The Romance of Norwalk

The little settlement’s first meeting house was placed on a choice corner lot, Towne St. and Stamford Path, or speaking in modern language, East Ave. and Fort Point St. Nearby, ground for drilling was marked off. Across the street, on the opposite corner of East ave. and Fort Point street, the Rev. Hanford was placed. His position demanded, of course, that he be put as close as possible to the church. All the rich and prominent men in the community were placed close to the meeting house as a notation of honor. They were not called upon to walk so far to church as were those people less fortunately stationed in life. All church services were held in the meeting house, or rather, all meet¬ ings were held in the church. The same condition prevailed for the first half century in Norwalk. There was no town clerk’s office. A room in the home of Thomas Fitch served that purpose. According to the map, the road at the foot of Strawberry hill, which branched off the Stamford-Fairfield path, led to Stoney Hill and to Saugatuck Playne, a choice strip of arable land. Farther on was Duck Pond, Stephen’s Island and Great Marsh. The map shows also, in its lower left hand corner, where the ancient Indian fort was situated; and in its upper right, the site of the second meeting house, 1660. Almost directly across Towne st., from the first meeting house, on the corner of Fitch st., and East ave., was the spot where the first settlers made their last stop. This spot has been marked by the D. A. R. founders’ stone, as pre¬ viously explained. EARLY PROBLEMS Chapter V Norwalk Discouraging Wilderness — Game and Fish Here — Log and Frame Dwellings — Dress and Character of Settlers — First Town Records — Ludlow Sells Norwalk Holdings to Residents and Quits Country . The most primitive of problems confronted our Norwalk ancestors, when they first arrived here, problems, all of which centered around the very serious business of just plain liv¬ ing; where to sleep, how to get food, how to obtain clothing, how to keep warm and comfortable. If we go back a few hundred years and take a look at these forefathers we will find out what they discovered here, what they ate, what they lived in, what they wore, what sort of characters and disposi¬ tions they had, and finally, just how they managed to solve their many and complex problems. Norwalk may have been a wilderness in the early 1650’s, but it was a fertile wilderness. Plenty of wild game was found here : moose, deer, bears, wild turkeys more swift than Indians and of. incredible size, and nearly as numerous as the fallen logs under which they hatched their young; shy, fat geese, partridges, quail, ducks, cranes, coons, rabbits, squirrels, pigeons so plentiful that they darkened the sky when they rose from the ground according to one of the early writings; dozens of species of ducks, and fox, mink, muskrats, wolves, otters and beavers. A number of fur bearing animals will be seen in this list and from their backs the settlers shortly replaced their worn out English clothing. In the sea, the men found eels, bluefish, smelt, bass, white fish so plentiful they could be used for fertilizers, sturgeons, porpoises and whales. Oysters, clams, lobsters and other 5i $2 ROMANCE OF NORWALK shellfish were here in profusion. The varieties of trees in¬ cluded chestnut, oak, many kinds of pine; walnut, cedar, wild cherry, giant maple, beech, birch, white and red ash, butter¬ nut, buttonball, poplar, hemlock, spruce, elms and sassafras. FIRST HOMES From the great oaks, the early Norwalkers built their first homes, partly because this kind of tree was strong and sturdy, partly because it was there in great plenty, and partly because it was a wood with which they were already familiar. Great logs cut from the green trees were laid one above the other and the cracks filled with a clay or ground oyster shell mix¬ ture. Some of the first houses boasted log roofs also, while it is thought that many of them had thatched tops. All were one story high, built close to the ground. Inside was an earthen floor or perhaps one of split logs, as smooth as ax could hew. Tiny windows paned with linseed oil greased paper allowed a dull light to seep into the one room of the house. A great heavy door with oak bar behind, kept out all unwelcome customers and heavy storms alike. It is believed that the very first log houses were quickly followed by oak framed dwellings, one, one and a half or even two stories high, with a protective covering of split oak clapboards to take the place of the clay or the “cob”. This last soft mixture might be all right for England’s gentle rains but it was found impractical for the strain of American storms. The second Norwalk dwellings which might be called the first “real” homes, for the log cabins preceding them were only used as temporary shelters, again showed the English influence. They were low, in spite of their