History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 31

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

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Jonathan Hatch

ARTOTYPE, E, BIERSTADT, N. Y

WWPreston & LONY

Geo S Moulton

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ter of John and Lucinda Armstrong, of Franklin, Connecticut. They have had eight children, three of whom are living.

GEORGE S. MOULTON .- The subject of this sketch, George S. Moulton, was the son of Harvey Moulton and Anna M. Turner, who were married October 29th, 1828. He was born in the town of Mansfield, Tolland county, Conn., on the 13th of September, 1829, and was the eldest of six children. He received a thorough elementary education, and in youth spent several years on a farm. Being, however, ambitious for a wider field of activity than was open to him in the country, he went to Willimantic and entered the Windham Company's stores, of which (after a few years of service) he became proprietor. In 1853 he married Caroline F., daughter of John S. Hazen of Worthington, Mass. Their three children are : Cora L., now the wife of A. L. Hathe- way, Georgianna and Everett Huntington. In the infancy of the Willimantic Linen Company he removed to New York as agent for the sale of their thread. In conjunction with this business he dealt largely in commercial paper and was also inter- ested in other enterprises in that city which, aided by his superior judgment and executive ability, were eminently suc- cessful.

In 1869 he was compelled by failing health to abandon active business and retire to his country home at Windham, near the scene of his birth and his earliest experiences in commercial life. A Republican in politics, he was above subterfuges and in all things honest and honorable. He represented the town of Windham in the Connecticut house of representatives in 1871 and again in 1877, and in 1878 was elected to the senate from the 13th Senatorial district, filling both positions with ability. In 1876 he was the nominee of his party for presidential elector.

Mr. Moulton was for several years a director of the Williman- tic Linen Company, and a prominent factor in its development and growth. He was also a director of the National Shoe and Leather Bank of New York, of the New York & New England and the Boston & New York Air Line railroads and the Willi- mantic Savings Institute, and at one time president of the Wil- limantic Trust Company. He enjoyed the reputation of being an able financier, whose superior tact enabled him to avoid or easily overcome reverses of fortune. Mr. Moulton was held in high esteem, not only by his personal friends but by a large cir- cle of acquaintances. The affectionate regard he inspired in the

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hearts of all who knew him can best be indicated by a quotation from the editorial columns of a leading journal on the occa- sion of his death (which occurred on the Sth of June, 1882) : "The man whose life has been a constant bloom, imparting its fragrance to the sense of all, suddenly blighted from earth leaves a vacancy which cannot be filled: but there remains that sweet perfume of a life well spent. It is with sorrow we are called upon to record the end of a life so honored and honorable as that of George S. Moulton. Few men live whose obituary when truthfully written will contain little else but praise, but the pages of this man's history are radiant with noble deeds and marred with blemishes few indeed."

GUILFORD SMITH .- Joshua Smith, the grandfather of Guilford Smith, and a native of Lebanon, New London county, subse- quently moved to Windham county, Connecticut, where he was both a weaver and a farmer, and in connection with his trade wove cloth for the soldiers during the war of 1812. His chil- dren were three sons, Chandler, Charles and Marvin, and five daughters, Myra, Lydia, Laura, Emily and Mary. Charles, of this number, was born in Windham, and early learned the trade of a millwright. In 1828 he began the manufacture of machinery at Stafford Hollow, in Tolland county, and two years later, having built a foundry at South Windham, removed to that point, where he is still interested as the senior member of the firm of Smith, Winchester & Co., conducting a successful busi- ness under his judicious management. He married Mary, daughter of Moses and Tabatha Abbe. Their children are a son, Guilford, and a daughter, Mary, wife of P. H. Woodward, of Hartford.

Guilford Smith was born May 12th, 1839, in the town of Wind- ham, where he pursued his preliminary studies, and completed his education at a school of higher grade in Ellington, Tolland county. Returning to Windham, he entered the office of Smith, Winchester & Co. as bookkeeper and draftsman, and early became so thoroughly identified with the business as to warrant his ad- mission as a partner. Under his able supervision it greatly in- creased in proportions, and a demand for the products of the establishment was created in various parts of Europe, in Aus- tralia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and nearly all parts of the United States. Machinery adapted to the manufacture of paper is here produced, Mr. Smith being exclusively at the head of this large

W.W.Preston & CON.Y.

