USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume III > Part 3
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In 1832, Abiel's grandson, Abel Chamberlain, moved his cabinet- making business from Woodstock to New Haven, then a "big city" of about ten thousand. On February 21, 1835, he placed what was probably his first advertisement in the columns of the New Haven Palladium. By that year he was in partnership with a man named Lines. Another advertisement, this one in the New Haven Journal Courier of June 23, 1835, introduces both names, and also gives in- dication that even at that time the organization was experiencing the early symptoms of growing pains. The advertisement reads :
CABINET FURNITURE
The subscribers have recently extended their former premises and fitted up three different warerooms with a great variety of cabinet furniture and chairs and are now prepared to furnish their customers and the public generally with any article in their line, either elegant or plain, which may be called for. All work warranted.
LINES & CHAMBERLAIN
East side of Orange Street, 10 rods south of New Haven Bank. Wanted as above two first-class journeymen and an apprentice.
In 1838, Mr. Lines retired from the business and shortly after- wards went to Kansas with a party of Connecticut families, to settle permanently there. Abel C. Chamberlain continued to manage the business, and later took in with him his two sons, George R. and James H. P. Chamberlain. In 1886, William M. Parsons, a brother of Mrs. George Chamberlain, became a partner. Abel C. Chamberlain died in 1885, after more than a half-century of activity in this industry at New Haven-a pioneer in establishing and directing what has remained one of the city's most respected firms. His son James died in 1895, and his son George died in 1910. William Parsons retired in 1915, after selling the business to Robert R. Chamberlain, who had been active in it since 1903, and his Yale classmate Donald A. Hal- lock. In 1922, Robert E. Hyman purchased the Hallock interest, and for many years afterwards "the two Bobs," as Robert R. Chamberlain and Robert E. Hyman were familiarly called, represented the old and the new in New England's contribution to the retailing of furniture.
Today, another generation of the Chamberlain family has been
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introduced, in the person of Robert R. Chamberlain, Jr., who is the firm's president. The elder Robert Chamberlain is active chairman of the board, and Mr. Hyman still continues his duties as treasurer.
Robert R. Chamberlain, Sr., is a graduate of Taft School and Yale University. He later spent two years studying under Frank Alvah Parsons, president of The New York School of Fine and Ap- plied Arts. He is known and respected throughout his industry, and a number of his articles on practical interior decorating appeared in the Grand Rapids Furniture Record. He has established himself as an authority on this subject.
The treasurer, Robert E. Hyman, was for many years on the staff of The Register, and he has held his present office since 1922, when he purchased a half-interest in the firm.
Chamberlain Company, Inc., has occupied the present store loca- tion at the corner of Orange and Crown streets since May, 1883- a block-long structure which is not only a New Haven landmark but a landmark in the furniture industry.
THE CHELSEA SAVINGS BANK
At the time this history of Connecticut is in preparation, The Chelsea Savings Bank at Norwich is observing the one hundredth anniversary of its existence. July 1, 1858, the day on which it began its corporate life, was a hot day, and the records of the bank good- naturedly recall that "the editor of the Norwich Courier wrote it was 'useless to try to do anything physical or mental.' Having thus ex- plained, he omitted any editorial or local story for his paper. The Chelsea Savings Bank's opening in the Merchants Hotel Building thus went unnoticed and unrecorded." The act granting a charter to the bank had passed both houses of the State Legislature on the preceding May 28, and on June 28, Lorenzo Blackstone was elected president, and John Dunham secretary and treasurer. It was the ninth bank to open in the city, and of the remaining institutions, two were savings banks and six were commercial banks.
The Chelsea Savings Bank remained in The Merchants Hotel Building, at what is now 82 Main Street, for six years. In 1864 it erected for its purposes a section of the New Bank Building on She- tucket Street. This structure, erected at a total cost of sixty thousand dollars, was subdivided into three sections, each three stories in height. As the Chelsea's volume of business increased and expanded facilities were needed, it took over in 1892 the entire street floor of its section and remodeled it. While this work was in progress, offices were rented
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at the corner of Commerce and Market streets. On February 9, 1909, Norwich had the worst fire in its history. The Shanon Building, next door to the bank, was destroyed, and the bank's own quarters were severely damaged. Once again personnel and equipment were moved to temporary quarters, this time in the Geer Building on Broadway. A short time after this, the bank purchased the property at Cliff and Main streets, and construction was begun there in September, 1909. This office was opened to the public in November, 1911. In 1949, the interior was completely renovated.
