History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 91

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 91

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TAVERNS AND HOTELS.

There are two hotels in the village, the Union House and the Griswold House. The seminary building, on the hill, was occupied for a while as a hotel and board- ing house under the name of the Pettipaug House. There have been but few old taverns in this town. One of the most noted in its day was the house of Danforth Clark at Centerbrook. This was a place of much resort a century ago, and later. The house stood next west of the meeting house, on the present site of the residence of Chapman Gladding. Ethan Bushnell kept a tavern in the present Griswold House, beginning about the year 1800. The house now occupied by Henry Hayden, at the foot and on the south side of Main street, was used as a tavern from the time it was built, in 1766, to the close of the century. The old sign is still preserved. It bears the figure of a ship and the inscription " V and A, 1766," which was meant to stand for Uriah and Ann, the proprietor and his wife. The sign was imported from England. The southeast room of this house is an interesting specimen of antique finish. On the south

door the old " George the Third " knocker of polished brass shines as brightly as it did when it was placed there 118 years ago. On the walls of this room hangs a picture of the king and queen, which is said to have hung here ever since the house was built. It is a line drawing, partially colored, and the garments are loaded with trimmings thickly bestudded with diamonds, the sparkling effect of which is imitated very nicely by flakes of mica or some similar substance.

The Union House was built in 1836, by a company, for the purpose of a hotel. It has been kept as such ever since.

MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.

March Ist 1705, a grant was made to Ensign William Pratt and Serg't Nathaniel Pratt of liberty to erect a saw mill on Falls River, and to have land adjoining for the convenience of laying timber and lumber upon.

February 8th 1715, Charles Williams and John Clark jr. received a grant for the privilege of establishing a corn mill or grist mill upon Falls River. This grant recited that a former grant had been made to the owners of the iron works, and that the proprietors owned the land flowed by the iron works dam, but granted the privi- lege of flooding for the benefit of the corn mill, provided that no detriment should result to the iron works or saw mill which then stood upon the dam. This grant ex- tended to Williams & Clark the right to rebuild and hold the dam in the event of a failure to do so on the part of the owners of the iron works and saw mill. January 18th 1714, land was granted to the same Williams & Clark on the north side of Falls River, east of the iron works dam, to erect a mill upon and the right to build a dam and necessary highway to and from the mill. This mill site was at the present site of the Connecticut Valley Manu- facturing Company's factory at Centerbrook. The site of the old mill on the left bank of the stream is marked by a groove in the perpendicular face of the rocks, which is said to have formed one side of the chimney of the building.

As early as 1703 there was a new dam on Falls River for the iron works. At a meeting February 23d of that year, Charles Williams was granted six rods of land 15 or 20 rods below the dam "to be takin up whar it may best sut sd Williams for the seating up a trip ham- mer * *

* and he is to haf liberty of the stream * for that work." January 13th 1726, a grant of 17 acres at the iron works pond and the island therein was made to him. The iron works pond lies in the rear of the resi- dence of Deacon William Denison. The enterprise of working iron from its crude state appears to have been established by Charles Williams at this early date. The ore that was smelted here was brought from Pond Meadow. It was found in the bogs of the old Iron Mine Swamp, near Wright's mill. Ore was subsequently found about two or three miles north of there at a place called New Mine Plains, on the road leading from Ivoryton to Winthrop. Ore from that locality was also brought to this place to be worked.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

The manufacture of combs in this country was first begun by Phineas Pratt and his son Abel, about the close of the last century. They were the first inventors of machinery for cutting the teeth upon combs, by which they could be produced so as to compete with English manufacturers. The shop in which they worked stood a few yards west of the site of Pratt's blacksmith shop, and the first machinery was driven by wind power. Abel Pratt carried on the business during the first years of this century. Ivory, which was then first coming into use for this purpose, was worth 90 cents a pound.

Williams' ivory comb factory was located near the grist mill at the mouth of Falls River. It was estab- lished in 1802, but did but little business before 1807. After that, it was successful and proved a profitable business to its owners. In 1816, the business was united with a comb factory at Deep River, from which has grown the present establishment of Pratt, Reed & Co., at that place. The building here was used in the manu- facture of ivory buttons a few years, about 1819. It was afterward removed and is still standing about half a mile west from its original site.

A turning shop and tan works were once in operation on Muddy River in the southwestern part of Center brook. A fulling mill also was located on the same stream, a little further down. The dam of the latter re- mains. Near the mouth of the Falls River at Meadow Woods stands a grist mill, known as Williams' grist mill, which has been established there about a hundred years. It is now run by A. F. Pratt. A former grist mill is said to have stood just east of this site, and to have been owned by David Post.

