USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Salisbury > Historical collections relating to the town of Salisbury, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 2
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Peter Farnam, Martin Strong and Samuel Church, a special committee of the town, effected the lease,24 the consideration of which consisted of the following conditions which Granger agreed to perform. He was to repair the old meeting house on or before the Ist day of Jan., 1814, so "as to furnish the said Town, the School Society and Ecclesiastical Society in said Town with a neat and convenient room with convenient seats and desk for the pre- siding officer to do and transact the public business of said Town and Societies, to be under the control and direction of said Town and Societies when wanted for the public business of said Town and Societies and at no other times, and shall also furnish a convenient room to keep and accommodate the Smith and Bing- ham Libraries in said town, and the proprietors of said Library Companies at the Libraries meetings, free of expence to said town, Societies and Library Companies and shall continue to furnish the said rooms in manner aforesaid" during the term of the lease- also to furnish heat, and light said rooms when necessary, free of charge, and also to furnish a convenient room "for teaching a Grammar School for a fair and reasonable price, to be paid by the proprietors of said school." Upon failure to perform all
23 Church, p. 29.
24 Salisbury Land Records, Vol. 15, p. 583-4.
SALISBURY TOWN HALL, 1853 "Bushnell Tavern"
PLATE I
2I
History of the Town Hall
of these conditions, the property and improvements were to revert to the town.
Complying with these conditions, Granger repaired the building and made some radical changes in it, both inside and out, to render it convenient as a public house.
In the absence of contemporary specifications, it is of course impossible, at this late date, to state exactly what alterations Granger made in the building in 1813, for it is now nearly forty years since these changes were in turn effaced, but information secured from some of our older residents25 who remember the building before its alteration in 1878, is sufficient to afford us the following reasonably accurate description.
It is possible that minor alterations were made from time to time subsequent to Granger's occupancy, but in general it is assumed that the building remained about the same from the time of his original alteration until 1878. In 1813, therefore, it is probable that the two-story piazza or porch was added to the front of the building, as shown in the early accompanying illustration, and that the original church building was lengthened by a 201/2 foot addition on the north end. That is to say, the original frontage was 45 feet and it is now (exclusive of the recent north and south additions) 6512 feet, and as it is known that no such increase of frontage was made in 1878, it is assumed that this addition was one of Granger's making.
The principal changes, of course, were interior ones and con- sisted of converting one barn-like galleried room into a two- storied dwelling. So far as anyone now remembers, the front porch entrance opened into a wide hallway, with stairs at the back leading to the upper floor. The front corner room on the south side of the hallway was the hotel parlor, flanked on the opposite side by the proprietor's living-room, adjoining which on the north front corner was the bar-room, located in the twenty foot addition above referred to. Behind the parlor and living-room were the kitchen and dining-room respectively, and in the rear, attached to the southwest corner of the main building, was a small build-
25 Among those consulted were James M. Selleck, Wm. E. Pettee, Martin B. Strong, and Donald T. Warner. Judge Warner's recollections were of especial assistance.
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ing, presumably a combination woodshed, summer-kitchen, etc. The kitchen addition, partially shut off from view by a high board fence, erected around it on the east and south sides, was but a step or two from the southeast corner of the cemetery. The proximity of the rear entrance to the table monument, erected in 1803, to the memory of Joseph Canfield, Esq., lends color to the tradition that this conveniently placed memorial was fre- quently used as a meat block, by "the minions of the scullery." The tradition is perpetuated here not to call particular attention to the impropriety of the alleged act, but rather to emphasize the subsequent growth of sentiment and the present force of enlightened public opinion, in view of which no such violation of the laws of decency could be committed.
On the second floor the room reserved for the transaction of public business was situated in the south end and the partitions separating the various rooms fronting the street were removable, so that on occasions when a large unobstructed space was required, the whole could be made temporarily into one room. Bed-rooms were ranged along the rear part of this floor. Near the head of the stairway, leading up from the front hall, was a small room or rather closet fitted with shelves whereon were kept the Smith and Bingham Libraries.
Directly to the north of the building, horse sheds and a barn were erected and the premises arranged conveniently for the use of the public.
Granger continued in occupancy under his lease until 1821,26 when he sold the premises to Moses Wells, under the terms of the original lease.27 Granger removed from this town to Pittsford, Vt., and was living there in 1831.
