USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 35
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544
Silliman
150
Washington
440
Nathan Hale
376
Lincoln
384
Dwight
260
High School
422
In 1932 it was planned to close Silliman School. The people of the neighborhood request- ed that it be opened for at least one more year, but this petition was denied by a close vote at Town Meeting. Those in favor of keeping it open-"yes" 126, those opposed to keeping it open "no" 136.
The next year a new addition was planned for Roger Ludlowe High School and in 1933 all married teachers were eliminated from the teach- ing roles once again.
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The last Burr's District School or Brush Pasture School (The large tree still stands today ) corner of Burr Street and Congress Street
Banks South School built about 1840-as it looked in 1925
Greenfield School in 1885-built in 1854 and the northeast corner of the present building.
Upper row-Mary Merwin, Helen Jennings, Emma Morehouse, Mary Fulton.
Lower row-Julia Brown, Fannie Siney, May Hull, Emma Jennings, Inez Hull.
Hoyden's Hill School or Hoytt's Hill
Bulkley's District School (At the intersection of Greenfield Hill Road and Mine Hill Road of today)
Hull's Farms School (1893)
Left to right-
Francis Blade Jessie Totten Sadie Sherwood Clarence Nichols Willis Mills Grace Bulkley Joseph Coskey Lee Thomas Howard Mills Nelson Bulkley
First Burr's District School (First school northeast of Greenfield Centre School)
=
Deerfield School-stood at the corner of Burr Street and North Street
Dwight School-Greenfield September, 1913 Grade 6-7-8-Northwest Room
Front row, l. to r .- Mary Lengel, Geraldine Olmstead, Blanche Wade, - MacDonald.
2nd row, l. to r .- Mary Wilson, Grace Banks, Mabel Smith, Viola Nichols.
3rd row- - Jankowski, Mamie Golasky. 4th row-Clara MacDonald, Dorothy Bene- dict, Elva Sherwood.
5th row- Michael Coskey, John Jennings, Jesse Metcalf, Jimmie Lobdell, Charles An- drews, Sidney Ferris, - Dietz, William Fallon.
1887-Dwight School
Beginning at left-W. E. Gardner, Principal
Etta Perry, Ass't.
Burr Hill
Also-
Emma Jennings
Perry Beers
Fanny Downs
Ed. Heferon
Clarence Banks
Henry -
Julia Brown
Gussie Kitsky
Elmer Downs
Clarence Thorp
Gala Bradley
George Meeker
Helen Jennings
Bessie Archibald
Walter Merwin
Wesley Burr Eddie Finnerty
Alice Finnerty
Bradley Jennings
Howard Gray
Frank Wakeman
Fred Hawkins
Will Burr John Meeker
Edward Bradley
Tommy Kirliy
Jessie Beers
Willie -
Mamie Merwin Ike Banks
Martin Whitaker
Ida -
Jessie Price
Fred Banks
Everett Lobdell
Silliman School
The First Fairfield High School Formerly the Brown home-gift to the Town of Miss Annie B. Jennings
Washington School and Portable Annex
Bancroft School-Fairfield Woods District
Mill Plain District
---
Brush Pasture School (or Burr's District)-about 1892
Front-Willie Johnson, - Lockwood.
2nd row, l. to r .- Daisy Waldman, Maude Wilson, Charlie Wilson, May Franklin, Mildred France, Mamie Johnson.
3rd row, l. to r .- Leora Wilson, Louella Tripp, Edward Morehouse, Mollie Morehouse, Lillie Lockwood. Teacher, Emma Jennings.
