USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > The history of the town of Litchfield, Connecticut, 1720-1920 > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
FRANK A. MORGAN"
Thomas F. Weir and his brother James were privates in the same regiment, the 102nd. Thomas Weir gives the following account of the action in which his brother was killed: "At the start of the Chateau Thierry drive they went over the top at 5:30 A. M. and went into woods the other side of the starting position. They relieved the Marines, with Marines on left and French on right; the position was in a horse shoe. The company went ahead and had to wait for the French. They went back and went ahead again without barrage. Co. H. was in the 2nd batallion. Enemy artillery fire was very heavy, 2nd battalion in support, 3rd battalion ahead and 1st in reserve. The company was in open field kneeling down in close formation, a German big shell came over and landed 200 yards away. A piece landed beside the two Weir boys and hit James between the eyes. Roy Hotchkiss helped to carry out and bandage James, who was taken to the 103rd Field Hospital at La Ferte and buried there".
In a letter written by James Weir to the Smoke Club, he shows that he too had that "old New England spirit all right".
"Co. H., 102nd U. S. Inf. March 29, 1918.
Smoke Club of Litchfield:
As I have a few minutes I want to write and thank the people of Litchfield for their smokes, as I must say they are more than appreciated. I don't know what I would have done without them, not only the cigarettes, but the Enquirer also.
I am glad to be able to say we have been in the trenches for a long time and you can tell all the boys I will be home for that Labor Day parade, as the boys are all in trim and ready for any- thing that comes up. They have that old New England spirit all right. This is said to be the best regiment in France, bar none. Not so bad for the boys from Connecticut. We are all feeling fine and waiting patiently for a shot at the Kaiser, and not a bit afraid of their old Springfields, when they say we are doing our bit, too. It is rather a ticklish job, but the boys don't mind it in the least.
You can imagine the shrapnel bursting over head and big shells whizzing on all sides of us. We just laugh and watch to see if we can see them going through the air. We have had many close calls. One old six inch shell dropped about four feet from me, but it was my luck it was dead and didn't go off, so I made up my mind I was going home when it didn't get me that time. . .
The boys from home are all fine-Tom and Matt Brennan, Matt Hotchkiss, Howard Brown and all the rest of the boys. Trusting all my Litchfield friends are in the best of health and thanking you again for the cigarettes, I remain as ever,
JAMES WEIR"
256
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
Private August Guinchi of the Coast Artillery 56th Regiment died of typhoid fever on October 31, 1918, resulting from the effects of gas. Private Guinchi was gassed while driving a tank. He is buried in the American Battle Area Cemetery at Langres, Depart- ment of Haute-Marne.
Another victim of disease, Clayton A. Devines, died of Spanish Influenza in camp at Jacksonville, Florida. A memorial service was held at the Congregational church on December 1, 1918.
Joseph Donohue was a Junior Republic boy who served with the 102nd, Co. D., and was killed in action on July 23, 1918.
Roy E. Cornwell who died on shipboard en route to France, had lived in Litchfield for some time and had been a member of the Home Guard. He enlisted from Elizaville, N. Y., the home of his father, but as he had been so identified with Litchfield he is included in our list of those who lost their lives in the war.
Henry Cattey was a Northfield boy, who lived in the Marsh district. He was killed in action, but it has not been possible to obtain details of his death.
Pio Zavotti, like August Guinchi, an Italian, but an American when his adopted country needed him, is supposed to have been killed in action. He had lived in Litchfield for several years and worked at the Ripley farm, and gave Litchfield as his address when he went into the army.
About fifty former citizens of the Junior Republic were with the American Expeditionary Forces. Those who died in action and are not included in the ten from Litchfield, as they had their homes elsewhere, are: Timothy O'Connor, Norman Stein, and Roger Wilson. Lieutenant Timothy O'Connor, Co. M., 108th Infantry, had many friends in Litchfield who will be proud of the gallantry of his death. He was cited for bravery, in the fol- lowing words: "2nd Lieut. Timothy O'Connor (deceased) for great personal courage and inspiring qualities of leadership while in command of his company. Even after being mortally wounded, this officer's last words were for the men to continue their attack. This was in the battle of La Salle River, France, October 17, 1918".
