USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 60
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 60
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The first house of entertainment in all this part of the country was on Captain Andrew Belcher's Meriden tract, on the Old Colony road, about two miles north of the city of Meriden. On this tract of 470 acres a stone building, with port holes for defense against Indians, had been put up about 1664. He also supplied a stock of arms and ammunition, receiving from the colony for doing these things the right " to keep tavern forever." This privilege was enjoyed by those living in the stone house, without further license, as long as the busi- ness could there be profitably conducted. Its half way location be- tween New Haven and Hartford made it a favorite stopping place for travelers, and in 1690 a larger stone house was built to afford the necessary accommodations. This was used as a public place more than a hundred years, and tradition says it was a famous place for convivial gatherings. From this fact it was locally known as the "Merry Den," a name which may also have been suggested by its location, in the parish of Meriden, the pronunciation of the two terms being very similar.
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HISTORY OF. NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
In 1784 the first stage coach in Connecticut ran by this house, on the Old Colony road, which continued to be the principal thorough- fare, north and south, until about 1800, when the usefulness of the old stone tavern passed away, and the house became a farm residence.
When the Hartford and New Haven turnpike became the princi- pal avenue north and south, in 1799, public houses were opened at various places along its line, as well as in other localities in the town. In 1812 there were at least half a dozen taverns in Meriden. Usually these were well patronized, for the custom of those times favored tavern haunting, especially in winter. Most of these places were kept solely for the sale of liquor, whose use at that time was but little restrained by law or sentiment. In the language of a clergy- man of that period, there " was a dramming, dramming, dramming at all hours of the day," which was about the nature of the business done.
The tavern near the old Congregational church, known as the "Central Hotel," was an exception to that class. Its favorable loca- tion and the good character of its keepers made it one of the princi- pal stopping places in these parts, and several of the landlords, at least, were prime favorites with the traveling public. The building was originally erected by Reverend Theophilus Hall as a farm house, on his hundred acre tract, and was for many years occupied by his son. It was, after the fashion of the better class of houses of those times, a large frame, with a gambrel roof, and stood with those fea- tures more than a century, not being demolished until 1890. Some time before 1800, Doctor Ensign Hough bought the property and converted it into a tavern, which he kept, and was succeeded by his son, Doctor Isaac I. Hough, who was a large, genial and accomplished host, having the acquaintance of the principal men of the state. During the war of 1812, especially, he made much money, and when he sold out, in 1836, he retired with what was called a fortune in those days. Of this popular landlord and citizen a rhymster of that period said :
"Dr. Hough, he keeps good stuff And lives just under the steeple. By hook or by crook, he keeps his good looks And takes the cash from the people."
Joseph and Isaac Twiss were the next landlords, and in 1837 their tavern came into unfortunate prominence on account of the riot fomented here against an anti-slavery speaker in the church. For the part Mr. Twiss took in this affair he was compelled to pay $1,000. Later landlords were Nathaniel Andrews, William and Patrick Lewis and others. The building of the railroad through West Meriden caused the decline of Broad street and the transfer to that section of the business interests which here flourished. The tavern having lost its patronage, it was closed in 1873, and changed into a tin shop and a tenement.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
At the present business center of the city the old Rogers House was the first tavern of note. It was built in 1840 by Doctor Isaac I. Hough and Elisha A. Cowles, the latter running it as a railroad res- taurant. It was a two-story frame, standing west of the railroad track, its gable end being north toward Main street. In 1846 Hervey Rogers became the owner of the tavern, keeping it 20 years, and from him it took its name. In an enlarged condition this building still stands as a business house.
Directly opposite, and on the north side of Main street, Nelson Merriam and others built a two-story frame, in the fall of 1842. The side of the house was upon the street, and north was a one-story ex- tension, in which was the railroad ticket office and, as the sign indi- cated, the "Railroad Refectory." The dining room was large and well patronized, and as this was run as a temperance house, it was popular with a large class of people, the proprietor, Captain Conklin, doing a thriving business. In the upper part of this building was a hall where society meetings were held. Captain Conklin left this place to build the summer resort, which was later converted into the town alms house. The Widow Mear was the last to keep the " Rail- road Refectory," which was burned in the great fire of 1863.
