USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Westerly > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 22
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Charlestown > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 22
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Hopkinton > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 22
USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Richmond > Westerly (Rhode Island) and its witnesses : for two hundred and fifty years, 1626-1876 : including Charlestown, Hopkinton, and Richmond until their separate organization, with the principal points of their subsequent history > Part 22
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The first line of telegraphic communication by electricity, which passed through the town by the side of the railroad, was opened in 1860. A second wire, on the poles of the first line, was put up in 1868, and is a through line, while the first wire has its batteries and operators at most of the way-stations of the road. A third wire, on the original poles, designed for through communication, was com- pleted in January, 1869. What a contrast this correspondence by the lightning's wing presents to the old style of mounted carriers and rumbling stage-coaches !
Of late, important improvements have been made in the high- ways of the town. The road from Lottery Village to Watch Hill was opened and fenced in 1867, involving an expense of about $8,000. The new highway from Westerly to near Dorrville was opened and graded in 1868, at an expense of about $12,000. The principal business streets in the village of Westerly have been graded, guttered, and curbed, involving an outlay of about $25,000.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
FANATICS AND ENTHUSIASTS.
IN every country, and in every township, each generation is called to witness, and sometimes to sadly experience, the weaknesses of human nature. Perhaps in no respect are these weaknesses and stumbling's more apparent and common, and surely in none are they more deplorable, than in reference to moral and religious affairs. Heresies in politics and medicine and monetary interests are tolerable, as compared with those that misguide and delude the souls of men.
In a preceding chapter some mention was made of the delusions and superstitions that perplexed the people in portions of the town during former generations. We now add a brief record of kindred experiences among some of the present generation.
Under various names, and in different guises, errorists and fanatics, too often the dupes of shallow theorists, though sometimes being evidently conscientious, have imparted their vagaries and aimed to plant them in the minds of the ignorant. Commonly they have visited the corners and sparsely settled portions of the town, as if they had a fear of school-houses and intelligent assemblies. In obscure residences they have aimed to gather their votaries. Always pretentious and blustering, never knowing the grace of modesty or the strength of reason, by bewildering the weak and uninstructed, and abounding in noise and dogmatism, they have annoyed and sorely tried all sober, thoughtful citizens. They have been charac- terized by "great swelling words," by bold, startling prophecies of success, and promises of marvelous good. But since the fruits of their lives did not commend their theories, these parties have signally failed to make any lasting impressions upon the life of the town. Like meteors and rockets, they have only burned out, to leave behind them a deeper darkness.
After the comet-like rise and fall of the extreme type of Millerism, which attracted, however, only a few uninformed minds, there came into the horizon certain enthusiasts infected with the hallucinations of a new Adventism, who succeeded in inoculating a few unstable
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minds with their delusions. They have repeatedly fixed their dates for the destruction of the world, but only to be disappointed in respect to their visions. A Mr. P-, in the strength of his new faith, arose one morning, dressed himself in his best attire, raised the window of his lodging-room, and patiently waited to be called for and "taken up." The call being delayed, the prepared man was overtaken by hunger, and returned to the beggarly elements of the world. A Mr. G- was finally driven to insanity by excitement, and ended his days in an asylum. Many yet living will recall the painful case of Rev. Jacob Ayres, who became a rav- ing maniac, and others who were in like manner ruined.
Among the agents of this delusion was a Mr. Howland, from some eastern region. For a time he quartered with Mr. David Rathbun, who gave such credence to his visions as to take down a large gap in his wall to allow "the golden chariot " of the new dispensation to approach his house. The citizens of the town finally interposed, and waiting upon Mr. Howland, whom they found secreted in a barn, notified him that his speedy flight from this region would be more prudent than his further stay.
Among the latest of the wandering, professed religious teachers, harping on their one short string, was a Mr. Hancox, a tall, stout, middle-aged blind man, who married the daughter of Mrs. Sims, a deformed woman, and lived near Hartford, Conn., but wandered widely through the country declaiming among the ignorant and un- stable of the people. Being a good singer, and emphatic and zeal- ous in his declamations, he gathered a few listeners. Occasionally he returned to Westerly, where he married, and delivered his visions and prophesies in the deserted meeting-house on the hill near the present quarries. The audience was suited to the speaker.
