USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Winsted > The Winsted tercentenarian > Part 6
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II. & L. Morrison are successors of a long line of jewelry houses dating back to the close of the last century: F. B. C'atlin. C. II. Leonard and W. D. Churchill, who moved from 436 Main Street to the present location where there had been another jewelry store conducted by C. P. Buskirk. H. C. Aldrich, Aldrich & Murphy and Mur- phy & Mcad. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison bonght the business of W. D. Churchill July 1. 1929. Mrs. Morrison began with Mr. Churchill in 1920 and Mr. Morrison in 1925, having graduated in watchmaking and repairing in an in- stitute in Illinois and spent a year in Zimmer Bros.' large jewelry store in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., giving him a fine experience in watch and jewelry re- pairing. It is an interesting fact that even in these days of depression there is a steady demand for the better grades of watches and-jewelry which give lifetime satisfaction. H. & L. Morrisons' would do credit to any of the jewelry stores in the largest cities in the state.
Charles N. Gage, Insurance
CHARLES N. GAGE, whose office is in the Strand theater building. 356 Main Street, has been writing gen- eral insurance for eleven years. repre- senting several of the strongest com- panies. Recently he has become the local representative of the National Realty Owners' Association, selling all kinds of real estate, including desirable residences, farm properties, summer homes and cottages.
Mr. Gage came to Winsted in 1889 and for thirty-eight years was employ- ed in the dry goods and grocery busi- ne-s in the Opera House block. starting in 1885 with Hunt & Persons and later being employed by his brother. George W. Gage, who purchased the business. Hle was for twenty-seven years in the dry goods department and managed the grocery department for eleven years.
If you have anything to insure or are interested in buying a place. con- sult Mr. Gage.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
West Winsted in Early Serenties. Left to right. Iligley Tarern. later Union and Sanford House, built in ITOS; Camp's Hall. Beardsley House, Beardsley Block, Dudley Block
William II. Phelps, First Warden of Winsted
Winsted Received Charter in 1858
"Town of Winsted" Proposed in 1778 - Borough of Clifton Organized in 1833 With Deputy Sheriff Jesse Williams, Warden - William G. Coe, Esquire, Originated Winsted Charter-William H. Phelps, First Warden
The first suggestion of organizing a town of Winsted, apart from the town of Winchester, was at the first annual meeting of the Winsted Ecclesiastical Society in 1778, when it was voted: "That a meeting be warned to see if this Society are a mind to be made a distinct town." The land contained within the Winsted society subject to taxation extended from Highland Lake and north on the two mile tier line from Barkhamsted to Mad River thence up Mad River to the three mile line. thence to Colebrook, east to the west branch of the Farmington river in Barkhamsted, hence the name Winsted. a word coined from the first syllable of Winchester and the last syllable of Barkhamsted.
At the annual town meeting of Winchester, November 12, 1787. it was voted that the memorial presented to the General Assembly in October, 1786. to incorporate the town of Winsted may be granted "withont opposition from the First Society of Winchester, pro- vided the west tier of lots in Winsted be not included in the proposed town of Winsted." This provision meant that the mile strip of land which in- cluded what is now Coo Street and the old road to Colebrook known as Mar- shall Street would not be included in Winsted, seems to have been one of the main points of contest and ultimately to defeat the project. Highland Lake and the mountain ridges north made a natural division of the town. The peo- ple in Winsted desired a central place for public meetings. There was a bit-
ter feeling against the Winchester So- ciety which was older and better or- ganized. The question was brought up in town meeting again in 1788 and in 1790 and approved with the same pro- vision about the west boundary line not to include the Coe Street section. The General Assembly failed to pass the act, however. and the project for making Winsted a separate town was then dropped after it had been agitated for twelve years.
The greatest boon to Winsted was the opening in 1799 of the Green Woods turnpike, which was an exten- sion of the Talcott Mountain turnpike and connected with it at New Hartford. following Morgan and Mallory Brooks
in Barkhamsted, crossing Still River in Winsted. forming Main Street. and fol- lowing up Mad River valley. thence to Norfolk, Canaan and Sheffield, Mass., becoming the main stage route between Hartford and Albany. It immediately diverted the travel from the historic Old North Road, which had been con- structed in 1761, over Wallen's Hill. and the Old South Road through Win- chester Center and was a serious blow to the growth of those sertions as well as to Colebrook. The turnpike formed the main artery of the future Borough and City of Winsted.
