USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Norfolk > History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1744-1900 > Part 53
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The committee to secure a site for the meeting house moved promptly, as upon December 18, 1840, William P. Judd deeded to the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Society a part of the land upon which the house was built, and the 25th of May following George Tobey deeded to them the south part of the lot ;- the consid- eration in each deed being $70. During the summer of 1841 the house was built, 44 by 32 feet on the ground, with 21 foot posts,- finished with desk and slips below and a gallery nine feet wide in the front end, with slips. The house was located a few rods south of the residence of Mr. E. Grove Lawrence. The builder was Mr. James Bradley of Goshen, and he was paid in full for his contract January 1, 1842, by the building committee, as appears of record. Before the building of this house the services were held principally in the houses of some of the members living near the centre of the town. Franklin Bramble, who at that time was running the grist- mill, sometimes arranged seats in the granary of the mill, when it was not in use, and public worship was held in that place. A few times their services were held in the Conference room of the Con- gregational Society, but some members of that society objected, and upon one occasion having assembled, the Methodists found the door of the 'Conference room' locked against them, and held their service under the horse-sheds near by. This action, closing the doors against these Christian people when they needed and sought
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a place for divine worship, was strongly condemned by some mem- bers of the Congregational Church, and some at least of those who helped to lock the doors lived to see things in a different light, and in later years entered heartily into the revival services in this Methodist Church.
Something of a debt was incurred by the society in building their house, and in April, 1843, a committee to solicit funds to pay this debt was appointed for each part of the town, consisting of Franklin Bramble and Joseph W. Hurlbutt for the centre of the town, Charles B. Maltbie for the east part, Russell Pendleton for the north, Levi Barlow for the west, and James C. Swift for the south.
The circuit preachers and resident ministers who have been lo- cated here, some for only a few months, and others for from one to three years, and one or more for five years, are as follows :- Rev- erends A. Bushnell, Daniel Coe, Levi Warner, J. Horton, Thomas Lodge, Lewis Gunn-Mr. Gunn was an ardent abolitionist, and by preaching strongly against the doctrine accepted by many Christian people of all denominations at that time, about 1844, that slavery was a divine institution, he offended some of the members of the church and congregation, and a considerable number of them with- drew for a time. Mr. Gunn was followed by T. C. Bancroft, Adee Vail, Theron Hollister, and in 1849-50 by Jonathan Robinson, dur- ing whose pastorate there were quite important revivals. He was followed by Isaac Lent, Abraham Davis, Mr. Jerrolds, W. E. Hill, J. Croft, David Lyman, son-in-law of Franklin Bramble, who was here some three years, Joseph Elliott, Ezra B. Pierce, who was here during the great revival in 1857 and '58 and assisted Dr. Eldridge at times in his church; Benjamin Wilson, George C. Ezra, W. E. Clark, Philip Germond, Thomas Elliott, Samuel R. Free, Charles Sagur, I. Harris, Joseph Millett, J. B. Cross, J. C. Van Arnum, J. C. Ferguson, who was here a part of the year 1884 and went out to China as a missionary; Virgil Blackman, J. H. Hoag, Wm. H. Vaughn, F. J. Somers, James Douglas, E. C. Powell, W. J. Barnes, Elbert H. Todd, who was here from 1895 to 1900. Rev. J. A. Hurn is the present pastor. Intervals, sometimes of two or three years, have occurred when there has been no preaching in the church. At other times the church has seemed quite strong and prosperous.
The material strength and growth of the church has been af- fected by the decline of the manufacturing interests in the town, and by the death and removal of the prominent members of the church, its main supporters both in spiritual and temporal affairs.
One writer, referring to the different denominations of Chris- tians in this county in the early part of the 19th century says :- "In those days the Methodist and Congregational religionists had
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PAROCHIAL RESIDENCE.
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little more sympathy or intercourse with each other than the old Jews and Samaritans. The circuit rider came on his rounds and declaimed against 'steeple meeting houses, pitch-pipe singing, and the doctrine of election.' The membership kneeled on the floor in prayer, and gave vent to their devotional feelings by the loud 'Amens,' or the 'Gloria Patri.' The women eschewed ribbons, curled hair, and gay dresses. The old men, and some of the young ones, wore straight-bodied coats, and both sexes wore a vinegar as- pect.
