History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 59

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 59

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body of water was hurled down upon the lower pond, sweeping away the dam and bringing their united strength down into the valley below, carrying with it huge masses of ice and scattering destruction along its course. At Flint's dam the tide obtained fresh Impulse. The dam was swept away in an instant; the large body of water there contributed Its power to the destruction. The water, ice, and broken timber swept down the line of Mill River through the village, and created the most appail- ing disaster ever happening in this vicinity. Ten lives were lost and fifty thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed. The Main, North, and White Street bridges were destroyed, and the bridges on l'atch Street and Balmforth Avenue were badly damaged, the latter by the water and ice setting up the creek which it spans. The bridge crossing the Still River, opposite Lacey, Hoyt & Co.'s factory, was badly racked and dis- placed. Five buildings were swept from their foundations or demolished. Of these, two were dwellings, standing on the north side of Main Street, near the stream. The one nearest the stream was owned by Oliver Stone, and was occupied by James Bothwell, wife, and two children, and by Edward Clark, wife, and three children. The other building was owned and occupied by Mrs, Betsey HIusted, who rented the upper story to John Chambers and family, who were absent at the time of the disaster. Mrs. Ifusted and the occupants of Mr. Stone's house were drowned. With the Bothwells boarded two sisters (who were also sisters of Mrs. Clark), Fannie and Betsey IIumphrey, who were away from home at the hour of the disaster. One of them, Miss Fanny, in attempting to cross White Street bridge, nearly a mile below her home, was overtaken by the flood, and shared the fate of the rest. The lost were Mrs. HIusted, Mrs. Both- well, Ida Bothwell, aged eight years, Edward Clark, Mary Clark, aged eight years, George Clark, aged two years, - Clark, aged five years, and Fannie Humphrey, aged twenty-eight years, Mrs. Clark and Nettie Bothwell, aged ten years. Starr's slaughter-house, Chase's factory, and Sunderland's carpenter-shop were demolished. Two tenements belong- ing to HIendrick Barnum, situated on North Street and occupied by the families of Perry Disbrow and Daniel Hoyt, were considerably damaged by the ice. The water-work dams are ruined. The upper dam lost one hundred feet of earth, and the lower dam was entirely carried away. In the valley west of Clapboard Ridge, and northwest of the town, are the receiving and supplying reservoirs of the Kohanza Water. The natural stream at this point is about four feet wide and has an average depth of about four inches. The lower dam is about three miles from the centre of the village, and the upper is about a mile and a quarter beyond. The lower dam was built upon the inauguration of the works in 1860, and the upper in 1866. The lower pond contained about 77% acres of water, and the upper about 26 acres. The greatest depth of water in both places was about 23 feet, or the average depth about 8 feet. The length of first dam was 40 feet ; height, 26 feet ; cost, $1700. Length of second dan, 600 feet; height, 22 feet ; cost, $4500. Each dam was built of earth sloped 112 to 1 on outside and 2 to 1 on inside, and the whole of inside lined with stones. The thickness of the dans at the lowest point was 90 to 100 feet ; at the water-line, 20 to 22 feet."

ELMWOOD PARK.

The beginning of the pleasant trysting-place known as Elmwood Park was made in 1801. At that time the road passed on the east side of the park and formed a bow, and in the year 1801 a petition was presented to straighten the street at this point. Maj. Ezra Starr, of Revolutionary memory, who lived on the premises where now is located the residence of Hon. D. P. Nichols, and who owned the land from here down to Wooster Street, generously donated the land along his premises, on the condition, however, that it should ever after remain a "common." The " park" henee- forth became a spot of considerable importance, as here were held the trainings of "ye olden time." There were two military organizations in Danbury at that time,-an artillery company and a company of cavalry, the former of which rendezvoused at the tavern kept by Ebenezer White, which stood on the site of the present Turner House, and the latter on the corner of Elm and Main Streets.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The little park remained with no particular atten- tion being paid to it in matters of improvement or or- namentation until 1851 or 1852, when a movement was started for making it a central park by running a road on the west side. This project was stoutly op- posed by the residents in the upper portion of the town, but finally succeeded. Two thousand dollars was subscribed for the purpose, and in 1853 the work begun. Among the leading citizens who manifested a lively interest in the niatter are mentioned the names of Augustus Seeley, W. P. Seeley, and Aaron Turner. The trees were given by Mr. James Harvey, and were dug by Noah Atkins and Fred. Bevans.

