USA > Connecticut > Tolland County > Columbia > The story of Columbia > Part 6
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Saxton B. Little of Meriden was present at the first meeting of the Association and made a donation of one thousand dollars, to be held in trust, the income from which was to be used to purchase books for the library. Onc of the conditions of this gift was that whoever was minister of the Church should be, ex-officio, a member of the Library Committee. Another condition was that "No book of an immoral nature, nor any book denying the vital truths of Christianity, should be placed in the library."
In January 1884, land on which to build the library was purchased from John Ticknor, the site being the northern corner of his house lot (now owned by John Kozelka), and south of Cemetery Lane. The purchase price of twenty dollars was raised by subscription. Labor, materials, and some furnishings for the building were donated by various people. The total cost in money to complete the building was $130.47. The duties and labors of the first Library Committee were many, and in that first year they met forty-six times.
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The Library opened with about one thousand volumes, many donated, and in its first three weeks two hundred eighty-five books were withdrawn by one hundred sixty-eight patrons. William H. Yeomans served as the first librarian, followed by the Rev. Frederick D. Avery and Alanson H. Fox as acting librarians, Mr. Fox then serving until his death in 1908.
A catalogue of the Library published in 1894 would indicate that books pertaining to history, biography, travel, science, and agriculture predominated. Books listed under "Fiction" were mostly by such well- known authors as Cooper, Holmes, Scott, Thackeray, Hawthorne, Dickens, and Louisa M. Alcott. Then for younger readers were books by Oliver Optic for boys, and Pansy books for girls.
By 1900, the library had outgrown the original building and the Committee presented a petition to the Association asking that a special meeting be called to discuss needed changes. After several meetings and many ideas, Joseph Hutchins generously offered to erect a new building, the cost of which would not exceed one thousand dollars. He was to have the final say as to plans, location, and interior arrangement. Mr. Hutchins also made a motion that the library be renamed "The Saxton B. Little Free Library of Columbia". Later Mr. Hutchins changed his original offer and asked to be relieved of the duty of personally attending to the erection, and authorized the Association to erect the building at a cost not to exceed two thousand dollars, including the cost of a new site. The Yeomans family, who now occupied the former homesite of John Ticknor, wished to purchase the original site, and it was decided that the new library be built just north of Cemetery Lane. The price paid for this site was fifty dollars. The old building was sold and moved by oxen to its present location southeast of the four corners, where with some changes it is now the home of Mrs. Del- vina Montigny.
Records of the Library Association state: "The Library Building presented to the Association by Mr. Joseph Hutchins was dedicated June 17, 1903. The day was noted as being the only favorable day for weeks, and was mostly occupied by the extended program which, with a bountiful collation, was enjoyed by a very large audience from this and other towns."
Saxton B. Little was born in Columbia in 1813 in the house on Chestnut Hill now known as the Tennenbaum place. As a young man he taught school in several nearby towns. Most of his life was lived on Columbia Street in Meriden, Mr. Little having named the street after his native town. For many years he was connected with the institution now known as The Connecticut School for Boys in Meriden. Throughout his life he made many gifts of both money and books to the library, and never lost interest in the town of his birth. He died in 1907.
Much credit is due Mrs. Howard A. Rice, who has faithfully served as librarian since 1908. Current numbering of books would indicate that more than ten thousand volumes have been available through the years. Today the library has more than one hundred registered borrowers.
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ST. COLUMBA'S CHAPEL
At junction of Jonathan Trumbull Highway and Route 6A. Dedicated July 1944.
St. Columba's Chapel
Situated at the junction of Jonathan Trumbull Highway and Route 6-A in Columbia Center, the chapel of St. Columba is a house of worship for the Roman Catholic townspeople of Columbia, Andover and Hebron. The structure itself is the former Blakely homestead and was acquired by St. Joseph's Catholic parish of Willimantic in 1944. The chapel is under the sponsorship and care of St. Joseph's parish and receives the services of the pricsts of that parish.
