USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Suffield > Celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Suffield, Connecticut, October 12, 13 and 14, 1920, with sketches from its past and some record of its last half century and of its present > Part 17
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voted for a monument to the soldiers of the Civil War. Com- mittees were appointed and the granite monument was erected on the Common nearly opposite the Town Hall and dedicated October 17, 1888 with impressive ceremonies, participated in by veterans of the regiments in which the Suffield men served. The Twenty-Second Regiment and Veteran Posts held their reunion at the Town Hall at II o'clock, and at noon were escorted by the Sons of Veterans to the monument. Dr. Matthew T. Newton, as president of the day, delivered an address of welcome and the report of the Monument Committee, consisting of Hezekiah S. Sheldon, William H. Fuller and John M. Hatheway, was read; The oration was delivered by Hon. Valentine B. Chamberlain of New Britain.
The vice presidents of the day were Hezekiah S. Sheldon, Wil- liam H. Fuller, I. Luther Spencer, Silas W. Clark, Martin J. Shel- don, Dr. J. K. Mason, Edmund Halladay, C. M. Owen, William L. Loomis, J. H. Haskins, F. B. Hatheway, R. P. Mather, Alfred Spencer, Charles C. Sheldon, H. K. Wright, W. W. Pease, Horace K. Ford, Charles C. Warner, Edwin A. Russell and Sam- uel White. The reception committee consisted of M. H. Smith, Alfred Spencer, Jr., L. P. Bissell, James O. Haskins, Calvin C. Spencer, F. E. Hastings, C. D. Towne, T. H. Spencer, W. F. Fuller, Richard Jobes, J. R. Middlebrook, Charles L. Spencer, E. D. Bemis, Nelson Cole, Warren W. Cooper, A. L. Strong, F. H. Reid, John L. Wilson, D. A. Reeves and Henry Blackmer.
The veterans of the Grand Army residing in Suffield organized a Suffield Veteran's Association which has annually taken charge of the decoration of soldiers' graves on Decoration Day. Only five of the members are now living-Francis E. Hastings, Luther Curtis, A. R. Austin, F. O. Newton and H. W. Gridley.
Red Cross Chapter
Suffield's large contribution to the ranks of national enlist- ment and draft in the World War appears from the honor roll, but virtually the whole adult population was enlisted in the con- tingent services for the support of the Government, the comfort of the soldiers and the relief of the distressed in Europe. In different drives large sums were raised for the Red Cross, War Library, Salvation Army and the United War Work. The ag-
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gregate of $1,139,250 was subscribed for the four great bond issues and the town purchased about $56,000 worth of War Savings Stamps. Shortly after the armstice the town gave a Wel- come Home with a dinner at the Suffield School gymnasium for the soldiers and sailors and their families and a free conveyance for a theatre party at Springfield.
In connection with Suffield's energetic war work, the Ameri- can Red Cross workers organized a local chapter in 1917 with Mrs. Samuel R. Spencer, chairman; Mrs. George A. Harmon, vice chairman; Miss A. F. Owen, secretary and George A. Har- mon, treasurer. Judge William M. Cooper gave the chapter quarters rent free during the war. This organization of Suffield women completed and delivered to the Hartford chapter 5,400 articles between February 21, 1917, and May, 1919. Through- out this period knitting was constantly done, and over one thousand pounds of yarn was used up. This does not include the comfort bags made and sent regularly to Hartford, nor the out- fitting of Suffield men in the service. There was also sent for the Belgian refugees 2,500 pounds of clothing in 1918 and five cases of garments in 1919. The Committee of Civilian Relief of the Red Cross consisted of George A. Peckham, Karl C. Kulle, W. S. Fuller, A. C. Scott, Mrs. D. W. Goodale, W. H. Orr and Mrs. J. N. Root. The Chapter maintains its activity in necessary Red Cross work and in the relief of any cases of distress in the town.
Banks
A meeting of the subscribers to stock for a national bank to be located in Suffield was held in Union Hall June 28, 1864 and the following eleven directors were chosen: Daniel W. Norton, Henry Fuller, Martin J. Sheldon, Henry Endress, Byron Loomis, Henry P. Kent, I. Luther Spencer, Aretas Rising, Wm. L. Loomis, Burdett Loomis, Wm. H. Fuller.
