USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of Berlin > Part 16
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Following Mr. Guernsey, the place was occupied a number of years by Norman Porter, Jr., who, in 1863, moved to San José, Cal. ; then by the family of Ansel Talcott, and lastly by S. C. Twitchell. One night, in the fall of 1876, the house caught fire from a defective flue and was burned to the ground with most of its contents.
The two houses standing next south of the new academy were built by Elishama Brandegee, the father of Dr. Elishama Brandegee. The one nearest the academy, long the home of Dr. Brandegee and his family, was designed for the teacher and was occupied by Ariel Parish. The other, now the par- sonage of the Second Congregational Church, strange to relate, was built to be used as a parsonage by the Rev. James McDon- ald, who was settled here 1835-1837.
The name and reputation of Dr. Brandegee, the trusted and beloved physician of nearly every family in town, is too well known to need any extended notice.
The place next north of the new Congregational church was owned by Capt. Nathaniel Cornwell, who carried on business as a tailor, in a shop attached to the south side of his house. The property was purchased by the Rev. Joseph Whittlesey, pastor of the Second Congregational Church, 1838-1841, who, after resigning his charge conducted a school in his home.
Close to the street, on the lot where the church now stands, was the home of Deacon Daniel Galpin, and over by the south fence was the shop where he made wooden pumps and ox-yokes. His daughters, Hetty and Mary, to whose memory Mrs. Dodd has paid graceful tribute, had a school in the north front chamber of the house. Deacon Galpin was a Revolutionary soldier and he had also the honor of being the first red-hot abolitionist in the town of Berlin .. He died in 1844, aged eighty-eight. In 1850, this Galpin place was taken as the site
ELISHAMA BRANDEGEE. M. D. (From a painting by Robert Bolling Brandegee
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of the new church and the old house was moved by John L. Dowd, around south of the residence of the late W. A. Riley. It is now owned by Mrs. William Pierce. If you care to see Deacon Galpin's front door step, go down the walk south of the church to the eastern entrance, leading to the basement.
Phineas Squires, the maternal grandfather of William A. Riley, was a man of wealth and prominence. He built or remodeled the house next south of Daniel Galpin's, now owned by Miss Julia Hovey.
The property was purchased by the Rev. Samuel Goodrich, who was the third pastor of the Second Congregational Church, 1811-1833. He was the father of a distinguished family.
His son, the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, was the author of a History of the United States that was used many years as a text book in the schools of the country.
Another son, Samuel G. Goodrich, known as "Peter Parley," edited a magazine and wrote many tales for young people.
He also wrote a "Child's History of the Western Hemi- sphere" which, with its pictures, was a delight to the children in our schools fifty years ago.
Mr. Goodrich was ably assisted in his work by Hawthorne.
A daughter, Mrs. Abigail Goodrich Whittlesey, edited "The Mothers' Magazine," so highly prized by the families of her generation.
The Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, who was a publie-spirited citizen, continued to live on his father's place until 1847, when he removed to Hartford, where he died in 1862. Mr. Goodrich had a comfortable study in his south yard where he could be quiet while working on his books. That building is now attached to the rear of Mrs. William A. Riley's house.
The Rev. Samuel Goodrich, who found the Worthington church in a very low condition, was deeply loved and reverenced by his people. The children thought, as one who remembers him expressed it, that he was a "Jesus Christ man" and that he came straight from God. When this lady was an infant she was very ill, and Mr. Goodrich was called to pray for her. She recovered, and as he watched the child growing up to
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womanhood, he would lay his hand on her head and say, "Spared monument."
The attractive colonial house situated opposite the Goodrich place was built by Priest Nathan Fenn, who was the first minister settled over Worthington parish. He was ordained 1780 and died 1799. The inscription on his tombstone reads as follows :
In his pastoral office he was faithful; in the duties of piety con- stant; in every relation kind and affectionate; and to all men hospitable and benevolent.
Jesse Eddy, who succeeded Mr. Fenn as owner of the prop- erty, had a large tin shop that stretched across the south yard, where many men were employed.
This shop was burned and rebuilt. Mr. Eddy was assisted in his business by his sons, George and Frederic.
One Sunday, a warm day in summer, George went with a companion to East Berlin and went in bathing at the factory pond. The water was unusually high, after a heavy rain, and George was drawn by an undercurrent over the dam and was drowned. Fifty men turned out to search for his body but it was not until after the water subsided that it was found caught in a tree.
