USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 22
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Thomas B.
Burr, Horace Lewis
Frederick W.
Hayes, William Heffron. Matthew D. Henshaw, Edward
Merwin, Lymau Miller, Isaac B. Willlain H.
MILL PLAIN.
McKenna, Edward
Peet, Dilazon D. Ryan, Phillip Sherwood Andrew William J.
Holahan, Thomas J. Lewis. Charles B. MacAlpino, John T. Meeker, William Middlebrooks, Samuel Morehouse, John W Murphy, James Nowmad, Thomas O'Brien, Andrew J. O'Connor, Cornelius James 2nd
Lockwood, Frank E. Lover, George E.
TOTÉSOME HILL.
Price, William
O'Brien, James
Morehouse, Morris W.
James Burr John F.
Salmon
Henry
William William B. Ogden, Nelson W.
Theodore A.
Banks, Bárzilla B. Dwight
Thorp, Ezra
Baroom, William H. Bennett, James Isaae H. Barry, Daniel
Adams, Dwight B." Sherman
David F. Levi W. Zalmon B.
Warren, John
Brotherton, Arthur O. James A.
Gilliek, Thomas
MoKeon, John
Sturges, Thomas B.
Lyman B. Wakeman, John
Wilkins, Jeffrey W.
Hayes, Jeremiah Hedding, Caswell ,A. Heilon, Patrick Hill. Horace E.
Charles A. Wells, Oster B.
Wilson, Marvin D.
Edward
Harrold B.
Washington, Aleck
Christian E.
Morehouse, John P. Nichols. Charles H. Isaac B.
London, John F. Lyon, Horsce
John H. Martin
administering the office of Governor may in case of special emergency, convene said Assembly at any other place in the State (a true copy).
Attest: M. H. Langer Secretary of State
Fairfield's vote on this constitution change: 35 yes -in favor of amendment; 477 no-against.
About that time the Railroad received a great deal of attention because of the open crossings. In 1869 it was voted "that the Selectmen be di- rected to require of the Railroad Company that they keep the crossings of the Railroad in good and sufficient order". On October 5, 1874 it was voted:
Resolved-That the Selectmen of this Town be and are hereby instructed to make application to the Railroad Commissioner of the State to order gates to be erected or a flagman stationed at Mill Plain Crossing and take into consideration other crossings that may be considered dangerous.
Mr. John H. Glover Esq. was to be the Town's Agent to see that this was done.
There had been some very bad accidents. The Southport Chronicle for June 5, 1872 carried a report of Captain Turney.
The death of Captain Turney at the Mill Plain railroad crossing, is a very present evidence of the danger at the place. He was returning home, and as he came to the track he could see nothing because of the curve, and the house directly at the corner. This crossing is one that is used constantly, and it might have been almost any of us. The Railroad Company should maintain a flag man or use some other precaution at this place.
On August 6, 1868 the Chronicle carried a report of the oxen of Mr. David Sherwood be- ing killed.
September, 1868
August 6 a pair of oxen belonging to Mr. David H. Sherwood, Mill Hill were run over at a railroad crossing near Trinity Church by an extra engine. Peter Owens who was driving the team had a nar- row escape. As the extra was running inside of lawful time Mr. Sherwood will probably recover the value of the oxen.
In 1885 petitions were prepared by the Select- men and left in the Post Offices "including the one in Plattsville" for signatures and were then placed in the hands of the representatives of the General Assembly to request immediate change in the Railroad's open grade crossings. They wanted all crossings protected either by gates or a flagman.
Other criticisms plagued the Railroad. One was the train whistle-another the fares. When they were reduced there were loud acclaims from
the Southport Chronicle with an editorial:
The Southport Chronicle, Wednesday, June 5, 1872
The most interesting event of the past week has been the reduction of the fares and the issue of excursion tickets by the N. Y. and N. H. Railroad. The fare to New York has been reduced to $1.35 from Southport, and $1.40 from Fairfield, a saving of fifteen cents each way, with a proportionate re- duction on local fares. Excursion tickets are also issued for $2.30 from Southport and $2.40 from Fairfield, subject to these conditions: They are good only on the day sold; they will not be received on express trains ; no "stop-overs" allowed on excursion tickets. The Railroad Company also make the pro- vision that the tickets not used, or partly used, may be redeemed by presentation at the office where they were sold. This last is for the relief of purchasers who may not use their tickets.
