USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 17
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 17
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
At the annual meeting in 1790 it was voted that each selectman be paid "thirty shillings a year" for services. There appears to have been some question in. regard to the working of roads, for in 1791 it was voted :
" That surveyors warn no more men to work on highways than they can oversee, and that they allow them no more than they can earn."
The surveyors were allowed three shillings per day.
Birds and animals became so destructive to crops that bounties for removing the destroyers were offered by the town; in 1792 the bounty was four pence on each crow killed.
On account of the prevalence of the small-pox, the town, Jan. 13, 1794, voted "that Dr. Stanley and Dr. Andrews have liberty to erect a hospital for the purpose of inoculating for small-pox." But the apprehensions from the disease became such that a few weeks later the houses of Elisha Savage, Solomon Sage, Seth Kilbourn, and Benjamin Hart, were set apart for a similar purpose. The house first author- ized was erected by Dr. Stanley in the woods, to the rear of his house in Stanley Quarter.
When the United States census of 1790 was taken, the population of the town of Berlin was 2,465. In 1800 the population of each parish, as taken by the enumerators, was: Kensington, 764; New Britain, 946 ; and Worthington, 1,003, giving a total, when corrections were made, of 2,702. According to the tax list, the wealthiest man in the town was Barnabas Dunham of Kensington, with a grand list of $640, while in New Britain, Levi Andrews had a grand list of $505.89, and in Worthington, Roger Riley one of $425.44, these being the largest, respectively, in each parish. During the next ten years Kensington lost eight in population, while New Britain gained thirty-six, and Worthington forty-seven.
Town meetings had been held by rotation in the three
197
CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
parishes for many years, these meetings being held in the churches, but objections being made to this use of the buildings, a vote was passed to build a town hall. This was located in New Britain and completed in 1850. It was on the east side of Main Street, was for many years after- wards the State Normal School building, and is now occupied by the New Britain High School.
TOWN OF NEW BRITAIN.
In 1850 the citizens of Kensington and Worthington petitioned for a division of the town. The petition was granted, Berlin, including the two parishes mentioned, retaining the old name, and the parish of New Britain, by itself, becoming the town of New Britain. The last town meeting before the division of the town was held in Berlin. By the act of the General Assembly, the divi- sion line, or boundary, between the two towns begins at the center of Beach Swamp bridge and runs north 88° 20' west to Southington line, and in the opposite direction to Newington line. The property and debts were divided in proportion to the taxable property of each division, and the town deposit fund in proportion to the population. At the time of the census, taken soon after the division was con- summated, the population of Berlin was 1,869; that of New Britain 3,029.
The first town meeting held in the town of New Britain was called by O. B. Bassett, and was held July 22, 1850. Lucius Woodruff was chosen town clerk and treasurer, and Joseph Wright, James F. Lewis, Gad Stanley, Noah W. Stanley and Elam Slater, selectmen. By the act of in- corporation New Britain was to have but one representative to the General Assembly, but at the first town meeting it was voted that a protest be made .* This protest was carried
* When Berlin first petitioned that New Britain be set off as a new town, the division was opposed, and G. M. Landers, M. Clark, and a few others repre- senting New Britain, appeared before the committee of the legislature to give reasons for the opposition. New Britain had become more populous than the two other parishes taken together, and cast the majority of votes. At the first
198
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
to the General Assembly and heard there, and as a result the town was allowed two representatives. The first representa- tives elected to the General Assembly from the town of New Britain were Ethan A. Andrews and George M. Landers. These men by their wisdom, firmness, and harmony secured important advantages to the town. At the State election in 1851, when these men were chosen, 526 votes were cast for Governor and 517 for Member of Congress.
For the next ten years after the division of the town, the population of New Britain increased seventy-seven per cent., while that of the State increased only thirty-five per cent .. In 1860 the population of Berlin was 2,145, and that of New Britain 5,385. The population of the latter had increased to 9,480 in 1870, and to 13,979 in 1880, and it was estimated to be about 18,500 in 1889. The voting districts of the town correspond nearly with the ward boundaries of the city, extended to the town lines. In 1888-9 Samuel Bassett, J. C. Ensworth, and L. G. Rossiter, were selectmen; Isaac Porter was town clerk, A. P. Collins, treasurer, and W. E. Latham, collector.
