USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 19
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Some fifty rods south of this quarry another quarry was open- ed about 1783. There the stone were covered with about ten feet of earth. This was owned for a time by Hurlburt & Rob- erts. About 1814 it was purchased of the heirs of Aaron Hurl- burt and two other persons, and deeded to Erastus and Silas Brainerd, brothers from Middle Haddam, who carried on the bu- siness jointly until the death of Silas Brainerd in 1847. The firm now owning this quarry is styled " Brainerd & Company." For some five years after the Brainerds began to work this quar- ry they employed only about 7, 8 or 10 hands and two yoke of oxen.
In 1819 a quarry was opened north of the Shaler & Hall
263
SKETCH OF PORTLAND.
Quarry by the name of "Patten & Russell Quarry," afterwards known as the " Russell & Hall Quarry," until the year 1841, when it was united with the Shaler & Hall Quarry, and the own- ers were incorporated by the Legislature of the State by the name of the " Middlesex Quarry Company."
Some years afterward an opening was made below the Brain- erd Quarry, near the ferry from Middletown to Portland, be- longing to the Shaler & Hall Company, but which since the in- corporation of the Middlesex Quarry Company, is called the " Shaler & Hall Quarry."
The three quarries now spoken of stretch northward from near the ferry and a little back from the river three fourths of a mile, and the space between them and the river is generally levelled ; all along against these the bank of the river is a good wharf, rising from the river at an angle of about forty-five degrees, to which vessels draw up, unload and receive their burthens. The stone found in them, spreads beyond the opening in different di- rections, has been discovered northward and southward in sink- ing drills, and to a greater distance eastward in the same way and by some small openings. Wherever found it possesses the same general properties, and lies in nearly horizontal strata with a southern dip.
The stone are not perfectly solid in the quarries, but become more so generally in large masses as they are penetrated down- ward. They are found in layers from two to eighteen feet in thickness, varying from twenty to one hundred in width and in length from fifty to one hundred and fifty ; their direction is from north east to west.
The stone has been rising in estimation and favor with the public for many years and very rapidly for a few years; its firm. ness, durability and susceptibility of receiving and retaining polish are well attested, When indeed the stone began to be used, when quarrymen did not well understand their work, when they were picked up from the surface of the ground, or taken very near it, now and then a perishable stone may have found its way to market, though instances of this kind are be- lieved to have been rare. Some chemists, who have analyzed the stone, have pronounced it to be equal in durability to gran- ite itself.
In 1836 an association formed in Hartford, undertook to re- pair " the waste of time and accident among the monuments, erected as memorials of their deceased ancestors" in the old grave yard in that city, which had been abandoned about thir- ty years.
In doing this, all the monuments were reset, in number about five hundred, and the tables many of which had been suffered to: fall were rebuilt, supported by solid masonry, and where the' monuments were broken they were repaired by being fastened with iron clamps. They of course had a very favorable oppor-
* 22
264
SKETCH OF PORTLAND.
tunity to see the wastes of time and accident on the monuments. During the Revolutionary War some use was made of the Bol- ton stone: These had deeayed somewhat in the ground. All or nearly all the marble monuments of 30 years standing, by the effects of the climate and the weather, were very much de- cayed ; the upper parts of them being decomposed and crumb- ling to pieces. It was found very difficult to repair such of them as were broken, as they were not strong enough to bear the force of drilling. A large proportion of the monuments were of the Portland freestone. Some of these were over the graves of such as had been dead 190 years and were not in the least affected by the weather, nor had any of this description been injured by the seasons."
These monuments were doubtless generally put up soon after the death of the person whose names they were designed to per- petuate. It is hardly possible that testimony more unexception- able than this, could be given.
The obelisk erected in the old cemetery, in connection with these repairs, is wisely built therefore of the Portland stonc, bearing the venerated names of the early settlers of Hartford ; and so is the block, sent from Connecticut to grace the monu- ment, now in the process of erection in Washington, in honor of the Father of our Country. This is already placed in the great and imposing structure.