Fineford Umist

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industry. The subject of this biography, though not in any sense a politician, nor aggressive in his identification with local affairs, is nevertheless a strong factor in the republican ranks, and wields in his unostentatious way no little influence in the county. In 1883 he was the representative of his town in the state house of representatives. He is president of the Windham Bank of Willimantic, and director of other banks and business enterprises. In religion he adheres to the Congregational church, to which his generous aid is given. Mr. Smith was mar- ried December 16th, 1863, to Mary, daughter of Thomas Rams- dell, of Mansfield, Connecticut.

CHAPTER XVI.

WILLIMANTIC.

General Description .- Communication with the World. - Some Public Features. -Retrospect of Half a Century .- Early Stages of the Cotton Mill Industries .- Starting of the Windham and Smithville Companies .- First Steps of the Linen Company's Plant .- Early Builders of the Village .- The Post Office .- Incorporation of the Borough .- Fire Companies and Engines .- Fire Depart- ment .- Destructive Fires .- Water Works .- Public Schools .- Libraries .- Churches : Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal, Spirit- ualist, Mission Hall, Camp Meeting .- Growth of Manufacturing .- Windham Company .- Smithville Company .- Linen Company .- Holland Silk Company. -Morrison Company .- Chaffee & Son .- Turner Silk Mill .- Natchaug Silk Company .- Foundry .- Builders and Other Manufacturers .- Board of Trade. -Cemeteries .- Masonic History .- Benefit Societies .- Banks .- Buildings .- Newspapers, Printing and Wood Type .- Biographical Sketches.

W ILLIMANTIC, a beautiful village of about ten thousand inhabitants, lies in the southwest corner of the town of Windham, and consequently in the southwest corner of the county. The Willimantic, a vigorous stream, as powerful and as graceful as its name is beautiful, winds along the valley through the center of the borough to which it has given name. On the slope of the left bank lies the principal part of the vil- lage, and nearly all of the business concerns. Great power is furnished for the driving of machinery by the falls in the river, and this circumstance gave rise to the building of a populous village here. In the eastern suburbs of the village the Natchaug joins the Willimantic, and they unitedly form the Shetucket.

No place in New England, dependent upon railroad transport- ation facilities, is better endowed in this respect. The situation of the Willimantic is one that commends itself to the serious consideration of progressive and far-seeing business men who are about to embark in new and promising enterprises, or who desire to change from unsuitable and inconvenient locations to more congenial and favorable ones, such as they will find Wil- limantic to be after having looked over the field and come in contact with its citizens.

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Here they will find first-class facilities for receiving materials and shipping goods, a desirable place of residence, an excellent system of water-works, ample police protection, an effective fire department, the very best banking accommodations, moderate taxes, electric lights, good schools, churches, public libraries, etc., and opportunities to secure favorable building sites for res- idences at reasonable prices.

Magnificent hills rise on either side of the valley, and these are yet unoccupied except in a few instances. When their sum- mits are crowned by some structures of architectural beauty, as doubtless some day they will be, then the attractions of Willi- mantic will impress the passing traveler, or the prospecting in- vestor or resident, as one of the most desirable localities in all this section of the country. Already it is one of the most flour- ishing and rapidly growing towns in New England, as doubtless it is the most important one of eastern Connecticut. Its rapid growth is shown by the following facts : By the census report of 1870 the population of the borough was 4,048; in 1880, 6,612; a gain of 632 per cent. in ten years. At the same rate of increase from 1880 to 1890, the next census will show a population of 10,- 799. Based on the number of names in the Directory for 1887, a population of 10,000 has already been attained. The time is not far distant when these figures will be doubled. Willimantic's advantages and prospects of future growth and development warrant this assertion.