We have now to record the honors earned by one of our men, who, happily, recovered from his wounds. Lieut. Joseph R. Busk was cited on June 20, 1918, in these words: "The following action of 2nd Lieut. J. R. Busk, Inf. R. A. 38th Infantry, is mentioned as deserving particular commendation as showing the determined effort of this officer to accomplish at all hazards a mission on which he had been sent: On the night of June 16-17, 1918, this officer was designated to cross the Marne River with a patrol for the purpose of capturing and bringing back a prisoner, by surprising any of the enemy who were moving; he had not accomplished the mission after having waited until almost daylight; when he boldly entered a wood supposed to be occupied by the enemy, where he encountered a hostile detachment which fired on his patrol and severely wounded
257
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
him". Lieut. Busk was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "Extraordinary heroism in action east of Chateau Thierry, France, June 17, 1918. Despite the coldness of the water, the swiftness of the current, and the presence of the enemy on the opposite bank, Lieut. Busk completed a personal reconnaissance of the enemy's position by swimming the River Marne, after which he took a patrol across the river in boats and obtained valuable information regarding the movements of the enemy".
Lieut. Busk was further honored by King Albert I, of Belgium, who conferred upon him the Ordre de la Couronne, with the rank of "chevalier".
Charles A. Whitbeck, a driver in Bat. D., 12th Field Artillery, 2nd Div., saw 21 months 15 days of active service and was in most of the engagements at Chateau Thierry, Soissons, Champagne, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. Whitbeck was with the army of occupation which marched into Germany, and spent the winter there. At Soissons on July 21, 1918, Battery D. was between the 2nd and 3rd line backing up the French, 1st Moroccan Division. The position was on low ground and was observed by the Germans from a high hill. A big barrage was placed on the battery and they had to retire, leaving the guns. Volunteers were asked for, two cannoneers and two drivers, including Whitbeck, were chosen. The Major of the battalion led them in, and one piece and caisson were rescued.
On May 27, 1919, Whitbeck received the Croix de Guerre with silver star. The citation, translated into English, is as follows: "Upon the approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, the Marshal of France, Com- mander-in-Chief of the Armies of the East, recommends by order of the Division: Private Charles A. Whitbeck, Battery D, 12th Field Artillery, 2nd Division: On July 21, 1918, near Vierzy, in the face of a violent bombardment, he attached a gun-limber to a disabled field-piece, so that this field-piece could be drawn to the rear".
James Kirwin, who enlisted in the regular army and was assigned to the 126th Aero Supply Squadron, was on the Tuscania when she was torpedoed. For some time it was not known in Litch- field that he was among the survivors. Sergt. Kirwin gives this account of his experience: "The morning of February 5, the order for life belts was given. At the time the convoy was in the North Chan- nel off the Irish coast, the position of the Tuscania was central, the other ships forming a circle around her. About 5:30 the order came, 'troops up on D deck'. At 5:30 there was a terrible shock, not so much of an explosion, as of a dull blow. The ship seemed to jump high in the air, and hang there quivering for a time before it fell back into the water, where it bobbed about very much like a cork and with a decided list to starboard. The lights went out at the time of the explosion and the darkness seemed shot with tongues of fire. The atmosphere seemed dense with a strong odor
258
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
like that of burning celluloid. I had been assigned to No. 9 boat, but when I reached that station I found both 7 and 9 stations had been blown away, as the torpedo struck directly beneath them.
"Everyone answered a call for volunteers to launch boats. The men were taken off 7 and 9 stations and for the next two hours were on the hurricane deck, launching the boats, the last of which that could be cast off were lowered at 8:15; and there were still one thousand men on board.
"The water was full of men, some swimming, but many of them dead or dying. We had about resigned ourselves to going down with the ship, the men were singing, 'Where do we go from here, boys', when word was passed to go down on B deck. Of course we hurried more than is usual in the army. Three destroyers had returned and had taken off everyone except those who had been on the boat deck. The cry was 'slide down the rope and keep your eyes up'. After I reached the destroyer I looked over the side and saw those who didn't make her. I shall always be sorry I didn't obey orders".
Kirwin was landed at Buncrana Island, Ireland, suffering with concussion and was cared for by the British troops stationed there.
