USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 41
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During vacancies in the pastorate the Rev. J. Wiley, D. D., Rev. Robert G. Williams and Rev. John Willard have occupied the pulpit as stated supplies.
In the early history of the church the music was vocal and instrumental. At one time the latter consisted of a bass-viol, two violins and a flute. In 1856 an organ displaced these in- struments. In 1871 the pulpit was removed from the recess at the west end of the church and the organ transferred from the gallery to it, and a movable platform with a neat plain desk substituted for a pulpit, occupying a few feet in front of the former. With this change the gallery choir was abandoned and singing was congregational, led by a precentor, the organ being accompanied by a flute. In 1874 an orchestra was added and has continued to the present time, mostly without a precentor.
This church has been harmonious and prosperous, and now numbers 221 members.
KING HIRAM LODGE.
The King Hiram Lodge, No. 12, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to Brothers Charles Whittlesey and twenty-six others, Jan. 3, A. L., 5783, in the year of our Lord, 1783. The first communication was held at Derby Narrows, and the first lodge building was erected in 1791, of which the lodge was only part owner, the lower story being used for a school-room ; the upper one for the lodge. The corner stone of this building is all that remains (a sacred relic), on which is inscribed the following : .
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MASONIC LODGE.
" THIS STONE WAS ERECTED
to KING HIRAM LODGE, No. XII., By SAMUEL B. MARSHALL in the year of light, 5797."
" Breast to Breast Let Brotherly love continue."
This lodge received its present charter from the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, May 12, 1792. Its ancient records with many Masonic valuables were destroyed in the great fire at Birming- ham Jan. 12, 1879, and like many other institutions has had its seasons of growth and depression, and received its full share of odium in the days when bitter invectives were hurled against all who dared to profess the name of Freemasonry, but in spite of all this the light of the order was kept burning upon its altar. Lodge meetings were held at the Narrows until 1828, when it was voted to hold them at Humphreysville.
In 1812 the lodge was called upon, and assisted in laying the corner stone of St. Paul's church, Huntington, an edifice still standing. Communications at that time were often held during the day, and sometimes a whole day was occupied in Masonic work. "The refreshments furnished at the lodge rooms were such as would shock our sense of propriety at the present day, for we read from the records that the steward be instructed to procure one gallon of rum or half a gallon of French brandy for the use of the craft. But if we consider that in those days it many times took large quantities of the ardent to celebrate a fashionable wedding or raise a meeting-house, it would not be unreasonable to suppose that a little would be required on the occasion of raising a brother to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
That custom however has long since been prohibited ; ar- dent spirits of no kind being now permitted within the walls of the lodge room, and the practice of temperance is among the first duties taught in the lodge."8
In 1850 the furniture of the lodge was removed from Hum- phreysville to Birmingham where its communications have ever since been held. About this time the indiscriminate use of the
8John H. Barlow's Historical Sketch King Hiram.
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
blackball created internal dissensions and proved a dark day for King Hiram, for because of this its charter was arrested in September, 1854, by the Grand Master of the state, but afterwards, in May, 1857, it was restored, and the lodge since that has increased in energy and vigor ; numbering at present, 216 members, and attends to all regular Masonic work. It has nearly reached its centennial, and few lodges in the state are in a more flourishing condition. The present officers are : Clarke N. Rogers, W. M., Leonard Jacobs, S. W., Wm. T. Gilbert, J. W, Wm. H. Hull, treasurer, John H. Barlow, secre- tary, H. Stacy Whipple, S. D., George C. Moore, J. D.
VALLEY LODGE, NO. 14.
This is a benefit and benevolent association, organized March 4, 1870 and called the Knights of Pythias. It has a fund of of about $1,000, and a membership of seventy-five, and the or- der is in a prosperous condition. Present officers : D. A. Beeman, C. C., George Munson, V. C., A. Gould, P., H. Hertz, M. of E., W. S. Thomas, M. of F., George Johnson, K. of R. and S.
OUSATONIC LODGE, NO. 6, I. O. O. F.