Gentile Fill leverer
Jour D) Jaufuld Je A Banker Nach Dietrich Dr. Io Teachers waser 1 month $ 31.30 I. Janitors magle 1 month 1:00
Recuved Payment 32. 50
Hathis E. Jennings
Brown House- First High School
Teacher's Monthly Salary Receipt-1890
*
Mill Plain School-about 1890
Among those in the picture are :- Evelyn Black, Alice Bonney, Helen Hotchkiss, Sadie Flanagan, Mary Flanagan. William Flanagan, Annie Drew, Minnie Drew, John Drew, Mamie Wells, Alec Hull, Anthony Parshley. Katie Culley, Jennie Flanagan, Florence Hull, Ernest Hull, Mary Smith, Dorothy Smith, Anna Keefe, Louise Everett, Elsie Jennings, Amy Jennings, Maggie Garrity, Tom Goodsell, Eddie Flanagan, Frank Banks, Annabelle Bonney, May Goodsell, Mary Vonek, Mamie Fenton, Dooley, Jennie Ferris, Ernest Hull, Edna Goodsell, Mike Vonek
Banks North School-1894
Front-Curtis Taylor, Edwin Nich- ols, Irving Nichols, Roy Smith, Anna Liza Peet, Herbert Smith, Hattie Nich- ols. William Sherwood.
Back-Ada Jennings-Teacher, Nel- lie Smith, Minnie Rupli, Florence Bradley, Mamie Smith, Etta Nichols.
Taken 1903-Banks North School Miss Cecilia Keane, Teacher Top row-William Sherwood, Ed. Nichols, Herbert Smith, Ray Smith. 2nd row-Hattie Nichols, Ella Fer- ris, Luella Burr, Grace Burr, Mabel Sherwood, Edna Jennings. Ist row-Clayton Nichols. Seeley Jennings, John Ferris, John Golesky, George Ferris, Ted Nichols.
Dwight School wagon-driver Everett Banks-1919.
1934 saw another addition to Roger Ludlowe and in 1935 a homework policy was established, a new Course of Study developed, and all schools were active in the Tercentenary Celebration of the State in 1935. See picture section.
The historical murals in the foyer of the Roger Ludlowe High School were given in part that year by the Graduating Class of 1935 as their class gift.
Further in 1935 there was some interest ex- pressed in an additional two year program be- yond High School as another section of the school program. A Junior College-but evident- ly there was not sufficient interest for the plan was never pursued.
At the Town Meeting held on September 4, 1935 the following resolution was presented, discussed at great length, and then laid on the table:
To authorize the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Fairfield to. file an application to the United States of America through the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for loans and/or grants to aid in financing the construction of the following projects:
1. Completion of Roger Ludlowe High School-en- larging the gymnasium and construction of a swimming pool.
2. Erection of a new Dwight School.
3. Erection of a new Washington School.
4. Auditorium addition for Mckinley School.
5. Auditorium addition for Lincoln School.
6. Auditorium addition for Sherman School.
7. Auditorium addition for Grasmere School.
8. Stage onto auditorium and toilets for boys and girls in Stratfield School.
Some of these ideas set down years ago have been taken care of, others are yet to be realized.
In 1938 the Board voted to close Dwight, Washington and Holland Hill Schools as being dangerous for fire reasons and inadequate for school purposes. The list was soon withdrawn for residents of these school communities voiced loud and long their objections. Mass meetings were held, posters1 appeared all over town and when the Town Meeting vote was taken these areas denounced the whole idea and Washington
1
SAVE OUR GRADE SCHOOLS
Sherman Washington Dwight
Holland Hill Lincoln Nathan Hale
DOOMED TO BE CLOSED VOTE AGAINST THE CLOSING at the Town Meeting
May 10, 1938
High School Auditorium
and Dwight are still in use today although at this writing their remaining years of service are cer- tainly numbered. (The Connecticut Thruway having necessitated the destruction of Holland Hill). The Resolution passed at the Town Meet- ing on May 10, 1938 follows: - -
Whereas it has been decided by the School Board of the Town of Fairfield that certain of the grade schools in said Town shall be closed, and that pu- pils of such closed grade schools transferred to other grade schools within said Town of Fairfield; and
Whereas, we, the citizens and voters of said Town of Fairfield, object to the closing of said grade schools.
