USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > This is Fairfield, 1639-1940 > Part 47
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Mr. John H. Jennings
Miss C. Malvina Bulkley
Mrs. Wilbur C. Jennings
Mr. George Bulkley Mr. Arthur M. Oakley
Mrs. Henry T. Bulkley
Dr. Curtis H. Osborne
Mr. Oliver Bulkley Hon. John H. Perry
Rev. Edmund Guilbert D.D.
Mr. Josiah Hawkins
Mrs. Oliver H. Perry Mr. E. Cornelius Sherwood
Rev. Wm. H. Holman
Mrs. Simon C. Sherwood
Mr. Charles O. Jelliff
Miss Augusta A. Smith
Mr. Alphonso P. Jennings
Miss Frances Wakeman
Mr. Arthur O. Jennings
Mr. Howard N. Wakeman
The Honorary members were:
Mrs. Julia A. Alvord
Mrs. Augustus Jennings
Mrs. David Bradley
Miss Emily Meeker
Mrs. Charles Bulkley
Mr. Ebenezer Monroe
Mrs. Edwin Bulkley Mrs. Benjamin Pomeroy
Miss Harriet Dimon Mrs. Henry Sturges
Mrs. Warren D. Gookin Mrs. Maurice Wakeman
Mr. Francis Jelliff Mrs. William W. Wakeman
In 1858 there had been a Library in the South- port Public School-established by Frank D. Brainsmade from funds raised through exhibi- tions by the school children. This library had some 200 volumes. For 12 years prior to the opening of Pequot Library a reading room was maintained over Nehemiah Jennings' meat mar- ket on Water Street. This was in 1882 having some 60 periodicals and costing the village $310 annually.
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The first Library on Greenfield Hill was or- ganized in 1813 with Governor Gideon Tomlin- son, Walter Bradley, David Hill, Rev. William Belden, Walter Nash, A. D. Baldwin, Daniel Wakeman and Gershom Wakeman among the initial subscribers to the $2.50 shares. The year- ly tax amounted to $2.50. Some of the books listed in this early library were "Practical Piety", "Spectator", 8 volumes "Life of Cal- vin", "Vicar of Wakefield", etc.
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In 1830 another library was formed on the Hill and each member contributed $5.00. Among their books were "Arnott's Physics", "Phrenolo- gy", "Gibbon's Romer", "Geology".
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In 1887 the Greenfield Hill Library Associa- tion was formed. The rules of the library were:
The Library shall be kept in the Academy, and will be open on the last Monday evening before the full of the moon in every month. The books shall be returned at the commencement of the next month- ly meeting: but if not returned till after the draw- ing of the books has begun a fine of two cents will be due. If not returned during the next monthly
meeting, there will be a fine of ten cents for the first and twenty cents for each additional month's delinquency. Whoever shall injure, deface or lose any books is liable to a fine, or to pay for the full value thereof. Any member who loans a book out of his or her place of abode or business forfeits fifty cents for each such offense.
The terms of the membership were $1.00 and the books were kept in the Academy. The enclosed shelves of books on either side of the stage hav- ing been a familiar site to all those who met there. Mrs. Joseph Bradley was librarian and Frank Brown assisted her in finding the books and returning them to the shelves.
In 1863 a peace flag was raised on the hill where Mr. and Mrs. Fred Crunden live now at the corner of North St. and Redding Road as a gesture toward stopping the Civil war. It seems that there was a group of Democrats living in the vicinity - several families - and they were against the war. I have been told that another group, headed by Simon Banks from Southport, came up to take the flag down. There was a good bit of speech making and excitement and it took several hours to calm the group. At length how- ever the peace flag was lowered and Old Glory was raised in its place. A salute of 20 shots was fired-one for each state in the Union and all ended friendly and well. Mr. William G. Sher- wood has one of the guns that was used. It be- longed to his great grandfather Joseph Sherwood.
People about 1800 moved their household goods by ship-from Mill River to Black Rock. Average house rent of the time was $2.50 per month.