Mr. James B. Carpenter purchased the Eddy shop and moved it down west of Deacon North's store, where it forms the resi- dence part of Mr. Damon's place.
Nathaniel James married the daughter of Jesse Eddy, and, after that, the family used the house as a summer residence only, while their winters were spent in New York City.
Afterwards, the Rev. Seth Bliss owned the property for several years. It is now the residence of Charles S. Webster.
The house next south of the Eddy place was once the home of Dr. Austin, and in 1823 the noted singing teacher, Elam Ives, with his wife, boarded with the family. Timothy Butler, who lived in the next house, was a great hunter and a lover of dogs.
One Sunday, about 1847, he, with Peleg Chapman, went over on the West Mountain in search of a fox. Mr. Butler's dog had
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run the animal to his den under a large rock, and was digging the earth away with all his might, when Chapman crawled under to help him. Suddenly he cried out, "Call off your dog, Tim, the rock is falling." It was too late for dog or man, and Chapman was crushed to death. Word was brought to the village at noon and every able-bodied man and boy rode or walked to Kensington to help lift the rock. The women and children who made up the audience in the old church that afternoon never forgot the solemn sermon preached by Mr. Woodworth.
The Universalist church that formerly stood on the site now occupied by the hall of the Order of United Mechanics was a well proportioned building, with long windows and a cupola, similar to that on the Academy.
It was built in 1831, and when the society disbanded, it was purchased by the Methodists, who in turn disbanded and sold the building to the Mechanics.
The house just south of this property was the home, until 1848, of Dr. Sylvester Bulkeley, the father of Mrs. John Brandegec.
Afterwards, the place was occupied by Mrs. Justus Bulkelcy, "Aunt Ruth" as she was generally called, and her family of bright, pleasant daughters.
Francis Chambers, Esq., assistant clerk for many years of the Supreme Court of Hartford county, had an office here, and took for his wife, Mrs. Bulkeley's daughter Mary.
Back of the Bulkeley house was a famous mulberry grove.
Adjoining the Bulkeley place were extensive sheds and barns used by John H. Webber, Jr., as a livery stable, and as a starting place for stage and 'bus for Berlin depot.
At noon of Easter Sunday, 1896, a dense cloud of smoke was seen rolling up the lane way north of the Universalist church. A barn at the rear owned by Mr. Riley had been set on fire- it was supposed by boys smoking cigarettes.
The church bell rang frantically. Everybody seized a water pail and rushed to the scene, but the flames only laughed at their feeble efforts and ran on to devour, not only all the buildings at the Bulkeley place and the Warrens' barn, but the
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good church edifice, and the whole village seemed doomed to destruction, when an engine driven at breakneck speed arrived from New Britain.
Across the street from the Universalist church was the original Riley homestead, occupied by Roger Riley, Esq., who, after acting as Justice of the Peace for many years, was in 1798 elected town clerk. With the exception of one year, he held the office until 1816. He was universally respected and was the man of his time to whom everybody went for advice. He was a saddler by trade, making use of the West Indies as his market.
His shop was north of his house and the leather for his saddles was tanned in a vat at the rear of the Universalist church.
His dwelling house, which stood within about three feet of the sidewalk, was also a hotel with a ballroom. The barns and sheds were on the east side of the street. It is said that General Washington stopped at this place and patted the heads of his twin boys, Moses and Aaron. Moses was the father of the late William A. Riley.
The shop was afterwards used by a milliner, and as a shoe- maker's shop by Joseph Savage.
The Rileys owned large tracts of land on both sides of the road, and their front yard extended south nearly to the corner. There is a well near the corner, which was used in connection with a cider mill in operation at that point. The well of the old Riley house is in the cellar of the house now owned by Mrs. William Pierce.
According to the grand list of 1790, Roger Riley was then the wealthiest man in Worthington parish; his taxable property was rated at $425.44. Roger Riley, Esq., was a superior pen- man, and it is a pleasure to-day, after the test of a hundred years, to read the Town records, written in his firm, round hand.
Mr. Riley died in 1822, at the age of eighty-five, forty-six years after the Declaration of Independence, when he showed his patriotism by enlisting in the War of the Revolution.
Miss Abby Pattison remembered seeing him, in his last years as he stood in his front door way, "A little old man."
