USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Sharon > General history of the town of Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn. from its first settlement, 3rd ed. > Part 16
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A memorial lasting we rear To our mourned and honored dead. In its strength may it proudly stand, In silence the record to bear, Of each name of our patriot band, On, on, through the coming year.
Then followed a salute of three rounds by David S. Cowles Post, No. 60, G. A. R., and the " Red, White and Blue," by the Sharon cornet band, after which the chairman said he would in- troduce the orator of the occasion, who, twenty years ago, tasted southern hospitality very different from what he would now re- ceive should he pay a second visit to Richmond. Rev. Dr. Hiram Eddy, of Canaan, then delivered the oration.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
The exercises were concluded by the benediction pronounced by the chairman.
Then the procession re-formed and marched back to the Town Hall, where, after the blessing was asked by the Rev. Dr. Eddy, all, numbering between six and seven hundred, were bountifully served by the ladies. Thus ended a day which has become one of the bright portions of the history of Sharon.
The following are the inscriptions and names on the mon- ument :
SOUTH FACE.
Erected by The town of Sharon In memory of the brave Men who enlisted from This township, and fell In the struggle to maintain The Union. Anno Domino, MDCCCLXXXV.
NORTH FACE.
Charles Chapman, Theodore F. Woodward, William H. Gaul, Philo L. Cole, Charles M. Douglass, Julius Cole, George C. Skiff, Franklin L. Wickwire.
EAST FACE.
Dwight Studley, William Slover, Charles Treadway, John Eby Edward Whitney, George King, Henry Frink,
William Parret,
Charles J. Reed,
Wiliam Chapman.
WEST FACE.
Andrew Jackson, Edwin Carr,
Barney Kinney, Henry McArthur, William Bush, Henry Bush, James Doyle, James Malone, Chester Slover, Milo Reynolds.
APPENDIX M.
THE HOTCHKISS LIBRARY.
There are few lovelier scenes in this country of fair land- scapes than the vista of wide green common and lofty overarch- ing elms which even Sharon's most casual visitor carries away with him, forever a picturesque memory.
To add still another attraction to Sharon's stately street, of which she is so justly proud, Mrs. Hotchkiss, a former resident of the town, some time since announced her intention of placing here a memorial library in honor of her husband, Benjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Conn., Oct. 1st, 1826, removed to Sharon when three years of age, and died in Paris, France, February 14, 1885.
The formal opening of the library took place September 13, 1893, about a year after work was begun on the building.
The structure is of grey limestone found in the township, the trimmings of white limestone coming from a quarry in Salisbury. The illustration, which will be found elsewhere, represents the exterior architecture-a building of simple yet dignified character, refreshingly free from much of the tasteless over-ornamentation of the present day. The architect was Mr. Bruce Price of New York. The general superintendent of the work was James Lire, of Norfolk ; the wood-work was done by D. N. Eggleston of Sharon, and the stone-work by John Flynn of Barrington, Mass.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
On entering the visitor passes through a vestibule, adorned with a fine oil portrait of Mr. Hotchkiss, into a large and cheer- ful apartment, which extends in the centre to the peaked roof. On the sides are galleries with many-shelved alcoves, doubtless designed for the uses of posterity-and the authors of the coming century. For the present generation ample provision has been made in the six alcoves on the ground floor. Just in- side the vestibule, on either side, are two staircases, which ascend to a common landing, then again separating, meet in a broad platform which overlooks the lower floor of the library. Here one gains a beautiful view of the rear corner of the library, a bay of symmetrical proportions, in which stands, on a pedestal, a bust of Mr. Hotchkiss, executed in Paris, 1879, by Ezekiel.
The reading rooms occupy the north and south bays of the building, on the lower floor. Upstairs there are corresponding rooms, which as yet have not been appropriated to any special purpose. On the occasion of the summer receptions they serve effectively as places of provision for physical longings-but, no doubt, as the atmosphere created by the library stimulates higher intellectual development, here will be found ideal surroundings for places of literary refreshment, which, by the way, many of our country towns distressingly lack. Where could be found more suitable environments for a class reading the masterpieces of literature, or familiarizing themselves with the annals of some great nation ?
The reading rooms correspond in size and in general furnish- ings. The walls are wainscoted in quartered oak-the floor, chairs, tables and desks being of the same material. On the walls hang beautiful etchings and photographs, many of the latter being reproductions of national scenery. Some of the photo- graphs are most artistically colored, with a fastidious skill and charming effect. The ample window space, characterizing the whole building, is here the means of flooding the reading rooms with sunshine-there being five windows, in every case a panel of stained glass surmounting the square sashes. The panels in the north room bear the names of Homer, Virgil, Moliere, and Goethe, while the central window is devoted to a medallion of Dante, his brow wreathed with the laurel crown of fame. The south room commemorates the genius of our English speaking race, Chaucer, Shakespere, Milton and Franklin, while the cen- tral window enshrines the familiar and beloved features of our own Longfellow.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
Even without the snap and crackle of burning logs, one's glance cannot but rest admiringly on the fire-places of cream glazed brick, with just a line of dark to emphasize the arch of Mexican onyx banding the hearth. The andirons and other appointments are of wrought iron. The quotation comes to mind :
" Old wood to burn, " Old friends to trust, " Old authors to read,"
for on the table lie our old friends-the wreathed pillars of Harper's Magazine, the golden-covered Scribner, while yonder in the alcoves are our old authors, true and tried literary compan- ions. On the long table devoted to literature we find the New York Tribune, the New York World and the New York Press. Of weekly publications there are Harper's Bazar, Harper's Young People, Life, Scientific American and the Amenia Times. St. Nicholas and the Review of Reviews are monthly visitors to the table. The reading rooms are open from two to five o'clock daily in the afternoon, and from five to seven three evenings in the week. All inhabitants of the town of Sharon are free to avail themsel es of the reading rooms' privileges.