Mr. Wells continued in the same line as his predecessor until March 7, 1840,28 when William Bushnell became owner of the premises on payment of $2425.
"Wells'" became "Bushnell Tavern" and remained such under the management of Capt. Bushnell himself and several tenant landlords, until Oct. 7, 1864,29 when John H. Coffing of
26 Salisbury Land Records, Vol. 15, p. 581.
27 Salisbury Land Records, Vol. 20, p. 486.
28 Salisbury Land Records, Vol. 21, p. 219.
29 Salisbury Land Records, Vol. 28, p. 478.
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History of the Town Hall
Great Barrington and George Coffing of Salisbury purchased the property, and a small piece of land adjoining it on the south and west, for $4,100.
Very little is definitely remembered now of the various tenants who "ran the hotel" after Capt. Bushnell retired from active business, but inquiry here and there has elicited as much informa- tion as will probably ever be secured. About 1850 a man named Holcomb was the landlord and died during his tenancy. His death is not recorded on the town records and if he was buried here, no monument to him now appears. He was succeeded by Albert T. Jones who married a sister of Martin and Harlo P. Harris and whose son Albert T. Jones is still living at Hyde Park, N. Y. The occupancy of Holcomb and Jones must have been very brief, for as early as 1853, Hercules Western Thorp, famil- iarly known as "Wet" Thorp, was the proprietor and so con- tinued until about 1857, when he leased Caul's Hotel at Falls Village. He was succeeded by "Len" Chase who was in occupancy in 1859 (so says Mr. Charles Day of Lakeville) and possibly later. The last landlord was Noah H. Wheeler (who married Sarah Woodbridge, an adopted daughter of Capt. Bush- nell) who was occupying the place in Oct., 1864, when the Messrs. Coffing purchased it.
After 1864 the building was used for town purposes and parts of it were rented to individuals for dwellings. It became more and more dilapidated until it was found necessary either to abandon or renovate it, and the latter course was pursued in 1878, of which more hereafter.
Many were the activities, besides those of a purely civic nature, which centered in the old hotel-hall between 1813-1878. Here came those of inquiring minds to draw books from the library foundations of Richard Smith, the English Ironmaster, and Caleb Bingham, the Boston Schoolmaster. Here met the worthies who composed the "Society for the Promotion of Good Morals," to deliberate on questions of social improvement. Here in the palmy tavern days of Granger and Wells gathered the youth and beauty of the countryside to hold their singing schools and dancing classes, and more formal "Assemblies." Independence Days and General Trainings were celebrated here, perhaps in
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somewhat boisterous fashion. Here the opposing factions of the Masons and Antimasons matched their strength by argument and ballot, and from 1814 to 1824 and from 1827 to 1829 here was the regular meeting place of Montgomery Lodge, F. & A. M.30
John Whittlesey Walton, a Chapinville boy, now resident in Cleveland, in recently written reminiscences of the decade 1850-60, recalls that at the hours of departure and arrival of the daily stages to and from Canaan, Winsted and Hartford, the Tavern was the center of attraction. Referring to the hotel itself, he gives this descriptive bit,-"The hotel office in the north wing, likewise contains the bar, over which is a printed motto, flyblown and yellow with age, displaying the advice, sage at least from the view point of mine host,-
New Receipt for Health, Drink light, but often."
"The Connecticut Western News," which was published in Salisbury from its commencement number, July 14, 1871, until Mr. Pease,31 the editor, moved to Canaan in Oct., 1876, was first issued in the old building, where its office was located until the fall of 1874, when it was moved across the street to the Academy building. Plate II in this volume shows the "News" sign over the front piazzas, and Editor Pease himself, standing on the doorstep.
The arrangements entered into in 1814 for the accommodation of the public business of the town seem to have given satisfaction for many years, but the time naturally came when some improve- ment in them seemed desirable. To what extent the Town Records themselves were kept in the old building is not positively known, but it is not unlikely that the respective Town Clerks kept at least the current volumes and possibly the older ones, in their own homes. At any rate the importance of a safe repository for the records was brought to the attention of the people in 1849; one of the sections of the call for the annual meeting to be held
30 Montgomery Lodge Centennial Address, p. 76.
31 Joseph L. Pease, founder, editor and owner of "The News," was born at Ashley Falls, Mass., January 2, 1840, and died at Canaan, Conn., June 30, 1878. Through the courtesy of his son, C. H. Pease, we have had access to the early files of the paper, referred to hereafter .- ED.
