Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

For a time the local Fatriotic Society acted inde- pendently, sending supplies direct to special regiments. We copy from a report of the Secretary, January, 1864: "We have sent under the auspices of the Sanitary Com- mission, supplies to the nine Connecticut Regiments on the coast of Virginia and North Carolina, also to the 17th Conn." Ultimately the society joined the "Wo- man's Central Association of Relief" and became allied with the United States Sanitary Commission. A diplo- ma was awarded to our Patriotic Society at the close of the war from the "Woman's Central Relief Association," signed by the officers of that influential organization, ad- dressed to Miss Harriet Aymar, president. This diplo- ma is now in the possession of the Norwalk Historical and Memorial Library Association, together with other relics of the Patriotic Society. In closing this brief sketch of the Ladies' Patriotic 808 Society we add a short extract from the last report of the faithful and able secretary, Miss Piatt, for the year 1864: "The society has never been more prosperous than during the past year; and we trust a spirit of patriotism is now aroused which will lead to renewed energy and effort in the "great good work,' until the peace so long desired shall bless our land, and our efforts in behalf of the soldiers shall no longer be needed." Accompanying the report is the following account from January 29, 1864, to January 25, 1865: Cash receipts from donations, weekly collec- tions and entertainments, . . . $675.90 EXPENDITURES. Donations to the Christian Commission, Paid to Sanitary Commission for flannel, . Current expenses of the society, which include donations to various special objects, . Cash on hand, ..... Total, Add to this the sum of . $275.36 215-53 160.41 42.60 $693.90 215-53 Which sum was allowed on the goods purchas- ed of the Sanitary Commission and the total amount is .... . $909.43 The number of articles made from 1861 to January, 1865, was 1,732. Boxes of supplies sent to the soldiers were valued at $341, and money was collected amounting to $1,350.37. The children of South Norvvalk are credited with contributing $20 in money to the Patriotic Society and piecing two quilts for hospital use. The children were also very useful in preparing for entertainments. George Beard, aged twelve, was al- ways ready to assist in putting the hall in order, giving his services, as he said, "For good company." The Pa- triotic Society had assistance from many sources, the cause being for the country in its struggle for entire free- dom. No denominational lines were recognized but all did their part with "Liberty" as the watchword. So we did our mite in the holy war. To-day we are a united and prosperous nation and so we may remain if not overwhelmed by too much 809 wealth and too much pride of success and luxury of liv- ing. The rise and fall of other nations should be to us an example and warning. It may add to the interest of this sketch to mention the names of some of the active members of the South Norwalk Ladies' Patriotic So- ciety: Mrs. D. R. Austin, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Halsey, Mrs. B. Knapp, Miss Mary Hill, Miss Piatt, Mrs Beers, Mrs. A. Lyon, Miss C. Hill, Mrs. A. J. Crofut, Mrs. H. L. Norton, Miss i7. Beers, Mrs. Jas. Mallory, Mrs. W. S. Hanford, Mrs. Edwin Hoyt, Mrs. Wood, Miss Isabella Beard. Mrs. Scoville, Miss Aymar, Mrs. Dennis Piatt, Mrs. I. Beers, Mrs. Nash, Miss E. Cape, Mrs. Baxter, Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Elisha Comstock, Mrs. Dicker- man, Mrs. Nathan Ely, Miss Louisa Prouty, Mrs. John Bouton, Mrs. C. M. Lawrence, Mrs. Sarah Palmer, Miss Elizabeth Scoville, Miss Mary Hutchins, Mrs. New- combe, Miss A. Delia Dibble, Mrs. Win. Beard, Mrs. Wm. Cape, the Misses Quintard, Mrs. Davis Hatch, Mrs. Sonthmayd, Miss Annie Seymour, Mrs. Burchard, Mrs. E. L. Bailey, Mrs. John H. Keyser, Mrs. James H. Knapp, Mrs. A. Thompson, Mrs. Minerva E. Raymond, Mrs. S. H. Orton, Miss Georgiana Bodwell, Mrs. Eben Hill, Miss Cornelia Benedict, Miss Gertrude Benedict, Miss Malvina Swords, Miss Mary E. Byxbee, Miss Mary A. Ferris, Mrs. Mary Palmer, Mrs. Burr Nash and others. »o NORWALK CHAPTER, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HIS organization was formed at the residence of Mrs. E. J. Hill, Decem- ber 16, 1S96, in pursuance of a com- mission from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revo- lution. Mrs. Hill was elected Regent, and during her term of office an in- teresting and extensive celebration of the 244th anniversary of the founding of Norwalk was held under the joint auspices of the Norwalk Chapter and the Sons of the American Revolution. The pro- gramme included a two days' festival at the Armory, a gathering of 4,000 school children, a loan exhibition of Colonial and Revolutionary relics and a Colonial ball. The exhibition resulted in a fund of one hundred and fifty dollars, which was voted by the General Committee to the Norwalk Chapter to aid in the erection of histori- cal memorials. Three rich memorials were placed in position by the Chapter in 1895, viz.: 1. The Founders' Stone, on East avenue. 