USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 2
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THE ancient town of Woodbury possessed very extended limits, and for many years after its settlement was one of the largest and most important of the towns in the western part of the Colony of Connecticut. It was about fifteen miles in length from north to south, and about ten miles in width. It was bounded on the north by Bantam, (Litchfield,) east by Mattatuck, (Waterbury,) south by the Pootatuck (Housatonie) River, and west by Weantinogue, (New Mil- ford.
It is watered on the south-east by the Eight Mile Brook, taking its rise in Quassapaug Lake, a beautiful sheet of water lying in its eastern limits. Through the center of the territory from north to south, runs the Pomperaug River, receiving as tributaries the East Sprain1 from the north-east, North Sprain from the north, West Sprain from the north-west, and further on in its course the Ilesky Meadow and Transylvania mill streams. On the west, through the whole length of the town, flows the Shepaug River, taking its rise in Bantam Lake, in Litchfield. The three principal streams mentioned above, empty into the Pootatuek River. This river is now called the Housatonic, but its earlier and more appropriate name was the Pootatuck, from the tribe or clan of Indians which had its principal village on the northern side of the river, about two miles above Bennett's Bridge.
The present town of Woodbury is situated in Litchfield county, Connecticut, near the center of the ancient territory, in latitude 41º 33' N. and longitude 73º 14' W. It is on the southern border of
1 Erroneously spelled Sprane in the accompanying map.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the county, adjoining New Haven county, twenty-five miles from New Haven, thirty-six from Hartford, and ninety from New York. The central village is pleasantly situated in a level and extended valley on the Pomperaug, near the confluence of the small streams which form that river. It is surrounded on every side by high hills, form- ing a kind of amphitheater. Beautiful walks and drives abound in every direction. The hill lying immediately east of the main street, known as the Orenaug1 Rocks, is of considerable elevation, and on its southern descent, fronting the west, the rocks descend perpendicular- ly, presenting a front similar to those of the East and West Rocks, near New Haven, though upon a much smaller scale. The same is true of the eastern side of this range of rocks. They give the land- scape a bold outline as one enters the village, while from their sum- mit a most delightful view toward the west is obtained. On the eastern side of Orenaug is Bethel Rock, of which more will be said hereafter.
South of the village, on the west of the Pomperaug, Castle Rock, said to have been the location of the fort of the chief from whom the river takes its name, rears its hoary head.
These cliffs are all of the trap formation, and are particularly de- scribed by Percival, in his Geological Account of Connecticut, as follows, viz.
"The trap in this formation forms only a single range, presenting in its whole extent, a well marked curvature, and divided by eross valleys, into three distinct sections, succeeding each other in receding order. Of these the south- ern extends from the south-east point of the range, to a pass crossing the latter at the road from Southbury to Roxbury ; the middle extends from that pass to the Pomperang, south of Woodbury village ; while the northern ineludes all the remaining portion of the range. The curve of this range is apparently formed, throughout a great part of its extent, by a series of parallel ridges, overlapping each other in a greater or less degree, and arranged, toward the opposite extremities in reverse order; namely, in advaneing order toward the southern, and in reeeding order toward the northern extremity. This arrange- ment is most remarkable at the two extremities of the range ; its middle por- tion, for some distance, presenting only a single line of elevations, nearly in continued order. Apparently, the small extent of the basin has, as it were, compressed the range, particularly at its extremities, and thus prevented its extension into a long continued ridge, or the formation of a gradual curve. The range at its southern extremity, presents an abrupt front to the south, formed by the points of its parallel ridges, and recedes baek, toward the north at its south-east point, where it approaches very near the eastern border of the basin. The larger ridges, at this southern extremity, toward its south-west
1 In the map Orensug is a misprint for the above.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
point, present each, two distinet ranges, separated by a band of friable red shale, with beds of bituminous shale and limestone, containing fish impressions. The eastern and higher of these ranges, consists of compact, crystalline trap ; the lower western, of a porous amygdaloid. The latter, in the most western of these ridges, is underlaid by sandstone, and the same rock occurs, at the south points of the more posterior ridges, between the amygdaloidal range, and the trap range of the more anterior ridge. This arrangement in the different ridges, corresponds very exactly with that along the west front of the eastern line of elevation, in the southern basin of the larger secondary formation. The main trap range, in its southern section, and the south part of its middle see- tion, is bordered on the east by an apparently distinct range of a very porous chloritic and decomposable amygdaloid, forming a series of low, rounded swells, generally covered with the rock in small fragments. This latter range is accompanied, at least toward the south-east point, by a bituminous shale and limestone, recently excavated for coal. Similar excavations have been made in the bands of the shale at the south-west extremity of the main range.
