A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 99

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

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THE WILLIAM ROSS PUBLIC LIBRARY, CHAPLIN By Ruth Eveline Snow, Librarian

About two years before the regular organization, a circulating library was kept first in the old Davenport House by Nettie E. Snow. At a town meeting October 7, 1901, the town gave a vote of thanks to Mr. Seth Moseley of New Haven for his gift of $100 toward the establishment of a free library. At the same meeting it was voted that the town should give $200, and "should spend annually for maintenance and increase $25." The following library directors were chosen : (Mrs.) Mary B. Gallup, Orin R. Witter, Gertrude L. Hunt, Clar- ence E. Chester, Rev. Eugene M. Frary, who was the original instigator of the plan, (Mrs.) Helen A. Witter. October 28, 1901, the directors met and adopted the by-laws sent by Charles D. Hine.

The library has at present $50 a year from the town, $25 for heating, light- ing, magazines, etc., and $25 for the librarian's salary ; $50 a year, interest on the William Ross Trust Fund. The library is under the state law and the state gives $100 worth of books each year.

The library was kept in different places. It had no regular library build- ing. At the death of Mr. William Ross, a public-spirited citizen, it was found that his will provided money for a suitable library building. His widow added more money to the fund, so that a $6,500 brick building was erected. The dedi- cation of the building was Saturday, November 18, 1911. The exercises were held in the Congregational Church at 10 A. M. The program was as follows:

Invocation and Scripture Reading, Rev. H. C. MeKnight.

Piano solo, "Two Larks" (T. Leschetizky), Mrs. H. C. MeKnight.

Address of Welcome, Rev. H. C. McKnight.

Reading Minutes of Town Meeting, A M. Litchfield, Town Clerk.

Turning over Deed and Keys to Town, Emily J. Ross, Building Committee.

Acceptance of Deed and Keys by the Town and transfer of care to Library Directors, Charles B. Russ, First Selectman.

Acceptance by Directors, W. B. Gallup, Chairman.

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Poem, Miss Josephine Robbins.

Music, quartette, Mabel A. Lanphear, J. Wilbur Lanphear, Mrs. W. B. Gallup, W. B. Gallup.

A Reminiscent Address, Rev. Eugene M. Frary.

Duet, "Nearer My God to Thee," Mrs. Walter D. Snedeker, Mrs. A. M. Litchfield.

Adjournment, 12 to 2 for Dinner, Social Hour and Inspection of Library.

2 P. M.

Piano solo, "The Chapel in the Mountains" (Wilson), Ruth E. Snow. Address, Rev. Ralph G. Hartley, Willimantic.

Solo, "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" (Gounod), Mabel A. Lanphear. Remarks from Invited Guests.

Singing, "America."

Benediction.

POEM

COMPOSED FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE WILLIAM ROSS PUBLIC LIBRARY, CHAPLIN, CONN.

By Miss Josephine M. Robbins

We think of the old brick schoolhouse As it stood beside the way, Of the group of noisy children Out in the yard at play. There was one who was seldom merry, But as children, we could not see How bitter, and sad and lonely The heart of a child may be.

In the school room patient and faithful Trying to do his best And many times in his lessons He easily led the rest. At home and at work just as steady Never once leaving undone A thing that was yet uncompleted For an hour of frolic and fun.

Time passed and his schooldays were ended Yet life in the same channels ran And the silent and sober school boy Made the sober and silent man. At home on all business matters, His counsel often was sought And affairs of the nation called from him True, righteous, and sensible thought.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

The father and mother who loved him, Death called, and claimed for his own. Yet busily toiling and working He lived at the old home alone. With old age, ill health came upon him. In his time of sickness and pain One came to his home to care for him Never to leave it again.

A few happy years were still left him At the evening time it was light, For better than morning or noon tide The evening was pleasant and bright. Till one day with little of warning A messenger came to the door And our friend went away at his summons To return to our midst nevermore.

Then we knew what we never had dreamed of That before his work he laid down, He had planned in a generous spirit For the church and his own native town. For the church a much-needed helping, For the town this building so fair. Substantial, convenient and handsome Each detail planned out with care.

And she who faithfully watched him As far as a mortal may go Has lovingly added her present That the building no lacking may show. We thank you today-we thank you As your townsmen will do to the end. And the thanks we cannot give him We give you, our sister and friend.

The new building was built by George Eastman Snow. A guest book is kept on one of the tables and now shows the names of many visitors from many dif- ferent states.

