USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 85
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 85
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In the rear of the parsonage and on ground extending to Meadow street one of the largest and most attractive parish houses in the state has been erected. It was appropriately dedicated April 10th, 1888. The building cost more than $26,000.
The Parish House Association was formed December 10th, 1888, and has since ably carried forward its chosen work. It yearly main- tains a course of lectures and also provides instruction in special studies. Many of the most active of the members of the parish belong to it.
In this house are kept a well-stocked reading room, opened Novem- ber 28th, 1888, and the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library was opened soon after. The latter is supported by an endowment made October 24th, 1888, when J. H. Whittemore set aside a fund of $12,000 for that purpose. The gift is in memory of his well-beloved son, J. Howard Whittemore, Jr., who died May 28th, 1888. In 1891 the library contained 1,800 volumes and was being enlarged at the rate of several hundred volumes yearly.
The Sunday school, which now meets in the parish house, was first organized as early as 1818. It has ever since been a most useful ad- junct of the church, and is now in a very prosperous condition.
The names of the deacons, together with their appointment and removal, since the first organization of the society, are as follows:" Samuel Lewis, chosen 1783, died 1788; Gideon Hotchkiss, chosen 1783, died 1807: Elisha Stevens, chosen 1788, died 1813; Calvin Spencer, chosen 1791, died 1846; Truman Porter, chosen 1813, died 1838; Thad- deus Scott, chosen 1813, died 1832; Lucian F. Lewis, chosen 1834, re- moved 1853; Sheldon Hoadley, chosen 1838, died 1858; Samuel Hop- kins, chosen 1853, term expired 1879; David R. Stevens, chosen 1858, removed 1863; William E. Brown, chosen 1858, removed 1861; Julius Tuttle, chosen 1863, removed 1867; Lucian D. Warner, chosen 1868, term expired 1881; Edward P. Thompson, chosen 1868, died 1868; Horace Williams, chosen 1876, term expired 1883; James Smith, cho- sen 1877, term expired 1885; Samuel Hopkins, chosen 1879, term ex- pired 1887; Lucian D. Warner, chosen 1881, term expired 1889; Wil- lard Hopkins, chosen 1883; James Smith, chosen 1885, now in office: Samuel Hopkins, chosen 1887, died 1889; Frank Warren, chosen 1889, now in office; Lucian D. Warner, chosen 1889, now in office; S. F. Payne, chosen 1891, now in office.
St. Michael's (Protestant Episcopal) parish was formed in 1786.
* In April, 1876, the church changed the deacon's term of office from life to eight years.
728
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
A considerable number of the early settlers of the southwestern part of the town were churchmen, and they were occasionally visited by missionaries of the Church of England, who held services in private houses. In 1734 Reverend Samuel Johnson came from Stratford and celebrated the rite of baptism. The same year the Church Litany was first used in the public worship conducted by Reverend Mr. Arnold, of the Foreign Society. After this period occasional services were held. In 1784, a project to establish a church was encouraged by Abel Gunn, who deeded a tract of land, worth $100 in silver coin, to help pay rates, etc. The formation of an Episcopal parish, within the limits of the Salem Society, followed February 16th, 1786, at a meeting where 17 persons were present. Thomas Osborn moderated and Samuel Gunn was the clerk. In 1803 the parish voted to build a church, 34 by 40 feet, and to add a steeple. Jobamalı Gunn furnished a site on the hill near his residence, at Gunntown, several miles southwest of Naugatuck village, and the house was there built. It was a plain frame. A bell was placed in the steeple about 1810. About the same time the parish in Oxford and St. Michael's were served by the same rector, Reverend Chauncey Prindle, and there were but 57 families in both parishes.
In 1830 it became evident that the center of population would shift from the hill to the meadows along the Naugatuck and it was deter- mined to remove the church edifice to that locality. Daniel Beecher donated a site south of the Congregational meeting house, to which the frame work of the building was moved. The house was finished in 1832 and was consecrated the same year by Bishop Brownell. In a repaired condition it was used until August 15th, 1875, when it was sold to the Naugatuck school board and was removed to make way for the new church edifice. The corner stone of this was laid September 29th, 1875, and May 19th, 1876, the church was consecrated by Bishop Williams. It is a fine edifice of brick, trimmed with stone, in the modernized style of Gothic architecture, and cost $20,000. Much of the credit for its erection is due to the rector at that period, Rev- erend J. L. Scott, whose energies in this direction were untiring until the heavy task was accomplished.