From Jonathan Bulkley's diary at Pequot Li- brary-1802-1858
Sunday afternoon Capt. Bulkley & wife walked to meeting this afternoon and it was hot enough to kill a fellow but the sermon was sufficiently good to compensate for the trouble of going there.
April 27, 1807
Cure for the Cancer. Take the narrow leaved dock root and boil it in water till it is quite soft then bathe the part expected in the water as hot as can be borne three or four times in a day. The root must be mashed and applied as a poultice.
May 20, 1810-
This day Mrs. James Bulkley commenced pas- turing her cow in my lot to be paid in milk at 9 quarts per week sent to us.
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Feb. 4, 1803 -
A bet was laid on Peter Squire to go from Wil- liam Buckley's Store in Mill River to Ebenezer Banks in Hulls Farms in 30 minutes which he per- formed in 26 minutes and gained the bet which was One dollar (said Squire was on foot).
The course of Sasco Creek was turned about the 1st of April 1813 by Greens Farms Inhabitants to run several rods-say 40 eastward from its orig- inal channel, the reason assigned for this was to help their salt meadows. Sasco Creek filled up a few weeks after and opened the old way.
Thursday Oct 1, 1812-
This day Mr. Belden was ordained at Greenfield by unanimous consent of the Society-a very pleas- ant day and a great collection of people to witness the solemn scene.
Oct. 30, 1810-
The farmers are completely caught this fall with their corn all in the field. Their apples not half gathered, their potatoes in the same situation and all are frightened and unprepared at the early ap- proach of winter.
Aug. 29, 1812-
Arrived from N. Y. with a Mr. Belden, Priest of Greenfield Society.
Tuesday Dec. 10, 1805-
Yesterday was our annual town meeting. The number collected was about four hundred. They chose Seamour Tailor as moderator of the meeting; Samuel Rowland as Town Clerk; and John Hull, Seamour Tailor, Hezekiah Nichols, Gershom Wake- man and Aaron Hubbel as Selectmen, Doc't David Hull as Town Treasurer, Nathan Beers Jun., Samuel Beers, Buckingham Sherwood, Ralph Sherwood, Iemas Davis, Noah Bradley and Gould Allen as Constables, Buckingham Sherwood as State Collec- tor.
Nov. 29, 1805 -
This evening all Mill River Co. went to Samuel Morehouse's to a ball. Ebenezer Dimon, Jeremiah Sturges, Jonathan Bulkley, Andrew Bulkley, Eunice Thorp, Miranda Thorp, Marietta Sturges, Polly Perry, Betsey Perry, Polly Sherwood, Eunice Brad- ley -- we had an excellent Ball with about 50 ladies and 35 gentlemen. Walter Sherwood and John Osborn managers.
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The story goes that the big rock which posed on the left hand side of Brookside Drive as one goes up the S-hill after crossing the Mill River bridge was a place where the Indians held their Council Meetings.
Rooster River was used for Trapping by the Indians of the area.
Soldiers hid in the chimney of the old Sally Banks house on Banks North Road at the time of the Revolutionary War. This house was 206 years old when the house burned some years ago.
The story is told of the family silver being hidden in the wall at the Samuel Treadwell house on Redding Road. When the British were known to be approaching they cut a hole in the wall, put the silver in and then plastered up the hole again.
Joseph Sherwood was taken prisoner on Green- field Hill by the British and marched to Easton. He was very lame and complained that he was unable to march-they left him at Jesse Wake- man's place.
The New Haven Gazette-March 6, 1788
A Mathematical Question -
A body one mile high is let fall at the same time that a cannon is discharged half a mile from the place where the body is to fall. At what height will the sound meet the falling body?
Answer-The sound will meet the falling body at the height of about 4,893 feet.
Penmanship-Wanted: a Penman of the first Abilities-Enquire at this office-from the Con- necticut Journal, 1785.
Mr. Walter Jennings told me about going to Plattsville every Friday to see the stage coach come in with the mail. In the Spring it would have 4 horses on it and sometimes there would be passengers aboard. It went right up Sport Hill Road on its way to Redding.