BOROUGH OF NEW BRITAIN.
In 1850, upon the petition of a number of the inhabitants, the " Borough of New Britain " was incorporated. The town hall, afterwards the State Normal School building, was taken as the central point, and the borough as originally consti- tuted extended half a mile both east and west from this point. - It was thus a mile in extent from east to west and four hundred and eighteen rods from north to south. The first meeting for organization was held at the town hall August 12, 1850. At this meeting the officers elected were
election New Britain elected two representatives, one of each party, to represent the town in the legislature. Two were claimed as a matter of right, but the claim might not have been allowed, had not the legislature been so equally divided in politics that neither party cared to lose a vote. In 1851 the Governor belonged to the democratic party, the Lieutenant-Governor was a whig, the Secretary and Comptroller were democrats, the Treasurer was a whig. The Speaker of the House was elected by a majority of one vote only, and the con- test was so close that no United States Senator was elected that year.
N.Y.
Il Landers
CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY. 199
Frederick T. Stanley, warden ; O. S. North, George M. Lan- ders, Walter Gladden, Marcellus Clark, Timothy W. Stanley, and A. L. Finch, burgesses, and Joshua R. King, bailiff. The first meeting of the Warden and Burgesses was held August 20, 1850. In accordance with the provisions of the charter, arrangements were made for the better protection of property and the maintenance of law and order. Police officers, fire wardens, a street commissioner, and an inspector of weights . and of wood, were appointed; provision was made for the abatement of nuisances, and for the care of the streets, and for a watch-house and lock-up. The powers granted by the charter, though limited, were sufficient to meet the needs of the community at the time, and afford protection to life and property.
In a few years the necessity of making some provision for a more adequate supply of water became evident, and a charter was obtained in 1857, which empowered thic borough to construct suitable water works. A sufficient quantity of land at Shuttle Meadow, located principally in the town of Southington, was purchased, the right of way secured, a dam built, and over five miles of main and distributing pipes laid in time for the water to be brought to the borough in Octo- ber of the same year. The main reservoir, which covers about two hundred acres, is in the northeast corner of Southington, about two and a quarter miles from the city park at Main Street, and about one hundred and seventy feet above it .*.
For twenty years the borough officers exercised their func- tions in maintaining order, protecting property, and caring for the welfare of citizens. ' This period covered a time of prosperity and rapid growth in New Britain, both in business and population. The gradual change of the place was some- what affected by the civil war, but the years which imme- diately followed were years of prosperity.
* A more full account of the water works and the organization of the de- partment which has charge of the water supply is given under the history of the city.
1
200
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
CITY OF NEW BRITAIN.
The rapid increase in the population of the town and borough, the enlargement of business, and the extension of the more thickly settled portions of the place, during the twenty years following the incorporation of the borough, made it necessary to extend the police and fire limits, and exercise additional authority to maintain good order and promote the welfare of the community. Accordingly, appli- cation was made to the General Assembly, and a city charter was obtained in 1870. By the provisions of this charter the city included a larger territory than the borough. The northern boundary coincided with the borough line as far as that extended, and the southern limits were conterminous with the town. From east to west the city extended six hundred rods, or one hundred and forty rods in each direc- tion beyond the borough boundary. The charter perpetuated in the city the powers and privileges which had been possessed by the borough, and also granted additional powers to the Common Council and executive officers of the city.
The act of incorporation was approved by the freemen of the borough at a meeting held January 13, 1871, there being 521 votes in favor of its adoption and 520 against it. By the provisions of the charter, it took effect the second Mon- day of April, 1871. The first city election was held April 10, 1871, when Frederick T. Stanley was elected mayor ; E. L. Goodwin, clerk ; and A. P. Collins, treasurer.
Amendments were made to the charter in 1872-3-4-5-6, conferring additional powers upon the Common Council and certain city officers ; providing for sewerage; for reorganizing the police force ; for the issue of bonds ; and for other mat- ters relating to the courts, the division of the city into four wards, and the general administration of the departments of the city.
