| [PART I] THE PAST AND PRESENT | |
|---|---|
| PAGE | |
| INTRODUCTION. By Minot S. Giddings | [3] |
| The first settlers of New Milford. Zachariah Ferrisssued for trespass. John Reed and his career. Organizinga township. Organizing a church and calling a minister.The sturdy character of the Fathers. Noted men. RogerSherman. The splendid heritage of New Milford. | |
| GLIMPSES OF OLD NEW MILFORD HISTORY. ByCharlotte Baldwin Bennett | [8] |
| The site of New Milford two hundred years ago. Thecharacter and career of John Noble. The Boardman well.The first minister and the first meetinghouse. The unionof town and church. “Seating and dignifying the meetinghouse.”People called to church by a drum. Thetithing-man. The Sabbath-day house. Importance of theminister. The first Episcopal services. The Separatists.The Baptists. The Methodists. The Quakers. The differentchurch edifices. Church music. The schools. Thesinging schools. The early wars. A romance of the Revolution.Illustrious visitors. Social life after the war.Anecdote of Parson Taylor. Transportation. Main streetnearly a century ago. Beautifying “The Green.” Thevillage doctor. Slavery. The “Underground Railroad.”The Civil War. The fire of 1902. | |
| THE OWNERS OF NEW MILFORD. By Gen.Henry Stuart Turrill | [22] |
| Proprietors to the amount of £1, 4s. Proprietors to theamount of 12s. | |
| TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO. (Poem). BySarah Sanford Black | [24] |
| THE TWO ABIGAILS. By Gen. Henry StuartTurrill | [26] |
| Caleb Terrill settles in New Milford. Major Turrill.Marriage of Caleb Terrill and Abigail Bassett in Stratford.Caleb and Abigail visit Caleb’s family at Milford.They mount the “Great River.” Halt at “the Cove.”The home on Second Hill. The wonderful life of Abigail.The career of Abigail Ufford. | |
| NEW MILFORD IN THE WARS. By Gen. Henry Stuart Turrill | [31] |
| Military inactivity of the first fifty years. The first companyin New Milford. Arduousness of the train-band service.The Second Company. Tenth Company of Col. DavidWooster’s Third Regiment of Connecticut Levy. OtherCompanies. The Eleventh Company of the Fourth Regiment.The Tenth Company of the Second Regiment.Captain Joseph Canfield’s Company. The good understandingwith the Indians. The most prominent names in militaryaffairs. The first company mentioned in connection withthe Revolution. Its history indefinite. Captain Isaac Bostwick’sCompany. The Nineteenth Regiment of ConnecticutLine. Part played in the movements about New York. AtSpuyten Duyvil Creek. Tradition of a sergeant’s guardunder the command of David Buell. The capture of FortWashington. New Milford men made prisoners of war.Confined in a barn. The Old Sugar House Prison. Prisonhardships. Roger Blaisdell’s pork barrel. The prison-shipDutton. Arrival of the surviving prisoners in New Milford.Captain Bostwick’s company about Philadelphia. The Danburyalarm. Captain Daniel Pendleton’s company. Thestay-at-homes. The leading families in the Revolution.Engagements in which New Milford men participated. NewMilford soldiers refreshed by Deacon Gaylord. New Milfordmen at Stony Point. The old age of David Buell.Reunions of old soldiers at the home of John Turrill. Theadventures of Stephen Turrill. | |
| The Colonial Wars | [45] |
| New Milford men in the Colonial Wars as given in theConnecticut Historical Society rolls. | |
| The Revolution | [49] |
