USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 77
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 77
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Wilson H. Pierce, a son of Reverend Asa C. and Mary (Wilson) Pierce, was born at Northford in 1857. He received his education at the Connecticut State Normal School, at the old Newtown Academy, and at Yale, from which he graduated in 1881. After serving as the principal of the New Milford high school, he entered Yale Law School, from which he graduated in 1885. He now entered the law offices of Brewster, Tweedy & Scott, of Danbury, remained one year, and after being in New York some time, came to Waterbury in the spring of 1888, where he has since been an active practitioner.
Within the past ten years Ellis Phelan has become an attorney in the city, and since 1889 has served as judge of the probate court of the Waterbury district.
Few, if any, cities of its size surpass Waterbury in the number of its societies of secret, social or beneficial nature. Nearly every order of good repute has a representation here, and many societies are noted for their wealth and excellence, their character being known abroad as well as at home. The Masons, as the oldest order, have a Council, Commandery, a Chapter, three Blue Lodges, and a Chapter of the Eastern Star. The new Masonic Temple is one of the handsomest in the state. The Odd Fellows are also a powerful body in the city, hav- ing an Encampment, a Canton, three subordinate Lodges and an aid association. The Knights of Pythias have three Lodges, an Endow- ment Rank and a Uniformed Rank. Other minor orders are numer- ously represented, and in all there are 75 societies in the town, exclu- sive of those of a religious nature. Most of them meet in finely fur- nished halls, and many are important factors in the social life of the city.
Masonry has had a substantial foothold in the town ever since be- fore the revolution. Under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the first Lodge in "old Waterbury" was chartered July 17th, 1765, and it was duly organized on Christmas, the same year, with the following members: Jolin Hotchkiss, James Reynolds, Isaac Jones, Eldred Lewis, Amos Bull, John Lathrop, Joseph Perry, John Webster, Amos Hitchcock, Jesse Leavenworth, Robert Kink- head, Allen Sage, Hezekiah Thompson, Joel Clark.
The place of meeting where the Lodge was formed was at the house of Captain George Nichols, which stood on East Main street.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
But little more is known of this Lodge than that it is believed, from the fragmentary records which have come to hand, that John Hotchkiss was installed as the first master. About 1775 it was re- moved to Woodbury, where some of the members resided, and it was made the basis of King Solomon Lodge, No. 7, of that place.
In 1788 the Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut was estab- lished, and under the authority granted by that body Harmony Lodge, No. 42, was instituted November 7th, 1797, at the public house of Daniel Beecher, in the parish of Salem (now Naugatuck), where the first meetings were held. Most of the subsequent meetings were alternately held at Salem and Waterbury, until 1841, after which they were held at the latter place only. Many of the principal citizens of the northwestern part of the county have been members of this old Lodge, which has been very prosperous, and whose detailed history would fill a small volume.
Out of Harmony Lodge have been formed a number of other thriving subordinate Lodges, chief among which is Continental Lodge, No. 76, organized in 1869. It, also, has become a prosperous body, and embraces among its membership many of the leading citizens of the town.
Eureka Chapter, R. A. M., No. 22, was instituted at the village of Oxford, October 12th, 1826. The shifting of business interests from the hill towns to the villages in the Naugatuck valley caused the de- cline of Oxford so that few Masons remained. Hence the meetings of the Chapter at that place were discontinued in 1844, and for several years they remained suspended. In 1847 the Chapter was revived at Waterbury, where it has since been creditably maintained.
Waterbury Council, No. 21, was instituted March 21st, 1853, with 13 members. About 250 companions have since been added. Jona- than M. Andrews was the first grand master.
Clark Commandery, No. 7, was organized, under a dispensation granted early in 1865, with 26 Sir Knights, and Nathan Dikeman as the first commander. Most of the members had previously belonged to the New Haven Commandery. This has become a strong and vigorous organization, having many earnest and devoted members. In the foregoing Masonic bodies the membership approximates 800. For the benefit of unfortunate ones a board of relief is maintained, and deceased homeless brethren are tenderly laid to rest in the Masonic plot in Riverside Cemetery, upon which the order has erected a fine monument.
