USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Darien > Town of Darien, founded 1641, incorporated 1820 > Part 7
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In 1928 the trustees felt the necessity of a proper office building in Darien, and a further addition was erected, containing business-office space now occupied by the offices of various local business concerns.
The trustees of the bank as of January 1, 1935, were: Samuel G. Adams, Edward S. Austen, George F. Bearse, Clarence W. Bell, Thomas Crimmins, Edward H. Dela- field, Francis R. Holmes, Franklin Lynch, Alfred More- house, Howard Stout Neilson, Wallace Platt Neilson, Francis K. Norman, Mark W. Norman, Alfred H. Ren- shaw, and Charles E. Williamson; the officers, Howard Stout Neilson, president; Mark W. Norman, vice presi- dent; Alfred Morehouse, vice president ; George F. Bearse, vice president and treasurer ; Bradford M. Ballard, secre- tary and assistant treasurer ; G. Winthrop Knapp, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer.
A comparative statement of the condition of the bank, as of the first call of the Banking Department of the State of Connecticut and the last call, appears below :
RESOURCES
Feb. 20, 1912
March 4, 1935
U. S. Government securities
.$
$ 507,712.56
Other securities
41,983.53
737,635.00
Cash and due from banks
.
27,395.38
458,208.63
Loans and discounts
29,590.00 .
626,703.51
Banking house
100,000.00
Furniture and fixtures
3,031.46
1.00
Other real estate .
2,000.00
9,983.54
Other assets .
372.60
15,953.17
$104,372.97
$2,456,197.41
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION
LIABILITIES
Feb. 20, 1912
March 4, 1935
Capital
.$ 30,000.00
$ 100,000.00
Surplus
.
6,976.21
I 50,000.00
Undivided profits
75,140.55
Reserve for taxes .
3,596.32
Reserve for dividends .
833.35
Reserve for contingencies
18,381.65
Deposits
67,384.31
2,104,654.04
Other liabilities
12.45
3,591.50
$104,372.97
$2,456,197.41
Trust Department funds
$1,664,583.16
NOROTON WATER COMPANY
THE Noroton Water Company was incorporated on June 4, 1901, receiving a charter and the right to do business from the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut. Although the company was incorporated during the year of 1901, construction work on the plant was not started until 1911. The supply, which is purchased entirely from the Stamford Water Company, is taken at two points. A battery of meters is located at the corner of the Boston Post Road and Brookside Drive in Noroton and another near the corner of Maple Avenue and Park Lane in Glen- brook. The mains consist of a small amount of two-inch galvanized wrought iron and the remainder of four-, six-, eight-, ten-, and twelve-inch cast iron. There are approxi- mately thirty-six miles of main supplying approximately 1600 consumers and the Tokeneke Water Company.
THE KIWANIS CLUB
THE Kiwanis Club of Darien received its charter from Kiwanis International on April 30, 1929. The institution of this organization resulted from the active interest of a number of public-spirited citizens who felt the need for a service club in this community. Prominent among the or- ganizers were Henry Keil, then a member of the Stamford Kiwanis Club; Senator Charles P. Rumpf, the first club
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1641-TOWN of DARIEN-1935
president ; and Superintendent of Schools Edward H. Ful- ler, the second president of the club.
The objectives of Kiwanis International, which are re- flected in the aims of the local club, are, in brief: I. Ser- vice to under-privileged children. 2. Intelligent, aggres- sive, and serviceable citizenship. 3. Friendly understand- ing among all citizens, rural and urban. 4. Vocational guidance. 5. Boys' and girls' work.
Among the special objectives are: I. The maintenance of adequate educational facilities. 2. Active participation by all Kiwanians in securing ample, economical, and effici- ent local government. 3. Directive education for the proper use of leisure time.
The local club has been constantly active in supporting worthy projects of community-wide interest, particularly in regard to the work of organizations whose interests center about under-privileged child work. The club has carried on some interesting vocational work in cooperation with the local high school and is the sponsoring organiza- tion for Darien Troop No. 202, Boy Scouts of America.
