Stone Walls

New England is known for all the stone walls that thread their way through the woods and along the roads. Why are they in the woods? Because these woods were once fields that the farmers had cleared of trees and rocks and the numerous rocks were used to build walls to mark the borders of their fields and also to keep animals in. At first they used wood to build fences but then with so much stone it seemed like a good idea to build fences with them. And why are there so many stones? The glaciers probably had more to do with it than anything else. When they receded they were left behind. And we all know that with the freezing and thawing of the ground each year it moves stones to the top so there seem to be a never ending supply of them. Just ask any farmer who plows or harrows a field how many stones are there.

You may notice that in some places there are stone walls about the width of a roadway apart and it could be the farmer used that pathway to get to his fields or home. But in some instances they were part of a stagecoach road. When I was in 1^st & 2^nd grade and going to the two room school house, we hung a May basket for the teacher. And then ran down in back and onto a cleared path through the woods with a wall on each side. Of course that was off school property and we did get a talking to about going off school property but were never punished for it. It was not until I was an adult that I found out that it really was a road – the stagecoach road that came up Tan Yard hill, past the school and on up to the next hill and probably into Southbridge or perhaps even into Connecticut.

Last year I was at a program about the Civil War called King Cotton. It was very interesting.

The north needed the cotton in order to keep the mills running and so did everything they could to get it through the blockades. But one thing that was said that I do not agree with, is that all the stone walls we have were built by slaves. There were slaves in Connecticut.

That is a fact. But, they were owned by the wealthier people, not the average person, and most farmers were not wealthy. People tended to have large families and the sons would help their father clear the land of trees and rocks in order to plant crops. They had to do something with all the rocks they took out, so it made sense to build “fences” using the stones. Now we all know that most of our stones are not conducive to building walls. They are mostly round or odd shapes and it amazes me that they put them together in such a way that the wall would stand, made without mortar, and still be here today. They were artisans for sure. We have some beautiful walls that were made by professionals but most of what we see when we ride along our roads were made by farmers.

So, as you ride through New England notice the beauty of the stone walls that have stood for hundreds of years and were built by ordinary folk like you and I. And try sometime to build a wall. It will give you a great appreciation for what these ordinary folk could do with the round odd shaped stones of New England.

Trees in the 1800's or the lack thereof..

   When I wrote the addendum to Half Hill earlier today it made me think about what they could see because there were few trees to block the view. We New Englanders are used to seeing lots of trees, at least in my lifetime, 1941 and up. And we are so surprised to hear that back in the early 1800's, from Boston to New York, it was just about treeless. Hard to imagine isn't it? Oh, they had woodlots but not the forests we have today. Why? Well, they cut the trees to build their houses, barns and other buildings, and also to heat and cook their food, year round. They cleared the fields so they could plant crops to feed their livestock and themselves. No convenience store just around the corner!

  And way back then most people didn't have the money to buy things in a store. They bartered for what they needed, made it or raised it themselves or did without.

So for 150 years they cut down trees for their own use. And I don't think they were planting seedlings like we do now for future use.

Then the mills came along and they were mostly of wood. Towns sprung up around the mill sites and more houses and other buildings were built. Mostly of wood. And they had to be heated, with wood of course.

Then in 1839/40 the Norwich & Worcester railroad came through here. In order to lay the tracks they need ties, which of course meant cutting down more trees. And in order to run the engines what did they use?? You guessed it – Wood. So, you can see that the forests that had been here were being quickly depleted.

When the train engines switched to burning coal it eased up on the need for wood. And more of the mills were being built of brick or stone.

The editor of the paper from 1859 to mid-1890's, John Q. A. Stone, pushed for planting trees in Danielsonville (as it was called then) and surrounding area.

In the 29 June 1848 issue of the Windham County Telegraph (the name before it was changed to the Transcript by John Q. A. Stone) is a tidbit about Mr. Turner of the Danielsonville Cash Store, having an eye to the cool comforts of this life-- has in the absence of much needed shade trees—thrown a beautiful awning across the walk, opposite his store. The new awning makes the “Cash store” a perfect oasis in the desert about the Depot.