The railroad facilities are ample. The New York and New England railroad runs from Boston, directly through Williman- tic, to the Hudson river at Newburgh, a distance of 220 miles, passing through Hartford, New Britain, Waterbury and Dan- bury. Within a year or two this road will have direct connec- tion with, the Pennsylvania coal and oil fields and all western points, via the Poughkeepsie bridge, recently completed. The New England railroad also extends from Willimantic to Providence, R. I., 58 miles, and the company operates a num- ber of important branches, among them the Connecticut Central, from Hartford to Springfield, Mass., and the Norwich and Wor- cester road, which runs in connection with the Norwich and New York steamboat line. The division of the New England road between Boston and Willimantic is double-tracked, as are also sections of the line westward to New Britain. Willimantic has direct communication with New York city over the Air Line

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and New York, New Haven and Hartford roads, both operated under one management, and over the New England road via Hartford. The New London Northern road passes through Willimantic, running northerly until it reaches a junction with the Vermont Central system, of which it forms a part, and also making connection with the Boston and Albany road at Palmer, Mass.

Willimantic is only sixteen miles from tide water at Norwich, communication with which is direct by the New London North- ern railroad, and is also reached by rail via Plainfield over the New England road. Tide water is also had via the Air Line road to New Haven, 54 miles, and by the New England road to Prov- idence, 58 miles, and at Hartford, 30 miles. Fast express trains place Willimantic within two hours of Boston and three hours of New York. To Boston is 86 miles, to New York 117 miles. Willimantic is almost midway between Boston, the metropolis of New England, and New York, the commercial center of this globe. People can also go to and come from Philadelphia and Washington, D. C., without change of cars.

In hotel accommodations Willimantic stands second to no town in Connecticut. There are five, viz., Hooker House (new), Brain- erd House, Hotel Commercial, Revere House and European House. Of these, the Brainerd House is the oldest. But that has no claim to antiquity. The original hotel of Willimantic is a brick house, still standing on the south side of the river, which in the old stage-coach days was a stopping place on the great thoroughfare between Providence and Hartford. Later, the house in the village now known as the Chaffee House was opened by Mr. Brainerd, and still later the present Brainerd House was fitted up by a company, and Mr. Brainerd managed it and gave its name. The Hooker House is pre-eminently one of the finest hotels in eastern Connecticut, and perhaps the finest. It was erected in 1886 by S. C. Hooker. It is a substantial four-story brick building, the interior arrangement of which is a marvel of convenience and economy. Corridors nine feet wide run through the center of the building on each floor, and a hydraulic elevator, steam heat, hot and cold water, electric bells and speaking tubes, are among the modern advantages in the generally complete equipment. There are one hundred chambers of uniform size, and the eating and sleeping accommodations are first-class in every respect.

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The superior court of Windham county holds half of all its civil and criminal terms of court in Willimantic. Under a re- cent statute permitting transfer of causes from one county to another for trial, by agreement of parties or their counsel, many cases arising in Mansfield, Coventry, Andover, Columbia, Hebron, Willington and Stafford are also tried here. The court house is one of the most elegant in its finish and furniture, and con- venient in its appointments, of any in the state.

Taxation here is moderate. Property is not assessed to exceed 60 per cent. of its market valuation, and the combined borough and town tax rate is only 16} mills on the dollar. The grand list for 1886 was : Borough, $3,505,804 ; town, $4,146,127.

Three lines for telegraphic communication are available-the Western Union, United Lines, and the Mutual Union-and man- ufacturers and business men here get the benefit of the lowest prevalent rates to all competing points. The telephone service is complete, and an electric light plant is in operation.

For pleasant drives, Willimantic and vicinity towns offer un- usual attractions. The main street from the eastern to the west- ern limit furnishes a drive of nearly two miles, and gives the stranger a very good idea of the place, passing as he does through the business portion of the town. The opera house, court house, all the hotels and banks, the Linen Company's four large mills, the Smithville and Windham Companies' mills, and the Willi- mantic fair grounds, are located on this thoroughfare. In the outside drives, a favorite one is easterly over Bricktop hill to Windham. Another is along Pleasant street, on the south side of the river and running parallel with it. Here a five minutes' climb will take one to the top of Hosmer mountain, the location of the reservoir from which the village receives its supply of water. Here a magnificent view of the village and the surround- ing country may be had. The picture shows the beautiful Wil- limantic river winding its way through the meadows as it comes down from the northwest; the different railroads as they ap- proach the converging point, from the "four winds of heaven ; " on the right, the majestic Natchaug, wreathing its serpentine course through hill and vale, as if in no hurry to leave its pleas- ant surroundings; the Mansfield, Coventry, Lebanon and Colum- bia hills, dotted here and there with villages and thrifty farm houses, and the village of Willimantic below, with its mills, workshops, business blocks and fine residences. In the way of