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1886-"Mr. Leonard Clark, keeper of the Black Rock Light, has been appointed custodian of the Fairfield Bar, by Commodore Benham with or- ders to prevent the removal of stones from the bar".
In 1800 it was said that there were 12 Pequot Indians remaining in the area and together they owned about 20 acres.
In 1760 there was but one pleasure carriage in Stratfield but by 1800 there were 35.
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The Advertiser-Oct. 21, 1886
Arrival and Departure of Mails
Mails arrive at and depart from the Southport Post Office as follows, Mails close for New York and stations West at 6:30 and 9:50 a.m .; 2:45 and 6:10 p.m.
Mails close for stations East at 6:30 and 9:50 a.m. and 6:10 p.m.
Mails arrive from New York and the West at 7:35 and 10:00 a.m. and 6:35 p.m.
Mails arrive from the East at 7:35 a.m. and 3:25 .p.m. Office hours from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Mail from Greenfield arrives at 10 a.m. and closes for Greenfield at 10:10 a.m.
N. Jennings, P. M.
Traveler's Guide
New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R. Taking effect October 3, 1886 Trains leave Southport as follows:
Going East
Going West
6:50 A.M.
5:59 A.M.
7:48
"
6:49
"
9:02
7:24
11:13
8:12
2:04 P.M.
9:21
4:49
11:28
12:41 P.M.
5:57
1:48
6:33
4:50
8:09
6:35
2
8:43
"
7:20
10:00
11:03
Sundays
Sundays
8:20 A.M.
8:55 A.M.
9:58
5:55
7:09 P.M.
8:12 P.M.
Trains arrive at Greens
Trains arrive at Fair-
Farms 5 minutes earlier.
field 4 minutes earlier.
Trains arrive at Fair-
Trains arrive at Greens
field 4 minutes later.
Farms 5 minutes later.
Wm. H. Stevenson, Superintendent
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The Advertiser-Oct. 21, 1886 SHIPPING NEWS Arrived *
Friday-Schooner Mary Elizabeth.
Sunday-Schooners George Edwin, Sarah A. Falconer, and Sloop Irene.
Wednesday-Schooner Anna Brown, and Sloop Richard Udall.
Cleared
Saturday-Schooner Mary Elizabeth.
Monday-Sloop Irene.
Wednesday-Schooners George Edwin and Sar- ah A. Falconer.
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Y. A. A. F. C.
The Advertiser-Oct. 21, 1886
A large and enthusiastic meeting of Yale grad- uates was held on Wednesday at Greenfield Hill at the residence of Rev. G. S. Plumley1 to organize an Alumni Association for Fairfield county and vicinity.
The meeting was called to order by Rev. Mr. Plumley at 10:15 who delivered an address of wel- come. A statement of the object of the meeting and of the (proposed) Association was made by Rev. A. N. Lewis of Westport.
The Rev. Timothy Dwight,2 President of Yale College, was received "with three time three", and made an address upon the condition of the college, expressing, also, his approval of the Association and its objects. Various committees were appointed, and speeches were made by the graduates in favor of the proposed organization. Rev. Samuel Scoville of Stamford read an excellent paper on "Social Life in Yale College", which was received with enthusi- astic applause. Old and new songs were sung, and the hours flew by until dinner, which was elegantly served under the direction of Mrs. Plumley and her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Phillips of Bridgeport.
After dinner the alumni were escorted to the residence of Frederick Bronson, Esq., where they were shown about the grounds and the famous creamery.
At 2:45 p.m. the meeting reassembled for busi- ness. The Committee on Constitution, Messrs. Plum- ley, Lewis, and Candee, reported a plan for or- ganization which was adopted. The following offi- cers were elected :
President, Rev. G. S. Plumley, Greenfield; Vice- presidents, Rev. Samuel Scoville, Stamford; D. F. Hollister, Bridgeport; F. St. J. Lockwood, Norwalk; Lyman D. Brewster, Danbury; Secretary-Treasurer, Rev. A. N. Lewis, Westport; Executive Committee, Rev. R. G. S. McNeille, Bridgeport; T. H. Porter, Stamford; Morris B. Beardsley, Bridgeport.