In 1860 a rectory was built on an adjoining lot, which was first oc- cupied by Reverend C. F. Woodruff, who left the parish to become a chaplain in the Union army, in the civil war. July 19th, 1878, the rectory caught fire and was much damaged, but has been enlarged and repaired to afford a home worthy of the parish. Soon after the removal of the church to Naugatuck there were only 20 communicants in the parish. In 1890 the number was 275, and among the official members were John M. Page and William Mitchell, wardens; F. B. Tuttle. F. F. Schaffer, C. F. Hungerford, John Ward and others, vestrymen. E. E. Hotchkiss was the clerk of the parish.
729
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Among the rectors have been: 1832, Reverend O. Hopson; 1847, James Mackay: 1850, Joseph Scott; 1857, Thomas G. Carver; 1860-1. C. F. Woodruff: 1862, Edwin E. Johnson; 1865, William T. Fitch; 1867-78, James L. Scott; 1878, Edward R. Brown; 1881, Charles R. Tal- bott; 1881, E. C. Gardner: 1889, J. W. Ellsworth, the latter still serving the interests of the parish.
A class of Methodists was organized at Naugatuck about 50 years ago, and occasional meetings were held earlier than that at Union City and Straitsville. In the village private houses and halls were first occupied. July 30th, 1851, a site for a meeting house was pur- chased on Water street, which was conveyed to trustees. Henry Good- win, Andrew Hills, Marshall F. Whitney, Isaac Schofield, Fred A. Bevins, Leander Hodge and Samuel Porter, who also were among the leading members of that period. A frame church, of small propor- tions, was used until 1868, when the second church building was oc- cupied. This was more desirably located, occupying the southeast corner of Maple and Church streets. This building was also a frame, plainly furnished, yet well served its purpose until April, 1887, when it was sold for $7.500, to be converted to business purposes. Mean- time. on the 11th of October, 1886, the site for the present church building, in a more private part of the village, had been purchased. Upon this an edifice of wood, 40 by 70 feet, with a main tower. 14 by 14 and 75 feet high, and a rear extension for choir and parlor pur- poses, was erected at a cost of $9,200. The house is in the Gothic style and is completed most attractively. It was dedicated July 1st, 1887, by Bishop Foss. In 1890 the controlling board of trustees were S. D. Hill, H. N. Williams, John Hollister, Elton Hotchkiss, Stephen Johns, W. F. Hinckley, Goodell Lines and John Osborne.
The congregation has had marked seasons of growth and declining interest, some of the latter very much affecting the membership, which at times was quite small ; but from the increased population of the town an active, progressive membership has been recruited.
The ministers since the church has been a separate charge have been: 1851, Reverend W. Gay: 1855-6, A. V. R. Abbott; 1857-8. S. H. Smith ; 1859-60, T. B. Chandler : 1861-2, W. Ross; 1863-4, G. H. McCoy; 1865-6. G. H. Goodsell; 1867, S. J. Stebbins : 1868, W. T. Gil- bert : 1869-71, C. W. Church : 1872-4, A. P. Chapman ; 1875-7, J. W. Davis : 1878, A. O. Abbott ; 1879-80, C. Dixon ; 1881-3, N. Edwards ; 1884-5, B. F. Kidder : 1886-8, A. J. Smith ; 1889, S. K. Smith.
The Union City Mission chapel, a neat Gothic frame building, holding several hundred people, was erected a few years ago at a cost of about $2,000. The ladies of Union City were largely instrumental in furthering this work, and the chapel is used mainly for Sunday school purposes. For several years W. H. K. Godfrey has been the superintendent. Various denominations here hold preaching services.
730
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
On the west side of the river, at Union City, a Swedish Lutheran chapel has just been completed through the liberality of John H. Whittemore, and that sect statedly occupies it. The building is very neat and occupies an imposing site.
Among the citizens living in the Salem Society, soon after 1800, were a number of Baptists, who first worshipped with the church in Waterbury. In October, 1817, 60 persons living in Salem, Prospect and Bethany, were set off from the Waterbury society to organize a new church, in the localities indicated. This was formed October 30th, 1817, and for several years preaching was held in private houses. Two meeting houses were now built, one on Fulling Mill brook, occu- pied December 22d, 1819, the other, three miles away, in the Straits- ville locality. The latter was first used March 11th, 1821. The church soon numbered 115 members. Interest declined and in 1823 only 88 belonged. Elder Samuel Potter, their preacher, died in 1833. Ten years later the church became extinct and the houses were converted into dwellings.