NEWS
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SALISBURY TOWN HALL-ABOUT 1871 PLATE II
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History of the Town Hall
on Oct. 9th of that year read,-"To take into consideration the propriety and expediency of erecting a fire proof office, for the Town Records." No immediate action was taken in this matter but it and better accommodations in general were undoubtedly discussed from time to time and culminated in a town meeting held June 5, 1858,32 for the purpose of determining if the town would purchase a part, or the whole of a lot in Salisbury Center, owned by Mrs. Eliza Peet, on the east side of the highway lead- ing from the Congregational Church to the Episcopal Church, on which to erect a public building, to contain a hall and other rooms and a vault for the safe keeping of the Town and Probate Records. At this same meeting it was actually voted to erect such a building and Alex. H. Holley, Wm. H. Walton, Donald J. Warner, Daniel S. Clapp and Robert Bostwick were appointed a committee to submit a plan, building specifications, etc. No subsequent report from this committee is on record and it is inferred that the unsettled political conditions of that period, fol- lowed shortly after by the outbreak of the Civil War, caused the temporary abandonment of the plan.
In July, 1870, the matter was revived by the appointment33 of another committee of investigation, consisting of A. H. Holley, D. J. Warner, S. B. Moore, J. W. Parks and Wm. H. Barnum, acting with Selectmen Henry Woodworth, Erastus D. Goodwin and Andrew J. Spurr. This committee received from the Messrs. Coffing an offer to convey to the town all their interest in the Hotel property. The Committee reported that some legal ques- tions appeared to exist which would interfere with the acceptance of the offer, but it was voted that the town gratefully accept it, provided the "difficulties" could be surmounted.
Another delay ensued and on Oct. 7, 1872, A. H. Holley and S. B. Moore acting with Selectmen John P. Walton, Chas. H. Bissell and Dwight Allyn, were authorized to consider a new loca- tion for the Town Hall, secure building estimates, etc.
To put the matter plainly, the reason for these various delays and conferences was the contention on the part of some of the people, that the terms of the lease had not been complied with, and that the owners of the building should be obliged to put it in
32 Town Meeting Records, "1841" Vol., p. 139.
33 Town Meeting Records, "1841" Vol., p. 251.
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Historical Collections
good repair and so maintain it. This argument weighed with those who were opposed to having the town make new expendi- tures, but hoped rather that the burden of maintenance would continue to rest with the owners and that accommodations would be provided for the town as in the past. The Coffings, on the other hand, apparently believed that they had fulfilled the terms of the lease as well as their predecessors had done, and though disposed to relinquish their right to the town voluntarily, they declined to be forced to repair and maintain the building, or to allow it to revert to the town on what they considered insufficient grounds.34
Finally on Oct. 7, 1873, Messrs. Moore, Walton, Bissell and Allyn presented a report in which they recommended continuance on the old site and remarked at some length upon the rights of the town in the property itself. They further recommended that the Selectmen should notify John H. Coffing for himself and as administrator of the estate of George Coffing (who died Nov. 21, 1872) to repair the building, and on his failure to do so within a reasonable time that they should take possession for the town. These recommendations of the Committee were formally adopted and developments were anxiously awaited. Mr. Coffing declined to make the repairs during the winter season which was approach- ing, and further discussion developed an opinion in many minds that the repairs in question were not absolutely necessary anyway, and the "upshot" of it all was that no formal action of ejectment was taken by the town.
The matter dragged along until Oct. 4, 1875, when Wm. H. Barnum, A. H. Holley and Robert Little were appointed a com-
34 Referring to this matter, Lot Norton, Esq., in his 1878 address says :- "It would be idle and useless at this late day to enquire whether one or more of those holding the property under this lease, had faithfully ful- filled the conditions, but as a matter of history it may be said that the Town has not at all times had the accommodations specified in the lease."
D. T. Warner, Esq., in his 1888 statement says :- "A careful examina- tion of the records and files shows that from the date of the lease to Granger in 1813 down to Oct. 1873, the town made no question or claim that the conditions of said lease had been broken, though it is generally understood and conceded that the strict requirements of all of said conditions had not been fully complied with."
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History of the Town Hall
mittee to review the situation and confer again with the owners. Their findings, if they made any, are not of record.