The organization of the city government, clothed with greater authority than had been exercised by the borough, imposed new duties, and for the first year meetings of the Common Council were held nearly every week. The
201
CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
mayor was absent from the city and State the early part of the year, and Lucius Woodruff, alderman from the First ward, was acting mayor. Ordinances for the government of the city, and rules and regulations for the guidance of the Common Council, were adopted. These were amended by succeeding councils, and in 1885 there was a general revision of the charter and ordinances.
For municipal purposes the city is divided into four wards, each of which may have one alderman and four coun- cilmen in the Common Council. The Mayor, City Clerk, and Treasurer, are elected on the general ticket every second year, and hold office two years. The aldermen and council- men also liold office for two years, one-half being elected annually.
The first Mayor of the city, elected in 1870, was Fred- erick T. Stanley. His successors have been Samuel W. Hart, David N. Camp, Ambrose Beatty, John B. Talcott, J. Andrew Pickett, Ambrose Beatty, J. C. Atwood, and John Walsh. The city clerks have been E. L. Goodwin, Robert J. Vance, and Everett E. Bishop, and the treasurer, A. P. Collins.
The location of New Britain, thirty miles from the sea- coast, at a distance from navigable rivers and the principal thoroughfares of the State, and where no considerable water- power could be obtained, did not give it special advantages as a manufacturing or commercial city. The inequalities of the surface and the large expense incurred to secure efficient drainage, were also serious obstacles which might have become hindrances in the growth of the city. But these and other obstacles have been overcome ; the city has been found to be healthy ; direct and easy communication with other cities and portions of the country has been secured, and the growth of the city has been so rapid that additional provision was necessary for the administration of its munic- ipal affairs, which will be described under different depart- ments.
Water- Works. - The importance of securing an adequate
14
202
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
supply of water for New Britain was clearly seen by indi- viduals for some time before any municipal action was taken for that purpose. F. T. Stanley, Esq., and some others devoted much time to the consideration of plans, and Mr. Stanley employed engineers to make surveys and give esti- mates of cost. As a result of his investigations, he submit- ted to a special meeting of the citizens of the borough, held at the hall of the Humphrey House, April 11, 1857, a com- munication, which was ordered to be printed and placed in the hands of the tax-payers, and which probably led to the action taken.
At an adjourned meeting of the borough, held at the same place a week later, a committee, consisting of Lucius Woodruff, Philip Corbin, John Stanley, Wm. B. Smyth, and Marcellus Clark, reported a series of resolutions, which were adopted unanimously, as follows :
" Resolved, As the sentiments of this meeting, that we are in favor of supplying this Borough with water, for the protection of the property of the same from fire, and for other necessary, useful, and ornamental pur- poses.
Resolved, That in the opinion of your committee from the examina- tions, surveys, and estimates which have been made, and from informa- tion which they have received relating to the supplying of cities and villages with water, they are of the opinion that the supplying of this Borough with water from ' Shuttle Meadow' is practicable and unusually feasible, and can be accomplished by an outlay of means so moderate and reasonable, as to do no injustice to this community in a financial point of view.
Resolved, That the Warden and Burgesses of this Borough be, and they are hereby, authorized and instructed, at the expense, and in the name and behalf of the Borough, to prepare and present to, and prosecute before the next General Assembly, a petition for grant of power and authority to introduce into and distribute through said Borough, Water from ' Shuttle Meadow,' for public and private purposes, and for such additional power and privileges as may be necessary or convenient for carrying the object aforesaid into full effect.
Resolved, That liberty be petitioned for in said grant to issue bonds in the name of the Borough, to pay for the construction of said works."