The library now numbers about two thousand volumes. Collections of books are sent each term, to each of the three schools in the town. The children use the library to a great extent, and it is very popular with the adults also.

THOMPSON PUBLIC LIBRARY

In general terms we might say that, like most things in this universe, the Thompson Public Library was brought about through a process of evolution. The first forward movement may be credited to a group of young people, who acquired a sum of money from an entertainment, and were inspired to deposit it in the bank for a prospective library. The accumulation of the popular

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Book Club, carried on for a number of years under the direction of Miss Dem- ming, greatly needed an accessible place for storage. An interest was expressed by some, who had formerly been residents, and the result was an invitation to all interested in having a library to meet at the hospitable home of Windham County's historian, Miss Ellen D. Larned, on the evening of February 10, 1898.

Fifteen persons accepted, and the Thompson Public Library was organized. Later a suitable constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the library was legally incorporated by an act of the Legislature, through the agency of Charles E. Searls.

May 2, 1899, the corporation had fifty members, a site for the building on the Main Street of the village had been secured, and a committee appointed to procure plans for the building. Mr. Joseph B. Gay of Boston, a descendant of one of Thompson's oldest families, was engaged as the architect-work was begun in April, 1901, and within a year the building was practically completed.

"A word as to the financial basis underlying the structure, the solid cash foundation : the builders of our library, like its stones, are native. Only those of Thompson birth or family connection furnished the means for its erection. From tile-capped roof to rock-based cellar it owes its existence to the love and loyalty of former and present residents of the town. First among its bene- factors must be mentioned Hon. Elisha Converse of Malden, Mass., descended from one of our first settlers, also from Mr. John W. Doane a generous gift was received. In completing the amount necessary for building and equipment, more than twenty-five individuals contributed, some life-long residents, others sons and daughters of old settlers removed from town, newcomers, late arrived residents, and summer friends all helped generously and no unpaid bill was left to mar our pride in the library. It was not until September 25, 1902, that . the doors were opened to the public, and the work of ministering to the library needs of the community was begun.

Let me try to give you some idea of the interior and equipment at that time. At the right, as you entered was a large, sunny reading room. The walls were softly tinted, the woodwork dark, old oak, with massive tables and Windsor chairs to correspond, and a big cheerful fireplace. A few years later, in this very room was painted by Adelaide Chase of Boston, the portrait of Miss Larned, which now hangs over the mantle. It was the gift of her many friends and admirers to the library. A wonderful likeness, it is one of the library's most treasured possessions, for largely to her initiative and interest the library owes its very existence. Here also were found the very best of current magazines, subscribed for by generous townspeople.

On the left is a smaller but no less attractive room, similarly finished and furnished, which later became the treasure house of several valuable paintings, engravings, and portraits, also a case of old and valuable historical papers and pamphlets.

Opposite the entrance door is the charging desk, separating the vestibule from the stack room. The first book placed on the shelves was Miss Larned's History of Windham County, that, with 1,368 other volumes, all catalogued according to the Dewy system, by Miss Lewis, formed the nucleus of the present library. These books represented the best taken from the Book Club, and the old Fire Engine Library, established in 1855, also gifts from private libraries and interested friends. In each book was placed a book plate confirming the ownership. This place has an historic interest as it bears the coat of arms of

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the English family for which our town was named with the motto "sine litteris vita non est vita," adopted by the library. We have all heard the story of Sir Robert Thompson, who purchased the Indian right to 2,000 acres of wilderness land at Quinnatisset, in the Nipunuck country in 1683. This tract laid out east of Fort Hill, remained in the possession of the Thompson family for 120 years.

It is particularly fitting that the memory of one so noted and honored, so internally connected with the beginnings of Thompson, should be thus per- petrated, and we deem ourselves especially favored in its possession for our bookplate. For this gift and also the parchment indenture deed of sale, executed in London, 1806, transferring the Thompson farm to Thaddeus Larned, Esq., we are indebted to Col. Daniel Reed Larned, a lineal descendant. From another descendant we have received the portrait of Jacob Dresser, grandson and name- sake of the first male white child born within the boundary of Thompson.

Three financial legacies have been received and are known as the Louisa Day, Judge Flint and Abiel Converse funds. These help very materially and also show how early in its history the library won the esteem and confidence of those who generously remembered it.

