Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, June 9, 1916, Page 9

regan House: , | famous, hostelry in the days of #at they have tong. A man of genial disposition, he is and has @iways been ome of pro- found convictions and when stirred, could and did give expression to them g, Rraonly Sade nis side [ ent he commonly el s o of the matteér under discussion with & ament, which is certainly a sunny one, as his hosts of friends will tes- ity Started With O. H. Renynolds. Fifty years ago he entered the em- ploy of the late Oliver Reynolds, when the latter moved inta the George Leflingwell stgble, on Shietucket street, where the jestic ~building now stands, and for the thirty years Mr. Burke has owned and iriven his own teams, and there has been on the streets of Norwich in all that time, no, more familiar face figure than that of James Burke. The Bulletin presepts berewith a fahbiful likeness of hima and of his ipage, with “Jim" sgeted on the box,fand it neets_the eya.of any one who has not ieen him ip Fecent years, they will ind that thete has been but littie, if iny, change jn his burly form end rublcund Mr. Burke When asked to become reminiscent, many things of interest boih, fo the older and to i present gene: . Among the men Iriving publid, hacks at the beginning his cal , were Hartry Rogers, Thomas A. Holmes, who is still liv- mg, Jamed Stenley, afterward a well- tmown member of the police force, Patrick McKiernan, George Hillman, \ brother of. “Charlie,” already re- ferred to, John Fahey, William Cam- dlon, still residing iu Norwich, Irving Cooke, Martint #Malone and Daniel Ma- oone. 'A number of these began busi- ness later Mr. Burke, but all of ihem were liar figures on our itreets thirty or more years ago. Among the stable-keepers of the early venrs of his career, were Oliver Rey- Js, abovo mentioned, Who began fisiness on_Bath street, before re- mnoving to Shetucket street, Col. Pen- Lleton, who alsp moved to Shetucket ttreet, Hayes and Savory, on ‘Bath itreet, McChesney and Barrows, who lan the stable near the old covered Itructure, knewn as. the “Toll Bridge” pading from Norwiéh to that part of Preston now kriown as _the Bast Side, A. R. Bingham, at the Falls, on Oneco Jtrect, succeeded by Subert and Luce, 1 ester Subert, Russell Rathbone, on’fhe West Side, .near figh strect; and Henry Lathrop, on {Lestnut st on the sit where the Tentral fire. m now stands, and Daniel Holl le occupying a place n the rear of the Wauregan House, fhe entrance - belng on Franklin Bquare, near' the site of the Thayer building. Soms Long Drives. Mr. Burke /when asked as to his rarious drives dbout Norwich and its turrounding jolintry, was rather re- licent, though he was assured that an of them might prove ing, but recalled ustom every alter- 1xceedingly that it was: 3 of | acters” e | Vividly as though they had lived but ° | vesterday. “Mish” Turner, whose only , at ng wich at about ten p. m. and drive him 1o Colchester, where Mr. Week's fam- FAN o g son-in-law of the late Nat ward, founder of fhe ber Mf.. Burke remarked at length regarding the condition of the Ty s llud:’h Full- -8ix | Gottschalk, a and ni o |among its locd] patrons many of the famous men of We city and town; and the “Coffes House” was kept for .a time by the late “Captain “Dan” De- laney, famous as a fire-fighter and an all around goodsfellow. It is an in- teresting fact that, in d ing the distanee of surrg towns and villages from Norwich. the Merchants Hotel was always the local starting point. In the early days mentioned in this article, the Bulletin was published on Frankiln Square, in what is now the Chapman block, afterward removing to its new building now the extreme western end of the Porteous-and Mit- chell’s store. The building had not then been erected, and “Jake” ramous shoemaker and repairer, had his little shop on a nest of rocks in that vicinity on the main | street. The county court house ‘situated on Church street, where -the property of William H. Allen now stands, ®:ough it was not flush with the street, and after its destruction by fire, court was held in the Austin block, on the upper floor, the new and beautiful Court House not then having been erected. It was a dingy place difficult of access, and would now be regarded as entirely unfit for the use to-wl it was then put. The Carroll building was then un- known, and the present Washington Square had not one-fifth of its pres- ent area. The ‘Elevator building” as it was afterward called, had not been erected, and after it was: bulit and used as a mill and granary for a time by G. P. Cottrell & Co., was, as all know, devoied to other business-pur- Poses. On fhe adjolning street (Water Street,) were some of the famous mer- chants, in many diverse lines, of the oity. L. W. oll, Norton and Con- verse, the Converss of the firm be- ing the redoubtable William. whose lovely cquntry home was in Franklin, and who was a staunch democrat, when democrats were exceedingly rare in Norwich, and to whom, while they were fast personal friends, the late Iseac H. Bromley, former editor of the Bulletin, and afterward of the New York Tribune, regularly applied doses of his caustic wit, to the great de- light of Mr. Converse. Farther down the street, were D. P. Coon, the famous store of Rawson and Whipple, Albert T. Converse, and An- drew and -Nash, where a portion of the Auditorium Hotel now stands. On Commerce Street. On Commerce street, the Shetucket Pank, long since closed, the ware- house and office of Dr, Charles Os- good, looking much as they do at present, farther om, the late “Sam"” Osgood, prince of good fellows, who was succeeded by Rousseau and Dor- rance and last of “all, the old John Breed store, afterward Breed Prentice and ater still A. 