| Muster roll of a company said to have been raised inNew Milford and to have formed a part of Colonel AndrewWard’s Regiment of Connecticut Militia. Roll ofCaptain Isaac Bostwick’s company, Seventh Company,Sixth Regiment, of Connecticut Line. Men who crossed theDelaware with Captain Isaac Bostwick and were in thebattles of Trenton and Princeton. Officers and men fromNew Milford who served in the Sixth Company of theFourth Regiment of Connecticut Line. New Milford menwho served in Lieutenant-Colonel Josiah Starr’s Regiment,Connecticut Line. New Milford men who were in Lieutenant-ColonelSamuel Canfield’s Regiment of ConnecticutMilitia at West Point in 1781. New Milford men whoserved in Connecticut Regiment of Pioneers. New Milfordmen who served in Col. Moses Hazen’s Regiment, ConnecticutMilitia. New Milford men who served in the FifthTroop, Shelden’s Dragoons. New Milford men who servedin Second Regiment, Connecticut Line. Company of fortyvolunteers. New Milford men in Captain Charles Smith’scompany. General David Waterbury’s State Regiment.Lieutenant John Phelps’s Troop of Horse. New Milfordmen in Sixth Company, Fourth Regiment, Continental Line.New Milford Men in Captain Kimberley’s Company, SecondRegiment, Continental Line. New Milford men whoserved under Lieutenant-Colonel Canfield in the Tryon invasion.New Milford members of the Society of theCincinnati. | |
| The War of 1812 | [53] |
| The Mexican War | [53] |
| The Civil War | [54] |
| List of men from New Milford who had service in theCivil War. Recapitulation. | |
| The Spanish-American War | [66] |
| RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD NEW MILFORD HOMES. By Alice Merwin Bostwick | [67] |
| The pre-Revolutionary houses. The great chimney. Thegood cooking of the early days. The hard work. Thequilting bee. The shoemaker. The schoolmaster. Homelesswanderers. Indians from the Reservation. The calls of theparson. Visiting. Sunday. Fast Day. Thanksgiving. Thelong winters. Comparison of the life then and now. | |
| UNCHARTERED INSTITUTIONS. By FredericKnapp | [75] |
| The general “sitting-down” place. Levi Knapp’s store.Its influence. Remarkable longevity of its habitués. | |
| TRAINING DAYS IN THE ’FORTIES, AS TOLDBY AN OLD BOY. By Frederic Knapp | [78] |
| Emerson’s appreciation of boys. Training day the dayof the year. Off for a good time. On the parade-ground.At the tavern. The evolutions of the train-band. The lessonstaught. | |
| REMARKABLE LONGEVITY OF NEW MILFORDCITIZENS. By Minot S. Giddings | [81] |
| ACTIVITIES OF NEW MILFORD IN LATER YEARS | [84] |
| Original extent of New Milford. Well watered andfertilized. Beauty of the landscape. Growth of the town.The production of milk and butter. Account of the tobaccoindustry, by Vincent B. Sterling. The hatting industry.The button industry. The furniture industry. Themanufacture of machinery. Paper making. Grist millsand saw mills. The iron industry. Cloth making. Operationsin wood and lumber. Quarrying and burning lime rock.The electric light plant. The New Milford Power Company.Pottery making. Account of the Bridgeport Wood FinishingCompany by George B. Calhoun. Education in New Milford.The early schools. The Housatonic Institute. Adelphi Institute.The Center School. The first kindergarten. TheIngleside School. The New Milford churches. The MemorialHall and Library. The New Milford newspapers. TheNew Milford Brass Band. Roger Sherman Hall. Thebanks. The Agricultural Society. The water supply. Thefire department. The fires of New Milford. The fire of1902. Recovering from the fire of 1902. Recent growthand improvements. | |
| THE STORY OF NEW MILFORD TOLD INCHRONOLOGICAL EPITOME. By Russell B.Noble and Minot S. Giddings | [98] |
| RECORD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF ROGERSHERMAN. By Hon. Ebenezer J. Hill | [115] |
| [PART II] THE BI-CENTENNIAL EXERCISES | |
| INCEPTION AND ORGANIZATION. | |