After the death of Squire Riley, the premises were rented, until the house became so rickety that no families except those
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objectionable to the neighbors, would live in it. Finally, at a time when it was vacant, the boys of the village decided to take its destiny into their own hands. Night after night they assembled, with axes and saws, and worked away inside at the timbers, until all were severed from the foundation.
One of their number, now a law-abiding and highly respected citizen of the town, stood sentinel outside, to give alarm by a whistle, whenever he heard footsteps approaching.
When all was in readiness, ropes were attached, and with a long pull, and a strong pull, the old house, whose walls might have told many an interesting tale of colonial days, was laid a wreck on the ground.
On the corner, south of the Riley property, Frederic Hins- dale put up a large building, which he used as a bookstore and a bookbindery. A Bible bought at this place in 1824, by Alfred North, then a lad, is still among the attic treasures of his family.
Mr. Hinsdale died in 1831, at the age of thirty-six. He left an interesting family of children, whose names were, Frederic, Hezekiah, Sarah, Susan, and Julia. They lived in the brick house now owned by Leon LeClair. Jesse Hart, before assum- ing the position of landlord, at "Boston Corners," in 1813, lived at this place, and here conducted his business as cabinet maker. He made coffins for $2.50 each, as shown by the old town records.
At the store, after Mr. Hinsdale, came William and George Loveland, who carried a stock of general merchandise. The Loveland brothers were succeeded by Cowles & Durand, who afterwards went to Kensington, and kept a store near the old depot, where they failed in 1846.
At the corner here, Cowles & Durand were followed by Isaac Dobson, who made tin ware. Mr. Dobson also lived in the brick house and, like Mr. Hinsdale, died young-1847, age forty-three. He had two sons and four pretty daughters: Francis, Joseph, Sarah, Julia, Caroline, and Minerva.
Consumption made sad havoc among the young people of those days. Among its victims were all the children of Fred- erick Hinsdale, except Sarah, who was the wife of Jacob
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Brandegee, and all the Dobsons but Francis, who, at last accounts, was living in Boston.
In 1848 John Graham took possession of the property on the corner, and carried on an extensive business, making carriages and wagons. At the time of his death, in 1855, Mr. Graham employed thirty men, and was turning off wagons at the rato of one a day. They were drawn in long strings to Middletown in summer, and to New Haven in winter, to be shipped south by water. Mr. Graham's account books show that some of his largest customers were the following: J. P. Stow & Co., Catawba, Ala .; G. Taylor & Brother, Kensington, N. C .; Robertson & Pettibone, Spata, Ala .; Wood & Sage, Cross Roads, Jackson County, Miss .; J. Delooche, Macon, Ga .; Wymans & Damon, Augusta, Ga .; J. B. Jacques, North Caro- lina ; also parties in Arkansas and Louisiana.
The running part of a wagon made by John Graham soon after he came to the village, is still in daily use by Albert Pollard, and the wheels, with not a rattling spoke, seem good for another fifty years.
Linus Cornwell succeeded Mr. Graham in the carriage-mak- ing business, and later, while occupied as a grocery, the building was burned.
Captain John "Hinsdil" lived near this corner and had a blacksmith shop in his dooryard. He died in 1793, aged eighty- six. His daughter, Lydia, was the mother of Mrs. Willard and Mrs. Phelps.
Near the crosswalk, at the parting of the ways, as Willard street joins Worthington street, may be seen a little triangle. At this point, under the gravel, is a large flat stone and below the stone is a well, a hundred feet deep. Sixty years ago, over this well was a wooden platform, about ten feet square. From the platform, to the water, extended a log of wood, through which a hole was bored to admit a plunger, which was worked by a wooden handle, six or eight feet in length.
This was a town pump, free to all, where the weary traveler could slake his thirst without trespassing on private property.
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When this pump was in working order woe to the unlucky urchin who offended his playfellows. A sousing of his head brought him quickly to repentance.
(Additional notes supplementing the preceding paragraphs of this chapter, and contributed at a later date.)
The Captain Peck farmhouse was once painted blue, and was known as the "Blue house." The burying ground, west of the house, received the name of "Blue house cemetery," and the bridge over the stream, on the north side, was called "Blue house bridge."
I am unable to lay my hand on the statement at this time, but I have read, somewhere, that Priest Nathan Fenn was a chaplain in the Revolutionary War.