As said one of our college professors, " It is impossible to reason a certain class of people down, from the simple fact that they were never reasoned up." The spirit of fanaticism never brooks the curb of thoughtful judgment.
An unorganized Advent party, during 1867-8, mainly through itinerant speakers both male and female, endeavored to stir the pub- lic mind in the vicinity of Lottery Village. Meetings were also held in the village of Westerly; and on the Connecticut side of the river a kind of organization was effected, and services were conducted in Sherman Hall. Of this phase or type of Adventism, holding to the annihilation of the wicked, it is difficult to give a satisfactory ac- count, since the larger portion of the Adventists in the country - the portion claiming to be Evangelical -do not fraternize with this smaller party, but reckon them unevangelical. They are exceed- ingly fond of discussion and debate. Instead of meekly bearing tes- timony to truth as they conceive it, they glory in throwing down the gauntlet of discussion.
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Some mention should be made of zealots and enthusiasts in party politics. As elsewhere, these have been found in Westerly, in every period of the town's life. Perhaps the highest wave of excitement in the last century occurred in the days of Gov. Samuel Ward, who, as he was a favorite townsman, bore a strong ticket against Hopkins. The winds were high in the days of the Revolution, and swept nearly . every man towards the Continental Congress and General Washing- ton ; the few Tories were as stubble before the blast. Later excite- ments, till near the middle of the present century, were warm, but hardly deserve historic record. The Harrison gale - a kind of tor- nado born of " hard cider " and "log cabins " - spent itself in loud speeches and semi-tragic, semi-comic songs, and the applause of all orthodox Whigs. The Dorr Rebellion has already been noticed in a preceding chapter.
In the Native American movement of 1855, Westerly took an active and earnest part. The majority of the inhabitants were of the Native American party. But an inner circle was formed of members of the party, a secret organization, called " The Guards of Liberty," having a regular military organization, with duly commis- sioned officers, and their systematic drills in Vose's Hall, organized by the famous " Ned Buntlin," who was the authorized officer of the grand organization in the country, and whose signature gave virtue to all commissions. Only members were admitted to the meetings of the Guards. The company was organically connected with like organizations throughout the country, and regularly reported to the grand head-quarters, ever holding themselves ready for action. The Native American movement suddenly flowered out brilliantly in the Know Nothing party, carrying a few elections with a dash, but almost as suddenly faded into thin air.
In the Presidential campaign of 1856, the friends of Fremont waxed so warm in their zeal that they stirred all the atmosphere around them. Their purses were as open as their hearts. A huge wigwam, made of rough timber and boards, since their fervor could illy spare time, of sufficient dimensions to hold five hundred people, like Jonahı's gourd, sprung quickly up near the side of the Pawca- tuck Bank. Here crowds resorted to listen to gifted and earnest speakers, and to join enthusiastically in the pithy, patriotic songs. A spirited glee club, organized for the campaign, made the wigwam ring with their quaint and pointed melodies. Thus the political ex- citement rolled like a wave over the region.
In the great political excitement incident to the Presidential election in 1860, Westerly gave birth to a large and enthusiastic company entitled " Wide Awakes,"- the common name at the time for such peculiar political organizations. They were officered as a military company, equipped with caps, capes, and torches, regularly drilled, had martial music, and, following the tactics prepared for
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such organizations, paraded in the evenings, lighting up the town with their torches, and stirring the people with their music. Of these eighty burning and shining lights, one, Mr. Oliver Fowler, bore on his shoulders the expressive emblem of the times, a large rail. Others bore symbolical axes. The company joined in celebra- tions at Providence, Ashaway, Stonington, New London, and Nor- wich, at which last place they won the silk Wide Awake Banner, valued at $100.
The Presidential campaign of 1868 was uncommonly quiet and orderly, from the fact that the great body of the people here, as elsewhere, had predetermined the election. Still, there were flag- raisings, songs, speeches, processions, and hurrahs. The "Boys in Blue," with caps, capes, and torches, under the veteran leader, Col. H. C. Card, and aided by the Westerly Brass Band, very happily aided the warm heart-beat of the patriotic town. And the town gave General Grant a hearty re-election.
CHAPTER XXXV.
