Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1880-12-29
Fair Haven.

The Annexation Quest1On-E1fr Haven
East as Part OF New Haven-Former
Days in the History OF DragOn-Pres-
emit Aspect of the Question.
Although the subject of having Fair Haven
East annexed to New Haven is not an alto
gether new or novel idea, advocates of the
measure are increasing and the petition which
has been in circulation for presentation
to the coming session of the General Assem-
bly, meets with much favor both in Fair Ha-
ven East and in East Haven. Some of the
pros and cons of the matters as gathered from
different sources and boiled down, are as fol-
lows It is held In favor of the project thus
ly Fair Haven East is a very healthy and
growing child of East Haven, though its pa
rentage is equally claimed by Fair Haven
that part of the town of New Haven lying
between the Mil and Quinnipiac rivers and
which was formerly called Dragon. There
was unity of feeling engendered long ago
between the villages on the two sides of the
Quinnipiac because oystermen from both
sides frequently met over the oyster beds in the
course of business, and while resting their
tongs on the sides of their boats engaged in
stchinning" each other on local politics, the
prospects and future of the local fire depart
ments, the price per quart for opening oys-
ters and whatever gossip might be afioat in
the two places. The affinity thus created was
promoted by the aid of the weed and many
an interchange of sentiment and profound
reflection ensued while thus rest
ing from labor over mutual whiting of
pipes and 'baccy, which seemed to be won
Al
grew, the erection of a new oyster shed or
shop formed the staple topic of conversation
at these meetings on the water and gave pre-
monitions that the business might some day
attain proportions in the locality which
would have verify startled and amazed the
original dwellers in Dragon. By and by
these prognosticators began to see in earnest
that the oyster business was growing i'm
mensely, and the old inhabitants began
to recall and retail anecdotes as to how
the oyster business was in its veriest
infancy No estimate was too great as to the
possible future of poor little Dragon, and it
began to be felt that mo pent up Utica con-
tracted its powers.'' Some grumbling en-
sued. The great prospective increase of
business was talked about at the groceries,
and considerable stir was about this time Gre
ated over the rumor that Fair Haven had
been visited by young lawyer with view
to opening an Office there. This fixed the
doom of the place as certain in the minds of
various members of coterie of old oyster
men whose knowledge of the habits of the
oyster acquired by long experience gained
for them feeling of respect and even awe in
their settlement But both sides of the
river kept growing. The old mercantile
part of Fair Haven East had long been a
center of trade, principally country trade,
but now new houses had sprung up and
fashions dictates began to assert themselves
among the fair denizens of the region to an
extent not dreamed of in the old philosophy
Thus the march of improvements went on,
and has kept marching until Fair Haven
East attained to the respectable title and
privileges of borough, and has since then
become flanked on its Heights by elegant res
licences, while the slope below is thickly in
habited. Now the borough has population
of 1, 500 souls, and is a lively spot on any
day. and when the fire department makes its
annual parade the display of beauty and
fashion is sight which the boys out on pa
rade will pronounce fit topic for eloquence
of the highest order. Borough people well
posted on most all subjects say, annex us and
we gain the benefits which a city government
affords in participation in its school system,
its police system, its fire system, etc. This
is the strong point, and we are grow
ing and will make respectable
addition to the city with our 500 inhabi-
tants, of whom we can speak with pride, and
an increase of your grand list. We have
Chief Brown, whom we have seen, and he
consents to be annexed, if annexation has got
to come, and we are all sure that the plan is
feasible with our worthy chief agreed to ac-
quiesce. We have no fear that East Haven
herself will oppose. for we have talked with
a number of her prominent men and they
are willing to part with us, much as they
esteem us, for we are a suburb of New Ha-
ven. and SO far removed from the center of
government and of the old town that we have
to make enforced pilgrimages down there
every once in a while outside of town meet
ing days. in order to keep up acquaintance,
otherwise we should be in danger of becom-
ing as much strangers as if we were part of
North Haven, and even more SO. East Haven
men say if you go to New Haven we are free
from taking care of you and can run the old
town like any other substantial country town
is run, Independent of your borough with its
increasing cares. Then we shall get rid of
your share of the debt, which to US is as big
as a national debt and not half so much of
blessing. Your share is-well, about $685.
600 say, which, if New Haven adopts you, she
will assume. We are in fact in hopes she
will annex you and give you the reins, for
you are growing borough and want regula-
tons of your own.