The 'Presbyterians,' as they were termed, on the other hand, looked on the Methodists as interlopers and fanatics, who had come in to disturb the peace of the 'Standing order as by Saybrook plat- form established.' The Methodists were all Democrats ;- the 'Stand- ing Order' were mainly high-toned Federalists of Pharisaical ten- dencies. The two had apparently no mutual sympathies, and never inter-communed with each other. Time and circumstances have worn away the prejudices and softened the asperities of the two denominations. Intermarriages have led to mutual forbearance. The temperance movement brought the best men and women of the two orders into co-operation, and the anti-slavery movement, fear- lessly advocated by the living Christianity of both churches was the death blow to sectarianism."
Great changes in the form of worship have been made in the 'Presbyterian,' or 'Congregational' churches in this town, as else- where, since the earlier days of its history. Mr. Salmon Swift, a native of this town, says: 'In the forepart of the nineteenth cen- tury the law requiring people to stand during prayers at church was repealed. Previous to its repeal my father, James Swift, was once tried for the infraction of the law in church in Norfolk. He arose with the rest at prayers, but was taken suddenly ill. To re- lieve the pain he sat down, leaning forward on his arms. A com- plaint was entered against him for a violation of the law. He was taken to the north part of the town a prisoner, tried before Esquire Holt and fined, the fine and costs amounting to between nineteen and twenty dollars.'
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
In "History of the Catholic Church in New England, Dio- cese of Hartford," is the following :-
" IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH, NORFOLK."
"The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1758. It is the high- est land reached by railroad in Connecticut. The scenery in this vicinity is unsurpassed by any in New England.
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It is traditional among the Catholics of Norfolk that Bishop Cheverus of Boston visited here in the discharge of his missionary duties. This is not improbable, as in 1823 he made an extensive tour through the state. Another interesting tradition has a Father Plunkett of Boston as a visitor to Norfolk before 1829.
The introduction of Catholicity into Norfolk as a part of the town's life dates from 1836. In March of that year Matthew, John and Charles Ryan, and Edward E. Ryan, a convert to the faith, settled here and engaged in the woolen industry. In this year Pat- rick Burke, father of the Rev. Charles E. Burke of North Adams, Mass., established his home here. Mr. Burke was present at the first Mass known to have been said here. It was in 1836, Rev. James Fitton of Hartford officiating, in the home of Matthew Ryan, now occupied by Michael Whalen. ' About twelve persons
assisted at the Mass. Father Fitton's extensive territory which must needs be visited, precluded frequent visits to Norfolk. The Ryan family, in the absence of the priest, proved faithful and wor- thy auxiliaries. In a room in the woolen mill they would gather the handful of Catholics, and in prayer petition the Giver of all gifts for the grace of perseverence. They practiced their devotions earnestly, faithfuly, and if Christ the Lord is in the midst of two or three gathered together in His name, we may well believe that in this little band were partakers of the divine favors.
The successor of Father Fitton, the Rev. John Brady, also came to Norfolk when possible, and offered the Holy Sacrifice in the wool-sorting room, or at the house of John Ryan. Rev. John D. Brady, Rev. John Brady, Jr., and Rev. James Strain also exercised the ministry here, though their visits were necessarily infrequent, owing to the difficulties of travel. The old residents still speak of Father Brady's experience in being snow-bound for a week in Norfolk.
The first Catholic marriage solemnized in Norfolk was that of Patrick Burke and Ann O'Neil, on October 9, 1842, the Rev. John D. Brady officiating.
The generosity of the Ryans was not confined to providing a place for divine services. They also purchased a piece of land for cemetery purposes, which they transferred to the congregation. In this spot rest the remains of pioneers from all sections of the state.
In 1846 the Catholics of Norfolk were attended by the Rev. Charles O'Reilly. On June 22d of that year he thus wrote, from Waterbury to Bishop Tyler: "Yesterday was my second Sunday here; the people seem anxious to have a church; the foundation is cleared, some brick are on the spot and almost as much cash on hand as will pay up to this time. But to commence building
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would require a considerable sum, which these people cannot pro- cure, except I become security, and I have had a considerable de- gree of repugnance at all times to have myself involved in money matters, and how to proceed I am really at a loss to know. Em- ployment in this locality is very precarious. There is a great deal of labor and inconvenience in attending Norfolk and this place (Waterbury), there being no decent mode of travel be- tween them. A person must either go by Bridgeport or Hartford and stop a night in either place, as the stages do not run all the way on the same day, so that there is considerable expense in- curred and great loss of time. . The Norfolk people have made no move yet with regard to building. They seem content to have Mass, but I will not be content with saying Mass in a shanty."
