History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 54

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 54
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 54

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).

On the 9th of May, 1728, the inhabitants living in the above sections petitioned the governor and the general court to be established as a village or a parish, which prayer was granted and the new parish called Meriden. The new society flourished and having a successful ecclesiastical government soon longed for its own civil administration. This privilege, however, was not granted until 1806, when the follow- ing were reported as "North Farmers," or freemen living in this section: Benjamin Ives, Nathaniel Merriman, Benjamin Whiting, Joseph Coles, Samuel Ives, Samuel Cutler, John Ives, Joseph Merriam, Timothy Merriam, Michael Mitchell, William Hough, William Mer- riam, John Merriam, John Way, Thomas Andrews, Robert Roice, Isaac Roice, John Merriam, James Scovill, William Andrews, Jonathan Seymour, Josiah Roice, Ebenezer Prindle, Thomas Yale, Israel Hall, William Coles, Elick Roberts, Nathaniel Roice. Abell Roice, Ezekiel Roice. Jacob Parsons, Ebenezer Cooper, Eleazer Peck, Nehemiah May, Bartholomew Foster, Josiah Robeson, Samuel Andrews, Theophilus Mix, Amos Camp, Timothy Foster.

In 1810, when the first distinct census of the town was taken, the population was 1,249; in 1830 it was only 1,708; in 1840 but 1,880. But from this time on the population increased rapidly, being 3,559 in 1850, and 7,426 in 1860. A large proportion of this increase was in the city of Meriden.

The town of Meriden was erected by an act of the general assem- bly, passed in 1806 at the May session, which authorized the division from the town of Wallingford, and provided that the limits should be the same as those of the old parish of Meriden. A petition for these corporate privileges had been placed on file February 14th. 1804, which was signed by Phineas Lyman and many others, who urged their claims that the parish had more than one-third of the population and a like proportion of the property of the town of Wallingford, and should be given the same privileges and immunities as other towns in the state. These claims had been urged on previous occasions, and for more than thirty years had the old town successfully protested against the dis- memberment of its territory .*

Under the provisions of the act the citizens of the new town assem- bled at the Center meeting house, Monday, June 16th, 1806, when

*The inhabitants of that part of Meriden at Belcher's farm petitioned the general assembly to be annexed to the town of Farmington, in Hartford county. May 17th, 1773, Wallingford voted to appoint an agent to protest against the ine- morial. In May, 1786, the parish of Meriden petitioned the assembly to be an- nexed to the county of Middlesex; also in 1794, both petitions being strenuously opposed by Wallingford. A petition to the town of Wallingford, asking for town privileges, was voted down in September, 1803, by the parish of Wallingford, Meriden parish not voting.

460

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

George WV. Stanley moderated and the following officers were chosen: Selectmen, Captain Ezekiel Rice, Ambrose Hough, Stephen Bailey; town clerk, Amos White; treasurer, Samuel Yale; collector, Abner Griswold; constables, Jared Benham, Eli Barnes; grand jurors, Enos Hall, 2d, Giles O. Griswold, Joseph Hall; surveyors of highways, Sam- uel Yale, Asahel Yale, Jehiel Preston, Harvey Andrews, Aaron Mer- riman, Benjamin Merriman, 2d, Levi Hall; fence viewers, Nathaniel Yale, Stephen Perkins, Ensign Hough; listers of town, Seth D. Plum, Titus Ives, Asahel Merriman; sealer of leather, Captain William Olds; sealer of weights, Samuel Yale; sealer of dry measures, Daniel Yale; pound keepers, Nathaniel Yale, Levi Foster, Israel Hall, Elisha Mer- riman.

Captain Ezekiel Rice, Ambrose Hough, Stephen Bailey and Eli Barnes were appointed a committee to settle and adjust all business between the town of Wallingford and the new town, and September 16th, 1806. Brenton Hall, Esq., was appointed the agent of the town in the matter of the boundary lines between the two towns.