Calls are perpetually made for this stone from different parts of our country to be used in large public buildings, and in the mansions of the wealthy, or for the fronts and ornamental parts of such edifices, also for the fronts of stores. And while two years since the companies were unable to meet the demand, it is happy that by a more perfeet division as well as by an increase of labor, and other expedients, they are able now to comply with the applications made to them In 1850, the number of men em- ployed in the three quarries was about 900, and 100 yoke of ox- en. Thirty vessels were employed in carrying away stone reg- ularly, varying from 75 to 150 tuns, making each from 20 to 30 trips in a season. Large quantities were also carried away in other vessels not belonging to the regular line and in seows. In the companies' vessels they were carried to New York and sold to persons there or to persons coming there from other places, who carried them away in vessels at their own charge. The more common practice has been for the vessels of the com- pany merely to deliver the stone, New York excepted, at some of our large cities. New York, Albany, Philadelphia and Boston have been the principal markets. With respect to Boston, however and other eastern ports, the stone have been carried to them in vessels hired by the purchasers, as is also the case with many cargoes carried up the Hudson river and to ports south of New York. In 1851 a greater number of men and teams were em- ployed than in 1850. This year (1852) the regular workmen are
·
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SKETCH OF PORTLAND.
about 1200 in the quarries; about 200 more work on contract and are engaged in removing the surface of the earth and in clearing away rubbish. Within a year 12 new vessels from 120 to 200 tuns, carpenter's measure, have been purchased for transporting stonc. A steam-boat also was built the last spring owned by the Middlesex Quarry Company, and Brainerd & Co .. to tow quarry vessels up and down the Connceticut river, which enables the vessels to make more trips.
In some way or other the stone are carried to very many pla- ces in the country -- some to very distant places, a few have been carried to Milwaukie, in Wisconsin, some even to San Fran- cisco.
Until a period comparatively recent, efforts in all the quarries were confined to stone lying above the ordinary surface of the river, but now stone are taken many feet below it, and the opin- ion is somewhat current in the surrounding community that the further down the quarrics are penetrated the better are the stones. The Middlesex, and the Shaler & Hall Quarries have each a steam engine of 40 horse power; and the Brainerd Quarry, has two engines, one of 40 horse power and another of about 17, by which the water accumulated in the quarries is pumped out every morning, and by which the stone are raised.
In and around these quarries mecene of activity is scen from day to day, from Monday morning until Saturday night, beyond what is seen within any equal space in the county, and the people near, all feel the influence of this activity and enterprise. It is seen in the rise of real estate, in the erection of new build- ings, in the improved gardens and grounds.
While the quarrying operations are giving subsistence to ma- ny families, some Irish, somc Scotch, some American and recent- ly some English, they are as already noticed, stimulating trade and agriculture, as these families need a large amount of arti- cles which merchants have to sell, and which farmers can raisc. The teams too used about the quarries make a demand for hay straw and provender, and of the latter article far more than is now furnished in the vicinity.
As for the curious subject of birds tracks, found in these quar- ries, as they have been at other localities of free stone above on the river as far north as Turner's Falls, they must be left for il- Instration to those who have more time to spare for investigation than the writer.
The wonders of Job's Pond, so called because the pond is found on land formerly owned by Job Payne, if the facts asser- ted about it be admitted, constitute a more difficult subject of solution. This is against the straits, and about two miles in cir- cumference. It is from 40 to 60 feet deep and has no outlet .- It rises and falls as much as fifteen fect, but not from such cau- ses as affect other ponds. It is often the highest in the dryest scason of the year and lowest in the wettest season. When it
266
SKETCH OF PORTLAND.
begins to rise, it rises regularly for six or twelve months and' then falls for about the same periods.
There are in Portland 7 district schools, and the children in the districts between the ages of 4 and 16, as enumerated in 1851, were 621. In the two largest schools the older and younger scholars are instructed by different teachers in separate depart- ments, an arrangement favorable to the more rapid improvement of both.