" The northern section rises, in strong receding order, east of the Pomperaug, in the south part of Woodbury village, and extends N. N. E. in a group of parallel ridges, east of that village, so arranged as to present at their northern extremity, a distinctly curved outline, convex to the north. These ridges rise in low points toward the south, and attain their greatest elevation toward the north. This group may be considered as divided into two parallel seetions by a deep valley opening north and south ; the eastern being projected rather further north than the western. Each of these sections presents a middle, higher ridge, composed of a more compaet crystalline trap, and two lower lateral ridges, composed of a more amygdaloidal trap, abounding at different points in prehnite and agates. On the east this group approaches very near the primary, being separated only by a narrow valley, at one point of which, the primary and trap roeks are nearly in contact."
Besides the Quassapaug Lake before mentioned, which is of con- siderable extent, is a small artificial pond, called Bacon's Pond, cov- ering some six or eight acres of land at the north end of the rocks above described, in a quiet, sequestered spot, where one, wearied with the eares of life, can well beguile a leisure hour.
At the north end of East Meadow is a beautiful cascade, called the Quanopaug Falls, where a considerable stream of the same name falls some twenty feet over a projecting ledge of rocks. This stream is also known by the name of East Meadow Brook. It is a lovely, sylvan retreat, embosomed among the sturdy giants of the forest.
Fair stream ! thou call'st me from the busy eares With which I am surrounded, and bid'st me For the time forget this fleeting life is Full of evil. Thou makest me forget That all is not as bright and beautiful As thine own fairy form, whilst thou in haste, Art pressing on to join old Ocean's tide. 2*
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
On the East Sprain, near the north-east corner of the town, are the Nonnewaug Falls, which are a succession of cascades, three in number, in an exceedingly romantic and beautiful dell. The whole descent must be from forty to fifty fect. At a short distance below these falls, near an apple-tree, beneath his stately hillock, repose the remains of Nonnewaug. The murmurs of the falling waters, and the evergreens which surround the falls, whisper a perpetual requiem over the sleeping chieftain, and the silent braves around him.
A large part of the present town of Washington is elevated and mountainous. There is in Judea Society, as it is called, about two miles south-west of the center, a place called "Steep Rock." The ascent to this eminence from the north is easy, and from its top, the spectator has one of the most interesting and lovely prospects in the State. The scene presents at the south, an area in the form of an amphitheater, the sides of which are covered with the primeval for- est. The Shepaug River is seen flowing in a beautiful circle at the base of the bluff, inclosing in its curve, cultivated fields, the whole scene furnishing to the admiring beholder, one of the finest land- scapes in nature.
Nature has done much for this part of the old town. Iron ore has been found in several places. Ocher, fuller's earth, and white clay have also been found. Limestone abounds in many of its valleys, and several quarries are worked, from which large quantities have been raised. The greater part of the latter, however, are not inclu- ded within the limits of the ancient town. Percival gives the follow- ing description :
"The great limestone valley extends from the north of Bethel, along the course of Still River, through Brookfield, to the Housatonic, at New Milford, whence it is continued through New Preston, to its north-east termination, near the Shepaug. The rock in this valley consists chiefly of white limestone, par- ticularly toward its northern extremity, alternating with a light grey, generally even, striped mieaceous gneiss, with large beds, in some parts, of a very coarse white granite, and with occasional beds of a light gray porphyritic roek, quite similar to that accompanying the limestone in the south section. The limestone in this valley is generally dolomitie, but beds of it occasionally oceur of a purer carbonate of lime, one of which, in the north-east part of Danbury, has been lately wrought by Mr. L. S. Platt, for purposes of agriculture. Usually the limestone is fine-grained, partly very decomposable, and in part, harder and of a pure white, forming an elegant marble. The marble quarries of New Pres- ton, near the north termination of the valley, have long been noted. A vein of galena has been worked to a small extent, in the limestone west of Still River, in Brookfield."
