USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Canaan parish, 1733-1933, being the story of the Congregational church of New Cannan, Connecticut > Part 12
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prepared we were for the "invasion of our rights." Many meetings and numer- ous letters, petitions, etc., transpired to settle these points which are now con- trolled by regularly accepted ordinances.
Next they turned their attention to sidewalks and it is interesting to note the conservative approach to this most serious question, involving very debatable needs, but inevitable and burdensome expense. A night watchman was hired at $12.00 per week and for the first time, the volunteer fire company recognized by an appropriation of public funds-$100.00 for new hose.
So the first year saw a beginning in the fields of health, police and fire protection, street lighting, and sidewalks, and having profited by their ex- perience in dealing with individual cases, they adopted uniform by-laws for future guidance.
They borrowed $800.00 to start with and in February, 1890, called a special meeting to lay a tax. The budget system had not come into common use at that time, and no estimate of expected cost appears on their records, but a three mill tax was laid -- the first Borough tax, which netted about $2,800.00.
Their concern for public safety is expressed in a measure threatening to condemn Raymond's Hall, which was the second floor of the old wooden build- ing that stood where the present Raymond block now stands. For years it had caused great anxiety, and many a timid soul had sat in perspiring terror through a crowded "getherin'" there. While such a matter would be routine today, it must be remembered that fifty years ago people regarded it as inter- ference with private privilege. But this trying experience of becoming ad- justed to new ideas was made less difficult because of the patient, considerate attitude of the first Borough Board led by "Old Dr. Brownson," the village doctor, whose gentle manner and soothing hand had, for years, eased both physical and mental anguish in every home in New Canaan. No evidence of being "puffed up by some brief authority" resides in this paragraph from his first report in May, 1890 dealing with the sidewalk problem;
"Your board fully realize that in many of these localities property holders feel poorly able to incur at present, the necessary expense, and feel some hesitation about issuing peremptory orders which might prove too heavy burdens upon some of our citizens. For let it be remembered that we have no desire to be the dictators, but simply the servants of the people. While many of us would gladly be taxed ten times the present amount if it could be judiciously and econ- omically expended on beautifying and improving the appearance of our Borough, we feel bound to have regard for those who are doing the best they can and desire no change."
We pass rapidly over the next few years in which the personnel of the Borough Board changed but slightly, indicating the confidence of the citizens in their non partisan officials. The sidewalk question was the main stumbling
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block for several years, but with cooperation in most cases, and a firm stand where necessary, the center was eventually brought out of the mud.
Lanterns no longer flickered along the streets for the street lamps gave fair illumination.
In 1891 an ordinance was adopted requiring snow to be cleaned from walks within twenty-four hours and how people howled at this autocratic order of things.
Having brought about a system of walks, and provided for their con- dition, they gave their attention to replacing the old method of fording the streets by building crosswalks and employing a man to keep them clean. People who had sniffed at the idea of street lamps as a needless extravagance, now began to petition the board for a lamp to be located at their particular corner.
Poison ivy growing on the stone wall at the corner of Maple and South Avenue came in for attention and the owner told he must remove it.
The fire company's allowance was increased to $150.00 and "Central Park," the little circle enclosing an elm tree under where the present traffic light hangs at Main and East Avenue was put in orderly condition and the laborers' charge of sixty-five cents ordered paid.
Taxes remained at the same rate but they managed to stretch their funds to have a survey of the streets made. Nuisances were eradicated from time to time until the people eventually became adjusted to the principle of the great- est good for the greatest number no matter whom it pinched.
They made the first effort in behalf of trees as is evidenced by the follow- ing from the annual report of Warden G. F. Lockwood in 1892;
"Too many of our residents have but meagre appreciation of the value and necessity of shade trees in a rural town and will seemingly and without reason or sentiment, ruthlessly destroy the growth and beauty of some thirty or forty years in about as many minutes thereby caus- ing an injury to the attractiveness of our Borough streets from which it will take many weary years to recover. Cutting and trim- ming our shade trees should be done only under the supervision of the board with the utmost care and deliberation."
