USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 32
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Remember the Long Wharf Store.
C. J. Fales
Eggs, Butter, and garden and farm produce wanted at the
Long Wharf Store.
OTIS MUNRO, Dealer in Flour, Grain and Groceries, corner State and Thames streets.
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS Of all kinds, on hand and for sale by Otis Munro
FARMERS AND ONION RAISERS Seaweed constantly for sale on the Long Wharf.
Inquire of C. J. Fales, Long Wharf Store.
For Sale at the Bradford St. Union, Preserved Peaches, Tomatoes, Currants and Blackberries, Grape, Blackberry and Guava Jellies, Honey loose by the lb. or in bottles, Tamarinds by the lb. or in jars, Figs, Raisins, &c. Also, all kinds of Pastry, Pies, Cake, Cookies, white, brown and Graham Bread fresh from the bakehouse every morning; all my crackers come fresh from the bakehouse every morning which is very essential at this season of the year. Also Hops and Malt, Pickles loose, by the quart, in jars or by the dozen. Also Rye and Indian Meal all the sea- son ; nice Dates, Figs and cooking Prunes, Sar-
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dines, Candies of all kinds, Gum Drops. The above are only a few of the articles we have on hand for sale together with a good assortment of Groceries. Also Sword Fish, Mackerel soaked and ready for the breakfast during the summer months-every morning or evening.
J. Gladding
GLEANINGS FROM THE PAST
1681, Sept. Ist-"The proprietors with the inhabitants of this place assembled together and agreed that the name of the town should be Bristol." "The name was probably suggested by Bris- tol, England, and for some time after its settlement it was called New Bristol."
1718-Here is a quaint old entry in the Town Meeting records of that year: "A Town meeting was held this day, but owing to a Funeral which was to take place, the meeting was adjourned to the following Monday."
1686-25 shillings a year were ordered to be given William Brown for sweeping the meeting house, and opening and shutting the doors before and after service.
1689-"John Corps chosen Poundkeeper, and digger of Graves, likewise he is chosen Sweeper of meetinghouse, and Ringer of the Bell, and the Selectmen are to agree with him by the year."
The old grave-digger didn't live very long after this, his many duties must have been too arduous. For it was only a few years when we read of the widow following his corpse to the grave, and then we run across this entry:
1692-Voted, that Widow Goody Corps have three pounds for this year, it being for Ringing the Bell for Sabbath Days, and Town Meetings and also for Sweeping the meeting house." The "widder" filled the old sexton's boots pretty much-she did everything he did but dig the graves.
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1709-John Liscomb was chosen to Ring the Bell and Sweep the meeting house and also look after the boys to prevent their playing in times of Public Worship on the Lord's Day.
1727-The town erected a school house on State street. It was a single story, gambrel-roofed building, 26 x 20, that cost £50. It was situated just in back of the Court House, which then stood in the middle of State street, a few rods east of Hope street. In 1799 it was taken down and the school transferred to the Court House.
In 1744 a school house stood in the middle of Constitution street between Hope and High streets. It was pulled down about the year 1800, being useless. An old 1846 map of the town shows a school house located on the northwest corner of Con- stitution and Hope streets. (Miss Fanny Slade states that years ago her mother taught in this school.)
The 1846 map shows another school house on the south side of Constitution street, just west of the Manchester house which stands on the corner.
The 1846 map also shows the "Ocean House" on the site of the old "Gas House" which was on the corner of Hope and Washington streets (Gas House Lane).
1799-Town Meeting Records: "Voted-that teams with 2 oxen, horse and I man have $2 per day, for working on the high- way. Horse and cart and I hand have $1.25 and for I man 67 cents-all to work 8 hours in each day."
1803-Town Meeting Records: "Resolved that Capt. James D'Wolf have liberty to Dig a well in the lane westward of the Court House, between Hope street and Thames street under the direction of Messrs Aaron Easterbrooks, Josiah Smith and New- ton Waldron, who are appointed a committee to point out the spot where sd. well shall be dug." This is a quaint way of desig- nating the location: The lane, referred to, must have been lower State street.
1807-Town Meeting Records: "Committee of three ap- pointed to erect a building suitable for a Market House at the foot of Pump Lane, so called, west of Thames street."