The history of the growth and development of Catholicism in this community is typical of the many Catholic missions scattered throughout Connecticut. During the years immediately before and after the turn of the century, the number of Catholics residing in the area of Columbia was small. Beginning with Father Quinn in 1886, services were provided for them at regular intervals in the old school house at Hop River by priests from the parish of St. Mary in South Coventry. The names of such men as Father O'Leary, Father Dooley and Father Kennedy will be remembered by the older residents. Between the years 1925 and 1932, Father Dennis Moran, pastor in Coventry, said Mass on alternate Sundays in the Hop River building. After 1932, however, the parish in Coventry was assigned the territory of Storrs and regular Sunday services ceased in Columbia until 1944. Catechism classes were conducted here by a group of women from Willimantic under the direction of Father Joseph Farrell and Father
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Victor Piaskowski in the late 1930's and carly 1940's. It was not until the coming of Father Thomas Lynch in 1944 that the first Mass was celebrated in Columbia Center. This occurred on April 9th of that year.
With the approbation and encouragement of the late Bishop McAuliffe, Father Lynch began celebrating Mass cach Sunday in the lower room of Yeomans Hall. The need for a church was most obvious and a building fund was started. The longed-for opportunity came sooner than was ex- pected. At the death of Mrs. Ethel Blakely, Father Lynch was able to acquire this desirable property, and a mission chapel was established within the house. The interior of the first floor was opened into two large rooms, and an altar placed at the junction. This house was then named the Chapel of St. Columba, and the Catholic community in Columbia and Andover was placed under the protection of that beloved Saint. In July 1944 the Chapel was dedicated and officially opened by the Most Reverend Maurice McAuliffc, Bishop of Hartford.
For several years Father Lynch celebrated Mass in the Chapel at ten o'clock cach Sunday. Eventually, when the Chapel of St. Margaret was opened in Scotland, he turned his efforts in the direction of the new mission, and Father Lucien Siedzik came to St. Columba's cach Sunday. In 1950 Father John Honan succeeded him in this work, and in the same year the growth of the population made it necessary to schedule two Masses cach Sunday throughout the year. Two years later it was necessary to add a third Mass during the summer months.
In 1952 the parishioners united in a volunteer labor team and effected the complete renovation of the Chapel. What was begun as a simple paint job developed into a structural and redecoration program. The interior was enlarged and completely refurbished from the floor to the ceiling. This work was accomplished evenings and weekends. While the men were en- gaged in the manual labor, the women of the Catholic Ladies Society undertook the task of raising the necessary funds. Through their united efforts the work was completed by Mothers' Day, May 11, 1952. On that day a class of twenty-one children, - the largest number in the history of the Chapel - received their first Holy Communion.
Catechism classes have always been conducted by a group of faithful women teachers on cach Sunday during the school ycar, after the ten o'clock Mass. In addition, many children attend classes on Saturday morn- ing in St. Joseph's School. During the past year, classes were inaugurated in the Andover School on Saturday afternoons under the direction of men and women teachers.
This past year saw this territory placed under the care of the Bishop of Norwich, the Most Reverend Bernard J. Flanagan, D.D. It was with great joy that the parishioners of St. Columba's received the news that on May 8, 1954 their Bishop would visit the chapel and administer the Sacra- ment of Confirmation to a large class of boys and girls. This is another "first" in the history of the Chapel, and another step forward.
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In February 1953, Father Francis Murphy was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's parish. Into his hands was placed the responsibility for the careful development of the Catholic parish in this community. At the end of his first year Father Murphy stated as follows: "Through the years many individuals have given generous and unselfish service to the Chapel of St. Columba. The sacrifices and labors of cach one of them in whatever position has been theirs are representative of the spirit of the entire congregation. As they have grown in numbers, they have increased in their contribution to this community in which they live. The patron Saint of their church is St. Columba - a famous missionary and outstanding builder of churches. He was a Saint who won a whole kingdom to Christ. Moreover, he was a statesman, a scholar, a tireless worker, a vehement foe of evil and injustice to others. These virtues are to be imitated by us. Upon them your community will rise strong and free, prosperous and secure. You will find happiness and peace in preserving the principles upon which this nation was founded. But most of all, you will bring upon your community the multiple and fruitful blessings of God - the Creator and Redeemer of man."
spir
H W.PORTER
THE H. W. PORTER STORE
This building, located diagonally across from The Old Inn, contained the post office for many years. It was eventually moved to make way for the new highway.
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Columbia Lake
Motorists traveling by Columbia Lake would never realize that at one time this picturesque body of water was a mere pond. The American Linen Company of Willimantic, now The American Thread Company, needing an additional source of water for power, in 1865 built a dam across the outlet near an old sawmill formerly owned and run by Doctor Silas Fuller. The reservoir behind this dam became Columbia Lake, which covers about three hundred seventy-five acres and has a circumference of five miles.