In 1893 taxes increased to four mills and the question of demanding its share of road money from the Town arose. Up to this time street lighting had been the largest item of expense and the roads left to the town. From now on, the Borough took over the care of its own roads and the question of their proper share of road money became, and has remained ever since, a subject of annual debate between the the Borough Board and the selectmen.
In 1894 Lucius M. Monroe, Warden, opens his annual report with the following:
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"The present fiscal year has caused a period of great commercial disturbance in nearly all the countries of the world. While its effect has been severe in many places in this country, this Town and Borough have been exempted to a marked degree.
"The intelligent and conservative action of our officers and the char- acteristic economies of our public and private life have made us a community less liable to the depression of general trade and panics, and almost entirely exempt from any of the suffering and want ac- companying such depressions."
Still these years from 1889 to 1895 were devoted largely to sidewalks. lighting, and the abatement of nuisances. These are typical minutes on the record book:
"That the clerk be instructed to notify that he must discontinue throwing fish heads or refuse in the street."
"That unless remove the drain now discharging into the street in front of his property on Park Street within 30 days, the ordinances will be applied."
"That be allowed until Aug. 1st, to repair his side- walk."
During this period some 500 acts of the board recorded on their minute book showed 60% devoted to sidewalks, light, and nuisance; 15% to police and fire protection.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY, AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS INTRODUCED
In his annual report in 1895, the Warden, Mr. L. B. Sutton, who had been clerk since 1889 said:
"Without doubt before another year expires, water will be running through mains in the Borough streets. With this advent comes in- creased duties of the board and considerable expense for the Borough. At the same time we trust that the incoming board will make the best terms with the water company for the use of a suitable number of hydrants that the fire company will be enabled to successfully com- bat any fires, as within the present year they have been severely handi- capped by lack of water." (Up to that time the water supply in case of fire, was either the owner's well or three cisterns which had been dug: one on South Avenue, about where the Socony gas station is, one in the rear of the Silliman store, and another on South Main Street, just below the corner of East Maple Street.)
From 1895 to 1900 changes came rapidly. The New Canaan Water Co., founded by local initiative and largely local capital built the reservoir and laid a system of mains. While this event was heralded with great enthusiasm it resulted in a long fight between the water company and Borough over the cost
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of hydrants and brought about serious consideration of buying out the water company. Many recalled the shortsightedness of the Town in refusing to listen to the plea of my father, Stephen B. Hoyt, who, acting as agent for Mr. Barlow Ogden, owner of Lake Siscowit, urged the Town to buy that abundant water supply for the inevitable day when there must be a public water system. Sad to relate, they could not see it, so it was sold to the Stamford Water Co., for $5,000, and a few years later the New Canaan Water Co., whose reservoir dried up, was buying water from this very lake and pumping it a mile through pipes laid on top of the ground until their own dam could be raised. But the Borough finally made terms with the water company and swallowed their medicine-a contract of $1,000 a year for 30 years, and $30 each for additional hydrants.
Coincident with the building of the water system was the arrival of the first Italians in New Canaan. The Irish had ceased to supply the demand for unskilled labor exclusively as they had done in these parts for many years, and from then on it has been done largely by Italians. During this period the board appointed the first public health officer, Dr. C. B. Keeler. The first telephone system was installed. A street sprinkler wagon moved slowly up and down the busy center and laid the dust. Bicycles reached their hey day and the first paved road was laid with State aid on South Avenue. Electricity replaced the old steam locomotive on the branch line to Stamford. The old oil street lamps, lighted only on dark nights and sometimes not then if it was supposed to be moonlight, were replaced by 80 twenty candlepower incandescents and 5 arc lamps at $1,300 annually. Annual expenditures rose from $1,000 in 1889 to $10,000 (round numbers) in 1900, with the first deficit of $1,300. The side- walk and nuisance question continued through this period quite as actively as in the past and many interesting and humorous incidents would be worth tell- ing if space permitted.
