USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Danbury > History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 > Part 42
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On August 30th Mr. Hunt gave notice that he would discon- tinue work, and contract was then made with the same company who were doing the piping to finish Mr. Hunt's work.
The contracts having been completed, ground was broken on June 18th, and from that day to the time of completion the work was vigorously carried on by the efficient commissioners with
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
but few interruptions, until December 13th, when the water was turned on ; and in all the principal streets it ran, pure, clear, and limpid, to refresh the weary, lighten the labor of the workers, running our mills, playing our fountains, God's great gift to man-pure water.
This was a time for rejoicing, and to those who had so strenu- ously advocated it, to those who had worked for it, to those who had spent many weary days and nights toiling for it with hands and brain, it was a glad day.
The water commissioners, in their first annual report, made at a borough meeting November 5th, 1861, give the following inter- esting figures :
" There have been laid in all 48,220 feet of pipe, as follows : 128 feet of 12-inch ; 6837 feet of 10-inch ; 5018 feet of 8-inch ; 17,682 feet of 6-inch ; 15,486 feet of 4-inch, and 2894 of 4-inch. Sixty-five hydrants, located by the warden and burgesses, have been set, and also 25 stop and waste gates, from 3 to 12 inches in diameter.
" The reservoir, holding 40,000,000 gallons, at an elevation of 200 feet above Main Street, has been substantially constructed, and the experience of the past summer (1861) has been very favorable in regard to the abundance and permanence of the sup- ply of water. The pipe used has been the cement and sheet- iron pipe. . . .
"Some imperfections existed on the first completion of the work, as would have been the case if any other kind of pipe had been used ; but we hope and believe that the weak places have all shown themselves and been repaired, and that we now have a line of pipe which will not corrode or fill up with rust or tuber- cles, like iron pipe, but increase in strength and solidity as it increases in age, and furnish in all time to come a pure and per- fect conductor for our water."
From the contract with the company laying the pipe, we find that it is of wrought iron, lined with and laid in cement. All pipes of over four inches in diameter have an internal lining of cement mortar half an inch thick ; those of four inches and less have a lining three eighths of an inch thick. The outside cover- ing in all cases is about one inch thick.
The work was carried to a greater extent than was at first pro- posed. The original estimates called for only six miles of pipe.
470
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Nine were, however, laid when the works were constructed, and instead of an 8-inch, a 10-inch main was laid. The total cost of the entire work, including the interest on the bonded debt, was $37,500. In comparison with similar works in other parts of the country, this will be found to be 25 to 50 per cent less than any heretofore constructed.
For the first year the revenue from water rents was less than anticipated. This was owing to the depression in business and the scarcity of money. The books show that in 1861 there were using the water ninety-one families, seven hat factories, eleven stores and shops, one gas company, one dye-house, one jail, one livery stable, three churches, etc. The amount of water rents up to December 1st was about $700.
At a borough meeting on January 9th, 1866, the water com- missioners were authorized and empowered to procure sufficient land for an additional reservoir above the present one, and to proceed to build another dam and reservoir with the necessary fixtures completed, at the expense of the borough.
In accordance with this vote and the provisions of the charter, in March, 1866, they took possession of the property of Aaron Pearce, Edson Barber, and Caroline J. Barlow, for the new receiving reservoir. This land together amounted to about thirty-two acres. The contract for building it was awarded to Mr. John Holland, of Danbury, on April 5th, 1866, and it was fully completed and the water let in during the fall of the same year.
On the evening of Sunday, January 31st, 1869, the action of the frost at the water-line of the dam last named caused a terrible disaster, by which eleven persons lost their lives and $50,000 worth of property was destroyed. An immense body of water combined with ice, timber, and other débris, came rushing through the borough with great rapidity, carrying away bridges, houses, and other property. The lower dam, built in 1860, was also entirely destroyed. Contracts were immediately made for the rebuilding of both these dams, and they were thoroughly reconstructed during the same year (1869).
