mw 'Will'. -J.ij I ' i, 'K.A^^ I' i-l-' "o; YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 14H ma CO P O ID HISTORIC LITCHFIELD 1721-1907 BEING A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF THE OLD HOUSES OP LITCHFIELD COMPILED FROM KILBOURN'S HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD, GEO. C. WOODRUFF'S HISTORY OF THB TOWN OF LITCHFIELD, KILBOURN'S HISTORY OF LITCH FIELD TRADITION, THB LITCHFIELD COUNTY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, THE LITCHFIELD BOOK OF DAYS, AND CHRONICLES OF A PIONEER SCHOOL By ALICE T. BULKELEY ILLUSTRATED FROM ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE COMPILER (Second Edition) HARTFORD PRESS: The Case, Lockwood & Brainaxd Company 1907 Copyright 1907 by ALICE T. BULKELEY TO ALL LOVERS OF LITCHFIELD THIS LITTLE BOOK IS DEDICATED ILLUSTRATIONS to face page South Street Title. Bantam Lake, lo The Vaill Homestead, 12 Oliver Wolcott House, 13 H. B. Belden House, 14 W. H. Sanford House 14 Re eve- Woodruff House 15 Residence of Col. Geo. B. Sanford, i6 Episcopal Rectory 16 Hubbard House and Wolcott Elm, over 135 years old, ... 17 The Champlin House ig The Seymour Homestead, ig Gould House, owned by Mrs. J. Mason Hoppin, . . . . 19 Tallmadge House, owned by Mrs. John Vanderpoel, ... 20 Residence of Hon. J. Deming Perkins, 21 North Street in October 22 The Litchfield Hills, 23 Brick Oven Fire-Place in a Litchfield House, 24 Historical Society Pewter 24 Litchfield Gardens, 25 Residence of Mrs. Henry R. Coit 26 Residence of Mrs. E. L. Ferry, 26 BuEL Homestead, 27 Residence of Dr. John L. Buel, 27 Spring Hill Sanatorium, 28 The Roberts House, 29 Phelps House, 30 Library Corner, 30 United States Hotel, 31 Roberts' Corner, 31 The Edson Perkins House, 32 The Hawkhurst Hotel, 33 Mile Stone, 33 Club House, 34 Club House Tennis Courts 34 Litchfield Antique Silver and Glass as shown at D. A. R. Exhibi tion, August, 1903, 35 County Jail and Whipping Post Elm 36 A Corner of the George Junior Republic 37 INDEX page House of — Adams, Chief Justice, . 28 Allen, Ethan, . . .17 Andrews, Judge Charles B., 17 Beecher, Dr. Lyman, . . 27 Belden, The Misses . .15 Bissell, Jerome and Warren, 31 Brace, John P., . . . 23 Buel, Dr. John L., . . 28 Buel, Miss Mary, . . .36 Buel, The Misses, . . .27 Champlin, Edward E., .18 Coit, Mrs. Henry R., . . 29 Daniels, C. F 16 Deming, Frederick, . . 23 Ferry, Mrs. E. L., . . 11, 27 Goddard, Mrs. F. Norton, . 36 Hoppin, Mrs. J. Mason, 11, 19 Hubbard, Mrs. John H., 17 Jones, Henry R., . . . 27 Jones, Miss Henrietta, . .17 Kenney, George B., . .31 Lord, Miss, . . . .28 Maxwell, Mrs. W. H., . . 27 Perkins, Hon. J. Deming, 21,22 Perkins, Edson L., . .31 Phelps, Miss Mary L., . 30 Pierce, Miss Sarah, . 23, 24 Reeve, Judge Tapping, . 15 Richards, Rev. George, . 27 Richards, Rev. James, . . 27 Roberts, Elbert P 29 Sanctum, The, . . .36 Sanford, Col. Geo. B., . . 16 Sanford, William H., . . 18 Seymour, Episcopal Rectory, 18 Seymour, Morris, . . .18 Sheldon, Dr. Daniel, . . 22 Tallmadge, Col. Benjamin, . II, 20, 21, 22 Underwood, F. L., . . . 23 Vaill, Joseph H., . . -13 Vanderpoel, Mrs. John, . 20 Van Winkel, Miss Mary, . 28 Wallbridge, W. G., . . 17 WoodruflF, Charles H. (Reeve- Woodruff), . . .15 Woodruff, Morris, . . 17 Wolcott, Oliver, Sr., . lo, 13, 14, 21, 32 . Wolcott, Oliver Jr., . 13, 16, 32 Wolcott Farm-House, . .13 Wright, Rev. W. G., M. A., 17 page Miscellaneous — Bank, First National of Litch field 33 Bantam Lake, ... 9 Cathedral of Lichfield, Eng., 3232 2221 3431 35 Stone from. Cemetery, .... China Trading Company, Litchfield Cincinnati, Society of the, . Club House, The Litchfield, Churches — First Congregational, . St. Michael's Protestant Epis copal, . . . .31 Methodist Episcopal, . . 32 St. Anthony's Roman Cath olic 32 Court House, . . . .36 County Jail, . . . .36 D.A.R., Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter Enquirer, The Litchfield, . 32, 33 Fire Department Building, The Litchfield, . . . .33 Golf Club 34 George Junior Republic, Litchfield Branch, . . .36, 37 Hawkhurst, The 34 Hill, Wolf-Pit, .... 12 Historical Society, The Litchfield,35 Hotel, United States, . . 30, 31 Law School, Litchfield, . . 15, 1 6 Litchfield in 1810, . . .25 Litchfield Lyceum, . . .26 Library, Litchfield Public, . 26, 34 Manual Labor High School of Litchfield County, Mile Stone, .... Mt. Tom, .... Post Road, First, . Prospect Mountain, Sanatoriums — Dr. Alanson Abbey's Sana torium for cripples, . Spring Hill, Schools — Miss Pierce's Female Acad emy, ... 23, 24, 25 Elm Park Collegiate Insti tute, 27 Miss Henrietta Jones' School for Young Ladies, . . 17 26 99 25 9 vm INDEX page Schools — The Wolcott Institute, . . 17 The Foster School, . . 34 School for Business Students, etc 26 Scientific Society, Litchfield, . 35 Shepaug Valley R. R, . ¦ 33 Temperance, Six Sermons on, . 27 Temperance Pledge, . . .26 Vacation Home, Shepherd Knapp, 37 Village Improvement Society, . 33 Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe, . . 30 Personages — Abbey, Dr. Alanson, . . 18 Adams, Chief Justice, . . 28 Adams, Mrs Mary, . . 28 Allen, Ethan, ... 17 Andrews, Judge Charles B., 17 Bacon, Judge, . . .29 Beach, Mrs. Theron, . . 22 Beecher, Dr. Lyman, . . 27 Beecher, Henry Ward, . . 27 Buel, Deacon John, . . 9, 10 Buel, Dr. Henry W., . . 28 Buel, Miss Mary, . . .36 Burr, Aaron, . . .15 Bushnell, Rev. Horace, . 27 Calhoun, Judge John C., .18 Child, Mrs. Nathaniel R., . 22 Collins, Rev. Timothy, . . 30 Deming, Miss Lucretia, . 22 Deming, Julius, . . .21 Edwards, The Misses, . . 29 Edwards, President, . . 29 Gould, Judge James, . . 20 page Personages — Hollister, Hon. Gideon H., 15, 23 Huntington, Judge J. W., . i6 Lafayette, Gen., 10, 13, 15, 21, 30 Lord, Augustus, . . .28 Marsh, Lieutenant John, 9, lo Matthews, Mayor of New York, .... 36 Reeve, Judge Tapping, • II, 15, 16, 20 Richards, Rev. George, . 27 Rochambeau, Gen., . . 10 Sheldon, Dr. Daniel, . . 22 ' Seymour, Major Moses, ig, 36 Seymour, Origen S., . .18 Seymour, Ozias, . . .18 Tallmadge, Col. Benjamin, II, 20, 21, 22 .-Tracey, Gen. Uriah, . . 20 Vaill, Capt. Joseph, . . 12, Vaill, Benjamin, . . .12 Vaill, Rev. Hermon Landon, i2 Vaill Dr. Charles, . . 12 Vaill, Theodore F., . . 12 Washington, Gen. George, 10, II, 13, 15, 20, 21 Weller, Oliver, . . .29 Woodruff, George C, . -19 Woodruff, Morris, . . 17 Wolcott, Ursula, . . .14 Wolcott, Frederick, . 13, 14 Wolcott, Oliver Sr., 10, 13, 14, 21, 32 Wolcott, Oliver Jr., 13, 16, 32 HISTORIC LITCHFIELD. 1721-1907. The town of Litchfield, Conn., the county seat, situated on a ridge looking off in every direction on the beautiful hills of Litchfield county, in the northwestern part of the State, and adjoining the Berkshires of Massachusetts fam,e, is of much interest today as a summer resort both on account of its present beauty and past historical importance. Its fine and bracing air, incidental to its elevation of 1113 feet above the sea level, has its tonic effect upon those making their permanent home here as well as upon visitors in search of health as well as pleasure. The site of Litchfield on a ridge is said to have been chosen by the early settlers on account of its adaptability for defense against predatory savages, tradition pointing out places where stood the ancient block houses. The ancient milestone, giving its distance from New York by the old King's highway as 102 miles, may still be seen just outside the village in front of Elm Ridge, the home of Mrs. Edwin McNeil. There are beautiful drives in every direction, Bantam Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut, covering about 900 acres, being about three miles distant. Mt. Tom, six miles southwest of the village in the direction of the Lake, and its round top visible from all points, is 1500 feet above tide water. From Prospect Mountain, four miles west of the Court House, may be seen The Catskills. Litchfield township was founded in 1720-21 by Deacon John Buel of Lebanon, Lieutenant John Marsh of Hartford, and fifty-five others, " petitioners under committees from Hartford and Windsor (which towns at that time held the 10 