USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 45
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 45
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
the building overhung the water. Here for more than a score of years he prospered as a merchant and shipper. He was very public- spirited, projecting or aiding many public improvements. After the commercial decay of Derby Landing he and Benjamin Hodge engaged in the raising of garden seeds, using the warehouse for a storage room. In this business they were successful. Leman Stone died in May, 1847, aged 96 years, but to this day his name is associated with those stirring times in Derby's history, which are recalled by the ruins of the old Stone warehouse. About 1800 Henry Whitney was in trade, engaged largely as a shipper of live stock to the West Indies. He died in 1811, aged 75 years. Canfield Gillette, the first president of the Derby Fishing Company, was an active business man in the same period. Robert Gates and others were later merchants. Every branch of trade had many representatives in 1890.
J. W. Barber, in his " Historical Collections of Connecticut," said of this place, as it appeared to him in 1836, that Derby Landing had " about 50 dwellings, four or five mercantile stores and a number of mechanic shops. These buildings stand mostly on three short streets, running parallel with the river and on the side of the hill, which from its summit descends with considerable abruptness to the water, and of course the eastermost street is considerably elevated above the others."
The Congregational and Episcopal churches are spoken of as being a mile north of the Landing, or about midway between it and the "old town." The new Birmingham bridge, completed in 1831, at a cost of $14,000, and the few straggling buildings of Birmingham, which had just been founded, were visible in the distance to the northi- west.
Of Derby and its early surroundings, J. W. Osborne, son of Cap- tain Stephen Osborne and grandson of Captain George Gorham, both of the revolutionary army, who is now an octogenarian, writes as fol- lows:
" When I came to Derby Narrows in 1817, I found a ferry in full operation on the Ousatonic river. Its home was on the Derby side of the river, a few rods north of the Derby Sash and Blind factory as now situated. There were two packets (sloops) running between Derby and New York. One was named ' The Mary,' the other ' The William.' The first was owned by French, Gates & Co .; the other by Captain James Lewis, who was also a merchant. Both carried passen- gers and freight to and from New York. While the season was fav- orable they made one trip a week. The ' Mary ' left Derby on Mon- day evenings; the 'William' Friday evenings. Their freight consisted of ship timber, wood and manufactured articles, such as women's shoes, hogsheads, barrels and shooks, live poultry and other things, such as a country town would naturally export. They brought back merchandise for the stores, the heavy articles consisting of salt,
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sugar and molasses, with several full loads of staves for the coopers during the summer, and leather for the shoemakers, from which many thousands of pairs of shoes were made. There was also a packet called the 'Caroline,' owned by Captain William Tompson, which made trips between here and New York for a while.
" There were at this time but two stores in Derby Narrows. The principal one was that of French, Gates & Co., the firm consisting of Colonel Robert Gates, Bazaleel Gates, Jerry and Samuel French; the other of Captain James Lewis; and a store Uptown, owned by Josiah Smith. All these kept a general assortment of dry goods, groceries, hardware and stone ware, with liquors, not as a rule to be drank on the premises, but to be carried away in bottles and jugs the same as molasses. A few years later Lyman Osborn built a store for mer- cantile purposes, and William Bassett & Son bought out Captain James Lewis and added to the stock boots and shoes. There were no saloons in the place. There were seven shoemakers, three of whom lived Uptown, employing many workmen manufacturing shoes for the New York market; the others doing custom work.
" There were six coopers, two of whom carried on business in Sugar street, above the present Ousatonic bridge. There were three tailor shops, four blacksmith shops, one hatter, one saddle and harness maker, who at a later period made the collars for the horses of Presi- dent Jackson. There was a place where one man made small articles from brass, also a manufactory of furniture, where a number of hands were employed. There was a tanning and currying establishment, which employed a number of workmen, and turned out a fine quality of leather, which was owned by a Mr. Warden, who in a few years sold out to Wallace & Wheeler, and they, sometime later, sold to Isaac J. Gilbert. The latter was a firm temperance man, and to be re- venged on him his whole establishment was set on fire by an enemy and burned to the ground. The incendiary was consigned to state prison, where he died.
