USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > Canton sesquicentennial, 1806-1956; a short illustrated history of Canton > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
Frank Pierce House
This house was built by the Collins Co. around the late sixties and sold to Dr. George F. Lewis. Dr. Lewis sold to Mr. Cheney Doane, Sr. and it is now the property and home of his grandson Mr. Frank Pierce.
Alton Fish House
This house was built by Mr. Peter Myers on land bought from the Collins Co. in 1848. Mr. Thomas F. Myers his son resided here for many years, his heirs selling to Mr. Fish in 1949, who now lives here.
George Soucy House
This house situated well up on Torrington Avenue is listed on the 1869 map as the home of one J. Chandler. His children resided there for many years finally selling to a Mr. Abramson, he in turn selling to his son-in-law Mr. Fritz Anderson. Mr. Anderson sold to Mr. Zerah Hin- man, after changing hand several times, Mr. Soucy bought and lives here.
Harold Erickson House
This house stands just north of the Soucy place and was listed on the 1869 map as the home of a Mr. Napy, a small farm. Mr. Erickson bought it from the Napy estate and it is now the property of Mr. Erick- son's son, Harold, who lives here.
Martin Rioux House
This house stands at the junction of Torrington Avenue and Collins Road. It was formerly the property of Mr. Howard S. Collins, and was probably built about 1850 and known as the "Gate House," a gate clos- ing Collins Road, then a private drive to the Samuel Collins estate. Mr. Collins built this home in 1850, overlooking the beautiful Farmington River.
After the Collins family removed to Hartford, it changed hands several times, at one time being a Sanatorium, finally burning during the ownership of Mr. Arthur Johnson. The "Gate House" is now owned by Mr. Martin Rioux of Bristol, and occupied by Mr. Joseph Dubay and Mr. Adolph Bierut.
For many years the Gauthier family owned and lived here, also the William Zietlers and Fred Schmitts.
138
-
=
PART IV EARLY SCHOOLHOUSES IN CANTON BY ROSELINE C. ADAMS
In 1750, the year West Simsbury (now Canton) was incorporated as a parish, money was appropriated for schools. The first record is the appointment of Ezekiel Humphrey and David Adams to lay out money for "Woman Scholes for the instruction of children." Teaching had been done in the homes at first. East Hill records a log schoolhouse built in 1745 on land now belonging to John Cables.
When the School Society of West Simsbury was formed in 1759, three schools were built in different sections of the parish; North Can- ton, Canton Center and Canton Village.
The first schoolhouse in Canton Village, built in 1759, was on the Albany Turnpike near a big rock in front of R. G. Bradley's. This was torn down and a second one replaced it in 1775. This was moved in 1807 and became the upper part of John Butler's house. The third school, a two-story building, was built in 1808 on Canton Green, facing the present building. This was later moved over next to the cemetery and is now occupied by two families - Clyde Stickles and Harold Colton. The fourth schoolhouse was built in 1872, facing the Green. This was two stories high and was called the Academy. It was used as a school until 1949 and is now the Canton Volunteer Fire Company Fire- house.
LOG SCHOOLHOUSE, EAST HILL
140
The log schoolhouse on East Hill was replaced by a frame structure in 1798. It stood about twenty feet south of the present building, which was built in 1832. Our forefathers deliberated carefully and sometimes long in deciding on the sites for public buildings. We read in the records of three meetings concerning the building of this school. At the first one it was voted to build a schoolhouse "the bigness of the old one" and to procure an open stove. A week later it was voted "to sit the new schoolhouse the bigness of it to the north." The next meeting recon- sidered this and voted "to sit the new schoolhouse twelve feet farther to the north than the old one now stands." This 1832 house still stands, and is the home of the East Hill Community Club.
LOG SCHOOLHOUSE, NORTH CANTON
An old drawing pictures a log schoolhouse in North Canton in 1750. In 1759 the red schoolhouse, a frame building, was built in the fork of the road near Mr. Tilton's, facing the south. A new school was built in 1872 on the same site. The old red schoolhouse was auctioned off to Ruggles Case, who moved it to his meadow south of the church, where his son Henry used it to store furs. When the 1872 house was moved to its present location, in 1927, the little red building was town down to make room for it. A Select School was built in 1832 on the west side of the main road just beyond the North Canton Volunteer Fire Depart- ment fire house. The foundation stones can still be seen. The select schools were not run by the town, but were managed by groups of par- ents who wanted their children to get a higher education than that afforded by the district schools.
