USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 31
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In 1703-4 the Committee "agreed that there shall be four School dames - two at Wetoug. one on ech fide the river. one at Samon brooke one for terries & at Scottland for that Squad- ron and a School mafter". .. . "and such parants". "as send their children from other Parts of the town to said schoolmafter: Shall alow four pence per weak, for every child
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1701.
S. T. R. B. 2-12 P. 58. (Back of Book)
Ibid. P. 70.
sent by them", ...... "each of thefe Schools to be keept up five month in one year at leaft". It is evident that, however deficient they themselves might be in the matter of education, the men of that day appreciated school privileges, and readily made provision for the education of their children.
In 1711, it was "voted in the affirmative that there shall be a Levy of eight pounds four fhillings in pay raifed out of the Town estate for the years Schooling in the year 1711. At the fame Meeting, there was School Committee chofen". . . .. and "that there fhall be for the futter a levy of forty fhillings upon the thoufand as after the country mode to be expended for the Schools in Simsbury."
As mentioned in Chapter XXI, after the discovery of the copper mines, and the town engaged in the mining business, it was voted "that off every parcell of Coper thus refined or wrought, before any divifion be made thereof, the tenth part of it. . . shall be taken from it: for pious ufes: viz. - two thirds
of it fhall be to the maintaining an able Schoolmafter in Simfbury the other third part shall be given to the Ufe of the Collegiate Scool erected within this Collony. to be improved as the truftees of said School Shall See Good". What sums were ever realized by either the school-master or the College, we are not informed; but, whether large or small, the act shows a deep interest felt by the men of that generation in the cause of edu- cation, by devoting to it a tenth part of the proceeds of a great enterprise, which at that time promised profits to the town.
For many years, until after the organization of the Ecclesi- astical Society, all school affairs were managed by the town, afterwards by that Society - probably for the reason that they considered education and religion as having a close relation to each other. Afterwards School Societies had the control of educational affairs. These were first constituted by act of the legislature, in 1795. In the previous year a law was passed, requiring "all parents and masters of children, by themselves or others, to teach and instruct, or cause to be taught and in- structed, all such children as are under their care and govern- ment, according to their ability, to read the English Tongue well, and to know the laws against Capital offenses: And if
378
S. T. R. B. 212 P. 87. (Back of Book)
unable to do so much, then at least to learn some short orthodox Catechism without Book, so as to be able to answer to the Questions that shall be propounded to them out of such Cate- chism by their Parents, Masters or Ministers, when they shall call them to an account of what they have learned of that kind".
In 1739, it was voted "in Society meeting that the Com- mittee appointed to decide upon the site of the meeting house," should "alfo Determine whether there shall be two School Houfes or one in sd Society, also where the Money allowed by the Coloney to this Society Shall be laid out."
It was further voted, that with the matter of locating the school house or houses settled, the school money appropriated by the General Court, "Viz: The forty Shillings upon Each Thoufand pounds, of our Annual List", should be divided into two parts: one part to be laid out south, and the other north of a division line, passing through the mouth of Hopbrook from the east line of the town, at a west northwest point, to the west line of the same, and that the school houses should be built upon the Society's Cost.
In 1754, there were four schools, annually, kept in four distinct parts of the Society. These probably remained until 1773, when it was voted that Hop-meadow and the Plain, which till that time constituted one District, should be divided "and be for the future two Diftinct School Districts" and "voted that the westerly School District under the West Moun- tain, according to their Own Divifion by agreement be at Daniel Bevin's Dwelling Houfe."
In 1777, a Committee, consisting of Joel Cornish, Dudley Pettibone, John Poisson, Sam11 Lawrence, Brewster Higley 2nd, Elisha Wilcocks, Capt. Charles Case, Robert Hoskins Jun' & John Hoskins were chosen, "to take Care of Schooling & Set up Schools in the Several Diftricts in this Society for the year Ensuing".
A similar Committee was annually appointed from this time onward. They were the School District Committees for the several Districts. In 1822, there were fourteen School Districts in the Society.
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1739
Soc. Rec. P. 39. B.I.
