USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 16
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 16
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The most noted elms of the present time are known as the Frank- lin elm and the Nathan Beers elm. The former was planted on the day of the death of Benjamin Franklin, April 17th, 1790, at the corner of Church and Chapel streets. It was carried to New Haven on the back of Jerry Alling, the poet of Hamden, who brought it from the plains of that town for Thaddeus Beecher, a grocer of the city. The tree is now more than 80 feet high, and two feet above the ground its girth is 16 feet. The Nathan Beers elm is at the entrance of Hill- house avenue, and is somewhat larger than the foregoing. It com- memorates the memory of this distinguished patriot, who was born February 14th, 1753, and died February 11th, 1849, having rounded out nearly a century of years. He was a paymaster in the revolution- ary army from March, 1777, until the troops were disbanded, and was a son of the Nathan Beers who was murdered in cold blood at the time the British invaded New Haven. For 45 years he was a deacon of the North church. The elms on Broadway were set out about 1830.
The parks of New Haven are, large and small, some twenty in number, embracing about 400 acres of land. The oldest park in the present system is, of course, the famous New Haven Green, in the
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central part of the old city. Around it are clustered associations of every phase of life of the city and the town. Originally it was set aside as a market place and for all sorts of public uses. Its improve- ment as a park began soon after the city was incorporated, but it was many years before the condition of its present beauty was attained. The entire area of the tract, including its bounding streets, is about 21 acres. What is enclosed as the green proper is a little more than 16 acres. The maples in the upper part of the green were planted about 1852.
The next largest park in the city proper is Wooster Square, con- taining 43 acres. It was bought in 1825 for $6,000, and was first enclosed with a wooden fence. Individuals planted the trees at a cost of $1.500. and in 1853 the ground was enclosed with an iron rail- ing, costing $4,000. The park is densely shaded, and is surrounded by fine mansions, making a quiet and attractive spot. Clinton Park contains nearly four acres: Jocelyn Square, 2.61 acres, donated to the city in 1836; and York Square, a little more than an acre, and was set aside for public use about the same time as the latter. A num- ber of smaller parks contain less than an acre and are mere breath- ing spots.
East Rock Park is the newest of the principal public places, and will soon be by far the most important. Its improvement was begun soon after the East Rock Park Commission was chartered by the legislature in 1880. The park embraces about 353 acres on the East Rock ridge, of which 50 acres were donated by John W. Bishop. One hundred and forty-four acres lie in the town of New Haven, the remainder in Hamden. The park is about two miles from the center of the city, and is approached on both sides by lines of street railways and by fine avenues.
The plans " for the harmonious development" of the park were prepared by Donald G. Mitchell in 1882. The following year Farnam Drive was constructed to the northern summit, 2} miles, at an expense of $15,000, defrayed by the estate of Henry Farnam. The use of this revealed the beauties of the place, and its fitness for a park became apparent. The English Drive on the west side was begun in 1885, having as a basis for its construction the $10,000 donated for that pur- pose by James E. English. It was completed the following year, and there are now more than five miles of good carriage drives, making all parts of this rugged piece of natural beauty easily accessible. Numerous other improvements have been made, more than $100,000 having been expended on this park, which has already become very popular.
One of the most striking features of the park is the fine new Soldiers' Monument, which occupies a commanding position near the south face of the Rock. It was formally dedicated June 17th, 1887, the ceremonies being witnessed by 75,000 people. Among the dis-
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tinguished guests present were Generals Sherman and Sheridan, and a fleet of United States war vessels was in the harbor. A great parade was one of the features of the day. Twenty thousand men were in line, and it took three hours to pass a given point. Doctor Newman Smyth delivered the oration.
