USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
From a short list of subscribers, 468 on September 1, 1894, the Waterbury office is now serving about 8,000 telephones in Waterbury, which is practically one telephone for every twelve persons in the city. In the past eighteen months the growth of business at the Waterbury exchange has been remarkably heavy. The number of local calls originating in Waterbury is shown by the peg count for October, 1917, to be 41,000 a day. The outgoing toll calls average about 1,500 each day. This shows an hourly rate of about 1,800 calls every hour each of the twenty-four hours. It must be borne in mind, however, that during the night this rate is far from being reached, while in the rush hours of a business day, when the traffic load is the heaviest, the hourly rate of calls is far in excess of 1,800.
The number of telephones in Waterbury has increased more than 1,500 in the past eighteen months and the outlook is for a continuation of this heavy demand for service at this exchange.
A model and modern central office, equipped with the very last word in switchboard apparatus and with nearly double the number of telephone operators employed there two years ago, has been built and occupied. It has taxed the facilities of the company to meet satisfactorily the service demands in Waterbury, and that this has been done is a forceful testimonial to the wise forethought of the directing heads of the telephone company.
The process of placing telephone wires underground in iron conduits lined with cement and laid on cement began in Waterbury in 1894.
The following is the record of total telephone installations September 1, 1917, in what is known as the Waterbury district :
Canaan
457
Cornwall
166
Lakeville
421
Litchfield
737
Naugatuck
1,398
Norfolk
349
Thomaston
479
Torrington 2,161
Waterbury 8,163
Watertown
517
Winsted
1.597
Total
16,445
GEORGE WELLS BEACH
George Wells Beach, late president of the Manufacturers' National Bank, ex- superintendent of the Naugatuck Railroad, president of the S. Y. Beach Paper
104
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
Company, of the Manufacturers' Foundry Company, and in many other capacities, one of the foremost citizens of Waterbury, was born in Humphreysville (now Seymour), New Haven County, Connecticut, August 18, 1833.
At seventeen he became a railroad clerk in the Seymour office of the company and it was soon proved that he was to succeed in the railroad business. The fol- lowing year, 1851, he was promoted to the position of second clerk in the Water- bury office. From time to time he was sent to different posts, where there was special need of a responsible person, and in this way he gained wide experience with railroad work. In 1855 he was made agent in the Naugatuck Station, in 1857 a conductor, and was also put in charge of the general ticket agency. In 1861 he became the agent at Waterbury and remained in this office for several years. At the death of Charles Waterbury, in 1868, Mr. Beach was made superintendent in his place. From 1868 to 1887 he was superintendent of the Naugatuck Railroad, and, on the lease of that road, in 1887, to the New York, New Haven & Hartford Road, was appointed division superintendent and filled this resposible position continuously until he retired in 1902. After 1880 he was successively director, vice president and president of the Manufacturers' National Bank of Waterbury, and from 1871 to 1885 he was a director in the Watertown and Waterbury Railroad. He was an incorporator of the Waterbury Hospital, and one of the executive committee for fourteen years, and president of the American Society of Railroad Superintendents for three years.
On his retiring in 1902, after serving as superintendent of the Naugatuck Division, he made a round trip over the railroad, bidding good-bye to the hundreds of men who had served under him, all of whom were known to him personally.
The High Rock Grove summer resort was his idea, and he was the first to use kerosene oil for lighting of passenger cars. This was in 1860. The valuable Arctic rubber shoe was first manufactured upon his suggestion.
In civil, political and ecclesiastical offices, Mr. Beach was as active as he was in his business capacities, often supplying pulpits in case of illness of pastors. He was justice, town clerk, a member of the board of education, member of the State Legislature (1870-71), postmaster of Waterbury in 1867, a deacon in the First Congregational Church of Waterbury (1873-1906), a promoter of the Christian Commission for the Civil war, and of the Waterbury Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, of which he was president for four different terms. He was a member of the Waterbury Club.
Mr. Beach was twice married, in 1855 to Sarah Upson of Seymour, who died in January, 1882, and by whom he had two sons. The senior, Henry D., was the signal engineer of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, the junior, Edward W., is a manager of the Manufacturers' Foundry Company of Waterbury. The second marriage was in 1883 to Mrs. Sarah A. Blackall. His home was at 29 Cliff Street, Waterbury. He died March 2, 1906.