"Voted, to levy a tax of five mills on the dollar for town pur- poses."

" Voted, that geese shall not be suffered to run at large on the high- ways, unless they are well yoked."

At subsequent meetings the affairs of the town were fully consid- ered, and the necessary rules made to carry them on in a business-like manner. Action in regard to the roads, poor farm and the town hall is elsewhere noted.

Since Meriden became a town the following have been the agents or first selectmen, and the years in which they served follow their names: Ezekiel Rice and John Hall, 1806; Theophilus Hall, 1807; Marvel Andrews, 1808-9; Patrick Clark, 1810-14; Othniel Ives, 1815- 16; Elisha Curtis, 1817-18; Asahel Merriman, 1819-21; Seth D. Plum, 1822-5; Moses Baldwin, 1826-8; Elisha Curtis, 1829-31: Orrin Hall, 1832; Eli C. Birdsey, 1833; Benjamin Upson, 1834; Calvin Coe, 1865-6, 1844, 1849; Noah Pomeroy, 1837, 1841-3; Stephen Atkins, 1838; James S. Brooks, 1839; Moses Andrews, 1840; Levi Yale, 1845-8, 1852-5; Joel Miller, 1850-1; Joel I. Butler, 1856; Othniel Ives, 1857-60, 1865-6; Humphrey Lyon, 1861; Bela Carter, 1862-4; S. C. Paddock, 1867; George Gay, 1868-72; Oliver Rice, 1873; E. D. Castelow, 1874-7; D. S. Will- iams, 1878-81; George W. Miller, 1882; C. C. Kinne, 1883-5; H. E. Hubbard, 1886; Le Grand Bevins, 1887-90.

The town clerks elected in the same period have been the follow- ing: June, 1806, Amos White; November, 1806, Isaac Lewis: 1823, Patrick Lewis; 1826, Amos Curtis; 1830, Patrick Lewis; February, 1834, Albert R. Potter; October, 1834, Eli C. Birdsey; 1843, James S. Brooks; 1844, Joel Miller; 1845, Lyman Butler; 1849, Hiram Hall; 1854, Linus Birdsey; 1854, John Ives; 1857, Russell J. Ives, assistant; 1860, Charles

461

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

L. Upham, assistant; 1865, Levi E. Coe: 1866, John N. Bario; 1879, Selah A. Hull; 1886, Herman Hess.

Meriden became a separate probate district in June, 1836, and the first court was held August 20th, that year. The judges of the district have been as follows: 1836-44. James S. Brooks; 1844-6, Benajah Andrews: 1847, Reverend John Parker: 1848-50, Benajah Andrews; 1851-2, Hiram Hall: 1852-7, Orville H. Platt; 1857-60, Hiran Foster; 1860-6, George W. Smith: 1867, Levi E. Coe; 1868-9, George W. Smith; 1870-2, E. A. Merriman: 1873, George W. Smith; 1874-5, E. A. Merri- man; 1876, J. T. Pettee; 1877-82, Emmerson A. Merriman; 1883-90, George W. Smith; 1891, Wilbur F. Smith.

The project of building a town hall was agitated as early as 1840, but a dozen years elapsed before decisive action was taken. The plans for a hall, prepared by Sidney M. Stone, were approved Septem- ber 17th, 1853, and the first town meeting in it was held in April, 1856. It was a spacious brick edifice, with a large tin covered dome in its center. In this a clock was placed in 1861. When the site for this hall was selected some difficulty wasexperienced, both Meriden Center and West Meriden claiming the hall. The lot on which it stood was finally selected as a compromise site and the building was put up by a committee composed of Levi Yale, Joel Miller, Ward Coe, John Parker, Philo Pratt and Eli Butler. The cost was about $30,000.

The hall contained the town offices and after 1879 the city offices. In the auditorium were held the general assemblages of the town. In recent years, however, owing to the rapid increase of population, this hall became too small and it was determined to enlarge and remodel the old hall.