It is not possible to give an account of the other Litchfield men who saw active service overseas. George H. Hunt, the Town Clerk, has recorded all the discharge papers which have been turned in to him, but those on file represent only a small part of the number who went from Litchfield, and the work of the Post Historians has only just begun.
During those terrible years before we went into the war, when America was pouring our her wealth to help suffering Europe, her young men and women were seeking opportunities for personal ser- vice in the hospitals and in the camps of the Allies.
Three of our Litchfield men did ambulance work in France, afterwards serving in the A. E. F .: Guy H. Richards with the American Ambulance Service; Elmore McNeill Bostwick and Fred- erick W. Busk with the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Section No. 5, which was decorated by the French Government.
Rejected on physical grounds by the U. S. A., du Val Allen joined the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Section No. 646, which was attached to the famous French "Blue Devils" and to the Moroccan Division. Allen was hit on the head by a piece of shell and rendered unconscious for several hours, contracting pneumonia from the exposure, and also narrowly escaped death in a bombed hos- pital. Section No. 646 was honored four times by the French Government, receiving the Croix de Guerre and the Medaille Mili- taire.
Shepherd Knapp, formerly of Litchfield, now a clergyman at Worcester, Mass., spent a year in France under the Y. M. C. A., for six months of this time being stationed at Aix-les-Bains, the famous
t
7
259
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
resort, which was turned into a "rest-place" for the American troops, and re-christened by the men, "Aches and Pains".
Archibald M. Richards also gave his services to the Y. M. C. A. and was stationed at Paris for over a year, as assistant manager of the hotel run by the "Y" for its secretaries.
In 1916, Willard Parker Lindley spent several months in France assisting the work for blinded soldiers, under Miss Winifred Holt.
The Litchfield women who served in the war, enlisted under our own Government, were Marion Crutch and Elsie Koser, army nurses; Mildred McNeill, reconstruction aid; and Irene Crutch, Mae Brahen, Clare Brennan and Evelyn Deacon, yeowomen. Elizabeth W. McNeill was employed as a Civil Service stenographer in the Army.
The women who did war work overseas were: Cecil Cunning- ham (now Mrs. Alexis Doster), who served for six months as an auxiliary nurse in the French hospitals; and Amy Richardson Thurston and Frances Elliot Hickox, who were Y. M. C. A. canteen workers, their duties including many activities from scrub woman in the kitchen to cashier in the hut. Miss Hickox remained in France until after the Armistice, and chaperoned a group of brides, who had been married to American soldiers, on her return trip to this country.
The false report on November 7, 1918 that the Germans had signed the Armistice, which caused so many premature celebrations all over the country, did not gain credit in Litchfield, thanks to the editor of the Litchfield Enquirer, who pinned his faith to the Associated Press. At three o'clock on the morning of November 11, the Torrington factory whistles were heard blowing, and the news quickly spread that "Der Tag" had come at last. The Court House bell gave the local signal and soon all the church bells joined in, ringing out the tidings in a perfect medley of noise.
The firemen manned the chemical engine, and started out on a procession all over the Borough, a crowd quickly gathered, and soon about 200 men, women and children were in line, headed by the Stars and Stripes. They marched down South Street, and at the invitation of the rector, Mr. Brewster, into St. Michael's church, where the people with deep emotion, sang together the Doxology and the national anthem, and gave thanks with grateful hearts that the long terrible years of conflict were ended at last.
Out again on the Green, a bonfire was built, and while it was burning brightly impromptu speeches were made. The day dawned, soft and mellow, as a November day sometimes is. About seven o'clock there was a little let up for breakfast, but the bells never quite ceased ringing. The dignified village of Litchfield had a dishevelled look on that morning, very unlike its usual trim appearance. Papers, confetti, the remnants of the bonfire littered the center and plainly showed that the town had been up all night celebrating.
Refreshed by breakfast, every one who could get there, hastened
260
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
to Bantam to join the parade. A band, provided by the forethought of W. S. Rogers led the procession, which included about sixty automobiles. Another pause came for the noon-day meal, then came the Litchfield parade, in which Bantam joined. The marchers were headed by Frank H. Turkington, and the Home Guard, the D. A. R., the Red Cross, the fire departments, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, the service flag of St. Anthony's carried by young women, and many automobiles were in line, a coffin dedicated to the Kaiser was a special feature.