In 1823, Benjamin Ely, Jonathan Pettibone Jr., and Alex- ander Holcomb, having been previously appointed "to locate the School Society into School Districts, at their discretion", reported that they had divided the Society into 13 School Districts, named and numbered as follows, viz: with their several boundaries.
School District No. I called "Meadow plain".
No. No. No.
2 3 4
"Bushy Hill".
"Wetaug-West".
"Wetaug-East".
"Hopmeadow".
"Farms". ‹‹
"Westover Plains".
"Middle District".
"Union".
"Griswold Village". "Terry's Plain".
"Scotland South".
" No. 13
"Scotland North".
which report was accepted by the Society, and the Districts so established. This arrangement of School Districts, with a school-house in each, has continued, with but little change, to the present time, except on the east side of the mountain. The two Scotland districts have been attached to Bloomfield and "Griswold Village" - now Tariffville - having at one time been divided into several districts, has again been united and has one union graded school.
In 1856, the records of the School Societies were, by law, required to be deposited with the records of the towns, and all properties of the several School Societies were transferred to the towns respectively.
The first school house in Hopmeadow District was situated in the northwest corner of the "Barber Lot" - directly west of the present Hall of Records. It was a small one-story building.
The next was built at the Southeast corner of the burying- ground - a few feet north from the hackberry-tree, which was then standing - in 1800. The first teacher in the new school-
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" No. 5
No. 6 No. 7
" " No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 No. II No. 12
house was William Taylor, employed by vote of the district at $12. per month and board.
In the early part of the present century, it was customary to employ a male teacher during the winter season, and a female teacher in summer. Teachers always "boarded around", ap- portioning their stay with each family according to the number of scholars sent. Every evening before the close of the School, the teacher called the roll of the heads of families, and some one of the scholars announced the number in attendance during the day; and from this roll, the number of days' boarding with each family was calculated. Arrangements were often made between families and teachers, as to the time of boarding. Many families, in winter, preferred not to board the teacher till after "killing hogs".
He was expected to board with each family in the district the apportioned number of days, unless, on account of extreme poverty or other peculiar circumstances, he was excused. This practice led the teacher sometimes to the acquaintance of strange bedfellows.
In the early part of the century, the wages of male teach- ers was from $10. to $12. per month and board. Female teach- ers of rare fitness and long experience received $1.50 to $2.00 per week. Within the memory of the present writer, female teachers have been employed in large districts, of the town, for less than one dollar per week, boarding themselves, where, in later times, ten dollars per week have been paid.
So far as wages of teachers and enforcing attendance of children upon schools are concerned, there has been of late years a decided improvement in school affairs, but in the matter of education, including morals and manners, this cannot be said. In these latter particulars, great pains were taken to give instruction. In the early part of the century, no boy was permit- ted to enter the School house without taking off his hat and bowing to the teacher, or girls without a "courtesy", nor, to leave at the close of the school, without "obeisance". They were also taught the distinction between right and wrong, and that -
"It is a Sin to Steal a pin"
as well as things of greater value.
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In the mode of government in schools, great advance has been made. Then, the master, who could most effectually in- spire fear and most vigorously wield the rod, was most ap- proved and most acceptable to the parents. Now, as in pulpit teaching, love has gained the ascendancy over terror. Punish- ments for disobeying the rules were often cruel - sometimes inhuman. Masters used the rod, but female teachers often resorted to more cruel modes of punishment. Among these were - standing on one foot till longer standing seemed im- possible; standing on the floor and holding a book, or other heavy weight, at arm's length, in a horizontal position; and if suffered to fall below the horizontal line, a smart blow with the "ruler" under the elbow would bring it up. Another mode of punishment, and, to a sensitive lad, a most cruel one, was, when a boy and girl were caught whispering together - as boys and girls will - to call them on the floor, and placing the end of a strip of leather, six or eight inches long, between the teeth of each, cause them to stand face to face, and look each other in the eyes. During the protracted ministry of Rev. Mr. Stebbins, which continued from 1777 thirty years, and that of his immediate successor, Rev. Allen McLean, which con- tinued fifty years, it was their practice to keep a private or Select School, at their own houses - sometimes themselves teaching, and sometimes employing a teacher from some college. Here not only the higher English branches were taught, but young men of this and neighboring towns were fitted for College.
