The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-01-21
BETHEL.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.

INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
The second grissmill built in Plum
trees was erected soon after the Reyolu-
tionary War. The first mention Of the
mill on the town records is found in the
year 1874. That year Lemuel Beebe
decided to Thaddeus Williams the right
to dig and carry away lime rock opposite
his gristmil. The mill stood nearly op-
posite the present limestone quarry, and
wss burned about % years ago. Indica-
lions of the old foundations sra left to
mark the place, unless lately trJyed.
One of the mill stones lays nearby. The
mill was two stories high above the
road. An underground room below con-
| tanned an over slOC water wheel and 9TH
er machinery, and if our memory serves
Us right, the mill was built of hewed oak
and chestnut timber and covered with
hand-7iven single. The mill dam CT os:
ed the stream about 20 feet below the
highway stone bridge, and was built of
| large timbers that reached from ledge to
ledge. The east end terminated within
q few feet of the present residence of
Lewis Carley. The mill pond covered
about three acres of land south of the
dam, and was fed by two streams of wa
bG, one called Dibble's brook, which
cukes its source in Stony Hill school dis
tnct and is famous trout stream. The
other stream called Naseco, an Indian
pame, takes its source from the Wild Cat
hills and also from FLAT Swamp school
district, gand runs through the eastern
part of Elmwood district, from thence
to Plumtre6s This is also a noted trout
stream. The old wooden highway bridge
was familiar structure, which crossed
the mill pond where the water was deep.
est, and 80 yeers ago was a faVorite
winning place for the school. boys and
young men Of the village. On the tim
bers under the bridge was an excellent
fshing place, where every boy far and
near went to cast his hook and line and
was rewarded for his patience with a
bite from a horn dace, and perhaps q
speckled trout. An old inhabitant of
Plumtrees relates his experience when
lad of 10 years, of going to mill. He
says: "Charles Edwards, a grands on of
Thaddeus Starr, who lived on Walnut
Tree hill, came down and invited me to
ride up to Uncle Gill's mill to get a grist
of feed We drove to the mill door and
took in the grist. Charles was at the
horse's head trying to back around, when
the horse became unmanageable and
backed the load, horse and all, over the
bank that was not protected, into the
deepest part of the pond, myself with
them. | went to the bottom and came
up, when the men threw sticks toward
me, thinking to keep my head above
water. [ was so dazed that / thought
they were trying to drown me, and work.
ed farther back into the pond. l soon
became exhausted and went down for
the last time. When l became conscious
l was in Mrs Ambler's warm bed. Elan
Wheeler, halter, was at work in hat
shop on the other side of the pond, near
the present residence Of Edward ROCK
| we'll. He saw what had happened and
ran over to give assistance. He was a
| good swimmer, dove down and found me
in an upright position on the bottom of
pond. My wool hat, which was tight on
my head, full of air, kept my head up.
Mr. Wheeler rescued me and saved nay
life. : am now so years old. My early
! experience in the mill pond has in no
way shortened my day S." Rufus Couch
was the lad. Charles Edwards after
wards became prominent hat manufac-
turer in town. He passed away many
years ago.
DEATH OF MRS DELILAH PATCHEN.
Mrs Delilah Patchen, aged S.. died