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
A great variety of minerals is found in the ancient territory, but mostly in small quantities. In the present town of Woodbury, have been found in the trap range, agates of considerable beauty, though small in size ; an abundance of balls and veins of prehnite, epidote, chalcedony, crystals of purple quartz, (amethyst,) and specimens of plumbago or black lead in small lumps, of a pure quality, in the Orenaug Rocks.
In an excavation made some years ago, in search of gold, which proved fruitless, magnetic iron pyrites were found in a hornblendic gneiss, traversed by seams of epidote. The only deposit in the State, of sand well suited to the manufacture of plate and flint glass, and porcelain ware, is found on the shores of the Quassapaug Lake. It consists, almost exclusively, of quartz, the grains of which are color- less, transparent, and of great purity.
In Bethlem, albite and galena are found. Washington is rich in its varieties. There have been discovered there, white copperas in Brown's Mountain, dyalogyte, triplite, gypsum, kyanite, mesotype, andalusite, spar, hornblende, botryoidal chalcedony, idocrase, garnet, magnetic iron, and large quantities of dolomite employed as marble. Some sixteen mills for slitting this into slabs have been erected, but are not all kept in constant operation. The average yield of the quarries per annum, in rough blocks, is between seven and eight thousand dollars ; and nearly the same amount is derived to the mills and marble shops of the immediate vicinity, for preparing the marble for use.1
In Southbury, are found bitumen, calcareous spar, grayish black bituminous limestone, compact limestone containing ichthyolites, clayey marl, hydraulic limestone, kilns of which are occasionally burnt, radiated chlorite, prehnite, lymonite, purple quartz, chalcedony, opal, chrichtonite, mispickel and yellow copper pyrites. Slight tra- ces of coal have been discovered in bituminous shales, in the trap region, but the coaly matter is compact bitumen. It ignites slowly, and burns without flame or odor.
In Roxbury, are found mica, mica-slate, chrichtonite, blende, fine shestoze, gray granite, gneissoid flagging stone, galena and yellow copper pyrites. All these are found on and around Mine Hill.
But far the most important and valuable mineral in the whole territory, which has hitherto been almost wholly unappreciated, is
1 Shepard's Geol. Survey of the State.
.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the spathic or steel ore of Mine Hill in Roxbury. This has been overlooked as an iron ore in this State, nearly to the present time -; and still continues to be almost totally neglected, although it is by far the most remarkable mine of this ore in the United States. The mine was discovered at a very early period, and the abundance and peculiar properties of the ore excited a high degree of curiosity and expectation. Numerous attempts were made to work it as a silver mine, and immense sums expended, without exciting even a suspi- cion of its value for iron.
Spathic iron ore is one of the most disguised of all the ores of iron possessed of economical value. Its high specific gravity, added to the development of iron-rust occasioned by exposure to the weather, are the only properties by which its ferruginous character is generally detected. Its name of spathic (or sparry) iron was bestowed in allusion to its brilliant and easily effected cleavages in three direc- tions, and which result in rhombic fragments of constant dimensions. Its hardness is greater than that of calcareous spar, and its color when freshly taken from its repositories is a light yellowish gray, which passes, however, by exposure to the air, to a reddish brown. It is composed of protoxide of iron from 57 to 60 per cent., carbonic acid 34 to 36 per cent., with a proportion of manganese from 0.5 to 1.5, and about the same quantity of lime and magnesia. The lime and magnesia, however, are liable to slight variations in their pro- portions.