Besides these, other select schools were occasionally taught. Dr. Benjamin Farnham at one time opened a School in his house, in Hopmeadow. It stood directly in the rear of the large elm, north of the present Methodist Church. Dr. Farn- ham was an eccentric genius. He was a man of great intelligence, was Lawyer, Physician and Divine. He was a man too of con- siderable influence in the community, holding as he did at various times the offices of Town Clerk, Clerk of the Probate Court, and other important town offices. He was an author, having written and published a "Dissertation on the Prophecies" which was extensively read.
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His wife was bright and intelligent, but fallen into habits which rendered her anything but amiable. At times she caused her husband trouble by interrupting the exercises of his school. On one occasion of this kind, the Dr. lost all patience, and in bitterness exclaimed, "I do wish the Devil had his own". "What", said she, "and leave me here to take care of all these poor fatherless children?"
Other distinguished teachers in the town were Benjamin Ely, Dudley Humphrey and George Cornish. About 1880, Mr. John B. McLean established the Simsbury Academy, a board- ing and day school for boys and girls, which is now in success- ful operation. Here boys are fitted for College, or trained for business, and both boys and girls prepared for teaching.
On the 2d day of July, 1887, he commenced building the New Academy, at the north end of Hopmeadow street, and on the first day of August of that year, the "Corner-stone" was laid, with appropriate exercises. An address, relative to the grounds on which the Institution is located and its history as an ancient "Training Ground", was delivered by Dr. Lucius I. Barber, with interesting and eloquent speeches appropriate to the occasion by Rev. J. Logan Tomlinson, Rev. Horace Winslow, Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, Rev. D. W. Lyon, Rev. A. S. Clark, and Hon. Jeffrey O. Phelps, all residents of Simsbury.
On the first of December following, the building was ready for occupancy, and on the 14th of January, 1888, was dedicated, with interesting and appropriate exercises, under the name of "McLean Seminary" given in honor and in memory of Rev. Allen McLean, the former beloved and respected Pastor and Teacher, who for more than 50 years had chiefly directed and led in the educational affairs of the town.
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FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XXXVI
Manufacturers
As has been before mentioned, the government of Eng- land offered no inducements to the Colonies to engage in manu- facturing. On the contrary, her policy was to promote the growth and welfare of the mother country, by means of her colonies. Agriculture was encouraged, for by this means she was furnished with such products as she did not raise herself, giving employment to her shipping, and a market for her own manu- facturers.
Any attempts to manufacture, in the colonies, aroused the jealousy of the home government. There was one except- tion. This was the manufacture of Pitch, Tar, and Turpentine, as before related. These could not be made at home, and, being needed in the Navy, were allowed to be made.
In 1728, Samuel Higley petitioned the General Court for the exclusive right to manufacture steel, for a term of years, setting forth that he had with great pains and costs found out and obtained a curious art, by which to convert, change and transmute common iron into good steel.
The General Court granted his request, giving him the exclusive privilege of making steel, for the term of ten years conditioned that he should bring it to "a good and reasonable perfection within two years". He succeeded in complying with the conditions, as to quantity and quality, but, on the whole, his undertaking was not a success.
Twelve years afterwards, a like privilege was granted by the General Court, to "Thomas Fitch, George Wyllys and
384
Col. Rec. Vol. VII. P. 174.
Col. Rec. Vol. VIII. Page 338.
Robert Walker, jun., giving them the sole liberty and privilege of making, manufacturing and converting iron into good steel within the bounds and limits of this Colony, for the full term and time of fifteen years", with the proviso that they should have their works in operation within two years, and furnish, during said term of fifteen years, at least half a ton of steel each year.
Associated with them was Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, then largely engaged in copper smelting on Hopbrook, above the mills. They were so far successful as to receive the ap- proval of the General Court, as having performed the con- dition of the grant according to the tenor and meaning thereof.
Their works were continued for several years, but, by reason of the death of Mr. Woodbridge, who was their scien- tific man and advisor, which occurred soon after, the experiment proved unsuccessful and was discontinued.
