood Association arranged annually an Autumn Festival of two days' duration. This served as a rallying place for
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the whole countryside, and exploited all products and achievement of the locality. Horticulture, agriculture, arts, crafts, sports, industrial output, school productions, social welfare and accomplishment, were all focused in these celebrations.
In September, 1914, the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Pom- fret was held under the direction of the Neighborhood Association, and a full program and account of this interesting occasion was published by the Neigh- borhood Press in 1915. The event was notable and of great interest to the thou- sands who attended it. The four parishes of Pomfret cooperated in the cele- bration, the Town of Pomfret, in town meeting, made an appropriation, and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Viall Chapin gave the use of their beautiful estate, Dun- worth Lodge, for the occasion.
Mr. Charles Grosvenor acted as chief host and chairman of the two days' programs. Judge Charles E. Searls gave the address of welcome; Miss Ellen E. Osgood of Abington a history of "The Women of Pomfret"; Mr. Ralph Sabin, "A Survey of the Past"; Mr. Darius Mathewson under the title "Rem- iniscences of Pomfret," a resume of the 200 years of active life. The Rev. John P. Trowbridge, who was unable to be present, was represented by a poem, in- corporating "A Local Legend."
The pageant that made graphic presentation of the 200 years of history is 1 of such significance as to be worth recording here.
A NEW WORLD PAGEANT
Given at Pomfret, Connecticut, September 9 and 10, 1914, in Honor of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Organization of the Town
The New World is seen upon an eminence, as the Aborigines come into view. Two chiefs advance, and offer for their tribes, allegiance, the while they implore protection, guidance, life. New World greets them graciously, and proffers the fullness of the land. The Chiefs turn to their waiting tribes, and summon them to enter into their Home. The Indians take up their stations at either side of New World and at her feet.
The Pilgrims approach. The Indians spring to the defence of their Sov- ereign. The Church leads the Pilgrim group, flanked by a stalwart man at arms. The Church advances with determined courage to the Throne of New World, who restrains her native subjects. She commands toleration. The Indians are subservient but watchful, alert. The Church, presenting its charter of authority, the Bible, demands sanctuary of New World. This, too, she grants, and the Pilgrims take up their place in the new land.
A scene from primitive New England life follows, typical of the early at- tention to education. A Dame School is in progress. The mistress, occupying herself at a spinning wheel, gives instruction in knitting, spinning, needlework, reading from the horn book, numbers, and the use of the globe.
A new menace now approaches. The Old World comes attended by the pomp and ceremony of the established order. With scant courtesy and vast pride she greets New World, but her mission is to the Pilgrims. She reminds them that they are hers. Wherever they may choose to take up their abode, they are still subjects of the Old World. This the Pilgrims deny. Their home is their country. Their new established freedom will be defended. There is no
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"going back." Old World haughtily takes up her position in the modest New World surroundings.
War enters, in her train, Famine and Grief.
Peace comes, followed by Joy and Prosperity.
The joyous Children of Peace and Plenty follow, loaded with garlands, filling the New World with song and laughter.
A merry group representing Social Prosperity dash upon the scene. Ignor- ing New World, Old World, the Church, War, Peace-all but their own gay pursuits-they dance a merry measure, and withdraw, laughing and chatting, to their place.
A group representing the Labor of the world follows, the Housewife, the Husbandman, the Arts, Learning, the Miner, the Builder, the Engineer. They come with ordered system, and serious thought. They pay their deference to the established order of things, and take up their position of progress and power.
The New World is now complete, united, at peace. Prosperity reigns. But what of the Nations ?
In no way is the transition of the past two hundred years more strikingly shown than in the "occupation" of the New World by representatives of foreign nations. Two centuries ago, "New England" was New England; now, in Pom- fret's two hundredth anniversary celebration are represented, as actual resi- dents, not only descendants of the Puritans, but English, Scotch, Irish, French, Swedish, Swiss, Italian, Greek, and Dutch.
To the thrilling strains of the Marsellaise, the French flag is established in the New' World Pageant. Follow, to the accompaniment of national airs, and dressed in national costume, groups presenting to the New World the flags and the allegiance of Holland, Sweden, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Greece. The colors are, in turn, welcomed by New World, and distributed over her realm,
All the nations join in singing as the Stars and Stripes are borne to the eminence where New World reigns.
