USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 18
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 18
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 18
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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
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
The police force in 1889 consisted of Washington L. Morgan, chief ; P. J. Flannery, lieutenant ; Patrick Lee, Edward E. Ryan, Charles C. Callender, John Rowe, Adam Seiple, Joseph Tatem, John T. Sloan, and John E. O'Donnell, patrolmen, and nineteen men on the special force. The Board of Police Commissioners included Henry Gussman, chairman, J. W. Goodrich, Michael J. Coholan, and John C. O'Brien.
Fire Department .- The fire department, as organized during the first year of the city government, consisted of Patrick Brennan, chief engineer ; John J. Mulvihill, first assistant; G. T. Greenleaf, second assistant; William N. Carey, third assistant; and one hundred and twenty-two men. When the companies were full, the whole number of men and officers would be one hundred and forty-five, having one hand engine, with jumper, two hose carriages, and one truck, in all four companies. The expenditures for the first year were $547.77. In 1872 a new hook and ladder truck was purchased, and the firemen were supplied with badges, but the companies continued nearly the same. In 1873 the department was reorganized as a paid fire department, with three hose companies of twelve men each, a hook and ladder company of twenty men, and three volunteer hose companies of twelve men each, paid only while doing duty at fires. The increased efficiency of a paid fire department soon became evident, but the necessity of additional apparatus, which had been well understood by some of the city officers, was made more manifest at the large fire which on March 23, 1874, destroyed the Ætna works ; and the steamer S. W. Hart was purchased, manned, and added to the fire appa- ratus of the city that year.
Hose company No. 7 was disbanded, and the apparatus belonging to the company was not in use for a time, but in 1878 two new hose companies, No 7 and No. 8, were organ- ized. By the purchase of new hose, and the additions of fire hydrants where needed, the ability of the fire department to extinguish fires was increased. In 1879 the Gamwell fire-
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alarm telegraph was introduced, and thirteen signal boxes put up. In 1881 Hose Company No. 7 was disbanded, and in 1883 a new steamer was purchased. By an amendment of the city charter in 1884 provision was made for the appointment of a Board of Fire Commissioners. A new engine house on Elm Street was also completed in 1884, and in 1885 a new hook and ladder truck and new hose wagon were purchased, Steamer No. 1 was thoroughly renovated and repaired, and other improvements made which added materially to the efficiency of the department.
The Board of Fire Commissioners was organized May 8, 1884, and comprised John W. Carleton, W. F. Arnold, George Hadley, and John J. Mulvihill. H. R. Walker was then chief engineer, and William Sullivan assistant engineer.
A new steamer was purchased in 1888, and the available apparatus of the department has been otherwise increased within the last few years, and in 1889 consisted of three steam fire engines, three hose carriages, and one hook and ladder truck, and 5,000 feet of hose. There were 190 hydrants in use, and twenty-seven fire-alarm boxes. The officers of the department were John W. Carleton, chief engineer ; William Sullivan, assistant engineer ; and George Cooley, superintendent fire alarm.
The Board of Fire Commissioners in 1889 consisted of Jolm Garvey, chairman, Cromwell O. Case, Charles H. Beaton, and Lawrence Crean.
BERLIN.
By the division of the old town of Berlin in 1850 the original parishes of Kensington and Worthington were con- stituted a new town, with the old name of Berlin. Berlin as thus constituted is bounded on the north by New Britain and Newington ; on the east by Rocky Hill, Cromwell, and Mid- dletown ; on the south by Middletown and Meriden; and on the west by Southington. Its average length and breadth are each a little more than five miles, and the area is a little less than thirty miles. The surface, consisting largely of a
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
series of rounded ridges, with intervening valleys and gentle slopes, is varied, but little of it broken or rocky. The soil is good, and particularly adapted to grazing and the production of hay ; and garden vegetables and fruits are cultivated with profit. The town has been noted for the variety and excellence of its fruits. Its principal stream, the Matta- besett River, with its numerous branches, has rich meadows upon its banks, and furnishes power for mills and manufac- tories in Beckley Quarter and East . Berlin. It passes through the central and eastern part of the town, forming the boundary between Berlin and Cromwell, and thence into the Connecticut River between Cromwell and Middletown.
