USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > Canton sesquicentennial, 1806-1956; a short illustrated history of Canton > Part 4
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Previous to the flood, Canton's electrical power had its source at Unionville. The plant was demolished during the flood and even though power crews worked feverishly, it was several days before electricity was restored. Communications were in a similar state but telephone facilities were installed by crews from all over the state. Prior to this, an emergency line between the east and the west banks of the river, where the line had gone out with the bridge, had been installed. Dry ice and generators were at a premium as freezer owners frantically tried to save many pounds of frozen foods.
Canteens had quickly been established at the Redmen's Hall and the Lutheran Church on Torrington Avenue. Foodstuffs that could not be obtained in town were flown in by helicopters which landed at the high school field, in front of the Collins Company, or directly across the
35
river. The townspeople quickly became used to hearing the low drone of the helicopters as these versitile birds became the lifeline of more badly hit towns such as Winsted and Torrington.
The Canton Civil Defense set up headquarters in the Town Hall where clothing was issued, the National Guard received their orders and the people could obtain information about the flood. The Civil Defense supplied temporary housing, medical assistance and food, and rationed gasoline (this last was necessary because lack of electricity had rendered service pumps temporarily useless and also no one was sure when the town could obtain more gasoline). Guards were posted along both sides of the river 24 hours a day to prevent looting.
A Civil Defense worker was posted with the National Guardsmen at strategic points in the town to prevent people without specific busi- ness from entering and to discourage sightseers. A curfew of 9:00 P.M. was enforced to alleviate confusion in the darkness which pervaded the town because of lack of electricity. Canton was not under martial law at any time. The National Guard was requested by and under the supervision of the Canton Civil Defense.
After the water had gone down, the enormous job of digging out and cleaning up faced the town. One of the most immediate problems was a badly needed bridge to replace the one lost at the Collins Com- pany. The supports of the town bridge had been strengthened and traffic was proceeding across it, but the bridge was not satisfactory for large amounts of traffic, making it necessary to replace the washed-out bridge immediately.
The work of installing a portable 260 foot Bailey Bridge, which allows one-way traffic, was begun August 27th and completed Septem- ber 10th. The State Highway Department paid the $30,000 cost.
The total expense to the town for payment of police and temporary work on roads and bridges was $22,845. The State and Federal govern- ments reimbursed the town for $19,995, leaving a net cost of $2,849.
The state trucks had been damaged and the town trucks, which had been flooded, were covered by a comprehensive insurance policy which insured them against rising water. Automobiles could have been in- sured, but flood insurance for homes and businesses, for the most part, was unattainable.
Red Cross case workers interviewed effected families and provided them with new homes if their savings plus their earnings were not sufficient to buy them. In certain cases, the Red Cross also paid for rebuilding damaged homes and replacing flooded utilities.
$1,885 was collected in Canton during the flood and Red Cross aid to Canton was $131,000.
36
The various fire departments of Canton serviced the community by washing down and decontaminating effected areas and pumping cellars flooded by supersaturation of the ground. A total of 6,695 typhoid shots were administered in Canton during the flood. No typhoid cases were reported. Three buildings were condemned. Drinking water was care- fully checked each day and all possible sanitary precautions were taken to guard against disease.
A list of known damage in Canton follows :
Houses demolished
22
River Road
8
Powder Mill Road
3
Arch Street (Burlington)
11
Families who left their homes
84
River Road
14
North Street
7
Center Street
3
Maple Avenue
17
Dyer Avenue
3
Collins Road
6
Burlington Avenue
3
Powder Mill Road
3
Indian Hill
2
Arch Street (Burlington)
26
Businesses and public buildings - inoperable
Damaged and/or rendered 18
River Road
4
River Street
2
New Street
3
Bridge Street
2
Maple Avenue
1
Burlington Avenue
4
Indian Hill
1
Front Street (Collins Company)
1
.
Canton had been through the worst flood in its history. It had sur- vived, but the foremost questions in most people's minds were those concerning an effective warning system and a flood control plan.
Canton was made part of an elaborate warning system that included most of New England and action was pending by the Federal and State governments on bills advocating flood control and prevention.
