History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 77

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

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut > Part 77

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).

The result has far more than realized his most sanguine anticipations. Giving his whole time and energies to the work, within two years he had secured the laying out and con- secration of a convenient Catholic cemetery, purchased other land, and erected a pastoral residence, and fused the scattered elements into a united and reverent congregation. Before pro- ceeding to erect a worthy church edifice he returned to Europe and gathered aid from many friends, and then entered upon this great work with redoubled energy and enthusiasm. The wooden structure was soon replaced by a substantial brick building, with trimmings of light gray granite. Its interior was very fine, fitted up with much care and taste. The altar was "a gem of art," adorned with angels wrought in Munich, "of the highest order of art, ideality and beauty." Above and back of the altar were three stained glass windows. The semi-dome over-arching the altar was divided into five panels, colored in deep blue and stud- ded with gold stars; in each was the representation of an ador- ing angel, each carrying an emblem of the passion of our Lord. The first carries the crown of thorns ; the second the cross; the third the palm of victory ; the fourth the chalice; the fifth car- rying wheat, significant of the Eucharist. Pulpit and organ were.

788

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

in keeping. This beautiful structure, capable of seating fifteen hundred people, was formally consecrated as St. Mary's church, by Right Reverend Bishop McFarland, November 24th, 1870, and for nearly five years had served the purposes of its construc- tion, receiving thousands of joyful worshippers, when almost in a moment it was reduced to ashes. So rapid was the fire that not one of its valued treasures was rescued-library, organ, altar, chalice, were all consumed. The building with its contents was valued at $85,000. With his accustomed energy Father Vygen at once commenced the erection of a chapel, celebrating mass on Sundays meanwhile at Quinebang Hall. November 1st, 1876, St. Joseph's Hall was dedicated by Right Reverend Bishop Gal- berry-a neat and tasteful building in the rear of the blackened ruins, furnishing seats for eight hundred people. The erection of Catholic church edifices in other towns has somewhat di- minished the number of regular attendants at Putnam, so that this hall has continued to accommodate the congregation. In 1873 Reverend H. Martial, afterward the much-beloved and respected pastor of Grosvenor Dale parish, was appointed assistant of Father Vygen. Reverends Thomas P. Joynt, Alphonse Van Op- pen and Edward Chapdelaine have also served as curates. Father E. J. Vygen*, now the senior minister in Putnam, is much beloved by his people and respected by all for his consistent Christian character and faithful labors in behalf of temperance, morality and all salutary enterprises.

A recent survey of Putnam, accomplished under the direction of the Connecticut Bible Society, gives the following denomina- tional statistics :

Advent families 29. Individuals 105.

Baptist 194.

825.

Congregational families. . 162. 529.

Episcopal families 17. 66

74.

Methodist 68. 66

248.

Roman Catholic families. . 593. 3,135.

Universalist families 34.

115. Scattering families 11.

31.

The number of Catholic families and individuals thus consid- erably exceeds those of all other denominations combined. In regard to nationalities, the report shows: American families, 588 ; individuals, 2,198. French families, 464 ; individuals, 2,604. Irish families, 105; individuals, 433. English families, 21; in- *Father Vygen died in October, 1889 .- Ed.

789

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

dividuals, 109. Others, nine families with fifteen members. The Catholic church grounds include the ruins of St. Mary's church, St. Joseph's Hall, a convent, school house, parsonage, gas build- ing, music stand, park, flower garden. They also have laid out and own St. Joseph's Park upon the Quinebaug, south of the village, a part of the old Perrin farm. Within the last twenty years there has been a great change in the character and stand- ing of the "foreign element." It is more and more manifest that it has come to stay. Children of these families growing up in the town are truly citizens. Many own their own homes and farms, engage in agriculture and trade, and are identified in many ways with the growth and development of the town, shar- ing in the administration of government. Very interesting ser- vices have recently been held in Putnam in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Father Vygen's ordination. Ju- bilee services began Monday evening, April 1st, at Exhibition Hall, when all the societies connected with the church were present in regalia, with all the school children, members of the boarding school and hundreds of spectators. A brilliant procession accompanied the Reverend Father to the church the next morning, where high mass was performed, Bishop McMa- hon and a dozen priests assisting. More than twenty Catholic clergymen were present on this occasion. A vast audience filled Exhibition Hall, where an ovation was given by the young la- dies of the convent school, consisting of music, song and ad- dresses. Very interesting congratulatory and historic addresses were made by Doctor La Rue in behalf of the Canadian element of the parish, and by Mr. Patrick O'Leary in behalf of the Irish. In summing up the results of twenty-three years' faithful labor, it was noted that in 1866 the whole property of the Catholic church in this section was one little wooden building with the site on which it stood, while in 1889 it numbers five churches, five priests, two convents and two large parochial schools.