The library has earnestly striven to meet the needs of the community and in large measure has succeeded. It is continually reaching out to a larger and larger circle. The reading room is a popular resort, for there is to be found something that appeals to the taste of each individual reader. The school children are finding it more and more helpful in their work.

The older people and those in search of historical data are almost sure to find what they need. It ministers to the transient and the resident alike and its growth, popularity and usefulness are fulfilling the dreams of the little circle who were its founders.

Thompson, Conn., August 26, 1918.

ALDRICH FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION By Bradford W. Danielson

Moosup, like most villages, had for years a library association with a small library in rented rooms. In 1893 the Aldrich Free Public Library Associa- tion was incorporated by act of the State Legislature, which act was renewed in 1895. The formation of this association and the name given it were due to a bequest in the will of the late David L. Aldrich, who was the principal owner of the woolen mills in Moosup, now owned by American Woolen Company.

Mr. Aldrich left a bequest of $3,000 for the establishing of a free public library in Moosup, the gift being conditional upon the raising of an equal amount by public subscription. Thirty-one hundred dollars was raised by sub- scription, of which amount Edwin Milner subscribed $2,000 and afterwards gave another thousand, besides giving the land on which the library building was erected. A building was erected at a cost of $6,156.49. This building was opened to the public on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1896. Appropri- ate exercises were held in Milner Hall, across the street from the library. Among the speakers on this occasion were Edwin Milner of Moosup, Edgar M. Warner of Putnam, George E. Tillinghast and Frank Tillinghast of Providence.

The officers elected at the first meeting of the association were as follows : directors, Floyd Cranska, John E.' Prior, Eben Willey, William Greaves,

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Charles F. Burgess, Mrs. J. H. Milner, Mrs. J. M. Andrews, Miss Bertha L. Sprague, Mrs. Charles Bragg; president, Edwin Milner, first vice president, Mrs. Floyd Cranska; second vice president, Eugene Brower; treasurer, John H. Milner; secretary, John B. Stanton; librarian, John B. Stanton.

The library still occupies the building opened in 1896, where it maintains a library and reading-room free to the public. It is supported partly by volun- tary subscriptions, and also receives annually from the Town of Plainfield $100, and like amount from the state, the latter for books.

The present officers are : president, Lucius B. Cranska ; first vice president, Miss Lilla E. Millett; second vice president, Mrs. Arthur Hill; treasurer, John C. Gallup; secretary, Bradford W. Danielson; directors, L. B. Cranska, Miss Lilla E. Millett, Mrs. Arthur Hill, Mrs. Bertha L. Gallup, B. W. Danielson, Howard E Main, Mrs. George Sanderson, Mrs. W. W Adams, Thomas Seaton ; librarian, George Sanderson.

SCOTLAND, TOWN LIBRARY By Lisa K. Fuller

The first meeting called to decide upon having a library was held April 4, 1895, at which time Rev. Henry B. Mead was chosen chairman of the Board of Directors, Flora Gager (Mrs. John C. Taber), secretary, and Gerald Waldo, treasurer. It was proposed to build a suitable building and to canvass the town for funds. Subsequently a new school house was erected and a room was secured therein for library purposes. The Town Hall is also in the school building. The library had but few volumes at first. The Grange had a small library which they donated and for the first few months the books were kept in the room of a private house which was leased for that purpose until a suit- able place could be secured-finally in the school house, as stated.

The town pays $25 a year, and fairs, entertainments, etc., are held by friends of the library to make the amount as large as possible, which the state duplicates. We have an excellent collection of books and Miss Mary Smith is the present librarian.

Much of the credit for the town library belongs to the Rev. Henry B. Mead, who was untiring in his efforts to secure cooperation of the town's people.

CHAPTER XXVIII EQUAL SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT

EARLY HISTORY IN WINDHAM COUNTY-SOME OF THE EARLIER LEADERS-EDUCA- TIONAL INFLUENCES-TENNESSEE THE THIRTY-SIXTH STATE TO RATIFY.

The equal suffrage movement in Windham County dates back to the time the school franchise was passed in 1897, when women registered for the school vote in nearly every town. In Willimantic interest was particularly strong and an Equal Rights Club was formed. Among the most active workers in this were Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. W. A. King. The Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association was formed in 1869 under the leadership of Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker, and the pioneer work which the organization did at that time was the beginning of the long hard fight of Connecticut women for political liberty.