When Falls Village was organized in 1850 with Rev. Christo- pher Moore as the first pastor, Norfolk became its mission. On March 2, 1851, Bishop O'Reilly visited Norfolk and made arrange- ments for a church, and on the 31st of the same month he ap- pointed the Rev. Thomas Quinn to the pastoral charge of Norfolk and dependencies. Father Quinn's successor was the Rev. John Smith, who received his appointment to the Norfolk Mission on February 9, 1852. On this date Bishop O'Reilly wrote: "This is a most difficult mission."
Under date of February 27 and 28, 1854, Bishop O'Reilly wrote in his Journal: "27th. Leave Winsted at 10 A. M. for Norfolk, where I arrive before noon and stop with Mr. Edward Ryan. I make this evening an arrangement with the Ryans for the build- ing of a church on the lot they presented me. This will be effected, I hope, next spring."
"28th. Say Mass in Ryan's hall; it was full; published the reg- ulations for Lent. Said a few words to the people and left in Ryan's carriage for Falls Village, where I arrive at 11 A. M."
In 1859 the Church of the Immaculate Conception was built, but in 1865 it had not yet been dedicated. In the meanwhile, the successors of Father Moore in Falls Village celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments over the store of Matthew Ryan, now occupied by M. N. Clark.
In 1856 Norfolk was under the jurisdiction of Winsted, from which it was attended once a month. It so remained until the summer of 1889, when it was formed into an independent parish, with the Rev. P. Keating as the first pastor. At this time the Catholic population of Norfolk was 380 souls. Upon his arrival Father Keating secured apartments in the village, where he re- sided until the completion of the present commodious rectory.
The work accomplished by Father Keating here is sufficient evidence of his activity. He graded the property about the church,
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which he remodeled and frescoed and adorned with new stained glass windows, beautiful Stations of the Cross and organ, all at an expenditure of $1400. In 1898 he purchased a lot for cemetery pur- poses, which was immediately paid for.
In 1891 Father Keating began to attend Stanfield in the dio- cese of Springfield, at the request of Bishop O'Reilly. After two years of regular attendance he discontinued his visits, as nearly all of the Catholics had removed elsewhere.
Much of the prosperity that has attended the parish of the Im- maculate Conception is due to the sturdy faith, the good example and the generosity of the Ryans. In practice they were Catholics as well as in name, and though more than half a century has elapsed since they moved upon the scene, the influence of their lives is still visible in their successors. Numerically small, the Catho- lics of Norfolk are strong of faith, and their devotion to religion was manifested by their donation to Bishop McMahon of the Tabernacle of the main altar of the cathedral."
EPISCOPAL AND BAPTIST CHURCHES.
An Episcopal Society was organized February 15, 1786, in the north part of this town, and included some men living in New Marlboro. The 'list' of this society was said to be over £500. Among the members living in Norfolk were John Phelps, Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, Samuel Northway, James Benedict and Stephen Kingsbury. The history of this Episcopal Society, further than the fact of its organization, the writer has been unable to learn.
Among Norfolk's summer residents and others are a con- siderable number of Episcopalians, who for several years held Episcopal church services during the summer months in the town hall usually, but sometimes in the Methodist church. In the summer of 1893 Mr. Frederick M. Shepard gave a lot as a site for an Episcopal Church on Mills Ave- nue, not far from 'The Hillhurst.'
"The ceremony of breaking ground for the Church of the Transfiguration took place Sunday, August 6, 1893, in the presence of 150 persons.
On Sunday afternoon, June 24, 1894, a goodly number of the citizens and summer residents of the town assembled to witness the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the Episcopal church.
The site of the building is picturesque and commanding, being
THE HILLHURST.
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on the corner of Mills and Shepard Avenues. The building, which is small but very neat, was erected under the direction of a New York architect by Mr. J. S. Levi, a contractor and builder of this town."
BAPTIST CHURCH.