The old Turnpike Road, also called the old Lebanon Crank Road, went straight across between the present Community Beach and Lakeview Park Road. The road from Holmes' Corner to Lakeview Park Road was built by the Linen Company to replace the Old Turnpike Road which was flooded over after the dam was built. For many years the mailman continued to travel the old road during the winter months when the lake had been drawn down. This was a shallow section of the lake, and on an island protruding in the middle there was a farm house and a barn. The barn was eventually moved across the ice to the present site of the Com- munity Beach, and later it burned down. The residents of this old homestead at one time suffered with typhoid fever, and townspeople took turns going out there by horse and buggy, over the ice, to care for the patients. Joseph J. Watson owned the farm, consisting of seventeen acres, all under water now. At the present time a marker projects above the water as a warning to sailors that the water is shallow at that point.
For many years after the lake was first dammed up, there were stumps lying just below the water level. The trees had been cut during the winter, at ice level. Many a canoc, gliding over the water, was snagged by these stumps.
August Nordlund, who came from Lenox, Massachusetts, was the first to forecast the building up of Columbia Lake as a summer resort. Mr. Nordlund ran a summer boarding house, Hillcrest, in what is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Loughrey. Rooms were rented in the main house and in the long building in the back. Meals were served in the main dining room of the big house.
The first cottages erected around the lake belonged to Charles H. Owen, who leased the land from Charles Buell and built "Outside-Inn" over fifty years ago. The next cottages were the Sawyers', known as "The Pasture", and the Spauldings'. Then the Browns built cottages along the south shore. Five members of the Thread City Cyclers Club of Willimantic owned the cottage now occupied by Benjamin Crocker. The club members would cycle out to the lake to enjoy the coolness after the heat of Willimantic.
Center Church of Hartford leased thirty-five acres on the west side of the lake and started a boys' and girls' camp, "Asto-Wamah", in 1910. Mr. Evan Kullgren, now of Erdoni Road, organized this camp and managed it for many years. The church purchased the land in 1914. The Trustees
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COLUMBIA LAKE Taken from Woodward Hill about 1905.
of Warburton Chapel of Hartford, which is associated with Center Church, bought the Chestnut Point property from the Spauldings in 1938 and for a short time operated a small camp. This property adjoins that of Center Church, and is now used by Camp Asto-Wamah.
The Browns first operated a public beach about 1915, and ran a small store by the road. In 1926 they rented their old home and the beach area to Joseph LaFleur. He and his wife were primarily responsible for the de- velopment of the beach. As many as two thousand people would visit this popular spot on summer holidays. Another public beach and a store were operated by Mason Nuhfer for a few years, on his property a short distance east of LaFleurs'. On the north side, where the lake is near the highway, a small store was run by several young men in different seasons. "Kum-sum-mor", as it was called, is now a cottage owned by Madison Woodward.
In 1933, the town purchased the lake from the Thread Company. which no longer needed a reserve supply of water power. Having previously been drawn off in the fall to a rather low level, the lake could now be kept relatively high, and was drawn off only enough to protect docks from damage by ice. Fed by springs and brooks, the level is usually at high water mark in the spring. After the hurricane in September 1938, when the lake overflowed its banks, there was serious doubt that the dam would hold. but many townspeople rallied to save it with sandbags, and were successful.
In 1935, owners of lake front property formed The Columbia Lake
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Association, for the purpose of promoting the general welfare and pro- tecting the property of its members. Charles B. Miller was one of the most active in the forming of this Association. and was its first president. The Lake Association has done much which has proved very beneficial to its members and to Columbia townspeople. It initiated the request for zoning of lake front property, which resulted in a town ordinance that was later extended to cover the whole town. It was instrumental in having the lake stocked by the State Fish and Game Commission. It has at intervals pub- lished a map of the lake showing location of homes and names of their owners - a great convenience both to local people and to visitors. Many efforts have been made to handle the motorboat problem so that operation of these boats would be safe and pleasurable for the greatest number. All motor boats must now be registered in the Town Clerk's office.
A few years ago, Ernest Molt started the publication of a weekly newspaper for all lake residents, and this has been continued by the Lake Association, keeping its readers informed about social and sports events. and Association business. Sailing has for many years been a popular com- petitive sport, and every summer Sunday afternoon the lake is dotted with white sails, with young and not-so-young skippers racing to win points toward the season trophies.