On the left bank of Falls River, opposite the grist mill near its mouth, there formerly stood a saw mill, known as Williams' saw mill. It was built about a century ago. The site is now occupied by a shop used for the manu- facture of coffin trimmings, operated by George W. Dickinson & Co.

The factory of Tiley & Pratt stands on the Falls River about half a mile from its mouth. The shop was built about 40 years ago, for the manufacture of buttons. It was operated by Mason H. Post and Strickland Williams. Bitts were afterward made here by Samuel Smith & Co., and in 1874, the present firm established the manufac- ture of fancy bone goods, notions, etc. The building is 20 by 40 feet, two stories high, and from six to twelve hands are employed in the work. A building standing on the same property is used by the Indestructible Paint Company for the manufacture of chemical paints. This building was occupied by Stillman J. Tiley, about 10 years since, as a turning shop, and later David Shiverick manufactured all kinds of joiners' tools in it for about three years.

On the site of Kelsey's factory, at Centerbrook, a card- ing mill was once operated by Harvey Sanford. After ward there was a turning shop here, which was run first by George M. Denison and afterward by N. B. Pratt. The business was abandoned, and the building was moved off several years before the present building was

erected. This building, which is 22 by 50 feet, two stories high, was built about 1861, and the business of manufacturing ivory and hard wood fancy and station- ers' goods, was established by Edward Kelsey, the pres- ent proprietor. Falls River furnishes the power, and about 12 hands are employed when the shop is busy.

The grist mill of J. W. Bushnell was established in the present building in 1875. The building in which it is located was once a town hall, standing near the Congre- gational church, and was bought by S. Bushnell & Co., . and moved to its present site, in 1855. A grist mill and saw mill had been established near this in the early years of the settlement, and these branches have been carried on in one building or another on nearly the same site ever since. The saw mill was abandoned in 1880. The manufacture of ivory and horn goods was carried on by J. A. & S. M. Comstock, who also owned the saw and grist mill.

The Centerbrook Manufacturing Company was organ- . ized in 1867. They carried on the manufacture of au- ger bits on the premises now occupied by their success- ors, the Connecticut Valley Manufacturing Company. The latter company was incorporated under the general law of the State, February roth 1874, with a capital of $30,000. The company bought at sheriff's sale the prop- erty of the former one, and have since continued the business. The officers of the company are: George A. Cheney, president; A. M. Wright, treasurer and superin- tendent, both of whom have held their positions from the first; and C. G. Cheney, secretary. The main building is 100 by 25 feet, two stories high; and the forge room is a one story building, 125 by 25 feet. About 70-horse power is obtained from the stream, and the shop em- ploys an average number of 50 hands, the most of whom are skilled workmen. The goods are sent to all parts of this and foreign countries.

On the same stream, a short distance above the iron works pond, stands the factory of H. G. Jones, manufac- turer of axe and hammer handles, spokes, treenails, etc. The site was once occupied in the manufacture of combs by the Pettipaug Manufacturing Company. Piano keys and other articles of ivory were added to the list in 1854, when it was operated by J. Simeon Dickinson and others. In 1866 they were succeeded by the Comstock & Dick- inson Manufacturing Company. The factory came into the hands of its present operator January Ist 1882. The building is 40 by 60 feet, two stories high, with a wing 20 feet square. An average of 12 skilled hands are em- ployed, and the goods manufactured are sent to all parts of the world.

The site of the old Bull mill, between Centerbrook and Ivoryton, has been improved more than a hundred years. Three brothers, John, Reuben, and Edward Bull, built a grist mill, which was in operation until 1860. The property passed from the Bull family to Edwin Griswold in 1859, and afterward to Comstock & Dickinson. About 25 years ago the building was burned, and afterward a roof was built over the cellar, and the manufacture of shoddy carried on in it by Thomas N. Dickinson, He

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gave up that enterprise in 1866, and afterward Nehemiah Hayden & Co. used it as a distillery of witch hazel.