Now therefore, Be it Resolved, that we, the citi- zens and voters of the Town of Fairfield, hereby recommend to the School Board of said Town, that no grade schools shall be closed without the assent of the citizens and voters of said Town of Fairfield as expressed at a Town Meeting regularly called and convened for that purpose. Carried.
Again in 1938 there were great proposals for a new high school in the eastern section of town. At best to describe this, it would be fair to say that the Town was divided right down the middle -east and west! Those in the eastern part of town were for it, those on the western side said absolutely no. Those were real town meetings. People came by bus loads to be checked in, to stand up and be counted. Opinions were definite and tongues rang sharp. To care for the growing population an addition was planned for Roger Ludlowe in place of a new building. Because of the large numbers, High School classes were held at Sherman School which, too, was growing and the Sherman School families were glad to see the High School boys and girls relinquish their places at Sherman to children of that district, when the additional space at Roger Ludlowe was made ready.
These have only been some of the highlights of our growing town's growing schools. Our fore- bears have done the best job possible in their time for their children. Let us continue to move forward in the same pattern of forthrightness and foresight which they have exhibited.
John Alvord Nehemiah Banks Ebenezer Banks
William B. Hull Lyman Hull
Polly Hull Silliman Meeker
Joseph Banks Joseph Banks David Craft
Burr Middlebrook William Sherwood Sturges Sherwood David Sherwood
Samuel Craft
Sophia Davis Cornelius Hull
Samuel Sherwood
James Redfield
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CHAPTER 12
INDUSTRIOUS FAIRFIELD
This had been entitled Industrious Fairfield because that has been true of our town. At one point as the search for material went on, it seemed that a good title for this section would have been "Industries of Fairfield" but that would really not be a truism for this is not, nor has it been an Industrial Town but it certainly has been an industrious one.
The early town records show that in 1661:
The Towne orders that there shall be forthwith layed out to the mill ten acres of uplands as near the mill as may conveniently be and six acres of mea- dow at Hasseca meadowe, those lands to lay to the Towne Mill for the use of the miller.
The Towne hath chosen Mr. Gold, John Burr, & John Banks & doth impower them by those present in the behalf of the Towne to set to farm the Towne Mill to someone whom they shall think meet, that such grists of corn as are brought to the mill may be well ground for the 16th part: accepting of an equitable consideration between the miller & the Towne: they are also impowered if they see cause to put in a miller to belong to the mill upon equit- able terms: As they shall think meet what agreement the above said persons make with the miller the Towne engageth to stand it.
And later:
The Towne hath this day voted: that they are willing to sell the Towne Mill: provided they can have such consideration as shall be bargained for as also: to have liberty at any time within three years after the bargain is made that the mill shall be re- turned to the Town if they did not like the miller and the consideration to be returned to the miller as also to have all their grists of corn well ground in some convenient time after it is brought for the 16th part: whereas there is Ogden of Long Island pre- sents himself to buy the said mill upon the Terms aforesaid: the Towne doth impower Mr. Gold, John Banks, John Burr, Hump. Hide, John Cable & Wil- liam Hill in behalf of the Towne to make sale of the said mill upon the terms aforesaid: to the said Ogden the town promiseth to stand to it provided it be not contrary to the terms aforesaid. The Towne hath voted that they will not grant to Ogden the 4 acres of land lying upon the Mill River by Goody Barlow's land.
And on the 25th of March 1662:
The Towne hath this day chosen Thomas Sher- wood to be a miller and refers it to the three men they have chosen to be husbands about the mill to hire him and they have voted that all the grists that the inhabitants of the Towne would weekly have ground, shall be brought weekly to the mill upon Monday and Thursday in every week.
Thus the first business in town about which we have any information is a Mill-the Town Mill where all of the early folk brought their harvest to be ground for daily use.