St. Francis' Roman Catholic Parish was constituted in 1866. Some- time about 1850 the first mass of the Catholic church in this town was said at the house of Patrick Conran. The attendants were few in number but devoted to the faith of their church, and each succeed- ing meeting produced a greater interest. A mission was soon established and under its direction a small frame church was built, on Water street, which was occupied in 1857. Priests from adjoining parishes now statedly celebrated the rites of the church, and, in the course of nine years, the members of the mission were enough in numbers to justify the formation of a separate parish. It was con- stituted in 1866 and Reverend Father Brady became the first resi- dent priest. The George Hine place, on Church street, was purchased in 1868 as the site for the future church property, in Naugatuck. The residence on it was converted into a rectory, and within one year's time the debt accrued on account of this purchase was paid. The zeal and interest manifested caused a church building fund to be begun, which, in the course of a dozen years amounted to $20,000.
Accordingly, with this promise of future beneficence, the erection of the present fine church edifice was begun. Ground was broken April 7th, 1882, Father Fagan himself removing the first shovelful of earth. The corner stone was laid July 23d, 1882, the ceremonies being witnessed by a greater throng of people than had ever before been assembled at Naugatuck. On that occasion more than $5,000 was col- lected for the building of the church, which was carried toward com- pletion as the means permitted. The work was done in the most sub- stantial manner, under the careful direction of Father Fagan, and there is no evidence of stint anywhere. The spacious chapel, seat- ing 1,160 people, was first finished and occupied several years before the auditorium was ready for use, in the fall of 1890. The entire cost was about $100,000.
731
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The edifice attracts universal attention. It is purely gothic and of a cruciform shape. The front breadth is 66 feet, the width at the transept 98 and the depth is 141 feet. The rear wall is expanded in a pentagon shape. forming the chancel, and to the right is an addition to be used as a vestry and a chapel. Beneath is a large boiler to heat the building. This chapel is entered from a vestibule, which com- municates also with the church, thus allowing communication between the body of the church and the vestry without passing through the chancel. This arrangement. as also many other novelties and con- veniences, were the suggestions of Father Fagan to the architect, James Murphy, of Providence. On the right hand corner, in front, is a tower, 150 feet high, the right proportion of whose dimensions needs no further comment than that it is modeled after the tower of St. Gertrude in Louvain, Belgium. This tower will contain a deep sound- ing bell.
The basement of the church is of undressed granite, and the super- structure of brick with granite trimmings. The walls are massive and are flanked by buttresses, capped by stone, with turrets and pin- nacles. The front of the building resembles the Garfield Memorial church in Washington, but it is not copied therefrom. The general appearance is very pleasing and restful to the eye. It must be seen on all sides to be appreciated, for each side and each corner has its special architectural beauties, enlianced by a succession of broken lines, which, with the undressed stone, gives the effect of light and shade.
The auditorium seats 1.080 people and like the chapel is finished in oak and walnut. From each seat is afforded an unobstructed view of the handsome altar and the celebrant. Over the altars are elaborate- ly stained glass windows, bearing typical and figurative emblems. From the chancel the eye naturally turns to the beautiful memorial windows at the ends and sides of the transepts. On leaving the church a massive window in the front wall, having a sill twenty feet long and a generous arch, shows it beauties. The lines of the Gothic arches within the church are perfect, and the effect, with the varied colors of the upper range windows and of the frescoing, is surpassed by few churches of greater pretensions. It may, indeed, serve as a model for churches in our larger cities, both in exterior appearance and its in- terior arrangement.