The name of the man who was crushed by the rock on West mountain was Lafayette Chapman. Peleg Chapman was his father. They lived in a little one-story house, in the south district, on the corner, southwest of William Luby's, now vacant, where the old country road turns west, on to the Kensington four-rod highway. Mr. Chapman had nineteen children. His son George was an obstinate "Chap" and was often whipped terribly by the teachers in the south school, but he did not appear to mind his punishment in the least.
The reference to the Universalist church reminded me of an incident connected with the raising of the building. It was on one Friday afternoon, when the Congregationalists had their preparatory lecture in the old meeting house. The frame of the new church was about ready to go up, when some one said, "Let's wait until the d-d blue skins come along," and so they waited. At the right moment they put forth a mighty effort, but not an inch would the timbers budge, until the "blue skins" were out of sight.
On the east side of the street, opposite the town pump, at what is known as the Albert Warren place, Asahel Hart, a
13
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brother of Jesse Hart, had a tailor shop. He died in 1821, aged fifty-seven years. His son, Freedom Hart, inherited the homestead, and used the tailor shop for the manufacture of combs.
A man who once owned this property took offence at his neighbor, who lived in the Dr. Bulkeley house, and to spite him, he moved the shop from the south yard, around on the north side, close to the division line, so as to shut off all the sunlight from this neighbor.
When Mr. Hart gave up his business, the shop was changed into a tenement, and later was moved to the hill north of the Eben Woodruff house. Its site is now occupied by the Berlin Free Library.
Within the memory of the writer, the children of the village were allowed to romp in Mr. Warren's attic, where were stored quantities of old bone combs, made by Freedom Hart, like those that encircled the heads of our grandmothers, and towered high above their hair.
Sixty years ago there was a little shop south of the Freedom Hart house, where the Loveland brothers made foot-stoves-an industry that has now passed out of existence.
The little iron pan, within its frame of tin and wood, was filled with hard walnut coals, and covered with ashes, which held their heat a long time, and the stove was a great comfort on Sunday, as passed along, from one to another, in the pews of the fireless meeting-house.
From the time as far back as the memory of the oldest living person goes, a prosperous store has been conducted at the stand south of the Freedom Hart place, which for many years has borne the sign of Henry N. Galpin.
Names obtained of those who have been at the head of the business here are as follows: Orrin Beckley, about 1810; Samuel Porter (died 1838, aged eighty-eight) ; Horace Steele & Dr. David Carpenter; Plumb & Deming, 1835; Benjamin Wilcox; S. C. Wilcox; Galpin & Loveland; Henry N. Galpin ; Strickland Bros., and lastly E. E. Honiss. This store formerly carried a line of everything that the community might need,
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including drugs. Physicians' prescriptions were compounded here until, by mutual agreement, H. N. Galpin surrendered his drug department to Alfred North, who, in exchange, gave up the sale of his drygoods to Mr. Galpin.
It is worthy of note that in all the years that Mr. Galpin and Deacon North were fellow merchants, there was never the least rivalry or unpleasant feeling between them.
Mr. Galpin was a public-spirited citizen, ready at all times to respond liberally to every good cause. He was also a man of sterling integrity, as one, who knew him well, said, she would not fear to trust him with the last cent she owned.
In the store long known as that of Henry N. Galpin, Samuel C. Wilcox, who preceded Mr. Galpin, conducted business, in connection with a store in Wilmington, N. C., and goods were pedaled through the south by teams. Communication between the two points was by sailing vessels, from New Haven to Wilmington.
The list, in succession, of Berlin's postmasters, so far as known, is as follows: Samuel Porter, died 1818; Jesse Hart, died 1827; Norris Wilcox, removed to New Haven; James M. Plumb, removed to New York; Edward Wilcox; Jacob S. Brandegee; Edward Wilcox; Henry N. Galpin; Sherlock C. Hall; Walter D. Atwater; Henry N. Galpin; Henry L. Porter; Albert B. Goodrich; Seth D. Strickland; Henry L. Porter.
Samuel Porter, who heads the list, was one of the carly occupants of the Galpin store, and, for the greater part of a hundred years, the post office was kept in this same place. Samuel C. Wilcox has said that, as a boy, it was his duty to wait for the eleven o'clock night stage, to receive and to trans- fer the mail bags. In order to be awake, he sat on the stoop, where he would be aroused by the toot of the horn, which was always blown as the stage rattled down the hill by the south cemetery. Later he took the bag in at his bedroom window.
