History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 29

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29

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CHRIST CHURCH (Protestant Episcopal) was organ- ized August, 1850, and at first worshiped in a frame building on John Street, formerly occupied by the First Congregational Church. The Rev. J. Howard Smith, the first rector of Christ Church, was settled in December, 1850. His successors in the parish have been : Rev. William Preston, 1854-56; Rev. George B. Thrall, 1856-59; Rev. Lucius W. Bancroft, D.D., 1859-61; Rev. Henry M. Stuart, 1861-63; Rev. J. Blake Falkner, 1863-70; Rev. J. J. Harrison, 1870; Rev. N. L. Briggs, 1871-75; Rev. Horatio N. Powers, D.D., the present rector, November, 1875. The hand- some brownstone edifice on Courtland Street occupied by the congregation of this church since its erection in 1852 cost about thirty-one thousand dollars. A lecture-room was added in 1870 at an expense of nine thousand dollars. The first wardens of the parish were Charles Bostwick, senior warden, and Russell Tomlinson, junior warden. Among the names of its prominent members deceased are those of Charles Bostwick, S. S. Clapp, S. B. Ferguson, Stephen Tom- linson, Frederick Wood, I. H. Whiting, and Daniel Hatch. Of the older members of the Vestry, Russell Tomlinson, P. B. Segee, George Keeler, Luzon W. Clark, W. H. Noble, S. B. Beardsley, S. Titus, C. B. Hotchkiss, Clapp Spooner, and Benjamin Ray still remain. Russell Tomlinson is the present senior warden, and George C. Waldo junior warden. The present number of communicants is 259, and the membership of the Sunday-school about 235.

THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY (Protestant Epis- copal) was organized June 4, 1858. A mission Sun- day-school and mission services had been maintained at the woolen-mills for several years previous to this date, but the precise time of their commencement is not known. Rev. G. S. Coit, D.D., was the first rec- tor, and among those prominent in the enterprise at the outset were Rev. E. F. Bishop, H. M. Sherman, Eli Thompson, Joseph Richardson, Ira Gregory, John Hurd, and William L. Hubbell. Dr. Coit's successor was Rev. E. F. Bishop, who was followed by Rev. Henry Darby, who is now rector, though Rev. E. F. Bishop and Rev. Lewis W. Wells are at present offici- ating. The church, a very picturesque stone building upon Sylvan Avenue, North Bridgeport, was com- pleted and occupied Jan. 15, 1859, and cost about ten thousand dollars. The number of communicants is about 50, and the Sunday-school (now being reorgan- ized) has 65 members.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (Protestant Episcopal) .- Par- ticulars respecting the early history of this ancient church have already been given. Rev. Philo Shelton was rector from 1784 until 1824, when, after forty years of continuous service, his resignation was ac- cepted. His successors have been Rev. Henry R. Judah, 1824; Rev. Gurdon S. Coit, D.D., 1833; Rev. J. M. Willey, December, 1861 ; Rev. Eaton W. Maxcy, D.D., at present rector, June, 1867. The present church edifice, at the corner of Park and Fairfield Avenues, is the fourth that has been occupied by the parish of St. John's. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Williams, Sept. 18, 1873, with appropriate ceremonies, and the house was first occupied Easter Day, March 28, 1875. The dimensions of the build- ing are 120 by 57 feet, and it seats some seven hun- dred persons. The cost, including the building-site, but exclusive of the tower and lecture-room, which are yet to be added, was one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The number of communicants is now 265, and the membership of the Sunday-school is 239.

Among the members of St. John's who entered the Union army during the Rebellion were the Rev. Dr. Coit, who resigned to accept a position as chaplain ; Rev. J. M. Willey, chaplain of the Third Connecticut (three months') Regiment; Major William L. Hub- bell, Seventeenth Connecticut Volunteers; Adj. Wal- ter Fitch, Sixth Connecticut Volunteers; F. H. Thompson, of the naval service; and others.

Rev. Mr. Willey, whose death occurred in April, 1866, is the only rector who has died while holding the office.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH (Protestant Episcopal) was organized June 4, 1858, at the house of William H. Noble, on Stratford Avenue, and the Rev. G. S. Coit, D.D., of St. John's Church, was chosen rector. The Sunday-school at first met in the coal-office of D. W. Thompson, near the east end of Centre Bridge, after- wards in rooms over a store upon the corner of

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Crescent Avenue and East Main Street. Rev. N. S. Richardson, D.D., was the first settled rector of St. Paul's parislı, his ministry here beginning January, 1868.

