cs. Pounded in1800.] A n Entertaining and Instractive Home Journal, Espectally Devoted to Local News and Interests. [$1.00 a Year. , “VOL. Xcv1.——No 1 NORWALK, CONN.. FRIDAY. JANUARY 3 1896. PRICE Two CENTS __l NORWMflGAZETTE- MM we FAVORITE HOME PAPER. f“ ##— llllltBtlllltlll ll 111111115: 1181111111111 lllllhlllfi. I800—Norwalk Gazette—*l896. At this NINETY-SIXTH anniversary of Norwalk’s first newspaper, it sends greeting in the full spirit and joyous- ness of the time and occasion, to its manifold patrons and friends here at home and in nearly every quarter of the glob . How ma'i elously changed is the N or- walk of to- -uay from the Norwalk of 1800, when the little four-column or 12 x 16 NORWALK GAZETTE was first launched upon the uncertain sea of newspaper existence, It was started largely through the active influence, collections and contributions of the ' ~ late Benjamin Issues and Jarvis Street, both then in the heyday of early man- hood. Its first location was in a little one-story-and-a-half wooden bu11ding, at or near what is now the site of the National Bank of NorwalkJ It was printed on an old-time “Ben Franklin” wooden press, the forms inked by pads, each page requiring a pull of a long wooden lever or handle, ' thus requiring four “pulls” or impres- 4 lies, elsewhere exists. alone, to print each paper. Tradition chronicles that some one hundred and fifty copies were at first printed each week, which were scattered among the stalwart Whigs of those days, as far as Ridgebury, Ridgefield and Danbury on the north, Milford on the east, King Street, Greenwich and Saw Pits (now Port Chester) on the south and west. The then resident population at the “Bridge” and at ‘_‘Old Well,” probably did not exceed five hundred souls. The shop: and stores were mainly ene- and-a-half to two-story wooden struc- tures of the most primitive character. Coal as fuel was locally unknown and the old time “tallow dip” was‘the only ' article of night "illumination in use at house or store. It was the practice of the few merchants to close their stores an hour at noon and . a so at evening, to go home to their meals, Whitney’s mill on the site of Hale’s drug store, ground its customer’s grists and took pay in kind as “toll.” The residents were mainly a thrifty, conservative, God-fearingpeople and many Of them and great numbers of their descendants, have left 1fiie'ir deep and beneficient impress upon the world’s history. The GAZETTE grew space in influence and usefulness as Norwalk grew. In its power for good and as an institution of local appreciation and pride, it ranked with the church. Even though party spirit was then more violent and nnreasoning than anything known at the present day, the people stood loyally for and by their cherished newspaper. The reason for this was no doubt pri- marily because the GAZETTE at once became a spirited champion of the town’s fair fame and business interests. It was also the faithful and general rc- corder of the peoples’ vital statistics, family records and the town’s changes. No such compendium of recorded births marriages and deaths of members of Norwalk’s ancient and honored fami- Its old files are invaluable now. To untold numbers of people now liv- ing, the GAZETTE was the first news. paper upon which their bright eyes rested in early childhood. The writer well remembers fully sixty-five years ago, when he, attracted by the beauty of the GAZETTE’s heading, laboriously essayed to spell out its name, from the ornamental and complicated type. The GAZETT: has had as its owners, editors and managers, an unusual num- ber of able and notable men, from [pul- pit, bar and civil life. Williston Bene- dict, Timothy T. Merwin, James Reed, Thomas B. Butler, Orris S. Ferry, had, at different times, its editorial manage- ment, while Governor Clark Bissell, Rev. Dr. Edwin Hall, Rev. Dr. Rich- mond, 'Rev. Dr. Mead, Rev. Mr. WOod- worth, Rev. S. B. S. Bissell, Rev. 0. IM. Selleck, and Drs. J. A. MacLean, Emery Bissell, and Samuel Lynes, of Norwalk, and Drs. Mead,’ of Wilton. and Todd, of Ridgefield, were