At first, the mail was carried in a two-horse, homely, black, gypsy-like wagon. A quick exchange of horses was effected at the various posts, and no passengers were allowed to ride
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with the mail. The mail express was carried on horseback. Without stopping, the messenger would leap from his jaded horse to one freshly saddled, and was away, like the wind, to the next station.
Between New Haven and Hartford, the regular places for exchanging horses were Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, and Newington.
The Hartford and New Haven railroad received its charter in 1835, and in 1838 was completed from New Haven to Meriden. In 1839, trains were running to Hartford. In 1844, the road had been extended to Springfield, but it was not until 1848 that it was possible for Berlin people to go to New York by railroad. As late as 1842, daily mail stages passed through Worthington street on their way between Hart- ford and New Haven. And then the glory of the old tavern, which it had enjoyed for nearly seventy years, departed.
J. B. Whaples was the first mail carrier from Berlin depot, after the railroad was completed. At ten o'clock at night he would deliver the mail bag to the postmaster, who slept with it until morning.
Thus far there has been no mention of a fire that occurred once on "Galpin corner." One day Mr. William Bulkeley was at work with his horse, on the ledge, when looking toward the village, he saw a little blaze coming out from the back of Mr. Galpin's barn. He quickly unhitched his horse, mounted its back, and started full tilt for the street, yelling "Fire."
When he reached the store he jumped into another man's wagon, and drove down to the hotel for some ancient fire hooks that were then kept there under the horse shed. Mr. Galpin's barn was connected with the store by a long open building.
The hooks were attached to this building, in order to tear it away, but the ropes were so tender with age, that they broke, and the hooks were useless. The flames spread until the store was destroyed, and the ell of the house, then occupied by Samuel C. Wilcox, caught fire. The men, in their determina- tion to save as much as possible, tore off the doors of the house, took out all the windows, removed the stairway balustrade,
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pulled out the posts of the veranda, and even tried to tear away the mantels.
Of course, the dwelling was not habitable in that condition, and arrangements were made for the family to go at once to the Major Curtis house, which stood on what is now the front lawn of Major Frank L. Wilcox, and was occupied then by Noah C. Smith and his family.
Mrs. Samuel C. Wilcox was a very nice housekeeper and was very sensitive, withal. She was deeply mortified, as she went out on the street, and discovered her furniture, the contents of her closets, the family wearing apparel, and all the rest of her belongings, strewn from the starting place along the banks the entire distance to the Curtis house.
It is difficult, at this late day, to get dates, but a witness of this fire remembers that it was in the fall after Fort Sumter was fired upon.
Mr. Galpin replaced the old frame store building by one of brick, which was extended a few feet north of the old line.
The property opposite Galpin's store, now the home of the Misses Julia, Sarah, and Hattie Roys, daughters of the late Franklin Roys, was long known as the Elijah Loveland place. The house was once used by Mr. Loveland as a hotel. Accord- ing to George H. Sage, whose history of the "Inns of Berlin" was published in the Berlin News of May 30, 1895, Mr. Loveland received his taverner's license in 1797, and discon- tinued the business in 1812. There was a large addition on the north side of the house, with a ballroom on the second floor, which was often a scene of festivity.
When Priest Goodrich was here, there was a revival in his church. It was before the chapel was built, and the extra meetings were held in Loveland's ballroom. One cold night, when the place was crowded, the air became so close that sud- denly every tallow candle went out, and all was in darkness. Mr. Goodrich, who feared that the people would attempt to
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go down the stairs and be injured, said in a commanding voice : "Keep still !" "Everybody keep still !" The people obeyed him and remained quietly in their seats until fresh air was admitted and the candles were again lighted.
Elijah Loveland died in 1826, at the age of eighty-one. His son George, who inherited the homestead, had five sons and three daughters : William, George, Elijah, John, Henry, Sarah, Lois, and Maria. Henry, who remained at home, remodeled the old house and tore down the north part, that in later days had been used as a tenement.
Mrs. C. B. Root, a tailoress, had for a time a shop in the lower rooms. The ballroom was used in the fifties by the Misses Pease and Stone, as a millinery and dressmaking establishment.
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