" My grandfather, George Gorham, before my day, built vessels at the Gorham place, half a mile below Derby Landing. In my boyhood Ezra Hubbell built the sloop . Laura' in the yard of Samuel Hubbell, east of the river road running through the Narrows and a number of feet higher than the road; north of the street running past the car- riage shop of the late Jesse Brown to Bank street, near to the old Derby Bank building. The descent to the river was so steep that when launched she shot with the speed of a rocket into her native element, swiftly crossed the narrow stream and grounded near to the meadows. A rope was attached to her and brought to the shore, and by the aid of those who came to the launching, she was drawn to the dock. Talmadge Beardsley built for John Lewis, son of Captain James Lewis, the 'Commodore Hull.' She was the first center board vessel
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
ever run on the river. She took the place of the . William,' as a packet to and from New York, and was a success.
"In those days there came up the river vessels with two masts, flat-bottomed, drawing little water, loaded with lumber. They had large lee boards to keep them from drifting when beating against the wind, answering the same purpose as a center board, though not so handy. They were called periaugers. Messrs. Zephaniah and Israel Hallock built a number of vessels above the present bridge, at Sugar street, and later carried on shipbuilding at Derby Landing. There were no builders in the whole country that stood higher in the esti- mation of seafaring men.
"John L. Tomlinson was the only lawyer, but he had a student by the name of Ira L. Ufford, who soon after practiced law in this place, so that in our local courts one of these attorneys would be for the plaintiff, the other for defendant.
" There were two churches in ' Uptown,' neither having chimnies or bells, though the Episcopal church had a steeple, being the more modern of the two. Not long after it had both a chimney and a good sized bell. It was sitnated on the west side of the road leading to ' Uptown,' a short distance south of the village, on the high bank of the Naugatuck river. The rector was the Reverend Calvin White, as genial and pleasant a man as could be found, who finally became a Roman Catholic, but always was beloved and respected. The old church on the hill was called the Presbyterian church. It was very old and nearly square. Its pulpit was so high and so far away from the hearers that a large sounding-board (so called) was placed over the pulpit, so that the congregation could the more easily hear the preacher. The pews were square, high and perpendicular, surmounted by a baluster or banister, as now called, with seats on three sides, and a door on the other, so that the people in the pews would be facing three different ways, some with their backs toward the minister. These churches had no stoves or fires in the coldest weather, no car- pets on the floor or cushions on the seats, though our mothers did have their foot stoves, but the sermons were of such a nature that the hearers feared a warmth quite different from that of God's own sweet summer.
" Reverend Zephaniah Swift was pastor of this church for over 30 years, and was considered one of the most faithful and efficient pastors of his day.
"The physician in ' Uptown' was Doctor Kimberly, and those in Derby Narrows were old Doctor Crafts and his son, Doctor Pearl Crafts. This latter gentleman had his seat in the old church directly under a place in the roof where the shingles had been blown off. He was worshipping with the congregation, for he was a good man, when suddenly quite a quantity of water which accumulated froin the
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
melted snow, came down upon the doctor's head. He sprang from his seat exclaiming: 'I am sitting under the droppings of the santuary.'
" A Boston coaster, commanded by a Captain Wheeler, whose wharf was in Shelton, made regular trips to Boston. Her cargo, as far as Fairfield county was concerned, was principally corn.
"There were thousands of shad caught in the Ousatonic, and when sold at the seines where caught, brought about $6 a hundred. Shad of fair size were retailed from 10 to 15 cents each. I once saw a shad which weighed 73 pounds, and heard the proprietor of the seine remark: 'That shad ought bring a quarter of a dollar.'
" A vile young man by the name of David Cain stole poultry from Captain William Thompson and was sentenced to be publicly whipped, which was done in Derby Narrows, near the Mansion House. He was stripped of all clothing down to his waist, and while the lash was being laid on to his bare back Captain Thompson stood by singing out: 'Lay it on well, Mr. Sheriff, lay it well. But tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon that the pole he was forced to hug was the liberty pole with the cap of liberty at its top.'