Litchfield's enthusiasm did not spend itself with these demon- strations, but finished the day with a patriotic "sing" on the Green in the evening, patriotic speeches and an appeal for the United War Work Campaign, which was then in progress.
The Armistice was signed, but we soon found that we must "carry on" a while longer. Red Cross work was revised to meet the needs of the destitute people of Europe, and, rejoicing that surgical dressings were no longer necessary, the workers put their energies into the making of refugee garments and refugee knitting. The Home Service Section, under Dr. John L. Buel, was to continue its work until the very last man had solved his difficulties and been re-adjusted to civilian life again.
Week after week, some khaki-clad man would appear in the streets, to be surrounded at once by people anxious to shake his hand, and to compliment him on his splendid physical condition. Celebrations occurred, quite spontaneous in character, in the form of bonfires and bell ringings, as the men returned from overseas. It was felt that these individual celebrations were not enough, and that the whole town should join in welcoming home the men, and in some permanent form express its appreciation for their services in the war. Accordingly the chairman of the War Bureau, George C. Woodruff, appointed a committee to make plans for such a ceremony, and for a permanent memorial to our men.
It was decided to celebrate the coming Fourth of July as "Wel- come Home Day" and to erect a monument on the Green, bearing on a bronze tablet the names of those who served in the war.
The celebration really began with the bonfire in the center, on the 3rd of July, at midnight, following a custom which dates back more than half a century. When the morning of the Fourth came, it proved to be one of those days of which Litchfield is occasionally guilty, when the temperature registers in the nineties; but because the day was given over to honoring those who had endured so much, everyone felt ashamed to complain of mere weather.
The great feature of the day was the parade, which was headed by First Selectman Patrick C. Burke, Warden George C. Ives, Bur- gesses Charles Biglow, Dr. C. N. Warner and W. S. Plumb in an automobile. The veterans of the Civil War followed. Then came
DR. JOHN LAIDLAW BUEL
THE MORGAN-WEIR POST, AMERICAN LEGION
-
261
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
Major Robert F. Jackson, Marshall, and his aids, preceding the men in khaki, whom we were honoring. They were 80 strong, and represented both army and navy. The Boy Scouts acted as escort. Then followed delegations and floats from all the local organi- zations; the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, St. Anthony's T. A. & B., the Fire Department, the Grange, and many others.
After the parade came the picnic lunch under the trees, follow- ing the plan of the previous year. The soldiers were provided with an ample lunch in the West Park.
In the early afternoon the program of the day was given, with Admiral Colvocoresses presiding. Mrs. E. H. Sothern recited with deep feeling the splendid words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and the address was made by Dr. Talcott Williams, Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism. The great moment of the day came when the Memorial Monument was unveiled. Instead of a formal speech of dedication, E. H. Sothern read Alan Seeger's Ode to American soldiers fallen in France, which had been written for the celebration of our Fourth by the city of Paris in 1916, by which time the poet had already added his life to those he commemorated. The American flag was taken from the monument by the selectmen in reverent silence, followed by a prayer of dedication by Dr. H. G. Mendenhall. The ceremony was concluded by the singing of America.
The monument which is erected on the center Green, diagonally across from the Court House, is of granite, six feet high; and bears a bronze tablet 45 by 35 inches, with 168 names, ten with the gold star of supreme sacrifice. Above the names is this inscription:
"In Honor of
The Men of Litchfield
Who Rendered Service In The World War 1917-1919"
Below the names: "This Tablet is erected by the Town of Litchfield".
The home coming celebration closed with a dance for the sol- diers in the Lawn Club.
Two Posts of the American Legion, which is an organization of veterans of the World War, have been formed in our town: the Morgan-Weir Post named in honor of the first two men to be killed in action, and in Bantam, a post named in honor of Robert P. Jeffries.
The story of our town during these years of war, may fittingly close with mention of the ceremonies held on Washington's Birth- day, 1920, at Colonial Hall, under the auspices of the Morgan-Weir Post, for the distribution of Certificates issued by the French Gov- ernment to the families of those Americans who died in the war.
