Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-29
I'm DAYS GONE BY.

when the Old Assembly House was a
Center OF New Haven Society Gaiety
The Erection OF the fremont
Some Interesting "Reminiscences.
An old and much esteemed citizen writes |
as follows: The recent notice in the CoUR- |
TER of the death of Enos Foot of New Ha-
ven reminds the writer of an incident of
the past. Mr. Foot bought the old GAS
sembly House." Gas It was known, the
writer of this having the title of the same
by virtue of q claim many years ago, which
claim was transferred at the time without
being recorded, of the Hopkins grammar
school, through the late Honorable Judge
Henry White. The Assembly house was
at the time marked spot, where the
fashionables of New Haven had been for
generations accustomed to hold balls,
dances, and all assemblies of gaiety such
as grandees of the age did engage in; 1t was
used for the then festivities by the "gen-
try"
''Monsieur Value" the French dancing
master therein taught the young ladies to
dance; and an indistinct remembrance Is
had of 1t as a place where religious meet
ings sometimes were held. The Hopkins
grammar school graduates did also give
their exhibitions (then SO oalled) in the
hall. But the present generation knew
nothing of 1t. Enos Foot obtained the old
"Assembly hal"l he built the present
fremont hotel" But the story of this
building has never been told. Euos Foot
having the right at the time to put his
building as it now is, on the street line.
The writer of this article also owning pro-
perty which he thought would be very
much injured if the building line was al
lowed to be where it is, offered to pay for,
though Major WEIGH for twelve or more
feet on Court street of Mr.. Foot would set
his line back ION Orange street, twelve
feet more, but which, If Mayor WEIGH
would refuse to permit, the writer would
!; undertake to carry out.
!, Hon. James F. Bsbcock did then own on
J Court street; he was away in Washington,
J D. O., at the time, but by telegraphing
him the design could have been accom-
plished. The building line was permitted
J to remain; hence then and forever after
} ward Orange street Is the narrower.
The writer had then control of 1.-THE
Temple" and of the southwest corner, which
} he offered to also widen provided the
fremont did SO.
The Scatter Good Sunday school, of
, which the late John G.. North was super.
intendent, was then held In "The Temple. u
The late Hon. James F. Babcock did al
. the time spoken of in the above matter
, own, inherited from his mother, who Ions
7 resided there. the property adjoining the
i old Assembly house. Many of our citizens
8 have pleasant memories of both the old
Assembly house and of the fremont
At the old Assembly house boarded many
: men who were then or who became in af
8 ter years prominent men In the commu
9 nifty, many of whom are yet active snd
alert. Among them were the late Sheriff
t Leandsr Parmalee, Charles Aonson, thu
/ Chapel street dry goods merchant; Willard
It Ensign, who is again resident of oul
city; N. A. Cowdrey, who became prom
d inent New York lawyer, interested largel,
+ in railroads and president of the Cont
a mental bank in that city, dying two O.
three years ago leaving large fortune; F
W. J. Sizsr, then partner of the lat
Hon. James F. Bebcock and VIII,
a is again after spent in Brooklyn residen
of New Haven, residing on Fair Have,
Heights; the late Enos Foot and wife, ant
President Henry s. Dawson of the New
r Haven Water company and wife. TIL
old Assembly house as our vsnerabl
townsman In his communication abov
d so ably sets forth, was succeeded in popu
8. larity by the fremont which Mr.. Foo
matter of considerable note in New Have,
p awakening goodly share of public atten
b ton. The hotel became we'll patronizs,
81 and many well known New Haven tami
50 lies made 1t their home and dwelling place
o. Among those residing there were the lat
g George @. Kimberly, then a Chapel stree
ss dry goods merchant, and his wife
the late bank president, MATTHEW
g. Elliott and wife; Warner D. Judso
L nd Wi he Jota IL
70 dent and founder of the Grilley company
y F. W. J. Sizer and wife; the late John 3
=. Benham; Wallace B. Fem and wife; tn
o. late DR.. Blake and wife; the late Augusta
- a. Keller and wife; the genial William 3
4. King, then identified with the interests G
J. the Mallory, Wheeler & Co.; and anon
of others whose home 1t was, were Alanso
-, Warren, c. Berry Peets, Nathan 81. Tuttl
% % and the late Nelson Hotchkiss and Other
81 well known in our community,