The Romance of Norwalk

is located at 99 Washington st. Frederick Rowan is presi¬ dent. The South Norwalk Trust Company was organized April 4 and began business April 15, 1901. Richard H. Golden was the first president. The bank is now at 93 Washington st. Richard H. Golden is still president. The People’s Trust Co. opened for business June 20, 1914. A. G. Hein was president during the organization, and Charles F. Mills was president as soon as the company opened its doors. The bank which was at 79 Washington st., is now in its new spacious quarters on North Main st. Charles F. Mills is president. Announcement of the organization of the Central Fair- field Trust Co., was made September 19, 1923. It was stated that the Fairfield County National Bank and Trust Co. and the Central Trust Co., had consolidated and would henceforth be known as the Central Fairfield Trust Co. Officers of the new bank were given as: E. O. Keeler, rormer lieutenant governor of Connecticut, chairman of the hoard of directors; John T. Prowitt, president; Charles F. Tristram, vice-president; Emile Hemming, vice-president; William FI. Southworth, treasurer; Cyrus M. Benedict, as¬ sistant treasurer. The Fairfield County hank, the oldest in the city, was organized in Norwalk in 1824, as aforestated. First banking quarters were in rooms owned by Charles Thomas and rented for one year at $65. In 1865 the banking system was changed to that of national banks and the Fairfield County Bank became the Fairfield County National bank. As the Fairfield County National Bank was the first to be incor¬ porated in the old town of Norwalk, the Central National Bank was the last to organize in the old town of Norwalk. It was chartered in June, 1876, and was located where the Thomas restaurant, 26 Wall st. now stands. The Central National Bank was later converted into the Central Trust Co. It was as the Central Trust Co., that the bank, with the Fairfield County National Bank, consolidated into the Central Fairfield Trust Co. Emile Hemming is now BANKS— CHURCHES 229 president of the last named new bank, located at 59 Wall st. The National Bank of Norwalk, now situated at 5 1 Wall st., once occupied a little wooden store on Wall st. Un¬ painted pine desks and counters were the furnishings while the money was kept in a small safe. Two grain sacks pro¬ tected the books which were left in a convenient place for quick removal in case of fire. Frank A. Ferris was an early clerk of this bank and he received the munificent salary of $50 a year. The cashier was a rich man, living in luxury on $1,500 a year. The president was serving on a nominal salary. At that time, the president of the Fairfield County Bank received “one cent for each signature on the bank’s bills.” No sooner had the National Bank of Norwalk opened than the panic of 1857 broke out. This was the second financial panic to affect Norwalk, the first in 1837, having come some 13 years after the organization of the Fairfield County Bank. Horror swept over the United States in 1857 when the financial catastrophe crushed the country. The panic, which was due in large measure to land speculations, caused the suspension of many banks and caused 5,123 commercial liabilities exceeding $300,000,000. It is interesting to note here that during the entire panic, the Bank of Norwalk bills passed as par everywhere and that they were redeemed in both Boston and New York. The Bank of Norwalk was robbed September 30, 1869, when $170,000 in money and securities was taken. The vault of the bank had been blown open with nitro glycerine. An associate of one of the robbers was captured several years later and a little of the money recovered, but the master thieves were never apprehended. FIRST CATHOLICS The first Catholics came to Norwalk in 1828. Twenty- three years later, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic church or rather chapel, was erected in this community. Between 230 ROMANCE OF NORWALK the years 1828 and 1840, Catholicism gained a firm foot¬ hold in Norwalk. During that time also, the South Nor- walkers built themselves a Congregational church; the Bap¬ tists came to town; and the Mormons arrived. Michael Cooney and family of New York were the first Catholics to come to Norwalk during May, 1828. Mr. Cooney was a hat dyer and he lived near the dock on the east side of Water st. A year later, William Donahoe and family set¬ tled here. Clement Burns followed and then came the Gil- hooly and Brennan families. By 1832, Norwalk was being visited semi-annually by Father McDermott, who continued to come here until he was transferred to Lowell, Mass., in 1837. Mass was said in the front room of Mr. Cooney’s house. Rev. James Smyth of New Haven was the next priest to visit this com¬ munity and he said mass in various places, including a house in Rowayton. By the time the year 1848 arrived, the Catho¬ lic population was beginning to consider a resident