In 1880 it was found necessary to obtain a larger storage capac- ity. Several borough meetings were held to consider the subject, and two separate committees were appointed to investigate and report. All unanimously recommended a storage reservoir of
471
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
about one hundred and fifty acres near the residence of Samuel Gregory, which, in connection with the Boggs Pond, so called, further up the stream, would give a sufficient supply of water for many years to come. These reports were accepted by the borough in July, 1880, and the water commissioners were in- structed immediately to build the necessary dams. Another meeting of the borough was called soon after to reconsider this action, but the motion was voted down. Nothing, however, was done by the commissioners toward the construction of these works, except to issue and sell the bonds to pay for same and deposit the proceeds in the bank. During the summer of 1881 they caused to be published a statement which was headed "From Careful Surveys and Estimates made by the Water Com- missioners," that the cost of the Padanaram system, so called on another stream, would be only $46,629, which was somewhat less than the cost of the other system. A borough meeting was called in July, 1881, at which the former vote was rescinded and the Padanaram system adopted.
The commissioners at once proceeded to construct this work, and during 1882 and 1883 expended on the small lower reservoir and the necessary pipes the sum of $76,546, and this being soon found entirely inadequate a further sum of $39,465 was ex- pended in 1885 and 1886 in building another reservoir further up the stream, making the total cost of the Padanaram system over $119,000.
Excepting during very dry seasons the supply of water has been quite satisfactory, both in quantity and quality. Should the population of the city, however, continue to increase in the same ratio as heretofore, it will probably be found necessary in the near future to carry out the original project of a large stor- age reservoir near the residence of Samuel Gregory, which would place the future water supply of Danbury beyond all con- tingency.
The construction of the water works has proved an excellent financial investment for the city. The annual receipts for water rents are more than $40,000, and as the work of piping the streets is now practically completed, a large part of these receipts will, no doubt, in future be applied either toward the payment of the water debt or to reduce the ordinary running expenses of the city.
472
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
The Danbury Agricultural Society.
Records still exist of the holding of agricultural fairs in Dan- bury as far back as 1821, by the Fairfield County Agricultural Society, which was established, as stated in its constitution, for " the improvement and encouragement of agriculture, domestic manufactures, industry, and economy, and the holding of annual cattle shows and fairs in some town in Fairfield County during the month of October." Its officers consisted of a president, three vice-presidents, a recording secretary, a corresponding sec- retary, and a seedsman, who collectively formed an executive committee.
This society held its fair annually at such town in Fairfield County as offered the largest cash inducement. It was held in Danbury in the years 1857, 1858, 1860, and 1863, in Bridgeport in 1861, in Stamford in 1853 and 1854. In all other years from 1855 to 1866 it was held at Norwalk. In 1867 the society pur- chased and fitted up grounds at Norwalk, where its annual fair was held until 1888, since which time it has been discontinued and the grounds sold to private parties.
In the spring of 1869 Messrs. S. H. Rundle and Jacob Merritt bought the grounds now owned by the Danbury Farmers' and Manufacturers' Society. Soon afterward they associated with themselves George C. White, Benjamin Lynes, and George W. Cowperthwaite, and under the name of the Danbury Pleasure Park laid out the present grounds and track. These were opened for races on Saturday, July 3d, of that year. There were two classes, one for a purse of $175, open to all horses, in which the fastest heat was 2' 40", and one for a purse of $150 for 2' 50" horses which were in 2' 52}". During the races a heavy shower fell, and Mr. Bailey, in his account of the meeting pub- lished in the next week's Times, says : "We saw one umbrella faithfully endeavoring to cover seven men. The seventh man was some distance from the shelter, but was smiling pleasantly on those around him, contented with even a near prospect of being protected."
The Times of August 5th, 1869, says : " A meeting of citizens was held on Saturday evening last, to talk up the subject of a town fair, Lyman Keeler in the chair and J. M. Ives Secretary." A call was then issued to all interested to attend a meeting to be
,
VIEW OF THE DANBURY FAIR, TAKEN, 1884.
473
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
held at three o'clock " on Saturday next," August 7th, to form an agricultural society. The issue of this meeting (which was held in Borough Hall, then on White Street) was the appoint- ment of a committee of five to solicit subscriptions, and was then adjourned to August 14th.