The town of Berlin, as left by the division, held its first town meeting in the meeting-house at Kensington, June 29, 1850. Samuel Hart was moderator, and Alfred North was chosen town clerk. This meeting, by a vote of 211 to 27, voted to comply with the act of incorporation, and relinquish all claim to two representatives. At a subsequent meeting, held July 22d of the same year, the first board of selectmen, consisting of Shubael Risley, Edwin Barnes, and Alfred Norton, was elected. At this meeting Alfred North was chosen treasurer. The first annual meeting of this town was held October 7, 1850, when the officers before chosen were re-elected, except that Cyprian Goodrich was chosen one of the selectmen in the place of Alfred Norton. Alfred North, who was re-elected town clerk and treasurer, had held the office for six years in the old town before the division, and he was re-elected annually to the same offices in the new town, until age and physical weakness compelled him to resign.
At the annual meeting in 1850, arrangements were made for defining the boundary line between New Britain and Ber- lin ; by-laws relating to cattle and horses were passed, and the rates to be paid on the highways were fixed. Men were to be allowed ten cents an hour, and teams twelve and one- half cents for work on highways. In the division of prop- erty finally made by the selectmen, the town hall and appur-
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tenances were assigned to New Britain, and the town farm, including wood on the mountain, to Berlin.
The first electors' meeting for the choice of State officers and member of Congress was held in the old Congregational meeting-house, Worthington parish, April 7, 1851, when the vote for Governor was : for Thomas H. Seymour 220, Lafayette S. Foster 170, and John Boyd 7. For member of Congress : for Loren P. Waldo 216, L. P. Waldo 1, Charles Chapman 167, and Timothy Cowles 7. Alfred North resigned the office of town clerk, treasurer, and registrar March 27, 1886. Francis Deming was appointed his successor. On October 4, 1886, William Bulkley was appointed town clerk, and Samuel F. Talmage, Albert Barnes, and Roswell A. Moore, selectmen.
CHAPTER XII.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.
A FEW years after the first settlement at Farmington was made, the General Court directed collections to be taken "for the maintenance of poor scholars at the col- lege at Cambridge," at that time the only school within the jurisdiction of the New England colonies where higher education could be received. Contributions were made from Farmington, and a few students were sent to this college for education. The men who first settled Connecticut came with their families to make their homes in the wilderness, and establish the institutions of society. Their government was republican in principle, with the sovereign power lodged with the people, to be exercised by them, or by representa- tives chosen by them. In their religious creed, the Bible was received as the authoritative expression of the Divine will, and its precepts were to be the guide in matters of civil and ecclesiastical polity. There were consequently two important reasons why all the community should be edu- cated : first, that they might be able to read and understand the scriptures, and second that they might be able better to discharge their duties as citizens.
At the time Farmington was first settled, there was already a school in Hartford to which children from the former town could be sent for instruction, but the most of the direct teaching was given in the family. In some instances the children of two or three neighboring families were gathered at one of the homes and there taught for a few hours each day by an older brother or sister. A regular school was established quite early in the history of the town, and was supported partly by the town tax and partly by rate . bills.
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The first ministers at Farmington, Mr. Newton and Mr. Hooker, were especially vigilant in securing the education of the children and youth of the place, and both of these men taught in an Indian school in the town, and gave some instruction to white children and youth.
The colonial laws, code of 1650, revised by Roger Ludlow, made it the duty of the selectmen :
" To keep a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see . first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their chil- dren and apprentices so much learning as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein, also that all masters of families, do, once a week, at least, catechise their children and servants, in the grounds and principles of religion, and if any are unable to do so much, that then, at the least, they procure such children or apprentices to learn some short orthodox catechism, without book, that they may be able to answer to the questions that shall be propounded to them out of such catechisms by their parents or masters, or any of the selectmen."
The same code provided that -
"Every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forth. with appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write and read."