In the 11 May 1865 issue of the paper we find this: Trees—We have never known so many trees planted in this section in one season as during the present Spring, and we are pleased to chronicle the fact. A few dollars expended in this way will pay a large interest. Every man who has a piece of land will do well to see that it is occupied with trees and grape vines, currant bushes, &c. for they will grow while he sleeps. Nothing adds more to the beauty of a dwelling, than trees and shrubbery, tastefully arranged, and owners of real estate cannot better invest a few dollars than in this way.

Then in the 21 Sept. 1871 issue this: Mr. Isaac Hyde, now a resident of California, who formerly lived in Danielsonville, after an absence of twenty years, revisited this place last week. Arriving in the evening, he was completely lost, so greatly has the appearance of the village changed in the past two decades. Inquiring for the street that led to Westfield, he discovered he was walking upon that thoroughfare. When he was here, there were no trees, and but very few buildings.

If you look at photo's from that time period it is very obvious that there were few trees.

And I am glad that today we do have those wonderful trees that not only shade us but make our surroundings beautiful and supply oxygen for us to breathe.

I have been noticing for awhile now how young the trees are in the woods along I-395 and other roads and realize that I do not remember what it was like before the trees grew in. It had to be open fields for the most part. Things happen so gradually that we don't even notice it. Even the woods in back of our house where our boys played has filled in. No more children running and playing keeping the brush and trees at bay.

It just seems like we should have noticed these things happening. Maybe we are all too busy and have no time to appreciate our surroundings. That is sad! Time to slow down and smell the roses as they say.

Half Hill addendum

As with all things we do, nothing is perfect. And after I had written
the article about Half Hill and was picking up my paper mess in here,
didn't I find another small tidbit on Half Hill that I thought was worth
putting at least a bit of it on here.
It was in our old paper, the Windham County Transcript, issue of 22
June 1887. It's too bad that they did not sign articles they wrote.
In any case, the person says it is one of the most sightly locations in
Windham county. The way they got to Half Hill back then was to take a
path just west of the Old Furnace, crossing Fall brook. But the next
part just amazes me. The person talks about the magnificent view from
the top. "The observer can see way up into Massachusetts, and also has
at a glance the whole of Danielsonville, Dayville, Pomfret, and many
surrounding towns, and the railroad from Putnam to Willimantic is quite
visible to the eye."
Well, from personal experience of being on top of that hill the
other day, you can see a lot, but it is all woods!!! You cannot see a
thing that this person mentions! So, guess there were very few trees
even at that time.
Thanks for taking time to read my little tidbits.

Half Hill (Ross' Cliff)

