USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 17
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"Lapping 'lasses" on the wharves was an accomplishment for the boys, by means of a smooth round stick inserted in the bung- hole of the casks of new molasses just landed from the vessels. There was always sugar cane on board as a curiosity and that boy or girl was lucky who was given a stalk in the unloading. It was to this place our father and family removed from the western part of Massachusetts in the early days of the last century. The waterfront, then, was considered the aristocratic part of the town. Within memory the lots on which the many colonial houses stood, extended halfway from street to street, but today cross streets have been opened through many a lovely garden spot, once gay with its beds of flowers.
At this date the railroad between Bristol and Providence had not arrived and coal was only beginning to be used as a fuel. The kitchens of those early homes were furnished within our recollection with stoves and later with ranges built into the fireplaces, a brick oven at the side in which was baked the rye bread and Indian pudding, the interstices filled with apples. A long time was given to the baking of some kinds of food, even all night, while the oven gradually cooled. All food was sup- posed to have a much finer flavor treated in this way than when baked in stove or range oven. All meats were roasted in a tin oven set close to the open grate of the range. A long iron spit was run through the poultry or joint of meat and this was sup- ported through openings in either end of the oven. It was one of our earliest accomplishments to turn that spit every fifteen minutes and to do it so adroitly as to lock the spur and not to let the whole affair drop into the gravy below. Turkeys roasted in this way were awarded a premium at all church and town enter- tainments. The first stove in town was set up in the parsonage kitchen, we have been told, for the other rooms open fireplaces sufficed, the feather beds in the sleeping rooms being warmed by a warming pan in extreme weather. Later the airtight stove was in common use. In a few instances in visits to other homes we saw women cooking over a fire on the hearth, but never in our own home.
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At the same time we children were not unfamiliar with the old time fireplace cooking utensils. The parsonage had a garret with eaves and a chimney, where the children played and where close at hand were stored all manner of ancient fireplace articles brought thither from a former home. We dressed up in costumes of ancient design with leghorn bonnets and long veils; we filled leather saddle bags and carpet bags of ample dimensions, with books and doll's clothing, which we tied on the back of an immense wicker cradle, then getting in ourselves made wonder- ful journeys with our dolls, as imagination led us. The candle rods and moulds, the butter churn and dasher, the warming pan and big green satin umbrella afforded us noise and added amuse- ment. As children we were expected to find our amusement outside of school hours, for the most part in the house with games and dolls and books, with hours for sewing and knitting, -so many times round on our long woolen stockings or mittens before we could go out to play. This task we shortened by turning it into a game, making it a contest of speed. In many ways we were taught to lend a hand in household duties and to feel an interest in the welfare of the family. I can see myself now shelling beans and peas before school and never feeling it a task, as we hurried to cover the unshelled pods with our peas, only allowing ourselves to take in turn those pods that peeped above the surface.
The evening with the light of a small brass, brittania of glass, two wick oil lamps, saw us seated around the table, industrious with our games, books or work, never thinking of the insuffi- ciency of the light, but realizing now why it was our mother always insisted upon our getting everything we needed in our work ready before dark, that there be no running about the house with lamps.
Outside diversions were largely lectures and singing school in the winter attended by large numbers, and the regular weekly missionary sewing society of the church, when old and young gathered at different houses to make clothing which was sent to Home Missionary families on the frontier-a society organ-
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ized in 1825-today a vigorous band of 84 years. And the Quilting Bees! As soon as the wintry weather moderated in the Spring, quilting frames were set up in the north parlor and the patchwork made during the winter was carefully sewed in, over a bright lining, with layers of cotton between. Next came the marking of the pattern to be quilted, with a cord wet in starch water. The shape and size of the pattern to be quilted must exactly fit the patchwork square. There was the herring- bone pattern and the shell, the rose or the oak, with straight lined borders. A short needle was thought to give the shortest stitch. All the skein thread must be waxed in the using and the knots carefully drawn inside. Such lovely specimens of needle-work! Are any of those quilts extant now? Bed quilts have given place to the daintiest of satin puffs. And the saucer candlesticks which were slipped along the taut spread to illu- mine the needle's eye have given place to modern lighting.
