USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 48
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many other purposes, in large quantities, for domestic and foreign trade. Some of the eyelets and grommets, a large eyelet, are exported to Australia. It is now erecting a large new factory, 80 by 100. Its present officers are: President, S. A. Chase, New Hampshire; secretary and treasurer, Charles W. Michaels; superintendent, F. O. Lawrence.
The Seymour Iron Foundry was established by Edward A. Klatte in 1898. The main building is 50 by 100 feet, with an ell 20 by 45, and an office building 20 by 30 feet, two stories, and several smaller buildings for storage and other pur- poses incidental to the business. All the water used in the foundry, for steam, etc., is supplied by a large spring on the premises. About thirty men are employed. Mr. Klatte superintends the work, participating in the finer mechanical part of the molding and casting, and to his ability and versatility the success of the foundry is due. He is a native of Maine, but since May 1, 1898, has been a resident of Seymour. The company was incorporated for $50,000 in 1913. Its officers in 1917 are: President and treasurer, E. A. Klatte; secretary, L. E. Klatte.
The Arethusa Spring Water Company of Seymour was organized in 1892 by Carlos French, who had the water from the spring thoroughly tested and ascertained that it is of exceptional purity. The water contains but one and three-fourths grains of mineral matter to the gallon, and in respect to chlorine it is shown to be almost of perfect purity. Large buildings were erected for bottling, storage, etc., the storage building alone being 30 by 100 feet. The labora- tories are provided with every needed facility that science or mechanical ingenuity could devise, and the water, both plain and sparkling, is shipped to great dis- tances. The Arethusa Ginger Ale, which is made and bottled at the spring, rivals the famous Belfast product. It is incorporated for $30,000. Its officers in 1917 are: President, Charles R. Warner; secretary and treasurer, M. J. Warner.
The Seymour Water Company was organized May 9, 1898, and work was begun as soon as the necessary surveys and purchases of land could be made, and the works were completed in the spring of 1899. The reservoir is about a half mile northwest of Pinesbridge, in a secluded valley, removed from resi- dences, and in an ideal location for absence of contamination. The reservoir is fed by a stream which winds along the hillsides of a rocky section of country, with cool springs which assure a good quality of water for household use.
There is a fall of about 230 feet to the level of the central part of Seymour, in the vicinity of the railway station, giving a pressure of 110 pounds to the inch and therefore ample force for most effective use in case of fires, for which nearly fifty hydrants have been placed where most likely to be needed.
The capital is now $150,000. The officers of the company are: President, W. H. H. Wooster; secretary and treasurer, Dennis Blakeslee of New Haven.
The Seymour Metal Goods Company was organized February 7, 1910, with a capital of $200 000, and has built up a considerable business since that date. Its officers are and have been : President, William L. Ward ; secretary and treas- urer, A. L. Clark.
In January, 1889, the Seymour Electric Light Company was incorporated for $30,000 with all its leading manufacturers interested in giving the city the benefit of the latest development in lighting. Later it was merged with the Connecticut Lighting & Power Company. Its president now is C. R. Warner of Waterbury ; secretary, E. E. Day of Newport ; treasurer, C. L. Campbell of Waterbury.
BROAD STREET. SEYMOUR
MAIN STREET, LOOKING SOUTH, SEYMOUR
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TRANSPORTATION
An account of the industries of Seymour would not be complete without men- tion of the facilities for transportation upon which they all depend. The Nauga- tuck Railroad, built a little more than sixty-five years ago, now known as the Naugatuck Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, is one of the most important and best paying branches of that system and affords every possible facility to local enterprises. This railroad has contributed largely to building up the industries of the valley, while they in turn have repaid by addition to the profits of the road, both in freight and passenger traffic.
The first locomotive over the road reached Seymour May 10, 1849, and the first passenger train May 14th. Sixteen passenger trains now arrive and depart daily, and bring the town within easy reach of the chief cities of this state and of the metropolis.
The present handsome passenger station was built in 1898 and is a worthy addition to the many fine edifices in the town.