A beautiful warm, sunny Sunday. I have wanted to write about Half Hill
for some time but thought that it would be great fun to actually walk up
and see for myself what it is like. So 5 of us went for a walk this
morning and it was well worth it. It is beautiful! And I will go again.
We have our old newspaper and the first time I saw an article about it was in the 24 May 1849 issue of the paper and it summed up very well why in the almost 49 years
I have lived in this area and never visited it. "It's very proximity
perhaps leads you to think it of no consequence. We are too apt to
think that "that which costs us little is worth little."
There are a number of ways to climb it and the paths are there.
Trust me, at almost 71, I did not climb the face of it. But three of
us went around the outside path up to the top and it was really, really
neat. Two more adventuresome, younger folks, took another path that had
a bit more climbing over rocks. We "met in the middle" at the top.
I am glad we had the camera with us.
In this early newspaper article it says that they ascended it from
the west, so there must have been a different way back then. To quote
the article "You ascend gradually from the west until you have attained
a considerable elevation, and seem just to have reach the summit of the
hill, when of a sudden, with nothing to give you an idea of what is
before, you find yourself upon the brink of a precipice, nearly
perpendicular, deep as the base of the hill. In fact, the whole eastern
half of the hill seems by some tremendous convulsion to have been
removed. You look for it and see it not, for it is not, and in its
place is a low moist meadow, extending nearly to the base of the rock
upon which you stand, and flowing near the foot of the steep is a stream
affording a site for a small mill."
We thought we had gotten to the highest point and waited for our
friends but then my hubby decided to walk further on a downward path and
it actually came to an even better vantage point. Seeing as I do not
like heights you will not get me to the huge rocks on the edge. But
there are places to sit on the rocks away from the edge and enjoy the
view. The description in the paper is thus: "The ledge extends about
three fourths of a mile, and in the highest part about two hundred fifty
feet in height-representing beautifully a transverse section of the hill."
The article goes on to talk about the passage through the rock,
called the "Devil's Cartpath." This is an opening of the rock near the
highest part of the precipice affording a passage from below to the
summit, but few feet in width with the rock standing perpendicularly
upon each side. The "path" rises at perhaps an elevation of forty five
degrees, and of course requires considerable effort to ascend it.
In the 7 Sept. 1881 newspaper another article is written and
describes the scene at that time from the summit: "Looking down at our
feet everything seems diminutive. A tiny horse and carriage is hitched
to a bush whose trunk is really that of a lofty tree. These broad acres
are cut into such little squares! The cornfields are so meagre! The
farm-houses are pressed into such small, white spots on a cloth of green. "
There are no fields or farm houses now. The woods have taken over
now. There is still a brook and the ponds are there.
To quote further: "We creep to the edge of the cliff and dare to
look over it down the abyss. And what a strange sight! There, perched
on an overhanging shelf of rock, half way down, are three owls, clinging
and hooting, and flapping their broad wings as they try to gaze with
round, full eyes at the invasion."
Looks like they interrupted their shut-eye!!!
To quote further: "Our downward gaze now detects the silvery thread
of a brooklet that gurgles by, and on its banks the few remaining
weather-beaten timbers of a saw-mill, showing that activity once ruled
this quiet scene. There is the mill race and the large wooden shaft,
form which crop out the broken and rotted stumps of the floats of the
water-wheel, and at its end the cam, which changed the circular motion
of the wheel into the linear motion of the saw. But miller and mill
have done their work and passed down the stream forever."
Then in the 16 Dec. 1891 newspaper is the story of The Rock Fall at
Half Hill. "A successful attempt was made on Monday to dislodge and
precipitate from the crest of the precipice of Half Hill a huge flat
rock that partially over-hung the cliff."
Many families were gathered near "the flume" to watch this feat.
"The rock lay upon the verge of the cliff, which rises shear some
fifty feet from the slope that at a sharp angle falls thence to the bed
of the stream which formerly fed the wheel of 'The Old Mill." The rock
was some 20 feet 6 inch in width and 3 feet thick. They used
jack-screws and "these applied with mechanical purchase, the great slab
toppled over the brown of the precipice and landed wedge-wise out of
sight into the trees and rubbish. It was a great disappointment, as we
had hoped to see it bound, shivered and shivering in a great crash and
with the sound of thunder."
But, wait, they were not done. The catastrophe should be had.
"Finding a ledge part way down the cliff where a shoulder of rock gave
opportunity for purchase by a jack-screw, Dr. Hyde was lowered with a
rope, and applied the force to push off what seemed the fact of the
cliff. He sat on a small, saddle-like projection which clinging to the
rope with one hand, (the rope that was tied to the jack-screw), he began
to open its invincible jaws. A block of some fifteen feet in length
started, and set free a drift of the ledge, yawning beneath and about
the dauntless engineer, who, clinging to his rope, seemed to see the
whole mountain going under his feet. White faces peered over the cliff
above, and nervy hands held the rope, expecting each moment to see the
Doctor hurled to destruction. But calm as in his office he sat and
surveyed the awful convulsion he had precipitated."
It must have been something to see and hear as they go on: But of
the fearful crash! Tons of rock rolled away from the face of the
precipitous cliff and fell in solid mass, till striking, shivering,
splintering on the steep declivity below they poured an avalanche upon
rocks and trees, sweeping all before them, and leaving a desert of rock
behind; while far above rolled the smoke of the awful torment in the
clouds of dust."
There are a lot of rocks at the base and there are more splintering
off with the freezing and thawing each year.
Most of these men involved in this attempt were business men,
doctors, and ministers. Dr. Hyde was a dentist.
The ladies in carriages below watched the goings on (but the horses
were taken out in event of the awful crash). Okay, save the horses,
and kill the ladies! Too funny!
There have been a number of people killed by falling from this
height. Hope you liked this story about Half Hill.