Regular Episcopal services were established in Putnam in November, 1868, under charge of Reverend J. W. Clark, now rector of St. James' church, Washington, D. C. These services were held in Brown's Hall during the erection of St. Philip's chapel, on Elm street. The corner stone of this edifice was laid with appropriate ceremonies, October 18th, 1870, and the house opened for worship February 24th, 1874, Bishops Williams, of Connecticut, and Paddock, of Massachusetts, and other noted cler-

790

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

gymen assisting in the exercises. About a hundred families have been connected with this parish, of whom a considerable number are residents of neighboring towns. Reverend J. W. Clark was succeeded in 1876 by Reverend E. Jessup, who was followed successively by Reverends P. H. Whaley, W. F. Bielby and A. P. Chapman. The present imcumbent is Reverend T. H. Church. The seatings in the church are free.

An Advent Christian church was organized in 1870, Reverend D. Matthewson pastor. This church has erected a neat chapel and maintains stated services. Its pastor is an earnest and faith- ful laborer.

September 12th, 1887, Universalists organized as a distinct church, holding services in the hall of the Grand Army of the Republic. Reverend D. L. R. Libby serves as its pastor. Trus- tees of the parish are: Orrin Morse, chairman ; J. F. Weather- head, clerk ; Marvin Barrett, treasurer; H. P. Benner, R. B. Stroud, Irwin H. Roberts.

Spiritualists maintained stated services for a number of years, but are now disbanded.

Putnam enjoys a peculiar religious institution in what is known as the " Holiness Prayer Meeting," carried on year after year in Morse's Hall, with ever-increasing interest. Christians of various denominations and towns, pledged to higher life and deeper spiritual consecration, have found these union meetings a special means of grace to themselves and the source of un- measured blessings to many sympathizing attendants.

Schools received immediate care from the fathers of Putnam. Their first meeting as a school society was held at Quinebaug Hall, July 9th, 1855. Moses Chandler was chosen clerk and treasurer. The first school committee were its honored citizens, Chandler A. Spalding, Richmond M. Bullock and Lucian Carpen- ter. Reverend Charles Willett, Messrs. Harrison Johnson, G. W. Phillips, W. W. White and Nathan Williams were appointed school visitors; Lucian Carpenter, collector. At the second meeting, September 21st, Messrs. Manning, Willett and B. F. Hutchins were empowered to set out and bound districts. Octo- ber 6th, a larger number were designated for the important ser- vice of investigating and fixing suitable district boundaries, viz., James Allen, William Tourtellote, Alvan D. Potter, Henry Hough, L. Hopkins. Their elaborate report was mainly ac- cepted, and after some minor alterations the bounds were allowed

791

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

nearly as at present. Some distant portions of the territory were associated with adjoining districts in other towns. The six dis- tricts wholly included in Putnam, after subsequent changes and consolidation, were generally known as: 1, East Putnam; 2, South Neighborhood; 3, Putnam Heights; 4, Gary District; 5, Depot Village; 6, Rhodesville. The first formal school report was pre- sented by Visitors Horace Seamans and Daniel Plimpton in 1859. Number of children then reported in town, 685; number of non- attendants, 196. The expense of maintaining public schools for the year, including repairs of school houses, was nineteen hun- dred dollars; monthly wages paid to male teachers, $31.27; to fe- male teachers, $16.54. Judge Seamans resigned his position in 1862, after seven years' faithful service, his experience in teach- ing and deep interest in public education and the growth of the town, giving much weight to his counsel and judgment. Doc- tor Plimpton succeeded as chairman of the board of visitors. The growth of the schools in the central districts was now very rapid, demanding new school houses and additional teachers. In his careful reports Doctor Plimpton urged with much earnest- ness the special needs of Putnam village, viz., the consolidation of the two districts, and the establishment of graded schools with suitable high school. This project was warmly discussed, hav- ing earnest friends and equally earnest opponents.