When Mr. Beach retired from the New Haven Road in 1902, his position as superintendent was taken by J. P. Hopson. C. S. Lake and R. D. Fitzmaurice later succeeded to the position, the latter leaving in 1914. when the present super- intendent, Mahlon D. Miller, was appointed.
MAHLON D. MILLER
Mahlon D. Miller, at present superintendent of the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Road, with headquarters at Waterbury, was born in Pennsylvania and had his first railroading experience in the coal fields of that state. Later he went to the New York & New England Road, starting as
105
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
telegraph operator, then becoming train dispatcher. With headquarters at Provi- dence and New London, he was later made train dispatcher-in-chief, and train- master for the New Haven Road. In June, 1914, he was appointed superintendent with headquarters at Waterbury.
ALDEN M. YOUNG
Alden M. Young, the first secretary and general manager of the Waterbury Traction Company, was closely identified with the history of the electric lighting and electric railway business of Waterbury. He was associated with D. S. Plume, E. T. Turner, and A. O. Shepardson in the electric companies which were first organized in 1888. He remained with the Connecticut Railway & Power Company, becoming its president in 1901 and removing to New York. He was also president of the New England Engineering Company of Waterbury. He was the first superintendent and manager of the telephone system in Waterbury, known in its beginnings as the Automatic Signal Telegraph Company, which was organized May 2, 1878. He was the inventor of an electric battery which did much to revolt- tionize the electric business. Mr. Young died at his New York home, December 3, 19II.
OTHER TROLLEY SYSTEM MANAGERS
The first manager of the street car system of Waterbury was Arthur O. Shep- ardson, who was closely identified with Mr. Turner, Mr. Plume and Mr. Young in all their electric lighting and power enterprises. He remained as general manager until 1894, when J. E. Sewell succeeded him. Mr. Sewell was in charge of the practical end of the traction company's business until 1907, when the first steps for the sale to the Connecticut Railway & Lighting Company were taken. The management then was placed in the hands of J. K. Punderford, who is still vice president and general manager of the trolley system with headquarters at New Haven. Mr. Sewell later became manager of the Shore Line trolleys operating in Eastern Connecticut.
The first superintendent of the Waterbury Horse Car Company was Edward A. Bradley. When the motive power was changed, M. E. Stark became superin- tendent and remained until 1899, when the present superintendent, Herbert L. Wales, was appointed.
Herbert L. Wales, the present superintendent of the trolley system in Water- bury, first came to the company in 1894 as foreman of the repair shop. His first experience with the trolley was in Portland, Oregon, where he was employed in 1889 on the first electric street car line established in that city. In 1891 he went to Denver and was in the employ of the Edison General Company. Later he was employed on electric lines in Boston, Bangor, Maine, and Windsor, Conn., coming to Waterbury in 1894.
WATERBURY'S TELEPHONE MANAGERS
W. N. Sperry became manager of the telephone company in 1891, when the work was still experimental, and it was his skill that brought it out of its many early troubles. He remained with the company until 1905. In that year he was succeeded by J. D. Veitch, who remained until 1910. G. F. Kirkham, who suc- ceeded him, was in office but a few months. W. F. Harper was manager from 1910 to 1913, when his career was suddenly terminated by death in the trolley wreck of
106
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
that year. R. E. Gerth, who succeeded to the post, remained until July 2, 1917, when the present manager, H. G. Davis, took charge.
Henry G. Davis, present manager of the Southern New England Telephone Company, was born in Hartford in 1885. His first connection with the telephone company was as contract agent at Hartford in 1910. He was later made district control agent for Hartford, and then became special commercial agent for the Hartford and Waterbury districts. On July 2, 1917, he became manager of the Waterbury office.
e
CHAPTER VIII
THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF WATERBURY, 1892-1917
THE FIRST CHURCH-THE SECOND, THIRD AND BUNKER HILL CHURCH, CONGREGA- TIONAL-ITALIAN CONGREGATIONAL-ST. JOHN'S AND TRINITY EPISCOPAL-ST. PAUL'S, WATERVILLE-FIRST M. E., GRACE, ST. PAUL'S, SOUTH AND WEST SIDE IIILL M. E .- FIRST, SECOND AND GRACE BAPTIST-GERMAN AND SWEDISHI LUTHERAN CHURCHES-ADVENT CHRISTIAN-BUCK'S HILL, UNION, WATERVILLE CHAPELS.