The travelling public have complained of the high rate of fare on this road for many years, but their remonstrances until lately have been worse than thrown away. This year a measure was introduced into the New York Legislature reducing the fare be- low Port Chester to a maximum of two cents a mile. Whereupon the Company promised a reduction throughout the road, and on the first of June the new tariff was announced.
Notwithstanding the discrimination in favor of passengers below Port Chester, we feel called on to commend the Company on the change, on the prin- ciple of "small favors", etc., and feeling that every little helps. In the matter of excursion tickets, after the very liberal conditions they have added, it would ill become us to complain.
The present effect of the change, as far as we can learn, is to raise one continual grumble, but we feel with the Railroad Company, that the public, not- withstanding the exceptions on some of the New Jersey Railroads, are very unreasonable, and as long as they do not build another road we can afford to let them grumble.
1884-The Railroad must whistle 80 feet before crossing-we did not intend that the infernal screech shall be heard day and night.
And another -
Southport Chronicle, July 1, 1884
Wonder if certain parents are aware of the risk their boys run daily by jumping on and off moving passenger and more particularly freight trains? If they value their childrens' limbs, not to say lives, they will stop them from playing around the depot and on moving trains. Otherwise we shall have a terrible accident to report before the summer is over.
In 1878 a motion was made and carried "that the Town accept the telephones placed in the Town House by the Southport, Fairfield and Bridgeport Telephone Company for the use of the Town for public and official business". The sum of $22.00 being paid to the Company for the phones. A few years later two cells were planned for the first floor of the Town House-
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cost not to exceed $100.00. The vote was taken after a series of burglaries had been reported and a $250.00 reward was offered for the ap- prehension of the culprits.
A fine of $5.00 was proclaimed for riding a bicycle or drawing a horse on the Town's side- walks-"these for the convenience of the foot passengers".
The annual Reunion of the 17th Regiment of Civil War Vets of the Connecticut Volunteer As- sociation was held at Fairfield on August 28, 1883. Their souvenir folder reported the fol- lowing:
The Comrades met at the depot upon the arrival of the morning trains. Line was formed at 9:30 A.M. where preceded by the Wheeler and Wilson Band, under the mounted escort of the Citizens Committee of Fairfield, the Association marched through the principal streets to the Town Hall, where an eloquent speech of welcome was made by the Honorable William B. Glover, Representative of the Town, and Judge of the Probate Court. Many of the residences and buildings along the line of march were beautifully decorated with flags and mottoes of welcome.
A large group came to Fairfield for this hap- py Reunion.
In 1884 a Post Office was established at Samp Mortar Village-two miles north of the Fairfield Post Office and Mr. John W. Morehouse was sel- ected to serve as Postmaster.
Southport Harbor was also improved that same year.
June 19, 1884 HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS
Four of our active business men, Messrs. W. B. Meeker, Capt. Charles Jennings, Simon Banks and Capt. E. Allen, have decided to remove at their ex- pense, the dangerous reef, which extends at least 50 feet out from shore at the narrows, opposite Meeker's marine ways. They have employed Mr. Hanley, fore- man of the construction gang, on the Parallel R. R., who on Monday morning, made a large and success- full blast, and is still boring holes for other blasts. The reef that is thus being removed is a dangerous one to navigation, and was uncovered when the U. S. Government improved the harbor two or three years ago.
The rock is about 20 feet wide and 50 feet long, with about 6 feet of water over it at high tide, and uncovered at extra low tide.
The cost of the work will be at least $150, and we are glad to note this determination to make our harbor safe, at private expense, and not wait for an appropriation from the government.
A few articles from the Fairfield Advertiser, one of the then current newspapers give us a lovely view of Fairfield in the 1880's.