The factories of the Comstock, Cheney Co., are located about a mile west of Centerbrook, on the Falls River. These are devoted to the manufacture of ivory goods, consisting mainly of key boards for musical instruments. Around these factories, and supported by them, a village of about 500 inhabitants has been built up, which, in deference to the material which is so extensively wrought, is named Ivoryton. There are two large buildings in which the work is carried on. Near the site of the lower one, in 1802, stood a saw mill, which was owned by one of the Clarks. The site was afterward occupied by a carding mill operated by Benjamin Bushnell, who, about 1847, sold it to Samuel M. Comstock, and he moved it about 200 feet down the stream to its present site, and began the manufacture of combs and other ivory goods. It now forms a part of the lower factory. The business has grown with the passing years until it is now one of the most important institutions of the kind in the country. The present company was organized, under the general State law, in 1872, with a capital of $250,000. The directors were: S. M. Comstock, George A. Cheney, John E. Northrop, Charles H. Rose, Simon W. Shailer, and William A. Comstock. The officers were: S. M. Comstock, presi- dent, and George A. Cheney, secretary and treasurer. The present officers are: George A. Cheney, president; E. B. Comstock, secretary, and John E. Northrop, treasurer.

The lower factory is devoted to the working of ivory. Here the ivory parts of keys are made, as well as a vari- ety of other goods. Additions have been made to the initial building at different times, the principal part of the building, as it now exists, having been built in 1874 and the two years following. This building compre- hends a main building 35 by 75 feet, two stories high, another 30 by 50 feet, three stories high, and another 25 by 70 feet, two stories high. Water power is used here exclusively, the company controlling three large reser. voirs. About 45 hands are kept regularly employed in this factory, though its capacity is sufficient for double that number. The amount of ivory consumed here monthly is from eight to nine thousand pounds, the present cost of which is about $3.50 a pound.

The upper factory is devoted to the wood work for key boards. About 150 hands are employed in this, and both water and steam are used to furnish power. The main building is 50 by 250 feet on the first floor, 150 on the second, and 100 on the third floor.

The building opposite the lower factory was formerly a seminary, kept by Rev. Mr. Denison, at Winthrop, whence it was moved to its present site and used as a boarding house. The bell on the factory is the one which formerly belonged on the seminary.

tinued that business about five years. The manufacture of shoddy and wadding was established in it about 1864, by J. N. Dickinson and J. E. Redfield, the latter of whom, in 1867, became associated with W. C. Hough in the organization of the firm of W. C. Hough & Co. The goods manufactured here are made from or- dinary and damaged cotton and cotton waste. About 2,600 pounds of this material are daily consumed when the mill is in operation, and about 25 hands are employ- ed. The factory at first was a frame building 45 by 140 feet, two stories high, to which was annexed, a few years ago, a brick building 26 by 56 feet, two stories high, with an extension 30 by 60 feet, one story high. The power always employed has been steam. The works have been sold to outside parties within the year past, and are not now in operation.

The ivory works of G. W. Dickinson & Co. are located a short distance northwest of the railroad station, in a brick building 25 by 100 feet, three stories high. The manufacture of piano keys and a variety of stationers' goods and notions, of ivory and some valuable woods, is carried on. Ten or fifteen hands are employed, though the building and its equipments are large enough to meet the requirements of an increased business. It was erected in 1883.

The plant occupied by the tap and die works, now owned by J. E. Redfield, near the lower end of the rope walk, was established as a foundry about the year 1850. It was first occupied by Hunter, Thompson & Co., and in 1854, by a joint stock company called the Neptune Works. In 1855, it was operated by C. B. Conant & Co., who were succeeded by Star & Co., and they in turn by V. W. Vanvoorhes & Co., who held it until about 1872. At that time it passed into the hands of A. & A. E. God- dard & Co., who established the manufacture of emory wheels. The firm, in 1878, became Goddard, Son & Co., and afterward the manufacture of taps, dies, and reamers was added by H. Prentiss & Co. Since 1881, it has been owned by J. E. Redfield, and has been employed in the manufacture of taps, dies, reamers, screw-plates and emory wheels. Steam has always supplied the motive power, and about 30 men are employed when the shop is in full operation.

A rope walk, for the manufacture of rigging for the ships building here and at other points on the river, was established about the commencement of the present century. Its site was a little south of the present one. The upper end of it was near where the sign-post now stands, and the lower end was back of the Episcopal par- sonage. The present one was built in 1818, by George Harrington, Gurdon Smith, and Reuben Post. It was afterward owned by Hayden, Williams & Co., and later by A. F. Whittemore and David Andrews. It is now owned by William N. Robbins. The manufacture of large ropes has been given up, and its equipments are devoted to making fish lines and other small goods. Six or seven

The wadding manufactory recently owned by W. C. Hough & Co., stands about an eighth of a mile south of hands are employed. It has frequently changed owners. the foot of Main street. The first building was erected in 1852, for a saw mill, by Gladwin & Wooster, who con-

Two block and spar shops have been in operation on the South Cove. One was owned by Benjamin II.

