History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

"Next south of Najah W'ildnian stood a hmi^e where A. N. Wildman's residence now is. "On the river-bank stood a mill. It was built in the last century by Daniel Comstock for a grist-mill, and occupied by Samuel C. Dibble. Afterwards for many years it served as a hat-forming factory, and was owned by Nirum Wildman. To-day the spot has again become the location of a grist-mill, — that of G. S. Disbrow. For some years it was used as a mill. There was considerable feeling at one time in the community occasioned by this mill. The occu|>ant wanted to build a waste-weir to empty into the stream at a point just below the opposite side of the street, but Mr. Knapp, who lived on the corner and owned the land, would not give him the right of way. The only alternative was to ta)) Mad River just above its junction with Still River, near to where is the rear of Nichols i^c nine's factory. The plan did not work, however, as the grade did not give suHieient fall to carry oH' the water. As the gri.sl-mill was a matter of considerable importance to the people, public senti- ment took a hand, and Mr. Knapp was induced to consent to the emptying of the weir in Still River in the rear of his house. The mill-building was last oc- cupied l)y Holly & Wildman, wool-luit maiuil'acturers. It was destroyed by fire in IStW. " The building on the corner of Elm Street now owned by H. N. Fanton was at that time the liome- sfead of Samuel Tweedy. If has been made into stores and built on to considerable since then. In its rear stood a hat-factory occupied by Tweedy iV Bene- dict. "Bfhcrrn While and lAbrrtij .Streets.— ThvTi- have been more changes in that portion of Main Street be- tween these points than in any other jiart of the thorouglifare, an<l far less in Main Street as a whole DANBURY. 197 than in any other street, except, |i(rlia|is, SdUth Street. ■ " In I8I0 there were hut eii;lit liiiih.liii<;s im the east side of Main Street betwei'U \\'hite and Liberty, where is now an almost nnlirolcen hunk of business ]daees. The space not inimeiliately ueeupied l)y these l)uild- inj:s was used for gardens and fiehls, jirineipally pas- turage, wliile that portion in the neighlioriiood of tlie raih'oad buihlings, u]i as far as W'liite Street, was swamp. Except in front of the Imihlings the wall the lengtli of the block was a stone fence. Mulh'in, dock, niilk-wecd, and bramldes were conspicudus pro- ducts. "The first building, ])assing dnwn the street, was a small brown tenement. "Close to it was the ilwelling of Mrs. Betsey I'ene- dict. It stood where is now Sehoppaul's liakery. She owned a store-building, wdiich was next in order, and was then rented by Irel Andiler, Previously, Kli T. Hoyt ami his brother IJussel occupied it. It stood where is now the station cif the Danliury and Xor- walk Railway. "There was no other structure until the dwelling of Lemuel W. Benedict was reaclu^d. It stond where is now the house oeeu])ied by David Pearce. "Mr. Beneilict's neighbor on the south was Samuel H. Phillips. Near his house was a little store run by Mr. Phillips. The same building now stands. Ft be- longs to the estate of the late Sturges Selleck, and is now occupied by Mrs. M. Harris. Mr. Philliiis was a well-known character. He was de|)uty postmaster of Danhury, and kept the ottice in his store. Conse- quently, his place was a re.sort for the various lunun- aries, and Mr. Phillips perhaps heard more men- dacity than any other citizen of |)aiibury. He was a quiet man, of a studious turn, and, having a well- balanced mind, was rarely snr]iriscd into stati's of un- due feeling. One day a wonum apparently very anxious for a letter came in and gave her name. There was nothing for her. " 'I wish you'd look again,' said she, ' for I'm sure there must be a letter here for me.' "He comidied, carefully going over the stock-in- hand. " ' There is no letter here,' he said. "'Well, that's strange,' she muttered. ' I was sure it must be here. When do you sup|i<ise I'll get one?' HLstory does not give his answer. "Another well-known resident was the lU'xt neigh- bor to Postmaster Phillips. He was Eli Mygatt, a heavy gentleman in knee-breeches. His dwelling stood where is now Baldwin Bros.' drug-store, and just ' south of it he kept a drug-.store himself There must be something in the locality favorable t(j the existence of the drug-busine-ss, as it has been used for that pur- pose by difierent parties since the day Uncle Eli be- . gan his enterprise. Both his residence and his store ! have long since pa.ssed away. Uncle Eli had charge of the Franklin Library, as it was kept in his store. He dill not do an extensive business, and made no effort to. " < In the corner of 3Iain and Liberty Streets, wlu're n<jw stands Benedict & Nichols' Bhjck, lived JIathew Curtis. Mr. Curtis was a butcher, and had his slaugh- ter (|uite convenient, it being on Liberty Street, in the icar of his house, and wdiere now stands the Disciples' church. ;\Ir, Curtis did not have a market: no one did in that day. lie followed the course