262
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
On the certificates is an engraving of the monument erected by the French to the memory of our dead. Inscribed on the monument are the words of Victor Hugo:
"For those who devoutly died for their country
It is right that the people come and pray at their tombs",
and it was in a spirit of devotion and reverence that the people of Litchfield gathered together for this service in their memory.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MODERN LITCHFIELD.
BY DOROTHY BULL.
A subscriber to Punch once wrote in complaint to the editor, "Punch is not what it once was". "My dear fellow", the editor replied, "it never has been". The story is a consolation to the writer of modern history. Forms of life are forever changing, the forces of life remain much the same, and persist with amazing vigor through periods of dearth and disaster.
Litchfield's position in the life of the nation has greatly changed since the days of the Revolution. The development of the manu- facturing industries of the East, the opening up of the resources of the West, have shifted the centres of national activity. Yet the town is in no sense the empty shell of past tradition. It is a vigorous self-respecting community, making a worthy contribution to the continuity and strength of American character. In common with most other American towns, it has changed in the past sixty years from a homogeneous community, in which the dominant factor was Anglo-Saxon, to a community in which nearly every nation of Europe and some of Asia are represented. In this fact are both opportunity and danger. In so far as the little towns can assimilate the foreign elements of their population, and maintain wholesome American traditions and standards of living, so far will the nation grow in unity and strength.
The recent war has shown us beyond doubt that the American "melting pot" does not always melt. But it has also shown us how strong and how sincere have been the pledges of loyalty given by innumerable adopted sons. It remains for the native born to keep alive and bright his altar fires, that the immigrant may know at what shrine he worships.
In times of national crisis, national ideals and the good and evil forces of national life appear clear cut and vivid. In the years of peace the greater issues are hidden in the pleasant haze of a fruitful summer; but it is in the slow process of these years that the national character takes shape for good or ill.
What of Litchfield in the long years of peace following the Civil War? It is too soon to estimate the lasting qualities of those years; but in the brief survey possible here, we may gain some understanding of the character of the people and the dominant
264
THE HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD
elements of the community life. These elements for the past sixty years may be roughly divided under five heads: The physical char- acter and climate of the region; the agricultural interest; the sum- mer colony; the nineteenth century immigrant; and the growth of community spirit.
The influence of climate on national character is too intricate a subject to be discussed here. Its influence on the occupation and resources of Litchfield people is evident throughout their history. It does not seem to have changed much during the period of which we write. In the records of the local papers every third or fourth winter is a winter of intense cold and heavy snows. On occasion there are tumultuous freshets in the spring and autumn, carrying away roads and bridges and flooding low lying meadows. In the summer there are violent thunder storms, with curious electrical freaks and an aftermath of burning barns. Between these cata- clysms of nature stretch long days of golden beauty. The beauty of the country, the clear freshness of the upland air, have attracted to Litchfield the summer visitors, who have contributed much to the material prosperity of the town and not a little to the richness of its tradition. As Dr. Bostwick has pointed out, Litchfield has been peculiarly fortunate in having as summer residents peo- ple who were already attached to her by natural ties of inheritance or sentiment.
It is of course the physical character and climate also, which determine the agricultural interests of the community and the direction they take. These interests are on the whole the most stable in the community life, and while the farms have frequently changed hands and markets have shifted, agriculture still remains the dominant interest of the town. Immediately after the war there existed a flourishing Agricultural Society, and a horse show and fairs were held on the ground at the lower end of South Street. In 1889, the Grange was founded, and has ever since been a source of education to the community as well as a natural centre of social enjoyment for people engaged in kindred pursuits. The Harvest Festivals of the last twenty years, with their exhibits of fruit and flowers, and the prizes offered to children in the schools for the best arrangement of wild flowers, have all contributed to the benefit of the community; and the masquerades and dramatics have increased good fellowship.
Besides the numerous small farms in the township, there have been a number of large enterprises, backed by considerable capital and able to experiment with thoroughbred stock and scientific horti- culture. The first of these was Echo Farm, on Chestnut Hill, bought by F. Ratchford Starr in 1873 and developed as a dairy farm with thoroughbred Alderney and Jersey cattle. Starr was the first man to introduce into America the bottling of milk for shipment and distribution. There were shipping stations at Ban- tam and Lake, as well as at Litchfield; and in 1881, four thousand
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.