These laws were evidently carefully obeyed by the town of Farmington. In 1682 ten pounds was voted to the school, and in 1683 a like sum, and the tuition was fixed at four shillings a quarter for children in attendance. At the annual town meeting, held December 27, 1685, the following vote was passed :
"Voted that the town will give £30 for a man to teacli schoole for one year, provided that they can have a man that is so accomplished as to teach children to read and wright and teach the grammar, and also to step into the pulpit to be helpful their, in time of exigenti and this schoole to be a free schoole for the town."
At another annual meeting, held December 27, 1687 :
" Voted, that the town will give £20 for the maintenance of a schoole for the year insuing for the instructing of all such children as shall be sent to it, to learn to read und wright the English tongue."
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
Apparently on account of misapprehension, or fear of it, at a town meeting held the 12th of January, about two weeks after the annual meeting, the following vote was passed :
" Whereas the town at a meeting held, 27 Dec. 1687, agreed to give twentie pounds, as is their expresst, to teach all such as shall be sent, by vote, the town declare, that all such as shall be sent, is to be understood only Male children that are throw their korning book."
It is possible that some earnest, thoughtful girl, suppos- ing that she might attend school so as to learn " to read and wright the English tongue," presumed to go to the school for that purpose.
At the meeting in which the above vote was passed, the record proceeds :
" The town voted that they would have a town hous to keep Schoole in, built this yeare of 18 foot square, besides the Chimney space, with a suitable height for that servis, which hous is to be built by the towns charg."
This apparently new interest, or revival of interest, in education, which is found in Farmington about the time the settlement at Christian Lane was commenced, was possibly the result of a general interest which was mani- fested in several towns in the colony, and is indicated by the enactments of the General Court from 1677 to 1700. The leading men of Farmington were many of them men of good education for the times. Governor Edward Hopkins, specially interested in the town, owning a farm, with houses and other buildings, had manifested a deep interest in schools, and by his will left a considerable sum to found and support educational institutions. Other men of note were equally interested in securing good schools.
While the minister was expected to take special interest in the schools, and have a watchful care over them, it was also expected that the teacher would be an aid to the minis- ter, and, in certain circumstances, take his place in parochial duties. Thus, at a town meeting held December 18, 1693, a committee was chosen to agree with a man to teach school for three months in the winter, and also to treat with a man that
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had the capacity " to teach Latin and English, and in time of exigency be helpful to Mr. Hooker in the ministry." Men were also appointed in town meeting "to have inspection over the youth " on Sabbath and other days of public exer- cises, " that their manners and morals might be carefully watched over." The school for Indians was maintained in Farmington for some time, and Indians from other towns were. boarded near the school, at the expense of the colony, that they might be properly educated. After this school was broken up the Indian children attended the town or common school with other children.
At first all the children of Farmington attending school went to the single school on the principal street. As the place increased in population a second school was established, and these two schools appear to have been the only schools of the old society for many years. In 1772 the division into school districts was effected, and a school was maintained in each district. The organization of new towns and the changes in population have altered some of these districts, but in 1888 there were in the town seven districts, with about eight hundred children of school age, more than half of whom were in Union district, where a thoroughly graded school was maintained.
For some years after the settlements on the east side of the mountain, at Stanley Quarter and at Christian Lane, were begun, the children were taught at home or sent to the school in Farmington, and, even after the incorporation of the Great Swamp Society in 1705, some of the children attended school in Farmington, and property in the new society was taxed for the support of schools, the same as that in the older village. As soon as there were children enough to constitute a school, one was established near the meeting-house at Christian Lane. When the obligation to maintain a school was extended to societies (1717), the Great Swamp Society assumed the responsibility of main- taining a school, or schools, and in 1718 appointed a commit- tee to inquire and ascertain the best method and report to the society. This committee reported that :
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
"This society being so very scattering in distances and our ways so very difficult for small Children to pass to a general School in the Society a great part of the year, We the Subscribers advice is that this society be divided into 5 parts or 'Squaddams', for the more convenient schooling the children. The first part or squaddam shall be all the Inhabitants south of the river called 'betses', 'Honhius or Honehus' river,* including Middletown neighbors with them - And the Inhabitants in Wethersfield bounds shall be another part or squad- dam - And all from 'betses' River to the River called Gilbirds North- ward be another part, & that from Gilbirds River Northward, till it includes Dea. Judd, & John Woodruff be another part, & that the rest of the Society North be another part, & further that the money allowed by the country be divided to each 'squaddam' according to the List of the Inhabitants within the limits thereof, and the rest of the charges so arising shall be leaved on ye parents or Masters of ye children who' are taut."
