USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour, past and present > Part 13
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The various departments necessitate the employment of from 100 to 125 skilled workmen and their long familiarity with the work and intelligent use of the knowledge gained by experience, enables them to manufacture superior goods which sustain the well-earned reputation of the company. In their success the town has also prospered, as they are public-spirited and liberal men, and always ready to aid in the advancement of the best interests of the com- munity.
The capital stock is $200,000. The present officers are Thomas L. James, president ; Lewis A. Camp, secretary ; Frederick A. Rugg, treasurer ; and George A. James, superintendent.
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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
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W. R. BRIXEY'S KERITE TELEGRAPH CABLE WORKS.
Mr. W. R. Brixey, proprietor of the Kerite Insulated Wire and Cable Works, and manufacturer of Kerite Insulated wire and cables, has been connected with the works for more than twenty years and in 1892 became the sole owner. The works were first established by Austin G. Day, who in 1854 purchased the property and fitted up machinery for the manufacture of hard rubber goods and insulated electric wires. Mr. Day was the inventor of many improvements in the manufacture of rubber and in making sub- marine telegraph cable took the lead of all competitors.
Mr. Brixey has largely increased the plant and has added to the facilities for the speedy execution of large orders. At the World's Fair, his exhibit, which was located near the head of the main stairway of the Electrical Building, was one of the finest, and after the most thorough tests and trials, and upon thorough examina- tion the only medals and awards given to high grade insulated wires and cables were awarded to W. R. Brixey, for excellence of material and construction, high insulation, and reliabllity and durability demonstrated by prolonged service under exacting conditions.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
Mr. Brixey has been the manufacturer of submarine, aerial, and underground electric cables for the Western Union Telegraph Co., Postal Telegraph Co., N. Y. Telephone Co., and other large corporations, and for the United States government, furnishing a number of cables for the Philippines and for Alaska.
He constructed and placed in position for the New York Cen- tral railroad for their block signal system the longest aerial cable ever made in this country, extending from Albany to Buffalo, a dis- tance of three hundred miles. He also furnished the underground cable for the Havana Street Railway Co., this contract alone amounting to $200,000.
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RESIDENCE OF W. R. BRIXEY.
The residence of Mr. Brixey is pleasantly located in the valley a little west of the Kerite works and is surrounded by shade trees and tastefully laid out grounds, and the house is one of the finest homes in the Naugatuck valley.
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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIE
FT:
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THE SEYMOUR MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S WORKS
The Seymour Manufacturing Company was organized in 1878 and incorporated in 1880. The capital is now $500,000. The officers are : president, Chas H. Pine ; secretary and treasurer, W. H. H. Wooster; superintendent, L. T. Wooster ; assistant treas- urer, G. E. Matthies. The company manufactures sheet brass, wires, rods and tubing for various uses, and copper wire for tele- phone and telegraph purposes, electric roads, etc. A specialty is made of German silver for table ware and many other purposes. The company employs about 250 men and does a large business.
THE SEYMOUR ELECTRIC LIGHT CO.
The Seymour Electric Light Company, incorporated in 1889. has a capital of $28,000. The company has the contract for the town lighting and furnishes arc or incandescent lights to factories, stores, public public buildings and residences. The premises occu- pied by the plant comprise a substantial brick buikling, 30x80 feet
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
in area, fully equipped with the latest improved electric appliances, including an arc dynamo of thirty lights and two incandescent dynamos of 1,650 lights.
The officers of the company are James Swan, President; O. L. Dibble, Secretary; and F. H. Beecher, Treasurer and Manager.
THE S. Y. BEACH PAPER CO.'S WORKS.
This business is a continuation of that established at the Falls in 1805, S. Y. Beach having been identified with it from 1843 until his death in 1899. The S. Y. Beach Paper Company was organized in 1880 with a capital of $10,000, the stockholders being George W. Beach of Waterbury, and Andrew Y. Beach, Sharon D. Beach and Theodore B. Beach, of Seymour, all sons of the late S. Y. Beach. G. W. Beach is the President, T. B. Beach Secretary, and S. D. Beach Treasurer and manager.