At length on Sept. 22, 1877, a special town meeting was held at which Mr. Coffing was present by invitation. He again offered his interest in the property to the town and agreed to procure a like conveyance from the heirs of his brother George upon the payment to them of an appraisal price to be determined by Frederick Miles, Lorenzo Tupper and Silas Wells. This offer was accepted by the town and a vote of thanks passed to Mr. Coffing. The town at once took nominal possession of the prop- erty, and laid a tax to meet the expense of repairs and altera- tions in the building. We say "nominal" possession, for it was not until Feb. II, 1888, that the executor of the Estate of John H. Coffing (who died Aug. 14, 1882) actually conveyed his inter- est to the town, by deed,-the interest in the George Coffing por- tion having passed to the town in December and January preced- ing, for the consideration of $1,209, which was the appraisal finally agreed upon.35
At the Town Meeting held Sept. 22, 1877, already referred to, it was voted to raise a sum not to exceed $5,000, with which to repair the Town Hall, and install in it a vault for the records. Robert Little, Dr. H. M. Knight and Martin Harris were appointed a Building Committee, and by Oct. Ist the work of alteration was commenced.36 How it progressed cannot be better told than by the following quotations from the contemporary columns of the "Connecticut Western News" :- "Active opera- tions on the town hall are suspended for the present. The exterior of the building is nearly finished and with its fresh coat of white paint presents an imposing appearance, which adds greatly to the attractiveness of our main street." [Issue of Dec. 21, 1877.]
"Work was resumed on the Town Hall on Tuesday last under the supervision of Martin Harris, and will be vigorously prose- cuted to a finish." [Issue of Feb. 21, 1878.]
3% Salisbury Land Records, Vol. 36, pp. 581-87. Also see pp. 578-81 of volume 36, for detailed review of the facts and legal opinion rendered by D. T. Warner, Esq., March 6, 1888.
36 "News" issue of August 8, 1878.
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"The new Town Hall is now completed and ready for occu- pancy. The unsightly outbuildings adjoining the Town Hall were sold for $26.50 on Saturday, and the work of demolition begun." [Issue of June 27, 1878.]
At a Town Meeting held April 13, 1878, the Building Commit- tee's report was accepted, an additional $700 was voted for finishing the work and a vote of thanks to the Committee was passed "for the energy, fidelity and economy in the manner in which they have done the work placed in their hands." It was also voted to expend not over $600. in grading the grounds, build- ing fences, heating and lighting the building, and for necessary furniture. In Oct., 1879, Mr. Little presented a claim for $160. which he had advanced "over and above the appropriations," in connection with his work as Committeeman, which was allowed. The several appropriations, together with Mr. Little's claim, total $6,460, as the sum expended by the town in making this civic improvement.
As noted in one of the preceding quotations, the renovated building was "ready for occupancy" in June, 1878. This state- ment may have been a bit premature. "The News" gives the date of the first meeting of the Selectmen held in their new quar- ters as Aug. 5, '78, and in the same month Martin B. Strong commenced his duties as janitor.37
On Aug. 10, 1878, a meeting was held of which the following is the press report :- 38
"Pursuant to a call signed by many citizens, a meeting was held at Academy hall on Saturday afternoon last, to make arrange- ments for dedicating the new town hall. M. L. Graham was chosen chairman, and Daniel Pratt secretary of the meeting. The following proceedings are transcribed from the official record of the clerk. Voted-Ist, that the town hall be properly dedicated. 2d, that the dedicatory exercises be held at a special town meet- ing, legally warned. 3d, that Lot Norton Esq., be invited to act as historian, and chronicler for the occasion. 4th, that a committee of two from each post-office district be appointed as a committee
37 Mr. Strong occupied this position continuously from August, 1878, to November 1, 1915, when he was succeeded by Fred D. Seeley.
38 "News" issue of August 15, 1878.
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History of the Town Hall
of arrangements. 5th, that the third day of September, at 2 P. M. be the time for dedicating said hall. It was also voted, that all expenses incurred, should be defrayed by voluntary contributions.' The committee appointed were instructed to notify the selectmen of the proceedings at this meeting, and to request them to call a town meeting at the date named above, (signed) Daniel Pratt, clerk. It is expected to make this occasion a gala day for the whole town. * The exercises in the afternoon will proba- bly comprise remarks from old residents, together with an his- torial address commemorative of the glories of the ancient edifice. In the evening, Terpsichore will reign supreme. Good music and a feast of bounteous proportions provided by the ladies, will aid the devotees of the benign Goddess in doing proper homage to her memory."