At the adjourned meeting, A. T. Peck, Chairman pro tem., it was voted to organize a society to be called the Danbury Farmers' and Manufacturers' Society, its object the promotion of agricul- ture, horticulture, and the useful arts. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected : Benja- min D. Norris, President ; George E. Ryder, Corresponding Secretary ; Levi P. Treadwell, Recording Secretary ; Henry Ryder, Assistant Secretary ; William S. Peck, Treasurer ; Col- onel James Ryder, Marshal ; Nathan Seeley, John F. Beard, Moses K. Norris, Executive Committee, and fifteen vice-presi- dents, mostly from the adjoining towns. There are no minutes of a resolution to hold a fair, nor time appointed for doing so, but on September 4th arrangements were made with the Pleasure Park Association for the use of their grounds, they proposing to assume one half the risk and share equally with the society in the profit or loss of the fair. This was held during the first week of October. At a meeting of the society on October 11th the Treasurer reports receipts from tickets taken at the gate $1950.73 ; all other sources, $423 ; making a total of $2373.73 ; and says as many bills have not been presented, the exact finan- cial condition could not be ascertained, but it was thought there would be a small balance in the treasury.
The Secretary reports 900 entries, of which 200 were of stock, and also enters into many details of interest, draws conclusions, and makes suggestions of value to the society, but too lengthy for insertion here.
The second annual meeting was held December 1st, 1870, and the Treasurer's report shows the receipts for the fair held that year to have been $3004.69, the expenditures $2532.10, leaving a balance of $472.54. At this meeting John F. Beard was elected President, and the record shows that the society was incorporated by the Legislature June 9th, 1870.
At a meeting of the society held at Borough Hall on February 8th, 1871, it was voted " to purchase the grounds of the Pleasure Park Association, provided sufficient funds can be raised." On
474
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
April 3d, 1871, at a meeting held at the Pahquioque Hotel, a plan of a joint-stock corporation was proposed, and it was voted " to donate to the proposed Danbury Farmers' and Manufac- turers' Company, to be formed on joint-stock plan, all the money and effects of this society, when the whole of the capital of said company is subscribed and the company organized."
On May 20th it voted that " the transfer of the property and effects of the company authorized at a previous meeting take effect forthwith, and that the Legislature be requested to trans- fer the corporate powers of this society to said company, and when such act is passed the organization of this society be aban- doned and the society dissolved."
The society began with a single tent. In 1870 it added a small building, now used for the bench show. In 1871 forty feet was added to the tent. In 1875 the present main building was added. This structure is one hundred and five feet long and ninety feet wide. To it have since been added a wing for an art gallery and another for the display of machinery, for which power is fur- nished. Additions to the enclosures and to the grounds have been numerous since 1875. The park contains considerably more than a hundred acres. The grand stand will seat five thou- sand people. There are three large tents with wooden walls, poultry building, bench-show building, building for the secre- tary and his assistants, sixteen substantial stables for blooded stock, a covered space for agricultural machinery, a dwelling for the keeper of the grounds, a long line of stabling for trotting horses, and the main building with its wings. In space and covering it is better equipped than any other agricultural asso- ciation in New England.
The attendance is larger than the aggregate of any other six fairs in Connecticut.
The following table shows the sales of admissions to the grounds from 1871 to the exhibition of this year :
1871
7,798
1877 17,376
1872
15,055
1878
21,079
1873
16,510
1879
20,619
1874
12,900
1880
23,334
1875
16,294
1881
27,000
1876
14,353
1882
33,369
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
1883.
36,690
1889
53,710
1884
41,273
1890
53,745
1885.
41,432
1891
45,593
1886.
48,563
1892
48,667
1887
51,779
1893
52,203
1888
48,403
1894
56,051
The following named have acted as officers of the association : John F. Beard* served as President eight years.
B. D. Norris was President three years and Vice-President nine years.
P. D. Crosby* was President three years and Marshal five years. Henry Crofut served two years as President.
S. H. Rundle was elected President in 1892, which office he now fills.
John W. Bacon served three years as President and twenty- three years as Treasurer. He was first elected Treasurer in 1871, and has held the office ever since, now serving his twenty-fourth year.
George E. Cowperthwaite* was Vice-President one year.
E. F. Foster* was Vice-President three terms. He served as Marshal seventeen years.
E. S. Davis* served one year as Vice-President.
H. B. Platt was seven times elected Vice-President.
George E. Sears has served as Vice-President since 1892.
L. P. Treadwell was twice elected Secretary.
T. G. Wildman* served three years as Secretary.
B. E. Cowperthwaite was elected Secretary five times.
B. C. Lynes was first chosen Secretary in 1879, and, with a single exception, was elected to the office fourteen years.
In 1885 S. E. Hawley was elected General Secretary, and G. M. Rundle Secretary of the horse department. The latter office was established in 1885, and recreated in 1889, Mr. Rundle being again chosen. In 1893 he was elected General Secretary, which office he now holds.