.. A petition was prepared, signed, and presented to the General Assembly in aid of the petition of the borough officers. The Assembly granted the power asked for in
203
CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
an act entitled "An act to supply the Borough of New Britain with Water for Public and Private purposes." The act was accepted at a borough meeting held June 4, 1857, by a vote of 324 in favor to 45 against it. The borough officers were authorized to issue bonds to the amount of fifty thou- sand dollars, and a board of water commissioners, consisting of F. T. Stanley, H. E. Russell, and Geo. M. Landers, was appointed to carry out the provisions of the act. The commissioners proceeded at once with the work, which was promptly executed according to the general plan submitted in the first report, but at a considerable less cost than was first estimated. Ground was first broken July 6, 1857, and on Oct. 6th the work was closed, the men being dis- charged, except a few engaged in finishing the dam. Over five miles of main and distributing pipe, from 4 to 10 inches: in diameter, were laid. The water was first let in the 24th . of October, 1857. To meet the expense of construction,. bonds known as " water bonds," and bearing seven per cent .. interest, were issued to the amount of $50,000.
In 1867 permission was obtained by an amendment to the. act to issue another series of bonds to the amount of $75,000, to provide for an extension of pipes. In 1869 an additional main of twelve inches diameter was laid from the reservoir at Shuttle Meadow to the city, at an expense of about forty thousand dollars.
On the organization of the city, all the powers relating to the water supply which had been exercised by the officers of the borough were vested in the Common Council, and pro- vision was made for the appointment, annually, by the Council, of three water commissioners, to hold office for one year. During the first year of the city administration, 8,600 feet of cast-iron pipe was laid, making at the close of the year, or March 1, 1872, about seventeen miles of main and distributing pipes then laid. In 1873 the legislature authorized the issue of a third series of bonds to the amount of $75,000.
In compliance with orders of the Common Council in
204
, HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
1875-76, fifty-one meters* were placed on the connections with factories and other large consumers. In the spring of 1878, a flash board was placed upon the dam at Shuttle Meadow, increasing the capacity of the reservoir ten per cent., or sixty million gallons.
The increase in population and in the business of the city resulted in so great increase in the water used, that in 1882-83 steps were taken to procure an additional supply. For this purpose the Panther Swamp canal and a new gate-house were constructed in 1883-84. Before the con- struction of this canal the water supply was from Shuttle Meadow Lake, covering about one hundred and sixty-four acres, with an adjoining watershed of six hundred and nine- teen acres, or a total of seven hundred and eighty-three acres. The Panther Swamp district added four hundred and forty-six acres .; The new gate-house was built at some distance from the dam, and its use has not only afforded a greater supply of water, but also improved the quality. To provide for the expense of these improvements, a fourth series of bonds to the amount of $30,000 was issued. To provide means for future improvement, in 1884 a fifth series of bonds to the amount of $20,000 was issued.
By these various measures and others, introduced as required, the system of water-works has been made more efficient, the quality of the water has been improved, and the supply made adequate for the needs of the city. Twenty- seven miles of iron pipe and between five and six miles of cement pipe is in use.
The Board of Water Commissioners in 1889 consisted of James W. Ringrose, chairman ; John E. Dunlay, and Charles H. Beaton.
Sewerage .- In the first communication made by Mayor F. T. Stanley to the Common Council, May 24, 1871, atten- tion was called to the necessity of decided and efficient measures to secure proper sewerage for the city, as a meas-
* Fifty-four meters were in use in 1888.
t There are still 476 acres in the West district not yet utilized.
.
205
CIVIL. AND POLITICAL HISTORY.
ure for the preservation of the public health. During the first year after the organization of the city, petitions were presented to the Council for the abatement of nuisances which could not be conveniently removed without sewerage. The matter was referred to a committee * for examination. It was found that the stream which passed through the city and received the drainage from the principal factories and other buildings was so obstructed by the dam above Shepard's factory, that no adequate sewerage could be secured without destroying the water-power. The city had power by charter to construct sewers, and by an amendment secured from the General Assembly in 1872, it was author- ized to take possession of any stream or streams, and re- move all obstructions.
In 1873 the Shepard property, including the dam, factory, and adjoining lands and buildings, was purchased and the dam removed. The City Engineer, Arthur W. Rice, made a careful examination of the territory to be affected by the proposed sewers, and submitted a plan which was adopted, and the work of construction was begun October 19, 1874.
