Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-07-05
Misce|Iapy.
BARKHAMsTED LIGHT HOUSE.

BARKHAMsTEDL LIGHT HOUSE.
The New Haven Courier has queer
story Of this celebra ted locality. The world
has long wondered why the Light Hous+
was built So far from saltwater. Numerous
traditions on the subject are in peoples
mouths but John T.. Mason, of New Ha-
ven, becoming uneasy on the subject. start
ed for a personal investigaton-spen a
night at Hi,chcockville, and from prominent
citizens Of Barkhams.ed learned the follow
ing tale: A Narragansett Indian left hi
hunting-grounds IN Rhode Island, because
"A young Indian maiden of his tribe had re-
fused to marry him, and finding his way to
Wethers6eld, upon the Connecticut river,
SarrieH there many moons,' and won The
'affrcsioas of young white lady, who had
declared. to spite her friends. that she would
MARY the first man. black or white. who
would give her a chance. The Indian had
become known among the whites as James
Ch.ugatns tie privately married the rash
maiden, friends got wind of it-fight was
necessary.
The happy couple Ned TO Barkhamsted.
and bonght tract Of wild land on the
banks ofthe Tuuxis. This region was then
wilderness, and no cabins were erected in
this par, OF tire town. They built rude
hut, and lived in IL from t779 10 1890. when
James Ckaagam died. lie leG two sous
and six daughters, whose dusky features
and straight black hair showed Narraganscll
blood. One of the daughters of Chaugam
married a white man, named VIM. Wilson,
and settled upun a plantation near the
paternal wigw am. md was the mother Of l2
children. Wilson persuaded his Narragan-
set bride to adopt "A more civilized costume.
and he would build house after the fashion
Of his pale. faced brethren, who now began
10 settle around him, Polly consented. and
so u huge dOmicil was constructed out Of
logs and lumber, that soon became laugh
ing.stock for all the people In that vicinity,
because It's proportions were unsightly. and
because 1t was badly constructed. There
were holes In the walls through which a
man could have throw his beaver and never
have damaged It's surface,
In the year 1900, "A turnpike road was
built from Hartford to Albany, aud il was
laid out directly by the door of this airy
mansion. 1t was soon used rs a grea,
thoroughfare to Berkshire County, Mass.
and people In passing the house If Wilson
and observing the large fires he always KEEP,
burning until late hour at night, soon
became accustomed to the fiery appearance
Of this Indian wigwam mansion. AS wood
cost nothing and was plenty In this region
immense Quantities were consumed In tht
old-fashioned Fireplace Of this waysidt
wonder.
The ligh, Of the blazing FIRE was always
seen at night through the crevices of III,
badly constructed walls, and as traveller:
hAa i'll,
account Of Its luminous appearance, the,
gave il the name Of BARkHAMsrEp LlaHr
HOUSE.
Under this name the roket,y old mansion
Of Wilson soon became celebrated. The
name is now not'only familiar to the ci,i
zens Of Connecticut, but widely known in
other States.
The demise of the last Of the Moheqans'
has been chronicled in history and song. bu'
the last survivor Of the Narragause,t war.
riors Is still living, in wild secluded spol
among the rugged and picturesque noun.
tains of Barkhamsted.
Mr.. Mason gives an account Of his visi
to Polly, the survivor, as follows: Soor
after leaving Hi,chcocksviIle we found our
selves immersed in forest at the base o
the mountain, and in finely shaded nooa
upon the banks of the Turks. We follow
ed winding path down the banks of III.
river, and soon emerged into an open clear
ing, and found that we were near the sit,
the celebrated Barkhampsted Light louise
We had received particular directions a
Hitchcocksville for finding the spot. an,
were now quite certain that We we're nea
1t. We saw an ancient looking structure i,
she distance. tina, at first appearance locke,
like some cid ruined castle. We thong
we had made grand discovery. They ha
told US at Hi,chcocksvile that the origina
"Lisht House" was demolished. but W
were confident that they were mistaken
and that this was the real Light House
stillsslanding. On arriving at the spo
hoWey&f, we found il was not a ruined cas-
tie, nor The famous Light House, but a.
darn! We recovered from our disar
pointment and began to look for the ruin
Of the Light House. A few rods south {
this barn 10 the spo, where the famous Ligt
House once stood. The house was tor
down several years ago, and the cellar ha
been partially filled with stones and sane
BY some vaTlet whose lose OF money e,
ceeds bis love Of Barkhams,ed Ligh
House. A tamarack tree waved over Oh
desolaie ruins and stands as sentry