The corner-stone of St. Paul's Church, a handsome stone building upon Kossuth Street, fronting Wash- ington Park, was laid by Bishop Williams, Oct. 6, 1868; the structure was dedicated and occupied for worship July 29, 1869, but not consecrated until May 18, 1880. It cost about thirty thousand dollars.

Rev. Dr. Richardson, in addition to parochial dutics, is now cditor of the Church Guardian news- paper of New York City, Rev. George S. Pine assist- ing him in the care of the parish.

The communicants at St. Paul's number 296, and the Sunday-school lias 403 members.

TRINITY CHURCH (Protestant Episcopal) was or- ganized June 1, 1863, and services were at first hield in a hall over the New York and New Haven Rail- road Depot. The corner-stone of the church, which is built of freestone, and stands at the corner of Broad Strect and Fairfield Avenue, was laid Nov. 2, 1863. The first services were held in it July 3, 1864, and the building was consecrated November 2d of the same year. The cost of this church was ten thousand dol- lars, or, including the lot and church furniture, sixteen thousand dollars. The original number of communicants was 57; present number, 284; the Sunday-school has 157 members. Rev. Sylvester Clarke has been rector of this church from its organi- zation until the present time.

TRINITY MEMORIAL CHURCH, in West Stratford, is also under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Clarke. This is a mission of Trinity Church, Bridgeport, and a memorial of the Rev. G. S. Coit, D.D. The first services were held at the house of Silas Scofield, in West Stratford, Sept. 20, 1871, and a Sunday-school was begun four days later in the Newfield district school-house. The corner-stone of the present chapel was laid Nov. 29, 1871. First service, the Holy Communion, Whitsunday, May 9, 1872, at seven A.M. Cost of the chapel, including lot, etc., was six thou- sand dollars. The present number of communicants is 30; membership of Sunday-school, 70.

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .-- If this is the same religious body that was founded by Rev. Jesse Lee, it is the oldest Methodist church in New England, and its centennial anniversary, which occurs in 1889, ought to be duly celebrated. The late Isaac Sherman, however, in his historical sketch, published in 1860, mentions Rev. Nathaniel Ruggles and Rev. John N. Maffitt as the " founders of the first Methodist church in Bridgeport in 1802." Before they had a meeting-house of their own the members of this denomination used to gather for worship in the wooden block which is still standing upon the corner of Main and State Streets. The church was built in 1822, upon the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Broad Street, the site now occupied, and

was destroyed by fire March 23, 1849. Its successor, the present brick structure, was completed and dedi- cated in the latter part of the same year. Among the many ministers who have been settled over this church, one of the most successful was Rev. Heman Bangs, who was stationed here in 1847 and 1848. Rev. Charles E. Harris is now pastor. The number of communicants is 370, and the Sunday-school has 345 members.

WASHINGTON PARK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized Sept. 12, 1853. The church building, which stands upon the corner of Barnum and Noble Streets, in East Bridgeport, was com- pleted and occupied in the same year. Its original cost was only four thousand dollars, but in 1867 it was enlarged and improved at an expense of eleven thousand dollars. The present value of the property is about twenty thousand dollars. Rev. J. E. Searles, who is now pastor, began his work here April 1, 1879. There are 380 communicants, and the Sunday-school -one of the largest in the city-has 585 teachers and scholars.

THE TABERNACLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was founded in July, 1873. In March, 1874, the house of worship, which stands upon North Main Street, at the foot of Frank Street, was completed, and in the following month Rev. A. B. Sanford was appointed pastor. His successors have been Rev. S. H. Smith, Rev. David Osborne, and the Rev. Joseph R. Dumble, the latter commencing lis labors here in March, 1880. The cost of the church building, including the lot, was about four thousand five hundred dollars. The church has ninety-five communicants and a Sunday- school of one hundred and seventy-five members.