O say does that star spangled banner still wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ?
The historical sequence now completed, and the New World established, the pageant ends in a beautiful dance interpretive of Pastoral Prosperity as symbolic of Pomfret's achievement.
Pomfret's celebration of Christmas has become institutional. For the past seven years, on the Sunday evening preceding Christmas, the Neighborhood Association has enacted a Miracle Play of The Nativity, the fame of which is widespread. The characters, played always so far as possible each year by the same actors, are Mary, Joseph, The Angel, the Shepherds, the Angelic Host, the Wise Men with their attendants. From its first presentation, the Pomfret Masque has been heralded not only throughout New England but all over the country. .
If we say a word of the fame of Pomfret people past and present, it is again by way of characterizing Pomfret rather than exalting her. The ear- nestness of purpose and a tendency towards definite study and culture that stamped the town's very early development seem always to have persisted.
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The first woman in Connecticut, almost the first in America, to receive pub- lic recognition as an artist was Miss Anne Hall, who lived on the south corner as we turn from the street to go to Putnam. Some of you may recall the large wood-colored house and the flowers that grew in the garden. There may have been many in the country of local reputation, but Miss Hall was by election a member of the National Academy of Design. On her mother's side she be- longed to a prominent Newport family, and in Newport her native genius was trained and developed under the best instructors of the time, among them Wash- ington Allston. After 1820 Miss Hall lived in New York, and devoted her talent to miniature painting. Her masterpieces were the exquisite faces of children. Some of these were valued as high as $500. Miss Larned says: "Miss Hall was exceptionally beautiful, a bright and shining light in that cultivated society that distinguished Pomfret in the early part of the last century." A foreign visitor at one of her fashionable assemblies in New York remarked that Miss Hall's dress and demeanor would do credit to any court in Europe. Another Pomfret woman was a portrait painter. Hannah Thurber Fairfield was the daughter of David and Hannah Thurber Fairfield. She first left her home in the north part of Abington to study under Alexander of Killingly, a well-known pupil of Gilbert Stuart, historic painter of Washington. Later, Miss Fairfield went to New York and became a successful portrait painter. Some of her works were of sufficient merit to be given a place in the National Academy.
Abbie Allen, a verse writer of local renown, contributed poems and short stories to Boston papers, and in 1850 published "Home Ballads."
Mrs. Caroline Fairfield Corbin, a native of Pomfret, lived here until her twelfth year. In 1860 Miss Fairfield married Calvin R. Corbin, descended from one of the first settlers of Woodstock. The marriage took place on Goat Rock in the Wolf Den Woods. Mrs. Corbin published at least six volumes.
Pomfret was the birthplace of Louise Chandler Moulton, whose poetry bears favorable comparison with that of her generation, and who, as a charm- ing woman, was widely known in Boston, New York, London, and Paris. Lord , Tennyson and Lord Houghton were among those who paid tribute to her, while, after her marriage to Mr. Moulton, she became one of that literary circle in Boston that included among others, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Emerson, Lowell, and Julia Ward Howe. Mrs. Moulton considered London her second home, where, we are told, she gained a distinction never before accorded an Amer- ican woman. The sonnet was the verse form in which she was at her best. The poet Whittier, on receiving one of her sonnets, said, "It seems to me the sonnet was never set to such music before, nor ever weighted with such deep and tender thought." Browning said, after reading her "Swallow Flights," "I close the book only when I needs must, at page the last, with music in my ears and flowers before my eyes, and not without thoughts across the brain."
Mrs. Moulton was born in a little house, now owned by Benjamin Grosvenor. on the south side of the road to the east of "Spring Farm." From her sixth to her sixteenth year she lived at Elmwood, the home of Vinton Freedley, de- scribed elsewhere. She attended, as has been told, the Park School, at the same time that Whistler was a pupil there.