The Protestant churches of Waterbury have kept pace with the growth of the community during the past quarter of a century, meeting its moral and spiritual needs with a strengthening of old organizations and an infusion of new religious bodies. This is true of practically every denomination, and it applies as well to the neighborhoods where the lack of numbers was met by union organizations, all of which are prospering and spreading the influence of the gospel in their limited circles.
This short period of time has witnessed the dedication of several of the largest Protestant churches in the city, including the magnificent house of worship on West Main Street occupied by the Second Congregational Church. This was dedi- cated in June, 1898. In January of the same year the Third Congregational Church, on Washington Avenue, was opened for worship. In October, 1917, the First Baptist Church opened its fine house of worship on Grove Street. In the review which follows, it will be interesting to note the great number of smaller churches which have risen to meet local needs in Waterbury, and the territory immediately tributary. The immediate future promises the erection of several additional houses of worship, the funds in several instances being on hand and awaiting only more favorable building conditions.
THIE FIRST CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL
The First Church, Congregational, of Waterbury, which was founded in 1691, 225 years ago, and which is the mother church to practically all of the surround- ing Congregational churches, has had its notable history written by its late pastor, Rev. Joseph Anderson, D. D., covering the period up to 1896. Doctor Anderson remained interested in the work of the church until his death, August 18, 1916. He resigned the active pastorate in February, 1905, after forty years of service, but remained as pastor emeritus until his death. During this period his energies were largely given to literary work, although he supplied the pulpit in the absence of the pastor, and took a deep interest in the work of the church, attending services regularly until illness made this impossible.
Among the many tributes paid the late Doctor Anderson, the following from the eulogy by his successor, Rev. Charles A. Dinsmore, D. D., gives fitting testi- mony to the extent of his learning and the scope of his activities: "His mind re- acted in the presence of nearly every subject of thought. Nothing in heaven or earth seemed uninteresting to him. His eager mind ranged easily over an incredible number of fields of knowledge .- Indian lore, New England history, the cutting
107
108
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
of gems, the structure of a sonnet, oriental antiquities, Greek philosophy, the Cal- vinistic theology,-upon them all he could converse with precise information and lively interest." As a writer, Doctor Anderson is perhaps most widely known through the "History of the Town and City of Waterbury," of which he wrote so great a part.
In 1892 the First Church had a membership of 427. In September, 1917, this membership was 570. Its pastor is Rev. Charles A. Dinsmore, D. D., who suc- ceeded Doctor Anderson January 25, 1895. He came from Phillips Church, of South Boston.
Rev. Charles A. Dinsmore, D. D., pastor of the First Church, Congregational, of Waterbury, is a graduate of Dartmouth, which college honored him in June, 1905, with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. After graduating at the Yale Divinity School, he accepted his first pastorate, at Whitneyville, and then he was called to Willimantic.
It was in Willimantic that his success became remarkable. His predecessor as pastor of the Congregational Church there, the Rev. S. R. Free, had gradually been absorbing the Unitarian principles, which developed in his preaching and which caused more or less feeling against him on the part of a portion of the con- gregation. Two hostile factions immediately sprang up and the church was in a dubious condition until Mr. Free publicly embraced Unitarianism and resigned as pastor of the Congregational Church. Not content with this, he immediately started a new church, to be conducted in accordance with his new beliefs. With him went a considerable portion of those who had formerly been strong members of his other church. This blow was a very severe one to the Congregational Church, and the governing body was in a dilemma when it decided to extend a call to Mr. Dinsmore, who had been doing excellent work in Whitneyville.
The choice proved to be the best that the church could have made. From the first there was an increment of interest. New members were quickly added and the majority of those who had followed the fortunes of Mr. Free came back into the old fold again.
From Willimantic he was called to the Phillips Congregational Church, of South Boston, where he remained for ten years. Here he duplicated his success in Willimantic, although he was not confronted with the apparently hopeless con- dition encountered in the Connecticut town.
He is a man of literary note and ability, having written several books, two on Dante having brought him into considerable prominence. One is an independent study of the man, the other a text book which is used in Amherst and other col- leges. His first book on Dante was published in "The Atlantic" in serial form, and attracted widespread attention, being criticised both here and in England. He is regarded as one of the most successful and popular interpreters of Dante at the present day.