But this, and other attempts of the colonists, of a similar character, were sufficient to arouse the jealousy and opposi- tion of the British Government. In 1750 a law was passed by Parliament which prohibited "the erection or continuance of any mill or other engine for slitting or rolling iron, or any plaiting forge, to work with a tilt-hammer, or any furnace for making steel, in the colonies, under penalty of two hundred pounds". Every such mill, engine, forge or furnace was de- clared a common nuisance, which the Governors of the prov- inces, on information, were bound to abate, under penalty of five hundred pounds, within thirty days.
Saw mills were erected, by leave granted by the town, on streams of suitable size and adaptation, in every part. These, with the grist mill of Thomas Barber and others, on Hop Brook, as before mentioned, comprised the principal manufactures of the town by machinery prior to the war of the Revolution. But this was by no means the limit to the manufacturing done. Almost everything in domestic or com- mon use, indoors or out, was made by hand, - literally manufactured.
Every shop and farm house was a manufactory. The blacksmith made the axes, the hoes, the forks, the plow-
385
shares, the scythes; all these were made by hand, and all farming utensils. In the house almost all the articles of domestic use were manufactured. Here the itinerant tailoress made up the clothing for the men and boys; and the peripatetic shoe- maker, with bench and kit, made up the children's shoes. Here, too, were spun and woven the bed clothing and furniture. Spinning wheels buzzed in every house; skeins of woolen and linen yarn hung on the walls; on the loom seat, now sup- planted by the piano, or parlor organ, the matron plied the shuttle and the treadles. The cloth for the family, blankets and sheets, table cloths and towels; bed curtains and window curtains, flannels and carpets, when carpets came in vogue, all were woven there. Grandmothers were seated by the "little wheel", spinning flax; and mothers in the corner card- ing wool or tow, or hatchelling flax. In the morning the lawn was white with "pieces of linen", spread out to bleach, and the meadow covered with flax to rot. All these were the work of women. They made the bread, the butter, the cheese. There was no bakery then, no creamery. They milked the cows, they cooked over an open fire; they washed and ironed; they scrubbed the floors, and sanded them; they made soap and candles. They raked hay, they pulled flax, they dug potatoes, in their season. When they visited they "carried their work"; when they sat by the fireside to rest, they were knitting or patching the children's clothes, or darning their stockings. Of an autumn evening, they were paring apples and quarter- ing them, for the children to "string" and hang, in the morning, in festoons on the outside sunny walls. All were busy, - always busy. What those women wrought, is simply amazing. No wonder the women and girls of the present generation are physically weak and less robust; their mothers and grand- mothers were overworked and exhausted. During and after the War of 1812, several manufactures were undertaken. At the "Falls" a wire factory was put in operation. On Hop- brook, where Toy's fuse factory stands, was a cotton mill. And prior to that, clothier's works carried on by Deacon Jonathan Noble, near the present residence of Mr. Henry Noble. Above these on the brook was erected a grist mill,
386
which was afterwards run in connection with the distillery of Case, Barber and Ely. This mill was erected by Rev. Timothy Woodbridge many years before, by liberty from the town.
On the opening of the New Haven and Northampton Canal a wire factory was established on Hopbrook half a mile above the present mills of Ensign & Company, in connection with a card factory situated on the bank of the canal near the house of Hon. Elisha Phelps, erected and put in operation by him and Luke Prouty. Previous to this, hand cards were manu- factured by Clark and Haskell and Thomas Case, opposite what is known as the Thomas Case house.
Titus Barber, for many years, carried on the manu- facture of tinware, in which he was largely successful, send- ing his wares by "peddlars" into the Southern States, realiz- ing great profits, whereby he became, for those times, a wealthy man. Luke Reed and Moses Ensign were afterwards engaged in the same business, employing a large number of hands. About the year 1836, Richard Bacon, Esq., a prominent and honored citizen of Simsbury, in connection with partners in England, established works in East Wetaug for the manufacture of "Safety-fuse" to be used in mining, blasting rocks, &c. The firm style was "Bacon, Bickford & Company". After suc- cessfully prosecuting the business a number of years, Mr. Bacon sold his interest to Rev. Joseph Toy, who soon afterwards removed the works to Hop-brook at the center of the town, where, under the firm name of "Toy, Bickford & Company" a large manufacturing establishment has been built up, and prosecuted with great success, giving employment to about 100 hands, and a handsome support to a large number of families. It is the principal establishment of. the kind in the United States. This, and a similar one in England, of which this is understood to be a branch, have a monoply of the business, and furnish safety-fuse for the world, and have the world for a market.