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18II-"The fence enclosing the burying ground at the Acad- emy bid off by James D'Wolf for 7 dollars."
Back in the year 1817 President James Monroe visited this town and while here was the guest of General George D'Wolf at his residence on Hope street (the Linden Place). The president and his party came up from Newport on the steamboat Fire Fly. This was the first steamboat that had ever come into this harbor and her presence attracted equal attention with that of the Pres- ident and his party. When the news arrived in town that the President was coming to Bristol, quite naturally it stirred up a lot of interest.
The free holders immediately called a meeting to be held in the new Court House, to make suitable plans for the reception of the expected guest and to appoint a reception committee.
An old record says of this meeting: "It was largely attended; in the center of the Court room was a large table, around which the free holders assembled. Many of the prominent people of the town were there. Conspicuous among the crowd was Uncle Joe, the "King of Munroe Town," as he was called, who never let an opportunity go by of being present at a town meeting and always had a keen eye on the treasury. Uncle Joe was not op- posed to the President's visit, in fact he was glad, for he wanted to see the President of the United States; but he thought that those fellows who held office or were trying to get an office should pay the bills.
1820-According to the old records, meetings of the freemen legally convened (town meetings) were holden at various places in town-the State House (Court House), Brick School House and Academy Hall.
1823-Town Meetings Records: "Perry Dotee was appointed town Cryer and to serve until the annual town meeting in April next." He "did not except" as noted later in the records. An extract from the same records-"the following accounts were red and refered to the council etc." (Some of the spelling in those days was terrible.)
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1833-"The Church and Society in this town called Christians have purchased the lot of land on the corner of High and Con- stitution streets, for the purpose of erecting a house of public worship."
1834-"There are in Bristol 243 persons by the name of MUNRO." 112 males, 131 females. At that time the popula- tion of the town was about 3300. One out of every 14 persons in the town was a Munro.
1834-"Council are authorized to have a Hearse built at the expense of the town."
1841-Chas. E. Bennett was conducting a Singing School on Friday evenings at half past six at the Court House.
1845-The town meeting voted: "That a public tomb be erected in the burying ground east of the Common."
1846-Lard oil-used in lamps-was being tried out for lighting purposes. "Just as efficient as whale oil," the editor of the Phenix assured his readers, "for he had tried it out."
1846-Champlin Bowen drove the hearse. He was a farmer and at one time worked for Senator D'Wolf. He lived in the old "Barrack House" on High street.
1847-Deacon Jeremiah Diman (1767-1847). At the time of his death, the editor of the Phenix wrote: "A few years since (3-16-1844) he gave us through these columns an account (eye- witness) of revolutionary times; Burning of Bristol by the Brit- ish in 1778."
1847-Dr. Samuel S. Drury started to practice in Bristol; he was 22 years old at the time. Born in the year 1825, he died in 1879.
1848-Three schoolhouses were erected in Bristol:
The North Primary Schoolhouse, stone building on Franklin St., the South Primary Schoolhouse, stone building on High St., and the Northeast District Schoolhouse.
1 849, July-The old Sugar House: "We understand that our enterprising young townsmen Messrs. Cornelius R. Dimond, Samuel Norris and Horace M. Barns have formed a co-partner- ship under the name of C. R. Dimond & Co. for the special pur-
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pose of manufactoring and refining sugar on a large scale. The stone building at the head of Norris' wharf will immediately be lengthened and raised to six stories in height and fitted for a sugar manufactory. We understand that the steam apparatus neces- sary has already been contracted for and preparations made for starting the business as soon as possible."
1851-"The old Commercial Hotel is being improved inside and out and is being reopened under the name of the Mount Hope House as a Temperance House-an unsightly building before-raised up and finished off with two stores in the base- ment."
1852-"The members of the Hydraulion Engine Co. No. I, Captain Joseph S. Thompson, had a Grand Supper and Ball at their house on Thames street in the evening of January 8th, which was got up in good style, and came off to the satisfaction of all."
1855-Three churches were erected in Bristol: Congrega- tional, Methodist and Roman Catholic.
1855-Ambrose E. Burnside-Bristol Fire Arms Co .- was manufacturing fire arms on Burnside street.
1855-"Lot of land on State street, 114 x 268 feet deep, pur- chased by the Methodist Society for $3500."
1855-Walling's maps were selling for $ 5 a copy.