'W. Pren- tice & Co., famous for years, the country round, as headquarters for ‘hardware and the like. Nor should We forget the Barstow Store, still standing and doing a successful busi- nesy under its present management. r. Burke recalls some of the “char- of Norwich at that time as &lana they adjoined to the place where Was| trick dawned upon Mr. Lucas, and you and | value, either 2 three or a four dollar it is 8, by th : it is 80, by my therm B e : I clenched hand, " see for fiimsed. Noah fussed around = Noah havh taken a second look, said, “Well Bill,” you win”, come on”, but I wouldn’t have believed it was so hot a-day”, fllz_ might, and probably did, their souls. The beauty of (e story, if it contains any, lies in the fact that some little time elapsed before the may believe that he was by no means a dullard, on the contrary, one of the! wittiest of men. { In these days, Norwich boasted a democratic newspaper, published in a! building at the corner of Water and | Market streets. The “Aurora”, &l weekly publication, afterwards merged with a daily evening edition, known as the “Advertiser’. It was published by John W. Stedman, an old style demo- crat, of the Judge Hovey type. Mr. Stedman aiso published for many years, only directory Norwich af- forded, and this to was merged into the present directory published by the Price Lee Co., though it still bears the title ‘Stedman’s . Norwich Directory.” The newspapers went the way of ail democratic newspapers in our town, and Mr. Stedman, having received from a democratic state administra- tion, the office of insurance commis- sioner, which he filled with singular ability, afterward became the treasur- er of one of the Hartford savings banks and died in that city. Changes in Shetucket Street. Mr. Burke has seen great changes in Shetucket street since entering up- on his business career. On the east- erly corner of Main and Sheucket stood the old Norwich Bank; and along side, it, toward Main streef, a_minia- ture flatiron-building, owned by Mr. Cook, a tailor, who conducted Tis bus- iness’ up stairs. Mr. Charles Johnson was president of the bank, and Mr. Frank Johnson the cashier, afterward Slling the position of president, with Mr. Stephen B. M as cashier. The Dbank at the cn s career, closed out its business and Mr. Meech be- came the cashier of the Thames Na- tion Dbank, a position which he held for many years. The Norwich bank, as a state institution, possessed, we believe, tihie unique distinction of be- ing the only one in the country emit- ting notes of an 0dd denomination and bill. Below the bank, on Shetucket]| street, was a building, occupied by the late Mrs. Olive W, Platt as a millin- ery and faney-goods store, and below that a nest of rocks until the then New” bank-building was constructed, to be occupied in order, by the Chelsea Savings bank, the Thames National, and the Norwich Savings Society. If it is recalled rightly, the gas-office Was in the building next to the Uncas mmerce street, “Turks Is- || where he advertised to sell land” ealt, but with the aid of Mr. te Bulletin, who kept and the low white, ‘wooden ‘hufld'l‘ll:l. whereb'ur. 'Bill con- | ducted his from b7 | atter his and. ‘whence was issued “Kitto’s His- tory of the Bible” and eold by agents throughout the éntire. country, Mr. Bill, as was & handsome IP". tune. The late Oliver Reynolds lived for many years in the house “JIM” BURKE, NORWICH'S POPULAR HACK DRIVER AND HIS EQUI PMENT 5 i —— ey renewer”, which he vended from house ‘hames street, which, after a double fiourish on his bugle, he once an- nounced one of -the greatest Union victories in the civil war. The Express Business, The express business in Norwich was not then so extensive as at pres- ent, and fewer teams were seen about the streets. Probably the most pecu- liar outfit of the Sort, in the United States was seen daily busily engaged in carrying all sorts of articles to and fro. A colored man, Treadway by name, and Hving on the West Side, had 2 fair-sized bull, which e at times led, at times drove to a smajl open wagon, and did quite a thriving busineas. It is not recalled that he ever rcse to the distinction of having « horse-drawn vehicle. The only pub- lic express company than in Norwich was the Adams, the agent being the late Elisha Slocum than whom no more genial gentleman or public-spir- ited