USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Westerly > Some papers delivered before the Westerly Historical Society 1916-1927; and a list of the members Jan. 1927 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
Franky attended to the grinding of the bark and was troubled very much by the small boy who would stand in the doorway and hit the horse as he went around. Franky was a good eater, and in the summer the boys would chip in and pay his fare down to Watch Hill where they would treat him to a good fish dinner, and it was surprising the amount of bluefish, lobsters, and clams which dis- appeared.
While on the eating question, there were two persons, Tommy Lanphear, and William Carpenter, many years ago living with Paul Babcock on the Watch Hill road, also one, Ira Berden, did not take the back seat when the grub arrived.
There were three stores in Bungtown, all in the grocery line, together with such ship supplies as tar, pitch. oars, turpentine, rig- ging of all sorts, and the like. The first store was at the foot of Cross Street and was run by Joshua Thompson. Jr., assisted by his brother, Edwin. Next below was the store of George D. Cross. Afterwards this store was occupied by Samuel Dickens and Nathan Brown. The third and last store and which was on the southern boundary of Bungtown, was of the same character as the others, and was presided over by William C. (Capt. Billy) Pendleton.
Many theories as to the origin of the name of Bungtown have been advanced. Perhaps when we find out who struck Billy Patter- son, or how old is Ann, then we may arrive at the solution of the problem. Our theory was that in ancient times there was a small bung factory located there. There was another theory which seems as plausible. In the far distant time when alcoholic liquors were non- intoxicating, many of the grocers carried it in stock with their groceries. Holland Gin and West India Rum was as freely sold as milk now is. It was imported by the barrel, and was sold from that container by the gallon, quart, or by the drink.
There was one store in Bungtown where that was once carried on. When anyone wanted a drink they usually went into the back store, took out the bung of the cask, dipped out a glass, paid three cents for the same and went about their affairs.
Now one solution is as good as another, so you can pay your money.and take your choice.
102
The establishment at 21 Beach Street has without doubt had the most unique experience and checkered career of any in Westerly. During the more than half a century of its existence, it has with- stood the fierce storms of winter and the scorching heat of summer. It has passed through many financial panics. Floods, famine, pros- perity, or adversity did not stop its progress. Fourteen firms have wintered there and still it is in existence. They have had their ups and downs-mostly the latter.
About 1875, Halbert G. York, who had conducted an itinerant business from a wagon, got tired of wandering about, and decided to locate permanently, so the building on Beach Street was erected. At first his stock in trade was small, consisting mostly of Yankee notions, but soon developed into a larger consignment of groceries and some drygoods. At first he was generously assisted by his two sons, Louis and Ike, and for a time things went along swimmingly. By and by his cash did not balance, and his candy and cigar case shrank amaz- ingly, so Halbert concluded it would be cheaper to pension off the two boys and go it alone.
Halbert lived by the motto, "In God We Trust," and if he had stuck to that exclusively, he would have come off with flying colors. Unfortunately he included man in the motto, and thereby nearly came to grief. He had a generous and confiding nature, and took every- thing for corn. One of his customers. Elisha Hall, told him if he did not trust he would not get much trade. Acting on his advice his trade increased wonderfully, and also his book accounts.
As he needed more capital to increase his business, he turned to his father, Benjamin, for aid so the firm of H. G. York & Co. came into being. As Benjamin was a constable without pay, and also a public auctioneer, he was better fitted for perambulating the streets and keeping order than being cooped up indoors. As a result he induced Allen Congdon to take his place. This arrangement made the sign read York & Congdon, or firm No. 3.
Things went along finely for a while. and then Halbert found out that flower growing was more to his taste so he proposed to his partner that they should sell out.
Halbert started a greenhouse and raised flowers while his part- ner bought a farm over in District No. 6 and raised vegetables.
There were two brothers by the name of Taylor (George and Isaac), thinking there were great profits, took the position of No. 4. They were hard workers and strove to make good. After a while. Isaac, who had studied for the ministry, thought an easier and more profitable living might be gained by that occupation, so withdrew and threw all the burden on his brother's shoulders. George withstood the strain for a while, and then cracked. He auctioned off the stock and then gracefully retired.
William ( Buster) Gavitt was the next candidate for the honor. and decided to change the program by substituting meats for
4
103
groceries. This change was a dismal failure, he found that most of his neighbors were vegetarians, as a result his ice bill often exceeded his profit on his neat, and as a result firm No. 5 disappeared.
