History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Bulkeley, Allen Nichols, Jonathan Godfrey, Samuel A. Nidiols, William Bibbins, .Tohn Goulrl ; Secretary and Treasurer, F. J). Perry. Only .six of this board now survive. Dei)osits were first received Sept. 25, 1854, in the Southport Bank buildinfr. A new structure was erected, opposite the Soutliport National Bank, for tlie .savings-l)ank and occui)ied June 24, 1805, nearly eleven years after its organization, and then having on deposit $28",(j55.41. The present amount of de- posits (April 24, 1880) is §524,056.18. Present board of managers : President, Frederick Manpuind ; Viee-President.s, Edwin Sherwood, Au- gustus Jennings, .Jonathan Godfrey ; Trustees, George Bulkeley, F. D. Perry, W. B. Meeker, O. B. .Jennings, Oliver Bulkeley, I'asehal Sheffield, George Bulkeley, .Jr.. Francis Jellitf, Franklin Bulkeley, Benjamin A. Bulkeley, Simon C. Shenvood, Royal G. Skiff, John H. Wood, Edward Uenshaw, Ebenezer Jlonroe, Jolin H. Gorham ; I.,oaning Committee, F. Marquand, Edwin Sherwood, and F. D. Perry ; Auditors, L. I-". Sherwood and Henry I>avis ; Secretary and Treasurer, O. H. Perry. LIBRARIES. The writer is indebted to Dr. Dunham and Miss Catharine \. Blakeman, of Greenfield, Mr. J. F. .Jennings, of Southport, and the Bridgeport Standard for the following : The first public library in the town of Fairfield was established about 1790-1800, and disbanded about 1850. It was originally a stock concern. The only account so far advanced is taken from an old bill, in which it is stated that Alfred Perry, in 1827, " bought of the executors of the estate of D.ivid Beer.s, deceased, at jiublic vendue, one share in I-'air- ficld Library for fifty-five cents." Some of the books of the original librarj* are in the present Fairfield Library. The second library was established in Greenfield in 181.3. Each share in the lilirary was sold at two dol- lars and fifty cents. The original by-laws, sub- scribers, and catalogue of books are in possession of M. V. B. Dunham, M.D., of Greenfield Hill. Among the subscribers' names are those a-ssoeiated with the colonial houses, some of whom took two shares, — viz., Rev. William Belden, Walter Bradley, David Hill, William B. Nasji, .\. 1). Baldwin, Giileon Tomlinson, Gershom and Daniel Wakeman. They each paid a yearly tax of fifty cents. For keeping books beyond the allotted time there was levied a fine, and every one was mulcted some time. As i)eople nuiy be curious to know of what libraries were composed in the pre-novel age, a ((notation from the catalogue is given : " ' Spectator,' 8 vols. ; ' Ram- bler,' 4 vols. ; ' Lives of the Poets,' 4 vols. ; Rollins' ' Antient Historj,' 8 vo^. ; ' Crolebs,' 2 vols.; 'Prac- tical Piety,' 'Cliristian Morals,' ' History of Charles Twtlrlh; 'Xkar of Wakefield,' 'Life "of Calvin,' Clark's 'Palestine,' 'Robinson Crusoe,' Jay's 'Ser- mons,' " etc. The third library was founded in Southport in Feb- ruary, 1830, under the name of "Mill River Social Library." In this the cost of life-membership was ten dollars. Of life-members there were Jeremiah Sturge.', Hezckiah Davis, Julius Pike,* Simeon Sher- wood, and .Joseph Bulkeley. The fourth was formed in Greenfield in May, 1830, when the members agreed to constitute a joint stock by subscribing five dollars apiece. This time they purchased Arnott's " Physics," " Phrenology," Gib- bons' " Rome," " Geology," and works of a similar character. The fifth was at the Southport public school, which was established in 1858 by Mr. Frank D. Brinsmade, the principal of said school, who raised by jmblic exhibitions a sufficient sum to purcha.se two hundred volumes, of which there are only two known to be in existence. The sixth is the "Library Association of 5Iill Plain," abbreviated to "L. A. M. P.," which was es- tablished in 1871. The founders were Jliss R. .S. Carew, Ebenezer Burr, Jr., and Mrs. Burr Perry. It was originated by the latter, and began with no pub- lic meeting, but was started with one dollar by Mrs. Perry for capital. It has a circulating library of more than seven hundred and fifty volumes, hits been suc- cessful, and retains its popularity. It is the only li- brary organization in the town that has never changed its ])rincipnl officers. It has been largely augmented throu,-li the donations of Mr. D. M. Redfield and his sisters, Mrs. Lounsbury, of Portchester, and Mrs. John Abendroth, of New York. The seventh library was founded in Greenfield about the time the " L. A. M. P." wius organized, and had for a nucleus the renuiins of its former libraries. The people of Greenfield jireserve a warm interest in iu behalf It also numbers over seven hundred and fifty volumes, and is a decided succi^s. The eighth was organized in Southport in 1S75. Two hundred and fifty dollars were subscribed liy private individuals, which sum was incre;i.sed by yearly dues. This library was given to the tcmiier- ance organization. Tiie ninth, and last, was the "Memorial Library," given to Fairfield in 187(j by Mr. Morris W. Lyi.ii, who donated the generous sum of one tliousand dol- lars for its establishment. Mr. Lyon is a native of Fairfield, but for the past twenty-four years has resided in New York, where he still hius a collegiate institute for bovs. Tile original directors were: Rev. Drs. E. E. Rankin (who, having town, resigned), Samuel Osgood (who deceased while he wsis its popular and efficient president), Rev. James K. Lombard (present president), and Messr.s. J. H. Glover, O. B.Jennings, Deacon Samuel Morehouse, and Deacon H. W. Cur- * Only living Dicmlwr. In! B m m gS 5& m 5s SI @ FAIRFIELD. 