The movement to build a memorial to the soldiers of the late war had its origin in the action of Admiral Foote Post, No. 17, Grand Army of the Republic, which, in April, 1879, asked permission of the city to place a memorial on the green, in the shape of a large granite drinking fountain. Consent having been obtained, the site near the liberty pole was dedicated on Decoration Day, that year, but that plan was not carried out. The project now rested until the latter part of 1883, when the Post urged the matter of a suitable monument upon the town, which appropriated $50,000 to build a monument. The foregoing site on East Rock was selected. and a design by Moffatt & Doyle of New York was chosen for the memorial, by the following committee: S. E. Merwin, Jr .. chairman; S. J. Fox, secretary; Gov. H. B. Harrison, Prof. John F. Weir. Col. John Healey, John Reynolds, Hon. H. B. Bigelow, Gen. Frank D. Sloat, Col. J. D. Plunkett, John McCarthy, Hon. James E. English, Col. Samuel Tolles, Theo. A. Tuttle, Conrad Hofacker.
The monument was built under the direction of S. E. Merwin. Jr., James E. English and Philo Chatfield. It has been described as follows : *
" The height of this tribute to the heroes of America's battle fields, from the base to the apex of the statue of the Angel of Peace. which surmounts it, is 110 feet; the height of the Angel of Peace is 11 feet. The pedestal of the monument is a series of five steps of granite, the lowest course of which is 40 feet square. These steps, with the excep- tion of the top one, are 18 inches wide; the top step is made 4 feet wide, forming a promenade around the monument. The base is 17 feet in height, and constructed of uniform blocks of split or rough- faced granite. In each side of this masonry casements are built, but the only entrance is through the front one, which is supplied with heavy folding doors, and approached by three granite steps. The other casements are imitation entrances, but .are also approached by steps.
"Between the base and the foot of the shaft there are 8 feet of ornamental masonry, on the four corners of which statues of Pros- perity. History, Victory and Patriotism are placed in a sitting position. They are 9 feet in height, and made of bronze. The Genius of His- tory is seated in a graceful attitude, perusing a book, which she holds in her lap: Victory holds the usual laurel wreath and trumpet in her hands; Prosperity has the familiar horn of plenty on her shoulder. and Patriotism is a bare-armed and bare-necked warrior in the attitude of
* New Haven, Past and Present. 0
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drawing a sword. Between the statues and on each face of the masonry are four historical bas-reliefs, commemorating the four great wars in which this country has been engaged since the first blow for liberty was struck at Lexington. Over the entrance the scene depicted in this way is the surrender of General Lec to General Grant at Appomattox. Figures of Grant and Lee occupy the foreground, and between them stands a little table on which the terms of uncon- ditional surrender were made. On the topmost portion of the base and under the bas-relief are the words, in raised letters of granite: ' SHILOH, GETTYSBURG AND ANTIETAM,' and below these words and over the top of the casement, '1861-1865.'
"A bas-relief of General Scott entering the conquered city of Mexico occupies one of the other faces. 'PALO ALTO, MONTEREY AND CHAPULTEPEC,' and the dates ' 1846-1848' are on the stone below.
"On the back of the monument the scene depicted is that of Com- modore Perry on Lake Erie. The great commander is in the act of writing his famous despatch: ' We have met the enemy and they are ours.' This picture also represents the dismantled British fleet. On the base, under this picture, are inscribed the words: 'LAKE ERIE, BRIDGEWATER AND NEW ORLEANS.' The dates over the casement are 1812-1815.
" The fourth bas-relief is a picture of the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown. A figure of Washington stands in the fore- ground, receiving the British generals' swords. 'BUNKER HILL, BEN- NINGTON AND YORKTOWN,' and the dates 1775-1783 are below it.
" The shaft proper of the monument is 75 feet high, circular, and slightly tapering, and 10 feet in diameter at the base, which rests on a sculptured wreath. Above this wreath appears a few feet of orna- mental masonry, and then a band of thirteen chiseled stars, represent-
ing the thirteen original states. Above this are uniform unorna- mented blocks of granite until the look-out windows are reached. The casements of these windows stand out prominently, and the ornamen- tations below them are very beautiful in design. The windows are about five feet high by two feet wide, and are at the termination of a spiral staircase, which winds its way up through the column from the base. The apex of the monument is very nearly cone-shaped, and is surmounted by the pedestal on which the Angel of Peace stands."
So conspicuous is the position of the monument that it has become one of the most noteworthy objects in the southern part of the county, and is seen from far out at sea, standing like a beacon of liberty, as well as a memorial to those who died in the cause of freedom.