The most notable event in the history of the church during the past quarter of a century was the celebration of its 225th anniversary on August 25, 1916. On that date it was decided to raise a memorial fund of $10,000, which finally amounted to $12,000. This is being devoted to the placing of a memorial window to Dr. Joseph Anderson, to the erection of tablets in memory of the pastors of the church during the last century, and to the rebuilding of the church organ.
Another notable anniversary was the centennial of the Sunday school, Mid- week Prayer Meeting, and Benevolent Society of the First Church, which was celebrated April 25, 1917. It is interesting to note that four of the members present at that time were active in the society in 1875. These were Miss Kath- erine L. Peck, Miss Katherine A. Prichard, Miss Emily A. Shannon and Mrs. Harriet Riley.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, WATERBURY
11
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH AND RECTORY, WATERBURY
109
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
On January 22, 1907, over one hundred members organized the Men's League of the First Church. Mr. Carl F. Chapin was elected president of the organiza- tion in May, 1917.
Notable among recent gifts to the Church was the erection by J. Hobart Bron- son of a recreation house on the church grounds. This is for use by the Camp Fire Girls and the Boy Scouts of the church.
On January 25, 1917, for the first time in the history of the old First Church, women attended the annual meeting of the Ecclesiastical Society as members, join- ing with the men in passing votes having to do with the finances of the church and the election of its officers. The word "male" had by vote of the men been stricken from its by-laws.
The following are the officers of the First Church, elected at the annual meet- ing in 1917: Frederick B. Hoadley, its treasurer, has held that office since 1868, with the exception of two years, during which time he was absent from the city.
Clerk of the church, George H. Peck.
Treasurer of the church and treasurer of the weekly offering, Frederick B. Hoadley.
Deacons of the church: Frederick B. Hoadley, Alexander Dallas, Horace G. Hoadley, Edgar S. Lincoln, Edward W. Goodenough, George E. Camp, Arthur F. Ells, Albert F. Sherwood, Darragh DeLancey, W. Gamaliel Bailey, Albert N. Colegrove, Charles Allen Goddard.
Advisory committee : Charles Allen Goddard, Miss Katherine Hamilton, Mrs. Dudley B. Deming, Mrs. Rowland Jenner, Mrs. Samuel R. Kelsey, Mrs. George Ells, Alden Merrill, Miss Elizabeth Hall, Mrs. Charles R. Vaill, Mrs. R. William Hampson, R. Lester Wilcox.
Society's committee : Darragh DeLancey, chairman ; George E. Camp, Edwin C. Northrop, Hugh L. Thompson, Herbert S. Rowland, Henry A. Hoadley, Pier- son R. Cumming.
Abbie M. Allyn, assistant to the pastor.
THE SECOND CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL
The Second Church, Congregational, of Waterbury, a daughter of the First Church, came into being as the result of action taken by the Ecclesiastical Society of the First Church on February 10, 1851. The pastors have been as follows : Rev. Seagrove W. Magill, D. D., 1852-1864; Rev. Elisha Whittlesey, 1864-1870 ; Rev. Edward G. Beckwith, D. D., 1871-1881 ; Rev. John Gaylord Davenport, D. D., the present pastor emeritus, 1881-19II ; Rev. Robert Elliott Brown, 1911. The assistant pastors have been Rev. Frank C. Baker, Rev. Frederick M. Hollister, Rev. Louis H. Holden, Ph. D., Rev. M. DeWitt Williams, Rev. W. Moreton Owen.
The first house of worship was on North Main Street, where the Odd Fellows' Temple now stands. The present edifice, at the corner of West Main Street and Holmes Avenue, was dedicated June 26, 1895, its cost being $160,000. During Doctor Davenport's pastorate, the second service was removed from afternoon to evening, the communion service brought into the forenoon, responsive readings and other enrichments of the services introduced, individual communion cups adopted, and the Christian Endeavor Society and many other organizations were formed. From 1881 to 1911, the membership of the church grew from 558 to 1,147.
During Mr. Brown's pastorate, the women's work has been re-organized, many new societies have been launched, the benevolences increased from $4,000 to $8,725 in a year, and acousticons have been installed. In the summer of 1917 the audi-
110
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
torium was thoroughly re-decorated, and plans were also drawn for a parish house, and additions to the building. Over eighty thousand dollars have been subscribed towards its cost, the first pledge of $25,000 (conditional upon the securing of $75,000 additional ) being given by Deacon Aaron A. Benedict. The membership January 1, 1917, despite the growth of outlying churches, was 1,240.