The oldest grave yard' in the town, near the quarries, was laid out Jan. 13, 1713, the new yard as it is called, near the Central Church was laid out in 1767; a third yard back of the Episco- pal Church was laid out in 1825, or about that time. In this any persons may bury their dead, whatever be the religious de- nomination to which they belong.
PORTLAND POST-OFFICE, ESTABLISHED IN 1827.
This office has been kept by the following persons :-
George B. Smith, from 1827 till June 20, 1833.
His widow, Anne B. Smith, June 20 1833 till Feb. 3, 1844.
Charles Henry Sage, Feb. 3 1844 till Apr. 11, 1849. John Payne, from April 11, 1849, till his death July 21; 1852. Wm. S. Strickland, July 21, 1852.
The notice of justices of the peace who lived in Portland, be- fore the adoption of the present constitution of the State, will be found in connection with justices then in other parts of Chat- ham.
SKETCH OF CHATHAM. Including the greater part of Middle Haddam Society, the whole of East Hampton, and a small section of the Society of Westchester in Colchester.
Middle Haddam Society includes Haddam Neck, a part of the town of Haddam, and stretches along the eastern bank of the Connecticut from Portland to near East Haddam Landing, ter- minating there in a point between the Connecticut and Salmon river. The Chatham part of Middle Haddam is generally very uneven, (as is true of Haddam Neck,) much of it rough and stoney ; and on the north against the Straits, it is mountainous. Still very considerable portions of the land in the vicinity of the Connecticut possess a strong soil ; most is capable of cultivation and the rest generally is valuable for pasturage or wood. The in- habitants have always had great advantages from the river, some from the shad fishery and for a long time from the salmon fishery, more from ship-building, and some from navigation.
Before any English settlements were made in this parish, there were stories going abroad of groat mineral riches in Great Hill, on its northern border. These stories arose from the visits and inrcotigation of the elder Gov. Winthrop there, though very little was known by the people as to what discoveries he actually made. Of this hill, and its mine usually called the "Cobalt Mine," we shall have occasion to speak more particularly hereaf- ter.
About 1710 a family by the name of Goffe settled south of Middle Haddam Landing, who were the first English inhabit- ants in Middle Haddam. Capt. Cornelius Knowles, an early and respectable settler, built a house afterwards at the Landing directly upon the bank of the river, from whom that place and and the surrounding neighborhood was long called Knowles' Landing. There and on the rising grounds in different direc- tions, other families settled. These sustained themselves in part by what they obtained from the river and by means of it; but principally by subduing the forests and cultivating the earth for some 40 or 50 years, when ship-building came gradually to. their aid. This business was probably begun as early as 1758. The first ship was built there in 1763; and from that time ship- building was carried on generally for more than 40 years and at times to a great extent, though we are unable to specify exactly the number and the tunnage of the vessels then built. Business was drawn thither from the southern and eastern parts or Chatham and somewhat from Marlborough and Hebron. From
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SKETCH OF CHATHAM.
1805 to the close of 1838, notwithstanding the embarrassments connected with the second war with Great Britain, 51 ships were built, 24 brigs, 21 schooners, and 15 sloops, amounting in all to 27,430 tuns. Thomas Child, now approaching 90 years of age, states that he has been the master-builder of 237 vessels, and that he built the most of them at this place. For some ten or eleven years prior to 1851, ship-building was wholly aban- doned ; but in that year one vessel was built, and it is hoped that the business will he renewed ere long and flourish.
The Landing was more advanced by this business than by any thing else ; though some of the inhabitants for many years had a considerable share in commerce, owned vessels, and followed a sea-faring life as officers or sailors. But with the loss of the West India trade from the river, navigation from this place was very much diminished
In 1819 the village contained sixty or seventy dwelling houses, four stores, and some mechanic shops. It now contains, regard- ing the village as co-extensive with the school districts, seventy- three houses, four stores, and seven mechanies' shops. There is also within its limits, on Taylor's Creek, a foundry for the cast- ing of house and sleigh bells, employing about five men ; a shop recently built, with the needed apparatus for pulverizing and cleansing ore from Great-Hill, and also near by a laboratory and smelting works for extracting from it its valuable contents, and four oakum factories, usually omploying twenty-five hands.