In 1932 Dr. William H. Slaughter was president of the club. He was succeeded by Melvin C. Corbett. Mr. Corbett was succeeded by the late Charles Leach, and Ernest H. Nelson led the club in 1934. The present of- ficers are: President, George E. Shattuck; Vice President, Wilfred P. Forrest; Secretary-Treasurer, Clifford D. Green; Immediate Past President, Ernest H. Nelson.
The Board of Directors consists of Capt. Thomas O'Connor, Carl J. A. Schmidt, Edward B. Lawrence, Noah H. Swayne, Henry Keil, and Andrew Shaw.
IVANHOE LODGE
IVANHOE Lodge No. 107, A.F. and A.M., was organized in 1867, by a group of thirteen sojourning Masons. The first Worshipful Master was the Rev. Louis French, who a few years before had become rector of St. Luke's Epis- copal Church and who was destined to be its rector for almost half a century.
The first meetings of the lodge were held in the room over the carriage house on the rectory grounds.
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A DARIEN POLICEMAN, 1935
DARIEN TOWN FIRE EQUIPMENT
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION
Those who signed the original petition for the dispensa- tion were the Rev. Louis French, William H. Adair, Edward R. Fanshaw, John Conley, J. O. Minor, John Jay Bell, Samuel Sands, M.D., Charles A. Bates, Joseph P. Beach, Sands Selleck, Benjamin F. Martin, Justus B. Mead, and Charles Hobbie.
Dr. Sands became the first treasurer of the lodge, and it is an interesting fact that today the same office is held in the revived lodge by his grandson, Arthur Sands Bib- bins.
The young lodge grew steadily in numbers and for a time was quite prosperous. It later rented the room over the old railroad depot and became an important local or- ganization.
It had its bad as well as its good times, however, and on two occasions the question of surrendering the charter came up for debate and action. The first time the majority favored the retention of the cherished parchment. But matters went from bad to worse, and at the annual meet- ing on December 18, 1883, the lodge voted to return the charter to the Grand Lodge.
Of the membership of the lodge at that time there is but one survivor, Samuel Grumman, for many years a prominent merchant of Darien, now living in retirement at Riverside. He is more than eighty years of age and in feeble health, but his mental faculties are unimpaired. He was junior warden at the time of the surrender of the charter.
In May, 1925, the Masonic Club of the Town of Darien was organized, with about thirty members, made up of Masons from nearly a dozen Grand Jurisdictions. It grew steadily in numbers and now has a membership of more than 100, holds two meetings each month, and is the hold- ing company for Ivanhoe Lodge. Three years later it was decided to attempt to revive the dormant lodge. Ap- plication was made by thirty-three charter members for a dispensation, which was granted by M. Wor. Robert S. Walker, then Grand Master. The first communication under that authority was held in Hollister Hall on the evening of November 29, 1928, almost forty-five years from the time the original lodge passed out of existence.
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The first officers of the revived lodge were: Master, Simon W. Cooper; Senior Warden, Harvey H. Watkins; Junior Warden, William B. Hollister; Treasurer, George H. Chadderton; Secretary, William J. Fleming; Senior Deacon, Charles E. Scott; Junior Deacon, George R. Smith ; Senior Steward, James A. F. MacCammond; Junior Steward, Merwin L. Smith; Marshal, Kenneth A. Yeaton; Chaplain, Rev. Floyd S. Leach, Ph.D .; Tiler, Alfred Yeaton.
Subsequent Masters in the order of their service have been : Harvey H. Watkins, William B. Hollister, Charles E. Scott, James A. F. MacCammond, Merwin L. Smith, and Kenneth A. Yeaton. R. Wor. Bro. Smith, the Junior Past Master, is now district deputy for the First Masonic District, and the Rev. Dr. Leach is associate grand chap- lain for the same territory.
