USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour, past and present > Part 14
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which to spend an evening with the best in literature, the books upon the shelves of the library being available to transient readers, as well as the periodicals upon the tables.
The present officials are: President, James Swan; Vice-Presi- dent, Mrs. L. A. Camp, Treasurer, Mrs. H. A. Radford; Secretary, Rev. H. A. Campbell. The other directors are: Hon. Carlos French, Mrs. T. L. James, W. C. Sharpe, Miss Orilla E. Hurlburt and A. H. Kirtland. Miss Minnie Cotter is the librarian.
VALLEY NATIONAL BANK.
Valley National Bank, Seymour, Capital $50,000. President, W. L. Ward ; Vice President, F. A. Rugg ; Directors, W. L. Ward, T. B. Beach, F. A. Rugg, C. E. Fairchild, C. H. Lounsbury, Clayton S. Boies, D. T. Dunham, O. C. Osborn of Oxford, and J. H. Whittemore of Naugatuck.
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VALLEY NATIONAL BANK.
The charter was granted July 16, 1900, and the bank was opened for the transaction of business Aug. 14, 1900. The bank is located on the corner of Main and Bank streets, in the building erected for banking purposes nearly a half century ago.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SEYMOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. ( BY W. C. S. )
On the 18th of April, 1882, E. F. Bassett's large three story furniture store on Bank street was destroyed by fire, together with two smaller stores owned by S. Y. Beach and a house owned by L. A. and S. P. Camp. The impossibility of extinguishing the fire until four buildings had been burned, made the necessity of efficient fire apparatus quite too evident and a meeting of business men was at once called at the office of Hon. Carlos French to de- vise ways and means for protection against fire. It was decided to call a town meeting and accordingly one was held in Wooster hall May 4th. A committee was appointed to procure a fire engine, hose cart and hose, and a hook and ladder truck and other ap- paratus, and to provide a suitable building therefor. The first to enter earnestly into the work of organizing a fire department and securing apparatus for extinguishing fires was the late Horace B. Wooster, and to his efforts in this direction is due a large share of the credit for the success of the original undertaking.
The committee soon after purchased a secondhand engine, supposed to be first class in its line, paying $600 for it. An engine house was built on leased ground at the corner of Factory and Ray- mond streets, and the engine, hose cart, hose, etc., were placed in it ready for use. On the night of Oct. 4th, 1882, a fire broke out in the store occupied by H. W. Randall. The firemen placed the engine south of the office of the Humphreysville Mfg. Co., about two hundred feet from the fire, and manned the engine. It was an advance on the pail brigade and paid for itself many times over in the property saved. It was however such an extremely hard working machine, requiring all the strength of all the men who could find room at the lever rails, that it was promptly decided that something more effective must be secured.
On Saturday evening, Oct. 21st, 1882, a meeting was held at the engine house for the purpose of forming a fire company. The name agreed upon was Ocean Fire Company and the following
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officers were elected : F. H. Beecher, Foreman, E. E. Adams, Ist Assistant, G. A. James, 2nd Assistant, Thomas Wilson, Secretary, Morris Atwood, Treasurer, and H. A. Hurd, Steward. At a meet- ing held Nov. 30th, the name was changed to Humphrey Engine & Hose Co., No. 1.
On the night of July 4th, 1883, fire was discovered on the lower floor of Davis Block and with the use of the fire engine the fire was extinguished and the building saved. At the same time the insufficiency of the hand engine became so evident that public opinion was unanimous that a steam fire engine was needed and efforts were made to raise the money by subscription. James Swan and Thomas James gave each $400, Hon. Carlos French $150, F.
Button
THE STEAM FIRE ENGINE.
H. Beecher, Thomas Sharpe, I. B. Davis and Frank Farrell each $100, scores of others also giving liberally, and a powerful steam fire engine was ordered and was built especially for Citizen Engine Company, at a cost of $3, 100, James Swan and F. H. Beecher, the purchasing committee, personally inspecting the work during its
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progress. and seeing that it was done with the best material and workmanship.
The fire company was reorganized Aug. 12, 1884, and the name was changed to Citizen Engine Company, No. 2. The need of a good fire bell soon became evident and a subscription paper was started by Wm. B. Swan, E. E. Adams and others for the purpose of raising funds to procure a bell. Something over two hundred dollars was quickly raised and an appropriation was voted by the town to build a bell tower.