During all of the church's history, most efficient service has been rendered by the Ecclesiastical Society having in charge the current expenses. The Second Church, directly and indirectly, has exerted a deep influence for community better- ment as well as for world-wide Christianity. Within recent years it has brought to the city an extraordinarily strong array of speakers upon civic, economic and national issues. At present the church has flourishing organizations for men, women, young women, young people, boys and girls, and a progressive Sunday school.
The officers of the church in 1917 are as follows: Pastor emeritus, Rev. John G. Davenport, D. D .; pastor, Rev. Robert E. Brown; assistant pastor, Rev. W. Moreton Owen; clerk, Roys L. Spencer; treasurer, J. A. Boyd; society's clerk, G. E. Judd; society's treasurer and collector, A. J. Blakesley ; organist and choir director, Harris S. Bartlett.
Rev. Robert Elliott Brown, pastor of the Second Church, Congregational, of Waterbury, was born in Middleville, Ontario, Canada, on December 17, 1873. He was educated in the public schools of Washington, to which State his parents had removed. In 1901 he graduated from Oberlin College, Ohio, later going to the Yale Divinity School, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. On June 23, 1904, he married Miss Mabel A. Millikan, of Chicago, and in the same year was ordained a Congregational minister.
From 1904 to 1910 he was pastor of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, Fair Haven. In December, 1910, he became associate pastor in the Second Church, Congregational, of Waterbury, and on April Ist, when Doctor Davenport was made pastor emeritus, he became pastor of the church. In 1917 his congregation granted him a six months' leave of absence for work in France, which task he is now fulfilling.
THE THIRD CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL
On the evening of February 5, 1892, at the prayer meetings of the First and Second Congregational churches of Waterbury, a joint committee was appointed on the condition and needs of that section of Waterbury known as Brooklyn and Town Plot, to advise with Mr. Waters with reference thereto, and to take such action "as the committee shall judge expedient." This committee was composed of the following : First Church, S. W. Chapman, Gordon Clark, L. G. Day, R. R. Stannard, R. C. Partree, William C. Scott, Thomas B. Walker; Second Church, B. G. Bryan, James Callan, Fred Chapman, F. J. Mix, John Henderson, Jr., Wil- liam Morgan, James Stewart.
On March 28, 1892, at a meeting of the joint committee, "it was voted that a temporary chairman and clerk be appointed, who shall warn a meeting according to law, to be held in the basement of the Bank Street Schoolhouse, for the purpose of organizing a Third Congregational Church." Rev. F. P. Waters was appointed temporary chairman and S. W. Chapman temporary clerk of the proposed meeting.
At a meeting, held April 26, 1892, in the Bank Street Schoolhouse, the follow- ing resolution was adopted :
"That we, the members of the Third Congregational Church of Waterbury, do now organize as a corporation under the laws of the State ; that a certificate of our
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WATERBURY
111
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
action be duly made and signed by the officers of this church." At the same meet- ing the following building committee was appointed: Rev. F. P. Waters, John Henderson, Jr., James Callan, Mrs. Ida Chapman, Belle C. Walker. The Third Church was recognized by other churches at a council duly called. At the annual meeting, January 4, 1895, it was voted that the building committee be instructed to turn over the church building to the legal committee.
During the history of the church, the following pastors have served it: Rev. F. P. Waters, November 1, 1891-July 1, 1897; Rev. Charles E. Granger, May I, 1898-February 1, 1902; Rev. Benjamin F. Root, March 1, 1902-February 21, 1906 ; Rev. H. deHart Gulick, March 1, 1906-April 24, 1908, and Rev. Clay Dent Chunn, April 24, 1908-April 30, 1913. On August 17, 1913, Rev. Leslie H. Perdriau sup- plied the pulpit, and on September 14, 1913, was called to the pastorate. Mr. Perdriau is still pastor ( 1917).
The notable events of the present pastorate have been the organization of a successful Men's Brotherhood, which has provided a gathering place and service for the men of the community, both helpful and social. The annual banquets have been the great events of the church year.
The Women's Get-Together Club is doing for the women of the community what the Men's Brotherhood has so well accomplished.
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the church was celebrated on April 22-23, 1917. The anniversary address was made by Rev. Philip C. Walcott of Nauga- tuck, on Sunday, April 22d. The general social events followed on Monday, April 23, 1917. The officers of the church for 1917 are as follows :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.