After meeting in various public places, usually in the halls of inns, a distinctive Masonic hall was provided, which was dedicated Decem- ber 27th, 1853. This was used by the Masons of Waterbury until November 16th, 1888, when the fine Masonic Temple was occupied, and has since been the home of all the Masonic bodies, except of a Lodge of colored Masons, lately organized, which meets in Grand
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Army Hall. Masonic Temple was erected by an association formed for that purpose, and cost to complete about $60,000. Ground for the building was broken June 27th, 1887; the corner stone was laid Octo- ber 6th, the same year, and about twelve months later the edifice was ready for use ..
Vying closely with the Masons, both in numbers and the wealth of good works, are the Odd Fellows of Waterbury. Their oldest Lodge-Nosahogan, No. 21-is the strongest in the state, having 550 members. It was instituted July 1st, 1845, and its meetings have since been regularly held. For many years the Lodge home was in the hall over the Waterbury Bank, but since 1885 the present fine quarters in the Hotchkiss Building have been occupied. Besides the Lodge property there is a fund of more than $16,000. An aid association was formed in Nosahogan Lodge, May 2d, 1884, which has proven to be one of the most useful features of the order. Several thousand dol- lars have been expended in relief and benefits.
Townsend Lodge, No. 89, was organized January 1st, 1872. It now has 290 members and funds to the amount of $7,000.
Ansantawae Encampment, No. 20, was instituted August 20th, 1853, with the following charter members: G. H. Waters, Jonathan M. Andrews, G. W. Benedict, D. S. Law, Charles W. Johnson, D. M. Wardwell, C. L. Savage, Charles W. Upton and W. H. Warner. The first named was the only survivor in 1891. The Encampment has fur- nished the following grand patriarchs: J. W. Smith, L. I. Munson, T. I. Driggs and T. R. Taylor. It has prospered, and in August, 1891, reported 280 members.
Canton Waterbury, No. 14, Patriarchs Militant, was organized June 30th, 1863, as Ives Uniformed Division, Camp No. 9. It is also flourishing, having 80 members. All these bodies meet in Odd Fel- lows Hall.
Speedwell Lodge, No. 10, Knights of Pythias, was organized in Oc- tober, 1869, with 35 members. In the course of the next seven years more than 300 members were enrolled, when the interest declined so much that a few only remained. Since 1886 the organization has again increased and there are now more than 200 members. Comstock Lodge, No. 13, of the same order, was organized in 1887, and has also about 200 members. Freiderick Wilhelm Lodge, No. 47, composed of Ger- man Knights, was organized in 1888. It now numbers about fifty members. These Lodges have handsomely furnished rooms.
E. F. Durand Division, No. 11, U. R. K. of P., was organized in 1890 by the brother whose name the Division bears. More than a hun- dred persons now belong, and the Division has become one of the most proficient in the state.
Section 248, Endowment Rank, K. of P., numbered in 1891 about thirty members.
Some of the beneficiary orders are very strong in the city, and the
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Ancient Order of Foresters have eight societies in the town. The Workmen also have a good representation, and the Royal Arcanum is in high esteem.
Wadhams Post, No. 49, G. A. R.,* was instituted August 14th, 1879, with 34 charter members. About half of those first mustered still be- long to the Post, which had, April 1st, 1891, 236 members in good standing. In all 25 members have died since the organization of the Post. The name of the Post was selected in honor of the three Wad- hams brothers, Edward, Lieutenant Henry W. and Captain Luman W., all killed in battles in the spring of 1864. The Post had its first public installation January 2d, 1880, in its new quarters, in Johnson's Hall. In May, the same year, Memorial day was here first observed in a pub- lic manner by the survivors of the late war, under the direction of the Post, and the custom has since been yearly maintained, the community having become much interested in this exercise, aud warmly coop- erates.
In 1880 Post Commander George Robbins appointed a committee, composed of George W. Tucker, Fred. A. Spencer and D. B. Hamilton, to solicit funds for a soldiers' monument and to attend to the erection of the same. All of these comrades had been officers in the war, and energetically applied themselves to the work assigned them. They completed their labors in 1884. The Post as an organized body cou- tributed $2,637, and individual members gave $1,983 more, making a total of $4,620 for that object. When the monument was dedicated, October 23d, 1884, the Post took a most prominent part in the ceremo- nies. The post has also expended about $2,500 for the relief of suffering or needy comrades. The present fine and spacious hall was formally dedicated January 1st, 1884. The fair held the latter part of the month netted $2,500 for the Soldiers' Monument.
