Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

The new comer is made to understand at once that there is a wide gulf between Norwalk and South Nor- walk ; that the two little cities are far apart in interests, and that they cannot live together in unity because each would have to sacrifice so much that is individual and characteristic. "Uptown" and "downtown" are such dis- tinct communities, are so unlike, have so little in com- mon, that they never could agree and should not be ex- pected to agree. On my arrival I heard about uptown and downtown until my wits were turned upside down. At first I was surprised that I could go from South Nor- walk to Norwalk by trolley, and return the same day — the two places appeared to my imagination so remote. Later I was told by several persons how honored I ought to feel because they had come from uptown to hear me preach. Some would explain to me what Norwalk had been, and others what South Norwalk had done. Up- towners would modestly hint at the superior social ad- vantages in which they live, and downtowners would proudly tell how the daughter has outgrown the moth- er. All this was amusing until I learned that in town meetings Norwalk would regularly vote against South Norwalk, and when one section wanted a public im- provement the other would mass its voters against it. The foolish distinctions were not worth a second thought, but organized antagonism was more serious. 168 Then I looked for the widely divergent interests of the two little cities which gave rise to these conditions, but looked in vain. A rifleman on the Norwalk Hotel could break the clock-dial of Hotel Clifford. A good walker could walk from one postoffice to the other in twenty minutes. A stranger cannot tell when he passes I from South Norwalk into Norwalk and, after eight months' residence T do not know the boundary lines be- , tween Norwalk and East Norwalk. The people in the two cities look alike, dress alike, speak the same lan- guage, eat the same kind of food, have the same customs. \ The crowds from the factories divide and as many go north as go south. There are Norwalk clerks in South Norwalk stores and South Norwalk salesmen in the stores of Norwalk. The churches of one city have many members in the other. The physicians draw their clien- tage from both cities alike. The dead are buried in the same cemeteries. Instead of diversity of interests I found similarity and interdependence. Indeed what caused the disagreement between the two cities is not that they have so little in common, but so much in common selfishness. There is no reason for the lack of unity and sympathy between them, except the littleness of human nature. The only things that divide them are petty jealousy and narrow sectionalism, at spirit which cannot be justified by present conditions. If they were western cities whose very existence depended upon the coming of a new railroad, we could understand it, but as things are it is unwarranted. If it were a spirit of rivalry and competition it would not be so bad, for good- natured competition is healthful. But it is a spirit of jealousy and envy which would disappear if the two cities were ten times as large. Only littleness is envious. Only the weak are jealous. Situated so close together, with such similarity of interests and common needs, such jealousy and suspicion are puerile. This "ancient plantation," as our historian calls it, has not fully outgrown its childishness. The cities of Norwalk and South Norwalk have been like "children that sit in the market-place, and call one to another; who say, 'We piped unto you, and ye did not dance ; we wailed, and ye did not weep.' " If one wanted to play wedding the other would rather play funeral. One asks for a bridge ; the other says "No bridge if I can help it." One says "Give me water;" the other agrees and then changes its mind. One wants a highway widened ; the other objects. One says, "Come over into my yard and play;" the other flings back, "I don't want to play in your yard." And so they have been pulling and pouting at one another like naughty little girls who try who can make the ugliest faces. But 250-years-old childishness is unbearable, and this anniversary will mark the beginning of new things. Now at last Norwalk has piped and all her daughters have danced. Now at last the whole town has clasped hands in one splendid exhibition of town patriotism. The heartiness with which all sections have entered into this celebration and the enthusiasm with which it has been carried forward is an indication that we have misjudged our own feelings toward one another, and a pledge that we shall forever put away childish things. We shall not "play funeral" but will make this a real funeral with sec- tional jealousy as the corpse. Last evening at sunset all the church bells of the town announced the burial and every citizen of Norwalk rejoiced. This anniversary has developed a spirit of co-operation that has surprised many and that needed