The Army Engineers helped to clean up the debris left by the flood and made an extensive survey of the river. They then made recom- mendations to the town concerning flood control measures.
37
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PHOEBE HUMPHREY HOUSE
4
SECTION II
Dedicated to PHOEBE HUMPHREY CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION COLLINSVILLE, CONNECTICUT
Compiled by PAST REGENTS CLUB OF PHOEBE HUMPHREY CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION COLLINSVILLE, CONNECTICUT
1928 Mrs. Louis U. Barnes
1932 Mrs. Carl F. Svenson
1936 Mrs. Howard A. Bristol
1938 Mrs. Arthur W. Sweeton, Jr.
1942 Mrs. George A. Latimer
1944
Mrs. Russell H. Rand
1946 Mrs. Stuart A. Bristol
1950 Mrs. J. Wesson Phelps
1952 Mrs. Albert H. Viering
1954 Mrs. William G. Adams
Edited by SARA LOUGEE LATIMER 1956
*
UGHTERS
OF TH
AMERIC
THE . NOILOTO
YICAN REVOLU
CANTON
Facts and Fancies
of its
Oldest Houses
with a
Brief Resume
of its
Oldest Churches and Schools
Alphabetical List of House Occupants
A
Adams, William Alderman, Helen (Collins Co.) Allen, Mrs. Charles Allen, Delbert L. Allyn, Harold Anderson, Elmer Angell, Rev. Russell E. Arnold, Joseph Augur, James E.
B
Bahre, Charles
Baker, Dr. George
Baldwin, Lucian E.
Barker, Dr. Norman J.
Barraclough, James
Beckwith, William
Beckwith, William H.
Berg, Edward
Bidwell, Mrs. Albert F.
Bidwell, Thomas
Bierut, Adolph
Bill, Roswell W.
Bissell, William
Blackman, Elmer B.
Blanchard, John
Bradley, Lester and Hazel
Braislin, John C. Bristol, Anson W., Jr. Bristol, E. Raymond Bristol, Herman
Bristol, Mortimer R.
Bristol, Mrs. Roscoe Bristol, Sterling
Brown, David
Butler, Harold Butler, John
C
Cables, Alfred Canton Inn Case, Amos (site) Case, Alice L. Case, Gordon Case, Herman Case, Lewis, Jr. Case, Ruth E. Chapin, Henry Chapin, Kenneth Collins Company Office Collins Company Tenements Congregational Church Parsonage Comeau, Clifford Conklin, Allen Conklin, B. E. Conlin, Gay Cowles, F. Morgan Cox, Frank Cox, Dr. Ralph Craig, Mrs. Charlotte G. Craig, Robert W. Crippen, E. H.
Crittenden, Mrs. Butler P. Crowley, Carroll Crowley, Lisle Curry, Arthur (Collins Co.) Cyr, Arthur
D
Daniels, Leo
Davis, Guy
Davis, Hewat
Demski, Theodore
Dionne, Eugene
Dodge, Gail
Donaldson, Mrs. Stanley
Dowd, Ralph
Downey Family (Collins Co.)
Driggs, Amos
Dubay, Joseph (Martin Rioux)
Durkin, Joseph
Dyer, Margaret
E Eaton Block
Eaton, Everett B.
Eaton, Everett P.
Eddy, Dr. G. W. (Tenants)
Edgerton, Howard (see H. Davis)
Ehrhardt, Louis H.
Elliott, William F.
Engine House ( Collins Co.)
Erickson, Harold
F
Fielden, Lee C. Fish, Alton Fletcher, John (Collins Co.)
Folley, Edward
Forker, Lewellyn P. Fox, Clarence (see R. B. Stevens) French Blocks ( Collins Co.)
G Gerath, Joseph Gillespie, Stuart P. Gillette, Kent B. Goodhue, Emily and Irene Gracy, Ruth V.
Graham, G. W. (Collins Co.) Grant, Geraldine Guilford, Vivian G. Gutman, Daniel
H
Hall, Lina Harder, Hubert Harrington, Burton and Lucelia Harrington Homestead (Tenants) Hart, Delos Haury, Mrs. W. C. Hess, Richard A. Hickmont, Allerton C. Hoffman, Ernest Hopkins, P. (Collins Co.) Horton, Warren G.