On the 13th day of October, 1841, five brothers of the order resided in Derby, a territory in which there are now three flourish- ing lodges and two encampments. Their names were Sheldon Bassett, Robert Gates, Peter Phelps, Richard Evans and Robert R. Wood. These having received a dispensation from M. W. James B. Gilman, then Grand Master, met in a small, dingy room at Derby Narrows and were organized into the present lodge by P. G. M. Rev. Charles W. Bradley assisted by brothers from lodges Nos. 1, 4 and 5, located at New Haven and Bridgeport, the only lodges then existing in the western part of the state. At this time eight were initiated into the order, and thus, with an empty treasury, a little apartment without furniture for meetings, and a membership of thirteen, Ousatonic Lodge commenced its work. It was very prosperous up to 1853, when its members numbered 168 with a fund of $2,000. At this time there were sixty-nine lodges in the state, with a membership of 5,000. From apathy and other causes the
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BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
number of lodges in the state in 1860 had dwindled to twenty, with only 1,600 members, but the Ousatonic Lodge with only sixty-eight of the faithful persevered in well doing against the disrepute into which Odd Fellowship had then fallen, and as a result of their labors, No. 6, I. O. O. F. has been resuscitated and now has a membership of 180 with a fund of over $5,000.
In the great fire of Jan. 12, 1879, everything in the lodge room appertaining to the order was destroyed, including a se- lect library of 600 volumes. Within the past year a spacious and most magnificent hall has been erected, richly furnished for the use of the order, and its free library is fast accumulating. It is not too much to say that this hall is one of the finest and and most tasty in the state.
The disbursements from the treasury since its organization for relief purposes have been a little short of $15,000. The lodge has never been in a more flourishing condition than at present, numbering in its enrollment of members our enterpris- ing and substantial citizens. Its present officers are : Charles E. Clark, N. G., Charles E. Bradley, V. G., Gould A. Shelton, M. D., S. P. G., John H. Barlow, secretary, Charles H. Coe, treasurer, W. V. Bowman, librarian, A. B. Ruggles, chaplain.
EXCELSIOR ENCAMPMENT, NO. 18.
This institution has been established some time but the fire of Jan. 12, 1879, destroyed all its effects. The present officers are : A. E. Burke, C. P., G. M. Wakelee, S. warden, Franklin Burton, high priest, Frank D. Jackson, treasurer, J. H. Barlow, scribe. The misfortunes which have overtaken the order have been overcome and it is now in a flourishing state.
THE PEQUOTS.
Many, many moons ago, on a beautiful summer day in August at Cold Spring on the banks of the Ousatonic this so- cial, friendly, and harmonious organization had its birth. A great medicine man, Thomas A. Dutton, M. D., who had stud- ied the history of the wild though friendly Pequots of Derby, found that many of their social qualities and harmless amuse- ments were worthy of imitation by the white man, and acting upon this principle, imbibing the Indian's Cold Spring water,
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
and devouring some game of which he was so fond in olden time, and while around the festive board this medicine man called a council, addressing them in the native language of the tribe. Credentials were at once issued for membership and from that day to this, the Pequots have been known as a well organized and select council, which has a limited number of twenty five active members and twelve honoraries.
The Pequots during the Indian summer of every year, rain or shine, visit their hunting grounds in quest of wild game, and the Great Spirit in the past has crowned their pastimes with abundant success. From their conquered game a royal feast or annual supper is prepared and enjoyed with invited guests, speeches, poems, songs, and the merry dance. They also have a masquerade ball at which the members appear in Indian cos- tume ; also their clam-bakes at the sea side in imitation of their tribe.
Nor is this all ; the Pequots are a benevolent organization. They never quarrel among themselves, but help one another in sickness and in distress from accumulated funds, and do other acts of Christian kindness which entitle them to the name of the good brotherhood. The first grand sachem of the tribe was William C. Beecher ; the present grand sachem is Henry Whipple ; R. C. Gates, 2d sachem and scribe; A. Beardsley, medicine man.
THE NOUS CLUB.
This is an institution in the borough composed of a limited number of literary gentlemen who meet at least once a week for readings, discussions, the presentation of essays, poems and other exercises for mental elevation. It has been in existence about ten years, and enrolls among its members those of our best citizens. An agreeable and interesting feature of the club is that the birthday of Robert Burns is yearly commemo- rated with invited guests, and supper, speeches, poems and other intellectual entertainments.
IRISH SOCIETIES.
There are several Irish societies in Birmingham; the oldest being the Hibernian, established a quarter of a century ago,
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385
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
and is benevolent in its object. Its officers are John Dockery, president, Timothy Gorman, vice president, Edward Mansfield, secretary, Thomas Sawyer, treasurer.