The splendid water power furnished by Highland Lake and Mad and Still Rivers and the construction of the
West Winsted before 1870 from Winchester Memorial Park. Left, Col. Hosca Hinsdale house, site of Second Church: center front, Fourth Schoolhouse, built about 1840; right, Spencer Street, three red Houses and Hospital site; center, Dudley Tan- nery, drying Houses at left; Meadow Brook Farm in Valley
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Opera House Corner, 1856, from Elm Street. Opera House lot enclosed by fence; left. Win- sted Herald Office (Bronson's); right, Petrunti's Block, after Buchanan Celebration
Naugatuck railroad in 1849 were also great boons to the villages of Winsted and West Winsted, which, after a half century, with the coming of the rail- road, were gradually merged.
A petition, dated May 2. 1833. of fifty-one persons was presented to the General Assemblyat the May session that year for the incorporation of the Borough of Clifton. The petition as certified by John Boyd, town clerk. stated they were "residents in a com- pact manufacturing village. containing about 500 inhabitants, situated one mile
William G. Coe, Esq., "Father" of Winsted
west of Winsted Meeting House in the Town of Winchester; that by the rea- son of the extensive manufactures of iron and the contiguous position of the Imildings in said village, they are ex- posed to frequent and destructive fires for the prevention of which the organ- ization of an efficient fire department is necessary."
Among the petitioners were John and Samnel Boyd. Moses Camp. 2nd. Rev. Daniel and S. W. Coe, Hosea and Bissell Hinsdale. Philo Sheldon. Solo- mon Rockwell. Dr. James Welch. E. S. and Erastus Woodford.
The new borough was incorporated at the May session. It contained about five-sixths of a square mile. extending from near the west end of Boyd Street to the Creek bridge cast of Cornelio Avenue and the south end of East Lake Street to Manchester's farm on Spencer Street. The borough was em- powered to elect a warden. six bur- gesses, a clerk. a treasurer. a bailiff. an assessor and board of relief of not more than five freemen. and to levy taxes. The warden and burgesses constituted a board of health and they were au- thorized to organize two fire companies of not more than thirteen members cach. to purchase fire engines and other fire apparatus. The first meeting was held the fourth Monday of June. 1833. when officers were chosen. Solomon Rock- well Esq., or in his absence Wheelock Thayer, Esq., was directed to preside at the meeting. The corporate meet-
ings of the warden and burgesses were styled the "Court of Burgesses."
Jesse Williams, a deputy sherin for whom Williams Avenue was nam- ea. whose home was at 88 Spencer Street (F. T. Osborn's house, built in 1812 by Eben Coe), was the first war- den. He was the grandfather of the late Mayor Lyman P. Case. The Win- sted Herald says: "The borough got on swimmingly until it came time to pay the taxes but when the frugal citizens beheld the appalling figures. they concluded that Boroughs were too expensive a luxury." A two per cent tax was voted on November 30. 1833, on the list of October 1, as made out by John Boyd. clerk, and totalled $73.12. There were 93 taxpayers. Solo- mon Rockwell's tax, the largest of all,
Left, Adams Block: right, Winsted House, now Park Hotel, on site occu- pied by Gilbert School
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
...
Main Street. looking South from Bushnell's Garage
was $10.48; James Boyd. $5.51, and Rev. Daniel Coe, $2.26. The hand- pumper. said to have been purchased about that time, is at No. 2 firehouse.
It was reported that the real object of the new borough was to secure a second postoffice in place of the one that had been transferred to the East village. This was a signal of alarm. Officers were elected who were not in sympathy with the new idea and sev. eral refused to pay the tax.
A quarter of a century passed. Win- sted had grown rapidly with the com- ing of many new industries and the railroad. In addition to the need for fire protection, a water system was be- ing agitated: also police protection. Many new streets were opened and sidewalks were demanded. William G. Coe, Esq., a young lawyer, twenty- seven years old, father of the late Miss Alice Lee Coe, came back to Winsted in 1856, became manager of the Clifton Mill Company "and soon became prom-
Homer I. Huntington, Selectman
inently identified with the public in- terests of the community-originating our Borough Corporation and Water Works. and efficiently aiding all other measures of public improvement."
The charter of the Borough of Clif- ton was repealed June 8, 1858, and the charter of the Borough of Winsted, to include the two sections nearly coin- riding with the present city limits. was granted the same month and the Bor- ough was organized at an election Au- gust 2. as follows: Warden, William H. Phelps, president of the Hurlbut National Bank, grandfather of the present president ; burgesses. Rollin L. Beecher, Edward Camp, John T. Rock- well, Charles Cook, Charles B. Weed, John G. Wetmore; treasurer. John Hinsdale: bailiff, Caleb P. Newman.