The commerce and shipping of New Haven have, from the begin- ning, as has already been related, been important elements of its busi- ness life. Many of the early settlers were seafaring men, and sought opportunities to engage in that pursuit here. The disastrous loss of the "Fellowship," with Captain Lamberton and many others on
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board, in the early part of 1647, cast a gloom upon the hopes which had been so fondly cherished, that New Haven would speedily have a profitable commerce, and several years elapsed before other ventures were made. In 1646 Isaac Allerton, who has been called the " father of New England commerce," came to New Haven from Plymouth colony, whose business agent he had been many years. He here engaged in trade, having a large warehouse and owning a number of small vessels which were in the coastwise trade. He was the leader of commerce, and before his death, in 1659, the shipping business at this port had been much revived. After his decease the maritime business fell off, what little trade there was being confined to near-by points.
Sometime about 1680 another attempt was made to encourage com- merce, and soon after the work of building a wharf into the harbor was begun. This has been extended to meet the wants of trade, and has long been known by the name of Long Wharf. In 1748 it was lengthened about twenty rods, and thirty rods more in 1765. About the same time the pier on the west side of the channel was com- menced, but was not completed until 1770. Soon after a fruitless attempt was made to connect the pier and Long Wharf, the aid of a lottery being sought to raise means. In 1810 a new wharf company was formed, which extended the wharf to nearly its present length, 3,943 feet. The wharf was widened on the west side, and stores and warehouses built on it. On the night of October 28th, 1820, a fire broke out, which, before it was checked, burned 26 stores and ware- houses, many of them filled with West India produee. The loss was about a quarter of a million dollars, and the blow to the shipping interest was very severe.
About 1750 foreign commerce was revived and vessels began to arrive from various European ports. In 1764 the brig "Derby." from Dublin, brought the first cargo of coal. Sinee that time New Haven has become one of the greatest coal depots in New England. The same vessel brought 38 Irish peasants, as servants. The exports at this time were mainly flax and lime, whose manufacture had become one of the interests of the town. In 1774 the exports amounted to more than $140,000. In 1776 the town had thirty vessels, in three of which Benedict Arnold, at that time a merehant and trader at New Haven, was interested. The revolution interrupted this commercial activity, but after the war it speedily revived. In 1787 there were 61 vessels and 110 stores, and for twenty years the business was very prosperous. Much of the trade was with Barbadoes, and rich cargoes were brought into the city.
" Again, in 1793, the disturbances in France brought great disaster on our shipping, through privateer depredations. Several score of ships and many hundred thousand dollars worth of property were lost about this time-New Haven losing more in proportion than any other
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city in the Union. In spite of these great losses, however, New Haven's commerce continued to rapidly increase. In 1801 over 11,000 tons of shipping were registered at this port. Though her ships were searched, pillaged and confiscated by the vessels of both the great naval powers of the world, England and France, the end of her com- mercial importance was not yet.
" A fleet of some twenty ships, called the New Haven South Sea Fleet, was manned and set out about this time. They were mainly engaged in the seal fishery. After obtaining a cargo of seals these were sold in Canton, and a load of silks and teas was taken in, after which they circumnavigated the globe on their way home, through the Indian and Atlantic Oceans." *
" The most successful, perhaps, of all American voyages was that of the 'Neptune,' twenty guns, manned by forty-five active, bright New Haven county young men from our solid families. She was owned by Ebenezer Townsend, called 'The Merchant Prince ' of New Haven; commanded by Captain David Greene, a complete seaman, who lived in the ' Old Cottage' on Water street, near Sargent's fac- tory. She returned from her three years' voyage around the world July, 1799. Her voyage gave a profit of $260,000, nearly equal to a million now. Her custom-house duties were $75,000, which was a quarter more than the civil-list tax of the whole state of Connecticut at that time. Her arrival filled the town with joy. The military marched down to the Cedars, on the west shore, drums beating, colors flying, and fired guns in welcome; and in the balmy air of the sum- mer evening the boys met on the street corners and sang patriotic songs." +
In 1807 the custom duties paid at this port were more than $150,000, and great prosperity prevailed, in spite of the annoyance to trade and the despoiling of vessels by the French and the English, and which finally brought on the war of 1812. But the embargo act which was passed December 7th, 1807, and which was intended to injure Great Britain, affected New Haven so seriously that it practically ruined trade, and great distress prevailed, as for more than a year not a vessel was allowed to leave this harbor.