As years passed and the public beach became more and more popular, it seemed to local people that Columbia residents were not getting the maximum benefit from it, as ease of transportation had made it a mecca for people from many towns. At a special town meeting in September 1950, it was voted to close the beach to the public, and reserve it for the use of
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townspeople. At the same meeting the Town voted to close the Old Turn- pike Road leading to the lake at the beach. With the closing of this road the one-hundred-foot strip of land reverted to the adjacent owners, Herman Brown and Theodore Loughrey. The Loughreys then deeded their entire part to the town. The Browns gave a similar decd to the town, but with the reservation that they would retain a right-of-way to the house they owned on the lake front (LaFleur's), and the part of the old road which was in front of that house. This meant that the town had fifty feet of waterfront, but a one-hundred foot width back of the beach arca to the intersection with Lake Road. The town voted to lease this property to an organization which would operate a beach exclusively for Columbia townspeople and their guests. The Columbia Recreation Council has thus operated the beach since 1951.
There are now about one hundred twenty-five cottages and year- 'round homes fronting on the lake, and very little land is available for would-be-purchasers.
A map of Columbia Reservoir, surveyed and plotted for the Willimantic Linen Company, Willimantic, Connecticut, February 16, 1865, shows owners from whom the reservoir arca was acquired, and the number of acres from each, within the waterline of the reservoir, as follows:
Acres
Horace Brown
78.000
M. Woodward
28.176
A. W. Lyman 36.560
Levi Grant 15.965
Jos. J. Watson 17.158
Mrs. Eunice Bascum 23.590
John M. Smith, meadow and upland 10.128
Norman Little, meadow lot and lanc 8.425
Mrs. Wm. Downer, 1/3 of meadow lot 1.957
Giles Little, 2% of meadow lot 3.914
Mrs. Wm. Downer, upland lot
4.915
Giles Little, upland lot 0.096
W. Downer, upland lot
5.561
Albert Brown, upland lot
3.584
Albert Brown, meadow lot 7.611
Albert Brown, wocdland lot
5.640
James Perry, meadow 4.000
James Perry, upland
2.242
Chester W. Lyman, west meadow
3.693
Chester W. Lyman, east meadow
4.058
Sheppard Brown 0.450
Sheppard Brown
0.314
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Sheppard Brown 5.258
Henry Scherbaum, meadow 7.682
Henry Scherbaum, upland Total
2.718
281.695
Note: The above acres are within the water line on land covered by raising the water to a height equal to 25 ft. above the water in the river at Dam, or 23 ft. above the bottom of covering stone of culvert under turnpike, except a small piece of land on the Horace Brown tract.
The 36.560 acres of A. W. Lyman includes what the dam with slopes will cover when built.
Columbia Grange
Columbia Grange No. 131, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized by Charles B. Reed, under State Master Dr. George A. Bowen, on March 28, 1892. There were thirty-five charter members, of whom Mr. Curtis A. Holmes is the only one living today.
The first meeting was held in Bascom Hall (the Old Inn), and the Grange continued to meet there until March 31, 1895, when it moved to the Masonic Hall, now the home of Miss Myrtle Collins. On March 25, 1896, the Grange voted to return to its original meeting place, then owned by Mrs. Fisk, for one year, with the privilege of five years to be secured by written lease. The price was one dollar per night for regular meetings, and twenty-five cents for special meetings.
At a Town meeting on April 7, 1900, Mrs. Mary B. Yeomans made a proposition to the town, offering to erect at her expense, subject to certain conditions as to location, size and plan, a building for free use of the Town and any of its citizens, associated by organization secret or otherwise. "Yeomans Hall" was built that year, and on December 19, 1900, the Grange first held a meeting there, with Hubert P. Collins, Master, pre- siding. That building remained the home of the Grange until it was de- stroyed by fire in November 1940, when once again they returned to the Old Inn, then owned by Mrs. Junie Squier. In January 1941, because of the sudden cold weather and inadequate heating at the Inn, regular meet- ings were moved to the Chapel, which was used until the present Yeomans Hall was ready for use in the spring, except on two occasions when the Chapel was too small for special events, and the Columbia Grange was invited to use the Andover Grange Hall. On June 11, 1941, the Grange first held a meeting in the new Yeomans Hall, with seventy-four members and ninety visitors present. Chauncey M. Squier was Master on that mem- orable occasion.
The Grange now numbers 188 members. "Golden Sheaf" members, who have been in the Grange over fifty years, include Curtis A. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Collins, Herbert Collins, Henry Hutchins, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hutchins, Raymond Clarke and Mrs. Nellie Macht.