The Meriden House was built in 1853 by the Meriden Hotel Com- pany, of which S. W. Baldwin was the president and Nelson Merriam, Fenner Bush, A. C. Wetmore and Curtis L. North, associate directors. The stock was divided into 1,000 shares of $25 each. But the cost of the building exceeded the estimate, the house being for those times a magnificent structure, almost as showy as the town hall which was built soon after. In time William Hall became the owner and while it was the property of Stephen Ives it was refitted. January 12th, 1881, the upper story of the hotel was so much damaged by fire that it was taken down, leaving a two story brick of substantial appearance.
During the civil war John C. and Theodore Byxbee built the Byxbee House, which they remodelled in 1865, placing its front on Colony street. It was now a four story, Mansard-roofed frame and the house had a good patronage. March 21st, 1868, it was destroyed by fire. On its site a brick hotel was erected, which was opened in the spring of 1869, by the Messrs. Byxbee. In 1874 Theodore Byxbee became the sole owner and ten years later its use as a hotel was dis- continued, being at that time fitted up for office purposes, and becom- ing known as the Byxbee Honse Block.
The Curtis House was built in 1874, by Lemuel J. Curtis, and was not originally intended for a hotel. It was the first good block on West Main street and is still a conspicuous building. John E. Parker converted it into a hotel and it has had a number of proprietors. The City Hotel, on State street, was opened in May, 1883. by Henry Bloxham, and about that period and since, hotels of smaller capacity have solicited public patronage.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The Winthrop Hotel is justly the pride of the city. It was erected by Walter Hubbard to meet the demands of the growing city for a hotel which should be elegant in its appearance and have all the modern appointments and conveniences to afford a luxurious home for the traveling public. The supervising architect was Frank P. Evarts and the walls were built by the H. Wales Lines Company, the first work being done in February, 1882. It presents a massive appear- ance, 85 by 225 feet. In the rear it is three stories high and the front, which is on North Colony street, has a height of five stories. It is of Philadelphia pressed brick, trimmed with granite and brown stone and its windows are of plate glass, giving it a beautiful appear- ance in finish, which is harmoniously preserved through the interior of the building. Here proper precautions have also been observed against fires. In the lower story are three of the finest store rooms in the city and a large stairway and Otis elevator leading to the hotel proper. This consists of 104 rooms, of which SO are sleeping chambers.
The fittings and furnishment are chaste and complete in every detail, making this the finest hotel in the state. They were supplied by the Winthrop Hotel Company, which was organized January 29th, 1883, with a capital stock of $40,000, engaging in this enterprise as a matter of local pride to secure this desired object. The affairs of the company are directed by George R. Curtis, Horace C. Wilcox, W. W. Lyman, Walter Hubbard, N. L. Bradley, Samuel Dodd, D. F. South- wick, George W. Lyon, C. L. Rockwell, A. Chamberlain and John L. Billard. This company secured a twelve years lease on the building, which was named for Governor Winthrop, of Massachusetts, and after it had furnished it, re-leased it to George H. Bowker, of Holyoke, Mass., a landlord of national reputation.
The Winthrop was opened November 1st, 1883, by Landlords George H. and James H. Bowker; E. T. Bowers, clerk; S. A. Hooker, steward, with thirty assistants, and has since that time ranked as one of the leading hostelries of New England.
On the site of the present brewery, was a well known place of entertainment, after 1870, known as the Eagle Cottage, and also as Allen's Museum. The building was oddly and yet not unattractively ornamented, and contained many curiosities. For some years it was a well patronized place.
The Post Office must be briefly sketched. Formerly two offices were maintained: the Meriden office at the Center, and the West Meriden near the railway depot. The former was long kept at the store of Ira N. Yale, next to the old Meriden Bank, on Broad street. At the latter place, the office was in the old Conklin House, on Main street; in the Byxbee House block and in a building which stood on Winthrop Square. In April, 1SS0, under the administration of E. D. Hall, the present office, in the Wilcox Block, was occupied. The
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
quarters are handsome, spacious, and were especially fitted up for the uses of the office. At the time of occupancy there were 1,600 boxes and five persons were employed. Among the postmasters of these offices have been Hiram Hall, General Walter Booth, Almeron Miles, Benjamin Twiss, Samuel B. Morgan, Noah B. Linsley, Joel H. Guy, George W. Rogers, Wallace Bull, William Hall and E. D. Hall, the latter two being the postmasters when the offices were consolidated, September 1st, 1880, under the name of Meriden. E. D. Hall remained postmaster until February, 1886, when he was succeeded by William H. Miller, and he, in turn, by Henry Dryhurst, in February, 1890.
