The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-27
THE GOLDEN WEDDING

Mir. and Mrs. Wyilys sperry of Wood bridge celebrated their golden wedding at the residence of their daughter, Mrs. N. D. sperry on Orange street. Last evening Mir. and Mrs. Willis M. Smith. Mrs. Smith being another daughter of Wyilys sperry. celebrated their golden wedding at their residence on Orange street. only a, block away from where the first happy gathering took place. Both Mir. and Mrs. Smith are natives Of the town of Woodbridge. and their family history Is indelibly connected with that of the town.
 MT. Smith is one of New Haven's best known and most respected citizens, hay ing been member of the firm of Smith, sperry & Treat, the mason builders, since that firm was organized, and be- fore that was associated for years with N. D. Sperry In the same business. SO In truth. Mir Smith may be called the father of his craft in this city. In all he has been engaged in the business here for fifty-nine years.
 Both MT. and Mrs. Smith are de- scendents of the two oldest families In woodbridge. the Smiths and Sperrys. They are also descendants of Rev Mir. woodbridge, most worthy minister, whose name was given to the place.
 MT. Smith, the son of Daniel T.Smith t,. and worked on farm until he came to New Haven in 1885, and began learning the mason's trade. Not long after hav- ing learned his trade he went to New York after the fire there, and worked during the rebuilding of the burnt dis trict, but returned to New Haven after the completion of that work.
 In 1S44 he married his wife, who was the daughter of Wyllys and Katy Sper- ry.
 It was in 1874 that the co-partnership of Sperry & Smith was formed and many of New HaYen's most prominent buildings were built by them. MT. Smith always superintended, the work, as MT. Sperry, his partner, has been en- gagged in other businesses. Among the buildings erected by MT. Smith are the Yale buildings, Battel chapel, Sloane laboratory, Winchester observatory and many others. The Insurance building was also built by him, as was the Ire mont house and the White building. Those are only few of the many erected by this most successful firm
 In 1865 the residence on Orange street was erected where the couple have lived happily ever since. E..
 For the occasion last evening the house was profusely decorated with yellow chrysanthemums, ferns and pot ted plants.Two plates showing the dates lS44 and 1894, worked in yellow immor- telles, were placed in one of the parlors on the mantel.
 The many costly and beautiful pres ents were displayed in a room above and also some family relics One of these Is an old chair which has been handed down from mother to daughter TOT over century. and bed spread, which was woven by the great grand mother of Mrs. Smith. There were also deguerreotypes of the bride and groom Of fifty years ago. They were taken by the late Samuel Peck, who in later life owned old Music hall, now the Grand opera house. Among the pres ents are two finely upholstered chairs, the gift of Mr. Smiths fellow-craftsmen in the Builders Exchange of which he has always been prominent member.
 MT. Smith presented his wife with a diamond brooch of brilliant design, as an anniversary gift, and Mrs. Smith pre- sented to her husband a chain of fine workmanship.
 The catering was by c. A. Bradley, The tables were prepared for the feast. and when the fairy lamps were lighted and the many silver pieces shown bril- liantly presented a splendid sight. The music for the evening was by Prof. Rob- inson and assistants.
 Among the many beautiful and costly gifts displayed were Congressman-elect sperry's gift of $10O in gold, $50 each to Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
 Lawyer Henry Mason's present was handsome gold handled umbrella to MT. Smith, MT. and Mrs. B. w. Dan sons handsome gold trimmed clock
 Among the guests present were: Dr. and Mrs. W. L. Phillips, MT. and Mrs N. D. Sperry, MT. Arthur Treat Mr Richard Lyon, MT. and Mrs Henrv Beers, General and Mrs. s. B. Merwin MT. and Mrs. H. T. Munson of Nav York, Dr. Arthur Cheney, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Smith, General and Mrs B. s. Greeley, MT. and Mrs. c. Berry Peets. Mrs. Andrew Henryx Mrs Meagher, MT. and Mrs. Walter Nichols Mrs. Benjamin Cheney, MT. and Mrs James D. Dewell, MT. and Mrs. Sidney H. Dawson, MT. Henry s. Dawson. Mr and Mrs. Joel A. Sperry, MT. and Mrs Frank H. Sperry, Mr. and Mrs, H. Munson, Miss Marion c. Munson. MT J. Arthur Burr and daughters nf Brooklyn, N. r., MT. and Mrs. E1,,ot H. Morse, MT; and Mra Seymour Loomis, Miss Emily Smith of Plants vile, Miss Fannie Brown of Hartford MT. and Mrs. John Marion, MT. and Mrs. D. B. Munson and family. Mrs A. c. Munson, Miss Munson, Gen. eral George H. Ford, Miss Lewia Mr and Mrs. Thomas P. Merwin, the Misses | Merwin, MT. Frank H. Hooker. Mise Peck, MT. and Mrs. c. A. Bradley. Mr and Mrs. Louis Cowles, Miss Hattie Bradley, MT. and Mrs. George M Grant, MT. and Mrs Elizur H. sperTv MT. and Mrs. Herman D. Clark. ,Mr Herman Clark, jr., Dr. and Mrs Win chell and Mrs. Anna Atwater |