| Call for a meeting in the New Milford Gazette. The meeting.Preamble and resolution adopted. Further action ofthe meeting. Meeting of the General Committee of Arrangementson July 6, 1906. Action of this meeting. Officers.Sub-committees. Duties of sub-committees. Assessments.Other sub-committees. Names of the officers and membersof the General Committee of Arrangements. The membersof the special committees. The work accomplished by thevarious committees. The Finance Committee. The ExecutiveCommittee. The Committee on Exercises. The appointmentof district committees. Names of the members of thedistrict committees. The Committee on Refreshments.The Committee on Decorations. The Committee on Publicity.The Committee of Invitation, Reception and Entertainment.The Committee on Religious Observances. The Committeeof Public Safety. The Historical Committee. The LoanExhibit Committee. The Committee on Colonial Features.The Committee on Colonial Reception. The Committee onVocal Music. Rest houses. Committee of Public Healthand Comfort. Marshal’s aides. Faithfulness and efficiencyof the committees. | |
| THE OPENING EXERCISES | [136] |
| The weather. Beauty of the decorations on “The Green.”The Doxology rendered by the chimes of all Saints’. TheInvocation. Address of welcome by Charles N. Hall. Theflag-raising. | |
| THE LOAN EXHIBITION | [140] |
| Richness of the collection. Source of joy to the aged anda means of instruction for the young. An exemplificationof public spirit. Possibility of a permanent museum. Acomplete list of the exhibits. | |
| THE OLD HOME GATHERING | [170] |
| Address of welcome by W. Frank Kinney. The exercises.Poem by Mary Murdoch Mason. Cablegram from FrankHine. Letter from Henry S. Mygatt. | |
| OUR FOREFATHERS. (Poem.) By Charles N. Hall | [175] |
| THE SUNDAY EXERCISES | [176] |
| Preaching appropriate to the occasion. Sermon of Rev.Frank A. Johnson in the First Congregational Church.Hymn by Charlotte Baldwin Bennett. Sermon by Rev.Samuel Hart, D. D., in St. John’s Episcopal Church. Sermonby Rev. S. D. Woods in the Baptist Church. Sermonby Rev. H. K. Smith in the Methodist Episcopal Church.Sermon by Rev. Orville Van Keuren in the GaylordsvilleMethodist Episcopal Church. Sermon by Rev. E. Z. Ellis inthe Advent Christian Church. Sermon by Father Ryan inthe Catholic Church. The Union meeting. Address by Rev.Frederick A. Wright of New York. The evening services.The services at All Saints’ Memorial Church. Sermon byRev. Charles J. Ryder, D. D., of New York in the FirstCongregational Church. Sermon by Rev. George S. Bennitt,D. D., in St. John’s Church. | |
| THE AUTOMOBILE PARADE | [227] |
| A bold experiment. Unqualified success. The owners ofthe cars. The prize winners. The decorations of the variouscars. | |
| THE HISTORICAL MEETING | [228] |
| Greeting by Frederic M. Williams. Address by Dr. SamuelHart. Introduction of Chief Justice Baldwin by Mr.Williams. Address on “Roger Sherman” by Chief JusticeBaldwin. Introduction of Hon. Daniel Davenport. Mr.Davenport’s address. | |
| THE COLONIAL RECEPTION | [275] |
| The arrival of Governor Woodruff. The dinner at InglesideSchool. Arrival of the gubernatorial party at RogerSherman Hall. List of persons who assisted in receiving.The ordering of the reception. Brilliancy of the spectacle.The dancing. Governor Woodruff entertained by variousorganizations. | |
| GOVERNOR’S DAY | [277] |
| Temporary population of New Milford. The weather.The Civic and Military Parade. Formation of Parade.Its distinguishing and memorable features. The schoolfloats. The Colonial floats. The industrial floats. The review.The last formal exercises on “The Green.” Introductionof Rev. Timothy J. Lee by Charles M. Beach. Remarksof Mr. Lee. Introduction of Governor Woodruff.Address of Governor Woodruff. Presentation of Rev. WatsonL. Phillips, D. D. Eulogy of the Foot Guard by Dr.Phillips. Presentation of Hon. E. J. Hill. Address ofCongressman Hill. Remarks by Rev. Marmaduke Hare.Concluding remarks by Mr. Beach. The fireworks. | |