lately re- vivcil bvUrriii Lesscy, of selling his meat entiridy from a wagon. The slaughter was a favorite re.sort for the boys of that day, who are now gray-headed men. and it was also a place frequented by frugal housewives (jf very limited means, where a sheeji's- liead or ]duck could be got for a mere song, and a whole beef's liver tor two or three pennies. " Wt-f/ Si'lr. — On the corner of Elm Street, the premises now owned by .T. S. Taylor, stood the tavern (d' Dr. Jabez Starr, a prominent Revolutionist. Dr. Starr's swinging sign bore the sim])le inscription 'The Inn.' It was the head<iuarters on training-days of the up-town military companies, which consisted of a cavalry and an infantry organization. The in- fantry useil to para<lcin the square fronting the tavern. (In one of these occasion.s — in 1812, we believe — a corporal was to be elected. It ap|iears that the ladies, who favored the military, had the privilege of select- ing the candidate for this honor. Their suffrage was given in behalf of a blushing youth from (Jreat Plain District, then eighteen years ohl. On his election be- ing announced, it was incundjcnt on him to step to the front and pledge himself to faithfully perform the duties of the office. The ladies were assendded in front of the residence of Samuel Tweedy, on tin- oppo- site corner, and the youth, in making his acknowledg- ment, was obliged to face them, — an ordeal that very nearlv prostrated him, but he got through with it. The eighteen-year-old boy was Deacon Eli T. Hoyt. "Peck iSi Wihhnan's grocery was then an unpre- tentious dwelling, little dreanung of the glory it was in time to ripen into, with a gorgeous landscape as a forepiece. "The dwelling and church in the lane, both the priqiertv of the Sandeiiianian Society, were standing then. "The St. (leorge Tavern, now the property of !Mrs. Urana Barnum, was then occupied by her father, William L)obbs. Long before the period of wdiich we write it had ceased to be a hostelry. "Next in order was the residence of Moses Hatch, — or .fudge Hatch, as he was called. It is now owned bv his grandson, Alexander Wihhuan, an<l is unoeeu- jiieil. He had an office built on the street-line, and now moved to rear of the post-oftice building. Moses Hatch was a prominent member of the bar. He de- fended Amos Adams, a negro executed in Itanbury in 1817 for ra]ie. Mr. Hat(di dieil at the early age of forty-one, at the thresludd of w hat promised to be a brilliant career. 198 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. " The residence of the venerable E. Moss White stood where is now the library huildinfr reared by the liberality and public spirit of liis sons. He was liotli a successful farmer and merchant of Danbury, a man well known, thoroughly trusted, and sincerely re- spected by his fellow-townsmen. The old homestead became tlie residence of the bite Col. N. L. White, and after he vacated it it was used by the lil)rary as- sociation until the present buildinfr was started, wlien it was moved to Library Place, where it now stands. " Benajah Starr occupied the present residence of ■ Hon. Roger Avcrill. ! " Next to him lived Deacon Thoma.s Tucker, «rrand- fatlier of the late Col. White. It is now the residence of Mrs. ttcorgc W. Ives. "Next came the residence of Asel Benedict, ^rand- father of the Benedict Brothers, shoe-dealers. The present residence of Eflgar A. Benedict occupies its site. "Mrs. lluldab Starr's house followed. Her prem- ises took in the corner of West Street. Tlie dwelling and lot were bought in 18(54 by J. S. Taylor, who built up the present block of stores and tenements. The ohl homestead is among these, but its identity is completely lost. From IJberfij Street to the Court-House. — Maj. Seth Comstock lived in a substantial residence on the corner of Liberty Street. He was a merciiant, and hail a store just south of liis dwelling. Maj. Comstock was a man in good circumstances, and once in his life created quite a sensation in tlie community. He had a son doing business in New York City. The son wa.s to be married, and desired the ceremony to take ])lace in liis fatiier's liome. He sent word to that effect, directing his father to fix up the place in the best possible style, and he would make good tlie ex- pense. The major accordingly proceeded to make the homestead into a wedding-bower. Carpenters, painters, and ui)holstcrers were set to work, and for days the transformation went on. Sunnucr-liouses, arbors, and grottos were put up in the garden. The entire front of tlie house was changed by elaborate additions placed thereon, and the premises blossomed into the appearance of a small paradise. The place was daily visited by Danbury i)eople, who were filled with ])ride and admiration as they viewed it. Even abroad went the lame of the change, and people from iieiglil)Oririg towns came to .see the (Comstock palace. The transformatiort wils all the talk of the day and supplanteil every other subject. The wedding was in keeping with the ])reiiaration therefor, and filled the street in the neighborhood with curious people.