Cistern water for washing purposes-well water for drink- ing. Children visiting us from the inland mountain towns accustomed to dipping water from a barrel fed by a penstock, found it great fun to stand on a cricket and pump water to fill the hot water boiler in the range. A colony of negro slaves imported from Africa and their descendants living in a district named Goree, (taking its name from an African town on the East Coast) supplied the help in families, and also stood ready to be hired by the day for cooking, for waiting at an afternoon tea party and for laundry work. There were Freelove, Phoebe, Dinah, Barbary, Belinda, Violet, and Phylis, all faithful negroes, who served for a generation before the so-called foreign element found its way to our shores. One couple lived to old age, a little apart from Goree, in a cabin on the estate of their master, Senator James D'Wolf. Here Pauledore and Adjua were wont to sit in the doorway of their humble home in the long summer after- noons of their declining years, ready to laugh and chat with passers-by, always respected and respectful.
Dinner at night was unknown in those early days, half past two in the afternoon being the latest time for serving that meal.
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Afternoon tea parties were great events. Though too young to take part, we were on hand to watch the cutting into slices of pound and rich fruit cake, the cutting of loaf sugar into lumps with iron sugar tongs, and the spreading of sandwiches. Guests arrived early, the older ladies bringing their dress caps and knitting in baskets or wearing their caps under a calash; the younger with embroidery in silk or worsted, transfer work and purse knitting. Slippers worked in cross-stitch on canvas was a very popular fancy work. Some one in the party led in con- versation, to which all others listened and paid great deference. At six o'clock plates and napkins were handed around and then cups of tea (poured in the dining room) were passed to each one, on large trays, followed by the sandwiches on some rare china dish, crisp cookies flavored with caraway seeds and cake in large silver cake baskets. A simple tea in these days of cold- meats, salads and relishes, but what was lacking in variety was made up in excellence and formality-the latter being a usual characteristic. The china and silver with which the tea was served often occasioned remarks, as it had been brought home from distant ports by sea captains to their wives. After tea, conversation was renewed and instrumental music by some guest from out of town was interspersed.
I remember being told by a friend very much older than myself that when on a visit to her husband's relatives, in the State of New York, a tea was given her to which guests began to arrive as early as one o'clock, one guest bringing a goose to pick. Two elderly ladies can be distinctly recalled, who always wore in their own homes, white mull turbans wound gracefully round the head completely covering the hair. This unique arrange- ment added greatly to the dignity and charms of their manner, as did the dress caps of the more fashionable matrons. .
A few gentlemen of the old school in Bristol wore their hair in a queue tied with a black silk ribbon, and also ruffled shirt bosoms, this fashion outlasting the wearing of some clothes of a much earlier period.
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Housewives were busy people from early morn till late at night in those days, on account of the lack of modern inventions to make work lighter and for accomplishing more in a given time. The winter's supply of sausage meat, for instance, was chopped by hand, seasoned and pressed into cotton bags and hung up to be brought forth as needed. Casks of salt pork cured at home and cuts of selected beef in the process of corning were lined against the cold cellar wall. Hams and dried beef also cured from the same time-honored family receipts had to be turned and basted once a day for weeks, then carried to the smokehouse to be smoked and re-turned, the hams to be hung in the storeroom. In those days the attic, cellar and a storeroom were always cold and there was no trouble in keeping food cooked or uncooked.