The divisions were made as recommended, and the public money was divided to each squaddam according to the lists of the inhabitants, the remainder of the expense being paid by rate bill, assessed on the parents and guardians of the children attending school. This was the beginning of the district system of schools in Berlin and New Britain. School districts were recognized by the Colonial laws in 1766. At the time of the organization of the Ecclesiastical Society of New Britain in 1754, school societies having less than seventy families were required to support a school for one-half of each year. The sum of two pounds, or forty shillings, on every thousand pounds of the lists of each town.or parish, was to be paid into the treasury for the benefit of schools. The local school fund, created out of the avails of the seven western townships, according to the act of 1733, and dis- tributed among the several towns and societies, was to remain a perpetual fund for the support of schools ; and in the case of any deficiency in the means of supporting a school according to law, from the above-fixed sources, the sum required was to be made up, one-half by a tax on the property of the town or society, and the other half by a tuition or rate bill, paid by the parents or guardians of the children attending school, unless the town or society
* Probably the Mattabessett River is intended.
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EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.
chose to agree on some other mode. In New Britain the deficiency was made up from the treasury of the society. The civil authority and selectmen were the constituted -inspectors, or school visitors, with these duties :
· " To visit and inspect all public schools at least once a quarter, and to inquire particularly into the qualifications of the masters and the pro- ficiency of the pupils ; and to give such directions as they judge needful to render the schools most serviceable for the increase of knowledge, religion and good manners."
The early inhabitants of the town of Farmington, and of the Kensington and New Britain societies, were ever ready to avail themselves of the benefit of these provisions of the statutes, and, by the appointment of their best men to supervise the schools, secured good teachers, and helped to educate a generation of intelligent and upright citizens capable of planting and fostering the institutions of society. The influence of the generations thus educated is still felt in the moral and intellectual character of their descendants.
The Society in Farmington, at a meeting held April 4, 1796, adopted a series of regulations prepared, it is supposed, by Governor Treadwell, which were so comprehen- sive in their provisions, so thorough in their requirements, and so wisely adapted to the needs of society, that they were not only efficient in securing good schools and general education in Farmington, but, with slight alterations, they became the law of the State, under which the Common Schools were so well cared for, and education became so generally diffused, that Connecticut was one of the best educated States in the world.
In the Great Swamp, or Kensington parish, a teacher was first hired to teach by making a circuit of the different sec- tions, teaching a few weeks in each. Afterwards a separate teacher was employed for each district.
The first action of the New Britain Society in regard to schools was taken at its first adjourned annual meeting, held at the house of William Paterson, on East Street, Dec. 16, 1754, or about six months after the society was incorpo-
15
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
rated by the General Assembly. The record of this meeting referring to the school is as follows :
"Voted that there be a school kept in this Society according to Law."
" At the Same meeting, it was voted that Mr. John Judd & Sergt. Robert Woodroff & Sergt. Joseph Woodroff be a Comtt. to order the Afairs of the School in this Society for the Year Insuing, and that they use proper Indeavours to procuer the County Money to Defray the Charge of this School.
At the Same meeting, it was voted that Sergt. Joseph Woodroff & Sergt. Robert Woodroff & Mr. John Judd & Isaac Lee be a Comtt. in behalf of this Society to use all proper endeavors to procuer our Rights of ye Loan Money that is Lodged in ye first Society of Farmington & ye Society of Kensington, & when they have procuered the Same to Improve it for the use of the School in this Society According as the Law' Directs."