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Meigs, and was closed at his death, about 40 years ago. Another was carried on by Gamaliel and George Conk- lin. This was closed about 20 years since. A carver's shop, another adjunct of the shipbuilding enterprise, was in operation at the beginning of the century. January 9th 1800, Samuel Lay leased to Ezra L'Hommedieu, of Saybrook, a shop near the wharf at the foot of Main street, in which to carry on the carving business.

A business of considerable extent is carried on at Centerbrook by Hermon O. Rose, in the printing of visit- ing cards and sale of novelties in a great variety of goods that can be sent through the mails. This business was established in 1880, and has been annually increasing. It employs ordinarily 10 or 12 hands, and during the busy season-from the ist of November to the middle of March-from 25 to 30. Customers are obtained through newspaper advertisements and circulars, and the receipt of letters is about 200 a day, while during the holiday season it sometimes reaches about 2,500 in a single day. About half a ton of matter a week is sent through the mails.

ELY'S FERRY.

From the lower part of the village a road runs north- east about a mile, following a natural dyke, which, with the expanse of meadow connected with it, separates the North Cove from the river. At the end of this distance the river is narrowed up so that a short ferry passage lies between this point and Ely's Landing, directly opposite. This road and the draw-bridge over which it passes in crossing the mouth of the cove were built in 1825. Two four-horse stage coaches used to pass each way daily over this ferry on the route between New Haven and Norwich. A house and store stood on the shore at the ferry several years ago. It was occupied by Samuel Wheat. The boat used is a large, square flat-boat, with aprons on the ends to let down upon the shore to facili- tate boarding and landing. The boat is propelled by sail or oars. The ferry property is now mostly owned by S. C. Ely. The Pettipaug & Guilford Turnpike, which had its terminus here, and formed part of the turnpike from Norwich to New Haven, was abandoned, and its charter was repealed by act of the Assembly, on the petition of the company, dated April 20th 1839,

MASONIC.

John Shipman, John Taylor, Timothy Starkey jr., Felix Starkey, Samuel Clark, William Marvin, Erastus Worth- ington, Ezra L'Hommedieu, Uriah Hayden, Benjamin H. Meigs.

The lodge was constituted at the house of Danforth Clark, at Centerbrook. Its subsequent meetings were held at the house of Ethan Bushnell, which is the present Griswold House, until December 4th 1816, when it moved to the house of John G. Hayden, the second house above, on the same street. September 17th 1823, it returned to its former quarters. A single meeting was held at the house of Widow Maria Pratt, January 18th 1826, after which the home of the lodge was again at the house of John G. Hayden until its suspension. No reg- ular meetings were held during the year 1828, but on the 27th of December the lodge met and elected officers for the coming year. After this it ceased working for nearly thirty years. Up to this time it had received 69 mem- bers. Its presiding officers had been: George W. Jewett, 1813-15; Samuel Hough, 1816, 1817; William Lynde, 1818; Felix Starkey, 1819; Timothy Starkey, 1820; Sam- uel Ingham, 1821, 1822; Charles U. Hayden, 1823; Wil- liam Lynde, 1824; Pliny Hamant, 1825, 1826; Felix Starkey, 1827; Pliny Hamant, 1828; Samuel Ingham, 1829.

The charter was revived and the lodge reorganized September 11th 1855, with the following members: Sam- uel Ingham, Cornelius R. Doane, Gardiner K. Dickinson, William S. Hayden, James Phelps, Edward W. Redfield, Noah A. Smith, George Post, John G. Hayden, Gardiner K. Dickinson jr., and Prentiss Pendleton. The lodge met in the building now known as Masonic Hall, then called Odd Fellows Hall, which has been regularly occu- pied to the present time. The following have held the office of W. M .: James Phelps, to July 1856; E. W. Red- field, the remainder of 1856, and 1857, 1858; Noah A. Smith, 1859; Jared E. Redfield, 1860; William Hillhouse Doane, 1861; Thomas Williams, 1862-65; William C. Hough, 1866; Ezra Pratt, 1867-69; Ebenezer Williams jr., 1870; Morris B. Hall, 1871, 1872; Joseph R. John- son, 1873, 1874; James R. Post, 1875; Gardiner K. Dick- inson jr., 1876; Joseph R. Johnson, 1877; John E. Bull, 1878; Thomas Williams, 1879; James R. Post, 1880 to 1884 The present number of members is about 80. The officers for 1884 were: James R. Post, W. M .; James Milnor Pratt, S. W .; Samuel J. Post, J. W .; Edward W. Redfield, treasurer; Richard H. Mather, secretary; Ezra Pratt, S. D .; Gustavus W. Pratt, J. D .; Edward W. Pratt and Marcus C. Beebe, stewards; Sylvanus M. Pratt, tyler.