frequent and valued contributors to its columns. The reasons why the GAZETTE has kept pace, if not ahead of the growing advancement of our beautiful town, are manifold. It has as patrons scores and hundreds in many distant parts of the earth’s surface, who read it because their parents did and a love of old Nor- walk is still cherished by their descen- dants. Again, the GAZETTE has ever stood for Norwalk and all of Norwalk, and the advancement of its best social, mor- al and material interests. It has ever striven to be an honest, clean and use- It cannot be bribed and a Personal ful paper. never would be “bossed.” malevolence, envy and strangers to its columns. It stands by the people and for the people. It craves patronage, confidence and ap- proval, only as it deserves them.- Thus it holds 1ts place in the hearts of the people, and that perhaps, is reason enough. Many improvements are to be made this year to keep the GAZETTE in the future as it ever has been in the past, at the head of the procession as a model family newspaper. _ Finally with the compliments of the season heartily entended to its patrons, the public, contemporaries, one and all, the GAZETTE, enters upon the ninety- sixth year of its existence, with cour- age unabated, hopes undimmed and faith unquenchable, continually to “battle for the Right, as God gives 11s to see the Right.” <97 Court News. spite, are The following cases of local interest are assigned for a hearing before the Com- mon Pleas court, in Bridgeport, to- day: Amzi Lockwood vs. Daniel Driscoll; motion to open by default and bill of particulars. Marvin Galvin vs. Julius B. Curtis, et ux; defendant's motion to appoint committee. The following civil cases of local in; terests are on the trial list of the pres- est term of the court: Sarah Raymond vs. George W. Raymond, et al; Alonzo Dibble et ux. vs. Edward F. Bile; Ben- jamin F. Brown vs. George H. Nash ; Aaron G. Sherwood vs. Sarah M. Alby; W. M. Terry & 00. vs. John Bubea at 11x; Homer Buttery vs. All1son Free; Norwalk Lock 00. vs. John R. Johnson; Wilmot Fawcett ex rel. Town of Nor- walk; vs. S. 0. Ireland et als.; E. W. Beard vs. W. De F. Prentiss, et ux.; Luther Marshall vs, Stephen Thayer; S.G. Morrell et ux vs. A. Decker, et al.; Michael Nolan vs. Thomas O’Hal- lorau. *’____.____ Surprised. given a surprise party at their home on Main street last evening. It was a sur- prise, tbo, neither Mr. Green or his wife having received the sl1ghtest ink- ling that they were to be “called upon” until the arrival of the visitors, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Cummings, Mr. and Mrs. Albert A. Betts, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Malkin, Mr. and Mrs. St.’ John Merrill, Mr. and Mrs.’ Andrew Heath and others. It was a happy gathering, and a pleasant evening was passed. Mr. and Mrs. Green are splendid entertainers. Jennie 6. May Collides. The three-masted schooner J ennie 0. May of South Norwalk, Captain St. John, from Baltimore to Boston with coal, while rounding Cape Cod New Year’s night, collided with an unknown outward-bound four-masted schooner and had her how crushed in above the water line and lost her bowsprit with all headgear. She ancored off Nauset after the accident and proceeded yes- terday noon. vi Singing School. If you desire an evening of pleasure and profit, purchase a. course ticket for twenty singing lessons, to be given by Prof. J epson at the Norwalk Methodist church, commencing Wednesday even- ing, January 8, "at 7 o’clock. The class bids fair to be a large one and will un- doubtedly produce some good music before the close of the course. An Appeal Filed. In the case of Charles R. Hoyt vs Rosa Guarneri, notice of appeal to the Supreme court of Errors has beenfiled. This is the casein which Judge Curtis of the Common Pleas court decided that Justice of the Peace A. E. Austin could not legally act in cases made re- turnable after the close of his term. 