In 1866 a vote was carried in town meeting to accept the act of legislature allowing consolidation and a Union school district. Strenuous objections were made at the time, especially from the upper district. At a special town meeting, January 5th, 1867, this vote was rescinded by 93 versus 90. Agitation continued, and zealous efforts on both sides, resulting in what was called " the Sixth District School Fight," an episode in Putnam's his- tory meriting Carlyle's " wise oblivion." A motion from one of the chief opposers of consolidation laid the question on the table by a final vote of 140 versus 111.

Doctor Plimpton was succeeded as chairman of the board of visitors by Reverend G. J. Tillotson, who, like his predecessors, gave much time and thought to the interests of the schools, es- pecially those of the central districts, now numbering 672 of the 838 children. Irregular attendance and lack of accommodation and suitable classification were greatly deplored. In 1869 new buildings were reported, with over a thousand children. An- other veteran schoolteacher, Mr. J. J. Green, was now very active

792

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

in school affairs, himself instructing adult pupils in a night school. Doctor Bronson and Mr. W. H. Ward also served very efficiently on the school board. As the children of the early res- idents of the town grew up into maturity the need of higher ed- ucational privileges was more vitally apparent. July 25th, 1873, a meeting was called to consider the question of establishing a high school. A motion to dissolve the meeting was lost by a majority of ten. A majority of twelve voted to establish a high school in Putnam. It was further voted to raise $12,000 for school lot and building. Messrs. Manning, Alton, Wheelock, Wilson and Fisher were chosen a committee to discharge all du- ties relating to the projected school; Messrs. Chamberlain, Houghton, Capen, H. N. Brown, Salem Ballard, committee for site. Land was purchased from Mr. G. M. Morse. Messrs. Phil- lips, Carpenter, G. M. Morse, Capen and Wheelock were appoint- ed committee for building. A room was hired for school pur- poses and the high school actually begun during this year. Ad- ditional funds were needed for building purposes in the autumn. The prospect of a heavy debt and greatly increased school ex- penditures was very distasteful to taxpayers in the town, espe- cially to those who had no personal interest in a high school. October 6th the town was again called together, to reconsider the question and rescind previous votes. A majority of 47 au- thoritatively decided that the school had come to stay; that a public high school had become an imperative necessity. Forty. nine pupils were reported the first term, with Latham Fitch principal, and Ellen Osgood assistant. The school building was dedicated, with appropriate exercises, December 1st, 1874. Su- perintendent Northrup and other prominent friends of education were present. The number of pupils was then 65-8 from out- side the town.

In the fifteen years following this opening the school has been well sustained. Competent and faithful teachers have required and secured a high standard of scholarship. Hundreds of pupils within the limits of the town, and a goodly number of outside pupils, have enjoyed its advantages. Public graduation exercises from year to year have excited much interest. Schol- ars have gone out fitted for higher seminaries and college, and for various departments of business and usefulness. Graduates and scholars have united in a Putnam High School Association, keeping alive friendship and interest by pleasant "Field-days "

793

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

in Roseland Park. At the close of the last school year nine graduates participated in the exercises. The influence of the school has been every way salutary and stimulating. The pub- lic schools throughout the town are in good condition. An interesting report is recently given of the closing exercises in Sawyer's district, formerly "District No. 1," of the town of Thompson. Out of forty-two scholars the average attend- ance was thirty-seven. The number of children reported in Putnam in 1888, between four and sixteen years of age, was 1,558; account for high school, $2,277.82; for district schools, $5,677.45; for night schools, $349.83. School visitors: Lucius H. Fuller, Eric H. Johnson, J. B. Kent, Omer La Rue, Frank H. Church, Darius S. Skinner. Mr. Skinner also serves as truant officer.

Parochial schools are also maintained for the boys and girls of the Catholic parish, under the auspices and superintendence of Father Vygen. The school house was built in 1873, together with a very commodious and ample edifice, designed for a first- class boarding school for young ladies, conducted by Sisters of Mercy. These buildings are on the church grounds, near St. Joseph's Hall and the ruins of St. Mary's church, and are fitted up with great care and taste. Part of the cost was defrayed by the insurance on the burnt cathedral. The schools were opened in April, 1874. At least four hundred pupils attend the paro- chial schools, and about sixty the boarding school. This school is of a high order, conducted by devoted and accomplished Sis- ters. The first superior and principal, Sister M. Josephine, a person of high mental attainments, died in 1876. Her suc- cessor, M. Paula, is well qualified for the duties of her charge, and young women graduating from this institution sustain a rigid examination with great credit. The admirable discipline and order observed in these schools, the superior and thorough character of the buildings, the beauty of the grounds, testify in the strongest terms to the energy and fidelity of their reverend projector.

