The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-05-23

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length of our main street on both sides
and the grading of Main street; the es-
tablishment of our local paper, widely
circulated and the best local newspaper
known to me; the erection of new and
repairing of old school houses; the new
Academy building, in whose prosperity
all ought to be interested; the new libra
ry and reading room; the erection of the
costly castle on the hill, the first perhaps
of series of residences which are soon
TO line the crests of these commanding
elevations. Surely some progress has
been made in these 16 years in this
place! At the end of another such peri
cd and at the beginning of another CEN
fury, we hope that more of the changes
and improvements which | once outlined
in u published article will be realized. l
predict that Newtown will yet be to Con-
necticut what Lenox is to Massachusetts,.
In all Fairfield county, there is no fairer
or more promising field for such improve
ments than our beautiful town.
trust that some of our citizens are de-
vising liberal things for this place. If
any citizens of Newtown or any interest
ed in Newtown wish a memorial more
| lasting than granite shaft among the
graves of the dead, let them, while still
in active life, plan for the future which
is surely coming. Let them now maxi
| ample provision for Il memorial among
the homes of the living, such as the erect
ion of library building for library,
| reading room, committee rooms, etc. or
of new Congregational church edifice,
corresponding to Trinity church in ap-
pearance; or for the endowment of the
| Academy and a graded school; or for
| supplying every house and every room
in every house with wholesome water
from Taunton lake; or for laying out a
| road and town park around the lake,
thus doing for Newtown what Gov Eng
lish did for New Haven and East Rock
park. Let them do these or some SINH
lar generous deeds and generations will
call them blessed. Believing these i'm
provements are coming in time, we con-
graduate, in advance, our successors. /
suggest nothing more than has been done
in other places of this size and than pri-
vate or public enterprise may yet accom-
plish.
| have referred to the Academy, of
whice | was president, with your approx
al, for nearly half of these 16 years,
while time and strength permitted me to
attend to the duty, in connection with
my passionate. TO all the pupils who at
tended during that time, with the assist
ant teachers, | would send greeting to-
day. Some are now engaged in the prac-
tice of honorable professions as lawyers,
and teachers and one is a col
lege professor; others are prosperous in
business or happy in homes of their own.
Some (and these were among the most
promising and best beloved) are number
ed with the dead. We cannot forget Lou
Is Peck, William Hawley, Frederick Lake, .
Edward Lyons, William Fairchild.
Charles Botsford, Mrs Arthur Nettleton, !
Mrs Robert Tomlinson and others. Il
have many most pleasant memories of
the years spent in the Academy and of .
the kindness of parents and the interest
shown in the school by the community.
At one time the rooms, above and below,
were filled; extra seats were provided
and three assistants were employed. The
attendance was increased five-fold and
the Academy numbered among its pupils
more from adjoining towns and more
young men fitting for college than at
any time. For seven years, did double
duty as pastor and principal, minister
and teacher and then again devoted my
self to this pastorate, the church gener-
ously increasing my salary.
Turning from these local and personal
illusions to the people themselves, the
sacred history of hearts and homes and
of the church, what shall we say? We
knew many in Christ 16 years ago whom
we miss from their homes and our con-
to-day. AS we think of those
who have gone from US into the eternal
world, how the tide of memory rises;
each thought and each name brings rec
objections of the past and anticipations of
the futuIe; for the heart not only dwells
on the past, but rises with the rising tide
Of memory and affection. The shadow
Of death was over Newtown when came.
Prominent citizens had recently died;
he beloved daughter of Rev DIR Marble
had that same week been translated to
he heavenly home; there soon followed
he death of a young man of great prom
Sc in our own congregation. From this,
frat ftrVnn In
William Perkins) to the last, 157 persons
ave gone into the unseen world whose
unerals have attended. This church
las lost such valued and useful members {
s Mrs Hannah Adds, Mrs Emily San
ord, Mrs Miranda Clifford, Mr. Charles |
'airchild, Mrs c. b. Nichols, Dea Ros-
'ell Turney and many others, including !
lght members who have died this last
ear. The oldest member was 81 years {
Id, Mrs Minerva Adams, who, a half
entury ago, was parishioner of my IA
hers In New York State; and the young {
st member was your pastors daughter, c
ged II. There is difference of 50 years
their life time on earth, but we rejoice !
lat old and young have a home togeth- /
r in Heaven, where the aged are young t
nd the young never grow old.
This village also has lost many s
alued citizens within this time. In ev- G
~ home but one, l believe, death has i
uttered and from each of these homes C
'om one to six inmates have been taken. I
rom one family in our congregation all $
leir children have been taken; from an h
Their four daughters; and some house t
Odds have entirely disappeared. All the |
minister's of the town, at the time of my c
inning have pntared into raat as alec | r