Barrels of apples standing in rows on frames, a firkin of butter, a barrel of molasses, loaves of white sugar to be cut into blocks, and covered canny pails of brown Havana sugar, a sack of coffee in the berry, and a chest of tea were always provided. Home- made preserves of fruit and sugar, pound to pound, allowed to simmer until of a deep red color, were the pride of every housekeeper. Quinces by the bushel, and less of peaches, with currant jelly, furnished the winter's supply of sweetmeats, supplemented by preserved ginger-root brought in ships from China in blue earthen jars, and guava jelly and preserved fruits from Cuba. With all these and many other stores close at hand, the feeding of a large family was not disturbed by deep snowstorms, neither was there any check upon hospitality shown to strangers or the unexpected visitor.
The ringing of the nine o'clock bell at night was the signal for the closing of shops and entertainments and for the quiet tread of the homeward-bound feet-to be heard, but not seen -through the dark unlighted streets. To the child roused from an hour's sleep by the cry of the night watchman on his beat, perchance under the window, calling, "Nine o'clock, all is well" or "fire, fire", the startling cry gathering force as other voices joined-the weird sound was enough to send her beneath the
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bed clothes, there to wait breathless until all was still once more. In this connection one recalls the figure of the town crier, who in the days of only a weekly newspaper, rang his bell, stopping at the corners of the streets, calling off announcements of auctions and other important gatherings, quickly collecting an audience to listen ere he passed on to the next corner.
It is said that early impressions are the most lasting. Holidays were few in number during our school days and perhaps for this reason, as well as for the spirit and heartiness with which they were observed, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July stand out prominently. Good citizenship and the spirit of patriotism were early inculcated in all our homes and made emphatic on Thanks- giving day,-first, by the morning service in all the churches and the reading of the Governor's Proclamation, and second, by the giving of gifts to those less favored than ourselves. The needy ones were the recipients, never those who had an abund- ance, so far as we remember. In this particular, the custom differed essentially from that of Christmas. The Town Council and the Church Committees sent coal and wood, the farmers gave of their poultry, apples and vegetables; housewives dis- pensed their gifts of pies, puddings, bread and packages of tea to the dependent widows and their families-for the Thanks- giving dinner was to be unlike all others of the past year in variety and abundance, many families not tasting turkey again until a year had passed. Little children were the bearers of these baskets of food on the day before, receiving in return this oft repeated message, "Tell your mother I thank her a thousand times."
The date of the day to be observed differed in the several States according to the pleasure of its Governor. This custom affording an opportunity for two celebrations, and relatives often came from a distance to pass the day with us, returning in time to celebrate with their own households. The special privilege of sitting up until the arrival of the evening stage the night before Thanksgiving was greatly enjoyed by the children. It
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was our keen ears that detected the rumble of the coach as it came "over the bridge" and entered the town, and we gave the signal that called for the setting of lamps in the front windows and the gathering of the family to welcome the guests.
As to the Fourth of July, our little town was always very patriotic-never omitting its long procession of Artillery Com- pany, firemen and citizens parading through the town with bands of music, on their way to the Town Hall to listen to an oration worthy of the day celebrated. Cannon were fired when the bells were rung and that seemed to satisfy for noise. Fire- works on the common generally closed a day which, though a weary one to many, yet kept distinctly in view its celebration of the Country's Independence.
These reminiscences of the past would not be complete were we to omit reference to the Sabbath observances. Three times the church bells of the town announced each service, and on a quiet summer morning the echoes of the bells of a neighboring town were distinctly heard. It was the custom to go to church twice or three times a day, with Sabbath School at noon between the services, and all the children went to church and filled the family pews, thus growing up with a church-going habit of great value to hold a person to attendance upon church services even under difficulties. A part of our Sunday afternoon in the house was given to committing and reciting the Catechism, as was the case with many of our playmates, and in Sabbath School we recited Bible verses and answered questions upon them. In this way children became familiar with the Bible and learned gradu- ally to find chapter and verse in Old and New Testament by association. The reading of Scriptures every morning at family prayers, a verse by each member of the family in turn, also helped the children to turn readily to any part of the Bible, as the Book was read through many times in this way.
