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 49
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
lowed by Miss Ida L. Miller, the pres- ent incumbent.
It was about 1844, that the business men and residents in that portion of the town then known as West Meriden agitated the matter of having a post office of their own. The result was the establishment, during 1845, of the West Meriden post office. Joel H. Guy was named by President Polk as the first postmaster, and the first post office stood just east of the Guy residence on the south side of West Main street.
The election of Zachary Taylor brought about a change in 1849, when Noah A. Linsley was appointed post- master. Mr. Linsley had his office in the wooden building now owned by Frederick J. Wheeler, on the north side of the street, known as 21 West Main street.
In 1853, soon after the inauguration of President Pierce, Joel H. Guy again received a postmaster's commission. The office was taken back again to the south side of West Main street. Mr. Guy continued in office this time about five years, when he gave way to his son-in-law, Samuel B. Morgan. Mr. Morgan transferred the office to quar- ters which stood on the present site of the First National Bank building.
Soon after President Lincoln's inau- guration in 1861, George W. Rogers was appointed postmaster. The office was immediately moved to the brick structure which stood on the east side of Colony street, corner of Main street. This building was destroyed by fire during Mr. Rogers' term, and
the office was taken to the room in the Butler building, 13 Colony street, now occupied by W. W. Mosher.
On August 8, 1865, President John- son appointed Wallis Bull postmaster, and with this appointment there began a quarrel between the friends of Wallis Bull and the adherents of George W. Rogers, which hotly interested more than half the population of the town. On August 31, 1866, thirteen months after Mr. Bull took office, his enemies succeeded in bringing about his removal and in having Mr. Rogers restored to office. Mr. Rogers trans- ferred the office in August, 1867, to the north room in the old Byxbee block, known as 37 Colony street, now occupied by W. H. Squire. Thirteen months after Mr. Rogers had taken office, namely on September 23, 1867, his enemies triumphed with President Johnson and Samuel B. Morgan was for the second time made postmaster. Mr. Morgan served this time for twen- ty months, when on May 17, 1869, the friends of Wallis Bull prevailed with the administration and secured for him his second commission as postmaster.
Mr. Bull served the second time for eight years lacking two months, when on February 24, 1877, he was removed by President Grant, and Erwin D. Hall appointed. In 1878 Mr. Hall trans- ferred the office to the formerly well- known Hill building which stood tem- porarily on the plot of ground now known as Winthrop Square. The Hill building now stands on the premises known as 289 Center street. In the spring of 1880 the post office was
125
BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE.
moved to the Wilcox block at 24 Col- ony street.
Under political pressure Mr. Hall resigned his office February 1, 1886, and was succeeded by William H. Mil- ler, who served until February 1, 1890, when he was followed by Henry Dry- hurst, who received his commission from President Harrison.
On August 1, 1894, John J. Ander- son became postmaster, by appoint- ment of President Cleveland, and served until August 1, 1898. He was succeeded by Henry Dryhurst, who re- ceived his second appointment from President Mckinley, and his third from President Roosevelt.
The Meriden office entered the first class July 1, 1890. On May 20, 1899, the post office removed to its present quarter's at 25 and 27 Colony street.
The letter carrier service was estab- lished in Meriden September 1, 1880. The first four men constituting the force were William H. Minchin, Al- bert L. Bartlett, Charles Allemeyer and Chauncey G. Johnson. The num- ber of carriers now employed (June I, 1906) is twenty and of clerks eighteen.
Besides Station A, there are six sub- stations. The annual receipts this year were $75,000.
In 1902 the congress appropriated $100,000 for a federal building for the Meriden post office. The site at the corner of Colony and Brooks streets was purchased at a cost of $20,500. All bids for the new building were re- jected because excessive; and a bill for an additional appropriation for the building is now pending in the con- gress.
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
NEWSPAPERS
THE JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY.
No clearer knowledge can be briefly gleaned of a city than by a glance at its newspapers. If they be prosper- ous, pushing and enterprising, they but indicate the spirit of the commun- ity in which they are produced and its progressiveness is marked in their pages. It is true that they may cre- ate and lead in those things which make for the best progress of a mu- nicipality, but to become successful in progression, there must be an appre- ciation shown in a willingness on the part of the public to encourage such leadership with sufficient patronage to make its continuance possible.
