USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > East Haven > History of East Haven > Part 9
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At this period, and until the business was relin- quished, Thomas Clark of Boston appears to have been the principal owner. Business was carried on here both from New Haven and Branford. It con- tinued until about 1679 or 80. Why the business was relinquished cannot now be satisfactorily ascertained. The furnace was supplied with bog ore from North Haven. It was chiefly carted, but sometimes brought from bogmine wharf by water round to the point below the furnace; and from that circumstance the point to this day is called Bogmine .* There was a great mortality in the village in the year 1679, when Ralph Russell and some other principal workmen died, which may have obstructed the operation; and prob- ably the expense was too great to realize sufficient profits. It is a tradition in the Russell family that the death of the principal workmen produced this change. Another authority says the vein of ore in North Haven was exhausted. Jasper Crane and John
* Bogmine was also the nom de plume of the late John Woodward Thompson.
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Cooper were overseers and agents. Richard Post was founder, and John Russell was potter in the furnace.
On August 19, 1680, Thomas Clark sold to Sergt. John Potter, "All that farm lying and being within the township of New-Haven, and near and adjoining, to a brook called by the name of Stoney-brook, which Thomas Clarke bought of Nathaniel Micklewaite of the city of London, merchant, containeth by estimation 300 acres of upland, be it more or less, and 3 score acres of meadow, be it more or less, adjoining thereto; excepting always all the uplands that hath been formerly sold from the said farme or Iron workes, reserving only all the Iron worke plates of Iron, and the moveables to himself, that are upon the premises." John Potter was to pay £40 per annum for 21 years, in wheat, pork and peas. The farm soon passed into the hands of William Rosewell, whose only child mar- ried Gurdon Saltonstall, afterwards the governor of Connecticut.
Sergt. John Potter did not resume the iron business, as was contemplated when he bought the farm, but in the year 1692 he and Thomas Pinion petitioned New Haven for liberty to build a Bloomary on the first spring or brook towards Foxon. In April
"Some of the townsmen having viewed the brooke that runs into Stoney river at that place, or thereabouts, which was moved for by John Potter, formerly, to set up a Bloomary; the town by vote approved of his design of a Bloomary; and for his encouragement allow him the use of said brooke and 20 acres of land, not exceeding 30, near the first spring, the west side of Stoney river, and grant him the liberty of what Iron mines there are within the town bounds, and the use of what wood he needs in the commons for the work, if it proves effectual. The aforesaid land is to be laid out
Iron Works and Mills.
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and bounded to him, by the surveyor, and one or two of the Townsmen. Always preserving the necessary highways, if there be any." (N. H. Rec.)
This Bloomary was established, but I can not find how long it was in operation. The site of the furnace was sequestered for a gristmill, as appear from the following curious document on East Haven records :
"Articles of agreement made between the Inhabitants of Stoney River of the one party and Samuel Heminway of the other party, 2 July, 1681, is as followeth, concerning setting up of a Grist-Mill at the Furnace Dam.
I. "The said Village doth for his encouragement give the Furnace Dam, with the use of the water damed therewith, and do promise to defend the said Heminway in the possession thereof, (so far as in their power) without let or molestation from any, either New-Haven or Branford, or any other; reserving liberty for John Potter to have a convenient place for water from the same pond, to set up and manage a Bloomary Furnace of Iron, if the said Potter shall at any time, hereafter, see cause to enter upon such a design."
2. "The said Village doth give to the said Heminway the land that liest next to his house between Stoney River and the Farme, to the quantity of an acre or two, if it may be spared from the highways, as they shall see good to set out to him, and 16 or 17 acres of land elsewhere, that may be convenient for the said Heminway.
3. "The said Village do free the said Grist Mill from paying taxes to the said Village or Town.
4. "The Inhabitants of the said Village do engage to bring the corn that they would have ground into meal, to the said Mill.
5. "The said Inhabitants do engage to perform the whole work of what is necessary for the setting down said Mill, and to repair it, that the Dam may be secure from breaches at the setting down said Mill. But said Heminway is to secure it at his own charges for the future, when some extra- ordinary, or unsuspected accident shall happen to it.