WHITE ROCK VILLAGE.
ONE of the first dams thrown across the Pawcatuck was a little below the present village of White Rock. It is believed that it was constructed near the year 1700, and was known as the "Briggs Jeffords Dam." It connected the lands lately owned by Stephen Babcock, Esq., in Stonington, and Weeden H. Berry, Esq., in Westerly. The power of the river was here used for grinding grain, at the opening of the Revolution. The miller here at one time, on the Stonington side, was Mr. George Bentley, who having lost his house by fire, turned temporarily to this occupation.
Mr. Jeffords, from whom the dam was named, lost his life while opening the fish gap, by slipping from the dam into the water. Though his cries for help were heard a half a mile away, he perished before any one could reach him.
Not far from the eastern end of this dam were sunk, as report runs, the first tan vats in Westerly. They were four in number, and until a few years since, when the land was plowed and planted, the location and size of the vats of this old tannery were evident to the eye.
The saw-mill in this location was at one time the property of Mr. Comfort Shaw.
In sketching the village proper, now so widely known for its beauty and the excellence of its fabrics, I shall, in substance, use the words of one of Westerly's esteemed citizens, Mr. Ethan Wilcox, instead of my own, who prepared the sketch at my request.
The village of White Rock has sprung up, as if by the hand of enchantment, within twenty-five years. Although improvements have been developed since the village was built, it was from the first noted as a model factory village. Early in the present cen- tury this locality was known as Crumb's Neck, so called because a portion of the land which juts into the river was owned by Sylvester Crumb. It appears that Mr. Crumb's house was occupied by a school, as one of our oldest citizens, Clark Stillman, Esq., attended school there seventy-five years ago. The house is still
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standing, and presents many evidences of its great age. It has been known as the " Red House," it having received many years ago a coat of red paint.
The valuable mill privilege was owned by Capt. Saxton Berry, and was sold by him, with the land adjoining, for the sum of $1,300, to Messrs. Blodgett, Stafford & Simmons. These gentlemen caused the necessary surveys to be made; a dam was built, and a large dwelling-house was erected. For some reason, said to have been the finding of a white rock in the river, the company took the name of White Rock Company. A pleasant autumnal day was chosen for the purpose of christening the new village, which as yet existed only- in paper plans. The meeting for this purpose was held in the shade of some old oaks which bordered the woods. The moderator on this occasion was Edward Hiscox, an old revolutionary pensioner, well known in this vicinity at that time.
William P. Blodgett and James F. Simmons, both of Providence, with others whose names have not been preserved, made appropriate speeches. Refreshments, such as crackers and cheese, with punch, were placed upon the table and distributed among the crowd. It is said that by some oversight the committee of arrangements neglected to bring the sugar needed in making the punch, and this part of the entertainment had to be deferred till a messenger could go to Pawcatuck and return with the indispensable article. This delay proved an augury of the fate which awaited their enterprise. Although long delayed, it was finally completed, and has become one of the witnesses of Westerly, a monument to the enterprise and sagacity of her capitalists.
Soon after the event described above, one of the partners died, and the times being unfavorable, operations were suspended. After the lapse of several years, Messrs. Rowse Babcock and Jesse L. Moss, having bought out the other parties, took the enterprise in hand. Twenty-four of the tenements are precisely alike. The twelve double houses stand in a line on the east side of the street. The mill was built in 1849, of cut granite and pressed brick .; was 185 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 5 stories high, with a tower 22 feet square and 90 feet high; and contained 10,152 spindles, and pro- duced annually 1,400,000 yards of rolled jaconets and fine shirt- ings. The superintendents have been, Isaac Hall, Alvin Greene, Chace, and Angelo Howland. Only a little over one half of the available power was used, until the village, in 1873, was purchased by Messrs. B. B. & R. Knight, of Providence. The Messrs. Knight have, since they purchased this estate, expended large sums of money, enlarging. the mills, putting in engines, building dwelling- houses, and beautifying the grounds, the village now being nearly twice the size it was when purchased by them.