Experience of the past ten years cast a brighter light upon their task and the need of a better vehicle of government was apparent so they adopted what amounted to almost a new charter. One act inflicted a salary of $150 upon the next Warden, Mr. George E. Seely (1897), which resulted in an astonishing increase in the total votes cast at the annual election. Previous elections totaled approximately 40 to 50 votes, about as they do today, but this election brought out 183, followed the next year by 162, and after that we seem to have be- come accustomed to extravagance and only 57 of us visited the polls.
Mr. Seely was an enthusiast and we read in his annual report:
"We think it wise that the state road appropriation was not put on Main Street, for we are convinced that with the number of teams that are standing in the business center it would not have been satisfactory. We believe it would be wise to put aside three or four hundred dollars annually that we might pave Main Street, with bricks."
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Mr. Seely was followed by Mr. Wm. A. Reid in 1898 and Mr. F. L. Comstock succeeded to the wardenship in 1899.
As coming events are said to cast their shadows before, we find in Mr. Comstock's report the first mention of the sewer.
"The Sanitary Committee has had several difficult cases to dispose of and would call the attention of all to the pressing need of careful attention to out buildings, cess-pools, vaults, etc. The Borough needs a system of sewage and we would recommend that application be made to the legislature for an amendment to the charter permitting such a step."
SEWER, CONCRETE ROADS AND BUILDING CODE
So much for the Borough in the nineteenth century. Time forbids any detailed account of the rest of the story, although it is rich in interest. The first decade of the twentieth century saw the sewer plant established, and the next decade brought the permanent concrete roads in Main Street, and Railroad Avenue. Would that we might describe the excitement in connec- tion with this undertaking. It was a long fought battle full of what today seem amusing incidents but there was little humor in the picture for them. To give some idea of the condition of the streets, the following may be helpful. One day the late Father John Stapleton, who had, according to his morning and afternoon custom, dropped into the old Advertiser office, then about opposite the Fire House, and calling to the editor, John Hersam, said, "Come here, John and look out of your window. You are lending support to this movement for a concrete road. What is that dog burying a bone in the street in front of your place going to do if you cover the road with concrete?"
The next decade was marked by the establishment of building lines, and building codes, the improvements in Cherry Street, South, and Railroad Ave- nues, and a 14 mill tax rate.
Following the wardens already named came J. F. Bliss, J. Irving Benedict, E. B. Lawrence, H. C. Turner, W. B. Simon, J. H. Behre, L. S. Knapp, C. C. Wheeler, Thomas Tunney, B. H. Keeler, W. A. Dixon, George R. Stevens, and again after thirty years our present Warden, L. B. Sutton.
The clerks have served long terms which fortunately preserved a uniform- ity in the records which makes it simple to follow the story of the official acts. They were L. B. Sutton, W. A. Smallhorn, W. W. Kirk and John E. Hersam, who is now in his thirtieth year in this capacity.
To list the burgesses would require space and time not allowed but we cannot refrain from recording the fact that many who having nothing to gain and much to suffer have given of their time repeatedly over long periods. The present senior burgess, Mr. J. M. Silliman who as a young engineer just home from Lafayette College made the first survey of the Borough streets-has had
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the longest term of service of any burgess. Urged to become warden many times he has always refused but has continued giving his time to a position in which his knowledge and experience have been of inestimable value.
The vision of its founders is amply justified when one takes a long view of the accomplishments of 45 years. Had they not taken the steps when they did, somebody would have done so sooner or later. Conceived in the interest of a town they loved, and believed in by a few who were willing to assume all of the burden, it has grown into a state in which all share the benefits and only a double tax and an artificial line keeps it apart from the Town. There are those who hold that the Borough has served its purpose, "put the Town on the map," and there is as good reason for it to consolidate with the Town today as there was for it to separate from it 45 years ago.