The new officials lost no time in going to work. A survey and plan of the streets was made. North Main Street. which passed through the cen- ter of the "East Village Green" ( Win- sted Park), was closed and the park enclosed by a fence, graded and trees planted by private subscriptions at a cost of $2.000 under the corporate name "Park Place." the street being laid ont as at present. A sidewalk rounded to a width of five feet on the north side of Main Street from the park to Spen- cer Street was ordered. Part of it was "flagged" and part planked. and later laid with asphalt. Steps wore taken to construct a water system and a fire department and a police court estab- lished.
After an agitation which extended over three or four years, the project of consolidating the town and borough governments by a special charter was reported in February, 1915, by a char- ter revision committee, consisting of Dudley L. Vaill. chairman; Thomas F. Fitzgerald, secretary : James P. Glynn, Lester C. Strong and Tunis Good- enough, and approved. The charter
باله
Albert D. Hart. Secretary Board of Finance
was adopted by the General Assembly in the spring and went into effect Oc- tober 4, 1915, giving Winsted a com- mission form of government. consti- tnting a board of five selestmen who are responsible for the administration of the town's affairs with the authority to appoint nearly all other town and department officers. The borough gov- ernment after an existence of fifty- seven years was at an end and Winsted was made simply a taxing district. The last warden was Harry Bull and the First Selectman under the new gov- ernment was Patrick J. Darcey.
Two years later to avoid confusion, the charter was amended. officially designating Winsted a city, and in 1931 it was amended again by a bill introduced by Irving E. Manchester giving the first selectman the addition- al title of mayor. Winsted's first mayor
Clarence II. Bunnell, Board of Finance
1796659
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
The Winsted Play Ground
was William C. Kemp. Upon his death Lyman P. Case filled out the nnexpired term. Robert E. Maher was appointed mayor in October. 1933. Winsted re- pealed its zoning laws in 1935 after a few years' trial.
The present town officers are: Se- lectmen, Robert E. Maher, first ; Joseph W. Darcey, second: Ilallett F. Clark. Homer I. Huntington, Ralph V. Tif- fany; Town Clerk, C. Wesley Wins- low ; Towu Treasurer. J. Albert Smith : Tax Collector. Clarence A. Dickermau : Superintendent of Streets, Homer M. Wheeler; Superintendent of Public Works, Thomas D. Walsh; Memorial Park connnittee. Mrs. Ruth C. II. Reidy, Edward M. Phelps; Assessors, Arthur B. Ferry, Irving E. Manches- ter, Wallace W. Taylor; Board of Re- lief, Thomas E. Wheeler. Theodore Vaill, Anthony F. Serafini; Auditors, William F. Peetz. Edward F. McArdle ; Health Officer and City Physician. Dr. Donald W. Herman: Milk and Meat Inspector. C. Arthur Burnette. V. S .: Town Attorney. Lester W. Schaefer:
John E. Lynch, Representative and Secretary of Board of Education
Edward C. MeDermott. Superintendent. of Charities
Board of Finance. Robert E. Maher, chairman, Albert D. Ilart. secretary, James J. Walsh, Clarence II. Bunnell. Michael T. Hayes. Wallace G. Pendle- ton, William JJ. Brennan ; Superintend- ent of Charities, Edward M. MeDer- mott ; Registrars of Voters. Dudley Il. Manchester, Frank W. Dyson: Town Bookkeeper. Jennie I. Glyn: School Nurse, Winuian C. Ilylands: Dog War- den, Edward Fritz; Forest Fire War- den, William C. Johnson: Assistant Town Clerk, Seth Seymour.
D. Angell, Shoe Repair Shop
IN spite of all the changes that have taken place in two centuries, fine shoe repairing is as necessary and much appreciated now as in the days when Roger Sherman, signer of the Declara- tion of Independence and the Consti-
HIallett F. Clark, Representative and Selectman
tution of the United States. cobbled shoes in New Milford nearly 200 years ago. D. Angell at 407 Main Street, opposite Woolworth's. has been a shoe repair shop since 1888. Forty-seven years of shoe repairing in the same location by the same firm means it has a thorough knowledge of the business and has been satisfying customers. Be- sides shoe repairing. D. Angell does all kinds of dye work and renovating and features Health Spot shoes and Herman shoes for men.
David Angell, who started the busi- ress, was succeeded two years before his death. May 20, 1924. by his son. Lorentz C. Angell, who was associated with his father since 1903. so that he has been a shoe repairer for thirty-two years in the same location in the Hotel Central building. It is a record that is hard to beat.