With a sentiment compounded of modesty and pride, Pomfret waives any claim to the great Whistler. We stand by our own, and neither claim nor grant benefit save where permanence is established. Nevertheless, the three-year
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BIRTHPLACE OF LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON
period of his obscure boyhood passed here is of interest, and a few authenticated facts are treasured-facts not pertinent to his career-but to the normal boyhood of a celebrity.
Nor is the present less active than the past in achievement. Dr. Joseph C. Hoppin, archaeologist, student of Greek art, member of the faculty of Bryn Mawr College, who has done much excavating of importance in Greece and Cyrene, and is a distinguished authority on Attic vases, has published several volumes of established value, while his recent publication on Greek vases is a notable work.
Mr. Frank B. Tarbell, a distinguished Yale graduate, connected with the faculties of Yale, Harvard and the University of Chicago, during a period covering the past twenty-five years, whose researches in Greek and Roman art are extensive, has published in addition to many valuable treatises and essays three volumes of note, "The Philippics of Demosthenes," "A History of Greek Art," and a "Catalogue of Bronzes in Field Museum of Natural History." Mr. Tarbell became a permanent resident of Pomfret in 1918, when he pur- chased from Mr. Harrison a house 100 feet from The Street, which was formerly the famous old "Hall Farm" house.
Dr. Grosvenor Goodridge is the author of scientific and medical treatises. . Mr. Lawrence Perkins published in October, 1920, a volume of war sketches, under the title, "The Cross of Ares." Mrs. T. Morris Murray brought out in September of the same year a metrical translation of Dante, a work demanding not only scholarly attainment and research, but poetic power of high order. This has received recognition from the Dante Society of America, and may be counted a notable addition to the literature of a great subject.
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Representing the arts, Bertram Goodhue, born in Pomfret, is among the most distinguished architects in the country; Beatrice Stevens, a painter and illustrator of national reputation, is a permanent resident.
After 200 years Pomfret's history closes as it began, with war. In the Revolution all able-bodied men in the town between the ages of sixteen and sixty answered the call of their country. Eighty-nine Pomfret men fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill, under Gen. Israel Putnam, whose entire regiment num- bered 1,000-the Bunker Hill detail, 200. In 1917-18, with a population of 1,475, and an age limit of thirty-one years, the town sent to the World war 105 men and 1 woman, Miss Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of the Hon. Charles O. Thompson, an army nurse. More than a third of these went overseas, one was killed at the front, and three died in camps at home. The record of Pom- fret's war activities, both military and civilian, are on file for permanent ref- erence in the State Library at Hartford. (See also World War Chapter for record of Pomfret men .- Editor.)
This survey of Pomfret cannot but .be inadequate. The significance of the place will not submit itself to paper and printer's ink. The present is not unworthy of the past, whose poverty it has redeemed ; whose prosperity is never forgetful of its source; whose starkness has become beauty, and whose beauty redeems the bleakness of the past. That her prosperity, luxurious as it may appear, has not unfitted the Pomfret of today for burdens as great as those of the 200 years closed in 1914, the years since then have proved. That the future will justify the present is not to be doubted.
POMFRET STATION
On Washington's birthday, February 22, 1905, the old railway station at Pomfret Centre was consumed by flames, caused by defective chimney flues, so far as ever known. There had been more or less talk among certain officials at times about a new station and using the old one for a freight house but that is as far as it ever got until this happened.
The station agent, C. E. Gilbert, at once realized that an opportunity had come for Pomfret, so he bestirred himself and after about three months, with the cooperation of Superintendent Woodward of the division, persuaded some of their officials to set their private car on a siding at Pomfret one day when they were passing through, and several three-seated conveyances were ready and these high officials were shown about the town, and thus gained their first realization of what a remarkable residential development of beautiful homes had been going on in recent years. On the return from that trip, Supt. O. M. Shepard said to Mr. Gilbert, "Young man, you need just twice as good a sta- tion today as I thought you did yesterday." "In July I saw the plans, and realized that my dream was to come true," said Mr. Gilbert.
A never-failing water supply was found near at hand. There were then no electric lights nearer than Pomfret School on the hill; and the Putnam Light and Power Company would not connect unless the railroad company would furnish poles. But Mr. Gilbert canvassed the neighborhood personally, to see how many in the neighborhood would install lights, with the result that the Putnam Company finally agreed to survey the proposed line. A clinch- ing fact was that Mrs. Hoppin gave up her private lighting plant and used the Putnam power.
