Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

with great success. He is now Vice-Pres. of the Housatonic R. R. Col. Stevenson was a member of the Common Council in 1875, an alderman in 1876, 1877 and 1878,. was admitted to the Fairfield County Bar, after passing examinations, in the same year, was President of the Young Men's Democratic Cleveland and Hendrick's Club- in 1884, was appointed Aid-de-Camp with rank of Colonel on the Staff of Governor Waller in the same year, was President of the Eclectic Club of Bridgeport, Grand Master and General Aid of the I. O. O. F., a prominent Mason, President of the Association of American Railroad Superintendents, a Director of the Railway Tele- graph and numerous other companies and railways, beside having held many other prominent and influential positions, which give abundant evidence to the progressive- ness and energy of his active life. Charles S. Strattoist, otherwise and generally known as General Tom Thumb, was born in Bridgeport in 1837, and in 1842 was secured by Mr. Baruum as one of the most striking curiosities of his great show, he being at that time only two feet in height, yet perfectly formed and handsome. His father was Sherwood E. Stratton, of Bridgeport, and he came of an old family who had lived in this region for over a hundred years. General Tom Thumb had great success in New York, and in 1844 sailed for Europe with Mr. Barnum, where he received distinguished attention and honors from Queen Victoria, King Louis Ph.llippe, of France, and other prominent people, while he was greeted with enthusiasm in London, Paris and other great cities on the Continent. He returned to America after three years' absence, in 1847, hav- ing, before he was ten years old, accumulated a large fortune for his parents and himself, thirty thousand dollars of which were expended in the erection of a beautiful residence in this city. In 1862 Mr. Barnum added to his company the beautiful and highly educated young lady dwarf, Miss Lavinia Warren, and a genuine love and courtship sprang up between hei'self and Gen. Tom Thumb, resulting in the marriage of the two at Grace Church, New York City, February 10, 1863, which attracted the attention of the civilized world. From that time on they lived and traveled together to all appearances worthy to be numbered among the happiest married couples in America. Gen. Tom Thumb and his beautiful Avife visited Europe several times, and were probably introduced to a large majority of the present generation living in this, country. The General died at his beautiful home in Middleboro, Mass., July 15, 1883, and was buried in Bridgeport. This record of the public men of Bridgeport is one of which she may justly be proud, and their names and services will ever be cherished in the grateful memories of her citizens. BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. 61 CHAPTER VIII. A MODERN CITY. In no other respect, perhaps, is the admirable foresight and care of the leading- citizens of Bridgeport more remarkably displayed for the present and all time, than in the many forms and ways in which the city has been and is being beautified as it has grown into large proportions. As a result we now have beautiful avenues and magnificent parks, which justly have won for Bridgeport the sobriquet of "Park •City," it being estimated by competent authorities that the city has one acre of park territory to every 170 of its population, "probably a larger park area to the number of inhabitants than any other city in the United States." Among other beautiful objects of interest it is right that we should consider the most important, the parks, first. These comprise the following: Seaside Park, one hundred acres in extent; Beard sley Park, one hundred and twenty-five acres; Washington Park and the Pa- rade Ground, about fifteen acres; in all two hundred and forty acres of park territory. Seaside Park is the result of a movement started in 1863, in which Hon. P. T. Barnum took the lead. His efforts were admirably seconded by Messrs. Frederick Hurd and James C. Loomis. Originally it was thirty-five acres in extent, of which Mr. Barnum gave seven. It has received many additions since, Mr. Barnum himself giving thirty acres more, and has been continually improved and adorned, until now it has few equals in New England. It is situated on the shore of Long Island Sound, about a mile out Main street from the post-office, and extends as far west as Black Rock Harbor. A striking picture of its situation and outlook is given by the fol- lowing sketch, which appeared in the Standard, October 1, 1S63, when the move- ment for the park was first started: "It is a beautiful piece of land, free from rocks, skirted for a considerable part of the way on the north by fine forest trees, and bounded on the south for its entire length by the sparkling waters of the Sound. From this water-front, which is cool and pleasant in the hottest days, a picturesque and enchanting water view is ob- tained. On the left, as we stand facing the harbor, is the city, with its tall spires and chimneys pointing skyward