THE SEYMOUR RECORD
The Seymour Record was established by W. C. Sharpe in 1871, previous to which time there was no paper published in any of the towns between Derby and Waterbury. It was at first a small eight page sheet, changing in September, 1886, to a six column quarto.
The Record has been conducted as a local family newspaper, giving the greater prominence to matters of interest to the people of Seymour and adjoin- ing towns, and has from time to time contained engravings of public buildings, factories and prominent people of the place in occasional historical sketches, both by the editor and by people of Seymour and neighboring town, who have con- tributed valuable articles on the early history of their several communities, so that the files of the Record are a mine of information both in regard to current events and early history.
ITS FIRE DEPARTMENT
On the 18th of April, 1882, E. F. Bassett's large, three story furniture store on Bank Street was destroyed by fire, together with two smaller stores owned by S. Y. Beach and a house owned by L. A. and S. P. Camp. The impossibility of extinguishing the fire until four buildings had been burned, made the neces- sity of efficient fire apparatus quite evident.
The fire company was first organized in 1882 and re-organized August 12, 1884, and the name changed to Citizen Engine Company No. 2.
At the annual town meeting held October 4, 1891, it was voted that the town purchase the lot at the corner of Factory and Raymond streets, and erect a suit- able engine house, substantially fire proof. The sum of $5,000 was appropriated for the purchase of the lot and $8,000 for the building.
The new engine house is a handsome brick building of two stories with a roomy basement. It has in addition to other adequate equipment, a chemical engine and is about to add a second one.
At present the department head is F. E. Chamberlain. The fire commissioners are George A. Divine, J. A. Griffith, W. B. Johnson.
SEYMOUR'S PARK AND MONUMENT
The tract of nearly fourteen acres on the west of Garden City, which was presented to the Town of Seymour by the late Carlos French for a public park.
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is an ideal place for the purpose. The larger part of the tract is either nearly level or gently rolling, and the easterly side has been known for some years as the "Athletic Grounds," the use of it having been given by Mr. French to the young people for ball games and other athletic sports. The westerly part is covered with a fine grove, which has been a popular picnic resort. This reaches to the brow of a cliff which affords a fine view of the river and the northerly part of the town, with Castle Rock in the distance, at the left, making one of the most picturesque landscapes in the valley.
From the north, the Naugatuck River spreads out into a placid lake of about two hundred and fifty acres. Beyond is the bold front of lofty Rock Rimmon, while to the right and left, and far in the distance, are seen the wooded hills of one of the most attractive scenic regions of the Naugatuck Valley.
The Soldiers' Monument, a beautiful piece of statuary, was largely the work of Upson Post No. 40, Grand Army of the Republic and of the women of Sey- mour, who raised most of the money needed for this fine commemorative shaft.
ITS TOWN OFFICERS
The town officers for Seymour for 1917 were: Clerk and register, Frederick M. Parsons; treasurer, Wm. L. Ward; selectmen, George A. Divine, John A. Griffith, Jr., Walter B. Johnson; school committee, Edward T. Humphreys, chairman, James B. Honey, Sherman Sanford, Rev. Wm. A. Woodford, Joseph A. O'Brien, Thomas A. Perrins, Wm. B. Swan, Henry Howard, Henry Danforth.
SOCIETIES
Sarah Ludlow Chapter, Daughers of the American Revolution, is one of the notable organizations of the town. At present Mrs. Hattie M. Buckingham is regent ; vice regent, Mrs. A. L. Booth ; recording secretary, Mrs. C. T. Adams ; cor- responding secretary, Mrs. W. P. Foster ; treasurer, Mrs. H. M. Barber ; register, Florence James.
The Seymour Chamber of Commerce organized in 1900 is doing splendid work along all lines of civic and industrial improvement. Its president now is William B. Swan; its secretary, James B. Baylis; directors, C. W. Michaels, W. C. Sharpe, F. M. Parsons, H. S. Halligan, J. P. Johnstone, C. R. Sumpf, George Smith, T. B. Beach, C. H. Camp.
