USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History and antiquities of New Haven, Conn. : from its earliest settlement to the present time, with biographical sketches and statistical information of the public institutions, &c., &c., 3rd ed. > Part 3
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* For a particular history of the White Haven and Fair Haven Churches, and of the United Society, see History of the North Church in New Haven, in three sermons, by Rev. Samuel W. S. Dutton, Pastor of the Church. New Haven, A. H. Maltby, 1842 : pp. 138.
t This house has been sold for a Jewish Synagogue.
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roof, and a Sunday-School room. Cost of the house, $33,000; lot, $16,000; total, $49,000.
CHAPEL STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- The Chapel Street Congregational Church was organized November 4, 1838. The house of worship, as before mentioned, was built in 1828-9, on the corner of Chapel and Union-streets. About the year 1847, seventeen feet was added to the rear of the building, and the interior of the house improved and furnished with a marble pulpit.
In 1855 the vestibule was enlarged toward the street, in order that a Lecture room might be made above in the rear of the front gallery. The two steeples formerly upon the Church were taken down, and one erected in- stead. In the basement, on Union-street, are severa stores.
COLLEGE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- This Church was formed August 31st, 1831, as a free Church. They commenced public worship in the Orange Street Lecture Room on the first Sabbath in September. In June, 1833, they removed to the hall in the Exchange Building, until their house of worship was erected in Church street, which they occupied September 11th, 1836
Their present house of worship is situated on the west side of College-street, between Chapel and Crown-streets. It was built in 1849, at a cost of $20,000.
TEMPLE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, (Colored.)-This Church was organized August 25, 1829. For a while they wor- shiped in the old Methodist Church. The present house of wor- ship is built of brick, and was completed in June, 1845. It is situated on the east side of Temple street, between Crown and George streets.
HOWE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- This Church is situated on the corner of Howe and Martin streets. It was built of wood, in the year 1840. It has a Lecture Room in the base- ment. The Church was first organized by the name of " Park Street Church," as they then held public worship in a room on the west side of Park street.
SOUTH REFORMED CHURCH, corner of Columbus and Liberty streets. The tower of the building fronts on Columbus street. It was built of sand stone, in 1851. The church was originally organized as the South Congregational Church. A chapel is built in the rear, separate from the church, having several com-
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modious rooms, for the use of the society. The church and chapel was built, and public worship sustained, principally by the liberality of the late Gerard Halleck, Esq., till his decease.
DAVENPORT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH is on Green street, between Chestnut and Franklin streets. In 1857, a religious meeting was commenced in Wallace street. In 1859, a Chapel was built by the members of the First Congregational Church and Society, in Franklin street. This was burnt, with other buildings, in 1864. The present Church is of wood, and was dedicated Feb- ruary, 1865. The Rev. Edward E. Atwater was installed Pastor April 22d, 1863.
LEBANON MISSION CHAPEL, connected with the First Congre- gational Church, is on the south side of Humphrey, street, near State.
DIXWELL MISSION SCHOOL is on the west side of Dixwell ave. nue, opposite Eaton street. It was built in 18-, and is connected with the North Congregational Church.
THE WEST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized in December, 1865. Their house of worship is situated on the cor ner of Howard avenue and Columbus street. It was built in 1868, of Naugatuck granite, after the English Gothic architecture, at a cost of $38,000.
BETHANY CHAPEL, (Congregational,) is on the north side of Oak street, west from Day.
OLIVET MISSION SCHOOL, connected with the Third Congrega- tional Society, is on the south side of William street, near Bradley.
CENTER CHURCH (First Congregational) CHAPEL .- This tasteful and commodious structure on the south side of Chapel street, fronting the Green, was built in 1867, at an expense (including the land,) of $26,080,59. The building contains the Pastor's Study, Church Library, rooms for religious lectures, prayer and conference, a large room for the Ladies' Benevolent Society and sociables ; in the rear, a room for Sabbath School
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first Episcopal Church was built of wood, on the east side of Church-street, about eight rods south of Cha- pel, in the year 1754-5. An addition to the building was subsequently made. It had a steeple, with a crown upon the top of it. The building was taken down soon after Trinity Church was completed.
TRINITY CHURCH -This edifice was built in 1814-15, at an expense of about $28,000. It is built of stone from
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West Rock, in the Gothic style of architecture, with a lofty tower, and is one of the largest in the City. It stands on the south side of the Green, fronting Temple-street.