There are two African Methodist Episcopal chapels upon Broad Street, a short distance north of Seaside Park. The older (or Bethel) Church was built in 1835; the younger and larger, known as Zion Church, was completed, as a tablet over the door informs the passer by, in June, 1843. This tablet also formerly contained an inscription from the Old Testament,- "The glory of the latter house shall exceed that of the former,"-but the words are now erased. Rev. J. B. Small is pastor of Zion Church, which has eighty-two members and a Sunday-school of seventy. Bethel Church, with twenty-eight members and a Sunday- school of twenty, is at present without a settled min- ister.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was consti- tuted Oct. 16, 1853, at which time eighty-two persons entered into covenant and resolved to join the Presby- tery of New York. The pastor, Rev. Dr. Hewit, and a considerable number of the members had previously been connected with the Second (or South) Congrega- tional Church of this city. The first mecting for pub- lic worship was held Oct. 9, 1853, in the upper room of the brick school-house, No. 200 State Street, Dr. Hewit preaching from the text "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever." October 31st

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the church was admitted to the Presbytery of New York, and Feb. 1, 1854, the chapel on Myrtle Avenue was dedicated, having cost about three thousand dol- lars. The church adjoining, upon the corner of Myr- tle Avenue and West Liberty Street, was dedieated Aug. 8, 1855, and cost twenty-eight thousand dollars. The lot upon which the church and chapel stood was the gift of Capt. John Brooks and Capt. Burr Knapp. In 1873 the chapel was taken down and a new one, eosting eleven thousand dollars, was ereeted at his own expense by Capt. Brooks and presented to the church. The expense of enlarging the church organ, already one of the finest in New England, and of putting a new roof upon the church, amounting to about five thousand dollars, was also borne entirely by Capt. Brooks.

These and other improvements were not quite eom- pleted, when on Wednesday evening, Dee. 9, 1874, both ehureh and chapel, with all their contents, were totally destroyed by fire, probably occasioned by the careless use of candles by a workman. The burning steeple, two hundred and twenty-seven feet in height, was the most magnificent speetaele ever seen in Bridgeport. The loss upon the buildings and their contents amounted to seventy thousand dollars; insurance, thirty-five thousand dollars. Resolutions of condo- lence and tenders of the use of their several edifices were made by most of the other churches in Bridge- port, but the church preferred to occupy the opera- house, corner of State and Main Streets, for a season. Owing to the liberality of Capt. Brooks and other members of the society, rebuilding was promptly commeneed. The new church, which stands upon the corner of State Street and Myrtle Avenue, cost, ineluding the chapel, organ, and furniture, about ninety-four thousand dollars, and was dedieated Oet. 12, 1876.

In 1858, having reached the age of seventy, Dr. Hewit resigned his office, but his resignation was not accepted, and he continued to be pastor of the church until his death, in February, 1867. Rev. H. G. Hins- dale was settled Oet. 28, 1862, at first as colleague to Dr. Hewit, and after his death as sole pastor. Mr. Hinsdale resigned in 1877, and was succeeded, Feb. 14, 1878, by Rev. H. A. Davenport, who is at present pastor of the church. The late Mrs. Mary Bishop was one of the most liberal benefactors of this church, having subseribed largely to build it, and also to caneel the debt incurred in its erection. The church records show the number of communieants to be 185, and the membership of the Sunday-school 316.

THE GERMAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, on State Street, was first organized Oct. 1, 1860. Rev. A. Sehroeder was pastor from 1860 to 1864. In 1868 the church was reorganized. Rev. Casper Bruner was then settled as pastor, and has continued to hold that office until the present time. In the same year the society purelased the church now oceupied, on State Street, nearly opposite Myrtle Avenue, for about eight thou-

sand dollars. The present membership of the church is 115; of the Sunday-school, 110.

ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH (Roman Catholic) .- The Rev. Mr. McDermott was the first Catholic priest who celebrated mass in Bridgeport. This was in the house of Mr. Farrell, on Middle Street, in the year 1834. About eighteen Catholic families were then living here. Soon afterwards, by order of Bishop Fenwick, the Rev. James Smith attended Bridgeport once a month. He built the old brick church which formerly stood upon the corner of Arch Street and Washington Avenue. Rev. Michael Lynch, the first settled pastor for Bridgeport, was appointed in December, 1842. Ten years later,-Sept. 2, 1852,-Rev. Thomas J. Synnott was appointed by Bishop O'Reilly to take charge of the Catholics of Bridgeport. Soon after his arrival Rev. Mr. Synnott commenced building the old church of St. Mary upon Crescent Avenue, in East Bridgeport, and finished it in the following year. In this same year he began St. Thomas' chureh, at Fair- field, and finished it in 1854.