The Advertiser, Sept. 10, 1885 THE SEASON AT FAIRFIELD IN 1885 A Retreat where Rest and Recuperation may be Found
Like other places of summer residence and resort, Fairfield has its "seasons," but, unlike the more celebrated resorts, its season does not wane with the first signs of cold weather. The cold wave on Wed- nesday brought out all the wraps and blankets, shut all the windows with a slam and demoralized all the flies and mosquitoes. But nobody here thinks of leaving on that account. On the contrary quite the reverse. It may be news to many to find Fairfield classed among summer resorts, and indeed the vil- lage makes no pretentious claims to such a dis- tinction. But there are dozens of families of wealth and culture of New York and other cities who are familiar with its attractions, and fondly appreciative of the blessings of rest and recuperation which it has bestowed upon them. They may have come here at first to escape from the heat of the city, but experi- ence has taught them not to run away when the frosts of early September arrive, for the glowing days and cool nights of autumn, here as elsewhere, constitute the best part of the year. And so it has happened that a number of New Yorkers have established resi- dences in Fairfield, which they keep up the year round, steaming down from the city daily or fre- quently, and being met at the station by the female contingent in stylish vehicles and becoming apparel and whirled thence in a twinkling to the pretty homes on either side of the long, wide shady main street. Besides these so fortunately domesticated in- dividuals there are the usual number of "summer boarders", lodging either in the hotels or in private houses; and all combine to give an air of gaiety and liveliness to Fairfield itself and to the neighboring villages of Southport, Green's Farms and Black Rock.
A CHURCH FAIR
No summer in the country would be complete without its church fair, and the ladies of St. Paul's have recently achieved theirs. The tables were pro- fusely strewn with fancy articles of all sorts, the work of many fair and diligent fingers, while across one end of the room was a bower of lovely natural flowers, and in convenient corners various edible and portable goods were furnished forth in attrac- tive array, the whole forming a picturesque scene. As usual in such cases the most striking feature of the fair was the group of finely-dressed ladies to be seen there, including Mrs. Wright, a handsome Brunette, and daughter of the late Reverend Doctor Samuel Osgood, Mrs. Harral, Miss Smith, Mrs. Glover, Miss Hinckley, Miss Glover, Miss Smith, Mrs. Lombard and Miss Sarah Mills, who extended the courtesies of the affair to its patrons; and among the latter, Mrs. and Miss Phillips of Newark, Miss Taylor of Chicopee Falls, Mrs. Leonard of New York, Mrs. Trask of Hartford, the Misses Jennings and Mrs. Wallace M. Bulkley of Fairfield, and Miss Reynolds of New Haven, whose beauty and elegant costumes won general admiration. The fair contin- ued two days and two evenings, and was quite suc-
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cessful socially and financially, the net proceeds amounting to about $800.
The main recreation here is driving. The town abounds in pleasant and romantic drives, the roads being in good order and leading through richly di- versified rural scenery along the coast and among hills, which are not too steep for comfort, but high enough to afford superb views of the Sound stretch- ing from Norwalk in the west to New Haven in the east. One of the favorite drives is to Bridgeport, by way of Black Rock. At Black Rock, where the land forms a high bold cape, there is the excellent George Hotel, destined to become a popular and fashionable seaside resort, and several magnificent residences belonging to Mr. Gilman, the Reverend Doctor Hull and Captain Penfield estates, T. L. Watson of Bridgeport, and Messrs, Pearsall and Thorne of New York. The entire point was bought by Mr. Wells the hotel proprietor, a few years ago for $750, who subsequently sold four lots upon it to Messrs. Pear- sall, Thorne, Watson and Superintendent Stevenson of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- road, for about $50,000; and the Pearsall and Thorne "cottages" were erected at a cost of about $125,000 apiece. For hard times, this is a pretty fair "deal" in real estate. Another drive follows the rich banks of Mill River up to Greenfield Hill, noble for situation, where is the celebrated fancy farm of Frederick Bronson, of New York, one of the richest and most complete estates in the country. In another direction we reach the pleasant and enterprising vil- lage of Southport and rural Green's Farms. South- port has the advantage of a good harbor, which Fair- field has not, and its business interests reap the bene- fit of it. In Southport there are several fine churches, schools and residences. There lived Frederick Mar- quand, the benefactor of the Yale College, and there are the handsome residences of the Bulkley, God- freys, Pomeroy, Perrys, Jennings, Black, Gookin, Sheffield, Sherwood, Wakeman, Monroe, and Curtis families. Altogether, Southport is a place which justifies the pride its citizens feel concerning it.