On Thursday, Oct. 22d, 1885, Citizen Engine Co's first annual parade was given, having as guests the Crescent Hose Co. of Thom- aston, Hotchkiss Hose of Birmingham and Fountain Hose of Ansonia. The Tingue Band, the Ansonia Band, the Waterville Drum Corps and the R. M. Bassett Drum Corps of Birmingham also participated in the parade. After the parade a grand banquet was served by the ladies in the opera house.
On the night of Feb. 4th, 1886, at about ten o'clock, with the thermometer 8 degrees below zero and the wind blowing a blizzard, the new fire bell rang out loud and clear an alarm of fire. The firemen hastened to the engine house to find that the Tingue Opera house was on fire and the flames well under way. People met in the street were heard to say, "It is the Tingue Opera house, the whole flat will go, they cannot stop it." The Button Steamer was soon at work and the fire was checked, but the contest of the water and the flames was a most singular one.
Owing to the intense cold the water froze upon the building, forming a sheet of ice as it fell, completely covering the roof and sides, so that the flames could only be reached through the windows and doors. The fire, though quickly checked, worked its way up under the roof and into the attic, and at one time a com- plete sheet of ice formed over a dormer window, the flame showing through the thin ice. The freezing wind congealed the spray and it fell alongside the building until the accumulation of frozen drops formed like a snowbank, several feet in depth, the accompanying photo print telling the story better than words.
The firemen suffered greatly from the intense cold but on account of the occasional outbreaks of the flames and the difficulty of reaching them within the ice bound building, it was found neces- sary to keep the engine running and the water playing upon the building until morning. The firemen, working by relays, became
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SEYMOUR, PAST AND PRESENT.
THE TINGUE ORERA HOUSE AFTER THE FIRE OF FEB, 4, 1886.
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incased in ice and suffered much from the cold. In the morning it was found that for some distance from the building ice had formed over the hose to the depth of several feet and it had to be chopped away before the hose could be removed.
The fire company was incorporated March 17th, 1886, by act of the Legislature, as Citizen Engine and Hook and Ladder Co., No. 2. When the hook and ladder truck was purchased in 1886, Thomas James, Charles Coupland, The Seymour Manufacturing Co., Hon. C. French and James Swan each gave $100; and others brought the total up to $600.
On Christmas eve in 1889 fire was discovered in F. Edelstein's clothing store in S. Y. Beach's new building at the corner of Bank and First streets. When the fire was discovered the flames were under so much headway that it was impossible to save the building, but the firemen worked energetically to save the adjoining build- ing, owned by E. F. Bassett and occupied by W. L. Ward and oth- ers, and succeeded, even after the flames had found their way in on the third floor.
Oct. 16, 1889, was a red letter day in the history of Citizen Engine Company. A grand parade was given and Citizen Engine Co. had as guests seven visiting companies, the Mutual Fire Co. of Torrington, Hotchkiss Hose Co. of Middletown, the R. M. Bassett Hook & Ladder Co. of Derby, the Eagle Hose Co. of Ansonia, Fountain Hose Co. of West Ansonia, Hotchkiss Hose Co. of Derby, and the Glove Hose Co. of Naugatuck. Upson Post, G. A. R., led the procession, followed by the Wheeler & Wilson's Band of Bridge- port, then came Citizen Engine Co. Each visiting Company had its band and altogether it made the finest parade ever seen in Seymour. After the parade all were invited to a sumptuous banquet in large tents on the Engine house grounds, provided by the ladies of Sey- mour. It was a notable event in the history of the town and one in which the committee of arrangements and all participants acquitted themselves admirably.
Such a parade is not merely a brilliant and passing spectacle. It serves another and more lasting purpose. It keeps alive interest in a volunteer fire department, not only among the members there- of but enlists the interest of the people generally and enables them to show in a substantial manner their appreciation of the men who are enlisted to protect property at all times and to risk their lives if need be. There may have been larger firemen's parades in the
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state, but none better conducted or of greater brilliancy and im- pressiveness. In this parade and in parades elsewhere where the firemen of Seymour have taken part, they have been most highly commended for their fine appearance and marching, and general behavior.
THE ENGINE HOUSE.