CHRIST CHURCH, on the Corner of Park and Maple- streets, is a Chapel of Trinity, and was consecrated Jan. 8th, 1854. It is built of wood.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH .- St. Paul's Chapel was built of East Haven sand-stone in 1828-9, at an expense of about $17,000, including the land. It formed a part of Trinity Parish until 1845, when the Parish was divided, and the Chapel constituted into a separate and independent Society, by the name of St. Paul's Church; several thousand dollars were immediately expended in remodeling the in- terior, and greatly improving the edifice. Its organ is considered the best in the City.
The MISSION CHAPEL, on the corner of State and Eld- streets, is sustained by the congregation of St. Paul's, and dedicated in Oct., 1852. It is built of wood.
ST. THOMAS' CHURCH .- This Parish was organized February 24th, 1848. 3 Its services were commenced in the Orange Street Lecture Room, on Easter Sunday, April 23d, where they were continued for more than a year. To accommodate the increased congregation, a lot was purchased, and a temporary Chapel of brick erected, which was first opened for divine service August 12th, 1849. The Chapel and land cost about $8,000. In March, 1854, this Chapel was taken down, and the foundation of the present beautiful Church begun. The Church was completed and consecrated April 19th, 1855. Its cost, exclusive of the land, organ, and furniture, was about $27,000
ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- ( Colored. )-This Church is built of wood, and is situated on the east side of Park street, between Crown and George. (Seep 208.)
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the year 1795. The Society commenced their worship
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in Gregson-street, in an old building which had been used by the Sandemanians in the year 1797. About the year 1807, a lot was purchased on the east side of Tem- ple-street, between Crown and George-streets-the pres- ent site of the brick African Church, and a house built of wood, 40 by 30 feet.
In July, 1820, the Society obtained permission of the City to build a new Church on the north-west corner of the Upper Green, in a line with the North Church, and 20 feet from College-street, provided it should be built of solid materials.
Rev. William Thatcher was instrumental in collecting funds sufficient to accomplish the object. In 1821, May 15th, the corner stone was laid, and the building pro- gressed with remarkable rapidity, so that the roof was nearly completed, and the house inclosed, by the 3d of September. On that night the memorable September Gale demolished the building. Other buildings were blown down in this and other towns, and an immense amount of damage was done on the sea-board.
The house was immediately rebuilt and dedicated May 23, 1822. The size of the house was 80 by 68 feet. This house was occupied by the society until the year 1848, when some improvements were contemplated on the building. At this time the City proposed to give the Society five thousand dollars provided they would remove the building from the public square and build upon a dif- ferent location. The offer was readily accepted, and the lot on the north-east corner of Elm and College-streets was secured for the purpose.
The present FIRST METHODIST CHURCH was built in 1849. In addition to what the City gave them, individu- als not belonging to the Society subscribed about three thousand dollars, and Yale College gave $500. It faces Elm-street, and has a tower or steeple, with one of the largest and best toned bells in the City.
The interior of the house is finished in modern style, with a marble pulpit. It has a Lecture and other rooms in the basement. The cost of the house, including the lot, was about $30,000.
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ST. JOHN STREET M. E. CHURCH was built in 1845. It has a steeple and bell. It faces Hughes street.
GEORGE STREET METHODIST E. CHURCH is on the south side of George street, between Church and Orange streets. It was built in 1853, and is a neat and commodious structure.
WEST CHAPEL STREET METHODIST E. CHURCH was erected in 1858, at the corner of Chapel and Day streets.
GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is a few rods east of College street, on the north side of George street, being near the spot where the first church in New Haven, and the first church of Milford were formed. The society was organized in 1855. The church building is of brick, and was dedicated in Marcu, 1866, being the first German Methodist F. Church built in Connecticut. The cost of the lot and building was upwards of $21,000.
FIRST AFRICAN M. E. BETHEL CHURCH is situated between Whalley avenue and Goff street, on the east side of Sperry street. The church building was commenced in 1856. They formerly met in a smaller building on the north side of Whalley avenue.
WEST CHAPEL STREET METHODIST E. CHURCH, corner of Chapel and Day streets, was finished and dedicated in 1869.