" The old town house stood ' Uptown,' nearly opposite the home of the late Joseph H. Remer, and near by were the stocks where criminals were confined for a short time, usually with both feet through the holes, when they were unmercifully pelted with eggs, rotten or otherwise, by a mob of young men. A culprit was here once confined, but only by one foot, when he was so pelted that he became frantic, and rising on one knee, seized a large stone with both hands, dashed it with all his might upon the lock, broke it to pieces, lifted the plank, took out his foot and ran like a frightened deer, with the whole pack of tormentors at his heels, but he outran them all and escaped.
" A tremendous gale passed over all this part of the country Sep- tember 4th, 1822. No other gale in these parts has equaled it since. The wind was from the south, and so strong that the windows facing the south were washed more or less by water blown from Long Island sound, and the salt was found dried to the glass next day.
" In the country tailors and shoemakers came to the homes of the farmers and made up the shoes and boots for the whole family and clothes for the men, the farmers furnishing the leather and cloth. Women taught the schools in summer and men in winter. All the teachers ' boarded round.' On very old houses a horseshoe would be found nailed to the house as a protection against witches. Many old men wore quentes. Long flowing beards were not tolerated, and were in those days not seen unless worn by strangers, who at that time were usually shysters. The old gentlemen when in their best dress wore a cutaway blue coat with brass buttons, a buff colored vest, short breeches with knee buckles, white top boots and long worsted or silk stockings reaching above the knees, so as to cover the limbs between
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
the top of the boots and the pants; with powdered hair. It was a most elegant dress when worn by men fully developed."
The principal shoe shops spoken of by Mr. Osborne were at " Up- town " and were carried on by the Remer Brothers, Lewis and Abram. George Blakeman was also a shoe manufacturer and a merchant, being for a long time a member of the firm of Blakeman & Downes. The principal cooperages were those of Willis and Levi Hotchkiss and Isaac Thompson, at the Narrows; and on Sugar street were John Car- rington and Alva Bunnell. It is said of the latter that in a single season he manufactured 1,000 casks for the New Orleans market. After the development of Birmingham as a manufacturing center these interests gave place to other industries, employing power machinery.
The first machinery in Derby operated by water power was in the small grist mill, whose construction was ordered by the inhabitants at a meeting held in the summer of 1681. It was agreed to build the dam and pay $20 to some suitable man who should undertake the work. Doctor John Hull engaged to do this, and the mill was built on Beaver brook, half a mile east from Cliff street, in Ansonia. It may have been operated more than a score of years, when larger facilities being re- quired, a new mill site was improved, on the Naugatuck, where is now the dam of the Birmingham Power Company, on the " Old river," so called. It was probably built by Captain Joseph Hull sometime in 1706, and with the additions made to it, became widely known as Samuel Hull's mills. But more generally they were called the " Yellow mills." Besides the machinery for grinding grain, there were also saw and oil mills. The latter was in full operation, more than a century and a half ago, much oil being shipped in 1745; and the shipment of linseed oil and kiln dried corn meal from these mills, for many years thereafter constituted a considerable interest. While the property of John Lewis, he endeavored to build a canal to the mills so that boats could load directly at that point. At this place wool was also carded and cloth fulled until after the beginning of the present century. From Lewis these interests passed to Sheldon Smith, of New York, who re- moved them when his Birmingham enterprises were inaugurated.
Nearly a hundred years ago another oil mill was built on Two Mile brook. This remained, but was converted to other uses. It was long known as the Hitchcock mill. In later years it was used as a turning shop. On this stream other important improvements were made, the sash and blind factory of David Bradley & Son having a capacity for turning out large quantities of work. Much of the material used in the first buildings of Birmingham was there prepared. On a less extensive scale the mills are still continued. On this brook was also the Gilbert Plane Factory; and at other points in the town small in- dustries were established, but ceased to exist after a few years.