At a meeting held March 20th, 1889, it was voted to expend $60,000 in making these improvements and plans were solicited. October 14th, 1889, the draughts for improvement submitted by Warren R. Briggs, of Bridgeport, were approved and $10,000 more appropriated, in addi- tion to the above amount. A committee was appointed to proceed to make the necessary contracts and to superintend the construction of the hall. These were E. B. Manning, chairman; H. E. Hubbard, John Ives, Levi E. Coe, Morris O'Brien and the the board of selectmen: Le Grand Bevins, George O. Higby and George W. Miller, the latter as the successor of John Nagel, selectman in 1889. In December, 1889, the contract for remodelling the building was awarded to D. J. Curtis, of Springfield, Mass.

The plan of the remodelled town hall contemplated a large and imposing edifice, to be as near as possible fire proof, three stories high and relieved by attractive towers. The material of the outer walls is Philadelphia pressed briek, with New England brown stone trim- mings, arranged after a pleasing style of architecture.

The building was occupied in the summer of 1891 and is very com- plete in its appointments, being one of the best arranged municipal

462

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

buildings in the state. It contains town and city offices, and rooms for the various courts of Meriden. Much of the basement is used by the police department, which is here provided with a station house, cells, etc. Access is afforded to the latter by a driveway which will permit the entrance of the patrol wagon. The grand assembly hall is in the third story of the building, and contains a stage 60 feet long, with modern scenic arrangements. This room is one of the finest in the state and will serve the wants of the town for many years to come.

Meriden has a neat little farm, along the base of the East Peak, near the Cold Spring, on which is an almshouse, where are kept many of the town's indigent poor. The original buildings were erected by George B. Conklin, some time after 1840, for a popular resort and a summer hotel. In the fall of 1860 the town purchased it for its pres- ent purposes. In 1868 the farm was enlarged by four acres, bought of the Butler estate. The buildings have been improved and a hospital has been erected. In 1889 the valuation of the property, with its system of water works, was $12,000. The inmates of the almshouse are supported at a yearly outlay of about $5,000, and more than $10,000 additional is expended annually for the maintenance of the outside poor.

SOUTH MERIDEN .- In the early settlement of Wallingford this place was designated as "Falls Plain," or as "the head of the plains"-a name appropriate in every respect, for here the level lands, stretching northward along the Quinnipiac, end, and the hilly country of the trap-rock region begins. It is a locality of great natural beauty, and. in connection with the fine water power available, would readily sug- gest itself as a natural site for a village. These advantages were recognized as early as 1689 by the town of Wallingford, when it platted a tract of land into streets and blocks, which were distributed to the planters on the 19th of February, 1690, by casting lots for the same. The main street of this projected village was nearly coincident with the course of the present north and south street, in the western part of South Meriden, except that it ran up to the river. On the west side the lots extended to the hills and on the east to the river. The 65 lots of this embryo village were drawn by numbers, each planter re- ceiving the lot indicated by the numerals set opposite his name in the following list, which shows, also, who were the leading citizens of Wallingford at that period: " Mr. Street, 49; Lieut. Merriman, 24; Mr. Mosse, 12; Ens. Yaile, 11; Mr. Brockett, 44; Dr. Hulls, 52; Ens. An- drewys, 4; Seirant Doolittle, 62; - Preston, 20; Nathaniel Royse, 40; Samll Royse, 33; Sam11 Hull, 03; John Ives, 39; Samll Doolittle, 51; Daniel Mix, 59; Joseph Doolittle, 42; Eben Lewis, 48; Joseph Houlte, 61; John Doolittle, 37; Joseph Benham, Jun., 25; Eleazer Peck, 19; John Merriman, 58; John Parker, 01; John Hall, senr, 60; Samll Cook, senr, 28; Tho Curtis, 58; Tho Hall, 30; David Hall, 65; Joshua Culver, 32;