To provide means to pay the expense of the work so far as that expense was borne by the city, bonds to the amount of $150,000 were authorized by the General Assembly and by vote of the city, and were issued as needed. The amendment to the charter which provided for the issue of sewer bonds also pro- vided for the appointment of a Board of Sewer Commissioners that had the general charge of issuing sewer bonds and con- structing and supervising the sewers and public drains of the city. The first board appointed by the Common Council con- sisted of George M. Landers, E. R. Swift, and J. A. Pickett. The construction of the main trunk sewer and the branch sewers built in 1875, involved serious difficulties from the nature of the ground, the amount of rock-cutting, and other unexpected obstacles, but the sewer commissioners, by devot- ing a large amount of time to the work, were able to report in
* This committee consisted of C. E. Mitchell, City Attorney, A. P. Meylert, M.D., and Julius Fenn, Engineer.
206
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
March, 1876, the completion of five thousand seven hundred and thirty-three feet of circular brick sewers, and four thou- sand eight hundred and thirty-one feet of egg-shaped sewers constructed, besides fourteen hundred and fifteen feet of cir- cular pipe sewers, and eighteen hundred and eleven feet of culvert, all thoroughly built.
The work, though expensive, had been economically and successfully prosecuted, and by the constant vigilance of the sewer commissioners, without any charge for their services, had secured to the city a system of sewerage at once efficient and generally satisfactory.
Lateral and branch sewers, as ordered by the Common Council, were constructed in the same thorough manner, un- til that portion of the city needing sewerage, whose water- shed was included in the first sewer district, was mainly reached and relieved of stagnant water and sewage matter. The necessity of providing a system of sewerage for other portions of the city became obvious, and in 1882 sewers were constructed in that part of Park Street lying east of the Cabinet Lock factory, and in Orchard, Maple, Meadow, John, and Whiting streets, affording relief to the southeastern part of the business portion of the city. Additional sewer bonds to the amount of $15,000 were issued in 1883, and $5,000 more in 1885, making the whole amount of sewer bonds issued to April 1, 1887, $150,000.
During 1887, a sewer was constructed in another sewer- age district, which would drain Kensington Street, Glen Street, and adjoining streets, and bonds to the amount of $15,000 were issued. On the first of April, 1889, there had been constructed by the city 13.928 miles of sewers and 1000 miles of pipe culvert.
The Board of Sewer Commissioners consists of Philip J. . Markley, chairman, Peter Long, and Thomas S. Bishop.
Police Department .- The charter of 1870, incorporating New Britain as a city, provided for the appointment by the Common Council of a captain of police and not exceeding three active policemen, and "such other supernumerary
LA. Rickett
,
207
CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY.]
policemen as they shall deem proper not exceeding twenty," all to hold office for one year and until others were chosen. The police department organized under this provision con- sisted of A. W. Spaulding, chief or captain, and three active policemen, Lafayette Craw, P. J. Flannery, and Patrick Lee. There were also eighteen supernumerary policemen ap- pointed, one of whom, Edward E. Ryan, was detailed as warden of the station-house and court-room. At the station there were four cells, and the room which contained them was the headquarters of the police force.
The necessity of more permanency to the force than was secured by the charter became apparent, and an amendment was passed and approved in 1873, which authorized the council to elect a captain and a lieutenant of police, and not exceeding eight active policemen, who were not to be re- moved except for cause. Under this amendment, four men were added to the active police, viz .: D. P. Barnes, James W. Hanna, Lemuel Penfield, and Edward E. Ryan, and the supernumerary force was increased to the full number, twenty. During the next year the active force was dimin- ished to five policemen, by the resignation of officer Craw and the sudden death of officer Penfield.
The active force continued the same, until in 1878 the protracted illness and subsequent death of officer Hanna left a vacancy which was filled by the appointment of C. C. Cal- lender as active policeman. In 1881, the election of Chief Spaulding, Sheriff of Hartford County, created a vacancy which was filled by the election by the Common Council of W. L. Morgan to the position. In 1884, under the amend- ment to the charter, the active police was increased so as to consist of a chief, lieutenant, and six regular policemen, and the number of supernumeraries, twenty, was also filled. The same year, a police commission consisting of four per- sons chosen by the Common Council was constituted. This commission was organized April 24, 1884, and then com prised H. E. Case, Thomas McCabe, John T. Dwyer, and Henry Gussman.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.