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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
THE FALLS IN TIME OF FLOOD.
H. P. AND E. DAY.
This firm manufactures vulcanized hard rubber goods, includ- ing fountain pens and propelling pencils and penholders. The rubber business has been carried on in the present location for fiftyfive years during which time have been made most of the in- ventions by the aid of which the goods and processes of manufacture now in use have been perfected. A large force of skilled workmen is employed in producing the great variety of hard rubber goods manufactured which in beauty of finish, in plain, chased and colored fountain pen holders and pencils cannot be excelled.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
THE RIMMON MANUFACTURING CO'S WORKS.
The Rimmon Manufacturing Company was organized January 10th, 1900, with a capital of $30,000, paid in. The plant of the company covers over an acre of ground and is situated on Main and Day streets. It has a good location, being but a short distance from the depot, and has a good water power. The main building is 48x72 feet, with an addition 22×44 feet. The muffle building is 36x36 feet and the Japan building 20x32 feet. This company manu- factures brass and other metal goods, eyelets for shoes, corsets and many other purposes, in large quantities, for domestic and foreign trade. Some of the eyelets are exported to Australia. G. E. Mat- thies is the president of the company, C. W. Michaels, formerly in business at Yalesville, Ct., is secretary and treasurer, and Thomas A. Perrins is the superintendent. The company is well organized and well equipped to do business and is well managed.
THE HORN BUTTON WORKS.
The manufacture of horn buttons was established here in 1900, by Geo. C. Lees, in the Humphreys mill. Very ingenious machinery has been fitted up for the work and a large business is done. The proprietor is assisted in the management of the business by his brother, John H. Lees.
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
THE SEYMOUR IRON FOUNDRY.
The Seymour Iron Foundry was established by Edward A. Klatt in 1898. The main building is 50 by 100 feet. with an ell 20 by 45 feet, an office building 20 by 30 feet, two stories, and several smaller buildings for storage and other purposes 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. Klatt 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 Ist, 1898, has been a resident of Seymour.
JAMES M. SMITH'S MACHINE WORKS.
James M. Smith, manufacturer of lathes and tools for turning hard rubber, ivory and brass; patent drill chucks and patent boring tool holders, and special machinery, has carried on the business here for thirty years, in the Humphreys mill. Mr. Smith is the inventor of an improved drill chuck and patent boring tool holder,
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
which, with the turning lathes manufactured by him, have had a large sale in the cities and manufacturing towns throughout the the United States. His son, Frank T. Smith, is now associated with him in the business.
THE ARETHUSA SPRING WATER CO'S WORKS.
The Arethusa Spring Water Company of Seymour was or- ganized in 1892 by Hon. Carlos French, after having the water from the spring thoroughly tested and ascertaining that it is of ex- ceptional 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 laboratories are provided with every needed facility that 'science or mechanical ingenuity could devise, and the water, both plain and sparkling, is shipped to great distances. The Arethusa Ginger Ale which is made and bottled at the spring, rivals the famous Belfast product. The office of the Company is in the Humphreys Building.
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
THE SEYMOUR WATER COMPANY
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 a mile northwest of Pinesbridge, in a secluded valley, removed from residences, and in an ideal location for absence of contamination. The reservoir is fed by a stream which winds among the hillsides of a rocky section of coun- try, with cool springs which assure a good quality of water for household use.
DRY EDO
HE
BANK STREET-LOOKING TOWARD THE COVERED BRIDGE
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 effec- tive use in case of fires, for which nearly fifty hydrants have been placed where most likely to be needed.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
The capital is $60,000. The officers of the company are : W. H. Wooster President, and D. A. Blakesley Secretary and Treasurer. The directors are Hon. Carlos French, W. H. H. Wooster, James Swan, C. W. Blakeslee, D. A. Blakeslee, D. W. Blakeslee, and Clarence Blakeslee.
THE NEW DEPOT.