46
Hosford Tavern (site) Hough Block (Mrozieenski, Stanley) House, Mrs. Harold Hudon, Albert (Collins Co.) Humphrey, Harold W. Humphrey, Phoebe (site)
J Jaeger, Jacob Jahn, Mrs. Anna Jennison, Whitney Johnson, George Johnson, Paul Johnson, Uno.
K
Katzung, Florence Buttles Kellerman Family Kelsey, Luman P. Kilburn, Dr. C. J. Kimmerlee, Robert
King, Leslie Kistler, Wilson Konold, Mrs. F. W.
Krauch, Harold Kreisler, Edward
Krutsky, Mrs. Olga Kyle, Theodore C.
L
Lane, Mills and William Langer, Oswald Lawton, Mrs. Fred Lee, Harold Lennon, Mrs. Eva Lewis, Joseph S. Lewis, Mary P. Lindsay, Bruce Ljongquist Family Loomis, James L. Lowell, James B.
M
Mahoney, Dennis J. Marfyak, John Matthews, O. V. Matott, Guy (Quintal) McConkey, John (Collins Co.)
McDonald, Dale
Melzer, Mrs. Herman Messenger, Miles Mills, A .O. Mills, Mrs. Erwin Miner, L. B. Morris, Ray H. Mubarek, Edward (Tenants) Myers, Harry
N Nelson, Frank and Avis Nissen, Nis Nixon Family O O'Connor, S. J. O'Neil, Mrs. J. P.
Olson, Arthur Olson, Carl Olson, Lester Olson, Paul Owen, John, Estate
P
Parish House C. C.
Parish, Dexter and Lulu Parmelee, Mrs. E. J.
Parsonage (Baptist) Perry, Thomas M. Phelph, Dr. Paul S.
Pierce, Frank Potts Estate
Pratt, Rodney G.
Provost, W. F.
Prudhomme, Hector
Putnam, Herbert E.
Q Quintal, Richardson
R Rafferty, Edward J.
Redford, George H.
Regish, Mrs.
Reilly, Frank J.
Repp, David (David Brown)
Reuber, Edward (Collins Co.)
Reycroft, Harlan
Richardson, Danword W.
Richardson, Russell
Richardson, Samuel
Riddell, William C.
Ripley, Edwin
Roberts, Mrs. Howard
Ronan, Leslie
Rogers, Leonard
Roncaioli, Charles
Rote, Dewey
S Savick, Frank
Seger, Clifford E.
Seger, Mrs. Henry
Selden, John
Sharp, Fred (Collins Co.)
Simpson, Mrs. John
Small, Thomas
Smith, Ernest ( Quintal)
Smith, Robert
Snow, Edwin (Konold)
Soucy, George
Specia Heirs (Tenants)
Stevens, Richard B. Stickles, Clyde
"Store on the Green"
Sturgeon, Mrs. Herbert Sweeton, Arthur W.
T
Tabel, Late John (Town of Canton) Taylor, Leslie Thivierge, John L. (Konold) Thompson, W. Bradley
47
Tilton, Arthur V. R. Tolides, Christie Trainer, James G. Trinity Church Parish House Trumbull, Ralph Tuomala, Louis Turner, Roy L. Turner, Olin
U Unsworth, Dr. Arthur C. V Vaillancourt, Fernan Valley House Van Wiggeran, A. J. (Collins Co.) Ventres, Gordon
W Wacht, John
Waddy, Percy (Collins Co.)
Wagner, Mrs. Gerald
Wagner, Richard
Webster, Mrs. Roy C.
Werner, Flora
Whitney, Guy (Collins Co.)
Wilcox, Robert
Wilder, Late Frank
Withe, Stanley
Wilusz, Joseph P.
Wood, Harold
Woodford, Estelle
Woods, William
Wright, John
Wright, Walter R.
Z Zommer, Theodore (Collins Co.)