only some such event to call it out. The women's clubs to which no little praise is due, have done much to bring about unity in the town and we are confident that this celebration has completed the work. The petty jealousies which have divided the town, the sectional feeling which has shown itself in town meet- ings, must and I believe will, be laid aside. From this time forward let us have harmony, fraternity and recip- rocity in our town." Especially must the two cities of Norwalk and South Norwalk work side by side for their mutual advantage. Otherwise they will both be left behind in the race by other cities in the state with not nearly the natural facili- ties we possess. The same co-operation that has made this celebration a success will make the town succeed. If Norwalk get a new library, South Norwalk will rejoice. If South Norwalk gets a new hotel, Norwalk should re- joice. If a new factory comes to any part of the town, it should be a cause of rejoicing to the whole town, for its pay-roll will include citizens of all The Norwalks, of Rowayton and Winnipauk. Whatever draws people to one section of the town will bring them to every section, for with the bicycle and the trolley it is the question of rent and personal preference rather than distance which decides where people shall make their homes. And if public money is to be expended, bare honesty requires 170 that each section have its rightful share. "Live and let live" is a good maxim to run a town by. What I plead for is not an organic union between the two cities, which would require an act of legislature, but unity which requires only manliness and good will. From this time forward, the man who appeals to section- al jealousy in the town meetings, is digging up a corpse and should be cried down by all honest and fair-minded men. If South Norwalk is the daughter of Norwalk, the daughter must be loyal to her mother and the mother must act toward her daughter as a mother should. Rev. George Drew Egbert, of the First Congrega- tional Church, said he was embarrassed for two reasons. First, he was a pilgrim and a stranger in the land — he came from New Jersey ; second, his wife, seeing the beau- tiful badges of the I) A. R., wanted to be a D. A. R. her- self, looked up her pedigree — and found all her ancestors Tories. The New England parson then and now. Ministers are not called on to-day for fighting, as they were in olden times, but called for bravery. The New England parson of to-day stands for lawfulness. The ancient parsons had dignity, but it is easy to be dignified. Imagine in one of those stocks Jonathan Ed- wards laying down his pen to take part in a Yale-Har- vard football game. Referring to his Catholic brethren, "every Protestant rejoices in the memory of the splendid philanthropy of Father Slocum, whose memory is still green in the hearts of Norwalk people." Mr. Light introduced, in appropriate words, the Rev. Charles M. Belden. of Wilton. Mr. Belden is descended from one of the old Belden families, who settled Norwalk. He gave a pleasing description of Wilton, whose In- dian name means Pleasant Valley. Wilton is the eldest daughter of Norwalk, having been separated from the latter in 1725. Among the signers were the names Abbott, Keeler, St. John, Betts, Trowbridge, Olmstead, Gregory, Keel- er, etc. Wilton is connected with Norwalk by com- munity of interests. During the sufferings of Norwalk, Wilton was a sufferer, and it also was loyal to the cause of the Revolutionists. Wilton is a town which has kept up a high standard of culture and literary attainment. Moses Stewart, of Wilton, was one of the finest Hebrew scholars in the county, and the speaker mentioned others who had 171 distinguished themselves in letters and in the professions. In closing, Mr. Belden prophesied a time when Wilton and Norwalk should be consolidated. Mr. Light introduced the Right Rev. Michael Tier- ney, bishop of Hartford. Bishop Tierney expressed his thanks to the commit- tee for the honor done him in putting him on the pro- gramme after so long non-residence in Norwalk. He considered Norwalk his home. In his day it consisted of two little villages, one called the '"Bridge" the other "Old Well." Now there were two cities. The bishop expressed himself in favor of consolida- tion. He thought it would decrease expenses, and be better for the whole town. He then spoke on the growth of the Catholic Church in Norwalk. The year 1828 witnessed the arrival of the first Irish Catholic family in Norwalk. In 1838 a priest, Rev. Fath- er McDermott, of New Haven, came here to officiate. In 1848, the people of Norwalk sent a committee to Bishop Tyler asking for a resident pastor. In 185 1 the church was dedicated. After several priests came one whom you well know, the Rev. W J. Slocum, and now Father P'urlong, who has purchased the building directly in front of St. Mary's Church as a place for the young men of his parish to be amused and instructed, and has also improved the school property.