The first reference to another business in the Town Meeting Minutes show that "John Cable hath liberty to build a small house adjoining to his shop provided he doth not come farther into the Highway than his shop now stands". What Mr. Cable did in his shop we do not know but certainly it was an early business of a sort.
The increasingly expanding importance of the Town Mill was evident again and again for at a Town Meeting held on June 19, 1662 it was de- cided not to grant Richard Ogden four acres of land for the use of the mill on Mill River, nor would they grant 30 days work for "Ogden's encouragement" to the mill. Instead the mill- dam and trench were to be finished immediately and John Banks and William Ward were chosen to oversee the work and if necessary to have a new trench and dam made. Workmen were to be paid no more than 3s/6 per day. A tax was levied upon the inhabitants to pay for the build- ing of the Mill. Thomas Sherwood being the miller of the new mill on the Mill River was allowed the toll on the grist until Ogden's Mill was completed, provided he kept the "running gear in order". Toll at this time was 1/16. This meant that 1/16 of the total grist resulting from the corn being ground was taken by the miller as toll. This was of course a Town Mill and the inhabitants shared in the profits of corn meal. The records show " ... day of distribution of what the inhabitants of the Towne are to receive of Ogden for the mill according to a just pro-
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portion. The day of distribution is on a Monday, will be at seven at night".
In the month of March 1659 the General Court ordered that each town in the colony should provide its mills "with a toll dish of just a quart, also a pottle dish of two quarts, a pint dish, and an instrument to strike with, fit for the purpose", all of which should be sealed by the sealers of weights and measures.
Mill River emptied into the Sound through two channels in those early days. One at Mc- Kenzie's point and the other as it is today at the end of the Harbor channel. The beach which reaches from Mckenzie's Point to the breakwater used to be a long island in the river's mouth.
One can picture quite easily by following the town votes over the years the business expansion -centering mainly around the immediate needs of those industrious people for just a while later, land was granted by the Freemen for a tan yard "to tan such hides for ye towne as shall be brought to him for a valuable consideration and he is to mend such an highway near to said ground sufficiently".
It was not too long before "There is liberty granted for any person to erect a fulling mill in ye towne". A fulling mill was one which took oil from sheep's wool so that the wool might be spun into yarn and there were quite a few of them in Fairfield as the years progressed.
Their willingness to encourage tradesmen to establish themselves locally was continuing, for on May 15, 1668 Humphrey Hide was given permission to build a shop upon his property.
Two years later the Towne Mill was again under discussion for this vote appears " ... in the agreement with the Miller that if the Towne shall see cause to repossess the mill and land that Richard Ogden bought of them, the true intent of the Towne is that the premises both of the mill and land and housing returned shall be received according to their worth".
Business must have been good, for some few years later "Richard Ogden hath liberty granted to him to erect a new mill upon the Mill River near the place where the mill now is upon such proportions as a committee chosen by the Towne shall be agreed to".
As another two years passed their eagerness to expand businesses or trades in town was again evidenced in that they voted-"the Towne is very willing to give by way of encouragement to a Smith (a blacksmith) that is an honest man and
an able workman a piece of land not exceeding an acre to build upon provided he stay a com- petent time in Towne, as the Towne shall order and follow his trade". Richard Burgess of Boston was chosen as the one to come and one reads for the first of April 1672 "Richard Burgess of Bos- ton, a smith, the Towne entertaines if he will come among us some time this summer to follow his trade and to take the benefit of what is grant- ed to such a smith the 28 January last, he per- forming such conditions as are there inserted".
It seemed that a certain Enocke, also a smith who had apparently heeded the earlier general invitation to a smith to come and live among them, had not carried out the full rules and regu- lations of the Towne for "The Towne by vote orders that Enocke, the smith shall depart the Towne within this fortnight next ensuing from cohabiting. He under penalty of the law for his and whoever shall entertayne him after this time is expired for his and their default in the prem- ises: Sergeant Squire is appointed to give him warning". At the next meeting Enocke Boulton was permitted to stay two weeks longer.
