New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-04
STRATFORDS THIRD CENTURY
THE ANCIENT TOWN CELEBRATING ITS
BIRTHDAY.
TWO CENTURIES AND A HALF OF CIVIC LIFE
GONE BY-RELICs AND TABLEAUS
OF OLD TIMES.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TBBUsE.1

[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TBBUsE1
Bridgeport Conn. Oct 3.-Sifattord celebrated Its
birthday today 1t entered the second half OF its
third century Of existence, and company estimated
| at 5000 perfect weather and all other conditions
needed for successful celebration combined to make
the day auspicous. The sun greeted at IFS rsnl
with salute Of forty-two guns from Academy Hill
and the ringing of all the village church bells and rs
rays fell upon house, eayy decorated with bunting
and upon every ancient house pacarded with the
figures of the year I'm which it supposed to have been
| built. Some Of the dates far back a' l'@o'
Among the buildings specially beautiful were the High
school. Congregational Church. Cupheag Cub, the
Leavt residence. the houses OF Sheriff Clarkson. DR..
Cogswcll, H. +. Meachan, d. p. Rhoades, Captain
Barrymore, the Oldest house in town; Asa ;. Curtis
the veteran ifer +. c. Beach, Dewitt Place +. u.
Fairchd. Ezra Whiting Calvin Curtis. Stiles Hurri,
Edgar Osborne, Charles Blakeslee. Postmaster spall'
Ilousatonic club, Mrs. Billings. The shipping In the
harbor decorated.
The public parade moved at IL a. M There were
1000 in line, embracing the 4th Regiment c. NJ Co.
Grand Army Posts, Sons OF Veterans. knights OF
Pythias and fire companies and civic societies from
eighteen towns. Sclah c. Blabeman was
grand marshal and Captain Eugene Mort
hume, chief Of staff. After the parade a salute
Of thirteen guns was fired. The village bells again
rung and the people repaired to Academy Hall, whero
the Soldiers and sailors Monument Of bronze, thirty
five feet high, stood draped with American flags
After prayer by the Rev. Joel f. Ives II. r. sagg Tor
the veteran soldiers. presented the monument 10 the
town. Stiles JudsOn, ir, accepted I'm words OF lorco
and elOquence. The veil was drawn aside by inc
Misses Mamie f. Wilcoxson and Georgana Thompson
The dedication was carried under the ritual Of the
Grand Army OF the Republic. W. il. Perpont COM
mander Of the Department OF Connecticut, oilcauns
An address on the day delivered by the Kew l. NJ
Foster of New-York At the close America was sung
A collation. supplied by the townspeople followed
Addresses were delivered at O'Clock near the monu
ment by descendants Of sratfori's early settlers,
stiles Judson IT., b. T. Farchild Of New-York. And
Curtis Thompson, of this city.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent In VIEWING
the relics gathered by the ladies in the Town Hail.
They embraced over 200 articles. varying from 100 10
$50 years old. Among them were the key to the INST
church in Sratford, 1910; letters by General wash
ington and Lafayette first engraving done in America,
by Paul Revere; key of the Episcopal Church, 1743
kings arm reign of George /; wooden plough, $50
years old table at which Washington ate during his
visit to Stratford 1777; seat TO first wagon used in
town, 1860: carving-Bnfe brought over In the May,
flower wedding slippers worn N I!-0 10y Saln us
Oaben sdebOard made In England and brought TO
Stratfod in 1910 tape loom spinning wheel; military
At 80 D. m tabieaus I'm tho Town Hall were given
under calcium lights representing Incidents In STRAIT
ford history: First, arrival Of the settlers second
trading with the Indians; third, going 70 church go
years ago fourth, trial of Coody Bassett for witch
craft fifth, Moses Wheelers ferry rhe HouSatonc
River: sixth the great wolf hunt Of 1893; seventh,
i777 eighth wedding of Glorlanna Fulson Stratforl
beauty, TO Lord Sterling, Of scotland. This scene
closed with the dancing Of the minuet in costumes Of
the period; The display of fireworks began at 8
O'Clock There were fifty numbers on the programme.
the one most realistic being that representing the
Westinghouse watch H, 1885, struck by lightning
and burned. a general illumination closed the day
10 vou want work workers. horses or carriages,