The spathic iron mine in question occurs in a mountain about three hundred and fifty feet in height, situated on the west bank of Shepaug River in Roxbury, about six miles above its junction with the Housatonic. The mountain is known in the vicinity by the name of Mine Hill. The rock of which it is composed is, for the most part, concealed by a soil supporting a fine growth of hard wood. Wherever the rock makes its appearance, however, it exhibits a remarkable uniformity in character and arrangement. The direction of the strata is nearly N. E. and S. W., with a dip of 25 or 30° to the north-west. The ore occupies a perpendicular vein from six to eight feet in width, cutting directly across the strata ; and has been detected at numerous places, from the base of the hill, near the banks of the river, quite to its summit, a distance of above half a mile. The course and width of the vein, wherever exposed, appear uniform. The vein stone or gangue of the ore is white quartz, which frequently preponderates in bulk over the ore. No other substances deserve to be mentioned as entering into the composition of this very remarkable
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
vein-minute portions of iron pyrites, yellow copper pyrites, galena and blende, being the only foreign substances present, and as these oceur principally near the summit, where the most extensive explo- rations were made for silver, it is altogether likely that blende was the principal object of search.
Whoever examines this vein, must be convinced of the abundance of the ore, as well as struck with the facility of its situation for being wrought. The expense to be incurred in raising it from its reposi- tory, and its delivery upon the banks of the Shepaug, where the necessary water-power is afforded for carrying on extensive iron works, must be comparatively trifling ; while an abundant supply of hard wood is at hand for fuel, and a land carriage of four miles would connect the works with the navigable waters of the Housa- tonic.
The spathic iron being an ore of such unusual appearance, and nowhere wrought in the United States, it is not surprising that the remarkable deposit here alluded to, has been so long treated with neglect. Public attention, however, can in no way perhaps be better excited toward so valuable a resource, than by making known its extensive use in other countries, and by pointing out a few of the leading facts connected with its conversion into steel. It furnishes almost exclusively the well known German steel, so largely manu- factured in the Austrian dominions. Thus in the Tyrol, the annual produce is two thousand quintals, and in Carinthia seventy thousand, and large quantities are manufactured in several other countries of the Old World.
Dr. Shepard, in his " Report on the Geological Survey of Con- necticut," from which the foregoing account is mostly extracted, also gives the history of this mine, as follows, with slight alterations :
" The first digging at this place was made about the middle of the last een- tury, by Hurlbut and Hawley, but the history of their operations is nearly lost. The second company, organized by the Messrs. Bronsons (brothers) near the year 1764, prosecuted the enterprise with much spirit.
" They sunk a shaft into the vein near the top of the mountain, one hundred and twenty-five feet deep, besides carrying down another of considerable depth for the ventilation of the first. The working was conducted under the direction of a German goldsmith of the name of Feuchter, who carried on his processes of pretended separation and refining with great secrecy. It is said that he produced occasionally small quantities of silver, which kept alive the hopes of his employers.
" Thus the undertaking went forward for several years, until the means of the company were wholly exhausted. The result of this experiment might, in
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
all probability, have put the working of the mine for silver completely at rest, except for a circumstance which occurred, connected with the departure of the German. When he left, he was assisted by a slave in removing a number of very heavy boxes, one of which accidentally falling to the ground in the journey between Southbury and Derby, burst open and revealed to the eyes of the negro a quantity of bars, which he described as having the appearance of silver. The agent was now suspected to have carried on the working of the mine fraudulently, and to have caused its products to be surreptitiously conveyed out of the country for his private advantage ; consequently the mine again acquired the character of a valuable deposit of silver.
" A new company was organized in the city of New York, who took a lease of the property for forty-two years. They commenced operations on a much wider scale, and have left behind them proofs of a very heavy expenditure. The excavations made by this company exhibit more skill in the working of mines. They descended the mountain toward the river, in the direction of the vein, removing at intervals the accumulations of soil and loose rocks whiel conceal it throughout its whole distance, until they reached half-way to the base of the mountain, when they commenced carrying in a level having the full width of the vein, and which was prosecuted seven rods to the vein, and two rods on the vein. The result of this enterprise was equally unpropitious with the former one, though not sufficiently discouraging to lead to the final abandonment of the project. Still another company was formed, consisting chiefly of persons living in Goshen, who recommenced the diggings at the top of the mountain, and persevered in the undertaking until the failure of several of the stockholders compelled them to relinquish it.