The St. Mary's Roman Catholic Total Abstinence society has been in existence about twelve years and numbers seventy members. Its officers are : George Beeman, president, John E. Dockery, vice president, John Corcoran, secretary, Thomas I. Reynolds, treasurer.
St. Vincent De Paul organization has been in existence some years and has disbursed many charities to the poor. It has sixty- four members, and during the past year has paid $150 to the destitute in the town and $100 to suffering Ireland. The offi- cers are : John Dockery, president, Patrick Doghan, vice presi- dent, William Rowan, secretary, Thomas Cordon, treasurer.
The Young Men's Temperance Roman Catholic association has seventy-eight members and holds monthly meetings for mental improvement, and having a fund in its .treasury. Its officers are : Joseph McDonald, president, Dennis Reiley, vice president, Thomas Malloy, secretary, James Sweeney, treasurer.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Mary's church was erected in 1845; the spacious lot being donated by Anson G. Phelps for the Catholic people of Birmingham. It was consecrated by Bishop O'Reilley, and since the first edifice was erected, large additions have been made, a tower built and furnished with the heaviest and finest toned bell in town. The priests connected with this church have been Fathers McDermont, Smith, O'Neal, James Lynch, Sheridan, P. J. O'Dwyer, John Lynch, Peter Kennedy ; the curates ; C. Duggett, Michael McCauley, James Gleason, P. McKenna, Wm. O'Brien and Thomas F. Shelley.
Of the priests only one is now living, Peter Kennedy, and of the curates only two, Gleason, and Shelley the present in- cumbent.
With this parish, in and out of town, are connected about two thousand and two hundred persons. Looking through the past history of this people we call to mind the Irish pioneers of Birmingham, John Phalan, Wm. Foley, John O'Conners and Matthew Kellady, who, on the 10th of September, 1833, were
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
landed at Derby dock from on board that old sloop The Guide. A son of Erin at that time was rather a curiosity to the deni- zens of the town.
Phalan and Conners in the quietude of old age, with honest and well spent lives, still linger among us as Irish landmarks. Michael Stokes, Patrick Quinn, John Regan, Farrel Reilley and others soon followed the first, until their number was legion. Along the canal banks, through the workshops, at the dam, and around the private residences may be seen the handi- work of this foreign element. As the Irishman looks back and contrasts the rustic mud shanties of his fatherland with his present cosy dwelling or neat little cottage that he here enjoys, through temperate and industrious habits, he may love the shamrock, but he ought no less to love the country of his adop- tion. He may here say with the Irish poet :
" Tho' poor the peasant's hut, his feast tho' small, He sees his little lot, the lot of all ; Sees no contiguous palace rear its head To shame the meanness of his humble shed."
THE BOROUGH.
Birmingham, in territorial limits is small and the settlement and population very compact. In 1851 it was chartered as a borough and the following gentlemen have since then held and discharged the duties of the office of warden :
Thomas Wallace, 2 years.
Abraham Hawkins, 3
John I. Howe, I year. Sharon Bassett, I
Henry Atwater, 3 years. Henry Whipple, 5 years.
R. M. Bassett, 3 "
L. L. Loomer, I year.
Thomas Elmes, I year.
William Hawkins, I
Ambrose Beardsley, 8
The borough has three well organized fire companies: The Hotchkiss hose company, No. 1 ; Storm company, No. 2; and the R. M. Bassett hook and ladder company.
In 1859 William B. Wooster and William E. Downes with laborious efforts obtained a charter for constructing the Birmingham water works, which being completed is proving to be a great blessing to the borough. The supply of water is abundant, with a fall of about two hundred feet; which not only accommodates the entire community, but is of incal- culable value to the property owners in case of fire. The
ANON JOINTS
PUBLIC SCHOOL
698
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BIRMINGHAM.
reservoir is located on Sentinel Hill, near the old Col. Daniel Holbrook place, now the property of Mr. U. H. Swift, but at first the home of Capt. Abel Holbrook, one of the early set- tlers. These works were constructed late in the summer of 1859 at a cost of $26,000, and the outlay since has increased the sum to $60,000. Prior to this public desideratum, the people were poorly supplied with water thrown into a small reservoir, from a force pump in the old grist-mill of Fitch Smith, one of the earliest enterprises of the place. This reservoir stood near the residence of Stephen N. Summers on Caroline street. The present officers of this company are : S. N. Summers, president, Col. David Torrance, secretary and treasurer, Chas. H. Nettle- ton, superintendent.