title for the 'Western Lands,' as the northwestern part of the state, then a wilderness, was called) , praying liberty to settle a town westward of Farmington at a place called Bantam." The new town to be called Litchfield and named from Lichfield, England; the first town of the name in the United States, six or seven others being so named later. The first settlers were Captain Jacob Griswold of Wethersfield, John Peck of Hartford, and Ezekiel Buck of Wethersfield, who brought their families here, built log houses on their home lots and moved into them during the summer of 1720. John Buel and John Marsh were the two most conspicuous men in the early history of the town. In 175 1, Litchfield County was organized, there being great rivalry between Litchfield and Goshen as to which should become the Shire town. The latter being situated directly in the centre of the new county, many people, includ ing Oliver Wolcott, afterwards Governor of the state, settled in Goshen, expecting it to be the Shire town. But Litchfield carried off the honor, giving its name in consequence to the county. The pioneers were agriculturists, a gristmill, saw mill, blacksmith, and clothiers being all the trade. At first only cart horses and pillion or ox cart in summer, and ox sled and snowshoes in winter, were available for traveling from place to place, four-wheeled carts not being in use until after the Revolution. Spinning wheels were to be found in every house, and the County town was a common centre during the terms of the courts. A stranger today is struck with the beauty of the stately elms which border the broad level streets. A few new houses are seen but the majority of the dwellings belong to the past, the dates over the doorways showing some of them to be well into their second century. Many of them are in teresting from historical associations, as Washington, La fayette, Rochambeau, and other Revolutionary celebrities honored the village with their presence. Washington's first visit to Litchfield was August 23d, 1780, when he spent the night, leaving the next day for West Point, Litchfield being on the stage-coach line between Hartford and West Point, BANTAM LAKE BANTAM LAKE II and Boston and New York. There were some trees stand ing, when the town was laid out, but our present fine trees did not form a canopy over the head of Washington. The hoary-headed sycamores now standing, one in front of the Catholic church and one at the corner of East and South streets, were then newly planted, the first Oliver Wolcott having set them out with eleven others, giving to each the name of one of the thirteen original states. There were few houses standing at this period; opposite the Wolcott homestead was the home of Judge Tapping Reeve, of later Law School fame, and next below the Wol cott house, the present Belden house was then occupied by Reynold Marvin, the last king's attorney of the county. Just north of the house stood a little office where Colonel Kirby, son-in-law to Reynold Marvin, prepared the first law reports ever published in this country. The old Congregational church was on the site of the present monument. On North street, the Tallmadge house, Shelden's Tavern, now owned by Mrs. J. Mason Hoppin, and the Deming house, now owned by Mrs. Ferry, were the only houses seen by Washington which are still standing. On the site of the Sanatorium, a large building was used for militaiy stores, another where the Court House now stands. At the foot of East hill was a workshop for the army, sixty feet long and two stories high. On Washington's second visit in 1781 and a third visit later he stayed at Sheldon's Tavern, the Hoppin house of today. Washington once held a public reception at the house of his aide-de-camp. Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, on North street, now the summer home of Mrs. John Vander poel of New York, the great-granddaughter of Colonel Tallmadge, who was a member of the regiment which went out from Litchfield, and who performed such brilliant ex ploits that he received the public thanks of Washington. It may be interesting to the visitor of today walking up the shaded streets to know the history of some of the interesting old houses. The Vaill Homestead, situated 12 about two miles west of the center, is the oldest house in the township. It was built in 1744 by Capt. Joseph Vaill, on land which was described in the deed as " Wolf- Pit Hill." The location of the Wolf-Pit, is still remem bered. The construction was simple but effective ; an excava tion in the ground was surmounted by heavy logs so arranged that they would fall upon and crush a wolf when it tugged at the "bait" fastened to a figure-4 trap underneath. The original design of the Homestead was the well-known lean- to of that period. At a later date the longer roof was cut off, leaving the two roofs of equal length. The stairway in the main portion is about five feet in width, and rises under an arch formed by union of the two brick chimneys in the north and south rooms. It is probable that a large stone chimney originally occupied the space of the present stair way and that the present brick chimneys and the broad straight stairway, were subsequent improvements. In 1853 the old stone chimney and its no longer required huge oven were removed and later other changes and additions were made bringing the appearance of the house as it is to-day. The second owner of the Homestead was Benjamin Vaill, youngest of the nine children of Capt. Joseph Vaill, who lived there for 80 years, until his death ini852. It was next in possession of the Rev. Herman Landon Vaill, eldest son of Benjamin after his retirement from pastoral service. In 1870, it came into the possession of his family, the present owners. The homestead has remained continuously in the same family for over 160 years, an unusual circumstance. Among the descendants of Capt. Joseph Vaill, Dr. Charles Vaill of Rochester, N. Y., a wit whose sparkling humor is said to have done his patients more good than his prescrip tions did, in reference to the fact that the Litchfield branch of the Vaill family adheres to the two I's in the spelling of the name, was once asked why he didn't drop one of his I's ' He said he didn't know which one to drop.' Theodore F. Vaill, another descendant of Capt. Joseph, was adjutant and historian of the Second Connecticut Heavy < h mWOw >H ow eoo c > o 13 Artillery in the Civil War, editor of the Winsted Herald from 1865 to 1875, author of the "^Eneid in Modem American," a humorous translation of the First and Fourth Books of Virgil's JEneld ; and Joseph H. Vaill, the present owner, was for many years editor of the Winsted Herald, and Connecticut representative as executive officer at the Columbian Exposition of 1893, The Atlanta Exposition of 1895, and The Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. The Wolcott house on South street is the oldest now standing in the village. Governor Roger Wolcott of Wind sor left by will a tract of land on South street to his son Oliver, on which the latter built in 1752 the Wolcott house. The Wolcott farm and farmhouse were on the other side of the street on the site of the Lindley and Andrews places. This Oliver Wolcott was Governor of the state, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and took a mem orable part in the struggle for freedom. In this house he entertained George Washington, General Lafayette, and many other prominent men of the time. In the house were born Oliver Wolcott, Jr., and Frederick Wolcott, called the handsomest and most accomplished gentleman of the state. Oliver Wolcott, Sr., though born in Windsor in 1726, became a resident of Litchfield when he was twenty-five years of age, and hence his fame, subsequently achieved, as really belongs to the town as though he had been born here. He graduated at Yale College in 1745, took up the study of medicine and established himself as a physician in Goshen. On the founding of Litchfield County, he was appointed by the Legislature, First High Sheriff of the new county, which office he held for twenty years. In