An account of the industries of Seymour would not be complete without mention of the facilities for transportation upon which they all depend. The Naugatuck railroad, built a little more than half a century ago, now known as the Naugatuck Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R., 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 adding to the profits of the road both in freight and pas- senger traffic.
The first locomotive over the road reached Seymour May 10th, 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.
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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
The present handsome passenger station was built in 1898 and is a worthy addition to the many fine edifices in the town.
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O
REAR VIEW OF DEPOT AND FREIGHT YARD.
THE SEYMOUR RECORD.
The RECORD was established by W. C. Sharpe in 1871, pre- vious 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 adjoining towns, and has from time to time con- tained engravings of public buildings, factories and prominent peo- ple of the place, with occasional historical sketches, both by the editor and by people of Seymour and neighboring towns who have contributed valuable articles on the early history of their several communities, so that the files of the RECORD are a mine of infor- mation both in regard to current events and early history.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
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VIEW FROM CASTLE ROCK LOOKING EAST.
The above view is an interesting one not only from the present objects of interest shown, but from the scene of a large share of the activities of the early years of the settlement. The hill upon the left, showing a broad area of meadow land, with the Church of St. Augustine on the extreme left, and clusters of houses above and below, was known in the early times as Indian Hill, but in later years was called the Promised Land. The hill at the right was known 130 years ago as Success Hill.
The road seen leading up the hill to the right is a section of the old " Water berry roade," leading from Derby to Waterbury, mentioned as a boundary a century and a half ago. At the foot of the hill, along the riverside, is a row of buildings which then made up a thriving settlement and an important point; the road branch- ing westward across the ford of the Naugatuck, below the Falls, toward Oxford and Woodbury. Half way up the hill was a tan- nery, and on the brow of the hill the famous Whittemore and Day- ton taverns, club rooms and resting places for man and beast.
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THE SCHOOLS.
CHAPTER III. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BY REV. H. A. CAMPBELL.
CONTENTS : The Iligh School -Second Street-Bell School Cedar Ridge Bungay -- Great Ilill.
THE HIGH SCHOOL. The first opportunity for higher edu- cation was given by the opening of what is known as the "Humphreysville Academy," in 1849, the same year that the railroad entered the village. The first principal was George B. Glendenning, who taught the English studies, Greek and Latin also French and Music. The first year there were 47 scholars. This academy was located on Broad street opposite Pine, and occu- pied the building that was formerly used as the Congregational church on South Main street. In 1851 the Humphreysville High School Association was incorporated, and the shares were to be $25 each, and the management was invested in a board of five trus- tees, and the teachers were Prof. Gay and Frederick Durand. In accordance with the new state law, in October, 1864, the town au- thorized a new Union High School to be established by the follow- ing committee, who were also to superintend the same, independ- ent of the school society : Burton W. Smith, Harvey Hotchkiss, and George W. Divine. The old Glendenning building on Broad street was leased for the school, and the first teacher was Miss Hermance. Besides the high school, there were two intermediate grades.
The consolidated district was established by the town in October, 1868, including all the schools in town, and the following school committee was elected, Eli Gillett. C. W. Storrs, J. W. Bassett. Joshua Kendall, C. W. James, Harpin Riggs, Joel R. Chatfield, Peter Worth and Henry Davis.
Feb, 1, 1869, the town voted to purchase a lot on Pine street, known as the "Pines," on which to build a schoolhouse to accom- modate 160 scholars. This lot was secured for $700, but objections
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
began to be raised which delayed building. In 1889 the "Pines " lot was converted into a public park. Many were not pleased with the location, because of the nearness to the river, the freshets, the mist from the Falls, not being central, and numerous other objec- tions. The other location preferred was where the schoolhouse
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THE SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL ..
now stands, the west side of the river, on the corner of Bank and Martha streets. This was a lot containing about two acres, belong- ing to Mrs. M. G. Divine, and was purchased for $3,000. The work for the new High School house began in June, 1884. The architect was L. W. Robinson of New Haven.