Then from the north woods appeared John Sherman, thinking to do or die. John was a great talker and told big yarns-and let hint tell it-had passed through many exciting adventures. John bought his goods in carload lots, but owing to the congestion at the freight terminal his goods did not appear on time, so his shelves often were rather bare. When a customer asked for a certain article, John would fail to find it. but would say his brother Charles had just gone up to the depot and would soon be back with a whole truck load. After waiting a long time the customer would get disgusted and go to an- other store for his supplies. Finally in despair of getting any better freight service, he threw up the sponge and went back to the woods, or in other words, fled to the tall timbers.
Charles Segar, who had conducted a bakery business on Main Street, found the furnace heat too much for his comfort, so he concluded to make himself the seventh number of the combination. Whether his expectations materialized as to the increase of health and wealth has never been known, but in a brief space of time he got out when the getting was good.
Next on the list was William Beaton, but like his predecessors, his stay was short.
Notwithstanding the fate of former victims. Ben Turtellott ap- peared on the scene. Ben knew a thing or two and was confident that ere many moons had rolled by he would be able to retire with his pockets bulging with greenbacks, join the million dollar colony and hobnob with the bloated bondholders. Perhaps his desires were realized, but if so, he never took the public into confidence.
At the start he inaugurated a unique and unheard of innovation, so much so that at first it created much comment. He put a new sign over the door reading, "Pay before you enter." Under this was the dial of a clock, drawn on cloth, and underneath this was inscribed, "No tick here." For awhile this stumped some of his customers, but as they saw the benefits which accrued. from it, especially to Benny, they readily fell in with the idea.
Ben had just left the postal service and thought he knew every- body, and hoped everyone knew him. His cash and carry plan worked well and brought him lots of customers. As he had a small family and his expenses were not very large, he in a short time was enabled to save enough to keep the wolf from the door and to retire to private life. Ben attributed most of his success to his silent part- ner. Billy Latham. Billy was a great favorite with the ladies, and probably the feeling was reciprocated. Anyone looking at Billy would never dream of such a thing, but who can fathom the working of the human mind.
Ben sold out to Mrs. A. D. James, but her stay was so short that no statistics were available.
104
Next on the list was A. Frank Kinney, who had run a chain of stores at the north end of the village. As the northern climate was too severe for him. he concluded-as the popular idea now is-to migrate to the south. With his son Simon he trod as nearly as he could in the wake of those who had gone before him. Like most of them, he made lots of profit, though mostly on paper. Seeing a better opening he transferred his activities south, and erected a seaside villa at Pleasant View, where he supplied the cottagers with groceries and held several important official positions.
Being of a sanguine temperament and hoping to chase away the jinx which seemed to hang overhead. Harry A. Burdick decided to cast his lot there. Harry was young and energetic, and a hard worker, and but for one thing might have succeeded where others failed. He died, and what might have been was not.
Many think 13 is an unlucky number, but that did not deter Altana Davis from entering the list. After giving it a trial, Mrs. Davis decided to retire.
Joseph Litman, wife and sons composed the 14th amendment. By strict attention to business and low prices, they picked up a large trade. As the father was away most of the time and the boys did not take kindly to the work, the bulk of the work fell to the wife and mother, so it was decided to abandon the project and so the 15th member, George Berry, grandson of Gorton Berry, one of Westerly's oldest citizens-has recently stepped in. What is in store for him time alone can determine. Let us hope he will drive away the hoodoo and have a long and prosperous career.
Educational facilities in the century just passed were rather crude compared to those of the present time. Old time teachers often were quite severe when the ideas of some scholars failed to materialize as the teacher thought they ought to. At those times the ruler was applied to the palm of the hand or the switch to the legs in order to quicken the ideas of the delinquents.
Some of the teachers of former and later years were Margaret Alcorn Frost, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Stratton, Jirah H. Gray, Darius H. Randall. A. J. Foster, William H. Woodbridge. James M. Collins, Millen S. Green, Nancy Wentworth. Charles Henry Babcock, T. Stanton Barber. James Stillman, B. Frank Greenman, Oscola H. Hill.
Maintenance of law and order in the south part of the state was entrusted to Weeden H. Berry, high sheriff of Washington County. He was very proficient in the performance of his duties, and all law breakers stood in fear of him. Should any unlawful gathering take place, it only required the presence of Mr. Berry to disperse it. His proclamation-"I, Weeden H. Berry, High Sheriff of Washington County, command you to disperse," did the trick.
Each year on the second Sunday in August there was held on the Indian reservation in Charlestown what was called the August or Indian meeting. Besides those who went for religious purposes many were there for other purposes, such as drinking, fighting and gam-
105
bling. Out in the woods were stands where pies. cakes, cookies, con- fectionery and very often liquid refreshments not within the scope of the law were sold.