VIEW OF THOMASTON, LOOKING WEST
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, THOMASTON
CHAPTER XXXII THOMASTON, THE TOWN OF CLOCKMAKERS
ITS EARLY HISTORY-THE BEGINNING OF ITS CLOCK INDUSTRY-THE INVENTION OF ELI TERRY AND SETII THOMAS-THEIR MARVELOUS WORK-THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY-ITS SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, GOVERNMENT-ITS LATEST INDUSTRIES.
Thomaston, named after the founder of its clock industry, Seth Thomas, is a town of nearly four thousand population. It is beautifully located, its homes being largely on the western bank and hillsides of the Naugatuck River. It lies in the southeastern part of Litchfield County, and is connected by a short trolley ride with Waterbury. The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad gives it direct connection with Torrington and Winsted on the north, and Waterbury, New Haven and Bridgeport on the south. It has two banks, one national and one savings, two excellent schools with rural schools directly affiliated with its high school, a beautiful library, a fine town hall and four churches. Like all towns in the Naugatuck Valley, it is an industrial community.
The Seth Thomas Clock Company, founded in 1813, gives employment to I,200 people. The other larger industries are the Plume & Atwood Rolling Mill, employing 300; the Thomaston Knife Company, employing 75; and the Thomas- ton Mfg. Co., with 20 employes.
ITS EARLY HISTORY
Until 1875, Thomaston was part of the Town of Plymouth and was generally known as Plymouth Hollow. Plymouth in its earliest days was a part of the Town of Waterbury. Not until October, 1737, were the people of Plymouth per- mitted by the General Assembly to separate as a church body from the parent organization at Waterbury. But in 1740 came a contest over the location of the First Congregational Church between those who wanted it built on the hill and those who wanted it in what is now the site of Thomaston. The schoolhouse on the West Side was used temporarily for the church meetings.
It is evident that the occupation of the West Side Schoolhouse was merely temporary and provisional, the society chancing to be organized there, as there was no other public building in the parish limits; it was not regarded as the meeting house, nor did they intend to remain in it permanently. It was not the society of Wooster Swamp, but of Northbury, which mainly lay east of the river, where it proceeded to build as soon as it was in fair working order.
The West Side settlers naturally objected to the building because they saw it would be done east of the river, and they tried to persuade the society to remain in their schoolhouse. But when they saw that the society was determined to build and on the East Side, a majority (not of the society, for that would have controlled it and defeated the project of building on the East Side) of the pro- prietors of the West Side house (eleven of the nineteen) voted the society out of doors till it should have completed its own house. Then this majority of the
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proprietors, knowing that the Legislature would not organize an opposition Con- gregational Church west of the river, formed an Episcopal society.
St. Peter's Church was therefore organized in 1740, in Plymouth Hol- low, now Thomaston, where the first church edifice was erected. The
rectors previous to the War of the Revolution were Theophilus Mor- ris, James Lyon, Richard Mansfield, James Scoville, and James Nichols. The society was reorganized after the Revolution with the following members : Solomon Collins, Abner Blakeslee, Titus Barnes, Asher Blakeslee, Eli Blakes- lee, Hosea Bliss, Moses Blakeslee, Samuel Blakeslee, Philo Bradlee, Amos Bron- son, Ebenezer Bradley, Noah Blakeslee, Jude Blakeslee, Ebenezer Bradley, Noah Blakeslee, Ebenezer Bradley, Jr., John Brown, Thos. Blakeslee, Joab Camp, Abishai Castle, Zadok Curtis, Amasa Castle, Ezra Dodge, Samuel Fens, Ebenezer Ford, Jesse Fenn, Lemuel Funcher, Cephas Ford, Barnabas Ford, Isaac Fenn, Enos Ford, Daniel Ford, Amos Ford, Cornelius Graves, Benj. Graves, Simon Graves, Zacheus Howe, Eliphalet Hartshorn, Eliphalet Hartshorn, Jr., Jesse Humaston, David Luddington, Zebulon Mosher, Chauncey Moss, Jacob Potter, Samuel Peck, Jr., Samuel Potter, Gideon Seymour, David Shelton, Ezekiel San- ford, Jr., Abel Sutliff, Jr., Samuel Scovile, Jr., Jesse Turner, Wm. Tuttle. Thos. Williams, Eli Welton, Thos. Way, Ogrius Warner, Thomas Williams, Jr., Samuel Way.