Tiffany Glass

How many of you know that the Tiffany whose name is synonymous with the famous Tiffany Stained Glass was a descendant of the Tiffany family who came to Killingly in the early 1800′s?  Comfort Tiffany came to Killingly and in 1810 became one of the original investors in the Danielson Manufacturing Company.  Comfort operated the company’s store which was located where the present mill stands at the corner of Maple street in Danielson.  About 1827 Comfort Tiffany erected a cotton factory on the Brooklyn side of the Quinebaug River and the family moved to that area.   Although only a teen, his son, Charles Lewis Tiffany, ran the company store for his father after attending the Plainfield Academy.  In the fall of 1837 Charles Lewis Tiffany and his future brother-in-law John P. Young opened Tiffany & Young at 259 Broadway, New York City.
Louis Comfort Tiffany son of Charles Lewis & Harriet (Young) Tiffany was born in New York 18 Feb. 1848 and when he married his second wife, Louise Wakeman Knox in 1886, he incorporated the Tiffany Glass Company.  The world of glass, including stained glass, would never be the same.
Two churches in Northeastern Connecticut are known to have Tiffany stained glass windows –Trinity Church on Route 6 in Brooklyn and Christ Church on Route 169 in Pomfret.   There are others but I don’t know where they are in southeastern Connecticut.  (Taken from an article by Margaret M. Weaver, Killingly Municipal Historian).
The following is from our “Pictures on Memories Walls” book.
After Charles L. Tiffany went to New York he occasionally visited his ancestral home on business or pleasure, and was fond of taking little journeys up the river in a row boat.
Here is a sketch of one of these pleasure jaunts too good to remain buried in the folds of a letter from John L. Spaulding and runs thus:
“During my term of service for Mr. Lathrop, Mr. Charles L. Tiffany came from New York to his old home for a short vacation. On the morning of the day on which he was to return to New York by the ‘steamboat train’ which left Danielsonville at 8.30 in the evening, he came into the store and requested Lathrop to allow me to accompany him in a skiff up the Quinebaug river, where he wished to fish for a part of the day. Mr. Lathrop consented and we started off. After rowing for quite a distance Mr. Tiffany suddenly turned the direction of the boat, not as I thought, toward the river bank, but directly into thick alder bushes, when he stopped rowing and removed his boots and stockings and rolling up the legs of his pants he dragged the boat through the opening made, revealing quite an expanse of clear, still water, on the margin of which he dropped the light anchor.
He had been entertaining on the way up stream, talking with me more than men in those days usually condescended to converse with boys.
Now as he re-entered the boat he became quiet, almost stern, as he instructed me not to make any noise by talking or otherwise. After replacing his stockings and boots he proceeded to arrange his fishing gear for business.
Standing in the boat he cast his line as far as possible, and in a moment I observed a movement in the water, which nearly caused me to shout to him. He gave me a look that meant business, and for about sixty seconds he allowed his fishing line to remain motionless, then commenced pulling it gently toward the boat. I could see by the commotion in the water that something was fast to the outer end of the line. I also noticed how he trembled with excitement as he stood there hauling in the line. Presently with a rapid movement he threw into the boat the handsomest pickerel I had ever seen, at the same time covering the fish with his coat to prevent its leaping overboard.
He soon pulled the boat ashore, and handing me his knife he directed me to cut plenty of green grass which he moistened and placed in a basket and upon which he laid the prize. I remember with what evident satisfaction and pride he displayed his catch on our arrival back to the store, as he undoubtedly did to his New York friends. My present recollection is that its length was about 18 inches and its weight about four and a half pounds. J. L. S.
I hope you like the little stories about people from here who made a difference in others lives.

Civil War letters

    Good Morning!   Cloudy here and cold.   We had nicer weather in Jan. & Feb.   But good old March is just like itself.  Cloudy, damp and cold!   The snowdrops are blossoming and there are daffodils up with buds but don't know if they will get blasted or if they will open.  Time will tell.
    Thought you might like to hear some more from the boys in the Civil War.
                                                                   6 Feb. 1862
                                 From the Eleventh Regiment
                                 Hatteras Inlet, Jan. 18, 1862
                         W. R. P. = William Rhodes Potter, Woodstock

"Editor of Transcript:-- We left the campground on the 7^th, at 12 o’clock, M., and had to stay in Annapolis till 8 P.M., for a boat to take us on board the ship that brought us here. While we were waiting for the boat, some two or three of us took the liberty to go on a voyage of discovery through the city. After having completed our circuit, we returned to the Regiment, and were conveyed to our ship, and marched down into the hold—or the Valley of Humiliation, rather—for I can think of nothing else to compare it with. Sea sickness. For the benefit of your readers that ever may chance to take a voyage, I will give a description of the disease. It is not laid down in Scott’s or Hardee’s tactics but should be, I think, if the Government means to send soldiers by sea. It is performed in one time and three motions; 1^st motion, Start for the side of the ship on double-quick. 2^nd, Lean over the side of the vessel, and, 3d, Fire. After the first discharge, fire at will till nature gives the command, Cease firing."