After a few years interest in the park waned, and, as predicted by those who opposed it in the beginning, it passed back to the borough. It, however, proved to be comparatively inexpensive, as the fence fairly rotted away, and it became "a mere irregular entangle- ment, uncared for, unsightly to the eye, not useful for any purpose." Finally, however, after about a score of years of inattention and neglect, a movement was started for the improvement of the little spot, princi- pally by A. P. Sturges. The good work inaugurated by Mr. Sturges went on, and on July 19, 1879, the place, beautified and improved, was reopened as Elm- wood Park. It is finely shaded, has a band-stand and an immense fountain, and, taken all in all, is one of the finest parks to be found in any village in the county. What Bushnell Park is to Hartford, Seaside to Bridgeport, is Elmwood to the present village of Danbury.

The following anecdote is related by the Danbury News :

" When the late Uncle Sam Jennings was warden he got a crop of hay from the ground. He had previously issued a proclamation forbidding the obstruction of the highways of the village. One afternoon he loaded his cart with the hay, but, it being late, he left the load in the strect for the night. A number of unknown parties, in the fear of the law and with a most commendable regard for its integrity, drew the cart to the pound in the night, pitched the hay over into the inclosure, then took the cart to pieces and passed that over, and then finished np by reloading the hay and leaving the whole within the pound.

"The feelings of Warden Jennings when he discovered the location of his hay the next morning can easily be imagined. But he issued no manifesto nor offered any reward for the apprehension of the actors. He remembered where he had left his cart the night before, and silently went to work to pitch the hay outside, to take the cart apart and get that over, and then to put the machinery together again and reload the hay.

"That was in the 'good old times.'"

WOOSTER CEMETERY." .

The visitor to Danbury is impressed with two things in its favor,-first, its good care of the living; second, its good care of the dead. The first is demonstrated in its facilities for educating the young and in providing for the helpless ; the second is shown in the beautiful appearance of its cemetery.

Perhaps there is no place in Connecticut that can show a burial-place having so many advantages, both natural and artificial. The general contour of the

ground is a ridge running the length of the place in part circle from east to north, inclosing a basin within the circle and a terrace outside. There are several small ridges surrounding the main ridge. The basin is flooded by a neighboring stream and divided into miniature islands covered with trees. From points on the main ridge the lake of islands is in plain sight, and presents a very picturesque view to the observer. There is also a drive around the water.

In laying out the roads and grounds for burial purposes, the taste displayed by the architects is ad- mirable. Advantage has been taken of all the points presented by nature, and art has smoothed the rough places and developed them into beauty. The great bulk of those owning lots have been equally jealous of their appearance, and in many instances these spots have been made very beautiful. The great wealth of foliage in the cemetery strikes the visitor as being remarkable. The most hardy variety of trees and shrubs have been selected, and, while the shade is abundant, it does not entirely hide many of the other attractive features of the place in a distant view. The grounds are within the village, and are consequently visited quite frequently, especially on a pleasant Sabbath, when there is a large number of visitors.

The Danbury Cemetery Association was organized in November, 1850, under a law of the State relating to cemeteries, with sixty shareholders at twenty-five dollars a share. The first purchase of land was made in December of that year, of William K. Clark, the piece containing sixteen acres, for which three hundred dollars was paid; and another piece, five and one- fourth acres, for eighty dollars, of Col. E. Moss White. Additions were made from time to time, and there are now about fifty acres in that part of the cemetery which is improved.

In the spring and summer of 1851 the grounds were laid out, roads made, and trees secured. Most of the evergreens were obtained from William Mann's nurs- ery in Bangor, Me., some of a suitable size to trans- plant, others, from six to twelve inches in height, set out in a nursery and transferred to the grounds when of a suitable size. Beneath the surface the soil is good and free from stones. Many of the knolls were quite barren and forbidding in exterior, but by the free use of muck, ashes, and manure a thrifty crop of grass appeared thereon. It was predicted by some that trees would not grow on this land, so naturally poor did it appear.

Where the lake now is was a muck-swamp filled with bogs and bushes. These were collected and burned, and the muck removed to cover the barren soil. The water which forms the lake sets back from the North Meadow stream, and, during a freshet, fills the lake. A dam at the outlet keeps the water at a proper height. There is a fine spring, which never fails, on the east border of the lake.