The bank's records indicate that the first depositor was Julia A. Bill, who deposited one hundred dollars. Total deposits of two hundred and twenty dollars were recorded on that day. By the end of the year, deposits had increased to seventy-two thousand dollars. The first semi-annual dividend, paid to depositors on January 31, 1859, amounted to $595-35. Present deposits total over thirty million dollars, more than four hundred times greater than the figure at the end of the first year. Over the past century, over thirty-one million dollars in dividends have been paid. The bank has never missed paying a dividend at the end of each six-month period.
Lorenzo Blackstone, the first president of the bank, served until his death in 1888, at the age of sixty-nine. He was for four years mayor of Norwich, later served in the State Legislature and as State senator. He was succeeded by Henry Bill, who had been a publisher, and who headed the bank for two years. Edward Harland was the next president. A lawyer, he too had been a member of the Lower House and the Senate, as well as judge of probate in the Norwich District. Mr. Harland held office until 1915, when he was succeeded by John C. Averill, the bank's president until 1919. Charles E. Chand- ler was the next president, and served until 1928. He was an engineer by profession. From 1928 until 1934, the president of The Chelsea Savings Bank was Henry G. Peck, a builder identified with Peck Mc- Williams Company. He was succeeded by Grosvenor Ely, who retired as president of the bank in 1953. Mr. Ely has been an official of several textile firms, but retired from the cotton business in 1929. He has served as president of the Savings Banks Association of Connecticut, a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Mutual Savings Banks, a member of the Council of Administration of the American Bankers Association, and a member of the Connecti- cut State Banking Advisory Council. Since his resignation as presi- dent, he has lived in Rhode Island and in Florida.
Aurin E. Payson, who was president of the bank from 1953 to
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1956, is now chairman of the board. He is also retired president of the American Thermos Products Company, which is the subject of a sketch in the industrial and institutional section of this history. On his resignation, he was succeeded by the present president of The Chelsea Savings Bank: Romeyn N. Holdridge.
Mr. Holdridge has been with the bank since 1933. He was elected auditor in 1939, and assistant treasurer in 1947. In September, 1952, he was elected a vice president and director, and the following year became executive vice president, the office he held until he assumed duties as president in September, 1956. In October, 1957, he was elected president of the Savings Banks Association of Connecticut, and still holds that office. Among his other banking connections, he is a director of the National Association of Mutual Savings Banks and a member of its Committee on Savings Bank Internal Operations ; he is a director of the Mutual Investment Fund of Connecticut, Inc., and a member of the advisory board of the Savings Banks Deposit Guaranty Fund of Connecticut. He has served on many of the com- mittees of the State Association in the past, among them its Executive Committee, Legislative Committee, Bank Policy Committee, and Mort- gagor Insurance Committee. Locally, Mr. Holdridge is a trustee and a member of the Investment Committee of the Norwich Free Acade- my ; a corporator of the William W. Backus Hospital, serving on its Executive and Investment committees; a director of the Norwich Cemetery Association; chairman of the advisory board of the Salva- tion Army; and a member of the City of Norwich Planning Con- mission and of the Redevelopment Agency of that city.
Kenneth W. Fox, who is treasurer of the bank, joined its staff in 1918 as a clerk. In 1924 he was elected assistant secretary and as- sistant treasurer, and in the same year became a corporator of the bank. In 1943 Mr. Fox was elected secretary and assistant treasurer, in which capacity he served until September, 1952. At that time he was elected director and also treasurer, succeeding Arthur E. Story who retired at that time.