citizen ever lived in this commun- ity. He is remembered pleasantly by ail #ie older residents, and in his leis- ure moments delighted in fishing and kindred sports, as did his friends, the late James Lioyd Greene, sometime mayor of Norwich, and himself one of the most delightful of men, as well as his brother Wm. P. Greene. There was no more familiar figure of that period than “Charlie” Spauld- ing, measenger of the Adams Express Co. and his fine horse ‘Dan” Mr. Spaulding is still hale and hearty in his declining years, residing, as he al- ways has, on the Bast Side. Calvin Roath was Jater another of the mes- sengers, afterward going into the rail- way express service, and he too is still living and residing on Laurel Hill. The iate James Tucker, at one time super- intendent of the Wm. W. Backus hos- pital, was one-of Mr. ‘Slocums assist- ants, as was “Al” Lefingwell, who now runs a rural delivery route from the local postoffice. Only Three Dentists. Norwich had but three dentists at this time, whom we remember. Dr. Torbush, Dr. Clapp, who for so long a time had his office in the Fay build- ing on Franklin Square, and Dr. Geer, the site of whose office at this period, could hardly be found today; it hav- ing been in the second story of a building in ‘the rear of the Reynolds building, now the west end of the Bos- ton store and was approached by walking up a narrow lane which ran between the Reynolds and Cook build- ing, above mentioned. e doctor afterward built and re- moved his offices to e building on Broadway, which bears his name, now occupied by the New London County Insurance Co. and the Southern N. E. Telephone Co. Mention of the Transportation com- pany brings to mind the fact that Norwich had ‘been a prosperous steamboat-line running to New York, with at least four boats in commis- sion. The City of New York and City of Boston though occasionally seen in Norwich, seldom came up the Thames, but the City of Norwich and the City of New TLondon plied regularly be- tween the two ports carrying both passengers and freight; the two first named steamboats being in their time among the finest boats on the sound. ‘The burning of the City. of New Lon- is ty of Lawrence one of the first, if not the first iron boat to run through the Sound, was added to the flest, and on the occasion of her first salling up e river to Norwich, she was greeted royally by our citi- zens. She was a fine boat, and her in- terior cabins and staterooms were, for the times, superbly appointed. Steamboat Captains. The steamboat-train, leaving Bos: ton at about 8:30 or 7 tion to its passenger-coaches, several flat-cars loaded with truck-like safes 0f the Adams Express Company, which on their arrival in New London, were rolied from the train directly on ,{rhe k!:nl.l. and delivered sealed, in New o} t ued, We believe, since the acquisition of the line by the New Haven Rallroad. The Pelice Force. Below, the Leffingwell| g mnext be- | biennially . ‘as againet the setts general Court's annual sessions, is reputed to do guite a little in the way of law-making in quantity, if not in quality. 4 Great: Changes.. Probably no section of the city has ungergone ha: have Franklin Square, street, and Franklin street, at its-lower end. ‘While many of #e old buildings on the square stili remain, maity of these have received new fronts, and one who saw the place thirty-five or more years ago and looked about him now, for the first time since that period, would hardly recognize it as the same place. The square itself was a mud- hole and on several occasions at fresh- et-time, could be and was nayigated in boats. The old Franklin street brook had a way at high water, of backing up into ibe cellars of the’ stores, set- ting boxes and barrels afloat, and of flooding the lower parts of the stables on Bath street, to the terror of all the rats in the neighbrhod who could be seen swimming about for their lives. Franklin street, widened as i has been, with its new and ornate build- ings ‘and substantial pavement, has so altered in appearance and in business importance as well, that there is hard- ly space to tell of i marvellous changes that time and intelligent ef- fort have brought about, The Hallett Diock, the Converse block, both erected by the late Col. Converse, and the new Bulletin building. and Sunlight building are a few examples of what has been done to bring Franklin street to its present condition as a business- thoroughfare. East Main Street Transformation. But East Main street has undergone the greatest transformation. Mr. Burke easily recails it in his driving sbout "Massachu- the city as one of the muddiest streets | M encountered by t:im in his travels, and in no location in Norwich has there Dbeen a greater change in the charac- ter of the buildings. Changing from 2 residential to-a business street. some of the best structures in Norwich add to its beauty and utllity. The Chel- sea Bank, the Post Office the Mar- guerite and Marion buildings and the Elks Home are examples. Where the old East Main Street Methodist