1856-"A. T. and T. J. Usher have demolished the old store and are to build on the same site a large brick building." (This is the Morris block on the east side of Thames street. )
1856-The Phenix mentions the shipyard of the Thompson Bros. at Green Point, at the head of the harbor. (Capt. Joseph S. Thompson and Edward I. Thompson were the old shipwrights.)
1857-J. P. Newall's lithographic "View of Bristol from Pappoose Squaw's Neck." These pictures were first on sale in July, 1857.
1857-The old Congregational church which stood in the middle of Bradford street, was moved to the north side of the street.
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
1858, July-"The brick school-house corner of High and State streets in accordance with a custom which has been regularly observed for years in the past was set on fire by burning wads from the guns or from fire-crackers on the 4th.
"The most remarkable part of the performance was the effec- tive method adopted by some irregulars to save the furniture of the school-room from the flames. It was demolished, and the entire room was stripped of everything, even the sliding doors between the two rooms, in an incredibly short time and before there was the least sign of danger to them either from fire or water.
"Whoever was the inventor of this novel plan should receive a medal from the town."
1 862, December-"Bristol soldiers wounded in the late battle of Fredericksburg, Va.
Maj. Jacob Babbitt, wounded severely in breast and arm; since died.
Adj. Chas. F. Paige, lost an eye.
Serg. Maj. Joseph S. Manchester, severely, lost an arm; since died.
Sergt. Benj. F. Miller, slightly wounded.
Serg. Chas. H. V. Mayo, wounded in heel.
Serg. Geo. W. Simmons, wounded in thigh, severely.
Corp. James Duffy, Jr., slightly wounded.
Private Alonso Pierce, severely wounded in abdomen."
1864-From the Town Treasurer's Report: "Paid John B. Pearce (sheriff) services in attempt'g to prevent the infernal rowdyism at the Post Office-$11.00."
It seems that some of the youth of the town were in the habit of hanging out in the lobby of the Post Office evenings while wait- ing for the mail to be sorted. While there they whiled away the time by raising the very devil, to the disgust of the folks who were in the habit of going there for the evening mail. The post- master finally had to lock the doors on them, and only reopened them when the mail was sorted.
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In 1865-In the Rhode Island Colored Regiment that ar- rived at the camp at Portsmouth Grove on Wednesday were the following that enlisted from this town :- John Robbins, Charles E. Reed, Thomas Butler, Carrington M. Slade, Charles Bright, Frederick Braddock, Joseph Ray, and William D'Wolf.
1865-A stranger in the town a few days ago was overheard by a bystander, near the corner of Church and Hope streets, soliloquizing :- "That's a big steepled meeting house you've got, without any bell, and there's a face and figures, but no clock; well, I never was in a town of this size afore where they couldn't afford a town clock-it's as much needed in the daytime as the town watch is at night."
It was only a few years later that this public-minded stranger's suggestion was "fait accompli", for in 1871 a clock was presented to St. Michael's church by John R. Gardner, a wealthy gentle- man of the town. He desired to furnish "a clock of sufficient size and power, that the strike may reach a radius of some two miles, so that the rich and poor, the employer and the employee may know the hour of day as well as the night. It would also be an ornament and useful instrument, as well as a great comfort to the sick and sorrowful, who are frequently deprived of the means of knowing of the passing moments."
1870-"The ringing of the 'town bell' at noon and nine o'clock in the evening has been discontinued. The last ringing was on the evening of Dec. 3, 1870."
1870-"At a meeting of the Town Council, gas lights, or- dered to be substituted for oil lamps on the corners of High and Franklin and Wood streets."
1873-"The old Academy building which was sold at auction has been cut in two and the front half moved to the lot on the corner of High and Franklin streets to be fitted up for a tenement house. The other half was moved to the west side of Prospect street." (Both of these are still standing in 1942.)
1873-"When they repaired Bradford street they hitched a horse and seven yoke of oxen to the plough and it took a lot of
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL
hawing and geeing to keep the plough going through the hard earth."
1880-"The Providence Telephone Co. petitioned the Town Council to set up a line of poles through the town."
1887-The Children's Home on Union street was opened in May. An old house of white brick, said to be haunted, that stood on the site was destroyed by fire. The 1870 map of Bristol shows a previous home for destitute children on the south side of Con- gregational street.