Works of fiction comprise one-third of the books in the library. History, biography and poetry are represented by about an equal number of volumes, and taken together form a collection slightly larger than the works of fiction. The remaining vol- umes are variously classed under the head of juvenile books, works of travel, works of theology, philosophy, philology, sociology, the useful and fine arts. There is also a case containing valuable reference works-encyclopedias, dictionaries and similar helps.
At the opening of the library there were 2,640 volumes placed on the shelves. The number has now somewhat increased. The library is open to members who pay a small annual fee as a help toward defraying expenses. Books may be retained two weeks, with the privileges of renewal. At the time of writing there are a gratifying number of names on the roll of membership.
The library and grounds are deeded to an association of fifteen people, all residents of Sharon. The names of these trus- tees are as follows : Dr. W. W. Knight, Dr. C. W. Bassett, E. B. Reed, G. M. Walton, C. C. Gordon, A. M. Card, Luther Brown, F. W. Dakin, Willard Baker, C. Albert Schwab, E. F. Gillette, Miss Ruth Prindle, Mrs. Flora A. Ryan, Mrs. Anna Reed and Miss Fanny Taylor.
* 26
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
From this number are chosen an executive committee of five, who are responsible for the management of the library. The officers are : Dr. W. W. Knight, President ; Miss Ruth Prindle, Vice-President ; C. A. Schwab, Secretary; Willard Baker, Treasurer.
The courtesy and efficiency which Mrs. Flora A. Ryan brings to bear in her duties as Librarian cannot fail to make a success of her work.
The library, besides being a monument of generous thought- fulness for some with limited opportunities, is moreover an elevating and purifying influence to the community. There comes to mind a memory of an Eastern tale, of how a rich mer- chant, the possessor of countless wealth in merchandise and camels, was filled with benevolent desires, and sought of a prophet the way to do a true and lasting good.
" Dig a well, my son," was the answer of the venerable wise one, "for not only will that afford comfort now, but coming gen- erations, wearied with long journeying over burning sands, shall there refresh and reinvigorate themselves, and bless the hand that brought water out of the desert."
APPENDIX N.
-
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SHARON.
THE spiritual interests of Catholics in Sharon were first min . istered to by Rev. Father Kelly of Falls Village, this town being a part of that parish at that time. The "first mass " was offered in a small one-storied house, painted red, on the road to Ells- worth, then occupied by James Dunning. This continued to be the place of Catholic worship, at long and irregular intervals, for some years. The next house to be honored in this way, which is now entirely obliterated, stood o'ershadowed by the furnace in the Valley. We next find the Catholics of Sharon assembling for worship in the upper story of the old brick paint shop on Gay street, nearly opposite the new schoolhouse. During these years religious service was only held once or twice a year. In 1858 the old tannery was offered by Mr. Sears, and religious service was held there. About twenty years ago mass began to be celebrated in the schoolhouse in the Valley, but this soon proved too small to accommodate the increasing number of Catholics, who began to assemble in the present Town Hall. Here they continued to worship and receive the sacraments of the Church at more regular intervals and much more frequently until the erection, in 1884, of the little church. This stands about midway between Sharon Street and the Valley. Meantime two important changes had taken place in the parish. In the seventies Rev. H. J. Lynch left Falls Village and began to reside in Lakeville. This brought the
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.
priests near to Sharon, and enabled them to officiate there more frequently. In the year 1882 a new parish came into existence at Cornwall Bridge, and Sharon was cut off from Lakeville and made a part of the new parish. The first rector of this newly- established district was Mr. Sheridan, who erected a beautiful little church and had it dedicated in 1884. His successors were Rev. W. J. Doolan (four years), Rev. Mr. Sheehan (one year), Rev. M. F. Rigney, (two years), Rev. Mr. Cray (one year) and Rev. J. T. Walsh, the present incumbent (1898), who came in the summer of 1895, and became pastor resident in Sharon in Janu- ary, 1896. A parochial residence was then secured and St. Bernard's became the parochial church, Cornwall Bridg becoming a mission. The parish of St. Bernard now consists v_ the towns of Sharon, Cornwall, Kent and Warren. The 21st day of July, 1897, was a red-letter day in the history of St. Bernard's church. On that day, for the first time, the solemn rite of confirmation was administered by the Right Rev'd M. Tierney, D. D., Bishop of the Hartford Diocese.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 014 076 259 3
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