They met the next day in the same place and elected Daniel W. Norton president, and at another meeting in September voted that the business of the bank should commence Monday, October 3 in the building and store now owned by George Mar- tinez. October 26, 1868 the directors voted to . purchase land from David Hale and "erect a banking house of brick thereon," but March 8 of the next year the directors voted to "purchase
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FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND SUFFIELD SAVINGS BANK
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of Thomas Archer, George Archer and Horace Archer the corner lot now occupied by Harrocks, McKensie & Co., "and there the present banking house was soon after built. Daniel W. Norton resigned as president November 6, 1871, Byron Loomis was elected in his place and a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Norton "for his faithfulness in the discharge of his duties as president of the bank." February 20, 1877 Mr Loomis resigned and I. Luther Spencer was elected president and so remained for over twenty years, or till his death December 31, 1897. His son Charles L. Spencer was chosen to succeed him January II, 1898 and held the office till August 1913, when he resigned to accept the presidency of the Connecticut River Banking Com- pany of Hartford, and Charles S. Fuller, the present president, was elected. The first cashier, Charles A. Chapman, was elected September 1, 1864 and resigned May 28, 1877. Henry Young succeeded him and resigned in 1878. Alfred Spencer, Jr. was elected to fill his place and resigned June 1, 1891 to become cashier of the Aetna National Bank of Hartford. Charles S. Fuller was elected cashier June 1, 1891, and held the position until elected president in 1913, his place being filled by Samuel N. Reid, the present cashier. The present capital stock is $100,000; surplus, undivided profits and reserves $180,000.
The charter of the Suffield Savings Bank was granted by the Legislature in May 1869, and was accepted by the corporators at a meeting July I following. It opened for business in the First National Bank building but was later located in offices at the south end of the Cooper block, remaining there until six years ago when its own handsome building was constructed. The growth of the institution has been practically coincident with the life of Suffield in the past half century and its relation to the financial affairs of the community is indicated by the deposits on February I for ten year periods as follows:
1879 $94,257.26
1889 115,449.05
1899 198,459.64
1909
466,975.83
1919. 860,894.88
The deposits February 1, 1921 were $1,107,560.74. The presi- dents of the bank with the terms of their service have been:
.
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Martin J. Sheldon, July 6, 1869 to November 6, 1869; Daniel W. Norton, November 6, 1869 to July 15, 1871; Byron Loomis, July 15, 1871 to May 7, 1877; William H. Fuller, May 7, 1877 to Jan- uary 6, 1890; William L. Loomis, January 6, 1890 to July II, 1894; Matthew T. Newton, July 1I, 1894 to January 8, 1906; Chas. C. Bissell, January 8, 1906 to February 3, 1914. The pres- ent president, Samuel R. Spencer, has served since February 9, 1914. The treasurers with their terms of service have been: Charles A. Chapman, July 6, 1869 to May 7, 1877; William L. Loomis, May 7, 1877 to July 28, 1877; Benjamin F. Hastings, July 28, 1877 to August 6, 1877; Samuel White, August 6, 1877 to July 29, 1896; Martin H. Smith, July 29, 1896 to January 8, 1906. William J. Wilson has been treasurer since January 8, 1906. Emma L. Newton served as assistant treasurer from January 12, 1903 to January 8, 1906.
Publishers
In the decade before and after 1800 there was for those times an extensive printing and publishing business in Suffield. Several books and pamphlets now greatly prized by collectors of old imprints were published here. One of the most extensive estab- lishments was that of Edward Gray, several of whose imprints were picked up at various places by the late H. S. Sheldon, and are in his collection at the Library. The precise location of these printing plants is not definitely known, except that Gray's was in the Hezekiah Huntington law office building, still standing. (See page 119.)
At one time there was a newspaper called The Impartial Herald. Suffield has had no other newspapers of its own, though it has shared in the Windsor Locks Journal, which was estab- lished in 1880 by Sherman T. Addis who came to Suffield from New Milford, built a house here on Bridge Street and conducted the newspaper till his health failed. He died in 1896. In 1895 the business was bought by John T. Morse of Thompsonville and is now published by a corporation of which Charles R. La- tham of Suffield is secretary.