consequence of this ap pointment he moved to Litchfield in 175 1. He was chosen a representative to the Legislature five times, was a member of the Council or Upper House from 177 1 to 1786, Judge of the Court of Probate of the District of Litchfield from 1772 to 1795, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1773 to 1786, and member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1784 with the exception of two years. In 14 1776, as above mentioned, he was one of the memorable band of patriots who affixed their names to the Declaration of Independence. He was Brigadier-General in the army, Commissioner of Indian affairs, Major-General of the militia of Connecticut, was a member of the Committee of Safety, and at the same time held many important positions in the government of the town. No man in the State at this period discharged so many and varied public duties. A consider able share of the reputation which Connecticut acquired, for promptness in furnishing men and means for the army was due to General Wolcott. Certainly to no other individual in the western counties could Governor Trumbull or General Washington appeal for aid with the certainty of success as to him. In 1786 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State and was annually re-elected for ten years. In 1796 he was chosen governor, and re-elected the following year. He died In 1797, aged seventy-one years. Ursula Wolcott, a sister of Governor Wolcott, married Governor Matthew Griswold, and was the mother of Governor Roger Griswold. Thus her father, brother, husband, son, and nephew were all governors of Connecticut, a fact which cannot probably be said of any other lady who ever lived in the State or United States. The leaden statue of King George the Third, unveiled on Bowling Green, New York City, in 1770, was torn down in 1776 after the signing of the Declaration of Independ ence, secretly brought to Litchfield and melted into 42,088 bullets In the apple orchard back of the house. The bullets were forwarded to the Continental soldiers in order that the king's troops might have melted majesty fired at them. The two daughters and young son of General Wolcott, and daughters and wives of many of the Litchfield patriots as sisted In the melting and moulding of the bullets. After the Revolution the Wolcotts went into trade. Gov ernor Wolcott with his brother the Hon. Frederick making the experiment in the manufacture of woolen cloths which was disastrous to them but the parent of the subsequent H. B. BELDEN HOUSE W. H. SANFORD HOUSE REEVE— WOODRUFF HOUSE-FRONT Owned by Mr. Chas. H. Woodruff REEVE— WOODRUFF HOUSE— SOUTH SIDE 15 prosperity of Wolcottville, now Torrington. Also with two other gentlemen, trading direct with London and China, as more definitely described later. The Wolcott house passed through various hands, and has recently been added to and modernized by its present owner. Miss Alice Wolcott of New York. The Belden house next below on South street, was built by Reynold Marvin, king's attorney in the time of George III. The house was enlarged by Phineas Bradley and later occupied by the Hon. Gideon H. Hollister, historian of Connecticut and later minister to Hayti under the Johnson administration. It is now owned by the grand children of Mrs. H. B. Belden, who bought the house from Mr. Hollister. Directly opposite the Wolcott house is the Reeve- Wood ruff house, one of the most interesting in town on account of its connection with the first law school in the United States. Tapping Reeve, a graduate of the college of New Jersey, now Princeton, married Sally Burr, a sister of Aaron Burr, and grandaughter of President Jonathan Edwards. He came to Litchfield in 1772, and In 1773 built the Reeve house. There he founded the first laAv school of the country In 1784, of which he was principal for forty years. He entertained at his home the most prominent men of his time, Washing ton, Lafayette, Aaron Burr, and many others of note. He was Judge of the Superior Court and Chief Justice of the State. He was very absent-minded, and on one occasion he Is said to have been seen walking up North street with a bridle in his hand minus the horse, the latter having quietly slipped out and walked off. Never noticing this serious omission, the learned jurist calmly fastened the bridle to a post and walked into the house. Up to 1784 there had been no professorships of law in the colleges, nor was law treated as a liberal science. He conducted the school alone until 1798, when having been appointed to the bench of the Superior Court, he associated with him Judge Gould. They conducted the school together i6 until the age of Judge Reeve forced his retirement. Judge Gould continued the school alone until a few years before his death, when J. W. Huntington, who had been associated with him, continued it a few years until he became Judge and United States Senator and consequently left Litchfield. Judge Reeve first gave law a place among the liberal studies in this country. A new subject of study, the Con stitution of the United States and the legislation of Con gress, required uniformity of interpretation. More than a thousand lawyers from all parts of the colony were educated at this law school, and learned the same principles and modes of legal thinking, then dissemi nated them through the country. After Judge Gould's con nection with the school, went out from it one vice-president of the United States, two Judges of the United States Su preme Court, forty Judges of the highest state courts, thirteen Senators, forty-six representatives in Congress, Cab inet and Foreign ministers, and a new impulse was given to legal learning In this country. The small law school building stood just south of the house, and some years ago was moved to West street, and became the west half of the house of C. F. Daniels, opposite the Hawkhurst. The original interior is preserved as far as possible, and on one of the small old-fashioned windows are cut the names of several of the Edwards family. The Daniels house, this summer of 1907 put up at auc tion to settle the Daniel's estate, was sold to D. C. Kilboum representing, it Is supposed, the Litchfield County Bar As sociation. In the present General Assembly an effort is being made to get an appropriation to preserve the place for its historic value. It Is probable the place will be kept as a point of history to visitors. On the same side of South street some distance farther south is the handsome residence owned by Colonel George B. Sanford and enlarged by him. This house was built by Elijah Wadsworth In 1799 and the third Governor Wolcott RESIDENCE OF COL. GEO, B. SANFORD EPISCOPAL RECTORY HUBBARD HOUSE AND WOLCOTT ELM 17 came Into occupancy in 1814. He was the projector of our present State Constitution and the first Governor under it, later Secretary of the United States Treasury under Wash ington. In a part of the house next door now owned by Mr. W. G. Wallbridge was for a number of years a boarding- school for boys called The Wolcott Institute, and kept by Rev. W. G. Wright, M.A., Rector. On a fork of the road much farther down is a gambrel- roofed house with a sign stating that Ethan Allen was bom there. Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga, was bom In Litchfield in 1737, probably in a house on the West Goshen road. This house is said to have been moved to its present site, and may consequently be his birthplace, but not as it now stands. On the site of the Andrews place, a female seminary was established by Miss Henrietta Jones, a descendant of Gov ernor Jones of the New Haven colony. This lady was cele brated for her wit and the energy of her character. The house was burned and the Andrews house built on the site. Judge Charles B. Andrews, the owner of the house until his death, was Governor of the State, and later Chief Justice. He is the only citizen In the history of Connecticut who held the two highest offices in the gift of the State. The house next door owned by Mrs. John H. Hubbard, though not very old is a fine type of the best of the archi tecture of the early nineteenth century, the doorways being especially fine. The piazza on the south Is unique as being built around a hawthorn-tree, the tree acting as a roof and shade from the sun. The house was built about 1833 by Lyman Smith, of whom Morris Woodruff, grandfather of Mr. George M. Woodruff, bought it, living there for many years. In 1855 the house was bought by Mr. John H. Hub bard, Congressman from 1863-67. As he was an ardent administration man Lincoln liked and trusted him. As Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard on one occasion were attending a White House reception, Lincoln spied them over the heads of those nearer him and called out heartily: "Why, here i8 comes old Connecticut." Mr. Hubbard lived in the house with his family until his death. His wife and children now own the house and reside in it. The ancient elm at the right of the walk was brought from the swamp and set out by Frederick Wolcott when a youth and living with his father at the Wolcott homestead. It is one of the finest trees In town and about 125 years old. The Seymour house, now St. Michael's rectory, was built in 1784 by Samuel Seymour, the brother of Major Moses Seymour, who lived there until his death in the early nine teenth century. The south wing was added about twenty qr twenty-five years ago. The southeast room on the second floor was used by Calhoun when a law student. Samuel Seymour was a prominent resident of the town and a captain in the militia. He was famous for sharpening razors, and every morning the other members of the Seymour family used to come to his house where they kept their razors, and all shave at the same time. The house was bought in i860 by Clarissa Seymour, widow of Rev. Truman Marsh, who gave it to St. Michael's Church for a rectory. The Seymour Homestead, three houses further north, was built by Major Moses Seymour in 1807 for his son Ozias Seymour who later built the addition as it is today. It descended to Origen S. Seymour, Chief Justice of Connec ticut, whose son Morris Seymour came Into possession in 1904, the house having been continuously In the Seymour family since it was built 100 years ago. Across the street the Champlin house, an interesting old type, was built in 1796. It was used for 20 years as a tavern, later came into the possession of A. C. Smith whose daughter, Mrs. Champlin, owns it today. On the other side of the street a little farther south, is a fine type of house with massive pillars supporting the roof and piazza. This house is now owned by Mr. William H. Sanford and was built about 1832 by Dr. Alanson Abbey, who at one time housed a sanitarium for cripples in it. The THE CHAMPLIN HOUSE THB SEYMOUR HOMESTEAD GOULD HOUSE Owned by Mrs. J. Mason Hoppin GOULD HOUSE-SOUTH SIDE 19 house passed through several hands until Mr. Sanford bought it some time ago. In South street, scarcely one mile in length, originated the Law School, the plan of the existing Constitution of Con necticut, and Histories of Connecticut and Litchfield, the latter written by George C. Woodruff, grandfather of the present editor of the Enquirer. It boasts three Govemors of the State, two Chief Judges, one Justice of the United States Circuit Court, six members of the House of Represen tatives, one Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and two of the first law writers on the continent, a record probably unequaled by any street of equal length in the country. Before leaving South street it Is interesting to note the unusual fact that North street Is not a continuation forming one long street as in most old New England towns, but is quite a little farther to the west. At the time of the laying out of the town there Is said to have been a magnificent oak- tree in the middle of the street if continued north from South street. The early settlers being unwilling to cut down so fine a tree, the street was built around it. Let us take the turn, cross the pretty park, and walk up North Street, which Is not far behind in matters of historical importance. The third oldest house in town and one of the most beau tiful, is the Gould house, until his death in the fall of 1906 owned by Prof. James M. Hoppin of Yale University, well known for his literary works, especially In the realm of art, when it became the property of Mrs. J. Mason Hoppin of New Haven. It was built in 1760 by Elisha Sheldon. When Professor Hoppin bought the house of Miss Julia Gould in 1871, he had some repairs made and the garret floor was taken up. Under the floor was found a board on which was written In white chalk clear and plain, the date April 26, 1760. Hence there can be no doubt when the house was built. Samuel Sheldon took f-tip finiiQP offpr Jiio <^!jf-hpr ^r\r\ rnndnrf-pd the famous Sheldon 20 Tavern or Inn. In the northeast room George Washington spent one night, and In the moming kept a company of horse- guards waiting for him while he leisurely completed his toilet and finished breakfast. Samuel Sheldon sold the house to General Uriah Tracy, who came to Litchfield in 1780. General Tracy represented this town nine sessions of the Legislature, was a member of Congress three years. United States Senator eleven years, and was considered one of the most brilliant men of his day. He died at Washington In 1807. His daughter Sally married Judge James Gould, who was associated with Judge Reeve in 1798 in the Litchfield Law School. He was Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut from 1816 to 181 9, and " Gould's Pleading " is a well-known legal work. He died in 1838, leaving the reputation of having been one of the greatest lawyers and jurists in the country. His daughter Julia sold the house to Professor Hoppin In 1871. About a mile west of the village at an abrupt turn of the road, stands a small one-story dwelling house. This build ing stood originally in the yard of the Gould house, and was the private office of Judge James Gould, in which he heard the recitations of his classes and delivered the legal lectures which rendered his name famous all over the land. This Is all that remains of the once celebrated Litchfield Law School, the first in the United States, begun in 1784, which attracted students from every state in the Union, and from which were graduated many of the most eminent jurists that our country has produced. Two houses below Is the Tallmadge house, now owned by Mrs. John Vanderpoel of New York City. It was built in 1775 by Thomas Sheldon, of whom Colonel Tallmadge bought it In November, 1782. Colonel Tallmadge was bom on Long Island and graduated at Yale in 1773. In 1776 he received a lieutenant's commission in the army; later from General Washington himself, a captain's commission in Shel don's famous Light Brigade, and was promoted to the rank of Major in 1777. His company made a fine appearance, all TALLMADGE HOUSE Owned by Mrs. John Vanderpoel RESIDENCE OF THE HON. J. DEMING PERKINS West Front RESIDENCE OF THE HON. J. DEMING PERKINS Garden Side 21 mounted on dapple-grey horses, black straps and black bear skin covers. Major Tallmadge was very close to Washington, who had great confidence in him. At the close of the war Major Tallmadge was given the rank of Colonel, and was with Washington and his officers one of the incorporators of the Society of the Cincinnati, its first treasurer and later presi dent of the Connecticut Society. Colonel Tallmadge mar ried in 1784 Mary Floyd, daughter of General Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and made Litchfield his permanent home. In 1801 he was elected to Congress and served sixteen years. His Litchfield home was a great resort for Revolutionary officers, and when La fayette visited this country in 1824 he came tO' Litchfield to see his friend Tallmadge after an interval of forty years. Colonel Tallmadge's store stood south of the house, and later was moved to become the wing of Mrs. Kilbourn's house. In the southeast room was his office. His wife used to powder his queue every morning. At one time, the son of Benjamin Franklin was confined in the house, a prisoner of war. His