After its reorganization, the church in 1792 was supplied by Ashbel Baldwin, Philo Shelton, Pillotow Branson, and Chauncey Prindle.
A new church edifice was erected in 1796 and consecrated November 2, 1797.
The section occupied by the Village of Thomaston in 1825 consisted of about thirteen dwellings, located as follows: On East Main Street, on the site of the Plume & Atwood offices, stood a dwelling occupied by Lyman Fenn, and on the premises later occupied by John H. Wood was also a house, but its occupant is unknown. There was a house standing on North Main Street, where Dr. B. W. Pease later resided, and Julius Blakesley lived in a dwelling which stood near the later residence of Henry B. Warner. The premises later occupied by T. J. Bradstreet and Mrs. Blakesley were owned by Mica Blakesley, and on the place later occupied by Mrs. George Reynolds was a tannery. The next location on the north side of the street belonged to Seth Thomas, and was occupied by him a number of years. It is now covered by the clock factory. The next place below was occupied by the Blakesley family a long time. One of the oldest buildings in the village stood on Center Street, and was occupied by Levi Castle.
The quiet little hamlet of less than a score of buildings has grown to one of the loveliest manufacturing towns in Connecticut, and this is due chiefly to the enterprise of one family, Seth Thomas, his sons and grandsons. Seth Thomas. the elder, commenced the manufacture of clocks in 1809, in company with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley, at what is now Hancock Station, on the New York and New England Railroad. Here he remained until 1813, when he came to Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston, and purchased the site on which the new five- story factory is now located and commenced the manufacture of clocks. He gradually increased the business, and in 1853 the Seth Thomas Clock Company was organized, under the joint stock law of Connecticut. The remainder of the story of the development of the clock industry in Thomaston is told under another heading in this chapter.
THIOMASTON'S TOWN HISTORY
On July 6, 1875, the Town of Thomaston began its corporate existence, the General Assembly having officially decreed the separation from Plymouth. Its
OLD ST. THOMAS CHURCH AND RECTORY, THOMASTON
HIGH STREET, THOMASTON
BRADSTREETS' BLOCK, THOMASTON
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VIEW OF MAIN STREET, THOMASTON
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first town meeting was held July 13, 1875. Its first selectmen were Frederick E. Warren, Nelson Bennett, and Morris Humiston. Its first act was to appoint the following haywards for the community : Bennett E. Osborn, Phineas J. Mix, Scoville Atwood, Alfred B. Smith, William B. Atwood. The first town meetings were held in what was known as American Hall, and later these meetings were held in Foster's Hall.
On April 28, 1883, it was decided to expend $50,000 on a new town hall on the site of the old cemetery. The committee in charge of construction was Aaron Thomas, F. E. Warner, A. P. Bradstreet, C. F. Williams, and James W. White. Within a year the building was completed; $8,000 was expended in furnishings, and it is today occupied by the town officials and also as a postoffice.
The Fire Department dates its origin from April 22, 1881, when the Crescent Hose Company was formed, followed on December 13, 1881, by the formation of the Thomaston Hook and Ladder Company.
A fine new building was completed a few years ago which is fitted out on its upper floor as a clubhouse, and on the lower floor are up-to-date fire-fighting appliances, including a combination chemical engine just installed.
The Laura Andrews and Thomaston Library Building was erected in 1902, the site being a gift of the Andrews family to the town. It contains 6,000 vol- umes. Miss Martha C. Potter is librarian.
Thomaston has a large high school, to which is attached a grammar school. In addition, it has what is called the Brick School, which is a full graded school. Two outlying district schools are affiliated with the High School and are under the supervision of the school committee.
Its enrollment of pupils is at present about eight hundred. The school com- mittee for 1917 consists of Robert Hazen, Fred L. White, John Walsh, James Goodall, Newton D. Holbrook, Richard J. Wallace, Alfred N. Pratt, Ralph H. Barnes, and Ralph S. Goodwin.
