USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 45
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"Resolved by the assembly:
"Section I. That Rev. A. T. Ran- dall, Edwin E. Curtis, Lemuel J. Cur- tis, George R. Curtis, Owen B. Ar- nold, Levi E. Coe, Benjamin Page, Joseph Morse, James P. Platt, Hiram A. Yale, John P. Morse, Samuel Dodd, John W. Coe and William W. Mosher, being those persons at pres-
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
LEMUEL J. CURTIS.
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
1
BEDOTHA PIERPONT (BUTTON ) CURTIS.
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
ent composing the membership of the rectory, wardens and vestrymen of St. Andrew's parish of Meriden, the same being a parish of the Protestant Episcopal church, together with such persons as from time to time succeed them in office, are hereby created and constituted a body politic and corpo- rate under the name of the Curtis
titute children, with the ultimate pur- pose of procuring them permanent situations and of fitting them to main- tain themselves."
The late Owen B. Arnold was made the first president of the corporation ; Rev. A. T. Randall, vice president ; Robert H. Curtis, secretary, and Wil- liam W. Mosher, treasurer. Messrs.
1
CURTIS HOME, CHILDREN'S BUILDING.
Home, and by that name shall have perpetual succession and may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in all courts whatsoever.
"The general object and business of said incorporation shall be to pro- vide a home, employment and in- struction for aged and indigent women, and for orphan and other des-
Randall and Mosher still continue to hold the same positions.
The Curtis home is, and was in- tended to be, strictly under Episcopal management, but inmates who belong to other Christian bodies are housed there. That the Home should be a public institution was not the wish of the founder. It was his aim, and is
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
the aim of those responsible, for the carrying out of his wishes that it should be conducted with the privacy of a well ordered home.
The board of managers that con- trolled the home in 1885 was made up as follows:
Mrs. J. T. Pettee, president ; Miss Celia J. Curtis, vice-president ; Mrs.
W. Curtis, Mrs. George E. Howe, Mrs. James P. Stowe, Mrs. A. T. Randall, Mrs. George A. Fay, Mrs. Charles N. Winslow, Mrs. J. H. Chapin, Mrs. Henry S. White, Mrs. G. H. Wilson, Mrs. Joseph Morse, Mrs. R. H. Curtis, Mrs. Chas. H. S. Davis, Miss E. A. Landfear, Miss H. E. Bradley, Miss F. L. Twiss. The
CURTIS HOME, OLD LADIES' BUILDING.
L: E. Coe, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Annie Palmer, recording secre- tary ; Mrs. George R. Curtis, Mrs. H. Wales Lines, Mrs. J. H. Brecken- ridge, Mrs. Hiram A. Yale, Mrs. Charles C. Foskett, Mrs. John Ives, Mrs. George C. Merriam, Mrs. Hor- ace C. Wilcox, Mrs. M. L. Forbes, Mrs. Harlow Brockett, Mrs. Alfred
matron was Mrs. Annie Palmer and the physician, Dr. C. H. S. Davis.
A glance at the above names will show the reader to what extent in- terest in the Home was aroused among the best people in the town and how, from the first, they lent their hearty co-operation and support to the institution.
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
During all the years of its exist- ence the Curtis home has been blessed with excellent management and to that fact its success has been largely due.
The managing board divided itself into a Visiting committee, a Purchas- ing committee and Committee on Ap- plications, so that from the first the ladies did their part in a business-like, progressive way.
It was not many years after the opening of the home that the need of more room to carry on the work out- lined by the founder became apparent and it was decided to build. The hand- some light colored brick building that cost approximately $100,000, was the result, and was formally opened in 1896.
There are usually fifty or more old ladies and children at the Home.
The corporation made this the Old Ladies' Home and it was equipped with every convenience for their com- fort and happiness. It stands to the south of the Children's Home and in plain view of the country for miles around.
Though this structure lacks the many cosy features of the first build- ing, it is handsome, nevertheless, and fulfills all the requirements for which it was intended.
Always alert to the needs of the inmates of the Home and well aware of the fact that the young people who leave the institution, must be equipped to face the world, the corpo- ration voted recently to have a man- ual training department, and also a
gymnasium. To that purpose was erected a building costing several thousand dollars, finished in 1904.
