The Press., 1895-03-21
STAFFORD SPRINGS IN '4s.

The following paper will be very interesting reading to all, more especially to older residents of Stafford Springs. The editor has made some [bracketedl interpolations, which may help de- fine some localities. We may say for the in- formation of the writer that the old school house yet stands where it was when she attended school, but is now a tenement house. In the flood of 77 it was floated from its foundations into the street, sailing around an adjoining building and locating itself anew, only with the rear gable end to the street. It was moved back to the old site.
 The engraving recently printed in The Press of the old Stafford Springs Hous. recalled to me many memories of the vi- cinity, and of the people who used to live whereabouts. Thinking some readers Of this, to me, valuable paper would be in terested in the descriptions my memory may serve me to write, will make tn, tion. 1 was 10 years old in 1S45, when my parents became residents of Stafford Springs, remaining but two years in thai place. I have not visited the place fo1 thirty years, my only acquaintance being through The Press. So know that thu village of fifty years ago is greatly alter ed, and but few of the old residents re- main, yet most of them are represented by their descendants.
 My mother was born in Stafford in 1799 The grand house built by Dr. Willard al the Springs was one of her earliest recol. lections, and she used to describe it t, her children, and to tell us much abou the noted Springs. She told us-of the dOings, the boarders, and the many good times socially enjoyed at the house in af- ter years, as she did not leave that vicin- ity till 1828 So when we came there il '45 the "big house." and the Springs did not seem at all strange to me. Fifty years age there was no railroad. no church in the village. The school-house 9th. most important building to mel was a one story building standing few roads from the main road on the road to the right
 Willington avenue] leading to Willing ton. l remember there was a Sunday school held there, and "Banvards Series'' were the books used in teaching. Mrs Geo. M. Ives was my teacher. Mir. and Springs House, and when I had permis- sion to visit her at that house 1t was a gala occasion for me. The school teach CT in the winter of "A was Roswell G I,Qm in hn OR l Russell. In the winter of '45 the school | was divided, and an infant school taught by Anjenett Fairman in a room in tho Bloss house. Clark N. Shumway was teacher of the large school the same win ter. In the summer of '46 Miss Elizabeth Pinney was teacher,
 l think the Springs House was owned by the Granite Mil Co, and kept by [ MT. Browning. The Granite Mil ete.> was located on the Island, on the mair road EastI IMain-st., being the store de- stroyed by the flood of '77, when occupied ny l.. w. Crane]. Streets and avenues were not known then. Granniss was the name of the merchant. Back of the store, on the Island, were several tene. ment houses. Above these, on the road leading to Furnace Hollow, (which place Twas reached after about two miles travel and think there was but one house, that of Abijah Blodgett,) stood the Bloss house, and one other. consisting of sev. eral tenements. Below these stood the l Rnio iob ofO hui ho1 to the Granite mill, and then the big stone mill. Two or three houses were in range with the mill, extending to the main road or where the first church was built. These really comprised the village. A road turned here, passing the Springs House winding down by the Willimantic river along the foot of the mountain to Holland and Wilmington. Some of the villagers names I remember. There were two fam flies named Bartlett, one being superin tendent at the mill, Capt. Charter, Page Marcy, Royce, Roderick Noble, Ballard Simeon Horton, Hanover, Wm. Ellis, &c
 think there were no buildings on tht left on the Main street till you reached the green mill Mineral Springs]. On th' right there were several. There was a tail or named Lander, millinery by Gardner residence of Lewis Parkess, store of DaviC Parkess, till you come to the office of the Green Mill Co. The road turned to tn, right there short distance, then to thu left again. A couple of dwellings, th school-house for Fox village, the resi- dence of Farley Converse on the right Washburn's store on the left, the confer ence house of the Methodist church, thel