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-
SYNAGOGUE OF THE CONGREGATION AGUDATH ACHIM Originally built in 1921.
Congregation Agudath Achim
The organized Jewish community of Columbia began in 1913 when Abraham Tennenbaum and Lewis Kaplan bought a farm on Pine Street. The first services were held in 1914 at the home of Mr. Chus on Tobacco Street. The services were held in various homes at the convenience of the individual members. In 1921, the Agudath Achim Society was founded, and plans were made to erect a synagogue. Agudath Achim means "Brothers, Hand in Hand".
In 1923 the members of the Society cut logs for the building and Mr. Lewis Kaplan donated the land on which the present synagogue stands.
The charter members of the Society were: Abraham Tennenbaum, Tom Cohen, Louis Sinder, Lewis Kaplan, Morris Kirschner, William Semel, Sam Weingrad, Jacob Zubulsky, Joseph Sultan and Archie Berkowitz.
In 1926 the synagogue was built by Mr. Caples, later Postmaster at Chestnut Hill, and Mr. Hubert Collins, the Town Clerk. In 1927, the State granted a charter to the infant organization. Jacob Zubulsky was chosen to be the first President, and Lewis Kaplan was the first Sexton. Archie Berkowitz was Secretary, and Abraham Tennenbaum was Treas- urer. As is customary in Jewish Law, the synagogue was honored with the gift of a Scroll of the Law (Sefer Torah) which was donated by the Ladies Auxiliary.
The building, first consecrated in 1927, stood until 1951, when it was rebuilt. At present, the synagogue is the proud possessor of three of these
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Scrolls, which are handwritten in the original Hebrew on pure vellum.
When the Society was founded there were only ten Jewish families in the entire town of Columbia. At the present time there are forty families in town, numbering more than one hundred and twenty Jews.
In 1943, the Jewish farmers of Hebron and Columbia donated a fully- equipped field ambulance to the United States Army, and were rewarded with a letter of thanks from the Secretary of the Treasury.
By 1951, the Jewish community had grown too large to be accommo- dated in the existing structure, and it was decided to rebuild and enlarge the synagogue. To this end, a Building Committee was chosen by Archie Berkowitz, then President. This committee was made up of the following members: Joseph Tashlik, Chairman; Morris Kaplan, Joseph Kaplan, Maurice Alexander, Sol Sinder. Max Lessinger, Leo Cohen, Max Price and Carl Zenchoff. This committee labored long and faithfully, and their efforts were crowned in March, 1952, when the new synagogue was formally dedicated and Chairman Tashlik turned over the keys of the new building.
The new Synagogue has a capacity of 150 people for services, and is equipped with all conveniences, including a modern kitchen for catering to affairs. It maintains a Sunday and Hebrew school for the benefit of the oncoming generation.
The present officers of the Congregation Agudath Achim are:
President
Morris Kaplan
Vice-President
Maxton Lessinger Milton Kaskowitz
Recording Secretary
Financial Secretary Sol Sinder
Treasurer Tom Cohen
AN OLD SCHOOL WAGON
The driver was Frank Squier, and the picture was taken in 1912. This was the first type of transportation provided by the town to take students to Windham High School.
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1912
W
1912 COLUMBIA BASEBALL TEAM
Back ro ยป: Robert Cobb, Rowland Cobb, Horace Little, Raymond Squier, William Macht, Fred Ducharme. Middle row: Lyndon Little, Claude Griggs
Front row: Homer Isham, Ernest Collins.
Baseball
Baseball, here in Columbia, in the "good old days" is said to have supplanted the excitement of the World Series. As nearly as can be deter- mined, this town's interest dates back to 1875. At that time a baseball diamond was laid out on The Green, thanks to the interest and enthusiasm of Dr. Julian LaPierre, who lived in the house now owned by Miss Marion McCorkell. He organized Columbia's first ball team in the '70's, managed it, arranged for its games, and acted as umpire at times. The line-up of this team was as follows: Al Ycomans, pitcher; Frank Potter, catcher; Arthur Little, Captain and third baseman: Frank Cobb, second baseman; Chris . Shepam, first baseman; Arthur Whitcomb, left fielder; Ed Lyman, center; Charles Strickland, right fielder: Mason Squier, shortstop: and Fred Hunt, Frank Woodward, Roger O'Neill and Oscar Seymour, occasional players. The playing record of this team showed games played with Coventry, Lebanon, Hebron, and Gilead, with a good many winnings for the local team.
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