The Newtown bee., 1893-05-26
In Litchfcld County. WASHINGTON.
 THE DEPOT VILLAGE
WASHINGTON.
THE DEPOT VILLAGE

THE DEPOT VILLAGE
 Aud How 1t Grew from Nothing to One of the Bus lest Little Villages in the County y.-somo of the Hustling Men Who Had a Hand in it's History. The Washngtuuite of quarter cen tury ago, who has been absent from his native town during that time, would scarcely know the town, should he step of the Shepaug train at Washington De- pot, SO marked have been the changes. But it Is not alone in the fine summer res idenccs about
 THE "ARISTOCRNTIC GREEN"
 that would attract his attention, but the village at the Depot, which was only pas ture land less than 21 years ago. The coming of the city people of course has had It's effect in bringing in new families. But the Depot had it's bloom" long be- fore Washington became known as the "LenOx of Connecticut" It iS very like ly that Washington Depot would have amounted to no more in business way than New Preston Station or West Mor- rs, had not q few husting young men settled upon the Depot as a likely place to build up a good trade for a general store business. When 1t was first sug- gested to build store at the Depot some of the wise-headed business men declared it was foolish and fOretold disaster, but many of these same men have lived to see the Depot become the business cen ter of the town and the livlest little place for miles around. When the Shepaug railroad was first talked of, there were many of the old liners who fought the project, and fought it bitterly, too. The man who was to make ''the foolish break" in building store at he Depot, was
 NONE OTHER THAN A. G. BAKER, the wide awake and successful "Haw- leyville furniture man. as he has pleas ed to style himself. Mir Baker had been in business with party on the Green, and saw in the opening up of the Shepaug, future for the Depot village. s. A. Baker, his father, accordingly built the store for him and another man abreast with the times, $. L. Brinsmade, became his partner. The store was up and run ming before the first train came snorting into the Depot village. At this time the entire business at the Depot was Wood ruff's shops. l.. L. Clark's and E. c. Kinney's residences comprised "the vil- lage." That Messrs Baker & Brinsnade had made q wise move was shown in the l. stock of goods, sold at living prices and the townspeople floeked in. Trade came to them from nearby towns and those who had laughed at them looked on in consternation. The store was enlarged in a few years. They put in a tailor de- partment, meat business, shoes, millin- cry, timing, besides groceries, etc. As the business grew and the departments became self supporting, they gradually sold them out.
 IF THE YOUNG MEMBERS
 of this firm had started in on small scale, 1t Is doubtful If they would have achieved the success they did. But they launched out fearlessly and soon left their jealous competitors in the rear. The hustling firm started produce cars for New Haven, and did big business in this line. The business of the firm grew to enormous proportions and the Depot is recognized to-day as one of the best business stands in Litchfeld county. Both Messrs Baker and Brinsmade were energetic workers, and labored beyond their strength. They finally sold out the grocery and meat business to Adam Watts e2 Son, the former being now sue cessfully carried on by his son, w. A. Watts The meat business MT Watts sold out and is now in the hands of those wide awake gentlemen, Messrs Bradley .S Bader. MT Baker continued the shoe business till year ago or so, when he sold to K. J. Watts, who has an excellent trade. At the time the railroad went through, most of the land at the Depot was owned by +. c. Kinney and J. 5 Titus. A man who figured actively 1T the
 EARLY HISTORY OF THE DEPOT
 village was s. D. Platt, brother of Sen ator platt. He was station agent, anc besides conducted the lumber and eoa business and ran the grist mill now own ed by Mir Kilborn. MT Platt subsequent