priest. Accordingly, a committee made up of John Hanlon, John Foley, Paul Bresnen, Terence Reynolds and Farrell Gil- hooly, petitioned Bishop Tyler for a resident priest. Rev. John Brady was appointed to Norwalk and no sooner had he arrived than he commenced negotiations to secure a church building for his congregation. Both Catholics and Protestants contributed generously to the proposed church. Rev. Mead of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church headed the list with a large subscription. The church was completed in 1851 and on January 28 of that year was dedicated by Bishop O’Reilly. The present grey stone St. Mary’s church on upper West ave. was dedi¬ cated in 1870. Rev. John Russell came to Norwalk in 1878. He built St. Mary’s parochial school, purchased the con¬ vent and introduced the Sisters of Mercy from Meriden into this parish. Rev. John Furlong came in 1896. It was he who felt that the people of his parish needed a place for social entertainments and so he purchased the property op¬ posite the Catholic church on West ave. where the Catholic BANKS— CH UR CHES 231 club was established in 1897. The present priests of St. Mary’s are Rev. Thomas J. Finn, assisted by Rev. John Shea. In 1927, women of the church, assisted by the men, raised sufficient money to erect the Catholic Community house, Leonard st., which is used by Catholic and non-Cath- olic organizations alike and has proved a boon to the neigh¬ borhood. St. Joseph’s parish was founded in September, 1895 and the division of the Catholics, uptown and downtown, was effected. The corner stone of the present handsome brick church on South Main st. was laid April 4, 1897, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Tierney. Dedication of the completed church took place Decoration Day, 1900, and there were present at the time from the Diocese and neighboring states, no less than 125 clergymen. The present priests at St. Joseph’s are Rev. Denis P. Hurley, assisted by Rev. Vincent Finn. St. Ladislaus Hungarian Catholic church of which further mention is made a little later, was organized 20 years ago. At the present writing, a Catholic church is being contem¬ plated in East Norwalk. 1 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES Of the three deacons chosen for the South Norwalk Congregational church shortly after its opening meeting, January 4, 1836, two came to violent ends. The first, John Bouten, who served 20 years, was instantly killed by a fall from the scaffold during the enlarging of the church in 1856. Daniel K. Nash who served 28 years, met death by a fall from a tree. The third deacon, Stephen G. Ferris, was permitted to serve for 57 years when he fell asleep.” It was in 1834 that the necessity of building a Congregational church in South Norwalk first made itself felt among the people here. On August 11, the first meeting to consider the project took place, and January 4, 1836 the first meeting of the newly constituted church was held. The church build¬ ing was completed in 1836. In 1888, ground was broken 232 ROMANCE OF NORWALK for a new church, the building being finished in December, 1889. This is the sturdy edifice on the corner of Flaxhill road, where North Main st. and West ave. join, opposite the soldiers’ monument. Rev. Ambrose DeLapp is the present pastor. The Norwalk Congregational church, of course, antedates all other churches in Norwalk, for although it was not known as such at the time, it was the first house of worship in this city. Its little building stood on East ave., opposite Fitch st. The church was organized as a separate institu¬ tion in 1726 under the name of the First Congregational Society' of Norwalk. In 1790 the fourth building was erected on the Green. It was white with green blinds and boasted a spire. Both the second and third churches stood on East ave. The church which preceded the present one, was con¬ structed in the late ’40’s. The old well remained in the cellar of the building for many years but was finally filled in. Dr. Edwin Hall was perhaps the ablest theologian connected with the church. He will go down in Norwalk history as a benefactor, for it was he who penned “Hall’s History of Norwalk,” one of the few authentic accounts left to us of the ancient historical records of this town. Dr. Hall, it should be added, brought up a family of six chil¬ dren, gave them all a decent education and sent his son to college, all on a salary of not more than $800 a year! The present Norwalk Congregational church, located on the corner of Park and Lewis sts. was dedicated March 15, 1925. Dr. Ernest McGregor is pastor. BAPTIST CHURCHES Because of the pronounced prejudice against Baptists in Norwalk, a prejudice general throughout the country in 183 7, great difficulty was experienced by a little group of local people in securing a location here for a Baptist church. Delegates, representing the Danbury, Stamford, Weston, BANKS— CHUR CHES 233