The next meeting is to be held at Bridgeport, January 18, 1887.
An interesting paper was read by Col. Sherwood of Englewood, N. J.
Great praise is due to Rev. and Mrs. Plumley, and to Frederick Bronson, Esq., who spared no pains to make the gathering a success. * *
From Cyrus Sherwood Bradley's scrapbook:
St. Paul's Church Fairfield was so named because Paul was imprisoned. The Church building having been built on the foundation of the old jail-This from Mrs. Carrie E. Bunnell.
1 Pastor of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church.
2 Descendant of Rev. Timothy Dwight who was pastor of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church 1783-1795.
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5:25
In 1908 there were 8 churches in Fairfield, 3 Congregational, 2 Episcopal, 1 Roman Catholic, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist. * *
The quarterly courts for Fairfield County were appointed to be at Fairfield on the third Wed- nesday in March, June, September, and Decem- ber
A Military-Order-Fairfield, August 7, 1777
Sir: Pursuant to general orders you are hereby ordered to warn my company to appear at the usual place of Parade as soon as possible with their arms and ammunition. The enemy are on their march from New York and are near Byram by this time- make all the speed you can. The corporal and ser- geant are ordered to assist you.
Per order George Burr Capt.
1778-A Military Permit
Royal White-a nine months man hath liberty to have his guns and bayonet with him. They being his own property. *
One of the very first pieces of road equipment of the town-a steam roller-is buried on Sher- man Street. It went through the road there and it was buried there.
May 8, 1813
Salt Petre is now making by the side of the River at Mill Plain-from Joseph Bulkley's diary.
The best oat straw was saved for the mattress- es and then on top of this went the feather beds.
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Joel Barlow, poet and Statesman, was born in Fairfield before his parents removed to Redding and his name is commemorated in Barlow's Plain -or Barlow Road.
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Mr. Osborn, who lived on North Benson Road where Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Lonsdale live now had two beautiful daughters whom he locked up in a closet whenever Aaron Burr was in Town or rode by.
Holland Hill received its name from Daniel Silliman who was an emigrant from Holland. Thus he called it "Holland Hill". *
In the Powder House a man was imprisoned for misconduct. While he was in there, he drew
his knife across the stone wall to see if it would spark. The officers valued the powder and since they feared an explosion they let him go free.
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A medical doctor's fee in Fairfield in 1880 was about 25ยข per visit.
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Smallpox had long been a dreaded scourge of these people and permission had to be giv- en each year for the innoculations to be given to those inhabitants who desired it. Some years it was granted, some years it was not.
In 1791 it was voted "that the Town would not grant liberty for the innoculation of the Small- pox in this Town". The following year liberty was granted to innoculate against Smallpox be- tween March 5 and April 1 and soon a hospital was voted, to be established in each Society to permit innoculation against Smallpox. In 1796 innoculations were permitted from January 1- April 1.
One wonders about these hospitals being set up in each Society-or each Parish. I have been told that the Seth Sherwood house, the first house on the left side of Catamount Road just west of Redding Road where Mr. and Mrs. M. Kenneth Cooper now live, was a hospital during this per- iod, and also that the Parmelee House on Clap- board Hill in Stratfield, was a hospital about this same time. They may have been used for the purposes of innoculations or for something else, no one is sure.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
I have already mentioned the Fairfield Female Seminary which, of course, was a private school. There were others in town from time to time. At one time a school for little children was kept in the Town Hall by Miss Woodhull. Miss Jerusha Cornwall conducted a Kindergarten in Southport about 1848 and later taught a school for older children. Miss Malvina Bulkley taught a school for older children about the same time and there was Miss Cornwall's Kindergarten in a house opposite the Pequot Inn. There was another small school over on Westway Road and undoubtedly there were others in this area.