The Townspeople were still trying to urge Mr. Burgess to come to Fairfield and they made him a new offer in February 1676-"Richard Bur- gess, a smith given 30 rods of land, 3 Acres of land for pasture if he will come within 8 months to Fairfield and continue and improve his labor as a smith within the Towne-if he doesn't stay ten years the land will revert to the Towne-if he dies the land will go to his heirs". Mr. Bur- gess was also granted an interest in the perpetu- al Common for pasture and wood when he actu- ally came to Fairfield.
Peter Coley, who was the Sealer of Weights and Measures, as well as the sworn Packer of Meats for the Towne was granted by the Towne two rods square of land "to build a shop upon and he doth relinquish the former grant of land he hath by the pond granted him by Humphrey Hide. Frances Bradley is to lay it out".
And "Ebhorn Wakeman is admitted to keep an ordinary (restaurant or inn) and place to have the use of the Calves pasture while he keeps the ordinary". They truly rewarded those who came to live among them but they also were very selec- tive of those who trespassed within the Town's borders. For example: Major Gold was given permission to "entertayne his two new carpen- ters"-this was by formal vote at a Town Meet- ing.
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In order to make the town self sufficient new inducements were ever foremost in the minds of the Townsmen. The Harbor (Black Rock) was planned and arranged in such a manner that it would encourage importing and export- ing and by vote in 1676:
The Towne hath granted liberty to John Wheeler to erect a wharfe in the harbor at Black Rock: the wharfe is to be made from high water mark to the channel. It is to be for height above all ordinary Spring Tides. Richard Hubbell is to lay out the place. The Towne reserves this privilege. That the inhabitants of the Towne for the future forever: Shall have such goods of theirs that are proper goods that are exported and imported. They shall give only six pence per ton for wharfage: leaving the said John Wheeler to make his honest benefit of the wharfe with all persons whatever as they may have occasion except what is excepted. This grant is upon condition that he erect and finish this wharfe at or before this time to come two years.
Just four years later in 1680 - "George Searle, a tanner desires to set up his Trade of Tanning in the Towne provided he may have encouragement. The Towne leaves it to the Townsmen to make agreements with the said George concerning his entertainment in Towne. The Towne leaves it to the Townsmen to grant him a piece of land for his encouragement not exceeding an acre and a half".
In 1658 a law was passed that no leather should be sold without first having been sealed and labeled in the town where it was tanned un- der a penalty of jury trial and fine. Raw hides were not allowed to be sold out of the colony under a forfeiture of the hide.
In 1681 Peter Twiss was given permission to "cohabit in the Towne, to make and burn a kiln of Brick in Towne. This grant to continue for three months after this date and no longer except he hath further grant of clay and wood for the use above said: Provided he do not dammify the highways".
About that time John Jackson agreed with the Town to set up a grist mill and fulling mill at Uncoway River and Jacob Joy was welcomed to Towne to follow "ye trade of a Smith". He worked out well and was asked to continue his trade for his life. He was given land for his life use and 11/2 acres at Calf Pasture for his own.
It was just then that William Thompson "ye shoo-maker" was ordered out of Towne.
John Seeley's tan yard was not convenient for the Tan fats and he was given new land. He later asked if he could move his saw mill to Sasco River. Their smiths had not worked out as they
had hoped for Whight Timbar, a dutchman, was given permission "to set up and work at his trade of smith".
It was just about that same time another Grist or Corn Mill was planned "on or about ye creek on ye right hand of the highway leading to ye water side at Paul's Neck or make use of ye creek before Daniel Silliman's for a Mill Pond".