Physicians
The list of physicians who through their professional or public
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service have been identified with the affairs of the town either in Suffield Center or West Suffield, if not complete or in exact chronological order, is substantially as follows as appears from the notes of H. S. Sheldon : John Drew, about 1735; Nathaniel Aus- tin, 1736-47; Amos Granger, West Suffield, 1774-1811; Howard Alden, died in 1841 at the age of eighty-one; Oliver Pease, died in 1843 at the age of eighty-four; Enoch Leavitt, died in 1827; John Hanchett, practiced in West Suffield from 1805 to 1825 and Edwin G. Ufford, also West Suffield, 1829-33; Sumner Ives, died in 1844 at the age of forty-five; Asaph L. Bissell, born in 1791 and died in 1850; Aretas Rising, born in 1801 and died in 1884; O. W. Kellogg, began practice in West Suffield in 1842, moved to Suffield center in 1859 and died in 1891 at the age of seventy-three; William H. Mather, died in 1888 at the age of fifty-four; Jarvis K. Mason, died in 1905 at the age of seventy- three; Matthew T. Newton, died in 1909 at the age of eighty; Philo W. Street, died in 1909 at the age of forty-five, and A. P. Sherwin, died in 1910 at the age of fifty-one. Following them William M. Stockwell and A. P. Noyes practiced a few years but removed to other places. The present physicians are W. E. Caldwell, J. A. Gibbs, H. M. Brown and William Levy.
Emergency Aid
The Emergency Aid Association of Suffield, was formed at the suggestion of the late Dr. Philo W. Street to provide "sick room appliances and assistance, for those who because of helplessness or poverty may be in need of them". The first meeting was held November 13, 1903, with representative women from every ladies' organization in the township in attendance. November 19 a constitution was adopted and officers chosen as follows: Mrs. David W. Goodale, president; Miss Alena F. Owen, treas- urer; Miss Frances O. Mather, secretary. There was one vice president from each women's organization, these being respon- sible for the raising of $10. each for the purchasing of necessary appliances up to $100.
In April 1904, the association became an incorporated body duly approved by the Secretary of State and thus able to receive and hold property by will or gift. The incorporators were Mary
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L. Goodale, Sarah L. Fuller, Frances O. Mather, Alena F. Owen, Mary D. Nelson and Ella C. Henshaw.
The association has always kept on hand rubber goods for the sick; sheets, pillow slips, layettes, bed garments, wheel chairs, and crutches for destitute sick people. It supplied nurses on call, until in 1915 when the Community Nurse was installed, Suffield being the third town in the state to do this. One legacy has been received by will, that of Miss Kate Harrocks of $50 and one large gift of $1,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Dwight S. Fuller.
Miss Ellen E. Qualey, the first nurse, served for four years with an efficiency much appreciated by the townspeople. In order that every family might have an interest, house to house collections were made, and later a Community Carnival was held with such good results that in 1916 a Ford Runabout was purchased for the use of the nurse. In 1917 the town took over the salary of the nurse as part of the town budget. In that year the organization assumed as part of its work the sale of Red Cross Tuberculosis seals, two-thirds of the amount raised by these sales going toward local work of the association and the remaining third to the State.
Village of Suffield
A marked transformation from old to more modern conditions began to take place about thirty years ago, various causes con- tributing to the results that followed. An early development was the enterprise of Apollos Fuller of Mapleton in driving an arte- sian well, near the highway nearly opposite the place of his father, the late Cecil H. Fuller. An abundant supply of pure water was tapped and the enterprise was turned to the provision of a village water supply.
April 19, 1893, forty-four legal voters of the Center School District First Society petitioned the selectmen of Suffield for a special meeting of the voters, to be held on the first day of May, 1893, at 8 o'clock. The meeting was duly held at which the fol- lowing resolution was adopted, "Resolved :- By the legal voters residing within the boundary lines of the Center School District, First Society of Suffield, that a district comprising the above
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described territory be and the same is hereby established, for the purpose expressed in the petition for this meeting, and as pro- vided in an act relating to organization of districts for extinguish- ing fires and other purposes."
It was voted that the district be called the Village of Suffield. The purpose as given in the call was as follows: "To extinguish fires, to sprinkle streets, to light streets, to plant and care for shade and ornamental trees, to construct and maintain side- walks, cross walks, drains and sewers and to appoint and employ watchmen or police officers." The First School district was in- corporated as the Village of Suffield, and in the next Legislature Dwight S. Fuller, then one of the town representatives, secured a charter for the Village Water Company. Pipes were laid down to the Center and thereafter extended. The plant consisted of power pumps to force the water to the standpipe on the high ground north of the junction of Main Street and the Mapleton road.
Such a power plant quickly suggested the possibility of the generation of electricity and the installation of electric lights which at that period were being introduced extensively in larger places. At about the same time the change from horse cars to the trolly system was taking place, the first enterprise for suburban electric lines set in and an outside promoter organized a company for a Suffield trolly line. The undertaking failed after partial construction but was soon taken up through an arrangement with the Springfield Street Railway Company, and the line com- pleted to Kent Corner. The cars began running in 1902. A few years later the connection between Windsor and Suffield was made by the Hartford and Springfield Company, and the west side route completed.
