Connecticut western news., 1891-12-24
TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
Of The Opening of the Connecticut Western Railroad,

Of The Opening of the Connecticut
 Western Railroad.
 Last Monday, Dec 21, was the twen. tieth anniversary of the opening of the Connecticut Western Railroad. There was no celebration of the event, and no meeting or public exercises to mark the anniversary. We think the occasion should not pass entirely unobserved, consequently we will mention few facts which may possibly interest ou, readers.
 In the first place we will speak of the weather in comparison with 20 years years ago. Last Monday was beauti- ful, sunshiny day, with the air as balmy as May morning; no frost in the ground and the mercury ranging in the forties. On Dec 21. 1871, the thermom- eter was degrees below zero at Sails. bury, and IA degrees below zero at Nor folk.
 On Dec 21, 1871, the first regular pas senger train over the road left Millerton at 6 a. m., bound for Hartford. The train was in charge of the late Conduct or Wm H. Yeomans, who also held the office of master of transportation. The train was drawn by the locomotive. "City of Hartford" with Engineer P. K. Cogswell and Fireman John Decker in the cab '.Dick" Cole was the baggage master, and Col James Hubbard was the express messenger. Michael Mad den and William Norton wese the brake men. Among the passengers were Geo Dodge of Lakeville; Messrs Geo Coffing, D. J. Warner. H. Hubbard, D. T. War ner, H. P. Harris,' Wm Conklin, W. B. Hicks, John Rapp and Joseph l.. Pease of Salisbury. At Canaan, Frederick Watson and three others got aboard the train, and at Norfolk, Messrs B T. But Ter, J. K. Shepard, Robbins Battell, Grove Cowles, Mrs M. Humphrey and Miss Sarah Dewell entered the train. Al nearly all the stations. passengers were found waiting for ride on the first reg. ular train over the road, and when the train arrived at Collinsville it was filled almost to overfowing. The train ar. rived in Hartford only 10 minutes be. hind time, loaded to it's fullest capacity. The train, for the return trip started on time but was obliged to wait two hours at Winsted for the Millerton train which was delayed by a baggage car getting off the track, caused by the breaking of switch iron.
 Last Monday the train for Hartford left Millerton at 9.55 a. m. It was in charge of Conductor Michael Madden, the same genial, courteous and faithful man who 20 years ago was brakeman on the first regular passenger train ever run from Mil!erton to Hartford. Right here we will say that Conductor Mad. den is about the only man on the road who was identified with it 20 years ago. On Monday last, Engineer John Hol- comb, and Fireman Joseph Owen were in the cab of locomotive Nc. Chas. Davis was baggage master. Homer Smith was express messenger. That one-armed-veteran of the late war, s. s. Gilbert, was route agent. The rap. idity with which he handles letters and papers is astonishing and he sets hot pace for any man with two arms to fol low. The brakeman was Michael Welch.
 Among the passengers on board were W. B. Perry, of Lakeville; Messrs O. w. Barnum, John Owen and N. A. Mo Neil of Lime Rock; J. B. Skiff of Sal isbury; Mrs. Frederick Miles, of Twir Lakes; Mrs. Edmund D. Lawrence Miss s. W. Adam, Miss S. A. Eddy Mir. and Mrs s. 0. Beckley, Roadmastel Merrill and Auditor Watson of Canaan;A P. Briggs, of East Canaan; Mrs E. D Ives of Norfolk; MT and Mrs Geo. B. Marble of New Hartford. From Win sted to Hartford many came aboard al each station and there were 200 passen gers on the train when it reached Hart ford. On the return trip the train Jeff Hartford on time at 25 p. m. but { freight engine had been substituted for passenger engine and the poor tired on machine refused to make steam rapid ly and kept losing time until near Cole brook it got out of breath entirely ant came to standstill, "stick- k-stock- The engineer gave the poor iron horse rest for few minutes and also gave i "blowing up" and then it wagged tht train to Norfolk Summit, alter which i galloped to Canaan, arriving there abou 40 minutes late. >. ~s
 To recount the history of the Con necticut Western Rsilroad during th past twenty years would require 8 vol ume of space and it will not be attempt ed here, but before closing we will re mark that the necrology of the road in cludes many of its projectors and build CTS as we'll as those who have been iden tified with its fortunes (misfortune would be moro fitting word or term t use.) Among it's deceased officers an directors we at this moment think c William H. Barnum, William l.. Gilber Ex-Governor Holley, Frederick Wal son, George Dudley. We also think C Superintendents Brinsmade and Yeo mans, Conductors Ekgleston and Po lard, Engineer Hatch and scores ( trainmen and station agents.