| THE AFTERMATH | [295] |
| Retrospect in the New Milford Gazette. Letter fromGovernor Woodruff to Charles M. Beach. Letter fromJ. Moss Ives to H. Le Roy Randall. | |
ILLUSTRATIONS
| Roger Sherman; reproduced from a painting | Frontispiece |
| FACING PAGE | |
| Minot S. Giddings; Dr. George H. Wright; the Knapp Residence | [4] |
| Elijah Boardman | [6] |
| Congregational Church, with Residences of Rev. Nathaniel Taylor and Nathaniel Taylor, Jr. | [14] |
| Jehiel Williams, M. D. | [18] |
| Sally Northrop; David Curtis Sanford; Henry Seymour Sanford; William Dimon Black | [20] |
| The First Well in the Town of New Milford | [24] |
| Falls Bridge and the Gorge | [28] |
| Henry Stuart Turrill | [44] |
| Charles D. Blinn | [54] |
| Levi Sydney Knapp | [74] |
| Alanson N. Canfield | [76] |
| William J. Starr | [80] |
| New Milford Hat Company | [84] |
| Honorable Isaac Baldwin Bristol | [86] |
| United Bank Building | [88] |
| Manufacturing Plant of the Bridgeport Wood Finishing Company | [90] |
| Views of Ingleside School. Post-graduate Department; Ingleside Bungalow; Foundation House | [92] |
| Andrew B. Mygatt | [94] |
| New Milford after the Fire | [96] |
| Captain Garry Brooks | [102] |
| Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., LL. D. | [110] |
| John Prime Treadwell | [112] |
| Henry S. Mygatt | [120] |
| Seymour S. Green; Stephen C. Beach; Andrew G. Barnes; Francis E. Baldwin | [124] |
| H. Leroy Randall; W. F. Kinney; Frederick E. Starr; Charles P. Bentley | [128] |
| Edwin G. Clemence; Miss Adaline L. Buck; Charles J. Ryder, D. D.; Henry Donnelly | [132] |
| Charles N. Hall; Charles M. Beach | [136] |
| Roger Sherman Hall and Church Street | [170] |
| Some New Milford Churches. Methodist Episcopal; Baptist, Northville; Methodist, Gaylordsville; Saint Francis Xavier | [176] |
| Saint John’s Church | [182] |
| Advent Christian Church | [196] |
| New Milford Pastors. Rev. Frank B. Draper; Rev. Timothy J. Lee; Rev. Harris K. Smith; Rev. Marmaduke Hare; Rev. Frank A. Johnson; Rev. John F. Plumb; Rev. Father John J. Burke; Rev. Solomon D. Woods; Rev. Stephen Heacock | [202] |
| Memorial Building and Public Library; All Saints’ Memorial Church | [208] |
| Hon. Simeon E. Baldwin | [232] |
| Egbert Marsh; Han. Daniel Davenport | [254] |
| Governor Woodruff, Staff and Guard, in front of Roger Sherman Hall | [276] |
| Samuel R. Hill; Samuel Randolph Hill, Jr. | [278] |
| Main Street from the North | [280] |
| Main Street from the South | [282] |
| Honorable Rollin S. Woodruff | [286] |
PART I
THE PAST AND PRESENT
INTRODUCTION
TWO hundred years ago, in the summer of 1707, the pioneer John Noble, with his little daughter, made his way through the wilderness from Westfield, Mass., and set up his rude cabin in the beautiful valley of Weantinock, on the west side of “Stratford” River, under the shadow of Fort Hill, near neighbor to the Indians, with whom he became very friendly. He trusted their friendship so much that he left his daughter in their care while he went on a journey, following the Indian trail through the wilderness to Albany, to pilot some gentlemen; and, on his return, he found her well taken care of.
He subsequently built a log house on the east side of the river on land now occupied by the residence of Levi P. Giddings.
The next year his son, John Noble, Jr., came and made a settlement, and, before 1712, twelve families had settled here on sites purchased by the Milford Company from the Indians, the purchases having been ratified by the Colonial Legislature; but, strange to say, only two of the twelve, Samuel Prindle and Isaiah Bartlett, came from Milford town.