The building stands in the south of the institution's property, is con- structed of brick and has two stories. On the average twenty children re- ceive instruction here. The buildings are of brick with terra-cotta trim- mings, heated with steam, furnished with all modern improvements, and there are accommodations for a large number.
The trustees of 1906 are: Rev. A. T. Randall, Benjamin Page, John W. Coe, Samuel Dodd, William W. Mosh- er, Watson W. Clark, George S. See- ley, George M. Curtis, A. B. Mather, Clarence H. Fiske, Charles T. Dodd, W. J. Robinson and E. B. Moss.
President of board, Benjamin Page ; vice-president, A. T. Randall; treas- urer, W. W. Mosher; secretary, George M. Curtis.
The members of the board of man- agers are :
Mrs. Hiram A. Yale, president ; Mrs. Levi E. Coe, vice-president ; Mrs. C. H. S. Davis, secretary ; Mrs. A. T. Randall, Mrs. George A. Fay, Mrs. Alfred W. Curtis, Mrs. George R. Curtis, Mrs. George C. Merriam, Mrs. Philip C. Rand, Mrs. Charles N. Winslow, Mrs. LeGrand Bevins, Mrs. Albert Babb, Mrs. John Ives, Mrs. W. J. Robinson, Mrs. J. H. Chapin, Mrs. E. A. Merriman, Mrs. L P. Butler, Miss Mary Butler, Mrs. M. L. Forbes.
The superintendency of the Home is in the hands of Miss Hannah K. Peck, who was appointed in 1895,
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
succeeding Mrs. Mary A. Carter. The matron of the Old Ladies' home is Mrs. M. F. Weeks.
Lemuel J. Curtis endowed the in- stitution with an amount which will be ample to supply its needs in time to come and sufficient to pay all ex- penses of the home when filled to its utmost capacity.
bedotha Pierpoint Button Curtis, the beloved wife of Lemuel J. Curtis, was a native of North Haven, Conn., and married Mr. Curtis in 1835. She survived both husband and children. The beautiful Home is also an elo- quent memorial to the goodness of Mrs. Curtis, now deceased.
MERIDEN HOSPITAL.
Meriden is peculiarly fortunate in the possession of a city hospital, not excelled by any city in New England of like population. The accompany- ing illustration shows the building en- larged to its present proportions, the work of which was completed at a cost of $40,000, and the remodeled in- stitution formally reopened June 29, 1905. The hospital was first opened in 1892.
To the public spirited men and women of Meriden was the credit due for the establishment of the hospital, which has since been maintained with growing usefulness every year. A charter was secured from the Connec- ticut legislature in 1885, and the original incorporators were the fol- lowing : E. J. Doolittle, N. L. Bradley, John C. Byxbee, Robert H. Curtis,
Rev. J. H. Chapin, George H. Wilcox, Isaac C Lewis, H. C. Wilcox, George R. Curtis, John Sutliff, Charles Par- ker, Seth J. Hall, Eli Ives, Levi E. Coe, Walter Hubbard, H. Wales Lines, William F. Graham and A. Chamberlain.
February 2, 1885, a hospital fund committee was appointed as follows : N. L. Bradley, S. J. Hall, Walter Hub- bard and the late Levi E. Coe, George R. Curtis, Rev. J. H. Chapin, Charles Parker and H. C. Wilcox. A short time after a charter had been secured from the legislature, the ladies of Mer- iden met and appointed committees in the several wards as follows: Mrs. E. C. Allen, Mrs. A. E. Austin, Mrs. T. F. Breese, Miss Ida Byxbee, Mrs. Charles Casper, Mrs. Ada Converse, Mrs. R. H. Curtis, Mrs. A. Chamber- lain, Miss Alice Derby, Mrs. George A. Fay, Miss Emma Gay, Miss Louisa Hitchcock, Mrs. Nancy Levi, Mrs. C. F. Linsley, Mrs. W. H. Lyon, Mrs. C. J. Mansfield, Mrs. George C. Mer- riam, Mrs. Rufus Merriam, Mrs. Ben- jamin Page, Mrs. A. Babb, Miss Rice, Mrs. Francis Stevenson, Mrs. George H. Wilcox and Mrs. C. N. Winslow. The ladies elected the following offi- cers : President, Mrs. A. Chamberlain ; vice-president, Mrs. Albert Babb ; sec- retary, Mrs. A. B. Mather ; treasurer, Miss Alice Derby.