farmhouse was the building on the top of Pros pect Hill now owned by Miss Susan White. One room was kept exclusively for Colonel Tallmadge and his wife to see the beautiful view. Directly opposite the Tallmadge house Is one of the most beautiful residences in town, now owned by the Hon. J. Deming Perkins. It was built In 1793 by Mr. Perkins' grandfather, Mr. Julius Deming, and enlarged in 1890 by Mr. Perkins. Julius Deming was bom at Lyme in 1755, became a merchant here in 178 1. He was a man of remark able energy and enterprise. Soon after coming here he visited London and made arrangements to have his goods imported direct from that city; which probably could not be said of any other country merchant in New England at the time. Mr. Deming also with Colonel Tallmadge and Oliver Wolcott bought the ship Trident and opened trade with China, continuing it for fourteen years under the name of 22 the Litchfield China Trading Company. These three gentle men also imported two hundred horses to improve the stock of the country. For many years one of the magistrates of the county, he went by the name of the " Crowbar Justice " and was universally recognized as the most thorough and successful business man who has ever lived in Litchfield. Mr. Deming was a prominent member of the Congregational church, and It is related that after one of the communion sacraments at a time when the entire service was of pewter. Colonel Tall madge went to see Mr. Deming and asked him if it did not seem Inappropriate that their tables should be set with silver while the table of the Lord was set with pewter. Mr. Dem ing sharing his views, it was agreed that on one of his visits to New York he should order silver cups or flagons. The flagons are those now in use and were provided chiefly by the generosity of the gentlemen in question. Miss Lucretia Deming made this house her summer home, and started the long border of perennial flowers which is so' noticeable to day. At her death It became the property of her nephew, Hon. J. Deming Perkins. A house of great interest because there is no house now standing which remained the same length of time consecu tively In the family of the original builder, is the house known as the Sheldon or Child house, and until her death a few years ago occupied by Mrs. Nathaniel R. Child. It was built by Dr. Daniel Sheldon in 1785. Dr. Sheldon was a prominent and beloved physician for more than forty years. His daughter Lucy was born in the house in 1788, who afterwards married Dr. Theron Beach, a prosperous merchant of the town. Mrs. Beach passed her entire life In the house, and when she died in 1889 lacked but a few months of loi years. Mrs. Child preserved with care pictures, omaments, and furniture of great Interest and value. In the parlor were to be seen many pictures brought from France by Dr. Shel don's son, Daniel Sheldon, Jr., Secretary of Legation to NORTH STREET, IN OCTOBER THE LITCHFIELD HILLS 23 France under Ambassador Gallatin. In the hall hung his dress sword ; in the parlor was the oldest piano In Litchfield if not in the State. It was made in London over ninety years ago by G. Astor & Co., a brother of the first John Jacob Astor. On the death of Mrs. Child, the house became the property of Captain Edgar Van Winkle of New York, and the historic heirlooms and treasures were divided among the various heirs. Two houses below, the house now owned by Mr. Fred erick Deming was built (a part of it), in 1797, by John Allen, who was a member of Congress for many years. John Allen was called " The Giant," and is said to have been over seven feet tall. He was so heavy that at his funeral the coffin was dropped on the steps by the bearers. Hon. Gideon H. Hollister, who owned the house at one time, wrote there his History of Connecticut. Mr. Edwin McNeill bought the house and greatly enlarged It, of whom Miss Clarissa B. Deming bought It later. Its present owner, Mr. Frederick Deming, bought it In 1884, and resides in it with his family. On the site of the beautiful modern colonial house owned by Mr. F. L. Underwood of New York stood Miss Pierce's school. "Miss Sarah'PIerce opened a school in this town for the instruction of females in the year 1792, which has very generally merited and acquired a distinguished repu tation. The school continued under her superintendence for nearly forty years, and its reputation was sustained a few years longer by her nephew, Mr. John P. Brace. Up to the time of the founding of this school, the education of young ladies, with few exceptions, had been neglected; the district school had limited their course of studies. Miss Pierce saw and regretted this, and devoted herself and all her active life to the mental and moral culture of her sex. The experi ment succeeded entirely. This academy soon became the resort of young ladies from all portions of the country; from the cities and from the towns. Then the country was preferred as most suitable for females' improvement away from the frivolities and dissipations of fashionable life." 24 " During the forty years of the school under Miss Pierce's superintendence, she educated about three thousand young ladies. This school was for a long period the most cele brated in the United States, and brought together a large number of the most gifted and beautiful women of the con tinent. They were certain to be most methodically taught and tenderly cared for, and under her mild rule they could hardly fail to learn whatever was most necessary to fit them for the quiet but elevated spheres which so many of them have since adorned. Miss Pierce lived to the advanced age of eighty-three. She was small In person, of a cheerful lively temperament, a bright eye, and a face expressive of the most active benevolence. She was in the habit of practicing, her self, all the theories that she taught to her pupils, and until physical infirmities confined her to her room, would take her accustomed walk in the face of the roughest March wind that ever blew across our hills. The intelligence of her death cast a shade of sadness over many a domestic circle, and caused many a silent tear to fall." While this School and the Law School previously de scribed were In full and active life, Litchfield was famed for an Intellectual and social position which is believed to have been at that time unrivaled in any other village or town of equal size In the United States. The schoolhouse was a small building of only one room, probably not exceeding 30x70 feet, with small closets at each end, one large enough to hold a piano, and the others used for bonnets and over garments. The plainest of pine desks, long plank benches, and an elevated teacher's desk consti tuted the whole furniture. The school was situated in the middle of the land now occupied by Mr. F. L. Underwood's house. Miss Pierce's house being just south of it, and her brother and nephew, the latter subsequently associated with her in the school, living in a small red building on the site of the present par sonage. A few of Miss Pierce's scholars boarded in her own BRICK OVEN FIREPLACE IN A LITCHFIELD HOUSE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PEWTER A LITCHFIELD PERENNIAL GARDEN JUNE ROSES IN A LITCHFIELD GARDEN 25 house built in 1803, but there was no boarding-school in the modern acceptation of the term. The rest of the pupils boarded with different families throughout the town, as did also those of the Law School. There were some years as many as one hundred or more belonging to each school.