For many years, near the middle of the century, there was a flourishing but not large Baptist Church and Society in the extreme north part of this town, their house of wor- ship standing very near the Massachusetts line, on the New Marlboro road. In recent years the 'old Baptist meeting- house' was torn down and a neat 'Union Chapel' built on about the same site.
XXXI.
CONCLUDING CHAPTER - MODERN NORFOLK.
Marvellous changes everywhere, among all people and in all lands, have been wrought since Norfolk had a history, and these old hill towns, in common with all the world, have changed . Many decades ago, when the land was new, the farms were productive, the farmers generally were in- dustrious, frugal, prosperous. Most of the land on most of the farms in this town is by far too rocky to be plowed or in any way materially improved, save at very great ex- pense. As the years have gone by and the land has become old, thousands of acres have been taken possession of com- pletely by growths of ferns, brakes, red and yellow hard- hacks, white-birches, black-alders, elders and kindred nuis- ances. Grazing, stock raising, dairying to a great extent has been driven out. Young men, whole families from many of the out-parts of the town, have been driven to "pulling up and going to the everlasting West," . . . where, it has been said, "the farms have no features,- nothing to distinguish them."
We have in a very imperfect manner been over many of
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the principal events in the town, covering a period of more than a century and a half. As those now standing here look about, we see in the Norfolk of today an entirely dif- ferent place from the Norfolk of even half a century ago. Not only the inhabitants, but also the place itself, has changed. The eternal hills remain the same. The centre of the town, by its little gem of a park,-its extensive pri- vate lawns, the fine modern public and private buildings, the Robbins School, the Library, the Gymnasium, and other features, has been rendered a very attractive and beautiful spot. In different parts of the town, upon a few of the many points where extensive views are obtained, fine, costly residences, with attractive surroundings, have been built, and during the summer months and into the autumn the town is very much alive.
The era of manufacturing had its rise in the town, and as we have seen, to a considerable extent also, its fall.
Looking for the causes of the great change and the sub- stantial improvement in the town during the past two or three decades, several things should be mentioned.
One very important factor has been the building of the railroad through the town. This has been referred to at considerable length, and we should never cease to be thank- ful that the railroad went through, and in the right place.
Perhaps the next thing in importance in giving the town a start, was calling the attention of a number of people of influence to the beautiful scenery, the great elevation, the purity of the air, and so the desirability of the town as a place for summer homes. In getting a start made in this direction, inducing people to come and make homes here, in opening up interesting places, and doing a great number of things to make the town attractive, doubtless no one did more, nor used a greater amount of influence, than. Mr. Robbins Battell.
THE ROBBINS SCHOOL.
The founding of the Robbins School in 1884 by Mr. Robbins Bat- tell and his sister, Miss Anna Battell, has been a most important
MUSS ENG COM
THE NORFOLK LIBRARY.
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factor and a substantial and permanent advantage and benefit to the town and vicinity. This school is the carrying out of a long- cherished project of establishing, upon the site of the old Robbins parsonage, in memory of Rev. Mr. Robbins, by two of his grand- children, a school, having for its main purpose the preparation of young men for the higher institutions of learning; for any American College or Scientific School; and offers to such as may wish to finish their school life here a liberal course of study. During most of his long pastorate of fifty-three years Rev. Mr. Robbins was accus- tomed to receive into his family a class of boys to be fitted for college, and he thus prepared more than two hundred young men, drawing his pupils from this and neighboring towns and from dis- tant places.
It is pleasant to trace back the origin of the Robbins School to such a foundation.
The commodious and substantial buildings of the Robbins School were erected in 1884 upon the site of the old 'Robbins House' and the adjoining grounds, after plans by Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, of New York. The buildings are heated by steam, and supplied with all the modern appliances, and the institution is liberally sus- tained by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Stoeckel.
Another educational institution and substantial attrac- tion and advantage to the entire town and vicinity, which has for more than a decade been doing a vast amount of good, and whose beneficent influence is continually widen- ing, is the Norfolk Library, which will also be mentioned at some length.
THE NORFOLK LIBRARY.
Upon the first day of January, 1881, in the west room of Mr. George Scoville's house, a free reading room, containing the daily and other newspapers, magazines and periodicals of interest to the men and women, boys and girls of this community, was opened by Miss Isabella Eldridge, kept up by her in that place for several years and was the beginning of the splendid library and reading- room of today.