Among those who had a clam chowder counter was Joseph Cran- dall, better known as Joe Pete. Besides the chowder he dispensed from a jug some liquid stronger than two per cent. Mr. Berry, seeing a crowd at Joe's place rather scented a rat, so he strolled over that way. Joe seeing him approach, lifted the cover off the wash boiler containing the chowder and placed the jug therein. Mr. Berry, seeing nothing suspicious, was turning away when Joe generously gave Mr. Berry a plate of chowder. After his departure the jug was rescued. wiped off and business went on as usual.
Adjoining Joe's place was another stand selling cider at five cents per glass. One end of the barrel was so close to Joe's stand that it projected over on to his domain. Joe's fertile brain saw his opportunity, so he silently tapped that end and soki rider at thre" cents per glass. It was not until the cask was empty that the owner saw how Joe could undersell him.
At times even the power of the sheriff was not effective. One. evening there was a performance which did not pan out as advertised. The program was to be repeated the next evening at Armory Hall. During the performance, which was as poor as the first one, a young lad changed the program by throwing a snowball at the per- former. Mr. Berry, who had a premonition of trouble, failed to restore order.
There was much excitement in the hall and it was not until Col. Card, who was present. jumped up on a settee and called for the Westerly Rifles to fall in that order was restored. In the meantime the culprit had gone out of the hall, run across the road through the coal yard and crossed the river to the land of steady habit and wooden nutmegs.
Mr. Berry was succeeded by Henry Whipple, and while there was as good order maintained, there was less oratory.
Over in the lots east of lower Elm Street once resided an old Westerly family by the name of Mvers. The family consisted of Esther. the mother, with her two sisters and daughter Esther. When John Street was opened from the Post Road it extended westward until it fetched up against Mrs. Myers' stone wall. All inducements for her to oren her land failed. She said she did not want Irish, Dutch and the Devil as neighbors.
After she and her two sisters died her daughter lived as a recluse until one night the house took fire and with herself was totally destroyed.
Among the legal lights the name of Dixon stands prominent. Three generations of that name have been identified both politically and legally with the interests of Westerly. Although Black Harry and Sylvia had not been admitted to the bar, they were a law unto themselves. Other prominent legal lights were John H. Cross, Ben-
106
jamin B. Thurston, Thomas H. Peabody, Charles Perrin and Albert B. Crafts.
Before the advent of the automobile, those who were not able to keep a team were compelled to fall back on the livery stables for pleasurable outings. Their service was made up of gentle horses. stylish rigs, consisting of side bar, open and top buggies, carryalls. double and single rigs, bright, shining harnesses, and brilliant car- riage robes.
If the young beau owned no team and wanted to take out his best girl, he went to the stable and called for a stylish turnout. This called for a prancing horse and natty side bar. Sometimes in order to make the trip more enjoyable, he would invite his prospective mother- in-law to accompany them, which in that case called for a carrvall. In winter the sleighing was good, cutters were substituted. Well tucked up behind warm buffalo robes and at the merry jingle of many strings of bells, they passed many happy hours.
Some of the many stable men were William (Buck ) Brownell. Peleg and John Barber. Henry. Daniel and Amos Douglas, Charles Leonard. Avery Hoxie, Den. Lee, John Robinson. Horace Vose. Charles H. Chapman, William L. Bradford, Charles, Dave and Clark Lillibridge, Hiram Ecclestone. Ed. Hodge, Edwin P. Berry, George W. Beverly. Nate Edwards. William Lathan ( the only Billy), Milt Young, Charles Rollinson. Archie Campbell, James Welch, Theodore Picard, and last but not least the popular veteran. William Burk, the last of the Mohicans.
The auto has completely wiped out the trade, and very few are now seen enjoying a carriage ride. As for sleighs, one of them is as rare a sight as would be snow balls in Hades.
One of the oldest industries. and which has added much to the prosperity of the town is that of the cotton and woolen manufacture. It was started many years ago, and from a small beginning has assumed large proportions. Before the advent of steam as a motive power. water was utilized and the Pawcatuck river was called upon to fur- nish the power.
The most prominent firm engaged in this industry was Babcock & Moss, who at one time controlled most of the industry in this vicinity.
Other manufacturers were O. M. Stillman. E. & H. Babcock. T. R. Hyde, Oliver D. Wells. Edwin R. Brown, Stillman Brothers & Co., Welcome and George Stillman, John E. Weeden. Robert Latimer. Warren and Louis W. Arnold, Reuben Lindley, Berry & Stanton.