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6. "The said Inhabitants of the said Village do engage to assist him to raise the Mill Stones, and to get them to the said Mill, and to give the said Samuel Heminway liberty to use what timber and stones may be needful for building and repairing the said Mill, as shall be most convenient for him in that business.
"And in consideration of the premises the said Samuel Heminway doth engage as followeth :
I. "That the said Heminway will, before the next winter, in November next ensuing, set up a sufficient Grist Mill, at the above place, and keep the said mill in good repair, fit to make good and sufficient meal of corn, that is dry and fit for grinding.
2. "That he the said Heminway will set up a house over the Mill sufficient to secure the inhabitants' corn from damage by the neighbours hogs, or other creatures, that might other- wise devour it-within his compass.
3. "That the said Heminway or somebody for him, shall attend at the said Mill, one day in a fortnight, if there be need, to grind for the inhabitants their corn. And shall spend more time, and give attendance on the same, if need be, that is, till he hath ground all that is brought to be ground the said day.
4. "That the said Heminway will take no more toll for the grinding our corn into meal that what the law allows.
5. "That he will either keep this mill himself, or if he shall let it to any other, it shall be to such an one, as the Inhabitants of the Village shall approve of.
6. "The said land, the said Village do give to the said Heminway, to be for the use of said Mill, and so continue, except the 16 or 20 acres given him.
"The first article is thus to be so understood, that the said Heminway doth engage to bear his share with the other Inhabitants of the said Village in any damage that may fall by the Dam or Stream, or by any trouble for the same, by New-Haven or Branford, or any other. And as for the land about the house, mentioned in this agreement, it be understood, that the said Heminway is to have what can
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be spared there from highways and across on the other side of the pond.
"The abovesaid articles of agreement concerning the Mill, made between the said Samuel Heminway and the Inhabi- tants of said Village, 2d July, 1681, is confirmed by Vote to be their doings." (E. H. Rec.)
The grant of 16 or 17 acres, the town of New Haven refused to ratify. About 25 years after this transaction, the sons of Samuel Hemingway, viz .: John and Abraham, obtained a grant of the mill privilege from Branford, as follows:
"Branford, 23 Augt. 1706 .- At a meeting of the Proprie- tors, warned according to law, John and Abraham Heminway, of New-Haven Iron works, desire us to grant them liberty to erect a Dam on the Furnace pond, where it formerly was, and to get stone, and timber and earth to erect the same, on our side.
I. "We having considered the public benefit such a Mill may be, doe on the terms following grant the desire of the said John and Abraham Heminway, viz. that they shall raise the said Dam no higher than it was formerly, nor no higher, than shall be allowed by Mr. William Maltbie, Dea- con John Rose, Sergt. Nathaniel Foot, of Branford, when they shall view said Mill place."
2. "John and Abraham Heminway, and all who shall after them possess and improve said Mill, shall at all times, here- after, grind what corn shall come from this Towne, in turn, as it shall come to said Mill, not preferring others before them."
3. "The said John and Abraham Heminway, their heirs and assigns, shall erect and maintayne a sufficient Mill, at said place, at all times, hereafter forever; upon those aforesaid conditions, we grant the request of said John and Abraham Heminway. But if they or any, who shall at any time here- after possess said mill, shall refuse or neglect to perform any or all the abovementioned conditions, then this grant
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shall be void and of no effect, that we, or our successors, may set up a Mill ourselves for the public benefit on this side."
Voted and passed Test, by William Maltbie, Clerk. (Bran- ford Rec.)
The manner of expression in this document inti- mates that the mill had not been erected by their father, as was expected when he obtained the village grant. The water privilege where the forge stood was disposed of afterwards. Samuel Hemingway applied to the town of New Haven for it and obtained the following order.
"April 26th, 1687. Samuel Heminway moved to have liberty to set a fulling mill where the forge formerly stood. After much debate the towne granted liberty to the said Heminway to set up a fulling mill in the forementioned place, provided that he make no dam that shall make a pond to raise the water above two feet deep upon Austin's highway. And that he consider beforehand, whether such a dam, but of such a height as aforesaid, will answer his purpose."
Upon this grant and one that was made by the village in 1706, John and Abraham Hemingway, and John Marsh, jointly erected a fulling mill in 1709, on the premises.