Among the earliest undertakings of the ladies in aid of the hospital fund. were the rink party, February 13, 1885, concert and dramatic entertain- ment, at the opera house, April 13 and 14, minstrel entertainment, at the
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
---
HOSPITAL.
ONE OF THE WARDS, MERIDEN
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
opera house, October 26 and 27, fair, at the same place, December 8-12. These entertainments netted handsome sums as follows : Rink party, $446.52 ; concert, $159.82; dramatic entertain- ment, $201.20; minstrels, $768.91 ; fair, $2,630.14.
The decisive step toward giving Meriden a hospital was taken Febru- ary 23, 1892, when the old Jared R. Cook property was purchased from Cornelius J. Kooreman who had bought it with a view to remodeling the dwelling and making it a fine ten- ement house. The original value of the property was stated, at the time of purchase as $15,000.
Nearly every year since that time some big entertainment has been giv- en for the benefit of the hospital, al- ways successful, especially the annual hospital fair of recent years, which has become one of the principal social functions of the year. To a great ex- tent interest has been kept up in the hospital by the earnest efforts of the Ladies' Hospital committee, of which Mrs. A. Chamberlain has been presi- dent since its organization. In 1893 the state of Connecticut granted an ap- propriation of $25,000 and a subsidy of $3,000 a year. The management of the hospital has always been the best and the success of the institution has exceeded the most sanguine ex- pectations of its founders.
The institution attempts and has the facilities for caring for any case which may be brought to its doors for admit- tance and maintains a training school for nurses. The hospital with its new
wards and private rooms has accom- modations for forty patients and in an emergency can take care of forty- five.
From the matron's report of year ending September 30, 1905, the fol- lowing extracts are taken :
"During the year 220 patients have been treated. Since the opening of the new building about one-third more patients have been treated than in any other year during the same length of time.
"Nine patients have received the benefit of the Free Bed Fund for a pe- riod of 33 weeks ; 30 town cases have been treated, 22 from Meriden, 4 from Wallingford, 4 from Southington ; number of patients in hospital Oct. Ist, 1904, 9; whole number treated during year, 220; discharged cured, 144; discharged improved, 26; dis- charged not improved, 9; number of deaths, 29; number of deaths within 24 hours of admission, 2 ; remaining in hospital Sept. 30, 1905; 12; whole. number of hospital days, 4,722 ; aver- age number treated daily, 13 ; average number days for each patient, 131/8 ; weekly cost of maintenance and treat- ment per patient, $11.85."
The present officers of the hospital are as follows :
President, Nathaniel L. Bradley ; vice-president, Walter Hubbard ; sec- retary, Edgar J. Doolittle ; treasurer, Frank A. Stevens ; auditor, Charles H. Wood; directors, Nathaniel L. Brad- ley John C. Byxbee, Walter Hubbard, John L. Billard, Seth J. Hall, August Schmelzer, Abiram Chamberlain, Ed-
OPERATING ROOM, MERIDEN
HOSPITAL.
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
63
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
gar J. Doolittle, Charles L. Rockwell ; finance committee, Abiram Chamber- lain, Seth J. Hall, John C. Byxbee, Frank A. Stevens, Charles L. Rock- well ; incorporators, E. J. Doolittle, A. Chamberlain, N. L. Bradley, Au- gust Schmelzer, John C. Byxbee, E. B. Manning, Robert H. Curtis, C. W. Cahill, George H. Wilcox, John W. Coe, Seth J. Hall, John L. Billard, Walter Hubbard, Joseph S. Stokes, H. Wales Lines, Oliver Swan; medical board, Dr. E. T. Bradstreet, chairman, Dr. E. W. Smith, vice-chairman, Dr. E. W. Pierce, secretary ; physicians and surgeons, Dr. F. P. Griswold, Dr. J. A. Cooke, Dr. E. W. Smith, Dr. J. D. Eggleston, Dr. H. A. Meeks, Dr. E. T. Bradstreet ; diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, Dr. E. A. Wilson, Dr. E. W. Pierce; matron, Rose G. Reed; pathologist, Dr. A. E. Van Tobel.