Mount Olive Lodge, No. 52, F. & A. M., was con- stituted, February 13th 1812, the ceremonies being con- ducted by Rt. W. John R. Watrous, D. G. M. In pur- suance of orders from the Grand Lodge, he installed the the officers, who were as follows: George W. Jewett, W. The jewels now in use by the lodge were the original jewels of the old lodge, and were made by Nathan Pratt, who was a manufacturing jeweller in this village in the early years of the century. M .; William Lynde, S. W .; Timothy Starkey 2d, J. W .; Felix Starkey, treasurer; Erastus Worthington, secretary; Samuel Dickinson, S. D .; Samuel Hough, J. D .; Daniel Williams, S. S .; Samuel Clark, J. S .; William Marvin, At a special convocation of the officers of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Connecticut, held in Essex, on Monday, the 17th day of July 1865, a royal arch chapter was opened in due form, when the grand tyler. The charter, which bears date, November rst 18II, contains the following names: Jared Clark, Judea Pratt, Hezekiah Pratt, Daniel Williams, George W. Jewett, Danforth Clark, Samuel Colt, Samuel Hough, | high priest installed Edward W. Redfield, high priest of

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Burning Bush Chapter, and presented him with a dispen- sation for the chapter, in which he was named to act as high priest, with Felix Starkey as excellent king, and Thomas Williams as excellent scribe. The other officers were: William C. Hough, captain of the host; Gardiner K. Dickinson jr., principal sojourner; R. Elmore Whitte- more, royal arch captain; Rowley Flint, Gurdon Rob- bins, and Ebenezer Williams jr., grand masters of the third, second, and first vails. The following are the suc- cessive high priests: E. W. Redfield, 1865-67; Thomas Williams, 1868, 1869; William Hillhouse Doane, 1870-72; John I. Hutchinson, 1873-76; Gardiner K. Dickinson, 1877-79; Joseph B. Johnson, 1880; John I. Hutchinson, 1881, 1882; James R. Post, 1883, 1884. The officers for 1884 were: James R. Post, M. E. H. P .; Daniel M. Da- mon, E. K .; John E. Bull, E. S .; Hosmer Shailer, C. H .; Thomas Williams, P. S .; Edward W. Redfield, treasurer; Samuel I. Phelps, secretary; Frank E. Phippeny, R. A. C .; Gardiner K. Dickinson, Gustavus W. Pratt, and Morris B. Hall, G. M's of the third, second, and first vails; R. E. Whittemore, chaplain; John I. Hutchinson, marshal; W. W. Johnson, tyler; and Alpheus P. Tripp and Gurdon H. Post, stewards.

ODD FELLOWS.

Fenwick Lodge, I. O. of O. F., was formed at Essex, March 19th 1845, the ceremony of its institution being conducted under the direction of Grand Master John L. Devotion, of Norwich. The founders, who had been members of Middlesex Lodge at East Haddam, were: Rev. Junius M. Willey, James Phelps, Nathan Pratt, Augustus J. Foster, and William H. Goodspeed. The first officers were: Rev. Junius M. Willey, N. G .; Na- than Pratt, V. G .; James Phelps, R. S .; and Augustus J. Foster, treasurer. The first hall used was in the building now known as the Griswold House, then the residence of Ethan Bushnell, which was occupied 14 months, dur- ing which time the lodge received 33 members. The lodge room next occupied was the "Great School House," which then stood in front of the site now occu- pied by the residence of Mr. George Cheney. This was dedicated to oddfellowship May 14th 1846, and was occupied six years and ten months. The hall in Mack's block, now known as Masonic Hall, was leased January Ist 1853, at which time the membership of the lodge numbered 82. The room was occupied 231/2 years, during which time it admitted 182 members, and paid in benefits $1,813.85.

During the war the lodge suffered a period of decline, when it held but few meetings, but the charter was main- tained and the lodge was subsequently revived. The present lodge room, in the upper story of Miner's store, at the head of Main street, was first occupied July 6th 1876, having been fitted up at a cost of about $700. It is one of the finest lodge rooms in the State. From the founding of the lodge to January 1882, it had received 252 members, paid $2,843.85 in benefits, and lost 25 members by death. From its membership two lodges have been formed-Webb Lodge, at Deep River, and

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 91

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818