At about the same period occurred the telephone extension. The telegraph had come to Suffield along with the Suffield branch in 1870, and the discontinuance of the stage to Windsor Locks, but since the installation of telephones, the telegraph service has largely been restricted to the railroad. All these changes, occurring practically within a decade, had a pronounced effect on the life of the community which not only enjoyed the advan- tages of water and lights, but was brought into quicker com- munication with Hartford and Springfield.
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Fire Department
The first fire equipment of the town was installed in 1876 after a series of fires. The apparatus consisted of two hand drawn and hand operated pumps, drawing water from wells and cisterns and delivering a stream about the size of a garden hose. In 1896 after the First Center School district was incorporated as the Village of Suffield and the water system was put in, the volun- teer department was organized. Two hose companies were formed, equipped with hand drawn reel and regulation fire hose. A Hook and Ladder company was formed in 1900, equipped with a hand drawn ladder truck. In 1917 the present Knox Six Cyl- inder Combination Chemical and Hose Car was bought. The department now consists of a hose company and a ladder com- pany. Only the chemical car answers first alarms, but one hose reel and the ladder truck are kept in readiness when additional help is needed. Alarms are received by telephone and sent out on a large electric siren. The list of fire chiefs with the date of their appointment is as follows: Wallace C. Knox, 1897; John L. Wilson, 1899; Fred J. Lunny, 1905; Jerry Dineen, 1910; Louis G. Allen, 1912. The department has thirty members.
Masonic Lodge and other Organizations
With ceremonies attended by officers of the grand lodge of Connecticut, and with a public reception on the evening of July 27, 1920, or a few weeks previous to the quarter millennial of the town, Apollo Lodge No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its estab- lishment in Suffield. In the spring of 1820 a number of Masonic brethren in the town petitioned the grand lodge at Hartford for a charter for a local lodge. The petition was granted, the lodge installed July 27th and meetings were held at the house of Ezekiel Osborn on Ratley road, West Suffield. The first offi- cers were: Andrew Dennison, W. M .; Barlow Rose, S. W .; Sim- eon Lewis, J. W .; John W. Hanchett, secretary; Thaddeus Lyman, treasurer; Julius C. Sheldon, S. D .; Curtis Rose, J. D .; James Austin, and Austin Smith, tylers.
The organizers and first officers were mainly prominent West Suffield men, but in 1823 it was decided to remove the lodge to
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Suffield Center and a room was secured temporarily in the Archer House (see page 175) where the first meeting was held September II, 1823. Permanent quarters were secured in 1828 of Horace Warner on Main Street, now at the corner of Day Avenue. Meetings were held there until 1832 when what was known as the "Anti-Masonic Times" set in and for several years the lodge languished. There is a tradition that for about ten years the charter was hidden in a building on the Horace Warner premises. At a meeting in 1842 of which Julius Harmon was moderator and Luther Loomis secretary, it was voted that it was "inexpedient to relinquish the charter" and that every means should be used to sustain the lodge. But it was not until 1851 that it was reorganized and rooms were secured over the Loomis Store, now the Cooper Block. At about the same time the grand lodge restored its original rights which appear to have been temporarily suspended. The lodge continued in the Loomis block until 1862, when it leased rooms in the building then owned by H. N. Prout and now by George Martinez. It con- tinued there until 1870 when quarters were secured in the newly constructed building of the First National Bank.
Here the lodge remained for over forty years, growing in popu- larity and strength. About fifteen years ago the members started a movement for a building of their own. The late Louise E. Hatheway, whose father had been the second Worshipful Master of the lodge offered to present it with a building lot on her property, and to further building plans a special charter under the name of the Suffield Masonic Association was secured. But the plans could not be sufficiently developed at the time and were given up. In 1912, after the death of Miss Sophia Bissell the Luther Loomis house (See page 170) was bought by Mr. Charles L. Spencer and in 1913 he presented the lodge with a deed of the place which was later transferred to the Suffield Masonic Association. The house was remodeled and refinished at a cost of about $12,000 with quarters for the Masonic Club on the first floor and thus one of the beautiful landmarks of old Suffield is being preserved. As elsewhere noted, the Masonic Association kindly tendered the club quarters for a Hostess House during the celebration. The list of officers of the lodge in
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the course of its one hundred years of existence includes the names of many leading Suffield men in their times.