Edward M. Barnum was appointed Assistant Secretary in 1893, and still fills the position.
Jacob Merritt* was chosen Treasurer the first year and
* Deceased.
476
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
William S. Peck the second year. John W. Bacon has served since.
The officers for 1895 are as follows :
President, S. H. Rundle, Danbury ; Vice-President, I. M. Ives, Danbury ; Secretary, G. M. Rundle, Danbury ; Assistant Secre- tary, E. M. Barnum, Danbury ; Treasurer, John W. Bacon, Danbury.
Directors : S. H. Rundle, Danbury ; J. W. Bacon, Danbury ; C. S. Andrews, Danbury ; Henry Bernd, Danbury ; G. E. Sears, Brewsters, N. Y .; G. M. Rundle, Danbury ; J. W. Porter, Dan- bury ; George Green, Katonah, N. Y .; Joseph M. Ives, Dan- bury.
Board of Trade.
On Wednesday, September 14th, 1887, fifty representative busi- ness men of Danbury met to decide the question of establishing a Board of Trade in this city. A committee, composed of John Tweedy, L. P. Treadwell, and J. M. Smith, reported rules and by-laws, which were accepted, and a large number signed the agreement to become members.
The first annual meeting was held September 21st, 1887, and the following officers appointed :
F. A. Hull, President ; D. W. Meeker, Vice-President ; John Tweedy, Secretary ; T. Jones, Treasurer.
Directors : John W. Bacon, David McLean, Charles A. Mal- lory, Joel G. Foster, James B. Wildman, W. W. Sunderland, James M. Bailey, John J. Stone, L. P. Treadwell.
In 1889 James M. Bailey was made President, and worked faithfully for the board, in which he was most deeply interested.
The Merchants' Board of Trade was organized November 10th, 1893, with the following officers :
William C. Wile, M.D., President ; Samuel H. Rundle, First Vice-President ; Charles S. Peck, Second Vice-President ; A. N. Wildman, Treasurer ; C. L. Halstead, Secretary.
Directors : Lyman D. Brewster, Howard B. Scott, William E. Mallory, Samuel H. Rundle, Charles Kerr, David Ehle, Fred- erick L. Wilson, William C. Wile, M.D., Frank E. Hartwell, Charles S. Peck, Michael McPhelemy, P. O. Dwyer, J. T. Bates, William F. Tomlinson, J. McCarthy, Morris Meyers, G. W. Washburn, Henry Hoyt, E. Wessells, Byron Dexter, Timothy Foster.
477
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
The officers for the present year (1895) are as follows :
Charles Kerr, President ; Timothy Foster, First Vice-Presi- dent ; David W. Ehle, Second Vice-President ; A. N. Wildman, Treasurer ; C. L. Halstead, Secretary.
Directors : Howard B. Scott, Timothy Foster, Charles Kerr, David W. Ehle, Frederick L. Wilson, William C. Wile, M.D., Frank E. Hartwell, John Oetzel, Cyrus Raymond, George Tallant, J. G. Irving, D. E. Rogers, A. G. Benedict, D. G. Penfield, Michael McPhelemy, William F. Tomlinson, Morris Meyers, G. W. Washburn, Henry Hoyt, E. Wessells, P. O. Dwyer.
CHAPTER XLVI.
DANBURY A CITY.
(From the Danbury News of April 24th, 1889.)
DANBURY is a city. The bill of incorporation was passed by the House on Tuesday, April 16th, and by the Senate on Wednes- day, April 17th. And the Governor has signed the bill.
At a special meeting of the citizens of the borough held on Friday evening, June 22d, 1888, Warden Hopkins was directed by vote to appoint a committee of citizens to draft a city charter to be presented to the consideration of the borough before December 1st following. The vote stood ninety-four in favor of and seventy against.
Warden Hopkins appointed the following named committee :
L. D. Brewster, A. N. Wildman, George Wakeman, W. A. Leonard, and Charles H. Wilcox. Mr. Brewster was Chairman, and Mr. Wakeman Secretary.
On Thursday evening, January 3d, 1889, the committee's draft of a charter was presented to a special borough meeting. Sev- eral amendments were offered and accepted, and the draft as amended was accepted.