The church as we remember it had stood more than seventy years, with its spire pointing heavenward. For a long time the Congregational Church was the only Church in the town and at first all its business was conducted in town meeting. One other
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church preceded it and stood for a full century, the only relic of which, carefully preserved, being the tall oaken door of the pastor's pew, through the rounds of which the children used to peep at each other when the congregation rose for prayer or praise.
The second church building was erected in 1784 with its square pews, deacons' seats, high pulpit and sounding board. This was later changed to long pews with doors and the sound- ing board removed. The church as we knew it had a fine audi- ence room with galleries on three sides. A double row of win- dows with small panes of glass, forty in a window, furnished occupation for the mind, when not held by the sermon, in count- ing the number of panes in the whole building,-a problem never completed to our satisfaction, as we could always recall windows overlooked.
In this church pastors with life-long pastorates had served. Within its walls the devout had loved to worship and from its portals many had been carried to their long last home. It was warmed in winter by cylinder stoves for wood, these were at the entrance, with long pipes running under the galleries, the whole length of the building. In addition many pews were provided with foot stoves. Little perforated sheet iron boxes filled with coals from a wood fire, either carried from the home, as was ours, or filled at the church by the sexton. Children took turns in warming their feet on them and to those who rode a distance to the church, they were a comfort indeed. In this warmth the pastor noted a wide difference in comfort between this and his former parish, for in that mountain town, they had no heat in the church and he was wont to preach in an inner coat, a surtout and a circular cloak over all and with warm gloves. So great was the cold and so difficult the going over the roads, he was accustomed to preach a farewell sermon to those of his con- gregation who were to remain, at home for the winter.
The singing in our church was always by a large volunteer choir occupying the gallery opposite the pulpit, and it was cus- tomary for the congregation to rise during the singing and turn
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to face the choir. The colored people sat in the side gallery, and sometimes unruly boys taking their seats there would become noisy, when the sexton in his squeaking boots would walk the length of the uncarpeted gallery and knock their heads together. The dear old church! Memory recalls face after face of those who habitually attended its courts and now long since passed on beyond. And also the ministers who stood in its pulpit and were as familiar friends, speaking often to us in those days of frequent exchanges. Those were the impressionable days of youth and never since then have we listened to more solemn words, from more striking texts. They were days and events which told on character and we all look back and call them blessed.
HON. JAMES DIMAN, 1795-1877
"HE WAS fond of books, a great reader, well versed in history and the current events of the day, possessing a strong retentive memory.
"He was especially interested in the Bristol of long ago, and was exceptionally well informed concerning those times.
"His store has long been the resort for many years, of aged people of the town, who met there daily to talk over the events of olden times."
The above refers to Hon. James Diman, who died in 1877, aged 82 years.
"James Diman was born in the year 1795. His early education was at the primary school kept for many years by 'Marm' Burt. He closed his studies at the school taught by the Rev. Alexander V. Griswold.
"Early in life he learned the trade of a cooper, which business he carried on for several years. Subsequently he was a packet- master in the coasting trade. About the year 1840 he opened a variety store in the basement of his residence on Hope street, just south of the homestead estate where he was born, which he con- tinued up to the time of his death.
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"Years ago he held a seat on the bench of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for Bristol County. During his long life he was a member of the Town Council, Overseer of the Poor, and Justice of the Peace."
The above mentioned homestead was the old "Hargraves" house that used to stand on the southeast corner of Hope and Constitution streets. This old house which was on the street line was moved to Roma street in 1906. His store, the gathering place of the old-timers of those days, was the small gambrel-roof cot- tage, next south, on Hope street. Back in the nineties Mrs. Spooner kept a small store there, selling candy, tobacco and notions.