Ten years later, the old brick church upon Wash- ington Avenue being found too small to accommodate the growing Catholic population, the foundation of St. Augustine's church was laid upon the corner of Washington Avenue and Pequonnock Street. This church, which is the largest in Bridgeport, was dedi- cated March 17, 1867, and has cost about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. The material of which it is built is gray granite from North Bridgeport. It is intended to carry up the spire about ninety feet higher than its present termination, making it by far the highest object in the eity. The whole, number of Catholics in St. Augustine parish is about four thou- sand, and the average attendance at mass is estimated to be as high as three thousand. The Sabbath-sehool contains about six hundred and fifty members. The amount contributed for special benevolent objects during the pastorate of twenty-eight years of the Rev. Mr. Synnott is between three and four thousand dollars; the amount raised for ehureh purposes- parish expenses, building, ete .- cannot be far from a quarter of a million of dollars.

Adjoining the church on the west is a large and ex- tremely handsome structure, built of gray granite from Plymouth, Conn., which is intended for a Sisters' house and academy for young ladies. It will be completed during the year 1881, and its cost is expected to be about the same as that of the church,-one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH (Roman Catholic) .- This fine edifiee is built of brick with granite trimmings, and stands upon the corner of Pembroke and Steuben Streets, East Bridgeport. It was dedicated Oct. 14, 1877, and cost about ninety thousand dollars. The number of Catholics belonging to St. Mary's parish is estimated to be three thousand, and the average attendance at church from two thousand to two thou- sand five hundred. The Sabbath-school has about six

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hundred members. The first settled minister of the parish was the Rev. Dr. Wallace, from Providence, R. I., and his successors were Rev. Messrs. O'Gorman, O'Neil, Drea, Lenihan, and Rev. J. F. Rogers, the present pastor. The old church of St. Mary, upon Crescent Avenue, is still standing, and is used for school and other purposes.

THE GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH was organized in December, 1874, and for a time held religious ser- vices in a hall in Wheeler's Building, Main Street, corner of Fairfield Avenue. Subsequently it removed to the building No. 449 Main Street. The present house of worship was commenced in October, 1878, and completed in April following, at a cost, including the land, of eight thousand dollars. Rev. Joseph A. Schaele, of New Haven, has been pastor from the or- ganization of the church to the present time. There were at first twenty-five families in the congregation, which now numbers seventy-five families, or about three hundred persons. The Sunday-school has one hundred members. Mass is celebrated and a sermon preached every Sunday morning, the pastor returning to New Haven at the conclusion of the services.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH .- The Universalist Society in Bridgeport was organized in the year 1850, and the brownstone building on Fairfield Avenue, near Broad Street, originally known as the Church of our Saviour, but now called Church of the Redecmer, was dedi- cated near the close of the following year. Rev. Olympia Brown-now Mrs. Olympia Brown Willis- was pastor of this church from 1869 to 1875; Rev. John Lyon, who is now the pastor, was settled Dec. 3, 1876. The cost of the house of worship, including land, etc., was thirty-four thousand dollars. The present number of communicants is 70, and the memn- bership of the Sunday-school is 135. A chapel is soon to be constructed upon the lot in rear of the church, which was given to the society by P. T. Barnum, and it is proposed that the second story of this building shall contain a free reading-room for the use of work- ingmen and others.

THE ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH of Bridgeport was organized November, 1849, with fourteen mem- bers, and has maintained regular services ever since, both upon the Sabbath and on weck-day evenings, though most of the time without a settled pastor. Eighty-two members have been added since the church was first formned, but, owing to death, removal, and other causes, the present membership is only fifty-seven. The place of meeting is Temperance Hall, on Beach Street, East Bridgeport.

The members of the body known as the CHURCH OF CHRIST in Bridgeport have met for study of the Bible and for religious worship since the year 1871, but were not formally organized as a church until Aug. 23, 1874, under the leadership of Dr. W. A. Bel- ding, of Troy, N. Y. The meetings, at first held in a private house, have been for several years past con- ducted in the hall at No. 356 Main Street, on the Sab-

bath and upon two week-day evenings. No stated preacher has been employed, but since May, 1880, Charles Abercrombie, a revivalist, has been laboring here. The present membership is 65.

The Hebrew congregation (BENAI ISRAEL) in Bridgeport was organized Sept. 19, 1859, the first min- ister being Rev. A. Jacobs, and the place of worship No. 35 Wall Strect. Rev. Mr. Jacobs has had twelve successors, the present incumbent being Rev. E. Will- ner, settled Aug. 16, 1879. The congregation now meets upon Friday evenings and Saturday mornings at Freedman's Building, on State Street, opposite the court-house. The Hebrews in this place number only fifteen families, or about seventy-five persons, all of whom belong to the congregation. The Sunday- school has fifteen members.

CUSTOM-HOUSE.