1
48
FOREWORD
Whereas the Daughters of the American Revolution are primarily interested in the furtherance of Education, American History, Correct Use of the Flag and all timely activities, we never forget that nothing is better than its foundation.
Our Country's foundations were laid by our forefathers, God-fear- ing men, men with great strength of character and good common sense.
Consequently it seems fitting that we keep alive these qualifications and traditions. In view of all this the Past Regents Club of Phoebe Humphrey Chapter, D.A.R. of Collinsville, Conn present :
CANTON'S OLDEST HOUSES
These houses, all in the 100 year bracket, are the homes of yester- year.
They radiate the rich tradition of our past and while we must not retrograde, let's never forget that in these homes the seeds of today were sown.
We are also including a brief resume of the Churches and Schools of that period.
We are indebted to articles by Hon. W. E. Simonds, The Abiel Brown Book, Phelps History of Simsbury, Barbour's Reminiscenses, Lure of the Litchfield Hills, Mr. Clair Elston and his notes from Mr. Samuel Collins' Diary as well as a host of friends who have aided in the work.
May it prove both useful and entertaining.
SARA LOUGEE LATIMER, Editor.
PART I Old Houses - East Hill, Canton and Albany Turnpike BY BERTHA CASE BRISTOL
INTRODUCTION
This chapter or section includes the old houses on East Hill, called Woodchuck or Chestnut Hill, Canton (the part called Canton Village or Suffrage) and also nearby houses on the Old Litchfield and Albany Turnpikes.
I have used the 1855 and the 1869 maps as guide posts. The "facts and fancies" have been written as near as possible to the notes of his- tory and words narrated by the owners.
It is impossible to describe all the details, and dates of the years from 1737 to 1869. I hope these gleanings will give some light to the years of yore.
Let us start on our imaginary journey : Hiram speaking, "Good morning Betsy Ann, it's a 'pretty' morning, get on your old gray bonnet with the blue ribbon on it, while I hitch old Dobbin to the shay. You and I are going visiting old houses today. I want to see where they are located and learn something about them. Let's swing around on Albany Turnpike and pick up Bertha Bristol and we will all talk as we journey along."
"First we are going to East Hill, the site of our first settlers." Up and over the hills and dales, through the woods and over the old road which had ruts and stones and even grass growing in between the wheel tracks. Yes, the "good old days" were full of ruts, stones, bushes and more troubles, yet by faith in God, and hard labor, they were over- come."
"Get up Dobbin, keep going, we want to visit as many places as we can today."
Some of the conversation along the way was as follows, and much of it only thoughts that ran through our minds as we tried to visualize the picture of our home land many, many years ago in the early days of settlement, the land our forefathers ventured their all on and strug- gled to survive.
The women of today little realize what the women and mothers went through when they settled on the hills and in the valley of what is now called Canton. It was a part of Simsbury or Massacoe (the Indian name) but usually called "the wilderness". Years ago the men set forth from Massacoe to the west into the wilderness, to look over the land and to report what conditions were for making settlements.
50
Two brothers started out in November of 1736, after the fall crops were harvested and the other work done. They went over the first ledge and on over to the west and found on the heights, good fertile land, deep forest and good hunting so essential in those days. Before they could return, they were caught in a blizzard and cold weather and later their bodies were found frozen. This did not daunt the others. The fol- lowing spring, more set out and came as far as East Hill, Woodchuck Hill or Chestnut Hill. Richard Case came in 1737. The site of the first house was supposed to be opposite the present John Case place, now occupied by Carl Olson and family. The next year the four Barber Brothers with their mother came further west and settled in the Cherry's Brook Valley. About this time Abraham Case and Amos Case settled on East Hill. Some other settlers, at this time, were Capt. Ezekiel Humphrey, Capt. Josiah Case, Joseph Mills and many others.
This chapter confines us mostly to East Hill and Suffrage, now Canton. The next settler mentioned will be Dudley Case, who settled in Canton in 1742. This old place burned in November 1874. It was known as the Old Hosford House or Tavern and stood on the Turnpike from Hartford to Albany. Abram Hosford kept this tavern for fifty years.