The first school in Canton Center, called the old red school, was built in 1759 across the road from Mrs. Mollie Webster's house, a little father south. This was used until 1847 when a larger building became necessary. The old red schoolhouse was sold and moved to Collinsville, where it was used as a saloon, down near the Arch. Plans were all made for the new school, but trouble developed over the site. So hot did the
141
OLD RED SCHOOLHOUSE, CANTON CENTER, 1759
argument grow that the Middle district was divided, forming the Center and South Center districts. The South Center bought a piece of land south of the Conference House and opened school in the new build- ing in the fall of 1848, but the Center group did not decide on a site and build until a year later. These schools were discontinued in 1942, the Center schoolhouse becoming a home and the other the property of the church.
The first school in River District was built on the bank of the Farm- ington River below the Towne bridge in 1775. In 1868 it was moved by oxen to Guildersleeve Avenue where it was a home until 1890 when it burned down. A new school was built in 1868 on the corner knoll north- west of E. Raymond Bristol's house. This one story red building was raised to two stories in 1895, and was closed in 1910 when the pupils were sent to Collinsville. The building was used as a dwelling for a few years, then was moved to Torrington Avenue, now the home of Thomas Pillon.
Most of the land in the West, or Pike District, as it was often called was originally in the town of New Hartford. The first schoolhouse in this section of Canton was built in 1815. It stood on the west side of Albany Turnpike near the foot of Indian Hill, opposite the Colonial Motel. When it became too small, a new one was built in 1850 nearly opposite the home of Burton Bidwell. This school was given up in 1910
142
and the pupils were transported to Canton Center. The 1815 building was sold and for many years was the home of Harrison French and his son Morton. (A small trace can still be seen, called the "Half house") The one built in 1850 was made into a home by John Ryan, and is now the home of Thomas Murphy.
Collinsville became a school district in 1831. By 1837 the village had grown so that there were two districts, one each side of the river. An article written by Mrs. Elizabeth Warren in 1901 has this sentence - "How many can recall the time when a street lined with tenements climbed the hills on either side to end squarely in front of a neat white schoolhouse, the very crown of the village?" Ten years later the two districts were united, and the first building, a temporary affair and looking, it is said, like a ropewalk, stood at the east end of the bulkhead. A Union schoolhouse was built in 1854, located west of the Congrega- tional Church. The building was of wood, 62 feet long and 42 feet wide, and could accommodate 250 to 300 scholars. The largest room on the second floor was occupied by the High School and the building is known as the High School. Later it had one addition built on the western end. The High School attracted pupils from other districts and the popula- tion of the village increased, so that two more buildings were built, the Spring Street School before 1900 and the other soon after. When the new High School was built in 1935 the old High School and one of the others was torn down, only the Spring Street school remaining. This is now owned by the Red Men, and provides a meeting place for many organizations.
143
PART V CHURCHES
BY LOIS BRISTOL
--
-----
-
----
---
The first Church or Meeting House as it was called in those days was built at Canton Center in 1763. This was taken down in 1814 and the present structure erected on the same site. Prior to 1763 religious services were held on the Sabbath in private houses. In 1750 the General Assembly constituted this part of Simsbury as a separate parish, called The First Ecclesiastical Society of West Simsbury. In 1874 the Church was modernized, an arched ceiling was put in and the galleries re- moved, one row of stained glass windows replacing the two rows of plain windows. The high pulpit was also removed. The Church is sur- mounted with a steeple, neat in appearance, of a type which tends to adorn and beautify our New England village. The Rev. Evander Morri- son was its first pastor.
A hearse house used to stand northwest of the Church and in the early days a pound for stray animals was southwest of the Church. A long line of horse sheds extended both north and south of the Church.
In 1783 a number of persons in West Simsbury, now Canton, separ- ated themselves from the Canton Center Church and formed a church, consisting of about 30 members and called themselves Separatists or Strict Congregationalists. In the year 1784 the Rev. James Bacon be- came their first pastor.
144
After a short period of three years (1787) a dissension took place in which Mr. Bacon with about half of the church members embraced the Baptist faith and were baptized. After Mr. Bacon left, the Church remained in a low and declining state for about ten years. There were few meetings and a visiting pastor occasionally. A news item in the local paper written some years later states it in a tactful way. "A large swarm of bees are now working in the tower of the Baptist Church in Canton Village. They are not often disturbed by the ringing of the church bell, as religious services are very seldom held in the Church the present season."
In the year 1802 Elisha Case, 2nd., was chosen deacon and things looked up a bit. At a meeting held at the home of Uriah Case in 1807, a committee was chosen to raise money to build this present building. According to the records $798.22 was raised. It was also decided that any other religious denominations might use it occasionally when not in use by the Baptists.