At the annual town meeting held Oct. 4. 1891, it was voted that the town purchase the lot at the corner of Factory and Ray- mond streets and erect a suitable engine house, substantially fire proof. The sum of $5,000 was appropriated for the purchase of the lot and $8,000 for the building. James Swan, F. H. Beecher and T. L. James were appointed a building committee. This vote and the decision to move the old building and build a new and commo- dious structure was largely due to the efforts of Mr. James Swan, Chief Engineer, in calling attention to the need of the fire depart-
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ment, and in previously looking over the various locations proposed with the selectmen, accompanied by Assistant Chief Engineer C. W. James. James Swan, F. H. Beecher and T. L. James were appointed a building committee, and the present handsome engine house was the result.
ENGINE HOUSE PARLOR.
The new engine house is a handsome brick building of two- stories with a roomy basement. It is 24 feet 6 inches wide and 50 feet 2 inches long. The entrance, facing on Factory street, has two broad doors opening into the engine room where the engine, hose cart and hook and ladder company stand ready for use. The parlors are on the second floor and are handsomely finished in the grain, frescoed and liberally furnished. The engine house is heated by steam and lighted by electricity, and is one of the most hand- somely furnished in the State.
In March, 1893, the firemen thought the bare walls of the engine house should be made more attractive and a subscription paper was started for circulation among the active members only and it was placed in the hands of Geo. Smith, and when the book was closed the total receipts were $313 Of that amount W. R. Brixey ... formerly a member of the company, gave $100. The remainder all came from the active members. This money was the first raised
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toward fitting up the new engine house parlors. The walls were handsomely frescoed by H. A. Hurd at a cost to the company of $165. The remainder went towards furniture.
A fair was held April 28 and 29, 1886, by which $600 was cleared. On May 9 and 10, 1889, a fair was held to raise funds for the parade and the net proceeds were $573.70. In October, 1888, Chief James Swan and Hon. C. French gave $100 each for the purchase of a billiard table for the engine house. Eight hundred dollars was sub- scribed for a hook and ladder truck and one was obtained which was noteworthy for its fine appearance as well as for excellence of workmanship and utility.
A third fair was held Oct. 23 and 24, 1894. This was held in the engine house by the ladies, Mrs. T. L. James being the chair- inan of the committee of arrangements, and $600 was cleared. On the 9th, 10th and IIth of February, 1899, a fourth fair was held, and $864.76 was cleared.
On the 16th of March, 1899, at 3:30 a. m., the firemen were warned by the ringing of the fire bell that the flames were again striving for the mastery. The boiler house of the H. A. Matthews Co.'s works and coal shed were completely wrapped in flames and being in the center of an almost complete rectangle of buildings it seemed impossible to save any of them. Soon several streams of water, from the fire engine and from the force pump in the chisel shop, were being thrown upon the burning building, and upon those adjacent to prevent the spread of the flames. F. H. Beecher, the superintendent of the works and an experienced firemen, greatly assisted Foreman Adams in directing the work, while Chief Engineer James Swan, being familiar with the premises and knowing the points of greatest danger, held one of the nozzles and directed the stream to the locality of greatest danger.
The fire caught in several places on the main buildings but by hard work the flames were extinguished and the damage was mostly confined to the building where the fire first broke out. Experienced firemen said that under such circumstances gaining the control of the flames and saving of the main buildings was one of the best pieces of work they had ever seen.
H. B. Wooster was chief of the fire department until his death in July, 1883. He was succeeded by James M. Smith as chief, with James Swan as assistant chief. In 1885 Mr. Swan was appointed chief and has since held that position. Dr. F. A. Benedict and
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T. L. James are the Assistant Chiefs. The Fire Commissioners are Geo. A. Divine, C. W. Thrall and E. Pritchard. The foremen have been 1882 9, Frank H. Beecher; 1890, Thomas !. Jamies ; 1891, Frederick Harris; 1892, David J. Hill ; 1893, William B. Swin; 1894-5,George Smith ; 1855 7-8, Stillman F. Wright ; 1899, Fow- ler W. Adams; 1900, Harold W. Pickett ; 1901, Frank E. Cham- berlin.
The Veterans Firemen's Association, consisting of those who had been active members for ten years, was formed July ist, 1900, and numbers thirty members.