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So many families required the lights that the line was soon constructed not only to Pomfret Station but to Abington, also over the Brooklyn road as far as A. B. Lapsley's, a distance of three miles. The Pomfret School also took over the Putnam current. Supt. O. M. Bowen of the Putnam plant later congratulated Mr. Gilbert upon his persistent and his effective cooperation, as resulting in much benefit to the entire Town of Pomfret.
Mr. Gilbert then promptly turned his energies upon the old grade crossing and soon got that removed. The next task was to get a freight house, as only a common box car was available for freight after the fire; but the railway company soon realized that need; and today Pomfret Station is as well equipped as any place on the line between New York and Boston.
The station as built is a fine combination of beauty and utility, a hand- some structure which is the admiration of passengers and a source of pride to the community. Mr. Gilbert has erected and occupies a very pretty cottage home with attractive grounds on the square opposite the station.
POMFRET IN PUBLIC LIFE
Charles W. Grosvenor held the office of state treasurer from 1897 to 1899. In 1872 S. Storrs Cotton was president, pro tem, of the State Senate.
In 1875 Lewis Williams was chairman of the. Windham County Medical Society, and in 1901 S. B. Overlock held that position.
In 1872 Charles H. Osgood was county sheriff.
In 1871 and 1872 S. Storrs Cotton was a state senator from Pomfret, then a part of the Fourteenth District. Charles W. Grosvenor was state senator in 1886, from Pomfret, then part of the Seventeenth District; in 1901 and 1902 Fayette L. Wright was a state senator. In 1911 and 1912 Thomas O. Elliott was a senator from Pomfret, now a part of District 29; and in 1915 and 1916 Charles O. Thompson was senator.
POMFRET REPRESENTATIVES
Representatives to the General Assembly of Connecticut, 1859 to date have been as follows: 1859, Samuel H. Williams, Robert D. Sharpe; 1860, Charles Mathewson, Robert D. Sharpe; 1861, Pardon B. Johnson, Charles Osgood ; 1862, Winthrop D. Greene, Charles Osgood; 1863, Pardon B. Johnson, George R. Sessions; 1864, Winthrop O. Greene, George R. Sessions; 1865, Lucius S. Chandler, Charles Osgood; 1866, G. B. Mathewson, William Osgood; 1867, George B. Mathewson, Jared Williams; 1868, Jared Chollar, William Osgood ; 1869, Lucius Fitts, John W. Clapp; 1870, William I. Bartholomew, John W. Clapp; 1871, William I. Bartholemew, Isaac P. Briggs; 1872, Calvin D. Wil- liams, Isaac P. Briggs; 1873, Calvin D. Williams, Calvin N. Hicks; 1874, S. Storrs Cotton, Calvin N. Hicks; 1875, Thomas W. Williams, Harvey Whit- more; 1876, Thomas W. Williams, Harvey Whitmore; 1877, S. Storrs Cotton, George W. Taft; 1878, George W. Taft, Darius M. Adams; 1879, Darius M. Adams, Charles P. Grosvenor; 1880, Charles P. Grosvenor, Joseph Mathew- son ; 1881, Charles W. Grosvenor, Thomas Elliott; 1882, Frederick Hyde, Thomas O. Elliott; 1883, Charles G. Williams, Frederick Hyde; 1884, Charles G. Williams, Charles P. Grosvenor; 1885, Charles P. Grosvenor, Randolph L. Bullard; 1886, Edward P. Hayward, Randolph L. Bullard; 1887-88, Charles O. Thompson, Charles F. Martin ; 1889-90, Herbert Sharpe, Clement A. Sharpe ; 1891-92, Thomas O. Elliott, John Addison Porter; 1893-94, Jason E. Greene,
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Thomas O. Elliott ; 1895-96, Francis H. Bird, Albert B. Smith; 1897-98, I. W. Trowbridge, Reuben G. Weeks; 1899-1900, Fayette L. Wright, William D. Fay; 1901-02, Henry H. Davenport, Willis Covell; 1903-04, Andrew G. Williams, Joseph H. Elliott; 1905-06, Thomas O. Elliott, Frank O. Davis; 1907-08, William R. May, Frank O. Davis; 1909-10, John P. Grosvenor, Arthur T. Grosvenor; 1911-12, Charles O. Thompson, Willis Covell; 1913-14, Henry H. Davenport, Merritt E. Gallup; 1915-16, John Ash, James H. Hutchins; 1917-18, Edward A. Swain, Fitz Henry Paine; 1919-20, Fayette L. Wright, Frank K. Haines.