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Clarence A. Dickerman, Tax Collector
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Martin B. Dodd, Auto Dealer
Identified With Automotive Indus- try Since 1918-Represents the Colonial-Beacon Oil Company
"DON'T do things by halves." seems to be a policy which Martin B. Dodd adopted many years ago and has stuck to it.
When Mr. Dodd went to the Pack- ard Motor School in Detroit. Mich .. twenty-six years ago. after he left the employ of A. P. Curtiss in Norfolk. he learned all he could about motors and motor cars in one of the finest fac- tories in the world and graduated with honor. For the next six or seven years Mr. Dodd was employed by the late Hon. Frederick M. Shepard. the phi- lanthropist and public benefactor, and Attorney George B. Case, who has a large estate in Norfolk, and. uncou- sciously perhaps, was trained to do business in a large way and to do it thoroughly and well.
For nearly a score of years or. to be exact. since early in 1918. Mr. Dodd's name has been prominently identified with the automobile business
Martin B. Dodd
rot in one town but throughont Litch- field County and southern Berkshire.
Martin B. Dodd garages and service stations, commeusurate with his grow- ing business were fir-t erected in Nor- folk and Winsted and then in Canaan and Torrington and now another in
Sharon. As the representative of the Colonial-Beacon Oil Company, he has twenty gasoline stations through-
Martin B. Dodd's Garage, Rowley Street
out Litchfield County and southern Berkshire with a fine new big bulk gasoline and oil station in Winsted and huge Martin B. Dodd tank cars are fitting about everywhere.
Mr. Dodd took the agency in 1918 for Litchfield County of the Stude- baker Corporation which long before it built automobiles was famous for it- beautiful line of vehicles. Studebaker has lost none of its former prestige. In 1924 Mr. Dodd became the Litch- Geld County representative of the Packard Motor Co. and he has the agency for the Chevrolet at Norfolk and is also the representative of the White trucks and Delco oil burners. The extent of his large business is shown by the fact he has forty-six em- ploves. He is a large taxpayer.
In Winsted. Mr. Dodd took an old swamp meadow and built one of the finest garages in the city, greatly in- proving that section. At his bulk sta- tion on Meadow Street he took a run- down property and made it into a fine plant. In Norfolk. his garage is a sub- stantial granite building and he has made a fine approach to the village, 'eautifying the river bank. In Canaan. he bought the ruins where the Ilotel Knickerbocker stood and now that is an attractive spot again.
Mr. Dodd has always been a lover of horses. He has imported many of the finest truck and farm horses that ever came into the country. In recent vears his interest has been centered especially on highly bred racers. In 1934. his Calumet Desmond, with a record of 2:0012, which he soll to go to Milan, Italy, was the greatest horse .u Europe, and. again in 1934 his Vita- mine was the fastest three-year-old colt in America. with a record of 2:0016. which is proof again that Mr. Dodd is satisfied with nothing but the best. Ile is always ready to trade for any-
thing and his aim is when people trade with him once they will trade with him always.
Mir. Dodd is a member of the Win- ted Club. the Winsted Rotary Club. the Winsted Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Geer Memorial hospital of Canaan.
George K. Mubarek, Grocer
G EORGE K. MUBAREK'S grocery and fruit store at 741 Main Street is a well-conducted establishment by a proprietor who is trained in the busi- ness, and keeps what his trade demands in fresh groceries. fruits, vegetables. Froioy ice cream. cigars, cigarettes and confectionary. Before coming to Win- sted thirteen years ago. Mr. Mubarek had conducted a store successfully in Torrington for thirteen years. After four years he bought his present site and built his store building where a private school was conducted from 1807 to 1835 of which Dr. Lyman Strong was the first principal. followed by Curtis Warner, Nathaniel Gaylord and others.
Since his residence here. Mr. Mu- barek has acquired large real estate holdings. purchasing the adjoining buildings in which the Forbes' furni- ture store was located and the large four-story Dudley block. built in 1861. giving him a frontage of abont 225 feet on Main Street. He also bought the James Fallon honse on Munro Street which he has remodelled. He has made a business success of which he may well be proud.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Smith Bros., Clothing
The Winsted Store Twenty-nine Years in the Same Location
T WENTY- FOUR years ago the Win- sted Citizen published an illustrat- ed industrial edition of Winsted, and what it said about Smith Brothers' store in 1911 is true today and is here repeated. as follows:
"It nuist afford a firm great satis- faction to so expand their trade and gain publie confidence that they are enabled to adopt the motto The name that guarantees.' It is to this stage in business that the Smith Bros .. haber- dashers and clothing merchants. 404 Main street, have attained. It is al- ways a satisfaction for a newspaper to refer to such a condition in the growth of a business house: Morris and Harry Smith began business in Tor- rington in 1895 and soon after opened another store in that town. Being men possessed of more than ordinary ambi- tion, they decided to expand their business to still wider scope, and in 1906 they opened the store in Winsted at 404 Main Street and another in Col- linsville. Believing as they do in reach- ing out after the trade. they have had no reason to regret this venture.