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE.
President, Mrs. A. Chamberlain ; first vice-president, Mrs. T. F. Breese ; second vice-president, Mrs. J. L. Bil- lard; recording secretary, Mrs. N. F. Griswold; corresponding secretary, Mrs. C. L. Rockwell; treasurer, Mrs. C. H. Stockder.
The hospital staff, aided by an ef- ficient superintendent, a capable ma- tron and a competent corps of trained nurses, has made an enviable record for this hospital in the curing of dif- ficult cases and performing of delicate surgical operations. The hospital has had an efficient ambulance service since October, 1900.
CONN. SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
The Connecticut School for Boys, beautifully located on a high elevation with large sloping lawns joining the buildings with Colony street, is the only state institution that Meriden possesses. This comprises a tempo- rary home for boys who are delin- quent and wayward and here they are taught discipline and good behavior as well as manual training, farming and several trades, and given a gen- eral education, in all of which the youths, who are committed there, show remarkable results of good training and strict discipline in a short time.
The "State Reform School" was established by act of the Connecticut Legislature in 1851, the first or main building shown in the accompanying illustration, being finished two years later. Since that time several other buildings, including a chapel and cot- tages, have been erected, until the in- stitution has the appearance from a distance, of a college or seminary. The buildings of the institution, all well constructed, and mostly of brick, consist of one central building, 300 feet long, four stories in height, pos- sessing a wing 120 feet long ; five cot- tage buildings ; a church edifice cost- ing $15,000 ; a large boiler and coal house, an ice house, bakery, a large hay and cow barn, a horse stable and carriage shed, cattle sheds, wood houses and other smaller buildings.
In the rear of the institution is a farm of 195 acres suitable for raising
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
small fruits and garden vegetables, and through which a stream of pure water flows ; and here there is also am- ple pasturage for cows. About 100 acres of this farm are cultivated by the boys who comprise the inmates of the institution. The various indus- tries of the school give employment to over 400 boys. There is a tailor shop where the clothing worn by the
SUPT. CHARLES M. WILLIAMS.
boys is made and repaired ; a printing office where all the printing of the instiution is done and from which has been issued for fifteen years, the monthly publication of the school called The Dawn. There are also six chair shops, where cane-seating is taught ; a shoe shop where shoe-mak- ing is taught, and a manual training department where daily instruction is
given to over 100 boys. The institu- tion is carried on with every regard for economy; and the laundry, din- ing room, bakery, kitchen and sleeping halls all require classes of from six to ten boys each.
The boys are supplied with the best of plain food and every care is given to their mental and physical welfare. The inmates of the institu- tion are boys between the ages of sev- en and sixteen years, committed to the school by any court of record in the state and also those who have their board paid at the rate of $3.00 per week, quarterly in advance, by their parents or guardians. Boys who ob- serve the rules of this institution, even though they have been sentenced to serve a term there, may secure their discharge at the expiration of eleven months, no matter how serious the of- fense may have been for which they were committed.
From the fact that not all the boys at the Connecticut State School are necessarily bad boys, they are divided into several grades and for good be- havior they may win honor marks, which means more privileges and more freedom. It is seldom that a boy tries to escape from this institution.
There is a force of about fifty offi- cers and teachers employed at the school, which includes some of the best educational talent in the state. The boys are given at least two hours daily for recreation and on Saturday afternoon enjoy the freedom of ball playing or to indulge in other games that may suit their inclination.
5
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
A well trained band, composed of State School boys, has for some years been in existence.
Appended is a list of the trustees, officers and teachers at the beginning of 1906:
TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL.
Nathaniel L. Bradley, Meriden.
George P. Crane, Woodbury. John C. Byxbee, Meriden. Francis H. Parker, Hartford. Joseph Hutchins, Columbia.
George O. Balch, Ashford. John W. Coe, Meriden.
James N. States, New Haven.
Irving L. Holt, Meriden.