1889-"The old Market building, for many years located at the foot of State street has been removed to a lot on the west side of Wood St. It is hereafter to be the home of the steam road- roller."
1891-Some interesting facts concerning the church bells in town.
Church
Tone
Lbs.
Inches
Date
St. Michael's Chapel .
A
826
351/2
1879
Baptist
A
1000
363/4
183I
Congregational
F sharp
2147
46
1854
Methodist
E
2285
47
I868
Trinity
E flat
3067
521/2
I891
St. Michael's
D
3203
55
I891
1893-"Mr. John Howland Pitman (1814-1904) resigned his position as janitor of the Town Hall December 29, after serving the town in that capacity for more than 34 years. In the year 1859, December Ist, the hall was opened for the first time to hear a lecture on "General Washington" delivered by the Hon. N. P. Banks, the hall being filled with an appreciative audi- ence. This was the first of a series of lectures delivered during the winter months. During this time the hall has been opened 2,440 times, according to the records kept by Mr. Pitman; fifty of these were for town meetings and nine for presidential elec- tions. During this time there have been nine agents of the hall."
"One hundred years ago, Daniel Gladding, father of the late town clerk, Peter Gladding, was the leader of the local band in
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town. In those times the band used to practice evenings out in front of his house on the narrow strip of lawn." This house is the one now owned by Miss Lillia R. Farrington, located on the north side of Bradford street; it was built in the year 1813.
"Years ago they used to ring the bell of the Baptist church when there was a fire in town. The doors of the church were always left unlocked and the first one to learn of the fire rushed to the church and furiously rang the bell. A fire was a fire in those days and could be anywhere in town. After learning that there was a fire, the next thing was to find out where it was. Sometimes it would be 'all out' before the fire companies got there."
This old picture of the Common as it was in 1826 is interesting: "The public common, a portion of which is devoted to graveyard purposes and the remainder for cow pasture is bare like the des- erts of Sahara without tree or shrub." It is surrounded on three sides by granite posts, standing about eight feet apart. Button- wood trees are planted on three sides, with elms in front of the public buildings fronting on High street." (In the early thirties the buttonwoods were stricken by disease, and nearly all of them died; they were replaced by other varieties, mostly elms.)
"The county jail nearby the Court House is a small wooden building, incapable of holding a man against his will.
"The sidewalks at certain seasons of the year are almost impas- sible for the mud and water."
An old account back in the forties tells about a lecture that was to be held in the Court House. (That was where they held the concerts and lectures in the olden days.)
"The night of the lecture the roads and sidewalks were in such a deplorable condition from recent rainfalls that the folks were mired to their boot tops in the mud while attempting to cross the road in front of the hall and had to give it up and return to their homes."
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From the Phenix-1855
Mr. Editor: I lately made a visit to your pleasant town, and while admiring the handsome houses, was much annoyed by my horse (who is rather skittish) shying about the streets; at first I did not notice the cause, but it proved to be his fear of clam shells, cabbage tops, lobster shells, potato parings, heaps of weeds, piles of broken bricks, etc., which the streets appeared to be made of.
Perhaps it was the day for the scavenger carts to take up the waste fixings that will accumulate about all houses, but which in well managed towns is never allowed to be put into the streets, to frighten horses, create unwholesome smells, or offend the sight of the ladies that walk the streets.
Your beautiful town is worthy of clean streets and good side- walks.
(Signed) Providence-Observer
1855-"In Hope street many of the limbs of the shade trees hang so low that it is difficult to pass under them with a raised umbrella or with a carriage."
1865-"The sidewalk on the west side of Hope street be- tween Church and Constitution streets was - say those who forded it - but a little more than ankle deep in water, in some places, during the rainy days of this last week."
1840-"Bristol is probably the only community in America that still celebrates Guy Fawkes' day; his memory is commem- orated here every year on the 5th of November. There are no formal speeches, nor do the people dress in mourning for the distinguished Briton. The bells are rung, tar barrels are burned, and an anvil is sometimes fired off, and the boys attest their frantic joy by knocking off each other's hats in the day time and carrying off peoples' front gates in the evening."