usual story and a half, built close to the ground and they boasted chimney stacks either in the middle of the house or at the one end, of unusual size in relation to the general plan. Roofs were slanting and of common rafters with horizontal boarding; first glass windows were of the casement type, or else set in, diamond shape; doors were of batten style or else they were EARLY PROBLEMS 53 made of two thicknesses of boards nailed together at right angles to each other; hearths were laid and faced with clay and stone. Inside, these early homes, though not luxurious, were cozy and comfortable except in dead winter. Then they were like arctic ice igloos. A peep inside one of the homes gives a fair idea of how these pioneers lived. At the farther end of the main room was a great stone chimney, boasting a high mantel topped by the family heirloom candlesticks. Often there were silver candlesticks, but no candles, for tallow was scarce and hard to get. It is thought that for illuminating purposes the early colonists used pine knots or fish oil. Above the mantle swayed a crude “payre of scales.” To the side of the hearth stood the necessary shovel, poker and bellows, and on the crane on the hearth hung a great copper “kettel,” filled with bean soup or hasty corn pudding. A wainscot settle, one of the stiff, high backed, cut out box effects, really a bench with back convertible into a table top, usually stood on one side of the hearth, with the wood- box, a couple of “stooles” or rush bottom “chayer” on the other. A child’s wooden rocker cradle, several rude seats, rows of decorated platters on shelves, and the usual great oak chest in which all the family treasures were kept, com¬ pleted the furnishings. A great batten door provided the only entrance and exit to the home. Floors were wide- boarded and often sanded. Wood or curtain partitions di¬ vided the rooms. In the second section of the house, the chamber, was the “bedde” with flock “beddinge”, or perhaps a mattress of wool or turkey feathers or even cat tails, resting on ropes or sacking bottom; and a “Phisick chest with druggs in.” CHARACTERISTICS OF NORWALKERS Simple and practical, though certainly not unlovely, were the furnishings of the first Norwalk homes, and simple and practical with a certain engaging dignity, were the costumes 54 ROMANCE OF NORWALK of the first Norwalkers. The Norwalk women, it is believed, wore not only the “sad gray” of the Pilgrims, but also warm tones of brown, purple, “deere” color and russet. In style the skirt of the gown was turned under and looped back, showing the petticoats of homespun or linsey woolsey. Over this was worn a large white apron. The kerchief, which was put over the shoulders upon going out, may have been checked, spotted or even flowered. The hood, a part of the outdoor costume was generally of dark silk or camlet, a mixture of silk, wool and hair or it may have been also of homespun. Woolen stockings and stout shoes with wooden heels completed the woman’s costume. Cloth or leather doublet and breeches, stockings or hose of dark grey or green wool, fastened to the knee breeches by points of black gallon or ribbon, a long white collar or “playne band”, turned back cuffs of Holland linen, and broad brimmed hat of black felt, featured the clothing styles for men of that period. Shoes were 13 inches long with square toes. On such sturdy bases was Norwalk founded. Of what sort of young man does the average girl of today think when she dreams of her ideal? Someone who is tall and handsome, generous, kind, goodhearted, courageous, brave, rich, a good sport and a good dancer, perhaps. Of what sort of young man did the average girl of 1650 dream? We are not sure, but we do know what she got, and the pic¬ ture isn’t any too alluring. Romance and the softer, gentler characteristics, seemed to be entirely lacking from her hus¬ band’s makeup. At least, they were omitted by those who wrote of the early Norwalk fathers. Witness some of the qualities which were hung about the sturdy necks of the lat¬ ter. They were called stern, unyielding, frugal but fair; courageous, sensible, serviceable, full of principle, veracity and purpose; plain mannered, unflinching, men of convic¬ tion; constant, impartial, of zealous impulses. It was said of the Norwalkers that they had a keen ap¬ preciation of obligation, unswerving faith and genuine piety; an appreciation of education and a love of freedom. One EARLY PROBLEMS 55 writer says that they were distinguished by their “frugality, simplicity and religion.” Another, that they “hungered and thirsted after righteousness,” had the land hunger also, and were willing to work for both together in the wilderness. Little mention is made of the women’s characteristics. However, they must have been strong minded for they not only had to endure all the hardships that the Pilgrim fathers endured, but they had to endure the Pilgrim fathers as well.