At the time of the consolidation the carrier delivery system went into effect, with four carriers. This force has since been doubled. One mounted carrier was put on the force in 1886, and another added in 18SS. A postal station is also maintained at Meriden Center. A dozen mails are received daily and as many sent out from the main office. In 1885 the gross receipts of the office were about $26,000 and in 1889 about $38,000, or increasing at the rate of about $3,000 per year.
CHAPTER X.
TOWN AND CITY OF MERIDEN (Continued).
The Periodical Press .- Literary Notes .- Physicians .- Lawyers .- Secret Orders .- G. A. R. and Soldiers' Monument .- Agricultural Societies, etc .- Meriden Ecclesiastical Society .- First Meeting House .- First Congregational Church .- Center Congrega- tional Church .- St. Andrew's (P. E.) Church .- First Baptist Church .- German Baptist Church .- M. E. Churches .- Universalist Church .- St. John's German Lutheran Church .- New Emanuel Lutheran Church .- St. Rose of Lima (R. C.) Church .- St. Laurent's (French Catholic) Church .- Young Men's Christian Associa- tion .- State Reform School .- The Curtis Home .- City Mission Society .- Meriden Hospital .- Cemeteries.
A HISTORY of the periodicals published at Meriden embraces accounts of many papers, a few only of which lived long enough to make manifest their influence upon the community. Others were so ephemeral that their names and those who projected them are now recalled with difficulty.
The Northern Literary Messenger was the first paper here issued. It was removed to this place from New Haven in September, 1844, and O. G. Wilson was the editor. The paper was a five column quarto, printed from old type and had but little matter of a local nature. After some changes of form, firm and place of publication, being last issued from the old academy building, publication was sus- pended in 1848, and Mr. Wilson removed to Saybrook, where he died.
In 1847 F. E. Hinman set up a job office and five years later began the publication of the Connecticut Organ, of which O. H. Platt was the editor. In 1853 he sold his interest to James N. Phelps, of New Haven, who consolidated with it the New Britain Journal, and with this dual title the paper was published some time. As the paper was to contain " a compound of all the intelligence proper to be inserted in a family journal," considerable expense attended its publication, and Mr. Phelps soon sold out to James Lewis. The latter established a new paper, The Whig, of which O. H. Platt and George W. Rogers were the associate editors. It was, for those times, a large sheet and ably edited, but continued only about three years, as there was no longer an especial demand for an organ of the Whig party.
Contemporary with the above paper was the Meriden Transcript, which was established in July, 1850, by Lysander R. Webb & Co., and published until August, 1856, when the editor and the proprietor
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
relinquished their work, Mr. Webb moving to the West, and Mr. Platt thenceforth devoting himself to the practice of the law.
For a few months Meriden was without a paper, but in November, 1856, Robert Winton, at the instance of some of the manufacturers of the town, took the printing establishment and began the publica- tion of the Meriden Chronicle, which he continued about two and a half years, when it was suspended.
The next venture was the Meriden Banner, published for a short time in 1860, in the interests of the democratic party, by a Mr. Still- man, who used the material of the old Chronicle office. He enlisted in the service of his country.
In the summer of 1863 Luther G. Riggs & Co. established the Mer- iden Publishing House, in Smith's new block, at West Meriden, doing all kinds of job printing. On the 29th of August, 1863, they began the Meriden Recorder, a weekly paper, with independent tendencies. Having served in the army, Mr. Riggs started off with a good soldiers' patronage, and for several years the business prospered. He had con- siderable ability to do newspaper work, and enterprise which led him to make other ventures in journalism. But he lacked the tact to please the public, and had a stormy carcer before he left Meriden on account of the hostility of many citizens.