At the Landing the principal manufactories in the present century have been, aside from the ship-building, the tannery of Isaac J. Gilbert,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
later carried on by his son, A. H. Gilbert, and the mills of the Derby Building & Lumber Company. The latter business was established in 1836, by Willis and Lewis Hotchkiss, who had the mill at Birmingham. In 1840 other members were added and the firm became Hotchkiss, Clark & Co. In 1850 they consolidated with Lindley & Johnson, of Ansonia, when the above company was formed with a capital of $55,000. The plant at Derby Landing was then established. In 1868 the mills were swept away by fire, but more spacious ones were erected in their stead, which have since been occupied. Steam power is used and a large business is transacted, employment heing given to half a hundred men. In 1890 W. E. Downes was the president of the company, but its general manager was Clark N. Rogers.
Burtville is the name applied to a small village, below the Landing or Narrows, and extending along the road to Turkey hill. There are several hundred inhabitants, most of whom find occupation elsewhere, the place having no business of its own. In addition to the several dozen residences there is a mission chapel, which was occupied in July, 1879. The site was donated by Mrs. Almon Ticknor and the house was built under the direction of a committee composed of Lewis Young, Almon Ticknor and David Bradley. In this building a Sabbath school is regularly maintained and other religious meetings are also occa- sionally held.
The flourishing borough of Birmingham occupies the point of land lying between the Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers, at the place of their junction. The most of this area is elevated, giving the village an attractive and picturesque location, and having good natural drain- age, tends to the healthfulness of the place. In scenic surroundings, but few villages in the state surpass Birmingham. The Housatonic is here already characterized by some of the features which higher up that stream have given it character as one of the most picturesque rivers in the Union. On the east, standing in bold relief, is fine old Sentinel hill, whose lawn like fields make it look still more attractive; and on the north are the Naugatuck hills, with their varied forms, stretching beyond West Ansonia until they culminate in Great hill, half a dozen miles distant. These features, coupled with its prosperity as a manufacturing center, have conduced to make the village a place of many handsome homes, elegant business blocks and attractive public improvements, which also indicate the thrift and prosperity of the inhabitants. It became a borough in 1851 and the population in 1890 was about 5,000. There are all the improvements of a progres- sive American town, national and savings banks, daily and weekly papers, a score of manufacturing establishments, four fine churches, an elegant school building, and other interests noted in detail in the following pages.
Although at Hawkins' point, on the Housatonic, had been estab- lished the first trading post in all the valley, several hundred years ago,
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business had been diverted to Derby Landing: and sixty years ago the village site was nothing, practically, but a farm.
The founder of Birmingham was Sheldon Smith, of New York. He was a native of Derby, being born here March 16th, 1791. Removing to New York, his energy and perseverance enabled him to acquire considerable means in that city and Newark. He now returned to his native place and determined to build up a manufacturing village. To this end he bought the old "yellow mills " property, the Smith farm and the Hawkins Point property. The old dam was thoroughly rebuilt and the mill site being vacated, a long raceway was dug along the side hill to a reservoir at Birmingham. A head and fall of 14 feet was secured by this system and many new sites were afforded. On these improvements work was commenced September 1st, 1833, and the following year they were completed. The same season the first wheel in Birmingham was turned, being in the grist mill built on the raceway west of the reservoir. It was built by Fitch Smith, a brother of Sheldon, and contained some of the old " yellow mills " machinery. The building afterward become a part of the Shelton Tack Company's property and still remains a humble pioneer of the many large factory buildings afterward erected.
In carrying out these plans Sheldon Smith expended large sums of money, much of it being lost in the vain effort to redeem his prom- ise that the new village should be connected with New York by a steamboat line. He built a wharf at Hawkins' point and constructed a costly dyke so that boats could reach it more safely, all to no purpose, for in 1837 that scheme was abandoned as impracticable.
Not long after these improvements had been begun Sheldon Smith had enlisted the interest of Anson G. Phelps, a copper merchant in New York, in this project, with the result of securing him as a partner. In the course of a few years, the firm of Smith & Phelps was dissolved and the work was carried on by Mr. Phelps alone, who, when the suc- cess of this village was assured, founded Ansonia. Sheldon Smith's real estate interests passed to his brother, Fitch. Disappointed in the realization of his hopes, he returned to New York city, where he died in 1863.