'Decker, 19,500; Clark do Bond, 13,000; Mr. and Mrs. LouihC. Green, were 0131111 nousmv. The She'll-Fish Commissioners Make Their Annual Report. Important lmformation Given. The Shell Fish commissioners have just rendered their report to the Gov- ernor, and the information given is of more than usual interest. The financial statement shows total receipts of the year to have been $6,862.75; total disbursements, $5,845. 93 leaving a balance of $1,016.82. This amount is smaller than that turned over to the state last year, and the explana- tion is made that one reason is due to the fact that Mr. Beardsley the retiring commissioner, allowed his salary to ac- cumulate during his entire term, draw- ing the whole amount when he retired. The expence of the survey of natural oyster beds, amounting to $1,800. was 'also deducted from the disbursements. The boat l1censss have brought in $695.50, and the disbursements amount ed to $420.65, leaving a balance to the state of $274 85. It will be observed that the oyster industry, great as it is, nets the state in taxes only about one-sixth of a cent per acre. Not a cent of; taxes is paid on this property to any town. The tables give interesting informa~ tion, particularly with reference so the amount of materials used this year in the cultivation of oysters. A careful perusal of there figures will show those who have little knowledge of the oys. ter. business that it is one of the most important business interests in . the state. The commissioners estimate that the value of the oyster catch on private beds will be $1,500,000‘this year. _ The total amountof private oyster grounds in the state is,69,610.7 acres, Bushels plantedby, Fairfield county oystermen were: May Oyster 00., 135,- 000; M. E. Morris, 90,000; A. Solman’s, 50,0001Theo. S Lowndes, 40. 000; Craw “it L’Hommedieu, 39, 041; ”(Hi‘v'er 0061:, 36,000; Stanley H. Lowndes, 35,000; Nassau Oyster 00. (Fairfield), 26 ,000; Stratford Oyster 00., 33; 862, Peter‘ W. A. & T.‘ Cummings, 13,623; P. F. West, 10,000; B. F. Howell, 7,700; D. B. Decker, 4,000; B. F. Palmer, 3,700; Lawson &.-Martinau, 3,000; DeWaters & Stevens, 2.000; Thomas. Cumming, 1,643; Wilmot Bros., 1,500; F. X. Sim- mell, 1,000; Samuel Starkiu, 500; John McGuinness, 400. . Of the stuff planted 95,000 bushels were Bridgeport natural bed set of 1895. This was divided as follows: May Oyster 00., “10,000; Barnes & Lane, 10,- 000; A. Solmans, 40,000; Theo. S. Lowndes, 15,000; Stanley H. Lowndes, 20,000. ~——«- pm —————-————— REVOLUTIONARY WIDOWS. only Seven Left Since the Death of Mrs. Richardson, of East Berlin. ' l 1 Mrs. Patty Richardson, the eldest of the eight widow pensioners of the Rev- olution, who died at her home in’ East Berlin, Tuesday, was born in Connecti- cut, Fedruary 1, 1801, and was first married to Samuel Vinton, by whom she had four children. He died, and in 1830 she married Godfrey M. Rich: ardson of Cambridge, Mass., who ’at the age of 16 years, ran away from his father’s home in Cambridge, Mass., Breed’s H111 the night before the battle of Bunker Hill. Her husband received a pension as a minute man by special act of congress, and this devolved up: on Mrs. Richardson. Mrs. Riehardson' was 759 and her husband 56 years of age when they were married. The seven surviving Revolutionary widow are Mrs. Asenath Turner, Man- chester, N. Y., aged 90 years; Mrs. Nan- cy Weatherman. Lineback, 'Ienn., aged 36 years; Mrs. Esther S. Damon, Wind- sor Vt., aged 81 years; Mrs. Nancy Snead, Parksley, Va., aged 80 years; Mrs. Nancy Cloud, St. Paul, Va.; Mrs. Mary Brown, Knoxville, Tenn, and Mrs. Rebecca Mayo, Newbern, Va. Letter From Mr. Bishop. EDITOR GAZETTnz—The statement in your paper of yesterday that an offer had been declined by the choir ,of the Congregational church'to sing in Grace church during the coming year, being incorrect, it seems, in justice to all parties, that a correction be published. There has been no offer made by Grace Church to the choir of the Congrega- tional church, nor to any member of the choir. Very trulyyours, ' W. F. BISHOP, Chairman Music Committee Grace Church Parish. and helped throw up the redonts on . 