The bill was submitted to the proper legislative committee. It was changed in several respects from what the borough meeting of January 3d voted it to be to what the borough committee originally drafted it. The charter thus shaped was passed by both branches of the State Legislature, as recorded above.
THE CITY'S FIRST DUTIES.
This act shall take effect from its passage.
So reads Section 96 of the charter incorporating the city of Danbury. With the signing of the bill the passage was com- pleted, and the last stroke of the pen in the signature of Morgan G. Bulkeley will quickly transfer Danbury from a borough into
479
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
a city. The moment the last mark is made in that name it will be no longer the borough, but the city of Danbury.
With the advent of the city there comes, of course, a great change in public affairs. A change in government will neces- sarily be the first to be made. The warden and burgesses, com- posing the borough board, which for so many years have ma- nipulated the public affairs of Danbury, will be succeeded by the Common Council, comprising the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and Councilmen. Until these officers, with the others to be elected, receive the oath of office, the present board remains in office.
The first election takes place Monday, April 29th, which, everything considered, is a very brief time for the necessary preparation for the holding of this election. The warden and burgesses are empowered by Section 95 of the new charter to make all arrangements for voting. At least five days before the day of the election they must issue a call for the annual meet- ing. They must provide a suitable polling-place in each ward, and the registrars of voters of the town must prepare a registry list.
Of course each ward controls, in a measure, its own govern- ment, and each citizen must deposit his ballot in the polling- place of his own ward. To understand the system of voting intelligently, one must be acquainted with the locations of the limits of the city and of each ward.
The following are the limits of the city :
Commencing at the southwest corner of the bridge crossing Simpaug Brook near Rice's brick kiln, thence in a straight line northwesterly to the northeast corner of the intersection of White and Triangle streets, thence in a straight line northeasterly to the northeast corner of the intersection of the Tamarack Road and the road running easterly from the residence of Peter C. Rowan, thence westerly in a straight line to the northwest corner of the intersection of said road and North Street at Peter C. Rowan's corner, so called, thence southwesterly in a straight line to the northwest corner of the barn west of the homestead of Harmon Payne on Franklin Street, thence southwesterly in a straight line to the southeast corner of Westville Avenue and the street called Staple Street, now being opened by Harmon D. Stapleberg, thence southerly in a straight line to a point one hundred feet west of the centre of the northern terminus of Well
480
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Avenue, thence southerly in a straight line to the southeast corner of the intersection of Lake and Abbott avenues, thence southerly in a straight line to the southwest corner of the inter- section of West Wooster Street and Ambler's Hill Road at the southeast corner of the residence of Jacob Fry, thence south- easterly in a straight line to the southwest corner of the inter- section of Jefferson Avenue and Brushy Hill Road, thence east- erly in a straight line to the point of beginning.
All voters within these limits are entitled to take a part in the affairs of the city of Danbury, and included among them are many who have hitherto resided beyond the limits of the munic- ipal government, and have not been afforded its advantages. These outlying districts are now as much entitled to fire, police, and other protection as is Main or White street, and must neces- sarily be illuminated and kept in order. These are facts to be greatly appreciated by residents of the more thickly populated portions of the annexes, such as West Danbury and the lower portions of South Street. The limits of the four wards are as follows :
Beginning at a point in the centre of Main Street and running west through the centre of Library Place to the southwest corner of the residence of Alexander Wildman, thence in a straight line to the centre of Stevens Street, at its intersection with New, thence through the centre of Stevens Street to its intersection with West, thence through the centre of West Street and Lake Avenue to the city limits, thence following the city limits to a point directly opposite the centre of the southern terminus of Main Street, thence northerly in a straight line to the centre of the southern terminus of Main Street, thence northerly through the centre of Main Street to the point of beginning.
The second ward begins at a point in the centre of Main Street, and following the north boundary of the first ward to the city limits, thence following the city limits to the centre of Golden Hill Avenue to the centre of Main Street, thence southerly through the centre of Main Street to the point of beginning.
The third ward begins at a point in the centre of Main Street, opposite the centre of the Danbury and Norwalk Railway station, running easterly along the main track of said railway to the link connecting the said Danbury and Norwalk Railway with the Brookfield branch of the Housatonic Railway, thence
COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
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