OTHER RECREATION
Besides driving, the people here amuse themselves with walking, bathing and playing tennis. The beach is one of the best on Long Island Sound. Upon it are thirty-five bath houses and a pavilion, which they freely patronize. The view of the beach, out upon the Sound, on a clear, moonlight evening, with Black Rock light on the left, the Penfield Reef red- flash light in the middle distance, and the electric lights of passing steamboats still farther off, is one not easily surpassed or forgotten. On the promenade or veranda the costumes of the ladies this past month at all the fashionable seashore resorts have been mainly white, trimmed with lace and dead mosqui- tos. These energetic insects are the bane of our American summer, as everybody is only too pain- fully aware; but they are no worse in Fairfield than in any other place, and since the recent cold snap they have apparently migrated hence, to the un- speakable gratification of the inhabitants. One of the pleasantest walks hereabouts is up the streets on which is situated the large estate of the late Rever- end Doctor Osgood, called "Waldstein." It is at
some little distance from the village in a retired and romantic spot, and is famous for its beauty both natural and artificial. By the side of the road stands a pavillion surmounting a high rock, from which Doctor Osgood used occasionally to preach to audi- ences assembled on the grassy banks below. Another road leads to the extensive and beautiful Oak Lawn Cemetery, wherein the eloquent clergyman now sleeps his last sleep; on the banks of the quiet stream at a spot among the trees which was his favorite haunt for meditation. His monument is simple in style, but impressive. Here are also the Marquand and many other fine monuments. The cemetery would be worthy of any large city, and is highly creditable to the people of Fairfield.
Apparently the Town Green was not cared for adequately for this note appeared in the local paper:
June 10, 1886-Fairfield Locals
It now looks as if the old green would be neg- lected again this season. We clip the following from Fairfield Correspondence in the Standard of the 7th. "Much indignation is being expressed that the selectmen allow the use of the Town House Green, as a horse and cow pasture by a neighboring prop- erty owner. Its neglected condition last summer was an eye-sore to residents and visitors. With judicious thinning out of the trees and proper care of the lawn, it would be an attractive spot, far surpassing any of the beautiful lawns for which the town is noted.
A copy of the 1886 voting list for the town is included in this volume. At that time there were 950 registered voters and there were 700 votes cast at the election that year. There were three Parties-Republican, Democratic and Pro- hibition. The Prohibition Party received 15 votes.
The Blizzard of 1888 is an event well remem- bered by the oldsters in Fairfield and has been carefully recorded by Mr. Frank L. Sherwood's pen.
March 11, 1888-At home in forenoon-went to Church in afternoon, also at home in the evening. Cloudy all day and commencing to snow about 3 P.M. Storming hard all night.
March 12, 1888-At home all day. William help- ing do the chores etc .- a fearful hard cold snow- storm as ever known.
March 13, 1888-At home all day-not doing anything only caring for our stock. William helping. The storm still continues, a fearful cold hard storm, the worst ever known-continuing all night.
March 14, 1888-Went to work on the streets shoveling snow, breaking paths, William helping and a general turnout, cloudy all day and snowing some.
March 15, 1888-Working on the roads breaking paths, getting to Greenfield Hill today (he lived on the corner of North Street and Redding Road) William helping and all hands
March 16, 1888 -- ... fearful hard travelling .. .
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March 17, 1888-Went to Mill in the afternoon also on the Hill towards night, breaking paths in the forenoon to Bill Smith's and to Mr Luddington's.
Mr. Homer Sturges told me too that the snow was as high as the eaves of their barn and they shoveled a tunnel from their house to get to their animals in the barn. The apple trees in their orchard were covered to the top branches.
Benjamin Franklin Bulkley recorded in his diary for that same Blizzard of 1888-
Monday, March 12-A terribly snowy time also very cold at night. I sat up until 12 o'clock. The greatest snow storm I ever saw.
Tuesday, March 13-Another cold day it is-still snowing. Moses had a hard job to get to the barn. A Blizzard.
Wednesday 14-A little more snow fell today. Moses has got the horses dug out of the snow. No one living ever saw such a hard time.
Thursday 15-The sun shines bright. Moses made out to get to the Post Office but no mail since Satur- day.
Friday 16-Fri. somewhat cloudy. The men-30 of them and 5 pairs of oxen made out to dig through the snow on the cross road. It is twenty feet deep in the street by our garden.
Saturday 17-A clear bright day. Moses went to the Post Office and got the mail for the first time in a week. It had to be carried over the snow banks on the R. R. by land.
Sunday 18-Pleasant-Sarah walked to Church didn't have but one service.