Curiously enough nothing in the town records indicates that a special town meeting for dedicatory purposes was ever called or held. The press is also silent on the subject, although the issues of "The News" down to the summer of 1879 have been carefully searched. The only allusions to the matter are,-that on account of a temperance mass-meeting which was held at Lakeville Sept. 5, 1878,39 the dedication of the Town Hall, set for Sept. 3d, had been postponed, and that a dance was given in the Town Hall about Thanksgiving time10 which was the "first entertainment of the kind held in the new hall."
We are again indebted to the columns of "The News" (issue of Aug. 8, 1878) for the following detailed account of the appear- ance of the Town Hall, on the completion of the changes which had been recently made :-
"The good old town of Salisbury, organized in 1741, with all her good deeds in the past, in patriotism, in the many 'good men and true,' she has sent out into the world, in her industries, her wealth, and so on to the end of the chapter, has gone a step in advance, again, and probably shows the finest town building of any rural community in this commonwealth. It is just now ready for occupancy, and one who a year ago, looked upon its dilap- idated walls, sunken floors, and weather-beaten gables, and
3 "News" issue of September 5, 1878.
" "News" issue of December 4, 1878.
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beholds to-day a structure, pleasing to the eye, both in architec- tural taste and mechanical skill, arranged for the business trans- acted there, can hardly restrain an exclamation of delight, that so soon the transformation has taken place. A News reporter had the pleasure of being shown through the building the other day, through the courtesy of Town Clerk Pratt and Selectman Hubbard, and we need not add that these gentlemen take great delight in the prospect of better quarters for the transaction of their business, and the convenience of all the residents of the town. * Outside, the appearance is very pleasing. The old unsightly sheds have been removed, and the ground graded, levelled off and put in proper order. A tower has been built on the west corner, adding much to the beauty of the structure, in which is a broad, winding stairway leading to the hall above; a private stairway is also in the east end. The exterior is painted a light drab, with dark trimmings, and is very pretty indeed, giv- ing it a cheerful appearance. A wide hallway on the first floor runs the whole width of the building. To the left, as you enter, is the selectmen's room, 35 x 15, and a very convenient, roomy place it is. The floors are of yellow pine, the ceilings ash, oiled and shellaced, with dark trimmings. Large windows give plenty of light, and high ceilings make it exceedingly well ventilated. The room has a number of chairs, a large table and other con- veniences for the business in that department. Across the hall, fronting the street, is the probate room, and here our friend Col. Tupper will find the snuggest quarters imaginable for holding his courts. Just in the rear is the vault, large enough for the convenient storage of the papers and records of the office. The ceilings are like those in the selectmen's room. Back of the probate room is the town clerk's office, where that veteran scribe and town functionary, Daniel Pratt, feels quite elated over the fact that the remainder of his official years can be passed in such cozy rooms, despite the fact that his windows open on to the solemn grave-yard in the rear. The vault also has ample room for records, and an interesting hour we spent looking over the account of the first meeting, in 1741, when the inhabitants voted to form themselves into a town.
On the second floor, access to which is had up the broad stair-
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SALISBURY TOWN HALL, 1878-1913
PLATE III
3I
History of the Town Hall
way in the tower, is the town hall proper. Its dimensions are 35 x 60, with high walls-and large windows afford splendid light. The floors are yellow pine, finished in oil; the ceilings are ash, and there are some handsome specimens of graining here notice- able, the handiwork of a German who happened to drop along to Salisbury just in time to secure the contract. Some little dif- ficulty is experienced in hearing distinctly in the back part of the room, but this defect will be remedied soon. A large stage, 18 x 20, is in the east end, giving ample conveniences for dramatic entertainments and the like. The hall has a seating capacity of 300, and the old-time benches have given place to Morse's patent folding settees. They are movable, and so arranged as to fold up and be taken away, clearing the floor for dancing parties. Three large chandeliers have been ordered, and the stage also has side-lights. The doors swing both ways, and are covered with green rep. The walls throughout the building are all hard- finished, and in fact all the materials entering into the construc- tion of the building, are of the best quality. The work was all done by local mechanics, by the day, so there is no slighting in that particular. It is no wonder that Salisbury has a public hall in which the citizens all take pride, not only as an ornament, but as a credit to their enterprise."
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