THE OLD GAS HOUSE
MANY of the older generation will recall the old brick struc- ture that stood for so many years at the corner of Hope and Washington streets. As I remember it, the building was right on the corner, flush with the street. The old gas house did service from the time it was built in 1855 up to the turn of the century. At that time there was a change in ownership and the new com- pany discontinued the manufacture of gas at the old works. A few years later, about the year 1905, the old landmark was torn down. I rather think that everybody living in that neighborhood was glad to have it go, (I never heard of anyone filing a protest) for on a day when the air hung heavy over the town the entire neighborhood was permeated with the disagreeable odor of gas.
In the early part of the year 1855, the editor of the Phenix was trying to induce the citizens of the town to buy stock in the new Gas Light Co. One of his stimulating articles bore this heading: "Let there be light." At that time the town was get- ting ready to do away with the old-time oil lamps that were located on the principal street corners throughout the town. The Bristol Gas Light Co. was the name of the new concern. It started with a capital of $35,000.
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An item in the Phenix of April 14, 1855, states that "The Bristol Gas Light Co. have purchased the lot at the South end of the Town Bridge for the purpose of erecting the gas works thereon." The old editor was one of the real progressives of his times. He was heartily in favor of anything that tinged of advancement.
In April, 1855, the Gas Company started to build the works on the lot near the Town Bridge and this is what the editor had to say about it: "More Light-The Gas Company has com- menced laying down the gas pipes in this town. This will do away with the disagreeable odor arising from the burning of whale oil which most everybody uses. The gas will be furnished at $4 per thousand cubic feet. And people can use as much as they please. (They still have that privilege). No lamps to trim and the vexation of having oil spilled on carpets need be no more feared." That same month at the town meeting, the taxpayers voted: "To contract with Gas Co. to cause 20 lamp posts and lamps to be placed in such parts of the town as the committee may direct." The Fourth of July, 1855 was the date the gas was first turned on for public use. We read: "The house of the superintendent, William J. Miller, on the corner of Central and Bradford streets, and Linden Place on Hope street, were lighted by gas from the works on the evening of July 4, 1855, which was the first gas ever used in the town."
This account would not be complete if we failed to mention the two faithful old firemen at the plant who, night and day, year in and year out, were at their posts fueling the perpetual fires, that the people of the community might have light. Adam Faulkner was on the day shift for years; the years were so many that when one thought of the gas works he thought of old Adam at one and the same time. Archibald Graham was on nights. He came to Bristol, his daughter tells me, in the year 1883. He worked for the company, tending the night fires from that year up to the time when the plant closed which was about the year 1900. Many of the readers will remember when the old plant
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was called "the heater". People in the olden days always referred to it by that name.
An old-timer tells me that years ago folks used to take their young ones up to the gas house, when they had the chin cough (whooping cough) or croup, and let them stand in the fire room while Adam was raking the fires. The fumes were supposed to give the youngsters immediate relief. He remembers taking the younger members of his family there many a time when he was a small boy. I asked him if they received any relief. "I don't remember," he replied, "it was so long ago." I almost forgot to mention that for years, Washington street was called "Gas House Lane." To this day the old-timers always refer to it by that name. It will take years to live it down-when all the old natives die off, then and only then, the old sobriquet will have become a thing of the past.
SOME BRISTOL "COLORED FOLKS" OF THE LONG AGO
Written by MISS C. MARIA SHEPARD, daughter of Rev. Thomas Shepard, D.D., pastor of the First Congregational Church, 1835-1865.
IRVING BERDINE RICHMAN in his "History of Rhode Island", published in 1905, states that of the 59 slave ships owned in this state from 1804-1807, ten of these ships were owned in Bristol. There were two kinds of slavery spoken of in those early days, genteel and piratical. The first was common during the first part of the 18th Century. Of this class in the year 1700 three vessels sailed from Newport, R. I. to the East Coast of Africa for cargoes of slaves to be sold in the Barbadoes. Starting from Newport with a cargo of New England rum, made from molasses brought from the West Indies, the ship would sail for the coast of Africa where the cargo would be bartered for a cargo of slaves at 100 gallons per head, then on
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