In 1856 a neat and commodious school-house, 30 by 40 feet, was
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built by the proprietors of the village, which has been occupied ever since for school purposes without cost to the district. After several preliminary meetings had been held, a Sabbath school was organized July 24, 1851, with Stephen A. Greene, superintendent ; Philip Til- linghast, vice-superintendent; James Cole, librarian; and Samuel B. Clark, clerk, who was succeeded, Aug. 10 of the same year, by J. D. Taylor. A room in one of the dwelling-houses was fitted up with seats at the expense of its owners, and used by the school for many years. At present its sessions are held in the school-house, which is also used for public worship. The winter of 1856 and '57 was made memorable by a great revival, in which over fifty were con- verted. During the war a Soldiers' Aid Society was formed, an exhibition was given by the young people for its benefit, and valu- able aid was rendered at a time when it was most needed. Over twenty of the young men of the village enlisted in the loyal army; two of them lost their lives in the service of their country, and to-day sleep beneath Southern soil. Seldom has White Rock, in the winter season, been without either a singing school, evening school, or lyceum. Its "Excelsior Club" had an existence of over two years.
In reviewing the history of this village, we feel the conviction that it has contributed materially to the life and prosperity of the town. It is a noble witness to enterprising men.
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE QUARRIES.
IT seems to be the general order of Divine Providence that light is imparted to men in proportion as their circumstances call for the light, and they are found with a disposition to use it for the general good. So it has been in reference to the art of printing, the mavi- ner's compass, the steam-engine, the electric telegraph, and the use of mineral coals. Knowledge is withheld until it is needed, and will be used for the world's sake. The gold of California and Colo- rado was kept veiled in the mountains till man was ready to use it in the interests of civilization. So, in due time, the forces and treasures of the earth are opened to man's use.
While Westerly is indeed without her broad river valley, since her river rolls between rocks and hills, and comparatively destitute of broad alluvial lands, yet not destitute of good soil, she has an unusual compensation for the ruggedness of her features in the great value of her hills. The visions of the former money-diggers have been realized in an unexpected form. The rocks and ridges of ledges, once thought a deformity and an obstacle, have lately been transmuted into treasures. Quarries of fine and beautiful granite, surpassing almost anything of the kind in our country, have been opened on the hills at the east and northeast of the village. These now engage hundreds of men, and furnish not only elegant building stones, but all manner of beautiful stone ornaments and superior specimens of monumental architecture.
Already seven different quarries are yielding their crystal treas- ures. The varieties are white, blue, red, and maculated. The fame of these quarries has already gone far abroad over the whole country. From these rocks was chosen Rhode Island's block and contribution to the national monument in Washington; and contracts are being constantly executed for the elegant monuments and adornments of the cemeteries of the country.
The first quarry, which is still the largest and most prized, was discovered near 1845, by Mr. Orlando Smith, from certain bowlders and rubble-stones on the surface of the ground. It is on the top of Rhodes's Hill, on the farm once owned by Dr. Joshua Babcock,
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THE ANTIETAM SOLDIER.
CUT FROM WESTERLY GRANITE, FROM THE QUARRIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND GRANITE COMPANY.
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THE QUARRIES.
between the old Babcock House and the site of the old Hill Church. Mr. Smith bought the farm, and opened the quarry near 1847. In a few years the town suffered a great loss in Mr. Smith's death. The quarry has since been managed in the name of Mr. Smith's estate, and is now known as the Smith Granite Company, conducted by Mr. William A. Burdick and Mr. Orlando R. Smith, as agents. On the premises are shops, a store, long sheds, barns, and steam- engines to pump the water from the excavations.
A second quarry, which is, however, but the northeastern portion of the first, being on lands adjoining, was, in 1866, purchased and opened by Mr. George Ledward. Ledward sold to J. G. Batterson, when the quarry was operated by Batterson & Ledward, but finally passed into the hands of Batterson and others, who operate it under the firm of the Rhode Island Granite Works, with J. G. Batterson as president, having the head-quarters for business with the New England Granite Works, in Hartford, Conn. All this hill-top yields the fine white granite, with some specimens of the maculated.