THE POST OFFICE, 1818-1933 BY WILLIAM B. SIMON, POSTMASTER
I am not quite as fortunate as Miss Babcock, and Mr. Hoyt, in being able to go back to the original records for my information on the subject on which I am to speak, as Al Smith would say. In going back to the records, I find the first record dates are 1892, when S. Y. St. John was postmaster. The Post Office at that time was of the third class. The receipts of the office that year were $3,000 and continued to grow slowly until 1909, when the office was raised to the second class when William J. McKendrick was postmaster. The receipts that year were $11,000. The receipts continued to grow, when, in 1923 the last year of Harry Kelley's term they were $19,000, and for the calendar year 1933, the estimated receipts will be $38,000, an increase of 100 per cent. in ten years. This will give you some idea of the growth of the postal service in New Canaan.
From the most accurate information I can gather, the first mail was brought to New Canaan by stage coach from Darien, and that service was continued until the railroad was built, when it was carried by train.
My first recollection of mail messenger service was performed by Jim Donnelly. He carried the mail from the railroad station to the post office. They were the good old days, with one or two pouches of letters, carried on his shoulder, and he would borrow a wheelbarrow for the Christmas rush. Today it requires the services of a one-ton truck to take care of the daily mail, and at Christmas time it will fill a two-ton truck to capacity.
On July 1, 1933, the two-cent local postage went into effect. With it came the one-cent postage due letters. Previous to July 1, 100 postage due stamps would last for several years. Since July 1, we have sold over 10,000 one-cent postage due stamps, which gives you some idea of the extra work we
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have to handle on account of the change in postal rates. We have two classes of mail that causes us to be called 'nosey,' by some of our patrons, but the rules and regulations of the post office department compels the mailer to state on registered mail, the exact amount, if cash, and also the amount of negotiable. We have no jurisdiction in the matter, and must obey the orders of the post office department.
The other class of mail is fourth or parcel post. We must ask you, if it is fragile, perishable, or if it contains writing of any kind. The word "credit," "repair" or anything of a similar nature makes the entire package subject to the first-class rate. If you wish to include a communication with your parcel, simply inclose it inside of a letter and attach it to the parcel. That is the only way you can send it without it being rated as first class mail.
Last Monday morning one of my men handed me a note. Of course it was not signed. It read, "We of New Canaan, believe that the lights should be left burning behind the boxes after closing hours." I don't know whether the writer of that note is in the congregation or not, but if he or she is, I would like to say that it is not necessary to write to me. Come in and see me personally. If you have any complaints of any kind, you will receive prompt and courteous attention. If the party who sent the note knew the number of communications that we receive from the department to economize on electricity, they would know why we do not leave the lights on after closing time. Again I say if you have any trouble with your mail service, come to me personally, and we will give you the service you think you should receive. I thank you.
(NOTE-The first Post Office in New Canaan was established in June, 1818 with Samuel St. John, the first postmaster. Mails were brought in on horseback from Stamford twice a week to the offices which were in his house on Park Street, later moved to his store near the Academy. Other Postmasters in New Canaan were: Benjamin Hoyt, December 12, 1849; Henry B. Hoyt, September 3, 1853; Noah W. Hoyt, April 26, 1861; Mrs. Cornelia Hoyt, June 4, 1880; Selleck Y. St. John, September 10, 1883; Lucius M. Monroe, September 27, 1886; Stephen B. Hoyt, January 27, 1899; William J. McKendrick, March 1, 1907; L. B. Sutton, April 1, 1911; Henry Kelley, 1915 and William B. Simon, 1924).
THE SCHOOLS BY HENRY W. SAXE (Read by Miss Ellen Gregory, Principal of Center School)
Many people misconceive the reasons for State control of public educa- tion and what it means to the individual. For instance, the vast majority think of it in terms of opportunity. That is indeed just what it is to the growing generation. But as a matter of cold fact, opportunity for the school
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boy or girl is a by-product, albeit a most important one, of what the founders of our American commonwealths had in mind when they ordained it as part of the State functions. They saw clearly that if the new State governments were to stand as democracies, the citizens with their votes must be intelligent and enlightened as to their duties. To that end schools were provided at public expense. And in one form or another compulsory attendance was set up to insure at least the minimum of education that would make the voter fit to par- ticipate in the affairs of government.
