The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1906-09-14
IS THE WONDERFUL BEAUTY OF THIS
TOWN.

TOWN.
What God did for this town is beyond
description. l have been in every
country, and in every state in the
Union, and never saw a more beauti-
full spot than this. l never thought
that Bridgewater would look so spick
and span. | believe it is due to one of
your early ministers that these fine
trees were set out. Every yard in this
place shows that it has had the care
and thought Of years. If Bridgewater
name like Lenox and Stockbridge. The
first territory that was surveyed and
set out was the territory of the Can
field family. The Beach family lived
opposite the Cantields. Capt David
Beach was my ancestor. My grand
fathers grandfather was an officer in
the Revolutionary army and served
with Washington and Lafayette.
When was a boy I had an idea that
an Irishman was of a lower Order,sof
beings: But this was dispelled when
the time in New England when the
children of the Puritans are in the
minority. One of the greatest of the
worlds thinkers was born in valley
not far north of here 200 years ago,
Jonathan Edwards. The things by
which he is best remembered now are
things which any man can do. One of
the things for which he is remembered
was his ideal home. He fell in love
with a beautiful girl when she was
only ID years old. 1t is certain he
found in her all he ever dreamed: A
famous bachelor evangelist of those
home, thus wrote in his diary: The
impression left on my mind has been
such that I pray God will send such
daughter to be my wife. There
NEVER WAS IN THE HISTORY OF THE
WORLD A ROMANCE MORE BEAUTI-
Full
than the loving union of Jonathan
Edwards and his wife. And he had
his home in just such town as
Bridgewater. Our fathers had great
pride in their own lineage. And it is
the pride of people here to-day that
they can trace their ancestry back five
and six generations.
Cattle Commissioner H. o. Averill
was next introduced. He said he had
had no previous intimation that he
was to speak. In contrasting the ell
oQuent Grafton of DR. Dunning to his
own feeble address, he was reminded
of the saying, "There is but one step
from the sublime to the ridiculous !"
He expressed himself, however, as
proud Of the courtesy and honor
showed him. He said he had enjoyed
the hospitality of the Bridgewater
people 1t is certainly second to the
hospitality of no section. You have
reason to be proud on the people who
compose your town. Bridgewater has
reason to be proud Of those who have
not gone out. Bridgewater has reason
to be proud Of the town and it's people,
proud Of it's financial condition. You
have in store for you rich treat. The
best manner in which | can show my
good will is by taking myself out Of
the way.
1The historical sketch was given by
Miss Mabel Keller.
Miss Keller said: This portion of
the New England hills called Bridge
water, must have become somewhat
familiar to the white settlers soon after
Windsor was settled, but no one showed
any desire to obtain it until 1910 when
the right was granted to purchase
Weantenaug, which is now New Mil
ford and Bridgewater, but beyond OBJ
tanning liberty to purchase and view
ing the land no decided steps we're
taken until 17O1 when it was voted to
purchase the land and eighty Milford
men formed company but deeds were
not received until 1923.
AS to the tribe of Indians native to
this town, as it now stands, we know
that the Weantenaugs must have
claimed dominion over it and the
PootatuckS formed a village at the
southeast. The question continually
presents itself
"wHo FIRST SETTLED IN BRIDGE
We know that land~was first surveyed
to Milford merchant in about 1920
but have no record of any settlers until
1874 when Joseph Benedict and
Ephriam Hawley are spoken Of as liv-
ing in Shepaug Neck near branch of
WewacOe brook. Next we learn that a
school district was established in 1853
and then we find that there must have
been an increase in Inhabitants as
there was petition granted to the
First Ecclesiastical society in 1772 to
hire preaching during the winter and
in 1907 it was voted to build meeting
house, with steeple, on or near the
place where the stake was then pitched
south of Cranberry pond. At the time
it was erected it would have been
deemed sin to have meeting house
heated but in extreme cold weather
the ladies had foot-stoveS while the
men sat suffering from the cold until
they were probably as blue as the SER
mon. The first pastor built Burton
Cantield's house and purchased trees
of John Sturdevant to set an orchard
and was to pay Mr. Sturdevant in ser