The present officers of the lodge are: Master, Kenneth A. Yeaton; Senior Warden, Arthur G. Maury; Junior Warden, Robert Eaton Saunders; Treasurer, Arthur Sands Bibbins; Secretary Merle F. Hunt; Senior Deacon, Byron Hill Cantrell; Junior Deacon, Earl K. Bottume; Senior Steward, Frank J. Merklen; Junior Steward, C. Albert Nelson; Chaplain, the Rev. Floyd S. Leach, Ph.D. (33d) ; Marshal, Charles R. Harrison; Historian, S. W. Cooper; Tiler, Arthur E. Walker.
Regular communications are held on the first and third Friday of each month, except during July and August, at Masonic Hall, 182 Post Road.
In 1933 the Lodge removed from its original quarters in Hollister Hall to the former rooms of the Guild of the Seven Arts at 182 Post Road.
The Lodge now has a membership of 104.
Of the Masonic Club of the Town of Darien, Inc., the officers are: President, Charles R. Harrison; Vice Presi- dents, C. Albert Nelson and Charles E. Snyder; Treasurer, E. Harold Nelson; Secretary, Edwin W. Cooper; His- torian, S. W. Cooper. These officers, together with Arthur Huck, J. Arthur Olson, and Harvey H. Watkins, consti- tute the Executive Council. The club, organized in 1925, meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month, except during July and August, at Masonic Hall.
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION
Of the Norma Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, the officers are: Worthy Matron, Amanda Bottume; Worthy Patron, Harry D. Hanson; Associate Matron, Erika Saunders; Associate Patron, Lucius Close; Treas- urer, Ethel Peterson; Secretary, Ethel B. Close; Conduct- ress, Julia A. Kemp; Associate Conductress, Dorothy E. Harrison; Chaplain, Myrtle Ginther; Marshal, Florence Bates; Organist, Edith L. Cantrell; Adah, N. June Hol- lister ; Ruth, Jeannette H. Blackman, Esther, Agnes Ander- son; Martha, Gertrude R. Hill; Electra, Rebecca Coch- rane; Warder, Ruth S. Hitt; Sentinel, George H. Wood- ward.
THE FITCH HOME FOR SOLDIERS
FITCH's Home for Soldiers is maintained by the State of Connecticut and provides domiciliary care and hospital treatment for veterans who have been honorably dis- charged from the military or naval forces of the United States, for service during a period of war. It was estab- lished by an act incorporating Fitch's Home for the Sol- diers by the General Assembly, in special session Novem- ber, 1863, to January, 1864, and the May session, 1864. This act did not specifically provide for the maintenance of a home for soldiers, but this is to be inferred from the name of the corporation, although in the earlier years emphasis was placed on the support of orphan children of soldiers who had given their lives in defense of their country during the Civil War.
The Home continued its policy of providing care for both veterans and orphan children until 1887, when, under the authority of the General Assembly, the trustees of Fitch's Home were empowered to transfer all property to the Soldiers' Hospital Board of the State of Connecticut, which was given the management and control of the prop- erty as a Soldiers' Home, for the reception, care, and sup- port of soldiers, sailors, and marines of Connecticut who served in the War of the Rebellion.
The Soldiers' Hospital Board remained in charge of the institution until 1927, when the General Assembly created the Veterans' Home Commission.
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The Home is located in Noroton Heights on nineteen acres of ground, improved by ornamental shrubbery and flower-beds and containing many beautiful old trees.
The buildings consist of an administrative office, the barracks at the north of the reservation, and the hospital on the south, with the necessary utility structures and cot- tages for the officers and staff.
The qualifications for admission to the Home, which in the earlier days restricted membership to veterans of the Civil War, have on various occasions been changed by legislation so that they now include honorably discharged veterans of any war in which the United States has par- ticipated, the Indian campaigns, the Philippine insurrec- tion, the China relief expedition, the Mexican border ser- vice in 1916, the Nicarauguan campaigns, and veterans of the Allied Armies of the World War, provided that such veterans whose service was not accredited to Connecticut have resided in the State continuously for at least two years.