POMFRET JUDGES OF PROBATE
Pomfret judges of probate, from 1859 to date, have been as follows: 1859- 63, Charles J. Grosvenor ; 1864-68, Daniel Hunt; 1869-83, Edward P. Hay- ward; 1884-92, Edward P. Mathewson; 1893-1905, Louis S. Hayward; 1906-19, Charles O. Thompson; 1920, Willis Covell.
POMFRET PHYSICIANS
Pomfret physicians, 1859 to date, have been as follows: 1859-70, Hiram Holt; 1859-80, Lewis Williams; 1872-73, E. T. Robinson; 1874-77, Elisha Williams, of Abington ; 1881-93, Frederick G. Sawtelle; 1884-93, F. W. Chapin; 1889, Ezra Hammond, Pomfret Landing; 1893, Seth Rogers, Pomfret Center ; 1895-1920, S. B. Overlock; 1896-1905, Ezra B. Pike, Abington;, 1914-16, Wil- liam H. Licht; 1918-20, Bernard P. Murphy.
CHAPTER XII TOWN OF THOMPSON
EARLY HISTORY OF THOMPSON-NORTH GROSVENORDALE IN 1872-1873-THOMPSON COMMUNITY-THOMPSON HILL REMINISCENCES-THE THAYER FAMILY-MEN AND EVENTS OF LATER DAYS.
The territory north of Killingly, known to the Indians as Quinnatisset, remained for many years in its primitive state. A part of that tract was granted by the Massachusetts government to its native proprietors, Black James and his associates, and was transferred by them to Stoughton and Dudley. It was laid out in farms in 1684, and then was left for thirty years. The surrounding country was laid out and settled, but still Quinnatisset remained untouched. Two of its largest land owners were nonresident English- men, and the other large owners, Stoughton and Dudley, were too much inter- ested in public affairs to undertake the settlement of the region. The old Connecticut Road, which crossed one corner of the tract, and the "gangway to 'Boston," used by Plainfield and Killingly settlers, were the only marks of civilization for those thirty years.
The first settler of the Quinnatisset country took possession of certain property not rightfully his, refused to leave, and proceeded to settle there. The first regular settler within the limits of the present Thompson was Rich- ard Dresser of Rowley, who, in 1707 bought "the place called Nashaway (the . name applying to the point of land between the Quinebaug and French rivers, and also west of that, the latter being the place of Dresser's settlement), which was a little south of the present Village of West Thompson. Others bought land in 1711, further north and between the two rivers, and settled there, although it was found necessary to have the protection of a log fort or gar- rison, as the Indians gave considerable trouble. There were also wolves and bears in great numbers in this wild land. One family settled about a mile south of Quinnatisset Hill. When the Massachusetts boundary line was settled in 1713, the land north of Killingly was allowed to the Colony of Connecticut, but with enemies both at home and abroad Connecticut was in no condition to enforce her claims to it, and was obliged to enter into a covenant with Massa- chusetts, which yielded her claims to the southern part of the Town of Wood- stock, and nearly half of Thompson's and Freak's farms. The few settlers of this Quinnatisset country in 1714 petitioned the General Assembly for the privileges of a township, and again in 1715, the petition both times being refused, and in 1716 the Assembly also refused Killingly's request to annex the vacant land north of her. The settlers of Quinnatisset apparently desired to become a part of Killingly, but the nonresident owners were the ones anxious for the tract to be made a township. In 1717 the land was annexed to New London County, and Killingly was allowed to levy rates there for her minister.
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