What that minimum should be might easily be a matter for debate. It varies in different states. The commonly accepted least common denominator that is acceptable is completion of the sixth grade, which is a low standard indeed, the most biting criticism of the great body of voters being that we are a nation of sixth graders.
From that point the maintenance of education at public expense may go through the high school or even to the end of a college career with the bachelor's degree. But in any event, back of the opportunity lies responsibility. It is simply another illustration of the fact that where much is given, much shall be required. If the recipient of an education paid for out of the common funds lives up to his obligations, he will bring to his civic duties the willingness and ability to be a constructive force in all things that affect the welfare of the community and State.
The American school system has had a long and interesting history, commensurate with the history of the country itself. It has developed with the nation, and as in the early days both were crude as compared with the present, each has been called on to meet the requirements of a continually increasing complexity of life in all its phases. As time has passed it has become inevitable that critics should arise who are able and willing to diagnose all the ills that the system is heir to, and to suggest, nay to demand remedies both mild and drastic.
Thus it happens that we have in our midst "educational fundamentalists" who would cut out the fads and frills of the present day and go back to the Three R's. Such people fail to remember that to be consistent, society should also have to return to the conditions when the Three R's were the standard. That would mean scrapping the telephone, electric lights, all electric devices, automobiles, etc., and return to a primitive style of living in which the oil lamp or tallow dip would do for lighting purposes, the ox team or Old Dobbin would be the standard for transportation, and so on down the line. Such a re- duction to absurdity would be unbelievable in the light of present day standards.
It has been proposed that a careful selection should be made in the gram- mar grades of those best fitted for promotion to high school, and that only the elect as established by highest marks or standings, should be allowed to go on. A similar set up is suggested in high school as determining who shall be allowed to pass on to college. Such a proposition is utterly subversive of our American
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traditions and ideals. If our system means opportunity, it is opportunity for all. In a long experience, I found it to be a fact that good standing in the grades did not necesarily mean that such student would be equally good in high school. And it is every bit as true that in many instances students who had a terribly hard time in preparation for high school made much more brilliant records when they finally arrived there than did others whose records in the lower grades were much better. And the same thing holds true as between high school and college.
As a matter of fact, no system has been devised that can fortell with any assurance what an individual will do four or eight years from the present time. I can name a goodly number of citizens of New Canaan and other towns where I have lived who are living ornaments in their communities, but whose chances in life would have been blasted if such a rule as the one suggested above had been enforced when they were students in the public schools. The adage, "teacher, be good to the dull boy! You may need his assistance some day," holds good right here if it ever did.
Then there is the citizen who objects to the expense of the schools. He has no children to educate and he does not see why he should pay taxes to edu- cate the children of somebody else. This brings us back to the reason for State supervision. With this in mind, it will be seen that in the last analysis if John Doe, who has no children or whose children have gone beyond school age ob- jects to paying taxes that will apply in part to the education of the children of Richard Roe, the said John Doe either exhibits ignorance of the first principles of citizenship, or shows an utter indifference to the same.
Another type of good folks would cut out certain of the newer subjects in the interests of economy, as being in a degree at least, unnecessary. Suffice it to say that there is no subject in the curriculum that was not placed there in answer to the demand of society.
In some cases the State prescribes the subjects. In others the demand is made through the community. But in every case it is the necessity of present day society, commercially, industrially, socially or culturally that makes it necessary for the curriculum to be what it is. To delete the newer subjects would be much like scrapping the V8 and returning to the Model T, which is just as effective at 'getting there and getting back' as it ever was. No, the development of society has compelled the present day type of school; and any attempt on the part of individuals to curtail its activities is a reflection on society of which the individual is a part.
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