M. E. ZION CHURCH, (Colored,) is on Dixwell avenue, between Eaton and Webster streets. They formerly met in a smaller brick church, at the corner of Broad and Morocco streets.
AMERICAN UNION CHURCH, (Colored,) is on Webster street.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church was constituted in 1816, and first met in College street, in Amos Doolit- tle's Lodge room, after that in Academy Street Academy, and then in the State House. In 1824, they erected a house of their own on the south side of Chapel street, between Union and Olive streets. This building was enlarged in 1835.
The society, increasing in numbers, in 1865, made an arrange- ment with the Second Baptist Church for their superior edifice, east side of Wooster square, which they have occupied since they sold their church building, in Chapel street, erected in 1824. In 1867, a branch church was organized in Dwight street, where a flourishing Mission Sunday School has been maintained, with preaching. Preparations are now being made (1869) to erect a large Baptist Church at the corner of Chapel and York streets.
THE GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH Was constituted in 1862. They have now (1869) nearly completed a church edifice at the corner of George and Broad streets, at a cost of $17,000.
THE WEBSTER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, (Colored,) have recently erected a church building in Webster street.
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, (Catholic,) is situated at the intersection of York street and Davenport avenue. The first Catholic Church was erected here in 1834. It was consumed by fire June 11, 1848. The present Church was erected on this spot in 1858.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, (Catholic,) is on the west side of Church street, between Crown and George streets. It was built for a free church, and was occupied by the College Street congregation until they occupied their new house, in 1836. The first floor is occu- pied by Catholic schools for both sexes.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, (Catholic), is situated at the corner of Grand and Wallace streets. It was built in 1852-3 of East Haven sand stone. It is a large and well appearing structure.
ST. FRANCIS' CHURCH, (Catholic,) east side of Ferry street, north of Grand, in Fair Haven, was built in 1868.
THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH built their first church edifice, corner of State and Court streets, in 1850, the first floor being occupied with stores and offices. They now cccupy the original church of the First Baptist Society, in Chapel street, erected in 1824.
CONGREGATION MISHKAN ISRAEL, (Jewish.) This society have their house of worship in Court street, formerly occupied by the Third Cong. Society.
CONGREGATION BENI SHULEM, have their place of worship at No. 14, Brewster Building.
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SABBATH DAY HOUSES, &c.
Stoves and furnaces were not introduced into our houses of worship until about the year 1820, and then not without strong opposition It was customary for the gentlemen to carry foot-stoves for the ladies, in order to keep their feet from freezing. Formerly many families attended public worship who lived out of the town. At that time " Sabbada Houses" (as they were called) were built for their accommodation.
These hou es were of one story. containing two rooms about 12 feet square, with a chimney between them, and a large fire-place in ea h. They were usually built by two or more famil es. Dry wood was kept in the house ready for use. Early preparation was made on Sabbath morning to be in season at the Church ; those living out of town were generally first at the sanctuary. After de- positing in their saddle-bags some bread and cheese, with a few dough-nuts and apples, also a wooden bottle of cider, they started for the " Sabbada House," and built a roaring fire. After warming themselves, they were ready to assemble in the Church at the hour of worship, and shiver with the cold during the services. During the intermission they resorted again to their warm room, and par- took of the cold collation already provided, and each in turn drank from the bottle. At the close of divine worship, after gathering up the fragments and extinguishing the fire, they returned to their homes.
We recollect seeing two of these houses in Church street, nearly opposite the residence of Gov. Baldwin-these belonging to fami- lies living in Hamden,
PUBLIC CEMETERIES.
The old burying-ground occupied the central part of the Upper Green. The State House and Center Church cover a portion of the ground. It was used an a burial I place from the first settlement of the town (1638) up to the year 1796. The inclosure was octagonal, and was surrounded with a board fence painted red, which became by age faded and dingy.
The inclosure being small, it was found necessary to secure a new location, in the words of the record, " larger, better arranged for the accommodation of families, and, by its retired situation, better calculated to impress the mind with a solemnity becoming the repository of the dead."
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The place selected was the NEW BURIAL GROUND, which is situated near the north-west part of the original nine squares, and is bounded southerly by Grove-street, westerly by Ashmun-street, northerly and north-easterly by Lock-street and the Canal Railroad and east on Smith Avenue. It was laid out in 1796, and originally con- tained six acres, which was soon increased to ten.