The other officers of the bank are George H. Gildersleeve, Ed- ward W. Jewett, and Philip A. Johnson, vice presidents ; Leonard D. Royce, vice president and secretary ; George H. Peck, assistant treas- urer and assistant secretary; and Amy F. Birracree, assistant sec- retary. Directors are Aurin E. Payson, Mr. Gildersleeve, Mr. Jewett, Mr. Johnson, Howard E. Martin, Raymond G. Camp, Allyn L. Brown, Jr., William E. Eastwood, E. Arnold Smith, Mr. Holdridge, Mr. Fox, Arthur H. Payson, Henry A. Truslow, and Leonard D. Royce.
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THE CHOATE SCHOOL
Founded in 1896 with a student body of four boys, The Choate School, of Wallingford, has prospered and expanded. Today with a student body of more than five hundred, it holds a prominent place in the ranks of American schools.
Originally patterned on the English school system, Choate has five forms, from the second through the sixth, but the majority of students attend only the last four forms. Ages range generally from fourteen to eighteen. Candidates for admission take the Secondary School Admission test administered by the Educational Testing Serv- ice of Princeton, New Jersey, and there are generally more than a thousand applications for one hundred and fifty openings each year. The school is designed to prepare students for college.
Every effort is made to give boys constructive extracurricular ac- tivities. There is a full sports program with excellent facilities, includ- ing a Winter Exercise Building and cage for indoor exercise when the weather is inclement. The music program includes a glee club, a band, and a concert orchestra. In addition, there are clubs for boys interested in art, foreign languages, current history, radio, motor me- chanics, astronomy, minerals, photography, meteorology, skeet, and chess. On week ends, movies are generally shown, and at the non- sectarian serivces held on Sundays, outside preachers often come to address the students.
The discipline at Choate is taut, but it is largely administered by the boys themselves through their elected Student Council, Honor Committee, and class officers.
The day begins with breakfast at 7:25 a.m. and ends with lights out at 9:30, 10:00, or 10:30 p.m., according to age groups. Jackets and ties are worn to class, and the masters live with the students in the homes on the campus. There is a feeling at the school which en- courages good manners and serious effort. The boys come from most of the states of the Union and from nearly twenty foreign countries.
Classes at Choate are kept small, and each boy is placed in sec- tions which progress neither so fast as to frustrate him, nor so slowly as to bore him. For students with particularly high aptitude there is an honors program which leads to advanced placement in college, or to early graduation from school. Proof of the system is the fact that the school has produced some top leaders in industry, business, and the professions, including President John Kennedy, John Dos Passos, Chester Bowles, Adlai Stevenson, and Alan Jay Lerner, co-author of the Broadway hit "My Fair Lady."
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In the summer of 1959 a program of Russian studies was insti- tuted. Because the School believes that an understanding of the U.S. S.R. is essential to this country's future, and because students who have a foundation of such understanding will be needed for responsible positions, Choate has offered this program. The course includes an opportunity to study the language, Russian history and contemporary Russian affairs, and also an opportunity to visit the Soviet Union at the end of the season.
The philosophy of the school is best expressed in a statement of its headmaster, Seymour St. John, quoting Carlyle: "Whilst the great man sits on the cushion of advantage he goes to sleep. When he is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits, on his manhood; he has gained facts; learns his ignorance; has got moderation and real skill."
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
In 1883, electric lights went on in the Hartford Railroad Station and Connecticut was introduced to the wonders of electricity.
Since then, electric power has played an ever increasing role in providing a better standard of family living, turning the wheels of industry and modernizing the operations of the state's businesses and farms.
The CL & PC, the state's largest electric and gas utility, has been a leader in bringing to Connecticut residents the benfits of these services.
By 1885, two years after the first lights were installed in Hartford, of those cities now served by CL& PC, Waterbury and Bristol had started to use electricity for lighting.
In 1905, by Special Act of the General Assembly of Connecticut, The Rocky River Power Company was chartered. In 1917, upon pur- chasing all the property rights, franchises and leases of the Housatonic Power Company, The United Electric Light and Water Company, and The Seymour Electric Light Company, the name was changed to The Connecticut Light and Power Company.