The business is hazardous; and without the greatest care, and the strict observance of the rules, would be extremely so. The first establishment, erected in East Wetaug, was burned
387
down by reason of the fuse taking fire from friction in the machinery.
Since its removal to Hopmeadow, two serious catas- trophies have occurred in connection with it, involving great loss of life and personal suffering. The first occurred on the 20th of December, 1859. The following account of the disaster as given by the present writer, at that time, appeared in the "Hartford Press":
"At about 7 12 o'clock, Tuesday morning, an explosive noise, like rattling distant thunder, was heard by many per- sons in the neighborhood, and at the same time a dense smoke attracted their attention. Those who were in a position to see it describe it as a simultaneous explosion and flame. At the moment, the roof of the building seemed to be raised or lifted up, and instantly a sheet of flame burst from the windows, and enveloped the whole building, which, in an incredibly short space of time, became a heap of smouldering ashes. One married and seven unmarried women were either instantly killed, or so wounded, that death occurred shortly after. Besides the killed, there were in the building, Joseph Toy, Jr., the son of the proprietor, and three other persons; all danger- ously, or slightly injured. The bodies of the dead were carried to the Town Hall, near by, and a coroner's inquest held.
"Then came the examination of the charred and mutilated remains, for the purpose of recognition, by surviving friends. Here a mother, anxiously and closely searching to find some mark or scrap of clothing, or some token by which to recognize a beloved daughter. A bereaved husband closely scrutinizing to find his beloved companion, and the mother of his children. Brothers and sisters, weeping over the half recognized remains of a dear sister. The scene was heart-rending".
In 1879, another similar disaster occurred, by which three lives were lost.
Tariffville, in the extreme north-east corner of the town, is a manufacturing village, possessing all the facilities requisite for carrying on important manufacturing operations. Its water power is rarely equalled, and surrounded as it is by a rich farming country, with carriage roads centering there, and the
388
"Connecticut Western" Railroad passing through it, it would seem to be destined to become one of the important manu- facturing villages in the State.
Since about 1825, various manufactures have been car- ried on there. The "Tariffville Manufacturing Company", for several years, successfully engaged in spinning and weaving woolen and cotton goods; then the "Hartford Carpet Com- pany" entered largely into the manufacture of carpets; On the occasion of a large fire destroying many of their important works and buildings, the Carpet Company sold out their Tariffville property to the "Connecticut Screw Company", which after expending a large amount of money, in the erection of buildings and machinery, failed in business, and in 1881, the property was purchased by the "Auer Silk Company" with a capital of $200,000, organized for the purpose of manu- facturing Dress Goods, Tapestries, Upholstery Goods, Cur- tains, etc. The name of the Company was soon changed to that of the "Hartford Silk Company". They rebuilt the dam across the river, erected new buildings, and put in the most improved machinery, and gave employment to several hundred operatives. They were in the full tide of successful operation, when they and the surrounding community were surprised by the astounding announcement that their superintendent absconded, with the Company funds, and emigrated to Canada. Another Company, which was organized about the same time, for the manufacture of silk thread, after running a few years, with apparent success, suddenly closed its business here, - a complete failure. These failures, in quick succes- sion, have left the village, at the present time (1886), in a sad state of collapse.
The gin distillery of Messrs. Case, Barber & Ely, erected and put in operation by them in 1803, has been already men- tioned, in connection with anecdotes of Mr. Stebbins. It was shortly afterwards purchased by Mr. Thomas Belden, of Hartford, who engaged largely in the manufacture of gin, which acquired a great reputation. After his death the business was carried on by his son Horace. After the death of the
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