H. R. Atwater,
Andrew J. Miles,
T. D. Adams, Frederick ()'Meara,
Andrew Barr,
Charles Mannweiler,
E. C. Brown,
Evans Richards,
L. A. Camp,
F. A. Rugg,
John Early,
H. C. Schneider,
Hiram A. Hurd,
Patrick H. Sheehan,
E. H. Guild,
George Smith,
H. S. Halligan,
James M. Smith,
George Hurlburt,
C. E. Spencer.
G. A. James,
R. J. Spencer,
T. L. James,
Wm. B. Swan,
Geo. E. Lester,
O. D. Sykes,
A. A. Lockwood,
C. P. Woodbridge,
M. McNerney, S. F. Wright.
The company and the engine house and apparatus have all been kept up in first class shape, officers, firemen and citizens gen- erally having taken interest in working to this end. All the large factories and mills have powerful rotary force pumps and an ample supply of hose for use in case of fire, and with the new wat- er works there are now ample facilities for protection from fire.
The additional facilities of extinguishing fires which are af- forded by the Seymour water works, with a large number of fire hydrants well scattered about the place, make property here as secure as it it possible to make it. It is also worthy of mention that the water works are also a success financially, the company having paid a dividend the first year, a very unusual thing with investments in water works. The company has no outstanding bonds, the works having been completed without exceeding in cost the capital stock of $60,000.
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THE NEW PARK.
The tract of nearly fourteen acres on the west of Garden City, which was presented to the town of Seymour by Hon. C. French for a public park is an ideal place for the purpose. The larger part of the tract is either nearly level or gently rolling, and the easterly side has been known for some years as the "Athletic Grounds," the use of it having been given by Mr. French to the young people for ball games and other athletic sports. The westerly part is covered with a fine grove, which has been a popular picnic resort. This reaches to the brow of a cliff which affords a fine view of the river and the northerly part of the town, with Castle Rock in the distance, at the left, making one of the most picturesque land- scapes in the valley, as shown by the engraving herewith.
LOOKING WEST FROM THE PARK.
From the north the Naugatuck River spreads out into a placid lake of about two hundred and fifty acres. Beyond is the' bold front of lofty Rock Rimmon, while to the right and left, and far in the distance are seen the wooded hills of one of the most attractive scenic regions of the Naugatuck Valley.
CHAPTER V
BY REV. H. A. CAMPBELL.
OLD HOMES, FAMILIES AND LANDMARKS. ADDITIONAL NOTES.
In seeking for further light relating to the old homes and land- marks, it is to be observed, that there are but few aged people living, who are able to relate the facts and traditions of the unwrit- ten history of the early fathers of the community, The town records reveal but a part of their history. Therefore many facts and dates connected with the old homes have passed from the knowledge of men. While many facts have been handed down to the present generation, the dates have not been preserved to indi- cate the period, which the readers of these pages desire to know.
Since the writing of the first chapter on the "Old Homes, Families and Landmarks," the following facts and traditions have come from many sources, as records, deeds, and from members of the old families.
In presenting these statements, the localities will be considered in the same order as the previous article, beginning at the south part of the village, below the old Congregational cemetery.
Previous to 1800, there were two brothers living in this vicinity by the name of Swift, one of whom is said to have built the last house on the east side of South Main street below the cemetery, now belonging to Eben Wheeler, but for many years was known as the Cochran place.
The old house to the north, having a stone foundation, now known as the Fitzgibbons place, was occupied by Silas Baldwin near the beginning of the century, 1800. But previous to the com- ing of Silas Baldwin, Samuel Johnson lived there. And it is thought that he, or his father, Joseph Johnson, built the house.
This was Joseph Johnson, Ist, who purchased the estate, above the cemetery, of Abraham Pierson, and sold the same to Ebenezer Turil Whittemore, Dec. 4, 1778.
The old Dayton Tavern, or Hull place is also mentioned as be- ing the home of Jeremiah Johnson as early as 1750, then a story and a half house.
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The old Tucker homestead, located east of the Dayton-Hull place, is said also to have been a Johnson homestead, bearing the name of Nathaniel Johnson, whose daughter Sarah married Zeph- aniah Tucker.
The Sanford store referred to, occupied by "Pitchfork San- ford," is said to have been located on the southeast corner of Pearl and Maple streets.
As previously stated, soon after 1800, the Steeles moved to the southeast part of the town, now the Johns place, and for many years occupied large tracts of land, which in time were owned by the several members of the family. At the west end of Union street, where Henry Wyant now lives, there was the home of Edmund Steele, son of Deacon Bradford, This house is said to have been built by one of the Swift brothers, not far from the date 1 800.