The people came so fast, it is difficult to determine just the order in which they settled. It was very necessary for them to travel and settle in numbers because of the many dangers in the dense forests. They also helped each other with the hard labor of cutting trees and building homes. The women also helped each other in sickness and childbirth. Grandmother Barber was said to have had her satchel packed and ready to go and help any who were sick. It was with great interest, when as a young girl I heard the stories how "Aunt Maryette", as she was called, went on ox sled through a blizzard in the middle of the night to some home of sickness to try and save a life.
Now let us turn back to the settlers on East Hill and their homes. Richard Case is supposed to have been the first settler and to have erected the first dwelling house in this part of the town. His son Sylva- nus was the first English child born in the limits of West Simsbury. He had twelve children, ten sons and two daughters. Now let us visit the home of Carl Olson.
CARL OLSON
Mrs. Esther Olson has the original deed to the land settled by Serg. Richard Case, 2nd in 1737. The farm has never been out of the family. The first log cabin was near the present house, some say opposite and some say toward the school. The house built by Capt. Uriah Case in 1791 stood opposite the east end of Morgan Road. Remains of the chimney and foundation still may be seen. John Case built the present one and from available information, it seems to have been about 1847. It has had many changes through the years, the last being a modern kitchen. A large cow barn was built some years ago. The house on the
51
hill had U. C. in the bricks of the house chimney and U. C. 1792 in large wooden letters and figures on the side of the barn. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have the large farm in good condition. Their family should be proud of the fact that they were born and live on this old site of seven genera- tions of the Case family.
JOHN WRIGHT
John Wright 1950-Ludwig Bahre 1890-Amos Hosford 1855 map
The John B. Wright House is on East Hill Road in Canton, just be- low Morgan Road. Ludwig Bahre lived here. It was built during the Revolutionary War. According to legend, the house was built by a Hessian deserter. This story was told to Mrs. Wright by Amiel Bahre, son of Ludwig: This nameless Hessian lived there for an indefinite time, the house having been built in 1776. It was then sold to Charles Smith, better known as "Charlie". He operated a small blacksmith shop across the road opposite the house.
It was 1855, when Ludwig Bahre bought the house. There was a center chimney made of stone, three fireplaces, a sittin' room, a keep- ing room (we would call it a kitchen today), a pantry and two bed- rooms. The house is a story and a half, dutch colonial or New York dutch colonial. Originally, the upstairs was an open loft. Amiel tells of his brothers and sisters sharing this loft as children. One day, his father decided to partition off two separate bedrooms upstairs. In the end gables are the north room and south room. In the south room, there is a plaster ceiling sturdy and uncracked. It shows evidence of being put in place by a craftsman who was more accustomed to his tailoring shears than to a plaster's trowel - for Ludwig was a master tailor. With the help of his older sons, Ludwig tore out the bulky chimney that went up through the loft leaving a half size room and added a dormer which made another bedroom.
An amusing tale from Amiel was about the stairway. This stairway led to the keeping room with a window. This delighted the children because they could peek and check on the goings-on in the room.
In 1880, Ludwig added an ell part to the house. The ell was a large sunny kitchen, off which was a woodshed covering a dug well and a pantry. This woodshed and pantry is now a kitchen with concrete slab poured over all. What was the kitchen is now the dining room, to which has been added a fireplace. What was the keeping room and sittin' room with its "casket door" is now an "L" shaped room. In place of the "casket door", there is a picture window. The two bedrooms downstairs are now one master bedroom. What had been another pantry is now a bathroom. Where the stairway and peeping window was, there is now a large closet and a stairway going in the reverse direction. From the dining room a little porch has been added. Amiel told Mrs. Wright we are the sixth family to make a home here. He also said the house has had its face lifted so many times, he wouldn't recognize the old place.
52
The changes and improvements contributed by each family make it unlikely that the Hessian's ghost would recognize the place if he wanted to come back and haunt it.
ALFRED CABLES
This place was known as the Kellerman farm for many years.
