Morning journal and courier., 1890-06-19
Nonra HAyEN AnnAL,.

Last One Dem0llshcd About Thirty Years Ago-A word About slavery In Olaen Times in she Town.
 NUMBER AZ.
 The conception of the Sabbath day ouse" seems to have been distinctively uritan idea. It was peculiar growth, orn out of on emergency, tried with hesi. .ncy and accepted not without some mis- wings.
 It was never considered as an indispensa- le adjunct to public worship, but as afford ,g shelter and temporary comfort to the ged and the very young, 1t at length attain d c wide popularity. No meeting house Ias scarcely to be found eventually, whose hadow did not fall on Its Sabbath | ouse."
 To the rigorous New England winter 1t un. owes its origin. The long dis- ancss to be travelled on the Lords day and scture days, often on foot-the almost attendance of young and old 1t the meeting house-the extreme length of Inc sacred services there, all combined to make church going particularly in winter no slight undertaking. The effects of such ex- posture by and by began to be felt in the sets dement's, particularly on the women and and 1t may aptly be asked If the germs of occasionally Q case of "old fashion ed consumption" so prevalent at one time, were not originated in those old cold meet ing houses. veritable barns many of the earliest constructions were, cellarless and often with only thin partition of board be- tween the worshipper and chill January dsy. There are those living who remember vividly in many an icy temperature, the visi. ble streams of breath rising in clouds all over the sanctuary of winter morning.
 Those parishioners who lived nearest the meeting house availed themselves of brief period of warmth by going home during the ''intermission." Those going home had to brave 1t out or rely upon the hospitality of their neiehbors near the sanctuary. It Is said some of the Connecticut clergy drowned upon this latter practice as they found It growing among their congregation. Suoh gatherings around fireplace, especially among 50 many women, on the Lords day was not accounted means of grace and its habit was discouraged.
 Thus out of all these circumstances. and perhaps others, the Sabbath day house was evolved. It seems singular that with all these dismforts mentioned the attention of the people was not directed to the condition of their meeting houses and their consequent betterment in warmth and protection than for relief from outside agencies. It is only as we reflect what queer notions our ancestors had concerning the sanctity of their places of worship that we find any explanation. Personal ease was an equation never to be worked out; within the early meeting house man was not to live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed eth out of the mouth of God. The necessary ovsrshadowed the unnecessary, and hence, while the town meeting, the society meeting, the militia drill, the voting place, brought
 ts I Cell was deemed no invasions of the Almighty's rights; but when. 1t Is said, 1t was once broached in Dr. Trumbull's church that a chimney and fireplace be constructed, the mortified worshipers arose and would have thrust the thoughtless auggestor headlong from among them.
 It cannot be definitely stated where the first" Sabbada house' in New England was lo- cated; probably it was in Massachusetts. in night, containing usually two rooms about twelve feet square, with a chimney be- tween them, and . large fireplace in each. They were commonly built by two or moro families. Dry wood was stored ready for use. Frequently shelter was provided for the family horse. Early preparation was made Sabbath morning to be in season at the church. These living at distance were generally first at the sanctuary. If the pos-
 
 ing Are was built and the family thoroughly warmed before assembling in the meeting house to shiver through the long service. At noon they retired thither for lunch of bread. cheese, douShnuts, apples aud cider, the while being warmed again for the afternoon service. At the close of the day the coals were extinguished, the building made secure, and they returned to their homes."
 Such in the main seems @ truthful des- rlrts OP ndtra vRa he owner of the first one built in this parish was probable Theophilus Heaton sometime prior to 1753, for on May 28 of that year MT. Stiles sold James Bishop and Stephen Hill "psr- eel of ground 12-16 rods wide and IS rods long for Sabbath day house. bounded north on Theophilus Heaton. &c." The considera- tion for this "parosl" was sixteen pounds and its location was little north of the new public school building. This mention is the first so far found. Other buildings followed were put up from time to time on the south and west sides of "the market place." ex- tending from the corner opposite the "Pine Tress" to Linsley's hall; in all there were ten or twelva of these houses. Among the early owners, Abraham Barrett had quarter interest in 1764. Samuel Sackett had whole building in 17o6. James Humaston, one iu the same year. Captain Joshua Barnes and Hszeklah Pierpont were joint owners in 1788. Joel Barnes and Ezekiel Jacobs were partners in one in 17S7. Samuel Thorpe in 1;0S. Isaac 0. Stilesi In 1700. John Sanford, Seth
 Barnes, David Barnes, Lawrence Clinton,
 Benjamin Beach, were early possessers. Dr.
 Joseph Foote bought his in 1707. Dos
 Solomon Futile, Justus Bishop, Isaiah Brokett and Hszekiah Futile were each pro. prietors in their day. An ola diagram o the location of part of these building, (wes side of the market plaoe) made not far iron the year 1900 Is In existence and owned b, Mrs. Sarah Shepherd.
 Of these buildings most were single houses | that Is of one room each. None were eve painted, and were more or less rough in con
 struotion. Nearly all were provided witl sheds, and some with closed stables in tn, rear for the family horse. Conveyances O | these small pieces of real estate were quit | common, and there was much changing O owners at one time, according to the records l The introduction of stoves into the olt meeting-house about 1S10 marked the be ginning of the decline of the Sabbath day houses, and when the present brick edi6c, was erected their doom became sealed. Th' necessity for their use had ceased to exist and ono after another began to fall into de cay. Some were torn down and others drawI away to All less honorable positions.
 The last to yield to the march of event. was the old Isaiah Brockett house standing between the old and new school buildings il the Fourth district. This was demolished be tween 1646 and 1850. There is still existing ono of these old relics, once owned by Cap. tain Joshua Barnes and which stood between s'the pines" and the brick house below. Thi was removed by Deacon Byard Barnes am now stands upon the old estate. The fram, is in fair order and it has been suggested b, . prominent Congregational church office that it be bought and returned to It's natlv' heath as a memorial of the days of "ault lang syne."
 It will doubtless be e surprise to the chil dren (perhaps to many of their parents a welD to know that formerly slaves wer owned in N&th Haven; but such was tn fact. Their circumstances. however. are no to be compared with such conditions of ser vitude as existed in the south before the civi war, for the northern slave in care,i protec ton, in privilege 50 far exceeded his southern brother ss to make his bondage in man! cases merely nominal. And yet he was helt as property, bought and traded like th more unfortunate of his race below tn Potomac.
 Accurate information concerning thes slaves is exceedingly meager. There is n recorded sale that We wot of, nor any recor' kept of their numbers in the parish.
 Of the slaveholdsrs here, 1t is said tha