Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-07-20
MADISON BEACH.
What the wild Waves are Saying
The Old Town of Madison.

What the wild Waves are Saying
The Old Town of Madison.
A Hartford Post reporter who has been
down to old Madison thus writes to his
paper concerning interesting features of
the old town and its beautiful long stretch
of sand beach:
A visit to this somewhat famous old
town would be interesting and pleasant to
one who loves the sea and appreciates
beautiful scenery. Probably Boston street
in Madison, all things considered, affords
about the pleasantest drive to be had any
where along the shore between New Haven
and New London. This street is five
roadways, good portion of it being lined
on both sides and in the center by noble
elms. Many handsome houses, with well
kept lawns and spacious grounds, give an air
of comfort and plenty, and for the time be-
ing the poor fellow who works hard to earn
his daily bread islifted up from humdrum
existence of toll and poverty, and fancies
that he, too. is among the well-favored of
the worlds millions if he is fortunate
enough to sit behind good horse and
spin along mile after mile famed the
the sun these hot July days by the kindly
be had to Ninevet Falls on the Harmon
asset river, five miles from the center.
The road for the most part traverses pic
turesque and romantic region, and the
falls are well worth seeing. as the fall of
water in distance of 100 feet is about so
feet.
Among the many handsome residences
in Madison may be mentioned those of 9.
S. Bushnell of Washington, D. c., N. 7.
Bushnell, wealthy hardware merchant of
New Haven; Cornelius Waydell Of Old
Slip, New York; Gilbert Watson of New
York, Henry Griswold, late of London,
Augusta, Ga, and Serene Fl. Scranton, a
former Superintendent of the New York
and New Haven railroad.
Madison is not a manufacturing town,
and has not grown in population of late
years; it has, in fact, lost. However, con-
templated improvements on the shore may
result in boom for the town, for certain
unoccupied tracts of land have been pur-
chased by New York parties, work has be-
gun upon them in the way of clearing,
grading, etc., and ere long there will be
many desirable lots that may be utilized
for cottages.
North Madison, a part of this town,
was the scene of two murders, COMMITTED
within the past fifteen years. that attracted
the attention of the entire country. Prob
ably the array of legal talent, both for the
state and the defence, in the Hayden
Stannard case, was never excelled in Con-
necticut The fierce onslaughts of ex-
Governor Waller, the adroit tactics of
Lawyer Samuel Jones of Hartford and
the rulings of the trial justice at the pre-
liminary examination in this town will
long be remembered as among the many
interesting features of this great trial.
Rev. Mr.. Hayden, accused of the murder
of the poor, simple-minded Stannard girl,
now resides in New Haven, and is follow
ing the occupation of carpenter.
The charcoal pit" murder, while not
engaging SO great an array of legal talent
as the Hayden-Stannard case, developed
many sensational features, which afforded
the ubiquitous New Haven newspaper re-
porters an opportunity to draw upon their
fertile imaginations in way that was truly
startling.
The section of country where these two
murders were committed is about six miles
large part of the charcoal used by the
large manufacturers of New Haven, Meri-
den and Middletown It has given the
officers of the law many knotty problems
| to solve, as these charcoal burners are a
people peculiar to themselves, many of
them caring nothing for education and the
refining influences of modern civilization.
| The sons succeed their fathers in the bust
ness of charcoal burning, one generation
| after another, and all of them are adopts,
| considerable skill being required to manage
| pit so as to produce a satisfactory article
| economically.
l The Madison beach is about five miles
long, and for the most part is good sand,
there being no mud flats to speak of. A
few rods out in the sound, very near a
cluster of handsome cottages on the shore,
is Tuxis Island, which raises to consid-
cradle height, and with it's numerous shade
trees and green grass presents pleasing
contrast to the sea, ever lashing itself with
mad fury against its rock-bound sides, Oh
peacefully slumbering in calm at it's feet
There is an Indian tradition that the grea
spirit lifted this island from the spot OF
shore where now is seen Turks lake. anc
dropped it into the sea. Strange to say
it bears a strong resemblance to that little
sheet of water in shape and size. Great
rocks at several points on Madison beacl
rise to safe height, affording romantic
young ladies and spooney beaux delight
full place to dream of love and speculate
moonlight nights upon what the wili
waves are saying.