In 1783 the Rev. Timothy Dwight was called to become pastor of the Greenfield Hill Church. It was not long before his energy and enthusiasm led him to establish a private school at the home of Gershom Hubbell (now the home of Mr. and Mrs. John L. D. Peters). Mr. Hubbell had a
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large room on the southeast side of the house which he had used as a leather shop. In 1786 with the help of some friends, the Rev. Dwight built the Dwight Academy on the part of the Common where Dwight School stands today. This building was a one-story building and housed as many as 50 or 60 pupils at one time. Here the Rev. Dwight spent six hours each day, and older boys and girls studied Latin, Greek, Calculus, Surveying and Navigation. Students came from many states in the southern and central parts of our Country, as well as from Canada, South America and France. Well over 1000 students worked under Dr. Dwight, and many of these later became leaders of their time.
In 1795 Dr. Dwight was called from Green- field Hill to become president of Yale. It has been said that the trustees of Yale called Dr. Dwight to its head for fear the Academy might one day eclipse the College. Dr. Jeremiah Day succeeded Dr. Dwight and he, too, later became president of Yale. A long line of illustrious teachers followed, but the popularity of the school waned with the years, and according to Barber's History written in 1835 "It was a re- spectable institution for ladies".
In 1854 the old Academy was pulled down and the timbers used in the barn of Uriah Perry (now the property of Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Rill). The weathervane was also planned and erected. This building makes up the northeast corner of the present Dwight School which is currently standing. The money for its construc- tion was raised primarily by the sale of some property. There were two stories in this new structure. The first floor was used as the district school and the upper floor as a private school. The older children who wished to work in the select school on the second floor could do so for a fee of $5 a term.
In 1800 in Stratfield there was one Academy supported by the scholars with the price of board being from $81 to $121.
In 1802 a group of people decided to start an Academy in Fairfield proper. This building, just recently moved from the west side of St. Paul's Church on the Old Post Road to the South side of the Church and west of the Town Hall, was completed in 1804. Jonathan Sturges, Andrew Eliot, David Judson, Nathan Beers, Jr., and Sam- uel Rowland were chosen trustees. Mr. William Stoddard was the first teacher of the Academy and there was an initial enrollment of about sixty boys and girls.
By 1806 there were two teachers, the one to receive $500 for the year's work and the assistant $250 for the same period. A youngster might attend the school by paying $4.50 for a twelve months' period.
The Old Academy was saved from burning by two alert young ladies when they reported one evening at homework time, "Miss White, I saw a boy who was caring for the stove in the school- room throw with the ashes a good many big, live coals into the barrel in the closet just before school closed, and don't you think it was dan- gerous"?
Miss White put on her wraps, went to Miss Mary Hobart's and the two ladies with a lantern and the door key went to the school although it was a very cold night and about nine o'clock. There, they unlocked the door of the lower room and found in the closet under the stairs of the girls' entrance, the ash barrel just ready to burst into flame. They opened the outside door of the closet and by their combined efforts the barrel was hurled out of the door into the deep snow and the building was saved from complete de- struction.
This school continued until 1884 with varying degrees of attendance and prosperity. In 1866 the price of tuition was increased to $10 a quar- ter when Greek or Latin or higher mathematics were taught, $8 for higher English branches, and $4 for the Primary Department.
The building was used for prayer meetings, a singing school, etc., when school was not in session.
In 1875 it was voted that the lower room of the Academy be granted for the use of the Fair- field Memorial Library.
In 1882 a Miss William was allowed to have a private school in the Academy building pro- vided she pay the tax and others followed her, conducting their own schools for one period or another in the building, but soon after this, the building's use as a school was discontinued.
The Academy Bell which brought the children in for long school hours was an object of hostility with the boys and many schemes were formulated to disable it. More than once the tongue of the bell was thrown into the pond. Once the young- sters tied a string to it and carrying it to the up- per floor of Mr. Jones' house, at midnight began to toll the bell. As the neighbors were awakened and gathered about to find the cause, they were mystified for a good while before the string was discovered.