About 1910 after the death of many of the early leaders, the work of the association received new impetus from the enthusiasm and energy of a group of younger women. Among them were Mrs. Thomas N. Hepburn who was elected president of the association, Mrs. M. Toscan Bennett, Mrs. Annie G. Porritt, and Miss Emily Pierson who took up the work of state organizer. Miss Pierson visited every corner of the state on campaigns and speaking tours. She came to Windham County early in 1913, at which time the Danielson Equal Franchise League was organized with Mrs. Rienzi Robinson as first president. The Putnam Equal Franchise League was formed February 7, 1913, and Mrs. Walter J. Bartlett was elected president. Since that time the work of organized suffragists has been constantly expanding. Miss Rosamond Danielson of Put- nam Heights was appointed Windham County chairman on the board of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association. Since 1913 Windham County has been represented at all the state suffrage conventions, has sent delegations to the parades and demonstrations and has done its share in the state suffrage work, petitions, enrollments, school vote, citizenship courses, etc.

In 1914 an "automobile campaign" was conducted in the county by Miss Emily Pierson, state organizer, with a group of speakers. Meetings were held in every town and as a result the following leagues were formed :

Woodstock Equal Franchise League, Mrs. John Evans Sheppard, president ; Eastford Equal Franchise League, Mrs. H. H. Converse, president.

Within the next few years suffrage organizations were formed in the fol- lowing towns :

Hampton, Mrs. E. B. Hill, president ; Ashford, Mrs. Harvey M. Lawson, president; Plainfield, Mrs. John C. Gallup (Moosup), president ; Brooklyn, Mrs. Sidney W. Bard, president; Thompson, Miss Grace Granger, president.

In February, 1916, a speaking tour by Miss Helen Todd of California stim- ulated interest in the question of political equality of women. Miss Todd was a brilliant orator and told vividly of the success of equal suffrage in her home state. She addressed enthusiastic meetings at Brooklyn, East Woodstock, Cen- tral Village, Willimantic, Pomfret, Danielson and Putnam.

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Not the least important work done in the county for the advancement of equal suffrage was the educational campaign in the Granges. Mrs. W. J. Bart- lett, lecturer of the Putnam Grange, did this work not only in Windham County but throughout the state, speaking at 149 Grange meetings. The result of this work was the passing of the resolution at the State Grange meeting in Nor- wich in January, 1917, endorsing equal suffrage by Federal amendment with- out a vote recorded against it.

That the organization for equal suffrage in the county has been thorough and effective is shown by the fact that at each session of the Legislature since 1915, a majority of Windham County representatives has voted favorably on the suffrage measures.

In 1917 there was some difference of opinion among Connecticut suffragists as to policy and methods of work, and a number of the most enthusiastic workers joined the National Woman's party, working for suffrage by amendment to the Federal Constitution. Among these was Mrs. W. J. Bartlett of Putnam. In January, 1917, a deputation from the Woman's Party waited upon President Wilson, urging him to stop the waste of energy and life that was being ex- pended in the long struggle for democracy for women. His reply was that women must "concert public opinion" in favor of their cause. Then the Woman's Party decided to make a more constant, direct and public appeal to the president as head of the government, for justice, and the policy of picket- ing the White House was adopted. Women from nearly every state in the Union took their places as silent sentinels outside the White House gates, bear- ing banners quoting the president's words to Congress, and asking for political liberty. For five months the pickets were allowed to stand there in peace. In July they were arrested for holding the same banners in the same place on the charge of obstructing traffic. Two hundred and eighteen women were arrested, ninety-seven serving sentences of from three to sixty days in the District of Columbia jail and Occoquon workhouse. One of the three Connecticut women who were arrested for picketing was Mrs. W. J. Bartlett of Putnam. She was sentenced to sixty days in Occoquon workhouse, but after serving forty-seven days at the workhouse, was illegally transferred to the District of Columbia jail, completing the sentence of thirteen days at that jail in solitary confine- ment. According to the decision of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, handed down October 4, 1917, by Judge Van Orsdel, every White House picket who was arrested, was arrested illegally, illegally convicted and illegally imprisoned. The judge ordered the dismissal of all cases pending against the suffrage pickets, stating that no charge had been filed against them which would justify their arrest and trial. As a result of Mrs. Bartlett's ex- perience in Washington, a branch of the National Woman's Party was formed in Putnam, November, 1917, with Miss Katherine Byrne as chairman.