On November 15, 1686 Mr. Glaswell was in- vited to set up his trade about making Carsy and Sarges. A Mill and land was granted to serve his houses. The same Mr. Glaswell was also given permission to locate a cloth mill in the Calf Pasture. No other person was to be allowed to come in to make cloth-"Towne grants 10 pounds to ye building of a workhouse for his trade. Ye house is to be 30 foot long in ye clear and 15 foot wide and eight foot between joints- anything inside house or to do with his trade, Mr. Glaswell is to do it".
The "Towne also giveth liberty to Arnold, a Smith, of Stamford to come to work in Town". Benjamin Dunen also "hath this day (March 4, 1786) leave given him upon his desire of ye same to come and live in town to follow ye trade of making shoes. It to continue so long as ye Towne sees cause". A Mr. Edwards must have been allowed in a little later for the records show that the "Townsmen are dissatisfied with Mr. Edward's prices of his cloth working".
Land was granted to Mr. Lillie for a Tan Yard but it would return to the Towne if he didn't meet conditions. Thomas Murwin also asked per- mission to set up Tan Fats by "ye creeke near his house". This was at Pine Creek.
John Sturges was given permission to set up a saw mill on Sasco River and John Beardsley of Stratford, a smith, was invited to come to Fairfield and set up his trade. Phillip Vickers was granted land to work on his trade of Smith.
Mr. Sturges a bit later relinquished his right and privilege granted him in Sasco Stream by the Towne to set up a Saw Mill there and Thomas Morehouse Sr. and Samuel Couch were allowed "to set up a saw mill on said river".
A second ordinary was permitted and Mr. John Edwards was chosen to keep the ordinary or a "house of entertaynement". He was also allowed to erect a fulling mill, perhaps as a side line.
In 1693 there was a complaint brought to the Towne against Richard Ogden and Moses Jack- son in "their failure in grinding for the inhabi- tants. Captain Matthew Sherwood and Lieutenant
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Bennett are desired and appointed by ye Towne to deal with said Moses Jackson about ye same that he might reforme". The Toll Mills con- tinued until about 1900 and were Government controlled until that time and the miller was ex- pected to grind the grain. It was also ordered that the "miller must keep the door of the mill locked and bolted for ye better security of the men's corn".
In 1690 the report to the King of England from Connecticut showed "Our manufactories are in considerable. Our people being generally employed in tilling the earth, some few are em- ployed in tanning and shoe making and other handy crafts, others in building, Giner work, Tailors, Smiths without which we could not sub- sist".
As the town grew more mills were allowed and in all sections. Thomas Bedient was given liberty to erect a grist mill on Herdsmens Island (Tide Mill-Southport) and he then asked for use of the adjoining salt marsh while the people came to the mill. Nathan Gold was to erect a Corn Mill on old Mill Creek. Moses Dimon and Joseph Perry proposed for liberty to erect a grist mill at Herdsmens Island on "ye Mill River". John Whitney planned to build a Mill on Compo Creek. Dible also asked permission to erect a grist mill on Mill River. Thomas Ackley of Westchester was desirous of erecting a grist mill on Compo Creek. Ogden's Mill was destroyed by fire and then by storm and a committee appoint- ed to consider a new mill. All grist mills were expected to be kept in order.
Joseph Perry was given permission to erect a fulling mill. Later he was given the land where the Mill Pond stood.
Thomas Nash, a smith, was given 11/2 acres at Maxumux Farmes. A new smith's shop was set up "near ye brooke".
By 1712 Joseph Perry was given permission "to erect another mill or mills near where the current one stands". Robert Whitney "proposeth a grist mill on Sasco River where the Saw Mill stood" and Gershom Bulkley and Moses Ward were given liberty "to erect a fulling mill on Sasco River somewhere near John Smith's lot". Moses Dimon was chosen Tavern Keeper for that year. There must have been three taverns by 1715 for Capt. Moses Dimon, Benjamin Fair- weather and Abigaile Couch were chosen Tav- ern Keepers then.
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