The Post commanders have been in the order named: Harrison Whitney, George Robbins (2 years), Fred. A. Spencer, Daniel Kiefer (2 years), Oscar W. Cornish, John M. Gallagher, George L. Platt, James F. Gaunt, John S. Hayes and L. W. Holmes.
Woman's Relief Corps, No. 1, auxiliary to this Post, was organized November 16th, 1882. It has ever been a valuable adjunct.
Chatfield Camp, Sons of Veterans, was organized September 23d, 1884, and also held its meetings in Grand Army Hall, but disbanded February 15th, 1890.
The Waterbury Soldiers' Monument is one of the handsomest in the state. The design, which is instructive as well as artistic and pleasing, was prepared by George Edwin Bissell, who had been a member of the 23d C. V. Regiment. At the age of 14 years he came to Waterbury, where he remained until his enlistment, August 20th, 1862. After the war he turned his attention to art and sculpture, with eminent success. The bronze figures on the monument were made under his direction in France.
* From data by Comrade George Robbins.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The monument stands off the west end of the green, on a circular mound, 40 feet in diameter, which is held in place by a granite wall, two feet high. At the corners are projecting pedestals, on which stand gas lamps, held in place by posts made of bronzed cannon and mus- kets. The main dies are composed of Quincy granite, and are sur- mounted by a bronze figure of " Victory," ten feet high. This heroic statue faces west. In her right hand she bears a wreath for the vic- tors; in her left a bunch of olive branches for the defeated. On the west side of the main die is a figure, showing a land engagement, and on the east side one showing a naval engagement. The north and the south sides bear appropriate inscriptions from the ready pen of Doctor Joseph Anderson.
The pedestal or upper die is relieved by four fine and expressive bronze figures of the " Farmer " and the " Mechanic," responding to the call of their country; the " Veteran," returned from the war and meditating on the change from soldiery to a citizen's life; and an inci- dent illustrating one of the phases of " Emancipation." Each one af- fords a rich study.
It will be seen that the monument was erected to the dead and living alike-their patriotism being equally brought to mind by this fine memorial, which is the only one in all New England erected solely by the means secured from subscriptions by the people direct. No town or municipal aid whatever was given. The entire cost was $30,623.46.
The colony committee and the proprietors of the town made lib- eral grants of land for the establishment and maintenance of schools. But, unfortunately, these allotments of land were not judiciously han- dled, so that much less was realized from them than was expected.
In 1698 the colony passed an act that "Each town having a less number of householders than seventy shall from year to year be pro- vided of a sufficient school master, to teach children and youth to read and write for one half of the year, and that each town shall pay forty shillings for every thousand pounds in their respective country lists towards the maintenance of the school master in the town."
Under this rule of the court the town attempted to establish a school, in December, 1698, the record favoring such action being: "Ye town granted thirty shillings with ye last year's rent of ye schooll land for ye incuragment of a scoal for four months or longer, if it can be obtained."
The first school was established at the Center, but for 40 years there was only a small house, about 14 by 16 feet. If possible, the services of a schoolmaster were had four months per year, in the winter, and a "school dame" often taught a few months in summer. In 1709 Thomas Judd, Jr., was the teacher. New schools were established at Judd's Meadow (Naugatuck) in 1730, and near the same time one was opened at Wooster's Swamp. In 1743 a new school house was built at the Center.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
About 1785 an academy building, standing on the south margin of the green, was occupied by Joseph Badger for a select school, and not long after there were two schools kept in the building, one for each sex, which together had 150 pupils. The house was two stories high and had a gamibrel roof. In course of time it was cut down to one story and used for a public school. Later it was removed and con- verted into a residence about 1835. A new stone academy was erected on the site of the city hall in 1836, which was used more than a score of years.
The principal interests of the public schools of the town are in Center district, which now includes all the city of Waterbury, and also a large portion of the town outside of the city limits. As at present constituted, it was organized under a special charter granted by the legislature in 1880. But the original Center district was organized in the summer of 1849, and after that year school houses were built in the several sub-districts, as the wants of the district demanded. In 1853 all the schools of the Center district were made free to the in- habitants residing in the district.
