The Newtown bee., 1891-05-22
VIEWPOINT, MAY 22, 1891.
STAMFORD.


 Horse cars still run irregularly, the rails not having been connected at Bruce brook and the track not being in condit- ion. Men have been re-laying paving stone along Main street and the select men have been grading around Hard's corner and elsewhere where the track has been raised above the level of the street.
 The sick in Stratford have been show ing signs of improvement: Mrs Russell, Ezekiel Curtis, Mrs Talbot, Mrs H. J. Curtis.
 Rev Mir Ives exchanged with Rev MT Squire of West Haven, Sunday. In the evening, MT Squire gave lecture upon the prodigal son and his brother "Two boys under one roof" He appeared to think that the son who remained at home with his father was little better than he who went into the far country and vast ed his substance. "In how many homes of today" he said, 'sdo we find two sons j; one profigate, spendthrift, yet, per- haps, not really vicious at heart. The life purpose of the other could in too many cases be shown by an interrogation point There was goodly audience.
 Leaving his Stratford place in charge of Baldwin, his bartender, E. W. Row ing has decided to reopen the Ross house at Milford. Beck left the place sudden ly, owing Rowing considerable money and claiming that he could make noth- ing. The place has been unoccupied since.
 The wife of Elmer Meyers, Stratford oyster worker, died, last week, about 27 years old, at her down town home. She had been sick for long time and leaves one child.
 One of the landmarks of Stratford, the old Stephen Wheeler place at Ferry road, one of the oldest of the houses of the town, was destroyed by dynamite and fire, last week. The place has been un- occupied and owned for years by Sena- tor D. NJ. Read of Bridgeport, who de- cided to make room for a new cottage. He employed John w. Beach to do the work. Last week, he loaded the fire place with dynamite and set it off. Know ing the construction of old fashioned houses, Mir Beach thought that the whole building would collapse with the chim- ney but, though the latter was blown to atoms, the great frame work of the house stood firm, the oaken beams, some of them l4xlS inches, being soldly framed. A second heavy charge blew out three sides of the house and MT Beach decided to put in third charge to finish it; but, some time Friday night, the wood was set on fire and the whole consumed. This house was built by Moses Wheeler, ST, who was born in England in 1898 and was one of the prominent men of the early days of the town. The house remained in the Wheel CT family for generations until, after the death of Stephen Wheeler, it came into the hands of Senator Read. Stephen Wheeler left no sons, four handsome daughters, three of whom were Mrs Charles Gilbert, Mrs James Allen, Mrs Scott. As the house has always been occupied by the Wheeler family, the stories of it's occupancy by Goody Bas- sett and other StratfOrd witches are far fetched. It is probable that Moses Wheeler was the first ship carpenter in Stratford and that he continued to work at his trade and to cultivate his 4G acres or more of land, while he attended the duties of the ferry many years. He died in 1898 and, having been born in l50S, may have been the first white male centenalian in New England.
 Gaufs celebrated cantata, "The Holy City," was the attraction at the Congre- gational church, Thursday, 21st. The cantata was given by the Stratford choral society, under the direction of James Baker of Trinity choir, Bridgeport Prof J..H. Waud was 'cellist and Miss Atwood accompanist. The soloists included Master George Moore, Miss Florence Allen, Mrs Robert B. Hard, Charles Bottomley, Chiffon Baker, Mrs Elmer Beardsley was organist.
 Constable Stagg was called to New Haven, Monday afternoon, to testify in the case of Mrs Dobee of Bridgeport, charged with keeping and selling oleo- margarine in unmarked packages.
 The town has been working Sutton avenue.
 The veterans association decided at its meeting, Saturday, to meet at the Town hall, at o'clock on the morning of Memorial day and joining the military detail from Go. K., proceed to decorate the graves of the dead veterans. Graves of members of the company will also be decorated.
 Dooley and Butcher are building a new barn at the Seeley place, Strawberry hill.
 The stone crushing machinery has been running at the upper road, the material being bought to Main street.
 Rosina Bennett has sold house on Ferry road to Edward Dufour.
 The veterans are preparing to celebrate Memorial day and flowers left at the Town hall, next Friday, 29th, will be gratefully received.
 Union temperance services at the Con- gregational church, next Sunday even- ing.
 Postmaster Spall now rides a Columbia safety, 1891 pattern.
 With the assistance of John W. Beach and the road machine, several yokes of oxen, blow, men and teams, the surface of Main street has been torn up. The surplus earth has been placed where the rails were laid above the grade of the