The improved grounds are nearly inclosed by a

* Contributed by Edgar S. Tweedy.

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DANBURY.

substantial stone wall, which is banked on the inside. Most of the material in the wall was brought from " Tamarack Woods."

On April 27, 1854, the Wooster Monument, whose top is conspicuous from a distance, was finished, and dedicated with appropriate ceremonics to perpetuate the memory of Gen. Wooster, of Revolutionary fame. The occasion was one of uncommon interest in this part of the State. There were fully ten thousand people present as witnesses of the ceremonies. The Masonic lodges of the State and neighboring States were represented. His Excellency, the Governor, with notables from abroad and military organizations from Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford, partici- pated in the affair. The Masonic display was the most imposing ever made in the State. Hon. Henry C. Deming, of Hartford, delivered the oration.

In 1862 the reception-vault was built, and four years later the massive stone columns at the entrance to the cemetery were erected.

In November, 1867, the association purchased of the late William Augustus White about twenty-five acres, at thirty-five dollars per acre, lying on the cast side of the road leading to North Meadow and oppo- site the improved grounds. No improvements have been made on this plat, but the setting out of ever- greens and other trees in places that will not be accepted for burial purposes.

The grounds were laid out and improvements made by and under the direction of George W. Ives and Edgar S. Tweedy. Mr. Ives died in 1862. His remains rest in the northern point of the main ridge, and are marked by a massive granite cross of simple design, in the base of which is inscribed the following testimony from his fellow-citizens :

" This monument is erected to George W. Ives by his friends as a testi- monial of his services in laying out and beautifying this cemetery, and in remembrance of his public and private worth."

Since his death Mr. Tweedy has had the supervision of the grounds.

POPULATION OF DANBURY.

1756

1,527

1774.

2,526

1782

2,747

1790.

3,031

1800.

3,180

1810

3,506

1820

3,873

1830

4,311

1840

4,504

1850

5.964

1860

7,234

1870.

8,753

1880.

11,619

THE DANBURY. LIBRARY

as it exists to-day, with its commodious and elegant building on Main Street, the dwelling-house adjoin- ing, its books and other property, including its in- vested funds, is substantially the gift of one family,- that of the late E. Moss White, of Danbury. The late William Augustus White, of Brooklyn, son of E. Moss White, by his last will and testament be- queathed the sum of ten thousand dollars, to be paid

five years after his decease, for the establishment of a public library in his native borough of Danbury. The Legislature of Connecticut, at its session in 1869, passed an act incorporating the Danbury Library, which act was approved by the Governor, June 5, 1869.

On the 1st of June, 1870, Alexander M. White, of Brooklyn, brother of William Augustus White, and sole executor of his will, placed at the disposal of the trustees of the library the house on Main Street, in which he was born and in which his parents died, to be used for library purposes until a suitable building could be erected upon the premises. At the same time, Mr. White also notified the trustees of his will- ingness to give a plot of ground fifty feet on Main Street by one hundred and fifty in depth, on which to erect a suitable building, and also the sum of five thousand dollars, besides an equal amount to be given by his brother, George Granville White, towards the erection of such a building, so soon as the citizens of Danbury would join in erecting, free of debt, a suit- able building upon this ground. At this time Mr. White directed that repairs be made upon the house so given, and that suitable furniture be purchased at an expense not to exceed five hundred dollars, the cost of such repairs and purchases being paid by him.

In 1871, Alexander M. White made a further dona- tion of five hundred dollars for the purchase of books. A donation of five hundred dollars by the late Charles H. Merritt and of fifty dollars by Miss H. E. Merritt for the purchase of books was made and accepted.

The library continued to occupy the house formerly the residence of E. Moss White till the fall of 1876. In May of that year Mr. Alexander M. White noti- fied the trustees of his desire to see a suitable build- ing erected upon the site for library uses, and of the offer of his brother, George Granville White, to con- tribute five thousand dollars for this purpose. To this amount Alexander M. White generously offered to add fifteen thousand dollars, making twenty thousand dollars in all. Mr. White subsequently offered to re- move the old dwelling-house to the rear of the library lot at his own expense and to fit it up for rental, also to donate additional ground on the south side and rear of the library lot, and directed that plans be ob- tained for a building costing from twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand dollars.