In 1684 it was contemplated to build a sawmill on the first spring. That plan was relinquished and one was built on Claypit brook, below Danforth's swamp. which was abandoned many years ago.
As East Haven was the first place in Connecticut where an attempt was made to manufacture, it seems fitting that the circumstance should have a place in history.
If, perchance, it was not the first place, it certainly was the first where the Iron Works were established
THE MII.I ..
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in Connecticut, which has already been described. It is proposed to follow along this changing line to the present day.
They brought the bog ore from North Haven round to "Bogmine point" where the furnace stood, and smelted it at the furnace. It was then taken to the Bloomary (which was near where the present grist- mill stands), and run through this forge, which is the first one after it is melted from the ore. It was now ready for the blacksmith. No attempt was made to manufacture anything but what was done by hand on the anvil under the strokes of the smith. This business was given up after about twenty-five years. The site of the furnace was sequestered for a grist- mill, which was run without interruption till it was burned down in 1878. The site of the bloomary or forge, commonly called the "old iron mill," was now used for a fulling and carding mill. At this time, two hundred years after the grant was made for its erection, the question may arise, What was a fulling mill ?
We must go back to this time and remember there were but two materials used in America for clothing and household purposes; both products of the farm, one vegetable, the other animal :- flax and wool. We must not forget that every thread of wool or flax had to be run between the thumb and finger of some female member of the household on either the flax or wool spinning wheel-linen for summer wear, and woolen for winter, for male and female, as well as all the household necessities.
After the spinning and weaving had been done in families, the flannel was then taken to the fulling
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mill, where by some process of heat and sweating the cloth was thickened and made compact and firm for men's wear, blankets, etc. If it was woven plain it was called kersey; if twilled it was cassimere. The finer portions of wool were woven for women's wear.
Sometimes it was a mixture of wool and linen called "linsey woolsey," which was not fulled but dressed and pressed. In summer all wore linen, variously colored, plain, or plaid or striped. The men's every- day wear was plain, or twilled, the coarser kind called tow cloth. The dyeing was made from roots and barks principally. It is true, silks and broadcloths were known, and some possessed them to a limited extent, but they were only used on state occasions. Yet with all this work of housekeeping, spinning and weaving, many of the women of that period were expert needlewomen, and their embroideries on lace and muslin are not excelled by those of the present day.
Connected with the fulling mill was the carding apparatus, used for combing and making wool into long fleecy rolls, about an inch in diameter and three- fourths of a yard long, ready for the wool spinning wheel. A machine was used also for opening and breaking flax into long silky heads, about half a yard long for the little or flax spinning wheel. This card- ing could be done by hand; but it was a slow, tedious process and was generally done at the fulling or card- ing mill. The business of the fulling mill was not given up until about 1840, when it had dwindled to nothing, and the mill was afterwards turned into a gristmill run by Mr. Jeremiah B. Davidson, into whose family it had passed several years before. At
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the present time it is the site of the Forbes mill. At this time there were two gristmills running at the same time.
The old grant made to Samuel Hemingway, the first settler of that name, July 2, 1681, remained in the family, descending from father to son just one hun- dred and fifty years through five generations to John Hemingway, 4th, who died July 20, 1827, leaving minor children. In 1831 the Hemingway mill property passed out of the name. Wyliss F. Colt, the guardian of one or more of these children, sold the mill prop- erty with all the mill privileges of water, milldam, water rights, land, and rights pertaining to the grant, to Truman Woodward & Company of New Haven, who erected the paper mill by the side of the grist- mill. Before a sheet of paper was made there, the whole, conveying all the rights of the grant, was sold in 1834 to James Donaghee, who was a Virginian by birth and a graduate of Yale College. East Haven people were much pleased that the property had passed into the hands of a man of his standing and character, and that he was to make his residence with them. He built a house just over the line in Branford, on the first hill, but his social relations were with East Haven. The manufacture of writing paper was now com- menced, giving employment to a limited number of girls and others in the town. October 30, 1840, the whole property was sold to Emanuel M. Henriques for $12,500. Mr. Donaghee moved away, and Mr. Hen- riques lived in the city. The business was carried on under a superintendent by the name of Loomis until 1853, when business was suspended and the mill remained idle about two years. September 26, 1855,
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the whole mill property was sold to George H. Towns- end, with all the mill privileges, milldam, water rights, and privileges conferred by the Hemingway grant, including land occupied, together with all the machinery of every description. Mr. Townsend asso- ciated with him Mr. James Harper, an expert paper manufacturer, and a successful business was carried on for ten years. In 1856 Mr. Townsend bought Mr. Davidson's mill, formerly the old fulling mill, and ran all three of the mills until April 11, 1866, when he sold both gristmills to the Saltonstall Milling Company. Mr. Townsend had now gone very largely into the wholesale export ice business, and Mr. Harper went to Westville, where there were better manufacturing facilities; thus papermaking ceased in East Haven.