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The now filled pond near the school afforded skating and sliding in the winter and wading, sailing or rafting in the summer. Flocks of geese also frequented it.
The boys and girls of the school played Mar- bles, Fen Slips and Fen Dubs. One Old Cat, Two Old Cat Baseball, I Spy the Wolf, Hop Scotch, Snap the Whip, Mumble the Peg, Beetle and Wedge, and Jump Rope.
The school day ran from nine to twelve in the morning, resumed at two and continued until five o'clock in the afternoon.
Miss Augusta Smith's Seaside Seminary on Pequot Road in Southport was a popular private institution for girls in 1872. The Southport Chronicle carried this advertisement on August 16, 1872:
SEASIDE SEMINARY SOUTHPORT, CONNECTICUT A BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES AND MISSES
The Fourth term of this school will begin on Monday, April 22d.
As a FRENCH TEACHER resides in the family, advantage will thereby accrue to the French student.
MISS AUGUSTA SMITH PRINCIPAL
Jonathan Bulkley made these entries in his diary:
Friday, March 10th, 1815, Mr. Haul of Weston has this day had his public exhibition 30 schollars who performed to the admiration of the whole audi- ence which was very large, Mrs. Pike's house was crowded and what was most laughable was that Jonathan Sturges and Burritt Sherwood acted the part of negro slaves and that they did extremely well-the schollars and the young people had a ball in the evening.
January 18, 1819 -
There is taught in this place (Mill River) this winter a writing school-15 days for 3 dollars- kept at Mr. Pike's.
Hull Sherwood reported: December 21, 1813 -"In the evening I attend the night school which commenced last evening".
There were others in more recent years. The Hargrove School, a private school active in 1909 and standing on the Old Post Road not far from the Town Green offered a Preparatory Course of two years for boys.
Miss Imogene Bradin, daughter of an Epis- copal minister, started a private school in a house on Old South Road in Southport in 1924
for youngsters in Nursery School through Grade 4. Miss Bradin, who had grown up in Hartford and Middletown, had received her training in Europe and had a long and varied experience including helping to start one of the first Mon- tessori Schools in New York. In the 1930's as her group grew larger she confined her course to the Nursery, Kindergarten and First Grade in a house on Willow Street. She continued with these levels of teaching until June 1956 when she closed her school. Mrs. J. Saltonstall Roberts and Mrs. Philip Stapley taught with Miss Bradin for many years.
The Fairfield Country Day School was found- ed in 1936 by Laurence W. Gregory on Unquowa Road in Fairfield just across from Roger Lud- lowe High School. In 1941 it was incorporated and in November 1949 it moved to Greenfield Hill. The School had purchased the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Staber which had been the spa- cious main house of the Bronson Estate on Bron- son Road and the historic site of the home of Dr. Timothy Dwight. The school covers Kinder- garten, Grades one through six and Forms I through III-Kindergarten through Grade 9. William B. Ely III is the headmaster at the pres- ent time. There are 162 boys in attendance at the school.
The Unquowa School was established in 1917 by a group of parents as a small independent elementary school. The organizing body includ- ed Mr. and Mrs. William J. Grippin, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brewer, Mrs. Dudley M. Morris, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hincks, Mrs. Samuel M. Hawley, Mrs. Sanford Stoddard and Frank C. Hunt. The school is located on Stratfield Road just south of the intersection of Montauk Street -which was also the original site. The school is co-educational and currently offers a Kinder- garten through Grade 12 program. John W. Suter Jr. is the Headmaster.
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This copy of the Connecticut Hymn of the Flag by Mabel Osgood Wright was given to me by Mrs. Lena Schwartz Williams to use in this writing.
July Fourth, 1916
THE CONNECTICUT HYMN OF THE FLAG By Mabel Osgood Wright North, South, East and West, Rise and join your hands. Native born and Brothers drawn From many Fatherlands.
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