Its present town officials are: Clerk and register. Charles A. Curtiss ; treas- urer, Fred I. Roberts ; selectmen, E. O. Bradley, George Sangster, R. J. Wallace ; assessors, Wm. B. Foote, George C. Gilbert, George C. Hosford ; auditors, Ray- mond H. Felton, Michael F. Conway.
The Thomaston National Bank, founded in 1885, has a capital of $50,000 and surplus of $25,000. Its deposits are $147,968.09. Its president is James A. Doughty : cashier, F. I. Roberts.
The Thomaston Savings Bank, founded in 1884, has about two thousand depositors, with total deposits in 1916 amounting to $1,298.386.29. Its surplus is $89,000. The president is Edward C. Stoughton ; treasurer, Henry E. Stough- ton.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The First Congregational Church was organized December 7. 1837, with the following members: Josiah Warner, Thomas Sutliff. Abel C. Judson, Abel Jud- son, Hiram Pierce, William F. Judson, Samuel Beach, Silas Hotchkiss, Edward Nettleton, James Cargill, Seth Thomas, Joseph F. Mansfield, P. D. Potter, Lafayette Comstock, Munson Adkins, Nathan Cook, Fanny Warner, Nancy Sut- liff, Haldah Sutliff, Ruby Judson, Sabrina Hart, Sally C. Northrop, Mehitabel Booth, Ruth Bush, Harriet Nettleton, Martha Marsh, Chloe Boardman, Eunice Cargill, Mary M. Judson, Hannah M. Comstock, Clarissa E. Cook, Laura Thomas, Martha Thomas, Amanda Thomas, Mary E. Blakesley. Esther Potter, Amanda Adkin. The pastors have been as follows: Harvey D. Kitchell. Joseph
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D. Hall, James Averill, J. B. Pearson, R. P. Searle, J. W. Backus, H. C. Hitch- cock. The present pastor is Rev. Geo. D. Owen.
THE METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
For many years previous to the erection of a house of worship by the Meth- odists, Thomaston was supplied with circuit preaching by the New York Confer- ence. During these years the tide of opposition was strong against this small band, which finally eventuated in their being prohibited the use of the school- house, which for some years they had occupied.
The membership at the time, though small and feeble, now felt the need of a house of worship. The subject of building soon became agitated. This, in the course of two or three years, resulted in the erection of a very neat and com- modious church. This church was erected in the year 1842, principally through the influence and labors of Bennett Hibbard, a leader and steward in charge. The house being finished in the early part of the winter, was dedicated by the Rev. L. D. Ferguson.
The first pastor was Charles Bartlett. The first officers were as follows: Bennett Hibbard, Nathan A. Daniels, leaders; Bennett Hibbard, Hiram S. Turn- ey, stewards ; Bennett Hibbard, Samuel Coley, Sherman Lines, trustees.
The following is a list of the members in the year 1842: Bennett Hibbard, Laura Hibbard, William McAliston, Hiram Turney, Jenett Turney, Ruth A. Dunning, Emily Smith, Julia E. Thompson, Jane M. Thompson, Mary Fuller, Fanny Munger, Lucius Alcott, Emily Alcott, Caleb Austin, Louisa Austin, Abijah A. Dunning, Maria Fuller and Lucy Yale.
The present pastor is Rev. E. L. Thorpe.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church sprang from St. Peter's, Plymouth. The Rev. Benjamin Eastwood commenced holding evening services in the Academy Hall, but in 1866 Academy Hall was sold to the school district. It was then thought best to purchase the old, meeting-house of the Methodist Society, and in March, 1867, it was deeded to Randal T. Andrews, Edwin Welton and Robert Alcott, to be held by them in trust until such time as a parish might be organ- ized. In the fall of the same year the building was enlarged by adding a vesti- bule and belfry, containing a bell given in memory of Mrs. Hannah Williams. The parish organization was effected January 2, 1869. The names of the first members were: Robert Alcott, Augustus E. Blakeslee, Jerry M. Curtiss, Herman D. Saul, David S. Plume, Richard Chapman, George G. Alcott, Harvey Sperry, Alfred J. Winton, Randal T. Andrews, John Chapman, Hugh Lawton, Edward T. Gates, William C. Gates, Thomas Chapman, George W. Canfield, Martin L. Judd, Augustus Merrill and Daniel H. Stevens.