From these already widely famed quarries have been out, besides untold quantities of superior building material, very many rare monumental and ornamental works of art for nearly every portion of our country. Perhaps the most beautiful and famous work is the " Antietam Soldier," for the Antietam battle-field, regarded as one of the finest colossal figures of the world, designed by Carl Conrads, and cut from a single block of granite. The block, when lifted from the quarry, weighed about sixty tons. The statue is 21 feet 6 inches high, and weighs 30 tons, and is to stand on a pedestal 23 feet 6 inches high, making the whole height of the monument 45 feet. The figure grandly represents an American infantry soldier of the late war (the Rebellion), in the Union arms and costume, stand- ing at parade-rest, with a face of inspiring fimness, calmness, fear- lessness, intelligence, and devotion. The praise of this statue is now on the lips of the millions who have already looked upon it ; and the land of Roger Williams -the quarry of granite political principles - is proud of having furnished the material for this national work of art.
. Of the best specimens of the Westerly granite, it is stated, on authority, that it not only excels most other granites in fineness of texture, homogeneousness, durability, and the power of retaining its beauty under exposure to the teeth of the elements, but its " crush- ing resistance " far exceeds all others; they varying from 6,000 to 13,000 pounds per square inch, while this endures 19,000 pounds per square inch. It admits of a crystal polish, and its hues, according to the veins chosen, vary from gray to blue-black. How to the fathers of only fifty years ago would have sounded a prediction of this precious and substantial wealth of the hills !
About half a mile to the north of these quarries, and just north
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of the railroad, in the lands of Mr. William R. Frazier, has been opened a rich vein of red granite. The high bluff and ridge were leased to Mr. Orlando Smith, and the quarry has been worked in the name of the Smith estate, by Mr. W. A. Burdick. The granite here obtained is greatly prized for building purposes.
To the northwest of this quarry, in Vincent Hill, has been opened a quarry of white and blue granite, with occasional veins of red. The hill is now the property of Mr. John R. Macomber, who is bringing out its treasures.
Easterly from these last two quarries, on the line of the railroad, on the north side of the road, are two quarries, one owned by Edward Clarke, the other held and worked by Mr. Charles P. Chap- man. These furnish choice material for building purposes.
A seventh quarry was opened by Mr. Jonathan Lamphear and Mr. Ephraim Lamphear on Cormorant Hill, north of Lamphear Hol- low. This granite, though of a very fine quality, lies mainly in thin strata ; hence it is sought for flagging, paving walks, curb-stones, stone posts, and like uses.
These stone mines are a source of large and permanent revenue to the town. And there are other outcroppings of granite yet untouched.
In the two quarries worked by the Smith estate, there have been. paid $90,000 to workmen annually. The estate uses a working capi- tal of at least $100,000. Monuments have been executed for Doctor Wayland, Commodore Foote, General Sedgwick, General Stevens, General Rodman, General Harker, Doctor Cleveland, Doctor Dut- ton, and Professor Stillman.
The quarry managed by the Rhode Island Granite Works has used a working capital of about $75,000 in a year.
Westerly has also a small quarry of steatite, soap-stone, which, however, is not being worked. It is situated on the post-road, a lit- tle east of Red Brook, north of Blue Boston, or Irish Plains, and passes under a portion of the road. It lies a little below the surface of the ground. This was a very precious quarry to the aborigines, who here obtained some of their coveted stock for kettles, ladles, and pipes.
We have alluded to Westerly's substantial mines of wealth in her hills of white, blue, and red granite. But she has wealth in her low- lands as well as in her heights. In the bogs, ponds, and swamps, which are numerous, and some of them large, lie vast quantities of excellent peat, as yet almost untouched. In respect to this resource for fuel, and for the dressing of certain grades of soil, perhaps no town in the State, if any on the coast, may claim to be her equal. With the fall of the remaining forests of the town, and the increased cost of coal in the country, these abundant peat-beds may eventually become an important source of revenue, as similar beds are already profitable on Block Island and Long Island.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
FISHERIES.
WHEN first visited by Europeans, the coast of New England was a favorite habitat of two sorts of whales, finbacks and right-whales. The sounds and bays were vigorously stirred by these stalwart mon- sters. The coast was also frequented by the more migratory species of cetacea, sperm whales. These inhabitants of the deep were the admiration of the natives, and were sometimes caught by them in shoal water. Such capture was an event that greatly added to the renown and wealth of the captors. By sudden tempests and gales the oleaginous monsters were sometimes driven upon the shores. To such events we find a reference in the early records of the town.
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