The principal streets of the borough are lighted with gas from the Derby gas company located in Shelton.
Within the limits of the borough there are 365 houses, twenty factories and forty-four stores, great and small ; the population being over 3,200. Many of the houses accommodate two or more families ; in some instances from eight to fifteen in a block, and many live over stores which are not included in the above estimate.
The municipal authorities have within the present year taken measures to carry into effect a thorough system of drain- age by sewers, and when this is accomplished the village will stand, especially in a sanitary point of view, second to no city in New England.
The borough has four churches, Methodist, Episcopal, Con- gregational and Roman Catholic ; five clergymen, four lawyers, five resident physicians, three dentists, two banks, a post-office, two hotels, and a district school-house which is an ornament to the place. It was built in 1869, at a cost of about $40,000, un- der the superintendency of Joseph Arnold, Royal M. Bassett and Father O'Dwyer. It is a noble structure ; of large dimer - sions, three stories high above the basement, built of brick, and ought to stand a thousand years.
The building has twelve separate divisions or apartments ; fourteen teachers; the highest room being classical. The an- nual expense of running the institution, including interest on the debt, is about twelve thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
The location of Birmingham is picturesque in every point of view ; even the rocky, wooded hill to the north-west being pleasant to the sight, and a beacon defense from the wind. The street opened but a few years since from a little above Edward N. Shelton's residence, along the brow of the hill to the Anso- nia lower bridge, is surpassed for beauty of location by very
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE S. ARNOLD.
little inland scenery in New England. This street, called At- water avenue, is being rapidly adorned with beautiful, palatial residences, surrounded by spacious, ornamented lawns ; begin- ning with that of Mr. Shelton, built of gray stone, and continu-
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VIEW FROM SENTINEL HILL.
ing nearly to the bridge just mentioned, a distance of over a mile.
The accompanying illustration is but a sample of fifty or more residences, in the upper part of Birmingham and on this avenue, that indicate the newness and prosperity of the place. The eastern and southern view from all the residences on this avenue is very agreeable in the day-time or during the evening. The Naugatuck valley lies on the east, and above it rises old Sentinel Hill, covered on its brow with picturesque green fields a large portion of the year, and along its base extends one con- tinuous village from the point of rocks at the Narrows, on the south, to the extremity of the old North End on Beaver brook, and joining this, extending northward and westward, in full view, is the new and flourishing borough of Ansonia. In the evening this whole region presents the enchanting scene of one grand amphitheatre more than three miles in length and nearly two in breadth, illuminated by hundreds of street lamps and lights from the windows of the dwellings, to such an extent that, in the darkest evening, the whole panorama in its various parts is visible to the beholder. Such a sight as this, probably, the early fathers did not dream of when they stood on Sentinel Hill and saw only one dozen lights in all this region, Passing to the west side of Birmingham, on the high point in the ceme- tery, the view overlooking the village of Shelton, on the Ousa- tonic, although not as extensive, is like unto that on the east side, augmented by the beautiful Ousatonic Lake, and the sound of the water rolling over the great dam.
OUSATONIC DAM.
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
the faithful working oxen of the company with trucks and carts ; the whole cavalcade and procession exceeding a mile in length.
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Reaching the vicinity of the dam, the great multitude gath- ered on the eastern shore around a large platform, on which were seated the speakers and invited guests of the day; and the great multitude listened with much interest for two hours or more to the speeches, interspersed with music by the Bir- mingham band, manifesting, thereby, their high appreciation of the triumph of the great undertaking, the making of an im- mense water power by damming the Ousatonic river.
The president of the day, after a few introductory remarks, introduced the speakers, and directed the services of the occasion.
SPEECH OF JUDGE GEORGE H. PECK, PRESIDENT OF THE DAY.