343 tis (dec'cnscd ). At jircsent it has a ciix-iilation (it'dix- tliousand VdliiiiK's. Mr. Lyon has recently aihh'd a hirpc >mn tii tlic iirifriiial jiift, aii<l proves himself a lie)ielaetiir to the literary worlil and to Ids native town. The 31111 I^lain sehool also owns tlu' " .Vnierienn Cyeloiia'<lia" eoniiilete (this is also in (ireenlield and Fairtield libraries) ; so that, with the reference hook^ in all the ludilic libraries, tlie readers in Fairlield are well nccf)nimodated. But, this being a wealthy town, there is not that need of circulating libraries which there would be if so many private individuals had not such extensive ones of their own. SCHOOLS. The first rcferonce to schools in the old town records is under date of Pec. 27, KJGl, as follows: " Wlicroiis y^ town liath fornu-rly voted y* y school-nmster shall liave ten pounds towards his wages out of y^ town-rate; and it is now (>rder<-d for y fifteen i">nnds y' remains of his wages it shall lie paiil hy y*" master and parents of sncli Children as need teaching from six yeai'Soldand upwards; and if any shall send tlndrCliililren nnder six years old or girls they siiall be esteenu-d pnyahle scholars," From that time to the present a lively interest lias ever been manifested in the educational training of the youth, tiiid the srdiools of Fairiield have ever been ranked among the Ijest in the State. The idd academy on Greenfield Hill was one of tlie leading eihicatioiiid institutions of the d;iy. It w;is established by Timothy l)wight, D.D., and conducted hy him about twelve years. In IS.'iS it was being conducted as a young ladies' seminary, but has long since been abandoned. For present condition of the schools, see (leneral History. THE SOl'TIIPORT TIMES.* The managing editor (d' this ]n>|iuhir family news- paper is Henry A. Van Dalsem, and it is issuetl etirly every Friilay morning. It entered ui)on its third volume Nov. 1, ISSO, and since its first issue has b(>en twice enlarged to meet public demands; which tells its own story of successful growth. Independent in principles, clean in its utterances, and rei>resenting the interests of .S(]Uthport, Fairlield, Mill Plain, and Greenfield, it meets with a cordial welcome at ])retty much all the family firesides in the town of Fairfield. Besides its managing editor, it has a corps of contributing editors, who, residing in the several villages which make up the townsliip, not only write up the current news of their res])cctive lo- calities regularly each week, but also contribute orig- inal articles of jiertinent interest. Its eoliimns are also enriched with frequent eommunicatiotis from th(> leading literary, agricultural, and commercial people of the vicinity, which makes the journal invaluable to many subscribers in various parts of the country who claim Fairfield as their native town, and who « By W. .\. Beers. througli this pleasant medium are kept in regular correspondence witli relatives and aeciuaintanees. While the T/'wcx presents each week a earel'ully- comlensed digest of all that is going (jii in the worhl, and is bree/.y and gossipy, strict care is obscrveil that its tone shall always be pure and wholesome. Abreast with the times as to topics and sentiment, conserva- tive in politics and religion, fresh and interesting in matter, it merits the success attained. THE FAIKFIELI) ACAItE.MY. This was organized Nov. -i, 1802. The hirgest sub- scrilier was (Jersliom Burr, wlio gave sixty dollars to the fund. The first chtirter granted was in 1S(I4, and was given to Hon. .Jonathan Sturges and Samuel Kowland, P^sq., as they were appointed by the ]iro- jirietors of the academy to receive the same. The original trustees were Jtmathan Sturges, An<lrew Eliot, Dtivid Jndson, Nathan Beers, .Ir., and Samuel Bowland. The first teacher was William Stoddard, who studied medicine with Dr. David Hull. He taught three years; salary, five hundred dollars per annum. There is one person living who attended the academy the first day it was opened to the public, tind she is Miss Kli/.a Hull. In 1808, Matthew Rice Dutton, who was studying under Dr. Heman Humphrey for the ministry, taught here and occupied the jiosition two years. He be- came professor of mathematics, natural pliilosophy, and astronimiy in Yale College. He was ordained first over a church in Stratford. He died iii New Haven. 181(1. — Samuel .1. Hitchcock followed as jircceptor for two years, with entire satisfaction. He received the title of LL.D., and became a professor of hiw in Yale College, and was judge of New Haven County Court. Died in New Haven about 1844 or 184o.