411.11. a. MEETING. $5 Inl'GoId Offered to the Schoolgirl or Schoolboy for the Best Composition on “Horivalk in Revolutionary . Times.” An interesting meeting of the Nor- walk Chapter, Daughters of the Ameri- caniltevolutiuu, was held at the house of the Regent, Mrs. T. K. Noble. yes; terday, afternoon. A gavel, with an interesting history, from Mr. M. H. Parsons, was accepted by the Chapter. It was decided to give a supper in the Athenians, early in February, at which thengnests-should be the members of Society of the Sons ‘of the American Revolution and their wives. Dr. Agustus Beard has kindly consented to read at this time his valuable paper on “Norwalk,—-Its Present and Future” which was so unfortunately crowded out on Founder’s Day. Mrs. E. J. Hill was nominated as the first delegate to the Congress, and the follomng telegram was sent her: “N or- walk Chapter, D. A. R., in session, sendswarm remembrances to its first delegate to the Congress.” Mrs. Bel- den and Mrs. Parsons were" elected as alternates. An important vote which it is hoped will be of much interests to the Norwalks was as follows: “The Norw‘alk Chapter D. A. R. offer a prize of Five Dollars in gold for the best composition, written by a Norwalk schoolgirl or school-boy between the ages of fourteen and sixteen inclusive. upon' “Norwalk in Revolutionary Times;” no names shall be affixed to the compositions, but they shall be numbered, and a key preserved by the principal of the school to which any of the competitors belong; the princi- pal of'each school shall select the best ten compositions from the number handed to him. and send them to the Regent, Mrs. T. K. Noble, on or before April 15‘next; a c1mmittee of three of our. citizens, well qualified to decide upon the literary and histori- cal merits of the essays, none of which- committee shall be connected with the D. A. 13,;nor with any of the schools 1n a profusion!“ way. stroll teammates to select by May 1, the best compo.- , sition, the writer of which shall then be presented in public with the prize.” A committee of five from the D. A. R. .swuordered to be appointed by the Regent to interview the principals of the town of Norwalk, and to carry out the provisions of the vote. After other routine business, the Chapter had the pleasure of listening to a valuable paper by Mrs. Hannah St". John: ——-—-———¢-o~—o—-————— A Pleasing Entertainment. Those who attended the mesmeric performance given by Prof. Reynolds in the Opera House, last evening, were treated to a fine exhibition of the Pro- fessor’s power. He secured excellent subjects and handled them at will. The entertainments are interesting, and the audience was provoked into con- vulsions of laughter, the subjects being made to cut up antics that excited the amusement of all. The Professor will be here to-night and to-morrow night. The Horse Slipped. As expressman Tracy was driving up West avenue yesterday afternoon and in attempting to turn up Maple street. his horse slipped and fell. ,Several witnesses to the accident assisted in getting the horse upon his feet. As Tracy got 'nto his wagon he remarked to a bystander thatlit was strange that no reporter was around," he having failed to recognize a GAZETTE scribe who was present and had been inter- viewing him. State Agricultural Society. The annual meeting ,of the Connecti- cut State Agricultural society will be held in the town hall, Meriden. next Wednedday, at 11 o'clock a. m., for the purposo of electing officers for. the en- sui/n," year and to transact any other busmess proper to come before the meeting. Must Not Sell Liquor. The County commissioners have no- tified Prosecuting Agent E. M. Lock- wood that Mrs. Margaret Barnes of Franklin avenue, to whom a license was refused, to immediately prosecute her if any attempt is made to sell liquor after January 1. The New Ink. The new ink for general use in town clerk’s and other public offices of the State, furnished by legislative enact- ment has been received by Town 0 e'rk Smith. A severe penalty 1s prescribed for the use of any other ink.