Fellow Citizens : Those of us who have watched from day to day, from week to week, and from year to year, the progress of this great work until its final completion, have thought it fitting to turn aside from our usual occupations and close our places of business, and show by this appropriate demonstration that we consider this the completion of a work of no ordinary character. The committee having the matter in charge have to submit to you the following order of exercises :
SPEECH OF DOCTOR A. BEARDSLEY.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : We have met to celebrate a great event. I am glad to see so large an assemblage on an occasion so interesting and important to this whole community. In common with a sentiment which I hope prevails in the breast of every one here, and in behalf of the citizens of Derby and Huntington, I heartily con- gratulate the pioneers, projectors, stockholders and builders of this dam, on the completion, thus far, of this grand and most magnificent enterprise. Thirty years ago the project of making the waters of the Ousatonic available for manufacturing purposes was discussed in this community, by capitalists of that day ; a survey up and down this river was made, a charter obtained and other preliminaries arranged ; but for want of sufficient encouragement that project failed, and it has remained for the zeal, the energy, and the indomitable perseverance of a Shelton and his companions, to carry forward and consummate a work, which now guarantees to this locality a water power scarcely equaled in the whole
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OUSATONIC DAM.
country. Where can you find another structure of such magnitude, pushing back such a stream, forming a lake so beautiful, environed with such charming scenery, and built as this has been, in tide water, and near the head of navigation ? Certainly not in Connecticut, and scarcely in all New England.
We ought to be more than thankful that we have had men in our midst of sufficient nerve, pluck and financial ability to prosecute this herculean task to a successful termination. This structure, now more than three years in the Potter's hands, has been built under great dis- couragements, but you see we have at last an earthen vessel " made to honor," capable of holding more water than that which turns the factory wheels of the famous " Spindle City " of the old Bay State.
I said this dam had been built under great embarrassments. No one can know the anxious days and sleepless nights of the men who have had the matter in charge, except those who have passed through the experience. It is easier to croak and find fault than to go forward, take the responsibility, and make things come out all right. Great en- terprises always have their difficulties. Diversities of opinion will pre- vail, mistakes happen, but final success will eventually silence all doubt and harmonize discordant feelings. Many have predicted this undertaking a failure from the start. Why, I remember, about the time the books were opened for subscriptions, a worthy gentleman, and one whose opinions I have generally received as law and gospel on most subjects, said to me : " Why Doctor, the boy isn't born who will live long enough to see the Ousatonic dammed." I can tell my friend if he is here to-day, that a good many boys have been born in Derby since that prediction, and some of them, I am glad to say, have already opened their eyes upon this structure. The granite, timber and cement have been fashioned and consolidated into graceful form, and we hope to see this solid wall of masonry standing for years to come in grateful memory of Shelton, Potter, Wooster, Plumb, Howe, Smith, and many others, even to every toiling Irishman who has been instrumental in completing the work which has called us together to-day.
Let us then rejoice on this occasion, and not only wish the stockhold- ers abundant success, but a rich reward for their investment. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their untiring efforts, paralyzed as they have been, from time to time, by perils in the water as well as perils among the people. For the success of this work, thus far, we are under greater and more lasting obligations to the president of the company, Mr. Edward N. Shelton, I was about to say, than all others combined. He has not only largely invested his fortune here, but for more than three years, day and night, this "dam of dams " has hung like an in-
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
cubus on his mind, but with an iron will and devotedness of pur- pose, with an eye single to success he has braved every obstacle in in his way, and without his exertions this water power might have re- mained idle for ages and we not have been here to-day rejoicing. The building of this dam will form a new era in the history of old Derby and Huntington. I do not expect to live to see the results expected, but there are those within the sound of my voice, who may yet see in reality what I see in imagination, the rising glory of the city which is to line these shores and cover these hill-sides as the "waters cover the sea."
Factories, mansions and temples of worship, neat little cottages, beautiful parks, verdant lawns and spacious avenues, teeming with a population of life and activity, will rise up here and in the glow of prosperity, and through the dignity of all the varied occupations of in- dustry make this place take her stand among the first manufacturing cities of New England. Already the signs of the times are working in our favor. Why, you see we have here to-day, for encouragement, our worthy governor and staff, his Honor Mayor Lewis, General Kellogg and other distinguished gentlemen, and we expect railroads from every point of the compass aided by liberal state legislation will centre here, and when our congressmen shall have removed the clogs of navigation, and this dam shall have proved immovable against the fury of ice and water floods, then who shall doubt, who shall deny that in this vicinity and to this spot in the future,
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