The manufacture of cotton goods, the prime element in Put- nam's early growth and prosperity, is still its dominant interest, engrossing the largest amount of capital, giving employment to by far the largest number of residents. Rhodesville leads in this manufacture with its mammoth mills and myriad looms. As in former days Mr. Smith Wilkinson stood for the embodi-

794

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

ment of manufacturing enterprise, so now one man stands at the head of three large establishments, overseeing the general interests of a business far beyond the highest ideal of previous generations. The Morse mill with its large addition, the fine Powhatan mill erected in 1872, the mills of the former Night- ingale Company, including the old Rhodesville mill, are all un- der the management of the general agent and part proprietor, George M. Morse; G. C. Nightingale, treasurer. A capital of $600,000 is invested in these manufactories. More than nine hundred looms are run, and about eight hundred hands em- ployed. The former Ballou mill passed into the hands of Mr. Edward Cutler, a much respected resident of Putnam, who car- ried on the establishment for a number of years. He was suc- ceeded by an association of Providence gentlemen, known as the Putnam Manufacturing Company, which after various reverses, still retains the privilege. South of the Falls, on Meadow street, are the fine new buildings of the Monohansett Manufacturing Company for the manufacture of sheetings, established in 1872 -Estus Lamb and George W. Holt, of Providence, proprietors. About 175 hands are employed by this company-George W. Holt, president; A. F. Lamb, treasurer; George W. Holt, Jr., resident agent.

The old Pomfret Factory Woblen Company, which under the management of Mr. M. Moriarty, had been doing a very success- ful business, was seriously crippled by the failure of a large wool house in New York and after a year's struggle was forced to make an assignment. The present Putnam Woolen Company was organized in 1878; E. A. Wheelock, resident agent and treasurer. This company improves the privilege of the former woolen company in the manufacture of cassimere, employing nineteen sets of machinery and over three hundred hands.

With the influx of new blood and capital several new and promising industries have been established. In this aggressive age the supreme authority of King Cotton has been questioned, and wool, silk, iron, steel and even such down-trodden entities as shoes, assert their claim to equal sovereignty.

The manufacture of silk goods was introduced in Putnam by Messrs. G. A. Hammond and C. C. Knowlton, January 1st, 1878. Land and building on the flat below the falls was procured from Mr. G. M. Morse, one of the contracting parties, and great pains taken with all the initiatory arrangements for this novel enter-

795

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

prise. About thirty girls were ready to begin work, attracted by the inherent fascination of silken fabrics for the feminine mind-with a sufficient number of experienced workmen to in- struct and aid. With new machinery, skilled labor and unwear- ied pains the mill was successfully set in motion, and bales of silken filaments from Japan and China wrought into substantial sewing-silk and twist for American use. The process, though not difficult, required a nicety of touch and observation, and many applicants failed to meet these conditions, but in time all difficulties were overcome and many women and girls rejoiced in the establishment of this agreeable and remunerative in- dustry. At the close of their first decade the Putnam Silk Mills re- port continued progress and prosperity. In 1885 the business had so outgrown accommodations that the old mill was rented and the works and machinery moved into a large three-story building in the same vicinity, furnishing ample room, abundant light and every convenience. About a hundred and twenty-five operatives, including ninety girls, are steadily employed. A vis- itor to the mills is struck by the order, neatness and apparent cheerfulness of its inmates. The. process by which the slender spinnings of the silk worm are transformed into familiar silk and twist and heavy braid is a marvel of mechanical skill and ingenuity. The weekly product is sent immediately to market, through their own agent, no " middle men " being employed by this firm, and the experiment of silk manufacture in Putnam has proved a financial benefit to all concerned.