The first high school building was ready for use in February, 1868. It accommodated 300 pupils. All the other school buildings in the dis- trict at that time seated 1,425 pupils. On the night of December 15th, 1870, the high school building was burned, and the hard times then prevailing prevented its being rebuilt until 1873-4. It is an imposing building with 10 rooms, and cost nearly $60,000. In other parts of the district fine houses have been erected in late years. the one on West Bank street being completed in 1891. It is one of the most handsome in the city. The foundation is of granite and the superstructure is composed of pressed brick, with white and red sandstone trimmings. In the tower a public clock has been placed for the accommodation of that part of the city. It is also the largest school edifice in the dis- trict, containing 12 rooms. The Clay street building, but recently completed, is also very fine and costly. It contains eight rooms. In all there are 14 buildings and 84 rooms. The value of the public school property is more than half a million of dollars, and since the organization of the district about one and a half million dollars have been expended for all school purposes. The yearly expenditure is now more than $150,000. The total enumeration of children of school age for 1891 was 7,545, a gain of more than 500 over the preceding year. There are six evening schools.
For a score of years M. S. Crosby has been the principal of the high school, and also serves as superintendent of public schools. There are, besides, employed in the district three male and 74 fe- male teachers.
In the town, outside of Center district, there are schools at Hope- ville, East Mountain, Saw Mill Plains, Buck's Hill, Oronoke, East Farms, Bunker Hill, Waterville and Town Plot. In several of these
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
districts there are fine modern buildings. The one at Saw Mill Plains, erected in 1884, has a beautiful location. Between $4,000 and $5,000 is annually expended on the schools outside of Center district.
In addition to the foregoing there are in the city two splendid schools, maintained by the Roman Catholics -- the Convent of Notre Dame, a branch of Ville Maria Convent of Montreal, Canada, and St. Mary's Parochial school ;* the Home School, the Hillside Avenue School, the Waterbury Industrial School for Girls, and St. Margaret's Diocesan School of Connecticut. The value of the private school prop- erty approximates $200,000.
St. Margaret's School for girls stands on a spacious and elevated lot in the northern part of the city. The edifice, which is a large frame, was erected a quarter of a century ago for school purposes by a joint stock company, After some changes the Episcopalians of Waterbury purchased and presented it free of all incumbrance to the Diocese of Connecticut, in 1875, and since that time it has been successfully con- ducted with the above name. As many as 150 students have been in attendance at one time. For a number of years Reverend Francis T. Russell has been the rector and Miss Mary R. Hillard the lady principal, assisted by a large corps of teachers.
Hillside Avenue School was opened in 1885 by Miss Mary Abbott, a graduate of Vassar, as principal. She still stands in that relation, having the services of half a dozen teachers. A legal corporation was formed in 1SSS to manage the affairs of the school.
The Waterbury Industrial School for Girls is a worthy and meri- torious enterprise which, with the occupancy in 1891 of its fine new edifice, on Central avenue, has become fully established. The school is in session from the first Saturday of October to the last Saturday of April, and is designed to teach young girls the useful arts of domestic economy and household life. In 1891 the principal officers were : President, Mrs. S. E. Harrison ; vice-president, Mrs. A. S. Chase ; sec- retary, Mrs. Gilman C. Hill : treasurer, Mrs. H. L. Peck ; superintend- ent, Mrs. P. B. Norton ; assistant superintentent, Mrs. Charles Stock- ing ; first directress, Mrs. E. H. Shannon ; second directress, Mrs. R. A. Lowe.