The first rector was Rev. David Bishop ; first clerk, Robert Alcott ; first treas- urer, R. T. Andrews; first wardens, Edward T. Gates, George G. Alcott ; first vestrymen, David S. Plume, Randal T. Andrews, Robert Alcott, Augustus E. Blakeslee, Jerry M. Curtiss, William C. Gates, Hugh Lawton, Isaac R. Castle and John Chapman. The present church edifice was erected on the site of the old one in 1871.
The present rector is Rev. B. Hamilton Phelps.
The church was enlarged, at an expense of $3,000, in the fall of 1879, and a $1,500 organ placed therein in memory of George W. Bradley, a former organist of St. Peter's, Plymouth.
RESIDENCE OF W. T. WOODRUFF, THOMASTON
VIEW OF HIGH STREET, THOMASTON-HENRY E. STOUGHTON'S RESIDENCE
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ST. THOMAS' R. C. CHURCH
The first marriage of Catholics was solemnized by Father Fitton on a visit to Plymouth Hollow, in 1831. The first mass was celebrated in the residence of Michael Ryan, in 1854, by Rev. Michael O'Neile. of Waterbury, who paid monthly visits to the little Catholic community. When Father Hendricken suc- ceeded him, he continued these monthly visits. In 1863 the worshiping Catholics were placed under the jurisdiction of Bristol and so remained until 1871. Rev. Eugene Gaffney was the first resident pastor, who came to the church in 1871 and started the building of the present St. Thomas edifice at that time. It was dedicated October 15, 1876. He not alone completed this church but also built those at Terryville and Watertown. He bought the cemetery and also built the rectory. Father Gaffney died August 30, 1884, and was succeeded by Rev. Michael McGivney, who died in 1890. Rev. Michael J. Daly succeeded him. The present pastor in charge of St. Thomas parish is Rev. J. H. Walsh.
THOMASTON'S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The industries of Thomaston have their actual beginnings, as before stated, in the work of Seth Thomas, the clockmaker. and of his first partner in the busi- ness, Eli Terry. The life story of both men forms an enlightening chapter on Thomaston's great industry.
Mr. Terry learned the art of clock and watchmaking and the art of engrav- ing on metal from Daniel Burnap, in the City of Hartford. He also received instruction from Thomas Harland, a noted clock and watchmaker, a resident of Norwich. and a native of London. When he settled in Plymouth, he engaged in the business of repairing clocks and watches, engraving on metal, and selling spectacles, spectacles being the only goods he kept for sale. In his early years here he did nothing at clockmaking worthy of mention, but in the year 1807 he obtained a contract from a clockmaker in the neighboring Town of Waterbury for making 4,000 thirty-hour wooden clocks with seconds pendulum, the dial and hands included, at $4 apiece. At this date the manufacturers of clocks in this country made the eight-day English brass clocks and thirty-hour wood clocks, both kinds of clocks having pendulums beating seconds with three exceptions. In that part of Plymouth, now Thomaston, there was a manufacturer of brass clocks. and also a manufacturer of brass clocks at Salem Bridge, now Nauga- tuck. These clocks were the English brass clocks with sixty teeth in the escape- ment wheel, instead of thirty, to adapt them to a half seconds pendulum, the cord passing upward and over a pulley on the inside of the top of the case and attached to the weight. the weight moving the whole length of the inside of the case. These were the substantial differences. The plates for the frames of these clocks and the blanks for the wheels and other parts were cast metal, and the pinions were of cast steel, as in the English clocks. The length of cases required for half seconds clocks bears about the same ratio to the length of the cases for clocks with seconds pendulums that squares of the lengths of the pendulums bear to each other. These clocks were popularly called "shelf clocks." and were thus distinguished from clocks with seconds pendulums, the case of which stood on the floor. At Roxbury, near Boston. a timepiece was made called Willard's timepiece. This timepiece consisted of the time train of the English brass clock. with the omission of one leaf in the pinion on the escapement wheel arbor. the escapement wheel having an additional number of teeth. and was thus adapted to a pendulum shorter than the seconds and longer than the
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