463

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Nathaniel How, 09; Samll Brockett, 55; Roger Tyler. 38; Samll Thorp, 06; John Hitchcok, 02; Samll Merriman, 53; Abraham Doolittle, 13; Samll Browne, 29: Ebenezer Clark, 18; Samll Street, 07; Samll An- drews, Jun., 57; Simon Tuttle, 14; Benjamin Houlte, 10; Edward Fen. OS; John Morse, 26; Hennery Cook, 31: Joseph Beenham, sen. 63; Sam11 Street, 35: Nathan Andrewes, 16; John Peck, 50; Jeremiah Howe, 17; Samll Cook, jun. 15; Joseph Thomson, 21; Hugh Chappel, 22; James Westwood, 05; Wm. Cole, 23: John Beach, 64; Tho Beach, 54; Joseph Royse, 47; Rush Lothrop, 43; William Ebernath, 46; Samll Munson. 41; Walter Johnson, 36; John Atwater, 34; Isak Beach, 45; Nehemiah Royse, 27."

For some cause which has not been recorded the village was never built up, and this section was, for more than a century, given over to farm pursuits. Nehemiah and Samuel Royce received grants of lands here as early as 1677, and in 1680 a grant of an adjoining tract was made to Samuel Hough. Later, John Peck received a tract of land along the river, farther south ; and these and their descendants were the citizens of this section until the interests of the present century were developed, mainly by the manufactories here estab- lished.

Aside from some minor use of the water power, the first interest of importance was the manufacturing business of Deacon N. C. San- ford & Co., sometimes called the Hanover Company. This was organ- ized in the fall of 1826, and the following summer the manufacture of augers was commenced, near where are now the Bradley & Hubbard shops, at Meriden. Not having sufficient water power at that place, the company purchased the water privilege and lands along the Quin- nipiac at the Falls Plain bridge, in order to establish a new plant. Work upon this was commenced April 23d, 1832, and as the locality had no particular name, that of Hanover was finally selected by the firm. At the raising of the company's boarding house, June 6th, 1832, this name was announced to the assembled populace by Doctor Hough. The hamlet which sprung up retained the name of Hanover until within the past ten years, when, on account of the suburban relation to the city of Meriden, only a little more than a mile distant, and the overshadowing importance of that place, the name of South Meriden was adopted, and has become fixed in the post office here established.

The industry of Sanford & Co. and later of Sanford, Parmalee & Co., devoted to the manufacture of augers, bits, skates and small goods of steel, gave employment to about fifty men, and the enterprise at that time begun has been continued in that part of the county, a new plant being later established lower down the river.

In 1845 the manufacture of table cutlery was begun at Hanover by the firm of Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co., the active manager being D. N. Ropes. This firm was the union of interests carried on in other

464

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

localities, ten years earlier, and the experience brought to the new plant insured success. Soon 75 men were employed. In 1855 the bus- iness of the firm passed to the Meriden Cutlery Company, which be- . came a corporation July 10th of that year. The industry was soon ex- panded. The water power was further improved, a splendid stone dam in the shape of a horse shoe being built across the stream. The build- ings have been increased from time to time until four acres are covered. The main works are four stories high and several hundred feet long, and the other buildings are convenient for their uses. Water continues to be the exclusive power. The fine dam on the Quinnipiac forms a large and beautiful sheet of limpid water, which is locally known by the name of South Meriden lake. It yields about 200 horse power. The natural advantages of this plant are among the best in the state, and the cutlery company has continued to be the principal interest in the village. The works of Sanford & Co. were transferred to Valesville station. and other industries in the locality, such as comb, button and scale making, have passed away, after a short existence.

The products of the Meriden Cutlery Company, although very varied, are of a superior quality, embracing hundredsof styles of table cutlery, manufactured out of the best steel. Here steel knives were first successfully electro-plated, and the company has since kept its wares in the front rank of cutlery manufactures. Fine carving sets are made a specialty, and many elegant designs are produced.

In 1890 the capital stock of the company was $400,000, and its prin- cipal officers were: A. L. Collins, president; H. A. Curtiss, secretary; George M. Howell, treasurer; Edwin Cady, superintendent.