Charles B. Frisbie, Cromwell. Clark C. Palmer, Griswold.
Zalmon Goodsell, Bridgeport.
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. President-Francis H. Parker.
Secretary and Treasurer-Irving L. Holt.
Executive Committee-George P. Crane, John C. Byxbee, John W. Coe, Charles B. Frisbie, Francis H. Parker.
Committee on Discharges-John C. Byxbee, Nathaniel L. Bradley, John W. Coe, Irving L. Holt, George P. Crane.
Committee on Instruction and Training-Joseph Hutchins, James N. States, Zalmon Goodsell, George O. Balch, Clark C. Palmer.
OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL.
Superintendent-Charles M. Wil- liams.
Matron-Mrs. Charles M. Wil- liams.
State Agent-J. H. Parish.
Chaplain-H. N. Howard.
Bookkeeper-F. P. Owen. Assistant Matron-Mrs F. P.
Owen.
Consulting Physician-Harold A. Meeks, M. D.
Clerk-Miss Marie L. Duis.
Supervisor Manual Training De- partment-F. S. Hitchcock.
Assistant Manual Training Depart- ment-H. R. Stone.
Supervisor Printing Department- F. E. Tucker.
Carpenter-H. F. Wilbur.
Supervisor South Division and Band Master-T. H. Maguire.
Supervisor Dining Room-Mrs. T. H. Maguire.
Farmer-H. W. Kibbe.
Supervisor Sleeping Hall-Mrs. H. W. Kibbe.
Gardener-Hugo Reama.
Supervisor Chair Shop-C. P. Con- nolly.
Supervisor Sewing Room-Mrs. C. M. Brandenberger.
Hospital Nurse-Miss Julia
O'Brien. Supervisor Shoe Shop-Bernard Swenson.
Supervisor Boys' Kitchen-Miss Harriet Furbish.
Supervisors Laundry and Ironing Room-Mrs. Alida B. Clarke, Mrs. Kate McCauley.
Assistant Housekeeper-Mrs. J. S. Farnsworth.
Supervisor Bakery-B. Kreuz-
berger.
Engineer-W. D. Bennett.
Assistant to Engineer-Edward B. Hall.
FRONT VIEW OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Supervisor North Division Paul C. Booth.
Teachers in Congregate Depart- ment-Harold C. Robertson, James S. Farnsworth.
Cottage A.
Supervisor-W. W. Lunt.
Matron-Mrs. W. W. Lunt. Teacher-Miss Clarise Stowell. Cottage B. Supervisor-E. S. Berry. Matron-Mrs. E. S. Berry.
Teacher-Miss Amelia C. Meckes. Cottage C. Supervisor-Nelson J. Wells.
Matron-Miss Mary I. Rand.
Teacher-Mrs. John H. Parish. Cottage D.
Supervisor-C. C. Sawyer.
Matron-Mrs. C. C. Sawyer.
Teacher-Mrs. Lilla F. Davis Cottage E. Supervisor-R. C. Leonard.
Matron-Mrs. R. C. Leonard.
Teacher-Miss Ruth M. Hanks.
Night Watchman-Issacher Cur- rier.
Teamster-Dennis Keohane.
Cook Superintendent's Kitchen- Miss Hannah Crowley.
Cook Officers' Kitchen-Mrs. Mary Shandaroski.
MERIDEN YOUNG MEN'S
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Meriden Young Men's Chris- tian Association dates from the win- ter of 1865-6 and was incorporated June 27, 1866. The incorporators
were Julius Pratt, Dennis C. Wilcox, Eli Butler, Hiram Foster, Charles Parker, Alden Clark, E. B. Everitt, William A. Bacon, Eli I. Merriman, Charles L. Kingsley, Erastus Hub- bard, Edward H. Loomis, James H. Breckenridge, Alfred E. Camp and Levi Yale, Jr. The present site was purchased together with a small wood- en building by means of a subscription
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. GENERAL SECRETARY E. K. ALLEN.
of about $7,000. By its charter the corporation was authorized "to estab- lish, keep and maintain a library and reading room, and to promote such other literary and benevolent objects as it may think proper." In 1876 with a subscription of a little more than $20,000, it commenced the erection of its present building; the corner
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MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS.
stone of which was laid October 19, and July 31, 1877, the building, at a cost of $28,000, was finished, furnished and dedicated. The last of the debt was paid February, 1886. It was the
the building, so great became the de- mand for a modern gymnasium, that in 1897 the entertainment hall on the top floor was remodeled, the pillars removed and truss work substituted
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING.
first building erected exclusively for Y. M. C. A. purposes in New Eng- land and the property is now valued at $50,000.