It is this condition existing in Mer- iden which has made of The Meriden Daily Journal one of the leading pa- pers not only in the state, but in New England, and permitted its owners, The Journal Publishing Company, to build up one of the largest publishing and printing houses in the New Eng- land states.
Early in 1886 it became apparent that there was an opening for a new evening daily newspaper in Meriden and as a result The Journal Publish- ing Company was incorporated on April 2 of that year, for the purpose of publishing The Meriden Daily
Journal and to carry on a general printing and publishing business. In those days when mechanical equip- ment was limited, only hundreds of dollars were required in the production of a newspaper where now thousands must be invested, and therefore the new company started business with but $8,000 capital.
It was shortly after this, however, that the great advance in methods due to demands for the quicker and better production of newspapers began, and costly machinery, and the growth of the business, required greater invest- ments until the capital was increased to $60,000 and then to $67,000. This capital and the surplus in the business of The Journal Publishing Company to-day represents an investment of nearly $200,000. Its business has cor- respondingly enlarged with its in- creased investment and facilities, a very great share of its patronage com- ing from outside Meriden.
When the company was formed in 1886, four men held all the stock and became its officers. These same men, elected at the first meeting, are still its directors and officers and are all actively engaged in the conduct of its affairs. They are Francis Atwater, president ; Lewis Allen, vice-presi- dent ; Thomas L. Reilly, secretary, and Frank E. Sands, treasurer.
I27
NEWSPAPERS.
When the company began business quarters were secured on the second floor of Russell's (now the Meriden Grain & Feed Company's) block, on South Colony street, and from there The Meriden Daily Journal made its first appearance on the afternoon of April 17, 1886, as a four-page paper, with seven columns to the page. The
patronized and highly prosperous pa- per and is still growing. It has been changed and enlarged frequently, as the demand upon its advertising or news columns required more space.
The first change came in Decem- ber, 1886, when it was enlarged by adding a column in width. The fol- lowing April the pressure on its col-
BUSINESS OFFICE, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.
success of the new daily was assured from the very start, and from that day it has continued to grow and advance, until now it goes not only into near- ly every home in Meriden, but has reached out into the adjoining towns and implanted itself firmly in those fields. It is a widely read, largely
umns required more room, and still another column was added. It con- tinued in this form until the year fol- lowing, when, on May 7, 1888, it first appeared as an eight-page paper, six columns to the page, and cut, folded and pasted.
In the meantime, the printing bus-
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
iness had kept pace with the growth of the newspaper, and during February, 1888, a book bindery was added, the third floor of Russell's block being taken for the purpose. The quarters were totally inadequate to the demands of the business by this time, and in October the large three-story build- 'ing, owned by Morse & Cook, at the
partment, on March 7, 1889, they bought the business of Charles E. Bi- beau and Richard A. Owen, who had conducted a prosperous printing estab- lishment under the firm name of Owen & Bibeau, and Mr. Owen be- came foreman of The Journal's book and job printing department while Mr. Bibeau took charge of the press room.
DIRECTORS' ROOM, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.
junction of Perkins and South Col- ony street was leased, and a change made to that building after extensive alterations had been made. Here was found room for the much needed ad- ditional machinery. To add to the ability of the company to turn out the book work in its mechanical de-
During this time the entire method in the production of newspapers and books was undergoing a great change. The invention of fast web presses re- quiring sterotype plates, linotype ma- chines that displaced hand composi- tors, and other machinery for the more rapid making of newspapers to fill
NEWSPAPERS.
129
constantly increasing demands and quick growth, were coming in, and when again in a short time the facili- ties were found totally inadequate, a contract was made with the Goss Printing Press Company to design and build for The Journal a web perfect- ing press, with a capacity of 12,000 complete eight-page papers per hour.
of erecting the present four-story fire- proof Journal building was begun. It was attended with great difficulties, as all the departments had to be kept at work in the old building while the new one was constructed around it and the old one afterward torn out piecemeal. The new building was built entirely of brick, iron and concrete. The out-
-
NEWS COMPOSING ROOM, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.
The Journal was first printed on it er walls are of brick and the beams November 29, 1889.