In the "Municipal Register" for 1875 Mr. Lacey has given so full an account of the customs district of Fairfield that it is only necessary to make brief reference to it here. This district was constituted by act of Congress, March 2, 1799, and includes the en- tirc coast, from the Housatonic River to the New York State line. The collector's office was at first at Fairfield, then at Greenfield Hill, but was removed to Bridgeport in 1832. Capt. Samuel Smedley, distin- guished as a naval commander in the war of the Revolution, was the first collector. His successors were : Walter Bradley, date uncertain; Samuel Simons, 1832; Joseph Thompson, 1840; Stephen Lounsbury, 1844; William H. Peet, 1848; William S. Pomeroy, 1852; Silas C. Booth, 1860; John Brooks, 1864; Julius S. Hanover, 1869.

Since December, 1874, the custom-house has been located in rooms, handsomely fitted up for the pur- pose, upon the corner of Main and Wall Streets. The records of the office are well kept, and among the archives are documents bearing the autographs of Alexander Hamilton, John Quincy Adams, James Monroe, and other venerable patriots.

CHAPTER XIII.

BRIDGEPORT (Continued).

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF BRIDGEPORT, CON- CLUDED.

Express Company-Fire Department-Freemasons-Gaslight Company - Grain-Elevator - Harbor - Horse-Railroad - Hospital - Hydraulic Company-Internal Revenue-Library-Lighthouses - Mills- News- papers-Odd-Fellows-Orphan Asylum-Parks-Police-Population- Post-Office-Public Schools-Societies-Stcamboats.

EXPRESS COMPANY.

WILLIAM F. HARNDEN was the first man to com- mence running an express between Boston and New York, in February, 1839, and is regarded as the

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founder of the express business in this country. In May, 1840, Alvin Adams began an opposition to Harnden. For several years Mr. Adams was his own messenger, cashier, clerk, and porter, all in one. In 1843 he first began to use horses and wagons in de- livering, and soon afterwards Adams & Co. made a contract with the Treasury Department for the trans- portation of government funds, which their successors still continue. Oct. 26, 1848, the New York and New Haven Railroad was opened for travel from New Haven to Bridgeport, and on October 31st the follow- ing advertisement appeared in the Weekly Standard :

"NEW EXPRESS.

" Adams & Co. respectfully give notice that they have commenced running a daily express, to and from New Haven and Bridgeport, in connection with their New York and New Haven line. Packages, Specie, Bank-Notes, and Valnables of every description intrusted to their care will be transmitted with the utmost safety and dispatch, and all business, such as the collection of Notes and Bills, the delivery of Drafts for acceptance, and orders of all kinds, will receive their partic- ular attention. A special messenger will accompany the train leaving New Haven at quarter before nine A.M .; returning will leave Bridge- port at ten, or on arrival of boat from New York.

"OFFICES AND AGENTS :

" ADAMS & Co., 16 Wall Street, New York.

" W. WEBB & Co., 143 Chapel Street, Dwight's Building, New Haven.

"SANFORD CORNWALL, No. 2 Exchange Place, opposite the Sterling House, Bridgeport."

The office of the express company was afterwards located under the Sterling House, subsequently re- moving to the York House building, on the west side of Water Street, near Union Street, and from thence to its present location, in the depot building at the foot of Fairfield Avenue. The Adams Express Com- pany was formed by the consolidation of some half a dozen other lines, July 1, 1854. At that time the capital stock was divided into twelve thousand shares, whose value was not specified, but supposed to be worth at least one hundred dollars each, or one mil- lion two hundred thousand dollars altogether. The headquarters of the New England division were re- moved from Hartford to Bridgeport, April 2, 1865; to Boston, Sept. 1, 1868 ; to Hartford, Sept. 2, 1869; and again to Bridgeport, Feb. 6, 1876. Since that time Bridgeport has been the central office, all the other agencies in New England reporting to it.

The company has experienced several robberies. One of the greatest on record took place on Saturday evening, Jan. 6, 1866, when the door of the express- car running from New York to Boston was forced, and securities, cash, and other valuables, to the amount of half a million dollars, were abstracted therefrom. Nearly all the stolen property was re- covered, and the criminals, who were arrested in Norwalk, were tried and sentenced at Bridgeport in February, 1866.

The officers and representatives of the Adams Ex- press Company residing at Bridgeport are: Henry Sanford, General Superintendent ; Clapp Spooner, Resident Manager, and Superintendent of New Eng-

land Division; William L. Hubbell, Anditor; S. J. B. Dibble, Cashier ; John C. Curtis, Agent.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 29

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572