After twenty years' occupancy of
to support the roof. These changes have given the association the largest and best equipped gymnasium in the city. In 1889 the association secured an amendment to its charter and under
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
the new organization the work has steadily developed in efficiency.
Its membership during the past year averaged 330, and with the addition of about 175 life members, totals more than 500 members.
The following men have served the association as presidents since the in- corporation :
J. H. Breckenridge, from July '66 to September '68; E. W. Hatch, from September '68 to September '69; F. H. Williams, from September '69 to September '70; F. G. Otis, from Sep- tember '70 to '75; W. E. Benham, from September '72 to May '90; J. L. Rutherford from May '90 to May '93; W. L. Squire, from May '93 to May '96; W. H. Catlin, from June '96 to May '98; M. B. Schenck, from June '98 to May 1900; W. H. Squire, from May 1900 to May '03; W. L.
Bevins from May '03 to February '05 ; C. A. Learned, from February '05 to date.
The officers of the association at this writing, are: President, Charles A. Learned; vice-president, Arthur E. Hall; second vice-president, Wal- ter S. Billard ; recording secretary, F. L. Burleigh ; treasurer, W. M. Ques- ted ; librarian, B. R. Gardner. Fol- lowing are the directors; George S. Seeley, F. A. Camp, Arthur E. Miller, I. I. Gardner, R. J. Merriam, Hubert Little, Rev. R. J. Beach, W. A. Hall, George S. Pratt The trustees are : George M. Lucas, 1908; James H. White, 1908; J. L. Billard, 1907; George' M. Curtis, 1907 ; J. L. Ruth- erford, 1906; W. H. Squire, 1906. The general secretary is E. K. Allen ; the physical director, J. Edward Rey- nolds.
7I
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The Police Department of the city of Meriden was created in Septem- ber, 1868, the Common Council, with Mayor Charles Parker at the head,
CHIEF C. B. BOWEN.
voting to replace the constabulary with a permanent and regularly paid force to meet the growing demand for better police protection ; in the same month the police committee, consisting of Hezekiah H. Miller, William J. Ives, Walter Hubbard, Jared Lewis and J.
R. Cook, practically effected the or- ganization of the department, and in November the force began duty with the following members : William Hag- adon, chief; and George Van Nos- trand, Roger M. Ford and Samuel H. Wilcox, patrolmen.
The department at first had no par- ticular headquarters ; the lock-up was in the basement of the Town hall and was a large plank box affair, located at the west end of the building, the entrance being at the east end.
The chief did duty from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. and the patrolmen from 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. At the beginning the men wore badges but had no uniforms and were distinguished by hats with flaring brims, upturned at the side. These, the first of Meriden's "finest," carried a club, revolver and twisters of catgut and wood. A little later uniforms were donned, the trousers of which had white stripes down the seams. The chief was paid $2.75 per day and the men $2.50 and they were elected yearly by the city Council.
William N. Beach was the next chief ; and soon after his election the department was transferred to a city building on the site on Pratt street now occupied as the Turner hall, where the fire department also had quarters. Here there were cells and the chief had an office. Under Chief
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Albert L. Otis, who succeeded Beach, and Franklin G. Bolles, his successor, there were but few changes.
With the election of Roger M. Ford to the head of the department in 1883, radical innovations and improvements
police surveillance, but the same lock- up was retained as before.
Ford had seven men and they in- cluded Captain Van Nostrand, later chief, Patrolmen Herman Duis and Charles Kimball, still regular patrol-
1
Tiu
MERIDEN TOWN HALL, DESTROYED BY FIRE FEBRUARY, 1904.
were begun. The headquarters was transferred to a room in the Rogers block at the corner of East Main and South Colony streets, a central loca- tion and one that allowed of better
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