For the sake of some readers who have not recently seen Nor- folk, it may not be amiss to state that this library building is situated east of the old Shepard Hotel, near the store; the old hotel barn and sheds having been long since removed, and their site made into a nice lawn.
The building was designed by Mr. George Keller, a noted archi- tect of Hartford, Ct .; is eighty-six by forty-five feet upon the ground,
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two stories high; the lower story being of Longmeadow, Mass., red freestone, and the upper part of red tile. The roof is of fluted Span- ish tile, quite common in Europe but rare in Connecticut. The first floor contains a reception hall, a reading room, a conversation room, and the library room proper. This room, entered through the recep- tion room, fills the height and breadth of the entire building, and is crowned with an imposing arch.
The proportions throughout the building are perfect, the detail work well considered, and all the combinations and colors are chosen with much nicety of taste. As one enters the hall a fine bronze tablet upon the wall opposite meets the eye, with the inscrip- tion :
IN REVERENT MEMORY OF
JOSEPH AND SARAH ELDRIDGE.
Work on the building was commenced early in 1888. It was constructed in a most thorough manner; was built and is sustained by Miss Isabella Eldridge as a memorial of her father and mother. The library has a capacity of 40,000 volumes; is open every day, Sunday excepted; free to every resident of Norfolk. Non residents also may avail themselves of its advantages, without charge, by special permission. Nothing that the most refined taste could sug- gest or that money could buy to make the place both beautiful and helpful is lacking.
'Such a use of money indicates the highest wisdom, the most refined culture, and the sincerest regard for the welfare of the com- munity.'
"The opening of the library occurred March 6th, 1889, more than one thousand invitations having been sent out, not only to every family in Norfolk of whatever name, nationality or color, but also to many in adjacent towns and acquaintances elsewhere.
The large number of people present, the music, the brilliantly lighted rooms, with the happy social feeling, made it a most charm- ing occasion, calling out from every one present expressions of un- qualified praise."
The library opened with about 2,000 volumes upon its shelves, of which 1,250 were the gift of Rev. Azariah Eldridge of Yarmouth, Mass., the brother of Rev. Dr. Joseph Eldridge. What remained of the old 'Subscription Library' of the town (1866) was added, and from time to time other volumes from that old library found their way here; in all about 200 volumes, and also several volumes of the library of 1822. Other members of the family had at this time given about 150 volumes, mostly reference works, and Miss
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1
Isabella Eldridge had purchased for the library 1,050 volumes. The papers and periodicals which were in the old reading-room were transferred to the reading-room of the library building.
The books upon the shelves have increased at the rate of over 500 volumes a year, principally purchased by Miss Isabella Eldridge, and now there are upon the shelves of the library nearly eleven thousand volumes. Many volumes bear the names of those interested in the library, who have contributed to its growth and efficiency. In the reading-room there are fifty-seven newspapers and periodicals on file. The first report for a full year was made in 1891, when the librarian, Mr. Edward E. Swift, stated that 22,008 visitors had been in the building, and that 10,942 volumes had been issued in circulation. These figures have grown steadily from year to year, until, during the year ending December 31, 1898, there were 29,080 visitors and 14,604 volumes issued on cir- culation. This increase is due largely to the fact that Norfolk has become a very popular summer resort, and that many hundreds of strangers visit it during the summer and fall months. August is the busiest month of the year. The experiment of establishing branch libraries in the school-houses in the out districts has proved a success. The teachers have complete charge of the books, and renew or exchange whenever they wish. The library has in this way reached many families which might' not otherwise have had the privilege of taking books from its shelves. The range of use- fulness has extended beyond the confines of the town, as borrowers come from Canaan Mountain, East Canaan, Colebrook, Winchester and Goshen. Who can begin to estimate the uplifting, refining, educating influence, or tell the vast power for good of this noble institution in this and the adjacent towns, not only to the young but to the old; to those who have borne the burden and heat of the day, and in the evening time of life have leisure for reading. That its worth is fairly estimated by those now enjoying its advantages, or that any acknowledgment or expression of gratitude to its muni- ficent founder and continued supporter is often made, is, perhaps, scarcely to be expected. Such advantages are often received, as are God's hourly gifts of air, water and sunlight, as a matter of course, with no thought of gratitude to the giver.
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