Among the many who were supers, bosses and operatives I can recall Nathan Newbury, Major Horace Edwards, John P. Dver. Alvin Green, Benjamin Craigen, General John B. Steadman. Alvah Crandall, John Milner and Sons, Frances Marryott and Son. Chauncey Gleason, James H. Perigo, Alex Carmichael, Frank Has- well, John and Alex Jeffrey, William Niblock. John Hanney. James
107
1
McDonald, William Gregory, Willian Timbury, Phil Peckham, David Kenneth, Robert and William Barney, Elisha Redford. George Bellamy, Dick and Jim Valentine, John Sunderland, David Main, Mathew Morton, Dan Champlin.
An amusing story has been told about one of the supers above named. It occurred during the Dorr War, so-called. General John B. Steadman was in command of the militia of which Westerly furnished two companies. Martial law was on and the streets of the village were guarded by armed men, but there was no blood shed. It was said that General Steadman issued the following order. "Boys, when you see the enemy, fire and then run, and as I am a little lame, I will run now."
Among the old time clergymen who administered to the spiritual wants of the community were Rev. A. L. Whitman, Albert G. Palmer, William Fitz, Frederick Denison, William Stowe. John Evans, Alfred B. Burdick, Alfred H. Lewis, George E. Tomlinson. L. A. Platts, O. U. Whitford, Patrick Sherry, L. B. Bates, John Taylor, Mrs. Gustin, James G. Noble, F. A. Crafts, John D. Benglass, Hugh O. Pentecost, J. E. Fitzpatrick. David N. Beach, Edward Root, John P. Hubbard, Thomas H. Vail, Darius R. Brewer, William H. Groton.
These were ably assisted by such deacons and laymen as Taylor Pendleton, Nathan H. Langworthy, Joseph and Thomas Vincent, Bernard and Aaron Pierce, Jason West, William Stillman, Albert Buell, J. Alonzo Babcock, William Maxson, Oliver Wolcott, James Pollett, John P. Pendleton, Ethan Wilcox, Alvin Green, S. A. Cong- don, Harry Kiddle, Thomas Kinney, Jesse D. Bradford, Weeden Barber.
For many years the shipbuilding industry was carried on in West- erly and a great number of vessels were built. These included ships. barks, brigantines, brigs, schooners, steamers, scows and small boats. In size they ranged from 500 tons down to 25 or 30.
The two principal yards were those of Silas Greenman & Son, on lower Margin Street, and H. and F. Sheffield, at the head of naviga- tion. C. Maxson & Co. built two schooners in their yard on West Broad Street. One of them was the Niantic and the other, Josephine or Friday Night.
Jesse B. Breed, who was a carpenter and house mover, built two sloops in the rear of his house. Mr. Breed used no rule in measure- ment, but spread his hands apart the required width, and it was just as he calculated.
Samuel Thompson, in his shop on Mechanic Street, built quite a few sail-boats which were of handsome model and good sailers. Charles and Gilbert Gardiner and Otis Champlin were good at that trade.
Among the many brawny men who helped fashion out the tim- bers at the yards were Black Peter, David Davoll. Dennish Burdick. Francis Ayers, the Barber brothers, Paul. Jerrod. Erastus, J. Clark,
108
Harry and Charles, Henry Kenyon, George C. Lanphear, George Grinnell, John Burdick, John E. Brown.
Prominent among the firms who dealt in lumber and fashioned it into buildings of various kinds were Peleg Clark, Jr., C. Maxson & Co., Hall & Dickenson, William and Henry Langworthy, Swan Hor- ton & Co., Swan Brothers. R. A. Sherman, Morgan & Wilcox, Ran- dolph Bentley & Co., George N. Burdick, Albert N. Crandall.
Among the wood workers and laborers, I recall Clark D. Miner, John Perigo, William Thompson, Dick Edwards, James G. Elis, Tom Peckham, Tom Place, George A. Babcock, Bob Mattison, Tom Sher- man, George D. Cross, Jr., Mathew Barns, William Taylor. James W. Barber, Jason Tanner, Oliver Davis, Frank Crumb. Tommy McLane, Francis Beckwith. James and Charles Potter, Byron Green, Denison and Hiram Palmer, James and Lon Horton, Amos Burdick, Ransom Hoxie, J. Ed. Baggs, Peleg Noyes, Tom and Albert Buell, R. Taylor Church, Alf. Freeman, Charles Noyes, Peter Living- ston, Sam. Lawton, Albert G. Howard, Russell Lee, Dean Gould.
