New-York tribune., 1872-07-18
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

| SCENERY, PARKS AND DRIVES;
| BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, July 12.-One OF the
most attractive and accessible within two hours OF
New-York is Bridgeport, the third city in Connecticut
1t is clarniney situated on Long Island SOUND at the
mouth of the PeGuonnock River, and near the Housa-
tonic and Naugauck Rivers. Three lines OF boats make
regular trips TO NewYork all OF the New-York and
Boston press trains stop here, making close connec
tons with the Naucatuck and HOusatonc Roads, when
have Their termini in bridgeport Perhaps hoeiy within
90 miles OF the metropolis is now having more rapu
and prosperous growth Like most OF the New-Ehgahu
towns, 1t has old and interesting history Ale" Vi
the houses built prior the Revolution are sim remain
ing But they are and covered with moss.
The first settlement was made more than two centuries
ago. The planters received the oath OF hdey from te
General Court sitting at Hartford in 1857 Gravefohes
are found to-day bearing tie date 1870 Golden h,
which is OF the most arstocTatlc ana beautiful Por
tions Of the city, was purchased OF the lncians for IL
acres the west bank OF the Pequonnock RIVER ihe
| town was then known as Stratneld Half a century
passed before the citizens had church Of their own
They were obliged attend services either at stntord
Fairfield. The poor pilgrims who drag their weary
feet modern pavements TO palaces OF wfsmp'
will find consolation in reading the following Nuaet
from the New-Haven Records OF ancient date
"In l6i7, William Blayden was publicly and severely
whipped for not attending meeting although he pleaded
that all his clothing unfit TO wear, az he li been
abroad after his cattle the Saturday before yo-
lent rain Storm and Oh Sunday he was not abIe % eaNe
his bed"
The first rasor was grandson Of Charles Cauncey,
for many years President of Harvard COLLEGE Israel
Chauncey, the Conegatonalist minister at stratford,
cultivated his farm there with slave labor The first
Bridgeport church having no bell, the congregation was
called together by the beating Of DRUM Inthose days
the good old Puritans went to meeting aimed with
psalm-books and muskets. sentincls stationed
on the emnence near the present Catholic church. St.
Augustine to keep watch for the Indians. Here is
specimen OF the money first used by the Bridgeport
people
"April g. 17os.-samI French sold James Hoxie one
hOrse-bay, with Abner Smiths care mark yr olde-
for the sum Of sheep and Lam"
1t was "votod that Saml. Whackle sholld be the
man to look after yc boyes Sabbath dayes time OF
Exercises that they play not" The congregations in
the meeng-louses were seated according to uer differ
ent social pCsitons the old record quantity terms
1t, "by dignity, adgc and state" The sexe occupied
opposite sides Of the house, and the people assigned
seats by Special Committees appointed for that purpose
once year. Just back of the town ran the old Kings
Highway and today the traveller who seeks the desc
late roadway may the milos,ones supposed 10 have
been erected by Benjamin Franklin while he was Post
master-Generai Of the United States. This vas part
Of the regular mail route between and Boston,
The old tavern still standing the old highway in the
neighborhood Of Mountain Grove Cemetery sand to
have been the resort of Gen Washington and his Gen
erals when they passed this way. II is now Mr.. Bar
NUNS farmhouse The citizens OF BRIDGEPORT OF STRAIT
field as It was then called fought noby In the Revolu
tiOn and pages might be written OF Their exploits and
suferngs. The town of Bridgeport was set of IN 1884,
with 7UO inhabitants. At the close OF the the frat
newspaper The American Tefcgr0phe, was published,
with circulation OF about so copies The Republican
aud Farmer, in existence, was stated about 1900
Then came The Herald in 1906, and The AdrGser during
the following year. More than half dozen papers have
been issued since that time The prcscm daily and
SlIUduT0,
Tue borough and town OF Bridgeport were Incorporated