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longer drives may be mentioned one to the south, over Village hill to Lebanon, about seven miles, and to the west to Columbia green and the Columbia reservoir, a very popular resort for fish- ing and picnicing parties ; another to the north to South Cov- entry, noted as the site of the monument to Nathan Hale, of revolutionary fame. To the west of the village lies Lake Wam- gumbaug, a very pretty sheet of water, and quite celebrated lo- cally for its fine black bass fishing. Yet another fine drive, but somewhat longer, is the one north through Mansfield street to the Storrs agricultural school. On this route is passed the Wil- limantic water works pumping station. The Natchaug river is dammed at this point, forming a beautiful lake, with grounds laid out very tastily as a small park. This is fast becoming a very popular resort for Willimantic people in summer, being only a short drive of two and a half miles from the place.

The Willimantic Fair Association is in a thrifty condition, with good grounds, new, roomy and substantial buildings, and the best half-mile track in the county. Horsemen with national reputations have spoken in the highest terms of the superior ad- vantages of this track for horse trotting, and of the manage- ment. All the exhibitions have been eminently successful, and the prospects are flattering for the future.

About the close of the first quarter of the present century, Willimantic consisted only of a few straggling houses here and there. The old Carey house was here, and that is still standing. The Baker house was one of its associates, and that is still stand- ing. A small paper and grist mill and saw mill, owned by Clark & Gray of Windham, stood just east of the residence of John H. Capen, near the present site of No. 2 thread mill. The old state powder works of the revolutionary time occupied very nearly the same site. At that time this locality was familiarly and locally known as " the State," a name which clung to it for many years. A short distance east of the grist mill were two dwelling houses, and on the north side of Carey hill one or two more, which have long since disappeared. On Main street, just east of E. C. Carpenter's store, stood the Azariah Balcom resi- dence, connected with a large tract of land located north of Main street. The next house west was owned by Erastus Fitch, and in later years by Hardin H. Fitch, one of the oldest natives of the village. There was but one more dwelling west of him on Main street within the corporate limits, and that was on the site

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of the present town alms-house. It was replaced by a more mod- ern structure in 1835. This was afterward used as a tavern, standing at the fork of the Bolton and Coventry roads. It was afterward purchased and used as a town alms-house, and was de- stroyed by fire about eight or ten years since. A new and hand- some building, the present town house, was erected on the spot. This is a large two-and-a-half-story building, sufficiently com- modious to afford room for one hundred and fifty inmates. Fifty to sixty inmates are frequently in the house in winter, but a smaller number are here in summer. Men arrested for drunk- enness and vagrancy are frequently sent up here to work out a fine. A small farm is worked in connection with the house. Some aged and indigent persons are cared for, and a few insane, but such are generally sent to Middletown. The building is a frame structure, clapboarded and neatly painted.

Returning to the period which we are reviewing, on the south side of the river but one dwelling stood at the west end of Pleas- ant street. At the east end of that street stands the old home- stead of Alfred Young, Sr., one of the early and prominent men of Windham. South of this stood the Murdock house, which has since been taken down. On South Main street stood the house of Anson Youngs, which was used as a house of public en- tertainment in revolutionary days, but has been replaced by a more modern structure within a recent period. East of this lo- cality stands the dwelling formerly occupied by Josiah Dean, Sr., one of the early residents of this locality. In this description we have specified about all there was of Willimantic at the time mentioned.

