Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-04-15
FUNERAL or DAVID Q. HUI


Attended Yesterday-The vicissitudes
OF Life-ssThe Wookcock,,' n Fa-
nous Place Here In Former Days
Reimbursement OF the Deceased and
His Associates. .a ~, Il
The funeral of David G. Hill, who died
of convulhons at the hospital on Sunday,
was attended yesterday afternoon from the
undertaking rooms of Lewis g. Msycock.
The body of the deceased reposed in an
expensive casket with large silver plate
and six large silver handles. Resting on
the casket was floral piece of beautiful
flowers. The silver plate bore the inscrip-
ton, David G. Hill, died April 10, aged
sixty-six years" Only few friends were
present. .-,.....
Rev. w. D. Mossman conducted the
service at the undertaking rooms and at
the Westville cemetery where the body
was inferred. s.--z --
During the last years of his life, the de-
ceased had his home with Mr.. f. A. Du-
rant of the Durant hotel on State street.
Mr.. Durant made arrangements for the
funeral. -
The death of Mr.. Hill, who was well
known to many New Haven men, has &C.
casioned the mention of many "reminiscences
of his life and recording those who were
familiar with him. His acquaintance
have spoken well of him and many of his
good deeds have been recalled, As he was
liberal he often gave pecuniary assistance
to those who were needy and performed
many other kind acts.
no one knew him by that title, as he
dropped the name when he was small
boy, at the time that his mother, the
Widow Coggshall, married a Mr.. Hill for
her second husband. After this marriage
David went by the name of Hill. Dave, as
he was universally known, was so well
pleased with the name that he adopted it,
and has ever since been known as Dave
Hill.
The death of Mr.. Hill recalls one of the
sporting resorts that fourished in this
city from fifty to twenty-five years ago.
1t was known as "The Woodcock," and
stood on the site of the police building in
Court street. It was famous establish
ment in its day, and more especially was
it famous for the fine game suppers that
we're prepared there. The name grew out
of the fact that delicious woodcock was
served there.
How long "The Woodcock" stood in
Court street is not known. It was run
ming long before Dave Hill became one of
it's proprietors. 1t also fourished a num-
Der of years after he parted company with
it. At the time referred to "The Wood
cock" was the resort of the better class of
gamblers, ia class of men not so well known
in this city at present as in those days. A
majority Of these men dressed either in
the height of fashion or in any other gen.
teel style that suited their fancy, and as
they were mostly men in the prime of life
they presented neat and genteel appear
ance. A central figure in this set was
Alonzo Broadwel, familiarly known as
Lon Broadwell, who was fine looking
man and was celebrated for his good
looks.
He dressed extensively, in quiet taste
and had new suits frequently. In refer
ence to Mr.. Broadwell, gentleman made
The remark yesterday that he was the best
looking man he ever saw, either in New Ha-
ven or elsewhere, which shows how he i'm
pressed people by his personal appearance.
Probably no woman had more compliments
for her beauty than Lon Broadweu had
for his looks.
The gamblers who frequented The
Woodcock had regulations better than the
average men of their class. They were
run there was known as a square game.
Many of these men are dead, others have
left the city. One of them is located in
the central part of the state, where he is
considered one of the best citizens of the
town. Another has retired from active
business and settled where he has an ex-
cellent reputation.
The place was christened "The Wood
cock" in the time of the Tomlinson Bros,
who managed it for a period. Among the
other proprietors of 'The Woodcock"
prior to the days when Dave Hill presided
over its destinies were Peter Tomlinson,
I called Boston.
1t was great spot for sports. One of
the apartments was equipped in regular
form as cock pit and many long main
was fought there in the presence of the
sporting fraternity and scores of Yale stu
dents who were patrons of the establish
ment. "The Woodcock" was in the height
of its glory when Dave Hill became one of
its proprietors. He had for a partner Au-
gustus G. Peck, well known as Gus Peck.
The firm name was Peck & Hill.
There was faro bank run in connection
with ''The Woodcock" and good-sized for
tunes were lost and made at this bank, as
at every other game of chance of this ma
ture. Hill was a devotee of the game and
those familiar with the history of the place
| and its big p VS. say that Hill lost several
small fortunes at this bank. In time he
evened up his large losses by winnings that
were equally heavy.
At the time that Peck and Hill conduct
ed the faro bank at "The Woodcock" the
game, as stated, was run, as popularity
termed, ION the square," Those who know
of the particulars stated yesterday that
many men who could not afford to lose
money were quietly advised not to play at
| the game. - more than one occasion
workmen WI entered the place on Satur-
day nights with their weeks wages were
enticed away from the game by the consci-
entious proprietors, who evidently did not
consider the fact that possibly these men
would win instead of lose.
The colored man, George Philpot, will
be remembered in town as familiar fig
ure in those days and many Yale gradu-
ates of years ago will wildly recall him
and his natty little figure.
At this time Dave was lover of fine
and fast horses. In the early days of
what is now the Elm City Trotting park,
which was first called "Brewster park, u
in honor of Hon. James Brewster, and af-
terward Hamilton park, Dave was famil-
lar figure in a sulky behind fast horse in
some of the good races of those days. He
trained and drove horses for many owners
and also drove his own horses. He owned
probably the fastest pair of trotters in this
section. One of the pair was called
'Honest john The other was brown
mare of great style and speed. "Honest
John" had several names. He was called
"The Woodcock Colt" and later was
named Hurricane. Sam Langden gave
this horse his first track experience on the
half mile track which many years ago was
situated south of Grand avenue and east
Of James street, where once a big New
| Haven cnnnfv fair hold Of,
years ago.
Lon Broadwen was at one time proprie-
tor of 'The Woodcock," which was KEEP
later by Boston" He ran it for awhile
and then it became beer saloon and lost
its reputation as restaurant. With thu