REVEREND JAMES FAGAN, the honored pastor of Saint Francis' Church (Roman Catholic), of Naugatuck, was born in Providence, R. I., April 23d, 1842, the youngest of a family of five children. His parents were John and Catherine (Donnelly) Fagan, natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, who came to America about 1830. His father was a man of intelligence for his opportunities, being a skillful wool dyer, but de- ceased while yet a comparatively young man. The mother was a woman possessed of many superior qualities, not the least being the
732
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
great piety which pervaded her life and which made her earnestly de- sire that her only two sons might be consecrated to the priesthood in the church to which she was so warmly attached. Her elder son, John, was the first native ordained as a priest in the old diocese of Hartford, and became a distinguished clergyman. After being a useful pastor of the church at Collinsville, he became the priest of St. John's church, Stamford, where he died December 5th, 1873, before he had attained the age of 37 years, his death being caused by overwork in his large parish. The younger son, James, was also carefully educated for the office which he has for twenty years acceptably filled. After attend- ing the public and parochial schools of Providence, he pursued a class- ical course at the Holy Cross, at Worcester, Mass., leaving that insti- tution in 1868. He now entered the American College at Louvain, in Belgium, where for four years he studied philosophy and theology, when, on the 25th of July, 1872, he was ordained to the holy ministry, by Archbishop Cattani, at his private chapel in Brussels. Returning to America, he became an assistant priest to the Reverend Father Hughes, V. G., of Hartford, remaining there two years. He was next appointed an assistant to the Reverend Doctor Carmody, of St. John's church, New Haven, where he also served several years. His next appointment was as an assistant to the Reverend James Lynch; V. G., of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, of Waterbury, where he labored about six months. In this period the Reverend Richard O'Gorman of St. Francis' church, Naugatuck, died and, December 17th, 1876, the Reverend James Fagan was transferred to the vacant parish as its resident priest, and in that relation has since served with much success. How faithful and efficient have been his labors is at- tested by the growth of the parish interests. When he assumed charge there were less than 1,000 souls and the temporalities were valued at $10,000. Now the parish has property valued at $110,000, with but $15,000 debt, and there are 500 Catholic families, yielding a membership of 3,000 souls. His zeal and energy were largely mani- fested in the erection of the new St. Francis church, which is a grand and imposing monument to the Catholic faith and the sacrificing de- votion of his parishioners. It is one of the finest edifices in this dio- cese and palatial compared with the little church which he found when he came to Naugatuck.
Father Fagan is warmly interested in all matters pertaining to his parish, which are constantly calling forth his best efforts, but in his relations to the community at large he is liberal and progressive. For thirteen years he served as a member of the board of education of the village of Naugatuck, being secretary of that body three years, and is an earnest advocate of the best measures of education. He actively aided the Grand Army of the Republic in building the soldiers' monument on the church green, and delivered the reception address when it was dedicated May 30th, 1885. Many other public improve-
Rev. James Lagan
733
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
ments have received his favorable support or consideration, and he has thus won the esteem and good-will not only of his church, but also of the most of the other citizens of the town, regardless of religious belief or profession.
The Soldiers Monument, at Naugatuck village, stands on a beauti- ful site, on the school green, about midway between the Congrega- tional and Episcopal churches. It is of the best quality of Ryegate, Vt., granite and is 313 feet in height. The main shaft has a rough finish and bears the names of the twelve great battles of the war :
ATLANTA, GETTYSBURG, MALVERN HILL,
ANTIETAM, PETERSBURG, CHANCELLORSVILLE,
VICKSBURG, COLD HARBOR, FREDERICKSBURG,
FORT WAGNER, WILDERNESS, CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
It is surmounted by a figure eight feet in height, representing a soldier in the infantry service, standing at ease. Above the solid base of the monument is a heavy die, plainly inscribed as follows :
East side :
Erected by the Citizens of Naugatuck, A. D. 1885, in Memory of Her Sons who Fought to Maintain the Union. 1861-1865.
West side :
The Citizen soldier. Fearless in War, Industrious in Peace.
North side :
May the God of Nations Preserve Our Country in the Blessed Bonds of Peace now Established.
South side :
The Deeds of Those Who Died in Defense of the Government Of the People are Immortal.
Around the monument is a heavy granite coping, and the lot has been graded and sodded in a fine manner. It was ·appropriately dedicated May 30th, 1885, nearly the entire community and many visiting strangers participating.
The movement which led to the erection of the monument was in- augurated by Isbell Post. No. 43, G. A. R., in the fall of 1879, and was the first of several attempts in that direction which led to fruitful re- sults. That body appointed three of its members - Henry C. Bald- win, Rufus W. Lewis and William H. Vredenburgh - and invited nine other citizens of the town - George M. Allerton, Patrick Bren- nan, Reverend James Fagan, George A. Lewis, John Page, Robert M. Smith, Homer Twitchell, Bronson B. Tuttle - to be constituted a com-
734
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
mittee to undertake to erect a suitable monument. It was organized October 4th, 1879, and the duties with which it was charged were be- gun. In December, 1882, George M. Allerton, the chairman, died, and Bronson B. Tuttle was placed in his stead, where he served until the work was ended, J. H. Whittemore having been added to fill the vacancy in the committee. The contract for the monument was placed in October, 1884, with the Ryegate, Vermont, Granite Com- pany, and the pile, with the curbing, cost $3,885. This amount, with the incidental expenses, made the project cost $4,462.07. Of that sum $2,000 was appropriated by a vote of the town December 4th, 1882, and the balance was secured by subscriptions raised mainly by R. W. Lewis. H. C. Baldwin and other members of Isbell Post, who kept the matter constantly before the public until the beautiful monu- ment was successfully reared.