* " Imagine these now quiet streets with red coaches rat tling through them, with signs of importer, publisher, gold smith, hatter, etc., hanging on the shops, with young men arriving on horseback to attend the Law School and divide their attention between their studies of the law and studies of the pretty girls of the 'Female Academy.' Then there were some gay bloods from the South so much at home in the town that they disported themselves in pink gingham frock-coats. So said an eye-witness. To complete the pic ture, there was the daily procession of school girls taking their exercise to the sound of flute and flageolet, and surely it was a lively scene." The first use of the violin In the town for a dance was in 1748, the whole expense of the amusement, although the young people generally assembled, was one dollar, out of which the fiddler was paid. When this instance of profusion took place, parents, and old people exclaimed that they should be ruined by the extravagance of the youth. In 1798, con tinues the same writer, " a ball with the customary entertain ment and variety of music, cost about $160 and nothing was said about it. This serves to show the great change In the wealth and character of the people." Litchfield in 18 10 was quite a commercial and Industrial center. The Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for 18 10 says: "The most important manu factures in the town are those of iron, of which there are four forges, one slitting mill, and one nail factory. There are one cotton factory, one oil mill, one paper mill, two cc-^'ng machines, six fulling mills, five grain mills, eighteen * The first Post Road was established between New York and Litchfield in 1792. In the next six years succeeding, commenced what may be called the Era of Turnpikes and Stage Coaches, which continued in its glory for forty years. 26 saw mills, five large tanneries, besides several on a small scale ; two comb factories, two hatters' shops, two carriage-makers, one cabinet furniture maker, three saddlers, and a number of house carpenters, joiners, smiths, and other mechanics. The population then was 4,639, and it was the fourth town in the State, only Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport exceeding It In point of population. There were four com panies of militia and sixteen mercantile stores. That the town was a patriotic center can be learned from the part it took in the Revolution, but it was also public-spirited and particularly advanced in movements for education. Not only did the first law school In America have its beginnings in this little town, and the first school for the higher e'ducation of women but In the Monitor for 1798 we read of a public library as having been in existence for some time. The book stores not only advertised themselves in the weekly papers, but also the new books as they came to their shelves. There was a " Litchfield Lyceum " with its lectures, debates, and weekly meetings, and still farther In 1831 we find a notice which proves that even at that early date the movement to ward manual training was taking shape In the thought of these broad-minded men. A society was incorporated Octo ber 27, 1 83 1, and a notice was published to the subscribers for stock in the Manual Labor High School of Litchfield County. Committee, Frederick Wolcott, Lot Norton, Orange Merwin, Tertius D. Potter, and Solomon Rockwell. Preparations were to be made for the choice of location, necessary buildings, etc. Also about this time we find ad vertised a select school for business students, mathematics, and the languages, kept by M. R. Deming. In 1789, thirty years before the temperance movement in which the Rev. Lyman Beecher became so prominent, a tem perance pledge was drafted and signed by many people; The original pledge was republished with other articles bear ing upon the same subject in the Litchfield Enquirer of Sep tember 26, 1833. While not the first temperance organiza tion in the world, nevertheless the signing of this agreement RESIDENCE OF MRS. HENRY R. COIT RESIDENCE OF MRS. E. L. FERRY BUEL HOMESTItAIJ MODERN COLONIAL HOME OF DR. JOHN L. BUEL 27 Is one of the most noted landmarks in the history of the tem perance reform in America. Next above the Brace house was the old Deming house, still standing, now owned by Mrs. E. L. Ferry of New York, and enlarged by her in perfect keeping with the old style of the house. It was built in 177 1 by Lynde Lord, passed to his son, Lynde Lord, Jr., who sold it to William Deming, the father of Mrs. Ferry. On Prospect street, the Maxwell house, now owned by Mrs. W. H. Maxwell of New York, was built in 1786 by Reuben Webster. It was at one time the Congregational parsonage, and the Rev. George Richards lived there when pastor. On the corner of North street and Prospect stood the Beecher homestead, where Dr. Lyman Beecher, for sixteen years pastor of the Congregational church, from 18 10 to 1826, made his home and reared his family. Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe were born there, and both received their education, the former his preparation for college, from Miss Sarah Pierce. Dr. Lyman Beecher was well known for his remarkable " Six Sermons on Temperance." He also organized in 1 8 1 2 the Litchfield County Foreign Mission Society, the first Aux iliary of the American Board. The house was built by Elijah Wadsworth in 1775, and after the Beechers left Litchfield became the home of a boys' school, kept for a number of years by the Rev. James Rich ards, D.D., and called " The Elm Park Collegiate Institute." Some years ago what was left of the house was moved to another site, but the old Beecher well may still be seen on the beautiful grounds of the present owner of the property, Mr; Henry R. Jones of Brooklyn.* The Buel Homestead, In a commanding situation at the head of North street, was built by Alexander Catlin in 1778, and was bought by Dr. Henry W. Buel about the close of the *Rev. Horace Bushnell, D.D., was also born in Litchfield, in 1802. He was the author of well-known theological works, and pastor of the North Congrega tional Church of Hartford for 27 years. 28 Civil War. Dr. Henry Buel was one of the leading phy sicians of the State, and founded Spring Hill Sanatorium in 1 858. At that date there was a great need of small private sanatoriums for the treatment of nervous troubles, and Spring Hill was one of the earliest In the United States. It has been continued and enlarged by his son. Dr. John L. Buel. His handsome modern colonial house is at the head of North street on the east side and just south of the Sanatorium. On its site in Revolutionary times, stood a government depot for military stores, and another where the courthouse now stands, a military guard being stationed at both places night and day. Just below, about where Miss Van Winkle's house now stands, an iron foundry was situated, owned and run by Morse & Carrington, where a very superior quality of ore from Salisbury and Kent was made into anchors, the first and best In the country. Retracing our steps down North street toward the center, the next house of historical interest is the Lord house, built in 1785 by Oliver Boardman on Glebe Land. The east side of North street, from the comer of East street to the Lord house, was owned by the church and called Glebe Land. The land on which the house was built was either leased by or sold to Boardman by the church authorities, and bought of him by Sylvester Spencer, Litchfield's former real estate dealer. It was also owned by Samuel Beach, who sold it to George Lord, the brother of Augustus, who with his sister resided there until his death at the age of eighty-seven. His sister. Miss Lord, occupied the home until her death in the Spring of 1907 at the age of 80 years and 11 months, when the house descended to her nieces. The side doorstep, an Immense block of stone, was brought from Salisbury, requir ing twelve pair of oxen to draw It. On the site of the house now owned by Miss A. T. Bulke- ley, was an old house built by Michael Dickinson in 1765. He sold it to the Hon. Andrew Adams, chief justice of the State, who resided in it for twenty years. His mother, Mrs. Mary Adams, died there in 1803 at the age of 105 years, SPRING HILL SANATORIUM Main House AVENUE OF TREES Spring Hill Sanatorium THE ROBERTS HOUSE 29 and had the unusual experience of living in three centuries, being bom in 1698. And as if this were not enough she rode on horseback thirty miles in one day after she had passed her hundredth year. The Misses Edwards, grand daughter of the first President Edwards, occupied it as a boarding-house for law students. It passed through various hands, until