An act of incorporation was granted in October, 1797. It is supposed to be the first Cemetery that was laid out into family lots in the United States.
In 1814, the ground was enlarged by the addition of about eight acres, so that the inclosure now contains 173. acres.
There are avenues running through it parallel with the east side of the inclosure, and othere crossing them at right angles.
The family lots were originally bounded 18 feet on the avenues and 32 feet deep.
In 1821 the monuments in the old cemetery were re- moved to this, (with the exception of those under the Cen- ter Church,) and the ground leveled.
In the year 1848-9 the wooden fence was removed, and a substantial one of hewn stone, eight feet in height, was erected on all sides except the front. In front is a dura- ble iron fence. At the entrance is an Egyptian gate-way, of Portland free-stone, with appropriate symbolical repre- sentations sculptured upon it, with this inscription :
"THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED."
The interior of the inclosure is plentifully supplied with evergreen and other trees of various kinds. Within the fence and adjoining the wall, is a border thickly set with evergreens and shrubbery .*
* The superintendence of the improvements in and about the Burial Ground was entrusted to a Committee, of which Hon. Aaron N. Skinner was chairman. The origin of the movement was mainly due to Mr. S., and he gave his personal attention to the work from first to last, without charge. To his zeal, liberality, and good taste in the execution of this undertaking, the public are under lasting obligations. He also gratuitously superintended the erection of the fence around the Public Square.
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The whole expense in inproving the ground and fenc- ing was as follows :
Stone wall,
$11,000 The City paid
$7,000
Iron Fence,
3,500
Raised by Subscription,
9,500
Gateway, .
5,600
Avails of Ladies' Fair, 854
Planting Trees, &c.,
2,400
Lots sold,
5,146
$22,500
$22,500
This inclosure contains the remains of many illustrious and distinguished men, both in Church and State, who were ornaments to society and benefactors of the human race, and whose names will go down to posterity as long as the English language is spoken.
EVERGREEN CEMETERY .- Owing to the difficulty of procuring lots in the one last described the Evergreen Cemetery was laid out in 1849 and contains 134 acres, and is b unded easterly on West-street, about 760 feet ; fronting Sylvan Avenue, and extending back to the West Meadows. It is laid out into family lots, and the ground ornamented with trees and shrubbery.
There is a Cemetery at Westville, within the limits of the City, on the north side of Whalley Avenue, just be- fore descending the hill to the village.
The Jews have one adjoining it on the westerly side.
There is a Cemetery at Fair Haven within the limits of the town.
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The first Catholic Cemetery is near the corner of York- street and Davenport Avenue. It is a small inclosure, and is now not used for interments.
The one now occupied is on the south side of Colum- bus-street, near the West Meadows, and was consecrated in 1851.
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FUNERALS.
The method of conducting funerals was formerly very different from what is now practised. It was customary.
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up to the year 1826, for wine or spirits to be furnished to the bearers, in a room appropriated for their use. The remains of a deceased person were borne to the grave on a bier, carried upon the shoulders of the bearers.
A Committee was appointed in April, 1794, to procure a Hearse ; but it was not obtained until a few years after.
It was formerly customary for mourners and friends (when the weather was pleasant) to walk to the place of sepulture ; as it was considered more solemn and appro- priate than riding ; occupying less time, and saving much unnecessary and often burdensome expense.
Tolling the bell at funerals was practised until about the year 1830.
STATE HOUSE.
The first State House was built upon the Upper Green, north of the old cemetery, near College-street, in 1717. After the union of the Colonies of New Haven and Con- necticut, in 1665, the Legislature first met in this City in May, 1701." " It was provided that hereafter the October session of the General Assembly, (previously called Gen- eral Court,) and of the Judicial Court of Assistants, should be holden at New Haven."-Col. Rec., 111-361.
Formerly the Legislature held two sessions-the May session in Hartford, and the October session in this City. This was continued until 1818, when the new Constitu- tion was made. Since that time the Legislature meets in May of each year, alternately at New Haven and Hart- ford.
It is presumed that the Legislature held their October sessions in the State House above mentioned, until the year 1763, when the NEW BRICK STATE HOUSE Was built.
This was an elegant structure for those days. It stood fronting Temple-street, a few rods north of Trinity Church. The steps projected into the street, and had a wrought iron railing which was much admired.
The first floor in early times was used for balls, and as a dining hall on great occasions.