1865, October-"We are glad to notice that our Town Coun- cil have adopted the necessary measures to put a stop to the mak- ing of bonfires on the Common and public streets in this town on the evening of the fifth of November. Heretofore large gangs
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of boys have been in the habit of collecting all sorts of combus- tible materials and burning them in various localities about town. All good citizens will approve of the doings of the Council in this matter."
1875-"The water that supplied the several distilleries in the town years ago came from Grey's spring, about two miles north- east of the town, and about a mile from Reynolds' pond. It was brought through wooden pipes, laid about two feet below the surface of the ground, and in addition to feeding the distilleries, also furnished a supply of water for family use in the town. While excavating for the water pipes a great number of these old wooden pipes were dug up, many of them in a decayed state."
1895-"In excavating for new water pipes on Hope street at the corner of Bradford street an old wooden pipe used many years ago to convey water from Grey's spring located on Bristol Neck to the distilleries then in operation on Thames street was unearthed. The pipes were made of logs about a foot in diameter, through which a hole about 4 inches in diameter was bored. On one end of each pipe it was made smaller so that it could be in- serted into the next section of pipe. The piece dug up is in an excellent state of preservation."
"From the days of Capt. Benjamin Church, the old Indian fighter, military organizations have existed in Bristol. The first of its kind in this town was in 1681, when the citizens formed themselves into a "training band" for protection against the In- dians which were lurking about in the woods and swamps in the vicinity. At their first meeting Benj. Church was appointed Cap- tain. They were required to turn out once a week, on Saturdays, on the Common for drill and parade, and the members were also required to hold themselves in readiness for duty at all times, and especially on the Sabbath day-this continued until 1698."
"From the year 1785 to the present time the anniversary of American Independence has, with a few exceptions, been duly observed by military parades, orations and public processions."
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"Fifty-seven Fourth of July orations were delivered in the old Congregational meeting-house when it stood in the middle of Bradford street, and the Rev. Dr. Wight invoked the divine blessing on thirty-six occasions."
"The town at this time was humane and charitable as well as patriotic. The Bristol Female Charitable Society was then, as now, doing its deeds of love and charity among the unfortunate and deserving poor in the town. The Masonic fraternity was taking care of widows and orphans of deceased members. The churches also ministered to the temporal wants of their com- municants, and many benevolent individuals had their private beneficiaries. Collections for the poor were taken in the churches on Thanksgiving and Christmas days, and a generous supply of turkeys, geese, chickens and meats were distributed by the rich and benevolent among those in humbler circumstances."
A FEW ANECDOTES
STRIPED PAINT
BACK in the nineties there was an old fellow in town named John M. Wing who kept a hardware store in the old Mount Hope Block; he was getting along in years at the time. One forenoon Tom Downey, who did a little painting (it seems in those days everybody either worked a little or didn't work at all), stopped in at the old gentleman's store. "Mr. Wing," he asked, "have you got any more of that striped paint?"
The old man put on his specs and proceeded to look over the stock which lined his shelves. All the while Tom was telling him that he had a job that he wanted to finish in the worst way-the barber's pole out in front of Jim Williams' shop. The old mer- chant searched and searched, all the while sputtering to himself, "Damn that Will-damn that Will." Tom didn't say anything more except to tell him to take his time, that he was in no great hurry; he saw the old man was all riled up and he felt kinder sorry for him.
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Finally the old man gave it up. Turning around to Tom, who was patiently waiting, he announced, "Sorry, Tom, I seem to be all out of it this morning-I got every other color but the one you want. I'll order some right off-have it for you in a few days."
"That's all right, Mr. Wing," Tom assured him, "I can fin- ish it some other time."
The old man started to fume again, "I don't know what's the matter with that boy Willie of mine (Willie was then over thirty), I told him time and again, 'Willie, when you sell the last one, put it down in the order book.' "
So Tom decided to give it up for that day, and started for the door; on the way out he turned and apologized again to the old merchant for putting him to so much trouble. Once outside he made a beeline to George Easterbrooks' store; his old cronies would be waiting there, warming themselves around the huge stove down in back, and would want to hear how he made out.
About an hour later another customer came in and wanted some striped paint, only to be told by old Mr. Wing that he was all out of it. Later a third customer was in the market for some. By this time the old merchant was becoming disgusted. "Don't it beat the devil now-you're the third person who's been in here this morning for striped paint-the very day I'm out of the damned stuff."
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