The Press., 1889-01-24
LOCAL ropICs-pENN'D AND sClssoRED.

Stafford Springs never had "build. ing boom" but steadily goes on growing year by year, and as steadily improving in the character of its buildings, as to archi. tectural taste and material used. Follow ing it's big fires it of course has each time increased temporarily its building average, but these increases cannot be fairly count ed as 'booms," common as is the practice in other places to so connect such episodes. The year just closed has witnessed no con- siderable fires. We may hope that our present admirable water system has for ever ended the day of big fires for this borough. Yet fair amount of building has been done during 1SSS. The Mineral Springs Co.'S. office building, begun in 1887, is now about completed, and its tasteful exterior is the better appreciated because of its central location. It IS 2 story building with basement, is of brick, rather bordering on Queen Anne style, and cosey, elegant, and convenient inside. The most expensive building during the year has been the new St. Edwards (R C. ) church, which is of stone, of handsome finish outside and in, its cost being (we guess at this) not far from $2O, ,OO0. The new houses of Messrs. c. Holt and w. H. Smith, on East Main-st., of stone and wood, now well along, are pleasing varia- tions from styles of architecture that have prevailed here, and both rank among our best residences, as also does that of E. c. Dennis, which was finished about the be- ginning of the year. The. Johnson block l (of brick), corner of East -Main-st and Furnace cave. is one of the most showy buildings in the village, contains three of the largest stores, with iron and plate- glass fronts and a second story of offices, and the prettiest suite of society rooms including hall, to be found in any country town. D. J. Sweet has cottage well along corner of Fnrnace-ave. and Edge wood. Also Wm. Wobbecke has convert. ed barn upon his lot into good tene- ment. H. M. Day has built new resi- dence and barn on a lot on the Benton property, between High and Prospect streets. w. il. Cooley, Chas. Holt and built barns. M A. Smith has built two new (double and single tenement houses on new street leading from East Main st. to the south.
 This is 8 record, so far as we can call to mind, of building within the year. It isn't large in number, yet includes some notable structures, and is a straightfor- ward legitimate growth, replacing no burn ed structures, but meeting a steady, in- creasing demand caused by the growth of the place.
 A citizen of another state, whose in terests are closely allied with Stafford Springs, recently remarked that he often heard the village spoken of as wonderful instance of recuperative energy. Misfor. tune after misfortune had visited it. Fires had swept it. yet the sound of the build er's tools was generally heard when the ruins had scarcely ceased smoking. flood had inflicted damages to the town chiefly to the borough, amounting to about a quarter of million dollars, with no in surance to soften the blow, as in case of { fire loss, yet recovery had been quick with scarcely perceptible check of aver age growth and increase. And when likt a shock came the blow of ruined bank and misplaced confidence, for nearly { year s2OO, 900 of capital on deposit in tht closed bank was withheld from business but not failure resulted, and within tht year a new bank was in operation. Surely a village of such vitality must have a fu
 ture so business men argue, and Staf ford Springs man seeking credit in th' markets finds it to his advantage that hi } town is widely known as a live growing town that has and can meet and bravely overcome diversity.