church once stood, is now the commodious and handsome store of J. P. Holloway, the building so transmogrified _that one could hardly believe it was not en- tirely new. The Hubbard and Slater residences were the most imposing on the street, one of them giving way to the post office site, it being at that time owned and occupied by Capt. Avery Smith, and the other the Elks Home. Fast Main possessed for a long time the most beautiful avenue of e and stately elms in Norwich, and loud was the cry when an inteiligent city adminis- tration removed them, to way for a city rather than a country road. The laying of the modern pavement, which'is now to be found there put on the finishing touch, and now with its new buildings in process of erec- tion, it is confessedly one of our finest streets in every respect. It has, of course, lost its title “Bast” but to our older inhabitants it will always be known, if not called, by its full name “Bast Main” street. Some of the Doctors. Among _the doctors of the old time all of street recalled by Mr. Burke, and whom he knew were Dr. Ralph Farns- worth, who lived on Past Main street, street, which still Dr. Charles M. Carleton, a gallant eoldier and the leading sur- Bastern Connecticut, Dr. ‘Broad street, the father of Mrs. ‘William Camp Lanman and oth- ers whom he @oes not recall as this is written. All of the older attorneys, whose use of his hack from the o ileir homes and on other qodasions, as well, as he may have been needed. During the time that he has served the pudlic he has seen ] ) g 358 i i west of e Strand street, ‘Williams and Chester for many years dry-goods store, and still east of | Slater as a their store were the Reynolds build- ing and the narrow Cook building, now merged in the Shannon building. The Buswell building has occupied its present site for many years with but few changes, but on the _corner now occupied by the Norwich Savings Society stood a low structure with a leaning roof, occupied by Captain S. R. Parlin as a jewelry store, who _also had at one time, a store in the Bue- well building. Near this low buiM- ing and between it and what is now called the Cooke block, containing the Raphael store, was a vacant paved space, an aproach to the saloon of Charles H. and afterward Channing Bailey, the ground occupied by it and the bulldings mentioned being now oc- cupied by the Norwich Savings Soci- ety. From #xe Wauregan corner on lower Broadway to Bath street, with one or two_exceptions, the Dbuildings are new to the times of which we .write. The Central builinz, occupying the site of the old Central Baptist church, and the present Chapman buflding, on the corner of Bath street, having re- built from thc smail oc- cupled as a fire-house by the Niagara Hose Co. and the famous “Hooks,” ibe Wauregan Hook and Ladder Co., whose roster included some of ihe famous names of the city, many of its former members still living in Nor- wich. On the oposite side of this thoroughfare, the building of the St. ary's T. A. & B. Society and the stately etructure of the Y. Park | the firm name of J. M. Ha ded 8o popular in that day. bers equally well that he might take his pos! the tree which then stood at the Wau- refian corner, &, desirable Spot in warm weather and having addftionel ad- “Them Folks Ain't Argund Now.” Charles Johnson, of the Norwich bank, always made it a practice to hail the first man under the tree when ganized. Mr. tington, M of the e R Co., was associated h Raymond, formerly living house on Broad street now Arthur H. Brewer, Beq., in the India trade, their offices and house being on Commerce ‘whart sugar, “bri, had F3eT | cogister and flew the Union. Huntingto He at the n he desired to go bome, and give him a | JEbIY dollar as his fare. Benj. Norwieh Sax of the lived in the Huntington homestead at what is now called “Harland’s Corner” M. C. A, are among the noticeable buildings of | ¢ the city, and ornaments to the on which they stand, The Fire Companies. The mention of the fire companies street would above namedN\prought to memory the|take him up 1o, days of the old fire department and the annual parade of all the com- panies. Mr. Burke remembers vividly in the “ancient times”, before the wa- ter works were known, when the ma- chines with the long rails on. elther side of the body, used in_pumping, would assemble near the Wauregan corner for a trial of strength as to wko should throw thé higher stream. A dozen men on either side, or as ong for A Y ¥ remarkea to i seen his mative city emerge from a community without a water or sewer system, and when the lighting of the streets, or rather the lack of lighting, the and of their many primitive or Har customs. Trolley Conveniences. ‘We are all inclined ':: wheelbarrow. . In those days, m!g it go to Willimantic, 1l tant, and did not care some of the most existence—in the merely roads in enty cents, and your return %‘n‘&‘ was subject’ to like" New London, as well; the single runwby the Norwich “gu ‘Worcester fixed low 'l'har:nmc' ‘was, l-:d daiie sl a the' Greeneville and Norwich