Capt. Charles Jones tore down the old house and built about 1850 the house now standing, which has been much enlarged by its present owner. The house now owned by Mrs. Henry R. Coit was built in 1770 by Dr. Reuben Smith, a prominent resident and physician, and was sold to the Hon. Asa Bacon in 1806. Judge Bacon was born in Canterbury, and was associated with Judges Reeve and Gould, bringing his entire school with him from Canterbury when he came here to settle. He was a prominent member of the Litchfield Bar and a man of fine personal appearance. Mr. Henry Coit, through his connection with the Bank and Shepaug Railroad, and in other ways closely identified for many years with all that pertained to the welfare of mod ern Litchfield, bought the house of Judge Bacon, and lived there until his death. It is now occupied by Mrs. Henry R. Colt and her son, Mr. Charles H. Coit, with his family. The house now occupied by Mr. Elbert P. Roberts, one of Litchfield's real estate dealers, on the comer of North and East streets, was built in 1792 by Charles Butler, cashier of the Litchfield Bank. It was originally a story and a half gable-roofed house. In the early part of the nineteenth century it was bought by Frederick Deming, father of the present Mr. Frederick Deming of North street, who en larged it and built on the east wing. When Mr. Deming moved to New York he sold the place to Oliver S. Weller, and the latter built the small building where the school now is, for a small store, where he sold dry and wet goods, chiefly the latter. After his death Mrs. Weller continued the busi ness as long as she lived, when the house went to two nieces in Woodbury who are its present owners. On the death of 30 these ladies the house will be the property of St. Michael's Parish Church. Next door is the house owned by Miss Mary L. Phelps, the oldest house on East street, and one of the oldest in town. The plain old, substantial roomy type of house with its twelve-paned windows and magnificent elms shadowing the doorway, make it one of the principal attractions of the cen ter. The house was built for a tavern in 1782 by John Collins, son of Rev. Timothy Collins, first pastor of the Congregational Church. There was a bar in the southwest front room, with the ballroom directly overhead. It was sold by John Collins to Aaron Smith and bought of the latter in 181 1 by Luke Lewis, Miss Phelps' grandfather, remain ing in the family ever since. Mr. Lewis and his family moved in May 5, 18 12, and it is interesting to note that the night before there had been a heavy fall of snow, so that they moved all their possessions over on ox-sleds. When Mr. Lewis moved Into the present Phelps house, lus store was on North street, next to the Coit house. The store was built in 178 1 by Dr. Reuben Smith eleven years after he built the Coit house. Mr. Lewis moved it down next the Phelps house, and it is now occupied by Ralph Smith as a shop for the sale and repairing of old-fashioned furniture with the sign, " Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe " over the door. At the time of removal nearly all the stores were on North street. Passing along East street we come next to the United States Hotel, open the year round. Built in 1787 by David Buel, this popular and well-known hostelry Is today probably the oldest hotel in point of continuous service now standing in the county if not in the State. Very few country hotels have entertained so many distinguished men and handsome women. As originally built, the whole top floor was a ball room. This room has had many famous guests honored not only in Litchfield and Connecticut, but at the nation's capital. In 1824 the famous ball to Lafayette was given here. The hostelry was sold to John Phelps, and the house was well If* PHELPS' HOUSE LIBRARY CORNER UNITED STATES HOTEL ROBERTS' CORNER 31 known under his regime. Among those who have owned or managed the United States Hotel are Eben BoUes, Denman Woodruff, Rufus Smith, and William Crossman. Mr. Smith cut up the famous ballroom into bedrooms and put on a new roof. Mr. Campbell, the present proprietor, married Mr. Grossman's daughter, and a few years hence made extensive alterations and improvements, but the glory and fame of the historical old hostelry cannot be forgotten by any moderniz ing. Next to the hotel still going east is the Bissell house, the fourth oldest house now standing in the village. It was built by William Marsh in 1761. About three-quarters of a mile east, at a fork of the road stands a very Interesting old house built In 1796, now owned by Edson Perkins. The first house erected on West street now standing is the George Kenney house, built by Eli Smith in 1780. The first Congregational Church stood about where the monument now stands In the middle of the green, was com pleted about 1726 and sold at auction in 1762 after the completion of the second church, in which Lyman Beecher preached and where he delivered his celebrated six sermons on temperance. The third church, now Armory Hall, on the Torrington Road, was completed In 1829, and Dr. Loren Hickok was the pastor. The present church was dedicated in 1873, and Rev. John Hutchins has been the pastor since 1895. A beautiful memorial window was placed In the church in memory of Dr. Henry W. Buel by his children. St. Michael's Episcopal Church was dedicated in 1851 and is the third edifice, the first being built in 1749 about a mile west of the courthouse. The present church had a spire above the tower which was blown down in a storm a few years ago. Dr. Storrs O. Seymour, the present rector, is serving for a second term the parish with which the Seymour family has been identified for more than a hundred years. There are several beautiful memorial windows in the church, and In the vestibule will be noticed a stone mounted in brass 32 and suitably inscribed. This stone came from the Cathedral of Lichfield, Eng., presented by the dean and chapter through the kindness and interest of Miss Mary Benson of Brooklyn, N. Y. The first Methodist Episcopal Church was built on Meadow street in 1837; up to that time the early Methodists met in private houses and then in the town hall. The present church was dedicated in 1885 by Bishop Harris of New York. In 1888 St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church was dedi cated by Bishop McMahon. It has a fine situation in the middle of South street, and an able parish priest. Rev. P. M. Skelley. Before we leave ancient Litchfield, let us take a look at the historic tombs in the old cemetery at the foot of East Hill. The Wolcott plot is near the north end of the yard, marked by five monuments and four massive tables of marble and granite. The first table Is inscribed to Oliver Wolcott, Sr., and the second to his son. Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge lies near the Wolcott tomb. The tomb of John Plerpont may be found, and those of two of the children of Lyman Beecher. The searcher will be rewarded by many quaint epitaphs and many names of historical interest will be found. Mention must be made of the first Litchfield paper. The Monitor, established in 1784, and highly Important in its day. Its full name was The Weekly Monitor and Ameri can Advertiser, and It was first Issued the year of the Law School by Thomas Collier, printed on coarse blue paper on a sheet about one-third the size of the present Litchfield Enquirer. There were only three Litchfield advertisements, — Wm. Russell, stocking weaver, from Norwich, Eng., an nounced that he was ready to make worsted, cotton, and linen jackets and breeches pattems, men's and women's stock ings, gloves, and mitts. Zalmon Bedient, barber, offers cash for human hair; Cornelius Thayer, brazier, also calls atten tion to his business. The Monitor was continued for a period of twenty-two years, for sixteen of which it had no THE HAWKHURST HOTEL ANCIENT MILE STONE 33 rival in the town, and it was at once the organ and oracle of the federal party in this region. Other shortlived news papers, were The Witness, democratic. The Litchfield Gazette, The