Trowbridge, in his " Maritime History," says:
"There were but few of our citizens who were not, directly or indirectly, dependent upon foreign commerce. About 100 ship- wrights were living in the place, 32 commercial houses, 82 ships were engaged in foreign trade, and hundreds of seamen here had their homes. On the anniversary of its passage, next year, there was a day of mourning for the death of American commerce. The flags on the shipping hung at half-mast; a procession was formed on Fleet street. comprising all classes and grades of society. It was led by a young man clad in mourning, and mounted on a black horse. He carried in
* New Haven, Past and Present. + Henry Howe.
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his hand a banner, on which was inscribed: 'Bonaparte-O-grab-me !' which last word the reader will find spells 'Embargo,' if read from the right. Following the leader was a company of seamen, neatly dressed, with crape attached to their left arms. Six of them bore a boat, the flag of which was at half-mast, shrouded in monrning, being emblematical of the Constitution of the United States. Throngs of people joined in the procession as it passed through State and Chapel streets; and when it reached the Green, where an address was deliv- ered, it was estimated there were 1,400 people in the procession, nearly one quarter of the entire population of the city. When, early in 1809, President Jefferson, by proclamation, ended the embargo, great joy prevailed, and a splendid dinner was given at Butler's famous tavern."
When the war of 1812 broke out six hundred American seamen had their homes in New Haven, and that conflict of arms was very unpopular here. Through its influence the merchant marine was so much affected that it never again was restored to its former prestige. The foreign trade was diverted to New York, whose rapid growth, after the war, injured all near-by seaports. All the channels of trade were diverted to the metropolis, and have since flown thither. In the past fifty years the foreign commerce of New Haven has been com- paratively light, the shipping trade being done principally throngh New York.
After the war steamboat service between New York and New Haven was established. The first steamboat to enter New Haven harbor was the "Fulton," Captain Bunker, which arrived here " from New York, March 21, 1815, with thirty passengers: passage 11} hours. Previous to that time it had been considered doubtful if a steamboat could navigate the Sound. She then began making two trips per week-fare, $5.00. Previously passengers and goods had been trans- ported by packets, which were sometimes a week on the way. Land passage by stages occupied parts of two days."*
Since 1815 one or more lines of steamboats have plied regularly between these ports; and from 1839, when the Hartford railroad was built, until 1848, when the New York & New Haven railroad was completed, they carried many passengers. The present steamboat facilities are first class, two companies supplying a service which embraces three boats, to and from New York daily. Excellent oppor- tunities for the shipment of heavy freights are thus afforded. Foreign commerce has also increased, and the commercial importance of this port is again conceded. From 1872 to 1888 there were collected in customs duties $5.500,000, placing the port of New Haven seventh in a column of seaports arranged according to the amount paid into the treasury of the United States for duties on imports. In the customs district there were owned in this year 318 vessels.
* Henry Howe.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The manufacturing interests have done much to increase the com- merce in recent years. Of their effect upon the city, the Reverend Thomas R. Bacon said, in his " Century Oration," in 1884, in speaking of the purposes of the framers of the city government:
" They hoped for a great commercial center sending out its mer- chant fleets to the ends of the earth; they did not expect a great mann- facturing city, as New Haven has become. In 1784 the manufactories of New Haven were apparently a paper mill and a blacksmith shop, and now our manufactured products in vast variety are found through- out the civilized world. And to the use of the manufacturing interests, more than any one agency, nay, more than to all the rest put together, has been due the growth of the city from 3,500 to some 70,000 inhabit- ants. These vast industries of to-day, which have sprung from the mechanical inventions and discoveries of the century, have given to American civilization an unexpected aspect and development. In the history of its manufacturing industries New Haven has been peculiarly happy. This great variety has saved us from those pro- longed and extensive periods of depression and paralysis which have fallen upon towns devoted to a single industry. The same cause has prevented such great struggles between labor and capital, culminat- ing in wholesale strikes and lockouts, and entailing much variety of suffering, which have been so frequent elsewhere. This growth of manufactures in the state of Connecticut has had the effect of drawing the population away from the barren farm lands to the villages and cities, and then to change the whole character of its life. And in this great change New Haven has taken the lead, until by the census of 1880 our gross manufactured products were valued at $24,040,225; our net products at $9,558,062. The number of hands employed was 15,156, and the amount paid in wages $5,761,375. Surely here is some- thing that helps to account for the century's growth."