In the early part of this century, the name of Chester Jones frequently appears upon the school district records, etc., and his home was located the second house north of the J. Burton Steele farm, and sometime following Jones, William Keeney occupied the same house. It is stated that Chester Jones built this house.
John Burton Steele, son of Edmund, built a house in 1851, which has been since known as the Steele farm, located on the west side of Maple street, near the end of Walnut street. John Burton Steele did not live many years to enjoy his new home. He died Aug. 22, 1854.
William Steele son of Deacon Bradford Steele, built and occn- pied in 1824 the small red house located on the east side of the road near a quarter of a mile southeast of the old Steele farin. The deed shows that William bought this land of Deacon Bradford. From various sources it is learned that Deacon Bradford Steele was quite a land owner in this region. He owned and worked in an old mill on the brook at the southeast corner of the town, just below the new dam or near the second dam of the present Ansonia Water Co. This old mill is indicated on a map published in 1856, now in the State Library at Hartford, also on a map owned by the Misses Booth, Church street, from which a copy is taken for this book.
In a deed dated June 17, 1816, Stiles Nettleton of Derby sold a piece of land in Humphreysville to Bradford Steele. Bladens Brook ran through this land, which had on it a clothiers shop, with other buildings adjoining, with privilege of using water to carry a
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fulling mill, carding mill, etc. From the reading of the deed the locality would appear to be the old fulling mill property established on Bladens Brook in 1799, the site now occupied by the Beach papermill.
In the region east of the old New Haven turnpike, northward from the Steele-Davis-Johns corners, there is said to be one or more old cellar holes, once the places of thrifty homes. Doubtless one or more of these were on the old road from the corners north- ward to the Leman Chatfield place.
The name of Peck appears in many of the deeds, and a tract of land is still called by that name, near the Walnut street region.
In reading the history and traditions relating to the Johnson families the reader would gain the impression that there was a period when the Johnsons were the sole owners and occupants of this whole region, and it is to be regretted that the dates relating to these families and their homes are not more perfectly preserved.
The study of the genealogy of the Johnson family will aid in discovering the multitude of names, and reveal the difficulty of locating their habitations.
One Joseph Johnson, ist, occupied the Turil Whittimore place, another Joseph Johnson, 2nd, occupied the Durand-Lum home- stead. It is said that Joseph Johnson, 2nd, built the house for his own residence, which seems to have been occupied later by his son, Hezekiah Johnson, who appears to have sold it to Jeremiah Durand. the father of Mrs. E. A. Lui.
The Hezekiah Johnson referred to at one time lived on the crown of the hill, High street, now the Hitchcock place, which may be said to have been the first house on Promised Land.
The Rev. S. R. Hickcox place on the east side of Pearl street is also said to have been built by Joseph Johnson, 2nd, for one of his sons.
Still another old Johnson homestead, already referred to in the Old Landmarks, the first place north of the Arethusa Spring Water Co,, occupied by several generations, among whom were Gideon I. Gideon 2, Ebenezer, and Gideon, father of Dr. S. C. Johnson.
In the previous chapter the name of Charles French was asso- ciated with the French place located on Pearl Street, the second house south of Grand street. Also the name of Alfred is associated with the place, and within the memory of many an aged lady "Aunt Nancy" French made her home here. One by the name of Charles
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French lived in the long house near the Humphreys woolen mill.
At the foot of Rock Rimmon there was a house of very early date, and during the time of the Revolutionary War it is said that Simeon Wheeler lived in this locality. The name M. Culver is also associated with this locality at a later date. It is also to be ob- served that a Simeon Wheeler is said to have settled on Rimmon Hill about 1760, the region a mile or more west and northwest of the Rock by the same name. It is possible that the Rock and Hill by the same name, Rimmon, have not always been clearly desig- nated in the early writings.
Among the records and deeds the name of Lyman Wheeler is frequently mentioned in connection with Rimmon Hill. There are two deeds bearing the date 1819, given to Lyman Wheeler, wherein are stated that said Wheeler purchases two pieces of land, one from Moses Riggs, and the other from Sherman Clark, "with dwelling house and barn thereon standing," but Clark "reserved the right of drawing and carrying away water from the well on said land for the benefit of my dwelling house on the opposite side of the highway." If this dwelling on the opposite side of the highway refers to the old Pangman place, the deed would indicate the same place to have been at that time the home of Sherman Clark; or else some other locality is described in the deed.
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