Daughters of the American Revolution
Sibbil Dwight Kent Chapter D. A. R. was organized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Fuller June 10, 1896, under the direction of Mrs. Sara T. Kinney, State Regent, with thirty charter members from Suffield and Windsor Locks; including two Real Daughters, Mrs. Anna Hale Burnap Pierce and Mrs. Mary Burns Woodworth. Miss Helen L. Archer was the first regent, with Mrs. Emily Wadsworth Schwartz as vice-regent; Miss Emily L. Norton, secretary and treasurer; Miss Emma L. Newton, registrar; Miss Helen M. King, historian.
The work of the chapter has been in locating and marking the graves of Revolutionary soldiers throughout the town; restoring the old cemetery in the center of the town; the setting of trees along the highway near this burial place and the raising of a fund to insure its perpetual care; also some minor memorial work. In 1903 a large boulder with bronze tablet suitably in- scribed was placed in the Park to mark the site of the first Meet- ing House.
The Chapter has passed through two wars, the Spanish-Am- erican, and the World War; in both, raising money, and making garments of all kinds to help the soldiers. The study of the history of our country, and patriotism, have been encouraged by the giving of prizes for essays on these subjects in the public schools of Windsor Locks and Suffield. From the organization of the chapter many scholarships have been given for the educa- tion of worthy youths in schools in the South and West, in the Connecticut Literary Institution and among the foreign young people in the American International College. For some twenty years it gave the Annual Memorial Day Dinner to Civil War veterans, but it was given up as one by one the old soldiers passed away. The Chapter has grown to a present member- ship of eighty-four.
Woman's Reading Club
In the autumn of 1894 and as an outgrowth of the Chautauqua Circle, which had existed for a period previously, the Woman's
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Reading Club was formed. Thirty-one members were enrolled and the officers for the first year were: Mrs. C. C. Spencer, president; Mrs. M. M. McCord, vice-president; Miss H. L. Archer, secretary and treasurer and Miss Alena F. Owen and Mrs. A. W. Lawrence advisory committee. The object of the club, as its constitution states, is "the promotion of literary pursuits and the increase of the social element among the women of our town." The club's activities have been continued along the lines first prescribed and have been maintained with constant interest and educational influence for over a quarter of a century. Besides the regular meetings of the members, lectures and musi- cals open to the public have been given from time to time.
Ladies' Wide Awake Club
The Ladies' Wide Awake Club has become an active and use- ful institution in the life of West Suffield. Its first meeting was held October 26, 1908 at the house of Mrs. George L. Warner and there were forty charter members. It was started for the purpose of raising money to install electric street lights in West Suffield and it still pays over $100 a year to that end. It has de- voted itself to many benefits and improvements for the com- munity and has remodeled the old school rooms in the building bought by the Village Improvement Society. One room is used as a club room and the other as a kitchen, and suppers or en- tertainments are given every month for the benefit of the com- munity. During the war the club contributed much to Red Cross and war relief work. It now has forty-five members.
Mapleton Hall
A strong community spirit has characterized the people re- siding in that part of the town long known as Crooked Lane and later as Mapleton. Early in the seventies they began to hold Lyceum and Farmers' meetings in the old brick school house at the foot of the hill. It became too small for the interesting meetings and in the winter of 1879-80 a public hall was sug- gested. This sentiment quickly grew and at a meeting early in 1880 a committee consisting of Cecil H. Fuller, Arthur Sikes and Edward Austin was appointed to draw up articles of organiza- tion and agreement. They were presented at a meeting at the
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school house April 16, 1880, and an association organized. The articles of agreement were accepted and the following officers elected: president, Edward Austin; secretary, John L. Wilson; auditor, Dwight S. Fuller; trustees, Cecil H. Fuller, Henry D. Tinker and D. D. Bement. In the next two years enough money was raised so that the construction of Mapleton Hall was begun in the spring of 1882. It was ready for use in January of the next year and was dedicated January 16 with exercises that in- cluded an "old home week." At first it was called Central Hall, but the name was later changed to Mapleton Hall. In 1896 a large addition was built to meet the requirements. All debts are paid and the association has money in the treasury.
The Grange
The old Lyceum and Farmers' meetings were continued in the new hall till 1885, when the Grange was organized to take their places. The organization occurred February 19, 1885 with Henry D. Tinker, master, Arthur Sikes, secretary and George A. Austin, lecturer. From that time till the present the organ- ization has held meetings twice a month. When organized there were twenty-eight charter members; the membership is now two hundred.