    I don't know about you, but being seasick must be AWFUL!    Luckily I am not and actually like being on a large vessel.  Not a cruise ship size but others when we have gone from Portland, Me. to Nova Scotia.  And smaller ferries.  

13 Feb. 1862
From The Eleventh Reg’t.
The following letter is from a member of Capt. Clapp’s company, H. Cady, on the vessel, (the Voltigeur):
Hatteras Inlet, Jan. 20^th, 1862 

"Dear Parents:--I wish to give you a description of our journey here from Fortress Monroe. There was a few in our regiment that were sick from the measles and other causes, and on Wednesday night one of the poor fellows died, having taken cold after having the measles. Thursday morning it was very rough, so that there was no prospect of getting into the harbor though we were near to it, and they prepared to bury our dead comrade at sea. He was enclosed in a piece of sail cloth with pieces of iron at his feet, then brought on deck and enshrouded with the flag to defend which he had left home and friends. The ship sailed from the land into the deep water, as it is not customary to bury where they can take soundings. All who could, came on deck, but many could hardly stir from sea-sickness. The Colonel read the burial service, and the body was launched into the deep. Three volleys were fired by a part of his company and the solemn ceremony of a burial at sea was over. It would have been more solemn and impressive had it been pleasant, the ship still."

3 Apr. 1862
From the Eleventh Regiment
An Account of the Newbern Battle by Windham County Soldiers

"The whole fleet lay at anchor off Cape Hatteras. Soon three brigades were on the way. Landed and without delay marched towards Newbern. It rained through most of the day and by spells at night. If you would like to know how we passed the night, just imagine ten thousand troops--part of them lying down from exhaustion on the soaked earth, drenched with rain, after a hurried march of ten miles, each burdened with a heavy overcoat, haversack, arms and accoutrements, with a hard cracker and piece of salt junk for their stomachs, and for a cover the dark clouds, which poured upon us their contents during the night. The next morning we were ordered forward to engage the enemy. Our regiment drew up a few howitzers, 12-pounders, and planted them in the face of the heavy fire. By this time, volleys of musketry, and the roar of artillery, shook the very earth with their thunder. Our Regiment filed in to the left of the main road and took our
position a few hundred yards from the enemy’s entrenchments, and relieved the 27^th Mass., which had spent their ammunition. We were ordered to lie down, and no sooner was it executed, than the enemy, discovering our position, poured forth a perfect shower of bullets, grape and canister, riddling the trees, and passing mostly just over our heads, which, you may infer, hugged old mother earth in a most affectionate manner. After lying a few minutes, Lieut. Col. Mathewson, who is in command of the Regiment, ordered us to return compliments. Suddenly the firing ceased on both sides; a few minutes intervened, and the Star Spangled Banner was proudly floating to the breeze, planted on the ramparts where a few minutes before the black flag of disunion was struggling for existence."

    Near the end of 2010, beginning of 2011, we got an email from a man in New Bern, NC, who is writing a book about the Battle of New Bern and wanted to know if we had anything from the 8th, 10th or 11th regiments from Connecticut who participated in that battle.   Well, of course we did!  All because of the wonderful Editor of our newspaper at that time, John Q. A. Stone, who asked the men to send letters to the paper and he would publish them.   That is how we were able to publish our Civil War book "Dear Transcript."    So, I copied things for him and emailed them to him.   That started a correspondence between us and last October when we went to visit friends in Virginia, we went to visit him and his wife in New Bern.  Lovely, lovely people.   I am looking forward to getting a copy of his book when he has finished it.   I still hear from him every once in awhile and the last time was when he was wondering about a flag that was captured by the 10th Regiment on the night following the battle.   Greenwich Historical Society has it in their collections and I hope they know more about it.  They have an on-line exhibit on this and it is called Voices from The Civil War online..  or you can go to the Greenwich Historical Society home page and under exhibitions you will see the link.

Hope you enjoy this tidbit and please leave a comment.