with city privileges III 1856. Then banks and manuIc
turing establishments spTang up. The first steamboat
La ette from New York, made its appearance as early
Regular tnps to aud from tire metropolis Its captain
john Brooks, st lives III bridgeport, bale hearty and
respected etiz.n; The n0nsatonic railroad was com
peted to New Milford in ls9 Cars were running Oh the
SewYoTk and Hew-iaveE road IN lS49 About this time
Z. T. BaTuuIn, WHO lad found Tom Thumb III Bridgeport
ia 1872 completed his famous palaal residence known
as Iranstan, and he moved hitber with his family
Ills beautiful grounds and house were thrown open To
the citizens Of Bridgeport, His extTayagnee aud gen
money, arlaz ii even the most wealthy The castings
for ornamental street fence alone cost more tban
$2 NcwNOrk when gold wah the ordinary currency
All familiar with the story OF Jenny Lind-how
Barmm gave tue American puuic such music as they
never dreamed possible fail IRON human IIp how
hc paid her fabulous sums. and yet made fortune Tor
Li,nsCf and an OF his agents His WAS iuhnate
y connected with lie growth ard prosperity OF Bridge
poIt, which soon became known throughout the world
Te newspapers were filed with descriptions Of Iran
istau-tne Oriental palace Of America People OF wealth
and culture wanted to live in bridgeport aud they came
he Was powihg with hive ecphanis-real ioush,hided
India ELEPHANTS, and hundreds Hooked hther 10 witness
While Cltharine Hayes one of Barnum's famous sing
6r, IN Bridgeport, he induced her TO give concert
for the bentnt OF Mountain Grove cemetery: lie had
bought the and 90 acres for IL some time before
meeting was Called lots we're subscribed lo deeds were
transltrf ana WIN Tue ald oi llc concert stone
arcEed gateway and stone tower were but, and tnen
the grounds were laid out. Ihs was the beginning Of
the prcsCu lcautiiu cemetery which is now ed with
costly monuments and adorned with trees aud shrubbery
ana splcLdd drives Among the most noticeable monu-
mcuts thosc OF HarTa, Bishop Hubbcl, Lyon Wood,
LOOms, ana Gen! lOh lhuhlp IhumD monument Is a
shaft d line white marble, sirmounted oy hle-slze
statue OF hlmseli M Bdrnnm monument cost slOoV
Ii massive and III good taste Tor those who like mOnu-
ments. The llarral monument cost s25~I Ihere are
lO.e who tlnK that Mr.. Barnum's irts and his many
Improvements Ia Bridgeport Will perwtuatc his memory
lOue after his $1,000 worth Of granite mas cruinbled into
dust. Dion Bouccault and rom thumb have gwen ben
ei for tins cemetery, aud the latter aud MINNIE Warren
aud Commodore Mutt have Oh several occasions aided in
like manner the library ana charitable lnsuuuons oi
the ctv.
Perhaps nothing in the history OF Bridgeport is more
relndl kaDle IMAM the Dnli g up OF Iist biupepOit
In 1851 Mr. BaInulu bought from William H. NoUle the
undivided half Of hs late fathers estate lying ON the
east side OF the rVcr, opposite BrlGEelOft lie saw
that the locality possessed great natural advantages
The late Dr. Dwight, formerly President OF Yale Col
ege, sd III 1913 mat there was not pIeter town III
the state imam bridgeport. Many wondered why this
It's se ls lnaceessiblLy was the chlei drlwpack To
its prosperity. There tollbridse and foot
BaInuin and Mr.. Noble bnllt new bridge,
rented IT, and then regardless OF the high rent, he
duced Tie On 10 almost nothing ana ths was the real
beginning OF East Brdgeport's prosperity. Lots
and manufacturers and every nduccment offered TO set
tiers. streets laid OUT, 10000 trees planted, and
s" ~ r 4u s9p % eJe & foea e P opey osI IT. % @
came the Jerome scheme for establishing great clock
manuiaet0Iy there Barhums notes were Obtained, aud
preparations were made 10 erect the proposed works
The business seemed prosperous ana the company
which Barnum iudOrsed appeared sound, until suddenly
he found himself ruined man, and his large fortune
swept away. Wheeler Wilson then came forward and
purchased the old clock factory, ana enabled MI. Bar
NUNS agen. regain much II the East bridgeport
property Ia nye years Barnum was on his feet again.