The early inhabitants who lived in the Chatham part of Mid- dle Haddam, latored under great disadvantages for attending publie worship, whether they undertook to work their way through crooked paths over the Strait-Hills to the sanctuary in Portland ; or, availing themselves of the Connecticut in the mild seasons of the year, went as far as they could in boats towards that sanctuary, or thus went to the churches in Middletown and Haddam. The people on Haddam Neck also, though living against Haddam Town, often found it difficult to cross the river. Nor were the people of both sections conveniently situated for meeting together, within their own limits, not so much from their distant scattered dwellings, as from the hilliness and rough- ness of the country, and the badness of the roads. But it being more convenient for them to meet together than to worship where they had done, they united, in Oct. 1738, in a petition to the Legislature for incorporation as a parish, and their request was granted in May 1740.
The petitioners north of the Neck were 26, and their names were Henry Atkins, Richard Bonfoey, Ebenezer, Jonathan and Nathaniel Burr, Edward Bill, Ebenezer Dart [a settler from New London ], James Fowrey, Ephraim Fuller, Nathaniel Goss. Ben- jamin Harris, David Hebbard. John and Thomas Hubbard, Da- vid Hurlburt,' Jun., Josiah Johnson, James Pelton, Noah Phelps, Thomas Rich. Benjamin and Ebenezer Smith, Samuel, Nathaniel
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SKETCH OF CHATHAM.
and John Spencer, George Stocking and John Swaddle. The lists of these petitioners amounted to £1,582 2. There were three other inhabitants, Joshua Brainerd, Joshua Luther and Moses Rowley, having together a list of £109 8, who for some reason did not unite in the petition.
The petitioners on the Neck were 12, viz. : Joshua Arnold, William, James, Abijah, Josiah, Nathan and Benjamin Brainerd, William Markum, Alexander Peterson, Ebenezer and David Smith, and Jolm Stocking. The lists of all these is not known ; but it is believed that they were somewhat more in proportion to their number than the lists of those from the other part of Middle Haddam. The list of William Brainerd alone in 1739, it is ascertained, was £108 14.
The ancestors of the Freemans, Hurds, Iligginses and Youngs, who united with the foregoing settlers, were from Barnstable connty in Massachusetts. About 1750, John Eddy, from Nor- ton, in the same state, Samuel Daniels, a native of Colchester, and a few others, settled in the cast part of the parish.
The church was organized Sept. 24, 1740, and consisted of 13 male members, 7 of whom lived on the Neck.
Rev. Benjamin Bowers. a native of Billerica, Mass., and gradu- ate of Harvard College 1733, was ordained and settled as their pastor at the same time.
At the time of this organization the people had no house erected for public worship, and must have met in a school-house or private dwelling. They had no village nor denscly settled neighborhood, to plead on the ground of numbers and property, for its location in the midst of their dwellings. Knowles's Land- ing, now Middle Haddam Landing, indeed began to be a place of some business not long afterward ; but it did not attain its present size till that generation, and many of succeedings ones had gone to the grave. The people therefore united in a local centre, or one that was nearly so, and built a meeting-house in 1744, 44 feet by 36, in which they worshipped until 1712; seve- ral years longer than they would have done had they been united in views as to the site of a second Meeting-house.
Mr. Bowers died May 11, 1761, aged 45, having obtained the reputation of a pious and faithful minister.