Masons were required to build the cellars and plasterers and painters to finish them up. Of the masons, some were William R. Cot- trell, Calvin Mason, Charles Burch, Peter Noka. Charles Faver- weather, Bernard Aaron, Jonathan and Edgar Pierce, Elias Watrous, Jed Brown, John McDonald, Thomas Kinney.
Painters were Halsey and William Green, George Martin, C. Stanley Coon, Henry and David Bryant, Hon. Court G. Stanton, Bobby Woodburn, Clark B. Crandall. Ray Green.
Old time circus days were quite an event in Westerly. In the early morning quite a crowd gathered at the railroad station to see the unloading of the paraphernalia. If the circus came by the highway. the same crowd were at the circus lot to witness the unloading of the teams and putting up of the tents. Among the many gathered there could be seen Joe Pete with his clam chowder stand ; Braddy Bliven, springing his jokes ; Horatio Saunders, with his partner, Ann Francis, was on hand with peanuts and popcorn: Zion Sisson was taking orders for clock cleaning ; Bill Allen ( from Porkey), with his flute. was imitating the squeal of a pig, the warble of birds and other tricks of ventriloquist ; Eben Rathbone from Woody Hill. champion skunk hunter, was also on hand ; Uncle Finn Sheldon, Amos Dawley's left bower, was down from Hope Valley to take in the show ; Col. Mike Downing, with a swallow tail coat, crushed hat and stick on his shoul- der, was going through the manual exercise; George P. Anthony. gentleman tailor, displaying the latest Paris fashions; Willis ( Blos- som) Brown, swaggering about ; Alphonso Capron, talking politics ; Sammy Burdick, who declared gin and molasses was good for a cold and not bad for to take.
Cooky stands were in abundance. Games of chance were con- ducted on the sly, and bootleggers hung around the outskirts.
Most of the circuses of former days were held in a lot on Liberty
109
.4
Street at the foot of Berry Hill. Near there was the establishment of Henry B. Thompson; where he sold several kinds of commodities. At one time there was a pre-Volstead law in Stonington which prohibited the sale of even as harmless a drink as cider. Henry knew a thing or two, and also had a convenient cellar. It was so nice and cool that he always stored his pork there. To the knowing ones, cellar pork meant cider. When certain customers came in and inquired for some pork, Henry told brother Nathan to go down and show the gentleman some pork, and in an aside would whisper, "Drink every time they ask you, Nathan, but drink light."
There were many sailboats plying on the river. mastered by such as Almon P. Owen. Court Lanphear. George Wilcox, Ned Clark, Stephen A. Lanphear, Henry Robinson.
Years ago the fishing along the beach was lively and profitable. Scup, bass, blackfish and the like were caught in seins and pounds. Among the prominent Watch Hill fishers were George, Nathan, Joseph and Winslow Nash, Stanton Pendleton, Daniel Larkin, Albert Crandall, noted for his fat hogs, good cider and skill at ten pins, Winslow York, John Harvey, Harry Dickens, Black Ike Gavitt, Orrin Main.
Quite a story is told of Black Ike. In the spring it was the cus- tom of Mr. Gavitt to take a load of scup and go to the villages at the north for a market. One May day he loaded up his express wagon and set out. When he had got as far as Wyoming, he had sold out at a good profit. But here he fell into the hands of the Philistines, and that was his undoing. Ike was very fond of card playing. He fell in with a crowd who was not always on the square. and as a result he limped home footsore and weary. He was minus his horse, wagon, harness, and cash capital. When asked how he made out, he replied that he managed to save himself.
Before the advent of gas tar and factory grease, the river and bay abounded in bluefish, shad, buckies, eels, smelts and frost fish. Many of the inhabitants living on the shore with nets and hooks gained a comfortable living. It was quite a common occurrence to start from Osbrook, sail across the bay, and with a white rag on the hook for bait arrive at Stonington and find a dozen or more fine blue- fish in the boat.
No locality between New London and Cape Cod has furnished as many hardy mariners and fishermen, according to its population, than Lotteryville (Avondale). Brave, hards, and persevering, they have sailed the seven seas in search of adventure and profit.
Among those who have braved the danger and rigor of the Arctic in quest of the mighty whale may be found John P. Hall, first and second ; Ellery Nash. Lyman Hall. first : James Wilbur. Thomas Dun- bar, Gilbert Pendleton, Hezekiah Dickens, Tristam Dickens, H. Clark Lanphear, Jared and Jonathan Crandall, Nathan and Thomas Wilcox, George Bliven, Sam Gavitt, Charles Austin, Abe Coon.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.