Until the spring of 1836 the village on the point was known by the name of Smithville, but, in May, 1836, the name of Birmingham was adopted as being more appropriate for a manufacturing town. The subsequent events have demonstrated the wisdom of making this change. Of this place, J. W. Barber said, July, 1836: " The village was commenced in 1834. There are at present about twenty dwelling houses and three mercantile stores; there is in, and about to be put in operation, one factory for making sheet copper and copper wire; one for making augers; one for making carriage springs and axles; one for making nails or tacks; one for flannels and satinets, with some other minor manufacturing establishments. The water by which the
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mills and factories are put in operation is taken from the Naugatuck by a canal which extends upward of a mile and a half northward of the village. A steamboat is about to commence running between this place and New York. *
* * A small round structure forms a reservoir from which water is supplied to the inhabitants of the village. It is raised fifty feet from a well, under the grist mill, on the canal below."
Considering that the first house was built in 1835 this growth was quite rapid. For the first six years John Clous, an Englishman, was the agent of the proprietors and had staked off the first streets, graded them and planted trees along their sides. The first lots were sold on the promise that they would be improved within a year's time, so as to discourage undue speculation. This had the effect of encouraging a permanent growth, which was but little affected by the stringent times of 1837, and much capital and enterprise were drawn to Birmingham. For the next score of years manufacturing was so popular an occupation in the Naugatuck valley, that many new in- dustries were projected in Birmingham. Some of these were ill-timed, and, consequently, short-lived. Others outgrew the capacity of their original quarters and were transferred to more spacious plants else- where, where, in most instances they continued to prosper. In this era was developed much inventive and mechanical skill, whose use in the establishments of Birmingham and Ansonia has given their prod- ucts good reputation.
The Phelps Copper Mills were, next to the grist mill of Fitch Smith, one of the earliest industries in Birmingham. They were commenced early in 1836 on the lowest power of the raceway, near the old wharf, by Anson G. Phelps & Co. Peter Phelps was the agent at Birmingham; Almon Farrel was the millwright. The building was so spacious that it was called the " big copper mill." It had chilled rolls and other machinery brought from England, this being one of the pioneer industries of the kind in America. Many of the workmen were Welsh and English, about 100 persons being employed. In the fall of 1838 the mill was burned, but a one-story stone factory immedi- ately took its place the same season. Business was now more actively carried on than ever until 1854, when the interest was removed to An- sonia and merged with the copper mill at that place. Several years later the building was occupied by the Hawkins Manufacturing Com- pany, and after 1865 became the property of the present owners, A. H. & C. B. Alling, the site being occupied by their liosiery mill.
The interest which became known as the Shelton Tack Company was contemporary with the above. It was founded in the spring of 1836 by Edward N. Shelton and Nathan C. Sanford. They were per- sons of means, and at once warmly identified themselves with the new village, building a factory on the north side of Main street. The business prospered, but in June, 1841, Mr. Sanford died, universally
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lamented. Soon after the firm became E. N. Shelton. In 1854 the Shelton Company was formed, with a capital of $80,000, which has been increased to $100,000. The plant at Birmingham being too small, a branch factory was operated in Shelton, to which place the entire business has in later years been transferred. Fine small bolts, tacks and small nails are manufactured, and half a dozen buildings are occupied. More than 100 men are employed, and the company, under the management of E. N. Shelton, George Blakeman and E. De Forest Shelton, continues to be one of the leading industries of this locality.
The Plumb & Beach Woolen Factory was also built in 1836. The principal mill, which was a stone building, stood on the north side of Main street, near the above factory. It was carried on successfully about 10 years by David W. Plumb and Benjamin B. Beach in the manufacture of woolen goods, such as flannels, beavers and cassi- meres. Blankets were also made. At the end of the period named, Mr. Plumb removed to Ansonia, and the factory was soon after de- voted to other uses. Upon the site of the stone mill E. N. Shelton erected a large brick block, a part of which is now occupied by minor manufacturers.
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