At the next annual meeting, held in December, 1755, the society voted grants to the amount of £68 8s. 6d. to several persons who had taught or otherwise contributed to the suc- cess of the school. The expense of the school, aside from the amount received from the county and land money, was paid, one-half by the scholars and one-half by the society, for a few years, and then wholly by the society. This school, the only one in the New Britain Society for some years, was originally the north " squaddam," or district of the Great Swamp Society. A few families from the north part of the Gilbird River district were also included in the New Britain Society. After this society was incorporated, the children of these families attended school in the New Britain district, and this became the oldest district in the society. It included the southern part of East Street and Stanley Street, and was the basis of the Southeast school district of New Britain.
" At a Society meeting held June 7th, 1756, the society agreed by Vote yt the North part of this Society may have Liberty to start a School Amongst themselves for this year, on their own cost, except the Land money yt formerly Did belong to Newington Parish, which thay may make use of as a part of pay for said School & said School is to be under ye Direction of ye School Comtt. in this parish."
In accordance with this vote, a school was established in Stanley Quarter which had, until 1754, been a part of New-
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ington, or West Wethersfield Society. This was the second district formed in New Britain.
At the annual meetings of the New Britain Society, pro- vision was usually made for the support and management of schools, and committees were appointed to have charge of the same. The committee in 1756-57 consisted of Elijah Bronson, Samuel Goodrich, and Samuel Richards; in 1757-58 of Elijah Hart, William Paterson, and Dr. Samuel Richards ; and in 1758-59 of William Paterson, Noah Stanley, and John Judd. In 1761 the society appointed Major John Pat- erson and Isaac Lee a committee :
"To use all proper endeavours to procuer our share of all the moneys of the Town of Norfolk and the Rest of the New Townships in this Colony which were sold for and Granted by ye Hon'l Gen'l Assembly of this Colony for the Incurredgment and Support of Schooling."
The School Committee appointed in 1764 consisted of John Judd, Elijah Smith, and Josiah Kilbourn. Provision was made for a school in the western part of the parish, the school-house being on West Main Street, about a half mile- west of the center, and receiving children from Hart Quar- ter, West Main Street, and the Center; this was. the third district formed in New Britain. At the annual meeting December, 1772 :
"It was voted to Desier the Rev. John Smalley and Messrs. Isaac Taylor, Noah Stanley, Lieut. Gad Stanley, Elijah Hart, Lemuel Hotch- kiss, and Jonathan Belding as visitors to Inspect the severall schools in this Society, and to Regulate and Incurridge them in the best manner for the promotion of Learning."
In 1775 a committee was appointed :
"To view the Society and form Lines for four School Districts in the Society, having Regard to the severall school houses as they now stand, and make report to them at the next meeting."
After the establishment of school societies by the legisla- ture, the inhabitants of New Britain, in accordance with the law, met October 30, 1796, and organized the New Britain School Society, appointing Col. Isaac Lee Moderator ; and for. school committee, Noah Stanley, Charles Eddy, Oliver Grid-
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ley, and Andrew Pratt. In 1798 the law was changed so as to require each society " to appoint a suitable number of per- sons not exceeding nine, of competent skill and letters to be overseers or visitors of schools." Under this law, New Britain appointed for its first School Visitors : Rev. John Smalley, Col. Isaac Lee, Col. Gad Stanley, Jonathan Belden, Levi Andrews, Deacon Elijah Hart, James North, David Mather, and Nathaniel Churchill, evidently selecting the first men in the Society to have the charge of schools. It appears from the records that the public schools were then supported by the avails of the sale of surplus land in the highways,* by the income from the school fund, by taxes, and by rate bills. A part of the income from the school fund was, for a time, used for the support of the ministry. Dr. Smalley's name continued to stand first upon the list of School Visitors until 1814, when the name of Rev. Newton Skinner, his suc- cessor, takes its place. At that date the other members of the board were : Dr. Adna Stanley, Dr. Samuel Hart, David Whittlesey, Elijah Francis, and Abijah Hart, most of whom had been members with Dr. Smalley.
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