Rev. Benjamin Boardman, a native of Westfield in Middletown, a graduate of Yale 1758, Dean scholar and tutor in that institu . tion, was ordained Jan. 5, 1762: In his ministry, if not before, some families, living on Moromus street, on the West side of the Connecticut and near its bank, beeame accustomed to attend worship more or less in Middle Haddam ; and in Jan. 1775 the First Society granted them liberty to pay half their society tax into the treasury of Middle Haddam. The heads of these fami- lies were Israel Carrier, Franeis Clarke, John Cone, Simeon and Richard Morgan, Stephen and John Scars, Samuel Simmons and John Swaddle. During this year Mr, Boardman went as chap-
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SKETCH OF CHATHAM.
lain with a company of cavalry to the vicinity of Boston. He was chaplain there, during that year, for a number of months. Difficulties afterwards arising between him and his people trom two or three causes, he was dismissed in 1783. On the 5th of May in the following year he was installed pastor of the South church in Hartford, where he died Feb. 12, 1810, aged 70.
Rev. David Selden, native of Haddam Neck, graduate of Yalo 1782, studied theology with Dr. Lockwood of Andover, Conn. and was licensed to preach by Hartford South Association, June 3, 1783. Soon after this lie preached in Hebron and was invited to settle as colleague with Dr. Porreroy ; he preached also in other places, but was settled in Middle Haddam Oct. 19, 1785, where he died in office, esteemed by his people and his brethren in the ministry, Jan. 18, 1825, aged 64.
Rev. Charles Bentley, native of New Marlborough, Mass, grad- uate of Amherst College, 1824, was ordained successor to Mr. Selden Feb. 15, 1826 and dissmissed May 22, 1833. Since his dissmission Mr. Bentley has been settled at Salmon Brook, in Granby, in Harwinton, and in Green's Farms, in Fairfield, where he is now pastor.
Rev. Stephen A. Loper, native of Guilford and graduate of Ban- gor Theological Seminary, was first settled in Hampden, a little below the city of Bangor, in Maine. He was installed in Mid- dle Haddam June 11, 1834 and dismissed Nov. 1, 1841. He was afterwards settled in Hadlyme several years ; but since July 1, 1850 has preached to the congregation in Higganuin in Haddam.
In the interval between the dismission of Mr. Loper from Middle Haddam, and the settlement of another pastor, the peo- ple were supplied by Rev. William Case, who had been pastor of the church in Chester, by Mr. Samuel Mosely, a candidate for the ministry, since dead, and by Rev. Philo Judson, who had been pastor of the church in Ashford and of the church in North Stonington.
Rev. James Colburn Houghton, native of Lyndon, Vt., but who spent most of his youth in Putney in that State, graduate of Dartmouth College 1837, and who studied theology in East Windsor, was installed at Storrsville, now Dana, Mass. Dee. 23, 1840. After leaving that place, he preached as stated supply in East Hartland, and in Granby, Conn. for a short time. He began to preach in Middle Haddam in May 1847 and was in- stalled there on the 15th of Sept. following. He was dismissed from this charge the 1st. of November 1850, and installed over the South Church in New Hartford Dec. 31, 1851.
Rev. William Sturgess Wright, native of Glastenbury and graduate of Yale College 1839, who studied theology two years in New Haven, and taught the Academy in Cromwell 5 years, has been stated supply in Middle Haddam since Jan. 1851. He was ordained after he commenced services in this place, but not installed as pastor.
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SKETCH OF CHATHAM.
DEACONS IN THE CHURCH.
Elected.
Died or moved away.
Ebenezer Smith,
Nov. 8, 1740. | Feb. 11, 1752
Gidcon Arnold,
Benjamin Harris,
Mar. 14, 1748.
Mar. 1772 Apr. 11, 1775.
75
Daniel Arnold,
Nov. 27,1771.
May 27, 1774.
43
66 66
Apr. 7, 1837.
93
June 1, 1774.
Nov. 25, 1795,
52
Moved to Ludlow, Mass.
Jesse Hurd,
Sept. 18, 1818.
July 22, 1831.
66
Edward Root,
June
1827 66
Moved to Middletown, 1849. 60 66 1839.
Samuel B. Butler, Jan. 3, 1840.
David Dickinson,
June 30, 1843.