Litchfield Journal, The Miscellany, The American Eagle, The Litchfield County Post, which was the forerunner of the present Litchfield Enquirer, The Litch field Democrat, The Litchfield Sun, The Mercury, The Democratic Watchman, and The Litchfield Republican, all weekly papers and continuing for a period varying between one and five years. The present Litchfield Enquirer is con ducted by George C. Woodruff, and though a small paper is well known through the State. In closing this brief account of historical Litchfield, a word must be said of her as she is today. Local pride as shown by individual enterprise or by the Village Improve ment Society, founded in 1875, with Hon. George M. Wood ruff for president, keeps the houses and streets in modem up-to-date condition, the whole town presenting a park-like appearance, the ancient trees arching overhead making Litchfield one of the prettiest of the old New England towns. In 1872 the Shepaug Valley Railroad was opened to the public, and today gives easy communication with New York, connecting with the Pittsfield express at Bethel. Through parlor cars from New York without change are put on for the summer some time in June. In 1892 the Fire Department Building was formally opened. It is handsomely equipped with all modem im provements, and was the gift of the Hon. J. Deming Per kins. Two large fires have devastated the business center of the town, in 1886 and 1888, but thanks to the generosity of this public-spirited citizen, no largely destructive fire is possible in the future. An excellent bank was founded here in 1856, a branch of the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, the first incorporation of which as a branch was in 1 8 14. It is called the First Na tional Bank of Litchfield, is situated on North street, and 34 has for president, Hon. George M. Woodruff; vice-presi dent, Mr. Charies H. Coit. A modern hotel. The Hawkhurst, is open from June until late in the fall. It was built about 1878, is situated half way up West Hill from the Shepaug station, and Is a modernly equipped comfortable summer hotel with fine view of the lake and hills from the rear. The Foster School, which occupies the Hawkhurst from October to June, came to Litchfield In the fall of 1906 from Cornwall, where it had been established for several years. Under the watchful care and affectionate guidance of the Rev. Allen K. Foster, the head master, the school has just closed a most prosperous year. Nearly opposite Is the Litchfield Club house, open to members through the summer months, with excellent modern dirt tennis courts where the State tennis tournaments have been held, fine large assembly room, where dances are fre quently given, also stage for amateur theatricals and musi- cales. It was built in 1 893. On East Hill Is the small club house of the Litchfield Golf Club, a well-kept course leading golfers through an ex ceedingly pretty country. Membership may be had for short or long terms. On the corner of South and East streets, overshadowed by the century-old trees, stands the public library which houses the Litchfield Circulating and Wolcott Memorial Libraries. Though built but a few years ago in 1902, its simplicity of style Is in general harmony with the colonial appearance of most of the houses. The building was started by Mr. John A. Vanderpoel as a memorial to his grand mother, Mrs. William Curtis Noyes, but he died before its completion, and the work was carried on by Mr. Vanderpoel's mother, Mrs. John Vanderpoel of New York and North street, Litchfield. The beautiful Tiffany window was placed there by Mr. Vanderpoel's widow as a memorial to him. A large addition under constmction for the past two years, is now completed, and on the fifth of July the Dedica- CLUB HOUSE CLUB HOUSE WITH TENNIS COURTS AT THE REAR eo . IS «^ Sw U a! Z < R o ?J B H ^ fa cj a B 35 tion of the building and Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Litchfield County Historical Society, took place in the new Historical room. The Litchfield Historical Society was organized in 1893, the Litchfield County Historical and Antiquarian Society, incorporated in 1856, having preceded it. It has a collection of Histori cal heirlooms and treasures of rare interest. The collec tion had outgrown Its quarters and will be seen to better ad vantage in the large handsome room now ready for It, in the new part of the building. The collection may be seen at any time by application to the Curator, Miss M. L. Phelps, and Is open through the summer on special days. A large stained glass window, placed in the new part of the building as a memorial to the Litchfield County soldiers of the Revolutionary War by the Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter, D. A. R. of Litchfield, with the aid of contributions from descendants and others, was presented to the Historical Society at the above mentioned dedication and semi-centen nial celebration with an Interesting programme of patriotic addresses. It is a very beautiful one designed by Crownln- shield of New York, and represents a winged youth bearing a sword in one hand and a laurel crown in the other, gazing thoughtfully Into the distance. The background of blue hills and meadow, as indeed the whole window, is especially fine in color and appropriate in design to Its setting in the Library of a town among the hills. The Scientific Society was organized in 1902, and Is making collections of Litchfield County species in all branches past and present. An interesting exhibit of birds, etc., of the county can already be seen. Informal lectures on scientific subjects are held monthly in the library building. In the new part of the building on the lower floor a fine large room is devoted to the uses of the Scientific Society and provides the place until now lacking for the exhibition of the interesting specimens already secured. A few doors below the library on South street, an old building has been transformed into an attractive little club- 36 house for the new club for gentlemen, called " The Sanctum." In the center of the park is the memorial monument to the Litchfield soldiers who fell at the time of the Civil War, and west of it stands cannon and balls, presented by the Sec retary of War as a part of the memorial. From the center we get a good view of the court house, a dignified, modern, granite building, with clock striking the hour and quarter hours. This is the third building; the first was bumed In 1886 in the first great fire. In 1888 the business center was burned for the second time, and the new courthouse, which had just received its last coat of paint, took fire and like its predecessor of two years before, went up in fire and smoke. The present building was built in 1897-8. Across the square, on the corner of North and West street, is the County Jail, so trimly kept that one would scarcely suspect its serious purpose In life. This is the second building; the jail of Revolutionary times was on East street on the site of the present school-house. In it were con fined as prisoners of war. General Franklin, British governor of New Jersey, and Mr. Matthews, British mayor of New York City. The latter's traveling trunk and part of his traveling carriage were in possession of the Seymour family. Major Moses Seymour having been in charge of the jail at the time. The present jail was built In 1 8 1 2. On East street, near the corner of North street. In front of the Jail, stands the Whipping-post Elm, much in use at one time, twenty or thirty strokes being the usual punishment. If we take a drive out the West Goshen road, passing the beautiful home nestled In the hills and surrounded by beautiful woods, owned by Mrs. F. Norton Goddard of New York, widow of the well-known philanthropist, we come in time to an old farmhouse, the former home of Miss Mary Buel, a gentle sweet old lady who at her death gave her home to found a branch of the George Junior Republic, of which the parent institution is at Freeville, New York. There are now about thirty boys there under the superin- a Min OPmazS CM3 &o < »— 1 >[ W£^ '•-"^-'-