‘ AAA V- Cart Killed Him. Frank Hayes, aged eight years, was run over by a cart at Stamford last ete- ning' and instantly killed. I: NATIONALIIAPITAL Astonishmeht Expressed that the President and Score- tary Carlisle Oppose the BondKIBill. Congressman Hill Highly Complimented By Patent Commissioner Seymour. GAZETTE’s Beams, 1 709 EAST CArrTor. STREET Wnsumerox. JAN. 2d. t An important meeting of the Senate Finance committee has been held to- day. The result, if any was reached, is not surmised to be such as the Presi- dent would favor. _ o o 0 Great astonishment is expressed that the President and Secretary Carlisle should so. fiercely oppose the House Bond Bill. The bill is practically what both have recommended. The Secre- tary in his reports for 1803 and ’94, strongly favored such an enactment. o o o Congressman Hill is expected to re- turn here from N orwalk, by Saturday. 0 o 0 Patent Commissioner Seymour paid Mr. Hill thc'w'ell deserved compliment to- day, of saying that in his judgment, our Congressman had thus far deported himself with marked wisdom and rare discretion as a new member of the and natural impulsiveness, his restraint, during the warm and exciting session incidents, has been most praiseworthy. He is not likely to ”fire off his mouth” in the House, to the extent that his enemies and some false friends have desired. 0 o o The; President ahd Mrs. Cleveland will give a dinner at the White House tonight in honor of the members of lithe cabinet and the ladies of their fam- ilies. This fact disposes of the rumor current this mornigg the the President had armgemléave togday for Elioth- er season of duck shooting.. 1 - \ o o ' o The Venezuelan commission is being very generally discussed. As a rule, the opinions expressed are not very de- cided either way. The only criticism is that it may not be a commission of thatlrecognizsdlpre-eminence whichwill give their decision great force abroad. The selection of two of the commission- ers from the small state of Maryland is also unfavorably commented upon. It is to be borne in mind, that the Presi~ dent is known to have offered appoint- ment to some of the most prominent statesmen in the country, who for vari- ous reasons have declined an accept- ance. _ _ o o ‘ o The presbytery of Washington will be called within a few days to meet in special session to consider a question of ecclesiastical law that has arisen in the First Presbyterian Church in conse- quence of the engagement of Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage as co-pastor with Dr. Byron Sunderland and Rev. Adolos Allen. 0 o o The situation in which the church placed is a peculiar/ode. It is a ques- tion' of deciding. ,Iiietween the zealous desire for work and usefulness on the part of two of its pastors. 0n the one hand, Dr Talmage wants to work harder than he does, and on the other, Mr. Allen has no wish to do less than he is now doing. Thepresbytery will find the decision between the two laborers in the vineyard one of the most peculiar that body ever undertook to settle. Dr. Talmage came to the Church as a reinforcement in the face of conditions that augured neither increase of church membership nor multiplied usefulness and influence. The march of popula- tion and development in Washington had left the Church, both as to location and personnel. far out of the current of present progress. Dr. Talmage, an old and lifelong friend of Dr. Sunderland, was suggested as an attractlon and a power to crystallize the situation into new life and growth. 0 o 0 Major W. P. Huxford of Stamford was to-day appointed by Senator Haw- ley clerk of the Senate committee on military affairs. 