"Their stock comprises high-grade goods, ready-made clothing for men and boys, including suits. overcoats,
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Irving Smith: Smith Brothers
fancy waistcoats, bats. caps. every item in the list of haberdashery. notably. fine, np-to-date cravats. shirts for busi- ness and full dres-, stylish collars, cuffs and hosiery. As a matter of fact. no man is justified in going to a large city to buy anything in the clothing and haberdashery line so long as Smith Bros. remain in Winsted. They are observant buyers, keeping in close touch
Farmington River at "Hog's Back"
with the market, and their show win- dows and counters reveal the latest conceits in items of wear for men as fast as they make their appearance in the New York clothing and haberdash- ery shops, according to the seasons.
"Smith Bros. have built up their patronage on lines of business integ- rity. While they consider their move to Winsted a fortunate one. the public is equally thankful that this enterpris- ing firm opened its doors here."
The store was opened by Morris Smith at the present location, with Dennis (Sandy) Coffey as clerk. Irving Smith, the present nianager. came in the fall of 1909 and has been manager ever since, except during the World War when he was in the Fifteenth In- fantry, United States Regular Army. and assigned to the field signal bat- talion, and when his brother. David. managed the store for two years. 1927- 1929. James L. Grady will complete fourteen years as clerk in September.
Highland Lake Park
NE of the most popular lake re- sorts in western Connecticut is Highland Lake Park on the east shore of third bay, which has been operated for thirty-seven seasons and has cater- ed to thousands of pienickers every sea- son. D. V. O'Connell. the proprietor and manager, has conducted the park stlecessfully for fourteen your's.
The season extends from Memorial Day to Labor Day and there is every facility for dancing with music by a high class orchestra, bathing on a nice beach and boating. There is an eating room and a large pienie pavilion with kitchen. The parking facilities are good.
It is an ideal spot in the woods on the shore of one of Connecticut's most beautiful lakes to visit for a day or a season.
Winsted a Fine Fishing Region
By C. B. H. VAILL
AX/INSTED lies in the midst of one of the finest fishing regions in the eastern United States. The Northwest- ern Connectient Sportsmen's Associa- tion of Winsted has co-operated with the State Board of Fisheries and Game in every effort to_ improve sporting conditions, and the results are note- worthy. Highland Lake has been stocked heavily with bass, perch, pick- orel. tront and food fish; over 24,000 black bass were put in during 1935. In addition to Highland Lake, there are other lakes and ponds almost too mmerons to mention, within a few minutes' ride, and all of them furnish- ing great sport.
Superb trout fishing is to be had in abundance around Winsted. The Farm- ington River and Sandy Brook are nearby streams leased and stocked by the State Board of Fisheries and Game and maintained in excellent condition. and a few miles to the west is the Hon-atonie River. teeming with im- mense brook, brown and rainbow trout. In Norfolk is the Blackberry River. another leased stream, and in East Ca- naan the Whiting River. The local Association stocks Morgan Brook, Mad River. Sucker Brook and other streams not under direct control of the State Board. but open to public fishing.
In the mimber and variety of lake> and streams and in the quantity and quality of the game tish which they contain. Winsted need bow to no other fishing center in the east.
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THE WINSTED TERCENTENARIAN
Chimney Marking Site of Caleb Beach House, first Settler. 1150
Historical Sketch of Winchester
Named in 1732 for Cathedral Town in England - Allotted to 106 Hartford Proprie- tors-The Four William Pitkins-Caleb Beach, First Settler, 1750 -- Lieutenant John Wright, French and Indian War Veteran, First Settler in Winsted Society, 1769-David Austin, Miller
THE history of Winchester, which ineludes the City of Winsteil. be- gan as a township February 11. 1732. when the proprietors of Hartford and Windsor, having been allotted the east- ern portion of the tract known by the Colonists as the Western Lands and having agreed upon a plan of division. executed a deed conveying Winchester together with Hartland. New Hartford and the east half of Harwinton to Hartford. while Colebrook. Barkham. sted. Torrington and the west half of Harwinton were deedled to Windsor. At a subsemment meeting that year in Hartford. Winchester was allotted to 106 Hartford proprietors of record for the vear 1720. each one owning an in- divided share of the township in pro portion to what his taxable property was assessed for.
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