Taking all things into consideration, the town was wise in its
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THE SCHOOLS.
final decision as to the location, and much credit is due to Mr. James Swan and Thomas James, in bringing this about. The sun of $40,000 was appropriated for the land and buildings. The build- ing is of brick, with white stone trimmings, and a handsome tower adds grace and beauty to the building, which is 65x72 on the ground, and has nine commodious rooms with ample dressing rooms and seating accommodations, up to the present year, there being 63 scholars in one room. The heating and ventilating appa- ratus are of the most improved patterns. The general appearance of the High School is of the first order, having a fine terrace wall in front, concrete walks, a handsome lawn, an ample play ground, and ornamented by a number of trees. In the summer the front lawn is beautified by a handsome bed of flowers.
The building committee was composed of James Swan, W. H. H. Wooster, Edmund Day, Carlos French, Thomas James, and Frank H. Beecher, who served as secretary and treasurer, and was very efficient in the prosecution of the work.
The work on the building was of the first class, both on the exterior and interior. The interior is equally pleasant and attract- ive, there being much pride taken in keeping the rooms neat and fresh as new. On each floor there is drinking water, coming from a spring on the hill near by. This water supply was furnished by James Swan, and given to the school. The building was occu- pied in the fall of 1886. There are 456 scholars in the nine rooms, there being 62 in the High School room, No. 9. The school library contains 250 volumes, all of which are select works adapted for the use of the schools. In addition to this, the town provides all the school books, The apparatus used in connection with the scien- tific studies is ample to illustrate the branches that are taught in the course, such as Natural Philosophy, Electricity, besides micro- scopes, botanical specimens, and aids in the study of Physiology. The apparatus is valued at about $300. The valuable collection of maps makes the apparatus complete for all departments.
Besides the English and College Preparatory courses which are somewhat elective, aiming at practical education, there are the departments of Music and Drawing. That of music has proven of much benefit to the scholars, and that of drawing develops a long neglected talent. The principals since 1886 were W. H. Angleton, 1886-1890, E. C. Stiles, 1890-1898, E. C. Broome, 1898-1900, and A. H. Kirtland, 1900. The Seymour High School is well known in
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educational circles as being one of the best equipped and most efficient schools of its size in the state.
The members of the school board are, James Swan, Chairman; L. A. Camp, Secretary and Visitor; F. A. Rugg, Treasurer; W. Schaeffer, Visitor; T. L. James, Visitor; Albert E. Clark, H. S. Halligan, W. H. H. Wooster and John Earley, the three last con- stitute the Finance Committee. T. L. James is always a welcome visitor in all the schools. His tact and good cheer have made smooth the way for many teachers.
In all the public schools there are 667 scholars.
THE SECOND STREET SCHOOL grew out of a select school which was held in 1847, in a building a little south of the pin shop, on the bank of the river and on the old road extending from the Broad street bridge to a point a little west of the engine house. This building was taken for the district school, and was moved to a lot about west of the engine house. At the time of the building of the car shops, the schoolhouse suffered other movings, until finally it was moved to its present location at the upper end of Second street.
BELL SCHOOL. As early as 1769, Joseph Johnson deeded a piece of land on the east side of Pearl street near the Smith Tyrrell place, or nearly opposite Grand street, for a school-house. This building was occupied for forty years, and was known as the sixth district. In 1799 this district was known as the Chusetown district. This same year, the teacher received $11.00 a month for six months school. This school seemed to be under the management of the "First School Society." In 1810-1811, or about this time the school was divided and one was held in a room belonging to Silas Baldwin. A Silas Baldwin lived in the first old house below the Congre- gational cemetery on the east side of the road. In 1812 the town voted that there should be two schools held in this district, "One Man School and one Woman School, & the free money be equally divided according to the time the school is kept."