0 o 0 Mrs. N. D. Sperry, wife of Congress- man Sperry, with - her daughter and grandchild arrived here this evening from New Haven. vv Westport Banks. First National and Westport Savings banks have declared respectively semi- annual dividends-of,2% per cent. and 3 per cent. Both are getting ready to give the usual annual dinner. House. In view of his intense energy _ ‘ WILL civs up susmsss. Stephen H. Holmes to Retire After a Long- and Successful Business Career. other been identified with the grocery business in Norwalk. and who for some years past has conducted a wholesale feed and grocery store on Main street, wrll on the 1st of March retire from business. Mr. Holmes be: an life in a grocery store at an early age and grew up with ' the business until some years ago when he formed a co-partnership with his father under the firm name of G. & S. H. Holmes. The firm was dissolved only at the death of the senior Mr. Holmes who died some years ago. Since that time Mr. Stephen Holmes has carried on the business at the old want of patronage, but to gain a. well earned rest from business cares. Scrupulously honest in his dealings with all men he has won the respect come in contract either in a business gretted as it is such active business men as he that are a credit to any commu- nity. V Mr. Holmes told a GAZETTE reporter today, that he had not yet decided upon what he should do, but as it is fifteen years since he took a vacation, he thinks that time will not drag heavily some bands. . -.‘V——————— South. Before the War. A generation has passed since the and with the decades now buried for- ever in the dim past has disappeared the old plantation darkey. at least-that interesting ebony individual has gone from actual life and lives now only in ever productive stage. Those of us who knew the “Soul befo detwah,”'as the children of Ham put it, and knew what plantation life really was before our great intsruecine struggle; and such of; as as can recall the happy days. will have an opportunity of seeing and living over again those happy times at Hoyt’s Theatre this evening, by witnessing the inimitable performance given by Whallen & Martell’s big “South Before the War” company. This company is a verylarge one num- bering sixty people all told including their famous pickaniny band and'or- chestra who appear in several scenes of the company. Sowing the Wind. “Sowing the Wind,” the best play we have had from the pen of that most interesting of English playrights, Mr. Sydney Gaundy, is a drama that has perhaps been a source of more discus- sion than any dramatic production seen in New York in years. It is in four acts and has for its main theme the social inequality of the sexes, namely the unlimited field for man’s moral di- version, and the small world in which women must live, to keep in the good graces of society. This play will be presented with a strong cast at Hoyt’s Theatre Monday evening January 6th. Whist Party. Mrs. E. Hubbell Hotchkiss gave a whist party last night at her home on Arch street, in honor of Miss Esther Hotchkiss, Susie Nelson, of Aasouia, who are visit— ing her. The ladies’ first prize was won by Miss Alice Cram, and Mr. George E. Cram won the gentleman’s prize. Among the out of town guests was Miss Laurie, of New York, who is visiting Miss Alice Cram, of East avenue. What George Arnold Thinks. Captain of Detectives, George Arnold of Bridgeport, spent nearly. all day at Wilton yesterday, investigating the Olmstead robbery. He said last night that it was a case with some queer feat- thinking over. wm Seu'out. - The Derby Agricultural and Driving association yesterday voted to sell the the proceeds equally among the stock~ holders. _. - ___«..>——._—_— Stamford’s Fire. The dwelling house of William Brown on Broad street was damaged by fire yesterday. The fire was caused by the explosion of a lamp. 000 insurance 8500. The Drum Closed. on Wall street, Bridgeport, known in its palmy days as the “Drum,” has been closed. Stephen H. Holmes, who for nearly ,- forty years has in some capacity or; stand. He retires not because of a . and esteem of all with whom he; has. or social way. His retirement will bere- . good old antebellum days were with us - his counterfeit presentment upon"the . *aufifaasant nights spent by the dark- j, ' eye in the cotton field and cane- -breaks, the play and also head the parade with , of New York, and Miss. urea and would hear a great deal of , property of the corporation and divide . Loss 31,- . Alderman Larkin’ a well known resort ‘
Norwalk Chronicler