The Church stood on what is now Canton Green, and was moved to its present location in 1838 on land purchased from Pomeroy Higley.
This is the original Church and stands on the north side of Albany Turnpike, facing south. This Church has four large, fluted columns,
145
supporting a deep overhang on the front side. The windows are the old stained glass, leaded windows. The Church steeple is in three graduated square sizes with fluted columns to match the columns below. This steeple holds the original bell installed in 1839, made by the makers of the Independence Bell at Philadelphia. It has a good tone and can be heard a long distance on a clear day. The interior of the building has been changed - the present pulpit is part of the first old high pulpit. The galleries were removed about 1911. The dining room where the church people have their church suppers was built in the front of the Church (upstairs into the overhang or porch of the Church.)
This Church, with its original frame, is the oldest church in this town and is a fine example of a typical New England Colonial Church.
The First Congregational Church of Collinsville was organized in 1832 with 33 members, 20 males and 13 females. They came from 11 different churches, the largest number from Canton Center. The Rev. H. M. Brimsmade was the first pastor. It soon became necessary for larger quarters and land for the new building was bought from Correl Humphrey in 1826 and the attractive building was erected at the expense of the Collins Company. The first edifice was dedicated December 27, 1836.
146
On the night of January 18, 1857, the first church building was destroyed by fire. The weather was very cold with high winds and the surrounding buildings, including the new school recently built, were saved by throwing snow upon them. The building was immediately replaced by the present structure which was dedicated February 25, 1858.
Its architecture is typical of the beautiful Congregational Churches throughout New England. Its steeple, tall and graceful, houses a bell whose sweet tones echo through the valley, calling its worshippers to Service.
Its setting is ideal, facing the Green, and is really the beauty spot of our Village.
Canton's Churches
Organized
Built
First Congregational Church, Canton Center
1750
1763
Canton Baptist Church
1787
1807
First Congregational Church of Collinsville .
1832
1836
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church.
1856
1852
North Canton Methodist Episcopal Church .
1870
1871
Trinity Episcopal Church
1875
1876
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.
1885
1893
Swedish Evangelical Pilgrim Church.
1887
1893
MEMORIAL SKETCHES OF REV. GEORGE B. ATWELL (Pearls for the Poor)
"While in Meriden in 1837, Mr. Atwell received calls from churches in Milford, Haddam, and Suffield, but his work awaited him in the quiet village lying in the midst of hills and mountains, known in the olden time as Suffrage, in the town of Canton, Conn.
"His first visit to Canton was at the close of a spring day, when he found himself in a pleasant village street, and conspicuous in its center was an old fashioned meeting house, without steeple, unpainted, and homely, but gilded and gloried for the moment by the rays of the setting sun. The church was the oldest and had been one of the most influential of the denomination in that part of the state. It was the only Baptist church in the town, and its members and sympathizers comprised the majority of a community that reached over the outlying hills and in- cluded thrifty householders and owners of thriving farms and orch- ards. There were men of means, who by hard-wrought accumulation of cents and dollars had become rich without knowing it, and without knowing or fully apprehending the responsibilities that rightfully be- long to a Christian church.
"Mr. Atwell preached in the old meeting-house, and some of the people went to hear him. The third time he preached, a goodly number congregated. This was followed by a meeting of the society. They wanted him for their pastor but feared they could not support him.
147
When told that was the only objection, he replied, 'Then I will come; for I know you can support me, and I have no doubt that you will'.
"So he brought his family to the little maple-shaded parsonage, and began preaching in the old fashioned meeting-house, which may we never forget! Outside doors fronting in various directions ; the square, high-backed pews; the lofty, over-hanging pulpit, ornamented on occasions of evening service with a pair of huge wooden yellow-painted candlesticks, for which candles of extra size must be especially made ; the long, quaint galleries ; the choir of comely young matrons .. .
In the year 1838 there were 52 converts, many of them young people, who were baptized and united with the church.
" ... Mr. Atwell had been in consultation with some of the members of the church, and had proposed the plan of building a new house of worship. This proved a heavy ball to set in motion. 'After debating pro's and con's, opposite forces were equalized and the ball began to roll.' The church was moved and renovated. In a private letter of August 30, 1839, he says - 'We have had our dedication, all harmoni- ous and pleasing, 16 ministers present, and all seemed to think it the most pleasant country church they ever saw. We have bargained for a bell, weight 800 pounds, and our good people appear delighted and pleased'."
148
148
HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
MAY 96 lound -To -Pleas® N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.