The shoemaker is not a modern invention. As far back as can be remembered every neighborhood had its local cobbler. Two or three such shoemakers and menders were known in the Quine- baug valley, their shops a famous rendezvous for boys and news- mongers. The first to introduce anything like the modern sale shoe manufacture into Putnam was Reverend Sidney Deane, who had previously served with great acceptance in the Methodist ministry. A man of much versatility and abounding energy, he was especially adapted to the exigencies of the aspiring villages, and encouraged to engage in shoe manufacture in 1852. An ar- dent champion of the new town interests, he was yet elected representative of Thompson in 1854, on the express understand- ing that the question of separation was not to be raised at the approaching session of legislature. But unsettled questions per- sist in asserting themselves on all occasions; " manifest destiny"

796

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

hurried matters to a crisis, and Thompson's elected representa- tive carried all before him in a most eloquent appeal in behalf of the new town. The "tide " in Mr. Deane's affairs that set in with his championship of the future Putnam, swept him on to a seat in congress and political life, leaving the shoe manufacture in the hands of one of his assistants, Mr. Charles M. Fisher. " Fisher & Clarke" carried on the business for a year, then Fisher alone for a year. In 1856 Edward T. Whitmore associated with Mr. Fisher, under the firm name of " Fisher & Whitmore," their partnership continuing about eight years.

Great changes were continually made in this manufacture by the introduction of machinery and new modes of working, in- volving the necessity of larger accommodations and outlay. William G. Tourtellotte was associated for a time with Mr. Fisher, as C. M. Fisher & Co. Thomas P. Botham, Hiram H. Burnham and William D. Case were later partners, who repre- sent the firm since the death of Mr. Fisher, September 30th, 1886. About 120,000 pairs of shoes are annually produced by this firm, employing from eighty to a hundred hands. Steam power is used as far as practicable.

Mr. Whitmore continued in the shoe business, having for a time W. H. Tourtellotte for a partner, and then, with Mr. W. S. Johnson, established the firm of " Whitmore & Johnson," mak- ing women's, boy's and misses' boots and shoes. Losing their factory in one of Putnam's destructive fires, they now occupy the " old silk mill," abandoned by the silk manufacturers for a larger building. Beside carrying on this extensive manu- factory, Mr. Whitmore has operated in real estate, building a number of houses on Elm street. Mr. Artemas Corbin, who has been for many years connected with shoe manufacture in Putnam, and Mr. Prescott Bartlett, are engaged in the manu- facture of slippers, employing each a considerable number of hands.

Carpenters and masons, workers in wood and stone, have found abundant employment in Putnam. The Truesdells, Whit- fords, Chamberlains, Farrows, Waters, Herendien are among the many who have helped build up the town. John O. Fox, so useful in many ways, opened a lumber yard about 1860. The Bundys have long served as house painters in Putnam, and adjoining towns have called out a corresponding advance in the whole line of house building and decoration. The old-

797

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

time house carpenter, plodding interminably over a single dwelling, is superseded by great establishments, with gangs of jolly workmen, driving jauntily about and hastily throwing up Queen Anne and other fanciful structures. Much of the ma- terial used is prepared by machinery and steam, B. M. Kent established in 1875 a manufactory of window frames, sashes, doors, blinds, balusters and kindred articles. Much work has been accomplished by contractors Kelly and Wheaton, erecting many of the fine new buildings in Putnam, Pomfret and other towns. A large number of men are employed by them during the summer. Other work is done by John Adams, bricklayer and contractor, by H. F. Hopkins and others. A lumber yard is kept by Myron Kinney. Many workmen are employed in house painting and decoration by Mr. T. L. Bundy.

Putnam's development in manufacturing enterprise has been much quickened by the formation of a Business Men's Asso- ciation. Keen-sighted men awoke to the conviction that the business of the town was not sufficiently diversified; was too much limited to the cotton factory interest. A meeting was called in March, 1884, in which some forty citizens participated. Mr. Manning served as chairman. Much spirit and unanimity were manifested. Appropriate remarks were made by different busi- ness men. The chairman stated that Putnam had grand water privileges and admirable railroad facilities; had started with sixteen hundred inhabitants, and therefore gained in thirty years about three hundred per cent. What she lacked was unity, perseverance and a doing away with so much selfishness. It was voted to form a society-Messrs. John A. Carpenter, T. P. Leonard, G. E. Shaw, L. H. Fuller, C. N. Allen, a committee to perfect a plan of organization and constitution. At the second meeting the proposed constitution was discussed. Judge Car- penter explained the object to be, "To unite all the citizens un- der rules to work together for the good of the village, in what- ever way their united voluntary efforts could be directed." Some who favored the object could not exactly see how the association could contrive to carry it out, but the wise chairman gave his earnest approval and thought a great deal of good could be brought about, if the manner of doing could not be stated or de- fined. He was deeply concerned to get the entire people united together for mutual benefit, and to promote the prosperity of Putnam.

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.

History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 77

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