POWER DEMANDS INCREASE
At that time, electric power was being used principally for eve- ning lighting in the home, but, as electrical appliances rapidly gained acceptance, and industry began increasing demands for power, it be- came necessary to supply greater amounts of power for longer periods of time.
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To meet the increasing demand, the Stevenson hydroelectric plant on the Housatonic River at Monroe was brought into service in 1919 and, in 1924, a new steam plant was built at Devon, on the Housatonic River.
Generating facilities were further increased in 1929 when The Eastern Connecticut Power Company, with its Montville steam plant, was merged with CL & PC.
SMALL COMPANIES MERGE
During the late 1920's small utilities were joining with larger ones or with each other to benefit from generating and distributing power on a larger scale and that national trend was evident in Con- necticut.
In 1926, The New Milford Electric Light Company, Westport Electric Company, Woodbury Electric Company, Meriden Gas Light Company, and Meriden Electric Light Company were merged into CL&CP.
The Bristol and Plainville Electric Company and The Middle- town Gas Light Company were merged into the Company in 1927. In 1929, in addition to the Eastern Connecticut Power Company, The Uncas Power Company, The Gaylordsville Electric Company, and The Kent Electric Light and Gas Company merged with The Connec- ticut Light and Power Company.
The Beacon Falls Electric Company was purchased in 1931, and, in the same year, The Waterbury Gas Light Company and the Win- sted Gas Company were merged. In 1932, Central Connecticut Power and Light Company merged with the CL & PC.
Property operated by The Northern Connecticut Power Company was transferred to The Connecticut Electric Service Company in 1935, and this company, along with The Rockville-Willimantic Light- ing Company and The Monroe Electric Light Company, merged with CL & PC in the same year.
In 1946, all property and rights of The Litchfield Electric Light Company were conveyed to CL& PC and, in 1957, all property and franchises of The Clinton Electric Light and Power Company were transferred to CL& PC.
The war years of 1940 to 1945 presented C L & PC with the chal- lenge of meeting increased demands for power from defense industry. Despite the problems presented by labor shortages and the difficulty in obtaining supplies and materials, the Company met increased de -- mands for electricity whenever it was required.
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POST WAR PROGRAM
Following World War II, the Company launched an extensive construction and expansion program. This consisted of additional equipment, new buildings, and exploration of new methods of gen- erating electric power.
Additional units have been added to the Devon and Montville stations and new stations were constructed at Shepaug and Norwalk Harbor.
In 1952, construction of the Company's new headquarters build- ing overlooking the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Berlin was completed and headquarters moved there from Hartford and Waterbury. The Company maintains divisions in the five geographical areas of the state and a number of local offices serving larger cities or areas.
This building and expansion program is still under way. New facilities have been added to increase the efficiency of existing installa- tions, new substations have been built, others modernized and a num- ber of service buildings have been remodeled and expanded and new ones constructed in towns served by the Company.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES
Advances have been made in many phases of the production of electric power. Improvements in techniques of generating power also have proved economical and it is now possible to generate a kilowatt hour of electricity with well under a pound of coal, compared to the two required when the Company was formed in 1917.
The passage by Congress of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which permits private industry to engage in atomic enterprises, was a big step forward toward the eventual widespread use of atomic energy for commercial purposes.
ATOMIC ENERGY PLANS
In September of 1954, CL & P C joined a group of New England electric utilities in forming the Yankee Atomic Electric Company.
Prompted by the belief that atomic energy can play an important role in the electric future of Connecticut and New England, the com- pany entered the atomic field to learn the economics of atomic power generation and develop know-how in the field of nuclear science which should serve as a stimulus to the entire industrial economy.
CAPACITY COORDINATING
In 1954, CL& PC, The Hartford Electric Light Company and The United Illuminating Company entered into a capacity coordinat- ing agreement which was extended in 1957.
Under the terms of the plan, the three companies locate and in-
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stall new generating transmission facilities on the basis of the antici- pated power needs of the entire state, rather than only on the needs of the area served by one company.
Regarding the state as a unified system makes it possible to install, for example, a larger generator which is more economical to operate, even though its total output might not be efficiently utilized by the company in whose system it is installed.