" The last working of the mine was by Mr. Asahiel Bacon, an extensive landholder in that neighborhood. It finally began to attract attention as an iron mine, and considerable quantities of the ore, raised by the different com- panies, were carried to Kent, and there reduced along with the hematite of that place, with which it is said to have formed a very tough and excellent iron. An unskillful attempt was afterward made to reduce the spathic iron by itself, in a furnace at no great distance from the mine, which proving unsuc- cessful, no farther notice has been taken of the ore.
" The present proprietor of this mine, Mr. DAVID J. STILES, of Sontlibury, procured a sample of pig-iron, obtained during the last mentioned trial, and caused it to be forged into steel under his own inspection, by an experienced iron-master in Salisbury. The operation was attended with great facility ; and a variety of cutting instruments were manufactured from the steel, all of which proved of excellent quality."
Within the last three years, the " old shaft" and side drain have been cleaned out, and spathie ore has been raised in considerable quantities on various parts of the vein, by a company from New York, who had bought the old mining title. A powder-house, dwell- ing-house and furnace were erected by them, and they were pro- ceeding with their operations, when legal proceedings were com- menced against them by Mr. David J. Stiles, who holds the title of Mr. Bacon. Suits are still pending in the courts, for the purpose of
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
testing the title to the mine. But it is believed that the suits will prove a richer mine to members of the legal profession, than the ore in question to the contending parties for years to come. The belief in the existence of an exceedingly rich vein of silver, some two feet in diameter, traversing the entire extent of the vein of spathic iron, about one hundred and twenty-five feet below the surface, has again become paramount in the minds of the litigants; and it must be admitted that there are many facts tending to show that belief well founded. It is much to be regretted that the parties can not agree on a compromise of their claims, and turn their energies and resources to the working of the mine, acknowledged to be one of the richest in the world, for at least spathie iron ore.
There are three chalybeate springs in the territory, of some effi- cacy. One of these is situated in Woodbury, by the side of the road, not far from the house of Mr. James Morriss ; another in Washing- ton, by the road-side, between the furnace and the marble quarries : and the other on Mine Hill, at no great distance from the " old shaft " of the mine.
The village of South Britain is nearly surrounded by high hills and ledges, and the place, viewed from the south, has a very romantic appearance. The two principal bluffs are called Squaw Rock and Rattlesnake Rock-of which more will be said hereafter.
The face of the country throughout the territory is of an undulating character, being pleasantly diversified with hill and dale. It is well watered with numerous streams besides those already described, fur- nishing an excellent water-power for numerous manufacturing estab- lishments. Upon the rivers and streams there are intervals of con- siderable extent, and other level tracts in the many valleys. The soil is generally a gravelly, and in some places a calcareons loam, warm and fertile, well adapted to the production of corn and the various kinds of grain. The lands are good for grazing purposes, and favorable for fruit of the various kinds. Valuable orchards of apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruit-trees abound.
The natural growth of timber is oak of the different kinds, maple, elm, ash, birch, walnut, chesnut and other deciduous trees. Hem- lock, fir, pine, cedar and other evergreens appear in various places.
The elimate is mild and healthful, and, in the valleys particularly, many degrees warmer than in the neighboring towns.
The first settlers found here the bear, the wolf, the moose, the deer and the wild-cat, in considerable numbers. To these we owe at the present day some of our local names; as Bear Hill, Moose Horn
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
Hill, Cat Swamp, Wolf Pit, near the junction of the North and West Sprains, at Hotchkissville, and White Deer Rocks, near the head of Quassapaug Lake. Beavers were found on many streams ; otters were numerous many years after the settlement was com- menced, and some are now occasionally found. The Indians carried on quite an extensive commerce in the furs of these animals with our forefathers. Wild turkeys were also abundant. Shad and other choice fish were taken in the Pootatuck River.
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