During the World war, the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association ap- pointed a war work committee with Miss Katherine Ludington as chairman. A notable achievement of this committee was its cooperation with the Extension Service of the Connecticut Agricultural College in securing home economics demonstration agents in nearly every county in the state. In Windham County the suffrage committee contributed $1,150 to the salary of the home economics expert appointed by the county farm bureau.

In 1919 the county suffragists did their share in the state association's en- rollment campaign. More than five thousand Windham County women signed

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the enrollment in favor of equal suffrage. In each town the number of signa- tures was equal to a majority of the number of men who voted in that town in the preceding election, Miss Blanche Stoutenburgh of West Woodstock was very active in this campaign and to her belongs much credit for its suc- cess in this county.

Connecticut suffragists have felt the need of educating women in the prin- ciples and machinery of government. In 1919, even before the passage of the Federal suffrage amendment, a state-wide drive was started for funds to carry on citizenship instruction in connection with suffrage work. The chairman of the campaign in this county was Mrs. Francis U. Johnston of Woodstock, and the success of the work was largely due to her enthusiastic efforts. Since that time citizenship classes have been conducted in many of the towns and a three- day county citizenship institute was held in Willimantic in July, 1920.

In June, 1919, forty-one years after its first introduction, the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment" to the United States Constitution was passed by Con- gress and sent to the states for ratification. In May, 1920, when thirty-five states had ratified and only one more was needed to complete the enfranchise- ment of the women of the country, Connecticut suffragists made every effort to persuade the governor, Marcus H. Holcomb, that the emergency would justify the calling of a special session of the Legislature to act on the amendment. A group of forty-five distinguished women, one from each of forty-five states, came to Connecticut to take part in a "Special Emergency Week" demonstra -- tion to show the people of Connecticut and their chief executive how much the action of this state would mean to the rest of the country. Of the forty meet- ings held that week, three were in this county, at Central Village, Willimantic and Putnam. The four speakers who came here, Mrs. Ben Hooper, Wisconsin ; Mrs. E. P. Fick, Washington ; Mrs. Hugh Brown, Nevada, and Miss Josephine Miller, Arkansas, were very cordially received, and resolutions urging the gov- ernor to act were adopted at each meeting. The opportunity, however, was lost to Connecticut for the governor took no action, and in August, 1920, Tennessee, the thirty-sixth state, ratified the federal suffrage amendment and brought to a successful close the long work for equal suffrage.

CHAPTER XXIX ABOUT THE WEATHER

MISERY LOVES COMPANY-THE WINTER OF 1919-1920-THE BLIZZARD OF FEBRUARY, 1920-THE STORM OF FEBRUARY 26, 1920-NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS. .

"MISERY LOVES COMPANY"

Some Account of Storms and Pestilence and Remarkable Events in New Eng- land Recorded in an Old-time School Book

The memory of man "runneth not back to the time" when worse conditions of wars and epidemics and storms prevailed than were visited upon the world during the years 1918-19, and although this country escaped an actual visita- tion of the local devastation of war, it was felt that the afflictions of the "flu" and of the unprecedented winter of 1919-1920 were about the limit of endurance.

And yet the world has seen worse times in past centuries, even in this country, and on the principle that "misery loves company" the following quotations from an old-time school text-book, "The Elements of Useful Knowl- edge," in use about one hundred years ago, will be interesting and in a way reassuring. Some very striking information was included in a special chapter of this volume on "Diseases and Remarkable Events."

It is stated that "the first settlers in America had to contend with hard- ships, scarcity of provisions, a degree of cold in winter and heat in summer which they had not experienced in Europe, and with the diseases of the coun- try, to which were added such as arose from their wants and toil. In. 1620 half of the Plymouth settlers died, and in 1630 the colony of Massachusetts lost more than one hundred by fevers and the scurvy. In 1733 the colony of Plymouth lost twenty of its inhabitants by an epidemic pestilential fever. In 1635 the mortality in Virginia, by the accounts then received in New England, extended to 1,800 persons. On the first of June, 1638, was a severe convulsion of the earth called the great earthquake. This was succeeded by a general prevalence of the smallpox and fevers, on which account a general fast was observed in December. Shocks of the earth were repeated at times, till Decem- ber, when they were frequent. Two tremendous storms happened the same year, one in August and the other in December, in which the tide rose four- teen feet above spring tides at Narragansett, and flowed twice in six hours. Another tempest equally severe occurred on the 16th of March, old style, in 1639, and such a rain that the Connecticut rose twenty feet above the meadows."

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 99

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930