Outside of the works proper. the cutlery company has built up the village, putting up tenements for more than 60 families. In 1890 the entire real estate was valued at $132,950. Some of the original build- ings have been improved by private owners, and on additions to the village plat some fine residences have been erected. In 1890 South Meriden had a population of about 1,000 and the usual interests of a thriving village.

At a stand where Hensel Rice formerly merchandised E. B. Clark has been in trade since 1864, and is also the postmaster of the South Meriden office, which has daily mails to Meriden, communicating by stage lines. Several public houses offer entertainment; the Lawn Hotel of John Cassidy, on the lake, being an attractive resort. There is a public hall and a neat room for the meeting of Hanover Lodge of Odd Fellows. A village improvement society was organized in 1887, and the place is yearly being beautified.

The Third Congregational Church in Meriden, also called the Han- over Congregational Church, was organized February 13th, 1853, of 25 members, who were dismissed from the Meriden church to form this new body. Previous to this a chapel had been erected, mainly through the efforts of Walter Webb and Deacon N. C. Sanford, Ezekiel

465

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

Hall, Reuben Waterman, L. Griswold and a few others, which the congregation occupied as a place of worship. It is a frame building, with several hundred sittings. In the past few years it has been little used, the society no longer maintaining regular worship.

In December, 1853, Reverend James A. Clark became the first pastor, serving until April, 1855. Reverend Jacob Eaton was next inducted into the pastorate, May 18th, 1857, and continued until 1861, when he left to become the chaplain of the 7th Connecticut Regiment. Soon after his accession a revival of remarkable power took place, which continued until 32 members were added to the congregation. The pulpit of the church was filled by supplies until the fall of 1870, . when J. Howe Voice was installed pastor and served until April 3d, 1873. The New Haven East Association, to which the church belongs, now supplied the pulpit, those serving a year or more being recognized as "acting pastors." That relation was sustained in 1876-7, by E. B. Crane; in 1880, by M. C. Wood; in 1882, by J. G. Griswold. In the past few years there has been but little preaching on account of diminished membership. Elias Sanford and B. C. Eastman were the last deacons; and Daniel H. Willard, the treasurer and superintendent of the last Sunday school.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of South Meriden was organized in 1851. A few Methodist members met for occasional worship in the village as early as 1839, the meetings being held in the school house. March 12th, 1851, the first organized effort was made to establish a church. On that day a meeting was held at the house of John Evans, when it was determined to form an ecclesiastical society to be called the " M. E. Society of the Hanover District." John D. Parmalee was chosen chairman and John Evans, secretary. John Davidson, Roger Smith and Luman A. Atkins were appointed a building committee of the " Methodist Preaching House," which it was decided to erect. In the fall of the year this was completed at a cost of $1,333. It was a two-story building, the lower part being a tenement, tlie upper story a hall and preaching place. For a period of more than twenty years this was used, the preachers being Reverend John Parker, of Meriden, and students from Middletown. In 1871 Reverend William W. Hurd was appointed as a regular minister and the same year the present church edifice was begun, being completed the following summer, at a cost of more than $9,000. Of this amount George Bristol contributed $2,000, John Evans $1,000, Charles Parker $400. and the balance was raised by the society and its friends. The church was dedicated Sep- tember 25th, 1872, by Reverend C. N. Foss.

At the suggestion of Doctor H. A. Archer, who became a member of the church in 1SSS, the enlargement of the house of worship was begun under the direction of a committee composed of the pastor, Doctor H. A. Archer, Silas Bradley, Frank Rollins, C. A. Hollister, William Baker and E. B. Clark. A lecture room was built in the rear

466

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

of the church, which was also renovated, and it was dedicated March 10th, 1889, free of debt. The church is now commodious and attrac- tive, being alike creditable to the society and the community. Its value and that of the parsonage is about $14,000. There are 50 mem- bers and a Sunday school of 170 members.