from among the trees; the harbor, dotted with its sailing craft; and the wooded point opposite with its cottages; to the west the green, sloping shores of Black Rock stretch far around to the lighthouse. Far away to tht south, across the Sound, rise the hills of Long Island, in picturesque beauty, while upon the intervening, placid waters, float a constant panorama of white-sailed vessels, passing up and down these blue waters of the Sound." Two beautiful monuments have been erected in the park and add to its attrac- tions. The first is in honor of the soldiers of the late war, and is a magnificent work of art, having cost about $30,000. Upon it are inscribed the names of the men who 62 BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT VIEW IN SEASIDE PARK. died in the war. The movement to obtain it was started and conducted by the Ladies' Soldiers' Monument Association, being aided by a special appropriation of the town of Bridgeport. A fine statue of Elias Howe, Jr., also stands in the park, facing the Sound, and reminding visitors of what perseverance and skill can do in the achievement of success in life. There is also a trotting course in the pai'k, which is a model of its kind, having an amphitheater from eight to fifteen feet below the road-bed of the boulevard, and the race-course passing around a beautiful lake which is on a level with the surface of the Sound. The fine residence of Mr. Barnum, " Waldemere " (woods-by-the-sea), on the northern boun- dary of the park, together with several other residences, have a beautiful effect upon the scenery to one riding through the park. The princely gift of Beardsley Park, made to the city by Mr. James W. Beards- ley in 1878, has already been mentioned. This park is located in East Bridgeport, on the opposite side of the city from Seaside Park. In contrast to the sea-view of the latter, it presents beautiful woodland, hill and lakeside scenery, and thus the two together make Bridgeport unusually rich in this most important department of city life, the recreative. The other parks and greens are easily accessible and well worthy of a visit. There are seven cemeteries in Bridgeport. The Mountain Grove Cemetery is situated in the northwestern part of the city, and contains about eighty acres, admirably graded, adorned and maintained. It is bounded on the west by the pic- turesque stream known as Ash Creek, and at the entrance are a very beautiful stone tower and gateway. Pembroke Cemetery is situated near " Old Mill Green," in^ BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. 63. THE BAND STAND IN SEASIDE PARK. East Bridgeport, bordering on Stillman's Pond, and is about sixteen acres in extent. It is next to the oldest in the city, having been originally chartered in 1811. The Old Stratfield Burial Ground dates back to the earliest days of the colony and con- tains the earthly remains of many of the first settlers. It is therefore invested with peculiar reverence and interest, and has been preserved with scrupulous care. The tombstones present a strange and often very pathetic blending of the sincere reli- gious devotion and rude poetic art of the Puritanic days. This cemetery is located in the northwestern part of the city and will well repay a visit, as it is rich in his- toric associations. Park Cemetery is one of the most recent of all the cemeteries, having been first opened in 1878. It is situated in the northeastern section of Bridgeport. There are beside three Catholic cemeteries in the city, which are all finely situated and kept. « The Bridgeport Hospital, situated on Mill Hill avenue, is one of the largest and most admirably arranged institutions of its kind in the State. The first bequest was made by Mrs. Susan Hubbell, consisting of $13,500 and an acre of ground. Through the devoted efforts of Dr. George F. Lewis and others the fund was increased to 150,000, and the legislature granted $50,000 more and a charter in 1878. The building was completed in 1884, at an expense of over $100,000, and has since been maintained in a manner worthy both of the noble charity itself and the generous Christian humanity of the citizens of Bridgeport. Reference has already been made to the fine church edifices and school buildings of the city as well as the beautiful structures containing the public library, Y. M. C. <34 BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. A., and the various large societies of Bridgeport. Among other large and magnifi- cent business houses may be mentioned those of the Connecticut and Bridgeport National Banks, beside many others which are hardly surpassed by any in New England, or the country. The Bridgeport Post-office and City Hall building are situated on State street, and it is sufficient to say of all the departments of the city government that they are executed with the same energy and attentive care which have marked the whole history of Bridgeport. Hawes' Opera House, situated on Fairfield avenue, affords entertainment of the highest order to the citizens, and the best companies of the country are accustomed to give productions there.