The public library has for many years sustained an important re- lation to the educational life of Waterbury. Near the beginning of the present century Union Library was formed and after a period of usefulness gave place to others-to the Waterbury Library, some time about 1820 and at a later period to the Young Men's Institute Library. The latter body was organized November 19th, 1852, and in three years had accumulated a library of 1,500 volumes. Twelve years later the books numbered 3,000, and about that time they were placed at the disposition of the trustees of the Bronson Free Library. This library is one of the noblest objects in the city and ranks as one of the largest
*See account of Catholic churches.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
and wealthiest free libraries in the state of Connecticut. It was named for its founder, Silas Bronson, a native of Middlebury, but who was at the time of his death a citizen of New York. In his will he made a bequest of $200,000 to the city of Waterbury to be employed and expended in the establishment and support of a free library for all the inhabitants of the town. In 1868 the charter of the city was amended to take charge of the "Silas Bronson Free Library Fund," which was placed in the care of twelve agents, viz .: Greene Hendrick, Willard Spencer, T. J. Dougherty, J. W. Webster, N. J. Welton, F. J. Kingsbury, S. W. Kellogg, Theodore I. Driggs, Nathan Dikeman, D. F. Maltby, William Brown and Lucien S. Bronson. This board pro- vided a building for the library, which was opened to the public in April, 1870, and has since been largely patronized. The library has attained vast proportions and has outgrown its present quarters. A commodious new library building for its use will, in the near future, be erected in the new city park, formerly the old town burial ground on Grand street, which will afford room for years to come. The affairs of the library have been prudently managed and the fund has been increased to more than a quarter of a million of dollars. Some of the foregoing agents have served on the board continuously, since their first appointment, F. J. Kingsbury being treasurer of the fund in all that period. About $12,000 is expended yearly in maintaining the library, which now has more than 45,000 volumes, covering almost every subject of thought. All the most valuable books are purchased as they appear, and the collection of reference books is especially large and valuable. The reading room contains most of the current stand- ard periodicals and is visited by hundreds of persons daily. For many years Homer F. Bassett has been the efficient librarian, and his ser- vices have made this one of the best regulated libraries in the country. Miss Helen Sperry and Miss Cora F. Laird are among the principal assistants. The president of the library is John O'Neil, the secretary T. I. Driggs ; the treasurer, F. J. Kingsbury-all of them being on the board of agents. The other members of the board are: E. W. Don- ald, D. F. Maltby, S. W. Kellogg, Charles R. Baldwin, Lewis A. Platt, Thomas Donahue, A. S. Chase, James Horigan and Emanuel Reardon. This board very properly represents many shades of opinions and be- liefs, but cooperating for a common purpose, they have made the library an object of common interest. Its influence upon the community has thus been very marked and highly beneficial in promoting the culture of many citizens.
Another educational and also semi-religious body is the Young Men's Christian Association, of Waterbury, which was organized in October, 1883. This is the second body of that nature, the first one having passed out of existence after keeping up its organization about ten years. The present association continues prosperous, having in 1891 about 400 members. Its first president was F. J. Kingsbury, but
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
since 1889 that position has been filled by L. J. Atwood. The general secretary since December 1st, 1886, has been F. L. Willis. A board of fifteen directors, composed of members from the Protestant churches of the city, manages the affairs of the organization and expends about $2,700 yearly in carrying on its work, which embraces several depart- ments of charitable and Christian effort. The home of the association is in the Lampson Block, on Bank street, which has become too small to accommodate the membership. Funds are being raised to erect a building especially for the use of the association, north of the public green, which will not only be capacious, but attractive in its appear- ance. It is estimated to cost $50.000, and $10,000 of that sum has been donated by Henry W. Scovill. The association has a well stocked reading room, and imparts a regular course of study in its class rooms. Since the fall of 1888 a gymnasium has also been maintained for the benefit of its members.
Although most of the first settlers of Waterbury had been trained in the religious beliefs of those days and were members of the church in Farmington, a number of circumstances prevented them from being from the beginning a religious community in the same sense as the other towns of the county. The plantation of Mattatuck was " remote in one corner of the wilderness," which made the task of building homes and protecting them against savage inroads so burdensome that they had "much charge, pains and hardships," which prevented them from having the full enjoyment of privileges which were so dear to other colonists. Nearly a dozen years elapsed before they had a minister settled among them. And yet the planters of Matta- tuck had early made provision for the religious wants of their com- munity. By one of the requirements of their original articles three " propriaties," valued at £150 each, were set aside for "public and pious uses." One was reserved for the minister. As a further en- couragement they added, in 1679, a home lot of two acres and other lands, until the aggregate was 20 acres to "be and remain for the occu- pation of the minister of said town forever." Still the settlement of a minister was delayed, and save occasional preaching the settlers had to journey to Farmington to attend religious meetings for about ten years. Then their greater numbers and prosperity encouraged them to petition for a minister of their own, which favor was in due time granted them. Since that time religious development has kept pace with the growth of the town. In 1891 there were in the town the fol- lowing churches, nearly all of them being in the city of Waterbury: 2 Congregational, 2 Episcopal, 2 Baptist, 5 Methodist, 4 Roman Catho- lic, 1 Advent, 1 German Lutheran, 1 Swedish, and 1 African, in addi- tion to several places where union services are held.
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