Of all these several gifts and donations the trustees have thankfully availed themselves. Not only the twenty-five thousand dollars placed at their disposal by the Messrs. Alexander White and George Gran- ville White has been, in aceordance with their wish, expended upon the building, but in October, 1878, Mr. Alexander M. White, to insure the utmost possi- ble perfection in the completion of the new structure. made a further donation of fifteen hundred dollars. Upon receiving a vote of thanks from the trustees for this amount, he added three thousand five hundred dollars for finishing, furnishing, and purchase of

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

books. These contributions, Mr. White desires it understood are, like others coming through him, from the family of the late E. Moss White.

The present building was crected from plans fur- nished by Messrs. Lamb & Wheeler, of Newark, N. J. It was begun in 1877 and completed early in 1879. The first story is rented for offices, leaving the entire second story for library uses. It is heated by steam throughout, and has received the approval and ad- miration of some of the best architects and authori- ties upon architecture in the country. It is a monu- ment to the generosity and philanthropy of a single family, and a public benefaction of which all the in- habitants of Danbury have every reason to feel proud.

CHAPTER XXIII.

DANBURY (Continued).

Hatting in Danbury-Other Manufactures-Present Manufactures-The Execution of Anthony-Trial and Execution of Amos Adams.

HATTING IN DANBURY.

THE following history of the hatting business in Danbury is condensed from W. H. Francis' History of Hatting, published in 1860, and continued from that time to the present by Mr. Bailey, in the Dan- bury News:

"It is said to be a sober fact in history that the first building cver erected in this country as a hat-shop was built in Daubury, and the first hat ever made in these United States was made in this town. Be this as it may, certain it is that in the days of the Revo- lution, when the town was but a hamlet, when pro- vincial's blade was crossed with that of royalists and a little phalanx of stout hearts were contending for the inborn rights of man, when the seeds of future glorious empire were being planted in the furrows plowed by the cannon-ball, harrowed in deeply by the iron war-horse, the tramp of wheeling and charging columns, moistened and enriched by the generous flow of the life-blood of patriots, we find that in 1780 Zadoc Benedict was making hats in a small red shop standing near the grounds now the site of the depot, in Main Street. With limited resources and capital, he kept up the fire under his solitary kettle and em- ployed to work up his 'stock' the services of one journeyman and two apprentices, turning off hats at the rate of three per day, or one and a half dozen per week, two hats being an average for a good workman in a day.

"This is according to the statement of some of our oldest citizens about the first that was done at hatting in Danbury, and, although hats had undoubtedly been made herc long before this, still we shall take this as the starting-point and regard it as the commencement of what has since proved an important and extensive trade.

"1787 .- Col. Russell White and Oliver Burr, firm of

Burr & White or O. Burr & Co., carried on what was then considered an extensive trade, employing thirty hands, variously engaged, and turning off hats at the rate of fifteen dozen per week, or seven hundred and fifty dozen per year. The hats of this period were without elegance, being heavy, rough, and unwieldy. They sold at from six to ten dollars each,-enough to buy two or three fine hats now. One man could make about nine hats per week.

"The manufacturer bought the skins in a bundle. The fur then had to be taken from them by hand and assorted. Then it was bowed into 'bats,' with the old 'bow,' 'pins,' and 'catgut,' and these 'bats' were made into hat-bodies. After the hats were made (everything being done by hand), they were distrib- uted to the ladies living in the vicinity in order to have the hair that remained sticking in the nap re- moved by tweezers.

"Among the men employed by Burr & White were Eli Benedict and William Babcock, who afterwards went to New Haven.

"1791 .- In the Farmers' Journal, published at Dan- bury, in this year, we find the following advertise- ment :

"'TO BE SOLD BY 0. BURR & COMPANY, ONE HUNDRED WEIGHT OF GOOD HAT WOOL, AND SEVERAL PAIRS OF WHITE ENGLISH RABBITS,

Whose increase is amazingly fast and the skins for fur in great demand, and their flesh of the most delicate kind; and to conclude the whole of their excellencies, their keeping requires nothing but vegetables, such as weeds, grass, potatoes, turnips, etc., etc. They need no drink.

"""Also, given as usual twenty pence per run for coarse woolen yarn. "'Danbury, May 18th, 1791.'