This membership exceeded the normal capacity at the Home in Noroton, and in January, 1932, the Veterans' Home Building Commission placed at the disposal of the commission the newly acquired site at Rocky Hill, Con- necticut. The existing buildings there, with minor altera- tions, provided space for seventy-five veterans. The mem- bers selected for transfer to Rocky Hill took over the oper- ation of the farm and dairy.
DARIEN GARDEN CLUB
THE Garden Club of Darien was organized in 1929. This group of Darien women has held four successful flower shows and has progressed in the horticultural field each year in plans made and carried out. Its attractive club- house, the first "Garden Center" to be established in Con- necticut, is a renovated old barn in Tokeneke. The club has secured able lecturers for its meetings and has spon- sored a course of lectures and practical demonstrations of gardening by Dr. Findley to which the public has sub- scribed. It has also pushed a campaign of education, sup- porting the effort of the Garden Club of America to con-
8 I
CIVIC ORGANIZATION
serve ground pine, holly, and laurel and teaching school children the names and habits of the wild flowers. During the past three years, four teachers of the Darien primary schools have been sent to Pennsylvania and New Hamp- shire nature schools, where they have received training in the work of conservation and nature study. The club has been amply repaid by the cooperation and enthusiasm of the teachers selected and the results obtained. This has been shown by the interest of the children in the club's flower shows. Forty-five children exhibited at the last show. The club also paid for the printing of wild-flower posters displayed through the courtesy of the New Haven Railroad and an advertising firm. This work was discon- tinued only because it was believed the money could be better used in the public-school work.
The club belongs to the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut and subscribes to the National Council of Roadside Beauty, to the Town Plan and Zoning Commis- sion of Darien, and to the Boy Scouts of Darien. It also subscribes to the spraying of the Darien elm trees.
The work of the Darien Garden Club's roadside and billboard committee has attracted State-wide attention to its efforts to improve the Connecticut roadsides. To this end it has cooperated with the State Legislature in its ef- fort to remove dangerous and unsightly signs and billboards from the highways.
The officers are: Mrs. John Sherman Hoyt, honorary president; Mrs. Charles Bates Dana, president; Mrs. Thomas S. Holden, first vice president; Mrs. D. Fairfax Bush, second vice president; Mrs. Edward R. McPherson, Jr., corresponding secretary ; Mrs. C. Alfred Foster, record- ing secretary ; Mrs. P. E. D. Malcolm, treasurer.
ST. JOHN'S CLUB
FOUR or five years ago this group of young men was or- ganized by the Rev. James J. McGuane of St. John's Cath- olic Church and since its organization has sponsored sev- eral activities, notably those of the St. John's Fife, Drum, and Bugle Corps and baseball and football clubs. It is difficult to guess which of its activities lies closest to Father
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1641-TOWN of DARIEN-1935
McGuane, who has been untiring in his efforts to promote them all because of their beneficial influence in the training and the development of the youth of the town.
Outstanding in this organization has been the Fife, Drum, and Bugle Corps, which has attended approximately twenty-five competitive events in State and international meets and in the four years of its existence has won forty- four cups and trophies, together with several cash prizes. At Ansonia in 1934 and at New Haven in 1935 the St. John's Corps added to its laurels the Connecticut State championship in the Fife, Drum, and Bugle Class.
The corps' chief musician, Leader Clarence E. Bliss, has held the Connecticut Championship Individual Fifing Hon- ors for the past two years.
The corps' major, John Totilas, has to his credit more than 125 prizes. He is honored with the baton twirling championships of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, and also holds the American and Eastern States champion- ship honors.
Under the leadership of Mr. Bliss and with the aid and support of Father McGuane, the roster of the corps has grown from an original sixteen to the present membership of forty-three.
Father McGuane takes great interest and pride in the activities and accomplishments of the St. John's Club and the members in turn reciprocate by accepting him as a friend and advisor, turning to him for counsel when in difficulty and sharing his happiness when in front.