2. The France street tablet. 3. The Flax Hill memorial with the old British cannon ball imbedded in its surface. In November, 1895, Mrs. Hill was succeeded as Regent by Mrs. Thomas K. Noble, who held the office until November, 1897. During her term it was ordered by the Chapter that an annual prize of five dollars in gold be offered for the best essay upon a selected topic connected with the history of the American Revolution, written by a pupil of the Norwalk public schools. Early in 1896 a complimentary address was given to the local branch of the S. A. R., and Major General Darius N. Couch was the guest of honor. The work of identifying rhe graves of Revolutionary soldiers in the vicinity of Norwalk was begun and these graves have been visited regularly since 1896 and appropriately decorated upon Memorial Day. The membership of the Chapter in- creased during Mrs. Noble's term from forty-seven to one hundred and fifteen. The third Regent was Mrs. Samuel Richards Weed, who was electd in November, 1897. 211 The record of the patriotic work of the Chapter dur- ing the regency of Mrs. Weed is that of great activity and success. It comprises many addresses by distin- guished guests at Chapter meetings, drives to historical localities under the direction of Rev. C. M. Selleck, Nor- walk's historian, receptions at the Regent's summer home at "Midbrook,"' the completion of the list of iden- tified graves of Revolutionary Soldiers (begun in 1896), and the official marking of these graves with the assist- ance of the Connecticut S. A. R. The Norwaik Chapter responded to the call of the National Society of D. A. R. in the Spanish-American war, and nobly did their share in the work which the Connecticut D. A. R. accomplished. One hundred and "wenty-six dollars were raised and seventy boxes of re- lief supplies and reading matter were sent to the soldiers at the front. In 1 890. another wayside memorial was placed on Fitch's Point, the landing place of the British invaders in 1779. In September, 1899, the season was inaugurated with a "Nathan Hale" programme, at which time Mrs. Weed proposed the erection of a memorial to that hero in Norwaik, from whence he left the Connecticut shore for Long Island on his fatal errand. A design for a drinking fountain, to cost nine hundred dollars, was donated by McKim, Mead & White, of New York, and the Regent soon secured the necessary subscriptions for its completion, amounting in all to $1,106.09. The let- tering of one of the two inscriptions on the memorial was contributed by the children in the schools of Nor- waik. The fountain was dedicated on April 19, 1901, at the close of the State Conference of the D. A. R., which was held in Norwaik on that date. The speakers on the occasion were Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D. D., of Boston; Rev. S. Parkes Codman, D. D., of Brooklyn, and the Rev. C. M. Selleck. A series of historical papers on the old homes of Wilton, Westport, Darien and Norwaik were prepared at Mrs. Weed's request, illustrated with a collection of photographs, and published in a pamphlet to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Norwaik. Mrs. Weed's term of office expired in May, 1901, at which time the membership of the Chapter had increased to one hundred and fifty-nine. After an ineffectual bal- lot in May, the Chapter adjourned without an election. 218 In June, 1901, Mrs. Weed was re-elected Regent against her own wishes. Although no Chapter meetings were held during the summer, the Regent was busy with plans for assisting in the celebration of Norwalk's 250th anniversary in Sep- tember. A plate, designed by Mrs. Weed, with appro- priate Norwalk pictures, executed in blue and white por- celain, was produced at her own expense, as a souvenir of the anniversary. These plates were placed on sale, and it was announced that the final profits would be used for future memorial work. The committee in charge of the Norwalk celebration requested the Norwalk Chap- ter to conduct the guests of the town to places of historic interest on the morning of September nth, 1901. The Kegent proposed a trolley ride for the purpose, which was successfully carried out. Four cars, decorated with the national colors, took a large party of invited guests to places indicated on the proposed programme. Rev. C. M. Selieck accompanied the party and acted as guide, relating interesting facts concerning the points visited. At the suggestion of the Regent, the Norwalk Chapter joined with the other women's clubs to open the Central Club house during the anniversary days, as a "House of Rest" and refreshment for out-of-town visitors. The Daughters of the American Revolution is thoroughly democratic in its membership, since any woman is eligible who is descended from a recognized patriot, a soldier, sailor, or a civil officer in the United Colonies or States, who assisted in establishing the cause of Independence during the War of the Revolu- tion.