The pioneer cotton spinner of Willimantic was Perez O. Rich- mond, who came here from Rhode Island some time in the year 1822, and purchased the privilege at the lower end of the bor- ough now known as Willimantic Linen Company's Mill No. 2. . On this site he built a mill of wood, about forty by sixty feet, one and a half stories high, put in machinery and commenced making cotton yarn. He also built a cheap row of tenements, six in number, just north of the mill, for his operatives. Mr. Richmond continued to run this mill until 1827, when it passed into the possession of Messrs. Hawes, father and son, of Prov- idence, R. I., who made extensive repairs to the mill and ten- ements, and also erected a large boarding house and the best store in the place.

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In 1823 Major Matthew Watson, Hartford Tingley, Rathbone Tingley and Arnnah C. Tingley, all of Providence, R. I., pur- chased the privilege and land adjoining, at the upper end of the village, and formed a corporation by the name of the Windham Cotton Manufacturing Company. They built a dam across the river and put up a mill, which is now the south half of the west mill belonging to the Windham Company. Here they put in machinery and commenced making cotton sheetings and shirt- ings. They also erected some six dwelling houses for two fami- lies each, which were known then, as now, as the "Yellow Row." A store on Main street at the head of the row of houses was built and filled with goods for the operatives. Arnnah C. Tingley, one of the owners, removed here from Providence and became the local agent of the corporation. He built and occu- pied the dwelling house west of the store on Main street. The erection of a dam for this corporation caused a set back of the water for twomiles or more, overflowing large tracts of meadow on this river and on Hop river and Ten Mile river as well. This caused much damage to lands overflowed, and quite a large amount was paid by the company in settlement of such claims.

About the time the Windham company commenced operations Deacon Charles Lee, of Windham, purchased the site of what is now the Smithville Company's property, and erected a mill for the manufacture of cotton goods, four dwellings and a barn and store house. In the spring of 1827 a store was erected by him on the corner of Main and what is now Bridge street, in which were kept a general assortment of dry goods and groceries. As- sociated with him in the store was Royal Jennings, who came from Windham and remained here until 1840, when he removed to Milwaukee, Wis. Deacon Lee removed to Norwich and was for many years the head of the firm of Lee & Osgood. They were active business men and took a deep interest in the moral and religious welfare of this young and growing community.

In 1824 Messrs. William, Asa and Seth Jillson, three brothers from Dorchester, Mass., purchased land on the south side of Main street, with the water privilege attached thereto, built the dam and laid the foundation of a cotton mill on the site of what is now the Linen Company's spool shop. At that time this was the largest cotton mill in Willimantic. In connection with the manufacture of cotton goods quite an extensive business was done by this firm in the manufacture of machinery for cotton

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mills. The stone building opposite the mill, and five dwellings for four families each, were erected by this corporation. An ad- ditional mill was erected a few rods below for the same purpose, greatly enlarging what for that time was an extensive business in cotton manufacture. The senior brother built the stone house between Main and Union streets for his residence. Asa built the fine house on the south side of the river, and Seth built another on South Main street, the three being at that time the finest residences in the village.

Thus, in 1826, Willimantic had four cotton mills in successful operation, and began to assume considerable importance. Peter Simpson built a one-story dwelling on the site of the present Brainerd House. The old State powder works had passed into the hands of Samuel Byrne and David Smith, who were oper- ating under the firm name of Byrne & Smith. Guy Hebard had erected a brick house on the south side of the river and opened it for the entertainment of the public. Of this we have already spoken. Here all public gatherings, Fourth of July celebrations, trainings, dancing schools, balls and other carousals of festivity were held. The old Hebard tavern was known far and wide. The first grog-shop in the village was opened by Thomas W. Cunningham, and was located on what is now the west corner of Walnut and Main streets.

Philip Hopkins, one of the first to build on private account, built a house on what is now the site of Levi A. Frink's block on Main street. He also had a general blacksmith shop on Main street, near his residence. Alfred Howes had a similar shop at the lower end of the village at the same time. He soon gave up the business, purchased land between Main, Union, Jackson, Maple and Church streets, and engaged in the first drug business in the village, in association with Newton Fitch and Doctor John A. Perkins of Windham.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 31

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506