In October, 1890, the store at 27 East Main street, was leased and fitted up as business offices and connected with The Journal building in the rear. In 1890 the property was bought of Morse & Cook and in 1892, the work 9
and girders of iron, while the floors are of concrete over corrugated iron arches. The partitions are all of pressed iron, the only wood being the window frames and roof girders, the latter carrying a steel roof. It is de- signed to be as nearly fireproof as it
130
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
is possible to make such a building. During the time of the building and preceding it, The Journal Publishing . Company had absorbed and added to its plant the business of other concerns in allied trades, the most important being in 1891, when the large electro- typing plant of D. S. Griswold was purchased and moved into the build- ing.
since been built and installed for The Journal a big double deck straight line Goss Perfecting Press capable of pro- ducing 25,000 papers per hour.
From four pages The Journal has grown to twelve pages with from six- teen to twenty pages on Saturdays and special occasions. It enjoys a splen- did patronage, practically every lead- ing advertiser in the country being
-
BOOK AND JOB COMPOSING ROOM.
At no time since its formation has the company ceased to progress and grow and the energy of its officers and the splendid force of assistants is shown to-day in the position The Journal occupies in and outside the community and the large patronage the other departments enjoy.
The press that was ample in 1889 soon became too small and there has
represented in its columns in addition to every important local advertiser. It is recognized as one of the hand- somest and most complete newspapers produced anywhere with the result that its circulation has showed a steady increase each year.
The Journal's big establishment is divided into distinct departments, each under a separate head. Richard A.
I3I
NEWSPAPERS.
-
PRESS ROOM, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.
BOOK BINDERY, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.
I32
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Owen is superintendent with direct charge of the job and book depart- ments : W. H. Marshall has charge of the press room, E. H. Hitchcock of the electrotyping, J. J. Walsh of the news composing, E. C. Parry of the lino- type machines and Henry Minkwitz, of the sterotyping room.
Messrs. Allen and Reilly of the
Allen and Lewis Reilly, city reporters, M. F. Clark, Publishers' Press opera- tor ; Miss Annie M. Whalen, proof reader, and W. R. Gilbert, M. S. Mc- Kiernan and Mrs. Elizabeth Lyon, su- burban reporters.
The business office staff besides Mr. Atwater, publisher, and Mr. Sands, business manager, consists of Jesse
ELECTROTYPING DEPARTMENT, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.
company devote their time to the edi- torial end of the paper, and Messrs. Atwater and Sands to the business de- partment.
The editorial force besides Mr. Al- len, editor-in-chief, and Mr. Reilly, associate editor, is composed of the following : E. B. Whitney, city editor ; D. T. Lamb, telegraph editor ; Walter
Sands, advertising department ; J. Frank Morris, advertising agent ; John F. Penders, circulation manager, Miss Margaret Hopkins, bookkeeper ; Miss Sophia Huber, clerk and assist- ant bookkeeper, and Arthur Keenan, clerk.
All told, The Journal employs about sixty hands, many of whom have been
I33
NEWSPAPERS.
with the company for years and whose services are, naturally, highly valued.
The products of The Journal press include many notable books, not the least of which is this volume, "A Cen- tury of Meriden."
MERIDEN MORNING RECORD.
The Record, Meriden's only morn- ing newspaper, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest newspaper in the city, the Republican, which it absorbed in 1899, having been established in 1860. A few years prior to the ab- sorption of the Republican by the Rec- ord, William A. Kelsey acquired the controlling interest in the Republican Publishing Company, and the merger was the result of his business acumen and far-sightedness. With the Even- ing Republican out of the field, Meri- den was left with two strong, well established newspapers ; the Record in the morning, the Journal in the even- ing.
Prior to the time Mr. Kelsey identi- fied himself with the Republican Pub- lishing Company, it had conducted a general job printing and book-binding business. Mr. Kelsey soon decided to abandon these branches to enable the directors of the business to devote their entire energies to the Morning Record. With the obstacles to its progress removed, the Record went ahead steadily day by day, and is now recognized as one of the foremost, most influential and substantial
morning newspapers in Connecticut.
Early in 1905 The Republican Pub- lishing Company, which is the corpo- rate name of the Morning Record, purchased the valuable site on the corner of Crown and Perkins streets, and began the erection thereon of the substantial building which is now the home of the Morning Record. A mammoth, two-deck press was or-
WILLIAM A. KELSEY.
dered from the Potter Printing Press Company, of Plainfield, N. J., and in- stalled a few months later, after the completion of the building in Septem- ber, 1905. A large amount of other new machinery was purchased, mak- ing the Record plant unsurpassed in its ability to produce a first-class, mod- ern newspaper.