The cemetery first opened in the town is called the Pine Hill or Ancient burial ground. "April 11, 1709, the Selectmen of Water- bury, with the presence and consent of Samuel Hickox, laid out and sequestered & A. of land of said Hickox, on the southard end of an hill, at Judd's Meadow, called the Pine Hill, on the east of the River be- tween Thomas Judd's, his land, for a burying for that part of said town or any other as shall see cause to make use of it, and there, on said day, the wife of Daniel Warner was buried.""
Here were interred the dead of the eastern part of the town, while the western part made burials in the Gunntown cemetery, which was opened at a later day.+ The latter is still used to some extent. The former, after the lapse of more than a hundred years, fell into a neglected condition and so remained a long time, but has lately re- ceived care at the hands of the proper authorities. In it are some very old headstones.
The Hillside Cemetery, on the ridge north of the ancient ground, was opened the latter part of the last century. It has an advantageous and beautiful location, the original part being called Walnut Dale. In 1872 the cemetery was enlarged and the following year the addition was mapped out and graded at the expense of the town. There were, however, no systematic plans or rules governing the cemetery nintil 1882, when F. W. Tolles was appointed the agent, and has since so served. The town has improved the cemetery, but several costly and extensive improvements were made at the expense of John H. Whitte- more, which have placed this among the many attractive cemeteries of the county.
The Catholic Cemetery, on the ridge still further north, has also a fine location, which was enhanced by the grading of the grounds in 1878. The area is smaller than that of Hillside, but both contain many fine monuments.
* She was first interred at that place.
t The cemetery was used before the revolution but was not formally con- veyed to the town until March 3d, 1860.
735
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The Grove Cemetery is the newest, but most extensive place of burial in the town. It embraces 22 acres, located on the hillside, just east of the river and about one mile below the village. Much of the area is covered with a natural growth of forest trees, which suggested the name. Its excellent situation, together with the surroundings, will permit this to be made one of the finest cemeteries in the county. It is controlled by the Grove Cemetery Association, which organized with a capital of $6,000 November Sth, 1886. The following January the association was incorporated by the legislature, a special charter being granted for that purpose, under which it was reorganized June 6th, 1887, with the following board of trustees: B. B. Tuttle, president; F. W. Tolles, secretary; A. H. Dayton, treasurer; F. B. Tuttle, L. D. War- ner, George A. Lewis and Willard Hopkins.
The entire tract has been enclosed and all the drives located and graded, after the plans of Schofield & Starr, of Bridgeport. Three acres have been plotted into burial lots and prepared for interments, the work being done under the personal direction of the president.
On Sunday, June 16th, 1889, the cemetery was formally dedicated in the presence of 400 people, all the Protestant clergymen of the town participating. But the first interment had been made before this time, December 15th, 1886, when Mrs. Juline L. Warner was here inhumed.
BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES.
GEORGE MILTON ALLERTON, the president of the Goodyear India Rubber Glove Manufacturing Company, whose death occurred De- cember 2d, 1882, was one of the best, most respected and useful citi- zens that ever lived in the town of Naugatuck. His worth is still cherished and he is remembered as a man of the highest character, having generous and noble impulses, hospitable and true-hearted, fa- voring and urging everything which would promote the welfare of his adopted home. Fitly was it said of him by one who knew him in- timately: " Earth never lost a truer, manlier soul, nor heaven opened wide its gates to receive a kindlier, gentler spirit." He was born in Washington, Dutchess county, New York, December 1st, 1831, and was therefore, at his decease, but a little more than 51 years of age. He was a son of Milton B. Allerton, who was born at Amenia, New York. August 21st, 1799, where his father was engaged as a country merchant until his removal to the city of New York, where he also followed mercantile pursuits until his death, December Sth, 1866. Another son, Reuben German, who also died in New York city, was widely known as the author of a book on piscatorial sports. The father of Milton B. Allerton was Joshua Allerton, one of the most prominent in his day of the citizens of the Hudson river valley, where the family is still favorably known, and its members who have re- moved to other localities have in many instances become influential business and professional men.
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