About 1814-16 a school building was erected on the site of the present Bell schoolhouse, a building of two stories, also having a tower and bell. A joint stock company owned this school house, the shares being $25.00 each. The deed was given, June 1, 1816. These shares were held by Newell Johnson, John Wheeler, Elias Gilbert, Bradford Steele, John Humphreys, Jr .. Gen. David Hum- phreys, Chester Jones, Seba Moulthrop, Stiles Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Edmund Steele, John Riggs, Silas Baldwin, Samuel B. Hine, Joseph Johnson, Josiah Swift and David Thompson.
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THE SCHOOLS.
In 1820 the first stove was purchased for this school to take the place of a fireplace. In 1830 the School Society purchased the house.
The district was divided in 1837, the north part being called the seventh district, which is known in recent years as Cedar Ridge. Between 1840-43 the town made arrangements to cut down the Bell school-house to one story, making a neat attractive building, located on the rocks on High street near Pearl. During these changes the bell was sold.
THE CEDAR RIDGE SCHOOL HOUSE.
CEDAR RIDGE. Cedar Ridge School became a district in 1837, then the seventh district. The location was selected by Joel White, Isaac White and Joel R. Chatfield, being located on Pearl street south of Bladen's Brook. The first house was built of stone, 18x25 x7 12feet, with six windows. The building was plastered inside and out, the whole being completed for $175.00. Solomon Tyrrell was the builder. In 1868 the town voted to built a new school house, and Smith Botsford, Ashbel Storrs and Joel R. Chatfield were ap- pointed as the building committee. The house was to be 34x27 and one half feet, and to be completed and furnished for $1, 700.00.
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
BUNGAY SCHOOL. There was a district formed on the west side of the river as early as Dec. 27th, 1779, called the Shrub Oak dis- trict. This school is referred to in the Old Landmarks. The school- house was located on West street by the path leading to Swan's upper shops, where Mrs. Ann Stephens spent the first of her school days. Later the building was moved to the lot in the fork of the roads opposite Trinity cemetery ; and still later a new building was erected on Cedar street, on the rocks west of the Congregational church. This district included a portion of Great Hill region at first, but in the course of time there was a demand for a school on the crown of the hill on the Bungay road, which was called the Bungay school, the center of a new district.
GREAT HILL SCHOOL. This school was the eighth district of the town of Derby, and the first district of the town of Seymour. The earliest records extend back only to 1765, but doubtless there were school privileges before this date. In 1767 Henry Tomlinson was the district committeeman and Samuel Bassett was the collec- tor of the school rates. The name of Henry Wooster was the first name of any teacher found in the records, 1770, and the fol- lowing families were in this district as patrons of the school ; Ben- jamin Tomlinson, Micah Poole, Jonathan Miles, Samuel Russell, Joseph Canfield, George Beard, Capt. John Lum, James Manville, Zachariah Fairchild and John Hawley.
The devotion of the people to the Revolutionary war was so great that the school doubtless was suspended between 1781-1784, there being no records for those years.
In 1784 measures were taken to build a house on the highway near the home of John Hawley. In 1801 summer school was held in the Great Hill meeting house until cold weather, when it was continued in the school-house. In 1810 it was "voted that wood per load should be 84 cents, and boarding the teacher 7 cents per meal, or 871/2 cents per week." A new house was erected in 1832, and the present schoolhouse was built on a new location, and was finished at the beginning of the year 1878. The school on Great Hill has been one of the prosperous schools of the town, as the history in the Old Landmarks has already indicated.
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THE SCHOOLS.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE SEYMOUR FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY was established in 1892. Since its organization, it has become one of Seymour's popular
COURT HOUSE AND PUBLIC LIBRARY
institutions, occupying the second floor of the town building on Second street. The reports of the librarian, Miss Minnie B. Cotter, show that there are more than 2,911 volumes on its shelves, and that during the year 1900, the number of books given out was 9,490, there being 565 names in the registration book.
The library has received $300 from the town annually for cur- rent expenses and new books, and this year the appropriation has been increased to $400.
There is also a reading room attached, supplied with the best American magazines and illustrated weeklies, also a number of daily and weekly papers, altogether making an attractive place in
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