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RECORD
MERIDEN MORNING RECORD
089
1905
A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
135
NEWSPAPERS.
The Record is a member of that great, world-wide news-gathering or- ganization, The Associated Press, thus giving its readers all the news of the world at the earliest possible moment. It gives unusually careful attention to
EDWIN E. SMITH.
the gathering of local news, personal items, etc., and is a complete news- paper in every sense.
The Record has always been essen- tially a family paper and has a very large circulation in the homes of Mer- iden and all of the surrounding towns. The Record's advertising patronage is very large ; it includes all of the prin- cipal business houses of Meriden, and the great majority of the leading gen- eral advertisers of the country.
Among the factors that have won
large success for the Record are un- flagging energy, fair treatment to all in business matters and in its news columns, enterprise in anticipating the wants of its readers, not only in news matters, but in originating features that appeal to the people generally.
Associated with William A. Kelsey in the conduct of the Record are Ed- win E. Smith, at the head of the bus- iness and finances, and Thomas H. Warnock of the editorial and news de- partments. Both of these men, like Mr. Kelsey, are natives of Meriden
THOMAS H. WARNOCK.
and loyal advocates of every cause that stands for the city's advancement. The large financial interests of these three gentlemen in the Record, assures its loyalty solely to the welfare of
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
Meriden and their fellow-citizens at all times.
The Company's paid-in capital is $75,000.00. W. A. Kelsey is presi- dent ; E. E. Smith, vice-president and
publisher ; T. H. Warnock, editor. The directors are: W. A. Kelsey, E. E. Smith, T. H. Warnock, N. L. Brad- ley, J. L. Billard, W. H. Lyon and W. W. Mosher.
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CHURCHES.
CHURCHES.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This time honored church organiza- tion which, previous to 1806, was by law the predominating power in the affairs of the town, as is told at length in the first section of this volume by George M. Curtis, still occupies a leading position in the spiritual and social life of Meriden. The present edifice, a remarkably attractive and im- posing stone structure, was dedicated April 2, 1879, but some few meetings were held therein previous to its dedi- cation. The corner stone was laid June 8, 1876, and the cost of the building was about $175,000.
The completion of the church after having been in process of construc- tion for over two years was a source of much joy to its members, and from that time to the present the society has experienced a steady growth in membership and influence. The first sermon in the present church was preached by Rev. Thomas A. Miles, who afterwards supplied the pulpit of the church from April, 1879 to April, 1881. Other divines who afterwards filled the pulpit but were not installed as pastors were Rev. Llew- ellyn Pratt who served a year and ten months, and until December, 1883 ; Rev. Charles H. Everest, who re-
mained for nine months from October I, 1884 to July 1, 1885; and Rev. Charles H. Williams who presided over the church for three years from 1886-89. Rev. Asher Anderson, Jan- uary 31, 1890, was then installed as regular pastor and served in that capacity until November 30, 1901. Rev. Albert J. Lord the present pastor after having filled the pulpit from December 4, 1902, was installed Jan- uary 27, 1903. During its history the church has had two assistant pastors. The first was John W. Logan, now Y. M. C. A. secretary at Hyde Park, Mass., and Rev. F. W. Hazen, the present assistant pastor.
The First Congregational Church is not only a most attractive and sub- stantial house of worship but it com- prises one of most modern equipment. The latest acquisition, and operated through the organ by electricity, is a costly set of chimes, the only set of its kind in the city, presented to the church by the White families in memory of the late Edward H. and Howard White. These chimes, twenty in number, first gave forth their tuneful melodies on Easter Sunday of the present year, and the church became equipped with them unbeknown to its members. The growth of the church in membership within the past decade, during which
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
time a large number have also gone to other cities, and many other members removed by death, is shown by the following figures: the total enrolled
Rev. F. W. Hazen, the assistant pas- tor, is the present superintendent. The trustees of the corporation are George H. Wilcox, Arthur E. Hall and Rob-
Photo by R. S. Godfrey.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
membership in 1896 was 688, and the ert W. Carter ; clerk, Albert H. Wil- total enrolled membership to date cox, and the treasurer, Byron R. Gard- ner. The church deacons are W. H. Catlin, Arthur S. Lane, H. D. Beebe, is about 900. The Sunday school comprises 530 members, and of this
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CHURCHES.