August 9, 1873, Mr. Alexander W. Forbes bought both mills of the Saltonstall Milling Company. At this time, Carrington and Fabrique established a brush factory in the former paper mill, which was con- tinued until March, 1878, when the mill took fire and was totally destroyed, gristmill and all. During all these changes of half a century the gristmill kept grinding on, until fire put an end to all work at this point. Mr. Forbes did not rebuild the old Hemingway gristmill, but improved and enlarged the old fulling mill property, which business has been sucessfully carried on by his son, Frederick A. Forbes, to the present day.
March 7, 1882, just two hundred years since East Haven voted away its right and title to Lake Salton- stall (then called the Furnace Pond), included in the Hemingway grant, which was "ratified by New Haven," Alexander W. Forbes sold all the land
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which had ever been claimed or occupied by him or others, as owners of said mill, together with all the rights and privileges conferred by the grant of 1681, to the New Haven Water Company. In all probability · there will be no change for an indefinite time to come. . Instead of the water of the lake turning a little grist- mill, it is now carried into thousands of homes, all over East Haven and New Haven.
ICE CUTTING.
About 1840 this business was commenced in a small way by two brothers, Orlando B. and Merritt Thomp- son, who made it very profitable, cutting the ice and marketing it themselves. Saltonstall ice being pure and clear, had a ready sale. In 1843 George Thompson and Samuel Perry embarked in cutting ice from Lake Saltonstall. In 1848 George H. Townsend & Company, for the purpose of shipping ice, built large ice houses at the lake and at Red Rock (now Quinnipiac bridge). At one time Mr. Townsend's company had seven schooners enter the harbor in one day for ice; five of them were loaded in one day. There were no three-masters in those days, nor until after 1870. This business was continued until competition with Maine ice, which was much thicker and more dense, bearing transportation with less loss, caused it to be given up. No ice cutting is now done at the lake, although Mr. Townsend reserved the right for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, when he sold his mill privileges to the water company. The unoccupied ice houses at the lake were burned in 1896 and valuable machinery, with the engine and boiler, were ruined.
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A PLEASURE RESORT.
Lake Saltonstall has always been more or less a pleasure resort. In early days it was a good fishing pond and not infrequently a fine shot of wild ducks could be made. In 1851 the New London Railroad was built across the south end of the lake. A con- venient platform was made to accommodate the ice business. In 1856 and '57, when the skating craze swept over the country, the cars brought crowds of skaters to the lake, which had now been dignified by the name of "Saltonstall"; it was no longer the "mill pond." For several years the class races of Yale were rowed over a two-mile course on the lake, and attracted crowds to the contest. Many would ride out and then take a rowboat to the head of the lake. This induced Capt. G. H. Baldwin to place an electric launch on the water with a trailer, Lucy. Later he built and ran a steam launch, Cygnet. As patronage increased, Mr. Townsend made more and greater improvements, appointing Mr. Andrew J. Granniss superintendent of the adjacent ground and park. Another steam launch, the Swan, and the barge Saltonstall, capable of carry- ing 250 people or more, were added to accommodate picnic parties, which came from the different towns by railroad. Twenty or more fishing or rowing boats lined the shore.
Through the strenuous efforts of Hon. James M. Townsend, the New Haven Electric Railway was extended from the Four Corners to East Haven Green, and thence to Lake Saltonstall, in 1894. The following extract is from the Morning Journal and Courier, Saturday, June 30, 1894:
LAKE SALTONSTALL.