In the Brown Book quote "Darius Hill resided on East Hill on the premises which after his death were owned and occupied by Titus Case. Titus Case commenced his family state on East Hill on the place now occupied by Reuben Hall." The 1855 map states Reuben Hall lived on this place. The house was built by Titus Case in 1791. This story and a half house has not changed very much. Rooms have been added on the ell part and some partitions have been removed.
One can visualize the old rope bedsteads under the wooden rafters overhead as the children climbed into bed. The older children slept up in the loft or attic. This has been remodeled into rooms. The narrow hallway, with its flow of life upstairs and down, has been taken out and put into rooms.
The old floors which were scrubbed and sanded in days of yore still remain. These old floors often had wide cracks in them and were very cold, but the old rag carpets which were made at odd times by the thrifty mothers would keep the cold from blowing in. Sometimes paper and straw were put under the hand made carpets. Many attics had the old large looms for weaving these rag carpets.
Outside is an old oblong stone sink, the stone sink being replaced by an iron one. These stone sinks were made by hand of one solid stone and are seldom seen now. The immense stones and steps were cut by a hand method, which we know so little about now, and are now smooth with the tread of people, but will never wear out.
The Cables have lived there for some years as the Kellermans moved to Collinsville.
ARTHUR OLSON
This place was known as the Crowley farm before the Olson's bought it. The name is F. Peck on the 1869 map. The Brown Book tells us that John Hill, Jr. settled in 1740 in the East Hill school district on the farm now owned by Nelson Aldridge, this name is on the 1855 map.
Mrs. Arthur Olson thinks the house they now live in was built about 1845 or 47. This is the usual large frame house with an ell in the rear. It has four fireplaces, one being in the basement. It seems that these old houses were built around the old stone chimneys bristling with fireplaces.
There are large barns on the opposite side of the road.
53
MRS. STANLEY DONALDSON
Donaldson's or the Albert Bahre house is situated on the premises of the Roswell Barnes place, 1855 map. In the Abiel Brown Book, we read Ruggles Humphrey (son of Solomon Humphrey, Sr.) resided on these premises. He married Lucy, daughter of Amos Case, Sr. They had no children and when he died he left part of his farm to the Con- necticut Missionary Society. This land was always called the "Mission ary Lot."
When the Kellermans owned their farm near by (Alfred Cables place now), they bought 225 acres from Richard Wagner, part of which tract was the Missionary Lot. It was on the western side of the tract and bordered Morgan Road.
The first house burned and Roswell Barnes built the second house.
Roswell Barnes' second wife was Susan Wilcox Barnes. Susan was very slow and walked accordingly - maybe in the later years of her life. Their "next door neighbor" lived quite a distance, yet within sight of each other. As they knew Susan's slow method of transportation, when they saw Susan leave her house they would say, "Here comes Susan and we haven't a cake today, we'll have plenty of time to get it done before Susan comes over the hump," (where the road went over a knoll). Maybe it would be a frozen pie from the old back cheese pantry or "buttery," they would get and thaw out before Susan got over the hump but they always had plenty of time and Susan had her cake or pie and enjoyed it. Later, Susan came to Canton and died there.
FLORA WERNER "INGLESIDE"
Maurice and Flora Werner - Henry Foote 1855 Map
The first house was a two story house built by Rev. Gideon Mills, in 1740. The land belonged to his wife Elizabeth Higley. This house burned probably because wheat and grain was stored upstairs. Rev. Gideon Mills was born in 1713 and died August 4, 1772 at the age of fifty-nine (Brown Book) . He was the son of Peter Mills who came from Holland. His wife Elizabeth, daughter of Brewster Higley spent her youth and girlhood in the family of her cousin, the first Governor Trumbull of Lebanon. Gideon Mills was a minister in the old Simsbury parish ten years previous to 1755. He came to West Simsbury and preached for one or two years and was installed in the year 1759. All the time of his ministry here, he lived two and one-half miles from the meeting house over a hill. He had to travel over a cold uneven road from Werners over John Case's hill and down a steep mountain to Canton Center Church, a hard journey traveled more than once a week, sum- mer and winter. He lived on the Werner place until his death. He died singing the 38th Psalm. His son Lieutenant Gideon Mills married Ruth
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