A. B. Savage, C. H. Pinks, Erastus Hubbard and Homer A. Curtiss.
The First Congregational church wields a mighty influence both at home and abroad, and many thriving socie- ties have been formed within the edi- fice, all of which are in a flourishing condition. Including those organized during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Lord the church is possessed of the follow- ing prominent societies: Young Peo- ple's Society of Christian Endeavor ; Junior Christian Endeavor ; The For- eign Missionary Auxiliary, Mrs. F. E. Hinman, president; Ladies' Benevo- lent Society, Mrs. Emily H. Johnson, chairman, and the following directors : Mrs. Charles F. Linsley, Mrs. Wilbur F. Davis, Mrs. Geo. E. Savage, Mrs. Arthur S. Lane, Mrs. Chas. L. Lyon,
Mrs. W. H. Squire, Mrs. John Q. Thayer and Mrs. George H. Wilcox ; Guardian Society, Mrs. H. W. Seip, president ; the Dorcas Society of young women, Miss Agnes Augur, president ; Granite League of young men, eighty members, Allen Yale, president ; the Cheerful Givers, composed of girls, Annie Ives, leader ; Order of Knights of King Arthur, Stanley White as Merlin ; and Boys' Cadets, thirty mem- bers, Wm. B. Blanchard of Co. L, C. N. G., drill master.
Rev. Albert Jones Lord was born at Ellsworth, Me., October 1, 1868, and was educated at the high school of his native town, and was graduated at Bowdoin College, where he pursued his academic course, in 1894. He studied for the ministry at the Theo- logical Seminary at Andover, Mass.,
from which he was graduated in 1897. During his theological course he filled several pulpits, and notably that of the Berkeley Temple, Boston, where he was for a time assistant pastor, and also at the Highland Congregational church, Roxbury, Mass. He was or- dained a clergyman Oct. 19, 1897, and the following July was installed pastor of the Congregational church at Hart-
REV. A. J. LORD.
ford, Vt., where he remained until he received a call from the First Con- gregational church of Meriden. Since coming to this city the church has greatly prospered financially, spirit- ually and socially.
Mr. Lord was married in. Ellsworth, Me., Dec. 29, 1897, to Maude Evelyn Phillips, and one child, Phillips Haynes Lord, has blessed that union.
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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.
THE CENTER CONGREGA- TIONAL CHURCH.
The Center Congregational church, situated at the corner of Broad and East Main streets, in the heart of the up-town district, is the oldest church edifice in the city, having been erected in 1830. Its architecture is typical of the Puritan period of church building, being indeed a visible embodiment of the simplicity, dignity and stability which marked the character and life of the times out of which it sprang. It stands in the midst of the rush and complexity of our modern life, pro- claiming silently the plainer virtues and austerer life of the forefathers ; and binding into one the past of small beginnings and the flourishing present of our city. A New England classic it is, of unmixed type, its simple, noble lines eminently satisfying the sense of proportion and churchliness. The auditorium is finished in white, its chaste surfaces combining effec- tively with the furnishings of green and gold.
Especially admired is the tower with its graceful symmetry, enhanc- ed by a scheme of light Doric and Ionic pillars and classic decorations. The clock in the tower is a well- known landmark ..
The Center Congregational church has been so called since the year 1848. In that year a division in the original Congregational church took place largely in consequence of the center of population changing to the
westward; about three-quarters of the church removing, while the rec- ords show about one hundred and twenty to have remained, including all the deacons of the church. The property was divided. Those who removed carried with them the rec- ords of the original church organiza- tion, and adopted the name "First Congregational Church." Those who remained to worship in the old building adopted by the advice of the council the title "Center Congrega- tional Church."
There was left to the old site by this division a band of noble men and women to keep alive the altar fires which their fathers had builded. Some of them were men of weight, the stamp of whose character was already on the growing town. Call- ed henceforth by a new ecclesiasti- cal name, they nevertheless knew no other church than the one whose meeting house they then occupied ; no other church traditions than those which for a hundred and twenty years had been taking root in the soil of their affections; no other memories than those centering around the pastorates of a long line of godly ministers, who, beginning with Theophilus Hall, had shep- herded the one and undivided Con- gregational flock. Center Church today is the possessor of this ancient site of worship, and joint heir of these traditions and memories. On the membership roll of the church to-day are not a few names running
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