The May Breakfast
To provide means for maintaining the hall, in the spring of 1887 the association appointed a committee consisting of Allen Wilson, C. D. Vandelinda, G. A. Austin, Ella M. Clark and Fannie M. Sikes. Allen Wilson suggested the idea of a May Breakfast on May I of that year. Thus the first breakfast was held in the hall in 1887 and about $100 was cleared. Since then different committees have been chosen by the Mapleton Hall Association to have charge of this annual affair, which has been successfully continued to the present with the single exception of 1918 when it was omitted because of urgent war work. The breakfasts have now a wide reputation and are largely attended by people from neighboring cities and towns. More than $6000 has been netted by these breakfasts for the maintenance of the hall and for the addition made in 1896.
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Mapleton Literary Club
Another thriving association of Mapleton is the Mapleton Literary Club which was formed October 20, 1905 by nine women of that street and the present membership is thirty- seven. Its first seven years were devoted to study of American history, American literature and travel in the United States and England. In later courses it has taken up domestic science, physical culture, art, music, nature, inventions, engineering, religion, child labor and government. In each season there is one open meeting with a speaker. In January of each year the ladies entertain their husbands with a banquet and they are popular gatherings. The club also has an annual outing.
The Town
Such in the main and in brief are the religious, educational, industrial and social institutions of Suffield, their roots running back into a past in which its people have labored for their com- mon welfare. Embracing and uniting them all is a community spirit, or town feeling and purpose, manifested at all times and in various ways, and in no way, probably, so true to the ideals of its founders as in the Town Meeting.
As elsewhere stated, the people who migrated to Connecticut nearly three hundred years ago brought with them the political purpose, denied at Massachusetts Bay, of managing their local affairs through their own elected selectmen, and by annual or special Town Meetings authorizing and ordering their common interests by the will of the majority. In their urban growth some of these towns have lost this fundamental institution of democracy, but Suffield is one of those in which it has survived all changes, losing none of its fitness and efficacy under different conditions and in the management of larger affairs. In char- acter and effect, the Town Meeting of the present is essentially the same as when, in 1682, Major John Pynchon presided over the first assembly of Suffield citizens.
In this meeting, now even more than at first because of the extension of the voting franchise, political equality finds its purest example and the will of the people its most complete ex- pression. No other institution established in township begin-
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nings, has held so true to an original purpose, no other has had a greater influence in safeguarding the orderly sovereignty of the people, and no other furnishes better security for the enduring life of American institutions.
SIDNEY A. KENT
MARTIN J: SHELDON
JAMES P. SPENCER
EDWARD A. FULLER
HEZEKIAH S. SHELDON
WILLIAM
L. LOOMIS
A Tribute
As Suffield advances into the future, old family names, handed down from Puritan ancestry, will persist; not exclusively as in the early generations, perhaps not predominating as in later genera- tions, but mingled with the names of newer Americans, inheriting, not the blood, but the institutions of the old New England stock. If in Suffield, as elsewhere, the times are marking a turn in the long course of the New England township, no civic duty is more important than that old and new strains alike keep and revere the inheritance of the past in the progress of the future.
Were these pages to be dedicated to the living, they should be dedicated to all those who love and loyally serve the old Town of Suffield, whatever their names and wherever they may be.
Were they to be dedicated to the dead, they should be dedicated to all those who in all the years have lived in Suffield, contributing to the strength and permanence of its traditions and institutions, and leaving to it the rewards of their lives and labors.
Were they to be dedicated to those who in the last half century have contributed in special and substantial ways to the enduring strength of these traditions and institutions, they should be dedi- cated to Sidney A. Kent, Martin J. Sheldon, and James P. Spencer, sons of Suffield, generous benefactors of its larger educa- tional life in school and library; and to Hezekiah S. Sheldon and William L. Loomis, sons of Suffield, who, in a labor of love, gave an abiding life to the records of the past.
Were they to be dedicated to the one who in these recent years has been chief among his fellow citizens, a son of Suffield, its gen- erous benefactor, wise counselor and active leader in every good service during a long lifetime, they should be dedicated to the Pres- ident of the General Executive Committee of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, Edward A. Fuller, who died at his home in Main Street, February 15, 1921, at the age of seventy- eight.
With this tribute to all who have inspired a larger future for Suffield, true to its noble inheritance from the past, these pages close.
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