BOY SCOUTS
IN any rating of the town's social organizations, the Darien Boy Scouts merit a ranking position. So far, the town has failed to give the Scouts financial assistance. In face of the depression, discouraging lack of funds and sup- port, the spirit of the district commissioner in carrying on is in keeping with the best traditions of scouting, compar- able only to the loyalty of the scouts to him. Here is an organization made to order to absorb boys' surplus energy and spirit, control it, and direct it into healthy and construc-
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION
tive work and play; take them off the streets, keep them out of mischief, and teach them cheerful, happy, honest re- lations and dealings one with another, and instill in them respect for law and authority.
The first local troop of Boy Scouts was formed twenty years ago. It was the Noroton Troop and the scoutmaster was the present district commissioner. Its first camp was on what was known then as Noroton Bay and now as Pear Tree Point Bathing Beach. Scouting has been continuously active in the town ever since. Today there are III boys registered and working in the various troops and cub packs, and a considerable number of other boys are saving their pennies to pay for their scout registration and to be able to qualify. These new boys will bring the total up to 200.
The Darien Scout cabin is located on West Avenue. The land was given by Andrew Shaw, First Selectman. The cabin was built in 1927 with funds donated by Edward H. Delafield and Lewis Lapham, and the title to the prop- erty is vested in three trustees, Gen. Henry C. Hodges, Andrew Shaw, and Edward H. Delafield, to be held for the town and to be used by the Boy Scouts and any other organization which the trustees shall approve as working for and in the interests of the youth of the town. To give more room for classrooms and workshops and instruction, another wing is urgently needed.
The scouts raise the colors at the Town flagstaff every morning and lower them at night, and they have been doing this for several years. They cooperate with the Garden Club in distributing seeds. Last year they decorated 1600 soldiers' graves and took part in the Memorial Day pa- rade. They participated in the Field Day for the benefit of the children of Darien, when they acted as ushers and directed the traffic. Noroton Troop, Mecilli, Scoutmaster, built the stone fireplace on the Scout cabin grounds in memory of George Millspaugh, committeeman.
They collected and repaired toys at Christmas time for 320 children, in cooperation with the Kiwanis Club, the American Legion, and the Women's Auxiliary. Last year Scouts turned out on a hunt for the recovery of a valuable stolen dog and found it in a neighboring town. One of
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1641-TOWN of DARIEN-1935
their outstanding services last summer was the campaign against the tent caterpillar worms, a splendid piece of work.
A Mothers' Club has been formed and proved a very useful organization.
The adult volunteer leaders in the Darien district com- prise three scoutmasters, one skipper for Sea Scouts; one cubmaster; one first mate and four assistant scoutmasters ; six den chiefs; one district commissioner, and one deputy commissioner. There are twenty-six troop committeemen and twenty district committeemen.
The Sea Scouts group, largely composed of older boys graduated from the Boy Scout organization, is rapidly making a name for itself along the shore. Six members of the Sea Scouts have secured berths aboard ships at sea and have adopted this work as their vocation. Of the six, three are already on their way up by promotion in the ranks.
GIRL SCOUTS
RED Rose Troop of Girl Scouts was organized in Darien in September, 1922, with H. Barbara Weed as captain; Winona Smith as lieutenant, and thirty-eight girls. This troop, directly affiliated with the National Council of Girl Scouts, had its own summer camp at Peach Lake and carried on its work until the illness and subsequent death of Miss Weed, when it disbanded. Many of these Girl Scouts have become examiners, advisers, and leaders in the present Girl Scout organization in Darien.
In April, 1929, the Cardinal Troop was formed of thirty-two girls with Mrs. Irving F. Van Wart as captain, Mrs. Laurence Woolley and Mrs. Caldwell Smith as lieu- tenants, and Mrs. George Millspaugh as troop committee chairman. By April, 1931, fifty additional girls had joined the troop, and it was necessary to form two more. Mrs. Laurence Woolley became captain of Forget-me-not Troop, with Mrs. Harry Busch, lieutenant, and Mrs. Caldwell Smith became captain of Holly Troop.