In 1869, Luther G. Riggs began the publication of the Daily News, but soon changed the name to Evening Recorder. He aimed to make both papers neutral, but failed to please either of the parties potent in politics. Meantime, the republicans having their own organ and the democrats also desiring one, on the 17th of March, 1871, George Gib- bons issued the first number of the Meriden Citizen, a weekly demo- cratic sheet, which he published about one year, when it became the property of the "Citizens' Association" and was edited by Reverend John T. Pettee and Wilbur F. Davis. In December, 1872, Mr. Riggs became the owner of the Citizen, and published it about ten years. In the same year, 1872, Messrs. Riggs and Mansfield began the publica- tion of a daily, the Morning Call. This was soon after issued as a semi-weekly journal and continued by Mr. Riggs until the latter part of 1882, when the semi-weekly Call and the weekly Citizen were dis- continued. In 1882 he made another venture in the publication of an edition of the Recorder for the citizens of Wallingford, called the Weekly Forum. This paper and the two editions of the Recorder became the property of J. H. Mabbett & Co., in the latter part of 1882, at which time Luther G. Riggs' connection with Meriden journalism ceased.
The Penny Press, a live daily, was established December 19th, 1881, by J. H. Mabbett, and was devoted solely to local news. Its four pages contained 20 columns, which were soon after increased to 24 columns. In May, 1882, H. B. Russell, of the Boston Globe, bought a half interest in the paper and took editorial control. The following month the
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
United States Press Association franchises were secured, and at that time the Press was the only evening paper in the state, at one cent, which published such news. In November, 1882, the interests of L. G. Riggs in his papers were acquired, and the two were consolidated with the name of Press-Recorder.
Under this title the daily and the weekly editions were published by J. H. Mabbett until the latter part of 1884, when their issue and that of the Wallingford Forum were discontinued. In the fall of 1884 the Press-Recorder advocated the political cause of General B. F. Butler, which brought it somewhat into disfavor, but it had many good fea- tures to commend it for better patronage than it received.
The Meriden Weekly Visitor was started March 21st, 1867, by M. Monroe Eaton, a journalist of experience, whose success led him to commence a daily issue of the Visitor, on the first of January follow- ing. Fourteen months later these papers were merged with the Daily and Weekly Republican, which had been established in 1866 as an oppo- sition sheet to the Recorder.
The Republican had then, as now, the strong support of many manu- facturing firms, which placed it upon a permanent basis. It is the only paper which has survived the vicissitudes of journalism at Meri- den, growing stronger as it grows older. The first editor was Marcus L. Delevan, with whom George Gibbons was soon after associated. After 1870 William F. Graham, a practical newspaper man from Wil- limantic, was in the service of the paper. From a small local sheet it was advanced to the proper sphere of a daily, its influence being much increased in 1869, when the Visitor was absorbed. After a few years the name of the Weekly Republican was changed to that of the State Temperance Journal, when it was a large and well edited sheet, under the direction of Mr. Delevan. On the 24th of November, 1870, it was last issued at Meriden, being then sold and removed to Hartford, where it was edited by Reverend E. Dickerman. On the 7th of January, 1871, the Weekly Republican was revived by Delevan and Gibbons, and has since been continued as a weekly digest of the daily edition.
On the 10th of September, 1872, William F. Graham began the publication of the Evening Monitor, a campaign paper, in the interest of General Grant. This was merged with the morning Republican, on the 10th of November, which, after Thanksgiving that year, was changed to an evening edition. This change still more added to the favor of the Republican, which has become one of the leading evening journals of the state. On the 25th of April, 1873, Marcus L. Delevan retired from the Republican, and was succeeded by William F. Graham as editor, a position which was held by him until his death, May 17th, 1891, when he was succeeded by Thomas H.Warnock. Mr. Graham was also the proprietor of the Republican and the interests connected with it until February 15th, 1887, when they passed to the Republican Pub- lishing Company, a corporation composed mainly of 25 of the leading
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
manufacturers of the city. Of this company W. F. Rockwell was elected president; and Selah A. Hull, treasurer. The capital stock is $25,000, and the plant of the company is valued at $19,000. The Re- publican is issued from its own printing house, near the business cen- ter of the city, which was erected in 1884. It is a brick building, 46 by 75 feet, four stories high, and is thoroughly equipped with all the appliances of a modern first-class printing establishment. Very fine book and job work is here done, and several dozen men are employed. In the spring of 1891 the form of the Republican was changed to eight pages, of six columns each, which has greatly improved its appearance.