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"The initial trip over the Lake Saltonstall branch of the New Haven Electric Railway was taken yesterday, leaving New Haven Green at 1.30 P. M. The first car was filled with invited guests of the company, and members of the press. The run to East Haven was most delightful. The appearance of the car in the center was the signal for the ringing of the church bells and the applause of the citizens, who were out in full force to welcome the visitors.
"The company also had four cars at East Haven, and two hundred citizens enjoyed the hospitality of the company. They were brought to the city and then back to East Haven."
Through the summers of 1894 and '95, this seven hundred acre park, with all its romantic names of picturesque nooks and crags, was popular as a summer resort. Ever since 1848 Mr. George H. Townsend had been adding piece after piece and lot after lot to this domain, until he owned all the land bordering the lake on the west and north, also a good share on the east side. In June, 1895, Mr. Townsend sold this large tract, together with all his interest and privileges pertaining thereto, to the New Haven Water Company.
March, 1896, Mr. Eli Whitney, president of the New Haven Water Company, made this announce- ment: "We will not maintain any picnic grounds on the lake hereafter, on account of the danger of pol- luting the water in the lake. Boats will probably be allowed on the lake, but as to the matter of picnics that has been settled."
The business soon fell off and the boats were with- drawn one after the other, and the railway company removed their tracks. Although fishing is not pro- hibited, the restrictions are such that few now avail themselves of the privilege.
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The Indian name of Lake Saltonstall was Lo-no-to- non-ket, in their language "The tear of the Great Spirit." The Indian name of the river was Tap-am- sha-sick (Stony river). The outlet of the lake, just east of the river, they called Tap-pam-has-ie (Little stream). The river was known as Stoney river, Farm river and Muddy river. On the maps later it is called Farm river, Foxon river, and East Haven river, and locally, near the lake, Deborah's river.
The term "Deborah's" river arises from the tradi- tion of Deborah Chidsey's geese, about which "a cruel and unnecessary war" has been related. At the time she said little, well knowing her time was to come. She assisted her husband at the fulling mill, and when occasion required could ferry one across the river at high tide. A while after, while the governor was stop- ping at his house, he left one morning in his official dress of red broadcloth, resplendent in gold lace, white satin long waiscoat, purple velvet knee breeches, white silk stockings, and silver knee and shoe buckles. Although only a colonial governor (as Connecticut never had any other ), yet he bedecked himself with the trappings of a royal one.
He called Deborah to ferry him over. In the middle of the stream she managed to run the little boat high on a rock, fast and firm. "What shall I do?" cried the governor. "Do? Why do as I do, or stay here till the tide falls." Whereupon she jumped into the river and waded ashore, turning her head and clacking like a goose, the meaning of which he well under- stood, as the "geese story" had been well spread through the colony, much to his annoyance. He did not follow Deborah's example, but sat on the dry
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portion of the boat until the tide fell, making good sport for the neighbors, with whom he was no favorite.
MORRIS COVE SALT WORKS.
The second article to be manufactured in East Haven of which there is any record, excepting the daily family spinning and weaving, was salt. This was carried on by Capt. Amos Morris at Morris Cove, at a crescent-shaped indentation between two rocky formations on the shore, a short distance easterly from the Old Lighthouse. The Revolutionary War pre- vented this necessity from being brought by vessels from the West Indies, and many families on the sea coast resorted to boiling sea water, which is said to yield about a quarter of a pound to a gallon of water. The process was partly by evaporation, finished by boiling, when any quantity larger than for family use was made. Wooden vats were made 30 feet long by 20 wide and 10 inches deep. These salt pans were placed on the shore safe from wind and tide. They were filled with sea water during the March spring tides by the action of the surf beating on the shore and rocks. They were so placed as to receive the whole effect of the sun during summer evaporation.
They were covered by sliding roofs to keep off dews, rain and wind. These roofs had to be shut over at night and the whole business needed much care. When the water reached a certain point it was drawn off, and the process was hastened by boiling; for this purpose Captain Morris had five boilers. It is said that when the evaporation has reached a certain stage, the liquid assumes a reddish color and a thin crust
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