"1800 .- In Robbins' century sermon, delivered at Danbury, Jan. 1, 1801, we find these remarks: 'In the manufacture of hats this town (Danbury) much exceeds any one in the United States. More than twenty thousand hats, mostly of fur, are made an- nually for exportation.' Thus, more than half a century ago, our fathers took the lead in the manu- facture of hats, and to-day their sons are not behind.

"1802 .- The first hat-store at the South in connec- tion with manufacturing at Danbury was established by two active and well-known men (now deceased), Zal- mon and Seymour Wildman. They had one store at Charleston, S. C., firm of Z. & S. Wildman; another at Savannalı, Ga., firm of Wildman & Hoags. Zal- mon Wildman manufactured in the shop of Zadoc Benedict after the decease of the latter, in 1803. He also some years later carried on quite extensively the finishing of hats for the Southern market, near the grounds now the site of the Pahquioque Hotel, in Main Street.

"1803 .- During this and following years, Samuel H. Phillips, George Benedict, David Wood, William Babcock, Ezra Wildman, Ebenezer and John D. Nichols, Boughton & Starr, and others, carried on hatting in different parts of the township. The fash-

239

DANBURY.

ionable hat of this year was six inches deep and two inch brim.

"1805 .- Clark & Benedict earried on the hatting business in the red building situated in West Street, and now occupied as a dwelling; Gersham Nichols at the same time, in a building near the residence of Oliver Stone, in Main Street.

"1807 .- Noah Rockwell commenced manufacturing with his 'plank' shop in the cellar of the house now occupied by Mrs. Rosaboom, in Franklin Street. Also, Hoyt Gregory had a shop in West Street. All these manufacturers carried on the business on a limited seale, employing, probably, from seven to eight hands each, and turning off hats at the rate of four or five dozen per week, or two hundred and fifty dozen per year. Among the men in the employ of Hoyt Gregory were James Seal and Thomas Peek, who eventually engaged in an extensive business at Boston.

"1808-9 .- There were fifty-six hat-shops in opera- tion in the township of Danbury, averaging from three to five men each. Many farmers were interested in the trade, setting up a kettle and hiring journeymen. It is but a few years sinee the trade was centralized and the bulk of capital concentred in a few large estab- lishments.

"1812 .- We have our venerable eitizen, now presi- dent of the Danbury Bank (who went into business as early as 1800), and James Benedict, firm of Tweedy & Benedict, carrying on business in a shop situated on the ground where the house of Mrs. Sprague now stands, corner of Main aud Elm Streets. Hands employed, 30. During the war the trade between hat-dealers and the Northwest Company was cut off. John Jacob Astor sold at auction, in the city of New York, a large quantity of furs which had been seized. James Benedict, hearing of the sale, attended and bought five bales (one thousand pounds) of 'old coat beaver' at one dollar per pound. The price imme- diately advanced to five dollars per pound.

" We must remember that at this time hat-finishing was a very small part of the trade here; in fact, hardly any hats were sent to market finished and trimmed, but were sent in the 'rough' to the eity, there to be made ready for sale. In this year a ma- chine was invented for blowing fur, and first used in Messrs. Tweedy & Benedict's establishment. It con- sisted of a wire drum, in which the fur was plaecd, and the machine moved with a crank by hand. Small, simple, and imperfect, it was thought to be an im- portant invention at that time; uow it would be laughed at as a child's plaything.

"1814 .- Judson and Russell White, firm of White Brothers, conducted a large business here. Capital invested, $50,000. Hands employed, about 50, making probably about two hundred dozen hats per month, or two thousand dozen per annum. This firm had a warehouse in the city, where the hats were sent to be sold.

"Among those who learned the trade with the White Brothers was Starr Nichols, Esq., now deceased, who afterwards became a prominent townsman, contrib- uting in a great measure to the advancement and building up of Danbury. Soon after his 'time was out' he commenced business for himself. Doing very little at first, but steadily increasing, he pushed for- ward with that zeal which ever afterwards formed so prominent a trait in his character, until, when the White Brothers retired from business, he took their place and carried it on with increased energy, em- ploying fifty 'makers.' He inet with several re- verses of fortune, but at the time of his death (1856) was engaged in a luerative business in a hat-store in New York City, and to-day he is remembered as one of the most prominent men in the trade. His benevo- lenee and active perseveranee are well worth imi- tating.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 59

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