And said another writer:
" The first quarter of the century had not passed away before the manufacturing and mercantile interests of the city had attained extensive dimensions. The manufacturing of carriages-in which line New Haven has since been one of the leading cities of the world -- had been inaugurated by James Brewster, in 1827. The manufac- ture of firearms had already become an important industry, having been founded in 1798, by Eli Whitney, the famous inventor of the cotton-gin. Charles Goodyear, a native of New Haven, was perfect- ing the great discovery which soon made his name famous through- out the world, and a few years later the first India-rubber clothing ever manufactured was turned out in this city. The chief houses which represent these three branches of industry in New Haven to-day, as well as those representing the production of clocks, locks, pianos, corsets, chairs, paper boxes and hardware, rank among the largest and best of their kind in existence, and have sent their goods
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and made the name of our city known and honored throughout the civilized world." #
In all, there are in the city more than seven hundred manufactur- ing establishments, including more than a hundred and thirty incorporated companies, one having a capital stock of $1,500,000. There were in 1888 more than 3,300 business and mechanical occupa- tions, and the valuation of buildings and stock employed in the manu- facturing and commercial interests of the city was about $28,000,000. Almost all conceivable articles of manufactures are produced by work- men as skillful as are found in any civilized community. Considering the indifference to mechanic pursuits, so long prevalent in New Haven-an indifference which prevented them for many years from having even a blacksmith-this is, indeed, a striking transition of occupations.
Most likely, the blacksmith shop alluded to by Doctor Bacon. in the paragraph above, was the one conducted by Captain Ezekiel Hayes, the ancestor of President Hayes, who was in his time a famous axe and scythe maker. But so poorly was his work compensated that in 1775 he announced in a newspaper card that he would be necessi- tated to return to his old place in Branford, unless the New Haven public would " allow me 75 per cent. on my work and the first cost of my stock, or I must infallibly heave up my trade." Grain and paper mills were early operated at Whitneyville and at Westville, where water power could easily be used.
In 1785 a small mint for the coining of copper coins was started by a company organized for that purpose, which had among its members Samuel Bishop, James Hillhouse and Abel Bnell, the latter being the practical man of the concern. He produced a machine capable of coining 120 coppers per minute. In the course of a few years this "New Haven Mint " was authorized to make copper coins for con- gress. In 1787 James Jarvis was the owner of the establishment, which was continued a number of years.
In 1789 a cotton mill was established on West river, which was deemed so important that the state granted it a subsidy of $3,000. The following year calico printing was begun by John Mix, who also made metal buttons. That article was also made by Phineas Bradley. Jotham Fenton made telescopes, etc., about the same time; and other small manufacturing interests were begun about the beginning of the present century. Soon after leather tanning became an important business, and in 1840 five tanneries, with capital aggregating more than $100,000, had an output of $380,000.
The manufacture of carriages was the next important industry established, there being in 1840 twelve shops, whose product amounted to 8234,000. This business and the manufacture of carriage parts is now carried on in about forty establishments, in which more than * William H. Beckford.
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2,000 men are employed, and the output amounts to $2,000,000 per year. It is elaimed that G. T. Newhall of this city was the first in America to adopt machinery in the manufacture of carriages-a method which is now almost universally used. For many years Henry Hooker & Co. had here the largest carriage manufacturing establish- ment in the world.
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