* The Upper House at the October session, in 1718, met in the Hall of the first College building.
NEW HAVEN GREEN. OR PUBLIC SQUARE.
The State House and the 1st Cong Church appear in the Center. Trinity Ch. on the left. On the right, the North Cong. Ch. The College buildings are seen in the back ground
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Early in the present century the house was enlarged in the rear to near double its original size ; the gambrel roof was removed, and a Cupola placed upon the central part of it, which contained a bell.
The Senate, or Upper House, as they were then called, occupied the south room of the second story, and the members of the Lower House the north room, in which was a narrow gallery for spectators ; the Court room and Jury room being on the first floor. The house was well elevated, having a basement for the storage of wood, &c.
The present STATE HOUSE is situated near the westerly side of the Public Square, near College-street. Most 01 the building stands upon the site of the old Cemetery. It was located here by the Legislature of the State. The Town and County of New Haven paid $10,000 for the rooms they severally occupy. It is built in the Grecian Doricstyle. The basement is cased with Sing-Sing marble, and the walls above stuccoed. The Town Clerk's office, with that of the Judge of Probate and Clerk of the Courts, are in the basement (See page 191.)
PUBLIC SQUARE.
Our ancestors wisely reserved this ground as a Public Market Place for the benefit of the town. Up to the year 1798, the Public Square was not inclosed. It was trav- eled in all directions by ox-teams, and vehicles of all de- scriptions, being a common thoroughfare. In that year the following vote was passed :
" Voted, that, in the opinion of this meeting, the railing in of the upper and lower sections of the Public Square in this City, on the eastern and western sides of Temple-street, would add to the con- venience of the citizens and beauty of the City, and that permission be granted to effect the same, under direction of James Hillhouse, David Austin, and Isaac Beers, Esqrs., in case the same be done with- out expensc to the City."-City Record, May 8, 1798.
In July, 1799, is the following record :
" Whereas it would add to the convenience of the citizens, and to the ornament of the City, that the Green or Public Square of the City should be leveled, and the upper and lower sections railed in,
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and suitable fences erected to preserve the same from the passing of carriages and teams, and that water courses should be prepared for conducting off the water,
" Voted, that the City doth consent that the same be done in such manner as Pierpont Edwards, James Hillhouse, and Isaac Beers, Esqrs. shall direct, and that they superintend and accomplish the same, provided the same be done without expense to the City."
We have understood that soon after the above votes were passed, subscriptions were taken up for the purpose of accomplishing the object. The grass was sold yearly to pay part of the expense, and to keep the fence in repair.
In September, 1803, we find the following record :
" Voted, that James Hillhouse, Isaac Beers, and Thaddeus Beecher, be a Committee to examine and adjust the accounts of Mr. David Austin, [to ascertain what he] expended in railing and ornament- ing the Green, and make report whether any thing, and if any thing, what sum is legally and equitably due to him from the City on account of moneys so expended."
From the above record we should judge that the City finally paid a small amount for inclosing the Public Square.
It is well known that the Elm trees in Temple-street were planted principally by James Hillhouse, Esq. They were brought from his farm in Meriden. The best were selected for Temple-street, and those that remained were set on each side of Hillhouse Avenue, years before it was opened to the public.
Mr. Hillhouse was the means of opening Temple-street, from Elm-street to Grove. Temple-street to the Hart- ford turnpike was opened years afterward. The house on the north-east corner of Grove and Temple-streets was removed to make room for the street.
David Austin likewise did much to improve New Ha- ven. Due credit has never been awarded him. He set the row of Elms within the Lower Green parallel with Temple-street, and likewise those upon the east side. There was formerly a row upon the Upper Green, par- allel with College-street; a few of them only remain. To him and Mr. Hillhouse belong the credit of leveling and improving the Green more than to any other persons.
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It was not accomplished without opposition, both from persons in the City, and from those living in neighboring towns.
There was a fence on both sides of Temple-street, making two inclosures-the Upper and Lower Green- up to the year 1843. In that year, they were thrown into one, and inclosed with a permanent iron fence, with gran- ite posts, at an expenditure of $6,946 23. What has given celebrity to New Haven more than any one thing, with the exception of Yale College, is its Public Square. To be viewed in all its beauty it must be seen in the months of May and June, when the trees are in full fo- liage.
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