It was reported that the horse sheds on the Pavilion grounds at the beach were completely destroyed by the Blizzard and on March 30, 1888 in the Greenfield column of the Fairfield Advertiser this note appeared-"We are author- ized to state that the Greenfield Hill roads will be open for travel July 1"-a bit of dry humor but evidence that there was still an abundance of snow!
The Fairfield Advertiser-March 16, 1888 THE GREAT STORM
Nothing could equal the surprise, consternation and helplessness of this whole section in the face of the great storm that so suddenly overwhelmed all things-towns, villages, railroads. And everything has settled about the storm and all incidents are in- cidents of the storm and its consequences. Never since the railroads were established has such com- plete isolation of the smaller villages and great cities equally been experienced. For once the oldest inhabitant has been able to draw nothing either from his memory or his imagination to match this experience, and has the grace to acknowledge that this age has at last produced something unmatched even in the past. As yet the dense ignorance of ex- periences at any great distances has not been pene- trated. Even the New York papers give us but little clue to the actual extent of the storm eleswhere. All
news items of any authenticity are therefore gath- ered from a very limited area. Our correspondents cannot communicate with us and information from even a few miles distant is so mingled with mere rumor that scarcely anything beyond the range of personal examination can be ascertained with cer- tainty or recorded as a fact. But as all information to the farthest point in this country as yet reached reveals the same story of overwhelming snow, and as the experiences of all places so far as heard from present a great uniformity in detail, the record of the storm here will stand as a pretty good descrip- tion of the storm everywhere. The incidents and ex- periences of the storm are still so fresh in everyone's mind that an account is the mere rehearsal of that which everyone knows. Still so unparalleled an ex- perience should be written out in full, that the facts may stand on record for everyone who cares to keep them for future reference, in the hope that nothing like this may occur again within the life of any now dwelling on earth.
The Story of the Storm
On Sunday morning the weather probabilities forecasted light snow followed by warmer weather, and the Monday morning papers prophesied west- erly winds and warmer weather. Hence when the snow began on Sunday afternoon, no one expected much of a snow fall, and when the snow changed to rain about 9 P.M. for a while it poured in torrents, everyone retired to their night's repose with only the disagreeable apprehension of mud and slush on Monday.
During the night the weather changed and grew colder. Towards morning the wind rose to a furious gale from the northeast, and by 5 A.M. it began to snow quite vigorously. No special difficulty was ex- perienced or expected by the railroad until nearly 7 A.M. The last train to get through from Bridge- port to Southport was the one due here at 6:39 A.M. which reached here about 6:50. The next train started from Bridgeport but the track became im- passable with the rapidly accumulating snow, so that the train never got outside of Bridgeport limits. Two other trains had succeeded in getting through from New Haven, and orders were received there to put all locomotives together and take four coaches and push through to New York and immediately after that word was received here, all communica- tion with the outside world was cut off, and nothing seen here of these engines until Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile the gale seemed to increase continually in fury, and now the snow so filled the air, that it was impossible to see more than 100 feet or so, and even that distance not clearly, and even breathing was scarcely possible. The effect of the intensely cold air and snow was singularly severe. It suffocated like a plunge into cold water. Locomotion was almost im- possible and few were brave enough to travel even short distances from home, and some of those who attempted it almost despaired of reaching shelter. Some were compelled to crouch and crawl on their hands and knees, and others to take temporary shel- ter behind fences or drifts so as to get their breath.
By 10 A.M. the drifts had collected to unknown depths. In all places where the snow could possibly
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lodge the railroad was covered from two to four feet deep, and even on the high embankments the snow was driven upon the tracks as fast as it blew off, and the rails even in such places, were out of sight.
Long before Monday night the railroad presented such a picture of desolation as no one expected to see here. A long reach of white snow outlined the course of the railroad, with no mark of wheel or foot track, no sign of life or animation. Meanwhile the air was filled with the furious howling of the wind which sounded in mournful tones, peculiarly and inexplicably trying the nerves and spirits. Mean- while the steady falling snow was accumulating in vast quantities, and the wind was stripping it from every unsheltered point and depositing it in rail- road cuts and the streets and on the most sheltered sides of the houses. The day passed, night ap- proached, and while the wind seemed at times to lull, it always renewed its howling with redoubled force, and the air grew more and more thick with snow. Small twigs and good sized branches were stripped from the trees and flew whirling through the air, and were dashed with tremendous violence against the houses that lay in their path, and all that after- noon this building was bombarded as if vollies of musketry had been hurled against it.
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