In April, 1932, Mrs. E. Prescott, then Stamford local director, formed a central Girl Scout Committee in Darien,
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CIVIC ORGANIZATION
with all of the troop committees represented. Mrs. George Millspaugh was elected chairman.
Following Mrs. Van Wart's resignation as leader of Cardinal Troop, Mrs. Payne Williams was made captain of that troop in January, 1932, and later Ivy Ashton was appointed lieutenant. Following Mrs. Caldwell Smith's resignation as leader of Holly Troop, Margaret Crofoot was commissioned captain.
In March, 1933, Nasturtium Troop was registered, sponsored by the Congregational Church, with Mrs. Chilton L. Kemp, captain, and Jeanette Macomber, lieu- tenant, and twelve girls. A Brownie Pack was also formed in May of that year, in that church, with Mrs. Carey E. Tharp as Brown Owl, Mrs. Ernest Gregory as Tawny Owl, and seventeen girls.
In April, 1933, Mrs. George Shipway was made chair- man of the central committee. This committee was fur- ther reorganized in 1934-35 under the direction of Doro- thy Hayden, the present Stamford local director, and was expanded to meet the growing needs of girl scouting. It is now called a district committee and is the nucleus of a future Darien Council.
Today there are four Girl Scout troops and one Brownie Pack, with a total registration of 110 Girl Scouts, nineteen Brownies, and two leaders for each troop, as well as a troop committee for each, consisting of from three to five members.
There is one Golden Eaglet in Darien, Louise Hawkins.
Cardinal Troop, No. 24 in the Stamford Council, has as its crest the cardinal flower. Ivy Ashton is captain and Louise Hawkins lieutenant. It meets on Monday at 7:30 P.M. at the Scout Cabin.
Forget-me-not Troop, No. 25, has as its emblem the for- get-me-not. Mrs. Laurence Woolley is captain and Mrs. Harry Busch lieutenant. It meets on Wednesday at 3:30 P.M. at Holmes School.
Holly Troop, No. 26, has as its emblem a spray of holly. Elsie Baur is captain and Mildred Skinner lieutenant. It meets on Monday at the Presbyterian Church.
Nasturtium Troop, No. 35, has as its emblem a nastur-
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1641-TOWN of DARIEN-1935
tium. Agnes Valentine is captain. It meets on Thursday at 3 :30 at the Congregational Church.
Brownie Pack, No. 8, meets at the Congregational Church on Wednesday at 3 :15 P.M.
The Darien District Committee consists of the follow- ing members: Chairman, Mrs. Lawrence Coggins; Vice Chairman, Mrs. John Molinar; Treasurer, Mrs. Andrew Shaw; Secretary, Mrs. Henry Kurz; Finance Chairman, Mrs. Frederick Mesinger; Chairman of Badges and Awards, Mrs. George Millspaugh; Publicity Chairman, Mrs. Payne Williams; Chairman of Training and Per- sonnel, Mrs. George Shipway; members at large, Mrs. Harold V. Browne and Mrs. Lyttleton Gould.
Mrs. George Millspaugh, Mrs. Henry B. Morehouse, Mrs. George Shipway, and Mrs. Laurence Woolley are members of the Stamford Council of Girl Scouts, Inc.
SOCIETÀ UMBERTO PRINCIPE DI PIEMONTE, INC.
THIS is an organization made up principally of Italian- American residents of the township, formed for the pur- poses of mutual benefit, and has a present membership of sixty-three. It occupies a well-appointed and commodious clubhouse on Noroton Avenue and is a factor in the social and economic lives of its membership, annually distribut- ing a considerable sum in benefits.
It was organized on July 15, 1916. The clubhouse was erected in 1923. The present officers of the organization are: President, Clelio Improta; Vice President, Gennaro T. Frate; Financial Secretary, Joseph Sci; Corresponding Secretary, Dominick Toscano; Treasurer, Dominick Frate.
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