The pastors of the church have been, since the Reverend Hurd, as follows: 1874-6, Otis J. Range; 1877-8, student supplies; 1879-80, Rev- erend A. H. Mead: 1881, R. S. Eldridge; 1882, A. V. R. Abbott; 1883. A. M. Northrop (He freed the church from a $2,000 debt, Mrs. John Evans donating $1,000. In September, 1883, he died and the pulpit · was supplied by Reverend J. G. Griswold; of Meriden); 1884-6, W. F. Markwick, who in April, 1885, moved to South Meriden, and became the first resident pastor, serving, also, Trinity church at Meriden; 1887, T. W. Maynard; 1888-9, W. M. Warden; 1890, G. W. Phillips. William Baker is the treasurer of the society; and J. W. Bennett, superintendent of the Sunday school.

The Church of the Holy Angels (Roman Catholic) was built in 1887, as a mission of St. Rose of Lima, of Meriden, which had maintained Catholic services at South Meriden, several years previous. The cor- ner stone was laid April 3d, 1887. It is an attractive gothic chapel, 30 by 60 feet, and has fine stained glass windows. On the same lot a large modern style parsonage was erected in 1888, and the combined value of the property is $15,000. The corporation is composed of the resident priest. John Fay and Thomas Mclaughlin.

The parish of South Meriden (including the Church of the Holy Angels, Yalesville and the mission of Cheshire) was established Jan- tary 10th, 1888, when R. F. Moore, A. M., was settled over it as the first priest. At that time the membership at South Meriden was in- cluded in 57 families. This has since been increased to 65 families and the influence of the parish has grown proportionately.

Connected with the Church of the Holy Angels are a Sunday school, having 95 members; a Guild with 45 members; and a Rosary Society of 60 members.

EAST MERIDEN is the name applied to the hamlet and locality, along the Middletown turnpike, two miles east of the city of Meriden. Here are some of the oldest homesteads in the town and a number of residences of more modern appearance, sheltering several hundred inhabitants. There are also a Baptist chapel, built in 1886, and the spoon works of the Charles Parker Company. The latter embrace several large shops of stone and brick, in which is carried on the only industry of the place. All other interests sustain a suburban relation to the city.

Formerly there were a number of small industries at this place, some of which were carried on by the water power afforded by a long race way, from a dam in the mountain gap, which has been superseded by steam, at Parker's, and the small shops have passed away. Among

467

HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

these were the tin shops of Noah Pomeroy and his sons, begun in 1818 and continued many years; the shops of Samuel Cook and the Britannia shops of Isaac C. Lewis and his associates, George Cowles, Lemuel J. Curtis and Daniel B. Wells.

For many years this locality bore the name of Bangall, a title which was suggested by an incident which occurred at the popular public house of Captain Benjamin Hall. A large party had a hilarious time, continued far into the night, in which, as the landlord expressed it, " they banged all creation." From his house, the place of " Bangall," the name was derived.

THE CITY OF MERIDEN is located north of the central part of the town, and is mainly in the valley of Harbor brook. It is about 18 miles north of New Haven and near the same distance south of Hart- ford. From Waterbury, by way of the Connecticut River railway, it is 14 miles; and less than that distance from Middletown. The area comprised within the city limits is large and presents a varied surface of bills and lowlands, being admirably adapted for the manifold uses of business and for residence purposes. Many beautiful homes crown the heights of the principal hills, and upon one is the handsome State Reform School, embracing a dozen buildings. On the lowlands and hillsides are huge shops and factories, Meriden being one of the lead- ing manufacturing centers of New England, and by reason of its prod- ucts is not inappropriately styled the "Silver City" of the Union. The public buildings are numerous, embracing an elegant new town hall, one of the finest hotels in the state, costly and attractive churches and a handsome high school building. The business houses are large and on every hand may be seen the evidences of an active, thrifty population, who have reared homes of comfort and plenty and sur- rounded them with all the best features of a progressive American city.

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.

History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I, Part 54

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 966

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: N. Y. : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 966