The Meriden Daily Journal is the contemporary of the Republican, and like that paper, also possesses all the features of progressive jour- nalism. It is the property of the Journal Publishing Company, which was chartered March 4th, 1886, and whose organization took place in April following, Francis Atwater being elected president of the cor- poration; T. L. Reilly, secretary; F. E. Sands, treasurer; and Lew. Allen Lipsette, editor. These are all practical newspaper men, and, devoting all their energies to making the Journal a success, have created one of the best newspaper properties in the state.
The Journal was first issued April 17th, 1886, as a seven-column, four-page paper, but was enlarged December 1st, 1886, to eight col- umns. Another enlargement was made on its first anniversary, April 17th, 1887, when another column was added to its width. In that form it was the largest daily ever printed in Meriden; but May 7th, 1888. another most important change was made. The Journal was then is- sued as a 48-column paper, folded into eight pages, which size and form have since been retained. These changes necessitated increased printing facilities, which have from time to time been secured. In the spring of 1889 the fine printing plant of Charles Bibeau & Co. was purchased, and the united interests placed in a large printing house on South Colony and Perkins streets, to which modern machinery has since been added. One of the most important additions was made about December 1st, 1889, when a large Goss web perfecting press, built especially for the Journal, was set in motion. By its use printing is done directly from stereotyped plates, at the rate of 12.000 copies per hour-a most important advance on the old style of work-this paper being one of three in the state employing that process. The other equipments of the office are of such a nature as to make this printing house complete in every department for the execution of all kinds of newspaper, job and book work.
The Journal is a non-partisan evening sheet, and has fine press dispatch and telegraph facilities, publishing the news up to the hour of issue. It is sold at three cents a copy, and has a good patronage.
The Meriden Sunday Journal was established by the above corpora- tion, its first issue appearing April 24th, 1889. The paper has been a success from the beginning, and is growing in popularity.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The Meriden Sunday News, published in 1882, by Atwater Brothers, had only a brief existence; and other Sunday papers attempted failed to attain a patronage beyond one or two issues.
Among other papers which were here established, but were removed or discontinued, was the American Sportsman, by Parker Brothers, an S-page monthly, begun in August, 1871. The following year its size was doubled. In 1873 it was sold to parties in New York, who are suc- cessfully publishing it in that city as a weekly.
In September, 1872, the Watchman's Cry, an Adventist weekly, was begun and published a few months at Meriden. The Herald, begun in 1877, was published about one year by Charles P. Ives. In 1878-9 the Diamond, a monthly amateur sheet, was published by Paul Lock- ron. W. A. Kelsey & Co. and the Kelsey Press Company have pub- lished several papers, whose contents were mainly of a miscellaneous nature, viz .: The New England Ledger, from 1877 to 1879; the Connecti- cut Advertiser, from 1880 until 1888; and since that time the Connecticut Magasine, first a bi-weekly, changed to a monthly November 1st, 1889.
The Examiner was published from 1884 until 1888 by the Examiner Publishing Company; and the Church Tidings was issued in 1887 and 1888, with Reverend W. F. Warnick as manager. About the same time the Point, edited by Charles R. Peck, was published to further the cause of prohibition, under the auspices of the town committee. Another paper of this nature, the Times of Rejoicing, was begun in 1887, C. W. Pitel being the publisher in 1889. It is devoted to the interests of the Methodist church.
The Meriden Index, a four page paper of home literature, was begun Saturday, March 19th, 1887, by E. A. Horton & Co., but the paper was suspended after four numbers were published. The firm began busi- ness in Meriden, as book and job printers, in 1874, and still continues in that line of work.
The Building News, a carefully edited monthly, devoted to the inter- ests of Meriden Building Associations, was begun in April, 1886, by Doctor Charles H. S. Davis, and continued by him eighteen months, when, having accomplished its mission, it was discontinued.
The Y. M. C. A. News was begun in July, 1886, by the Meriden Association, whose interests it represents and is a good exponent of that object. Its size has been increased several times and its useful- ness augmented. It is issued monthly.
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