Anson Strong, June 29, 1849, |
Those whose names are in italics lived in the Chatham part of Middle Haddam.
It has been stated that the number of members in the church at its formation was
Mr. Bowers, admitted,
171.
Mr. Boardman,
162.
Mr. Selden,
221.
Mr. Bentley, :
95.
Mr. Loper,
19.
The number admitted since Mr. Loper's dismission, is 44.
725.
The number of communicants Jan. 1. 1852, is not ascertained, but the number reported to the Gen. Association for Jan. 1. 1851, was 133.
The 2d Meeting-house, to which reference has been made. was built in 1812 and is 50 feet by 40.
The society own a parsonage. They have also two pieces of land, given by the late Dea. Ezra Brainerd, worth about $200, the rents of which are about 9 or 10 dollars annually.
The annual average of contributions by the people for public benevolent objects for the last five years has not been less than $160. During the three years of Mr. Houghton's ministry they were not less than $200 per year.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT MIDDLE HADDAM LANDING.
A small Episcopal Church was formed in the eastern part of Middle Haddam in 1771, which held meetings a few years and was dissolved. Their house of worship built in 1772, 26 feet by 24, was taken down.
The church at the Lantling was formed April 25, 1785, and, their church edifice was built in 1786 or 7, 47 feet by 36. The church belonged to the care of Mr. Jarvis of Middletown until
23
Agcs. 81
Ezra Brainerd, Eso David Smith, Dr Thos. Brainerd, Selden Gates,
Dec. 10, 1795. July 27, 1810.
L. I. died at Brooklyn.
Levi Mitchell,
Moved to Stonington, 1841
13.
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SKETCH OF CHATHAM.
1791. The two succeeding years Rev. Tillotson Bronson, after- wards preceptor of Cheshire Academy, divided his labors equal- ly between this church and the church in Portland, and then they reverted to the care of Mr Jarvis. From 1795 or 6 till 1810 Rev. M. Smith Miles, ministered here one halt of the time. From 1811 till 1821 Rev. Jasper D. Jones ministered here one third or fourth of the time, with the exception of about two years, (1815 and 16, it is believed,) when the church was sup- plied by Rev. Solomon Blakeslee, and Rev. R. Ives. Mr. Jones was succeeded by Rev. Nathan Burgess, who preached here a quarter of the time in 1822 and 3. He removed to Vermont. Rev. Edward T. Ives, born and educated in Cheshire, and who studied theology in New Haven, took charge of the parish about two years. He removed to Peekskill, N. Y. From 1825 to 1826 Rev. Orson V. Howell, then connected with the Military. Academy in Middletown, ministered to the parish one half the time. From 1826 to 1829 or 30, Rev Ashbel Steel, a native of Waterbury, educated at Cheshire Academy, a very devoted and good man, ministered to the people. Rev. Alpheus Geer, became rector in 1831 and preached to them till the spring of 1837, be- ing connected during that period with the church in Hebron. Rev. James Sunderland, came into the parish in 1837 and preach- ed till the spring of 1838. He was succeeded by George Augus- tus Sterling who preached two years. He was a native of Sha- ron, educated at West Point, and studied theology in New York city. Rev. Benjamin S. Huntington took charge of the parish July 5, 1840, and resigned in the autumn of 1841. He studied theology in New York, and it is believed was born and educa- ted classically in that city. Rev. Charles W. Bradley, preached in Middle Haddam about 5 months in the close of 1841 and be- ginning of 1842. He is a native of New Haven, has been Sec- retary of State of Connecticut, and is now a consul in China. Rev. Sylvester Nash succeeded him in May 1842 and resigned Nov. 1, 1845. He is a native of Ellington. His classical educa- tion was private-his theological at the P. Episcopal Seminary in New Haven and New York, being a member of it at its remo- val. Rev. F. B. Woodward took charge of the parish in April 1846 and is the present rector. He became first a physician, and still practices medicine. His theological education was in the Eastern Diocese while under the supervision of Bishop Gris- wold.
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