Of a highly significant nature is the interconnection of transmis- sion facilities this agreement permits. All three companies are now interconnected so that power generated by any one can be used by any other when needs require. Thus, while each company installs and owns its generating capacity, it can share excess capacity with the other companies, providing them with emergency reserve and spare capacity to handle peak loads.
FLOODS RAVAGE STATE
The worst natural disasters to strike the Company since the 1938 hurricane, occurred in 1955 when two floods ravaged facilities through- out the state. In August, the Naugatuck, Mad and Quinebaug rivers overflowed their banks, following torrential rains. Hardest hit were the Naugatuck Valley, Winsted, and Putnam where there was a com- plete interruption of electric and gas service.
Normal communications were cut off and ordinary routes were impassable, but the Company's crews were on the scene quickly and electric service was rapidly restored to all customers.
In October, three days of continuous rain swelled the Norwalk River over its banks, disrupting service in the greater Norwalk area.
The restoration of gas service in the flood stricken communities on both occasions presented far greater problems than the restoration of electric service. Meters had to be turned off and lines purged of all water and air. When gas again filled distribution mains, servicemen had to visit every house, check pilots and appliances, and turn on each meter.
While the two floods, coming within a short space of time, caused more than a million dollars in property damage to Company facilities, the Company's trained employees, working alongside crews brought in from neighboring and out-of-state utilities, labored diligently and restored service as fast as possible.
WATER POWER FACILITIES
The Company's three largest hydroelectric power plants are located on the Housatonic River and have a combined capacity of 107,750 kilowatts.
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The largest of these is Shepaug, completed in 1955, which has a capacity of 47,000 kilowatts. To the north is the Rocky River hydro- electric plant, capable of producing 32,000 kilowatts and, to the south is the Stevenson hydroelectric plant with a 28,750 kilowatt capacity.
In addition to generating electricity, water backing up behind the dams of these three projects has formed the state's three largest man-made lakes, Lake Lillinonah at Shepaug, Lake Candlewood at Rocky River and Lake Zoar at Stevenson.
The three lakes have provided public recreation areas for Connec- ticut residents and also make a notable contribution to the natural beauty of the area.
HYDROELECTRIC, GAS AND STEAM PLANTS
Other hydroelectric plants are located at Bulls Bridge, 8,000 kilowatts; Tunnel, 2,000 kilowatts; Scotland, 2,000 kilowatts; Roberts- ville, 600 kilowatts; and Bantam, 300 kilowatts.
Gas Turbine plants at Danielson and Thompsonville each have a capacity of 11,000 kilowatts.
The Devon Steam plant has a capacity of 490,000 kilowatts and the Montville steam plant has a 186,000 kilowatt capacity.
The Company's newest installation is the Norwalk Harbor plant, an ultra-modern, efficient station which joins Connecticut Light and Power's facilities throughout the state.
Another step toward the most efficient generation of electric power occurred in 1958 when The Connecticut Light and Power Com- pany and The United Illuminating Company signed an agreement to buy land on the east side of New Haven Harbor for the construction of a steam generating plant at a later date.
GAS BUSINESS
Considering the gas business in Connecticut was well established when electricity was still in its infancy, the Company's advances in the gas line have been striking.
The demand for gas in home cooking, refrigeration, and auto- matic house and water heating has increased steadily in recent years. New uses for gas in industry also have been accepted enthusiastically.
A major step in the gas field was the introduction of natural gas into Connecticut and this has contributed importantly to the wide- spread demand for this product, especially for house heating.
MODERN METHODS
CL&PC was the first utility in the United States to order a 7070 International Business Machines "Electronic Brain" which is
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used for all types of record and data processing. Use of this machine maintains the Company's intention of keeping up with the most mod- ern, efficient work methods available.
With the increased availability of electric power, industry and the diversification of industry expanded. The dependency of a community on one or two major industries declined and diversification enabled the state to continue its industrial leadership and progress.
During its relatively short life, CL & P C has operated under the principle that, as the state grows so will the Company.
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