The Newtown bee., 1906-10-26
LITCHFIELD COUNTY,
RR1DGEWATERs

L. D. sANFORD's PAPER PREPARED
 FOR THE BR1DGEWATER CELEBRA-
 TON, SEPTEMBER 6.
 This gathering to-day is for two pur. poses: namely, to perpetuate an occa- sional Home Day." and to hold a town meeting, to say to each that as not say as colored lady once said to us. who was over 100 years of age, "Massa, I'se going on 200," but we can say we are going on 100 years ait. CT to-day. Bridgewater set of from New Milford by ecclesiastical edict meant much at the time yet it was not the severing of political relations The old town 20 miles long was one in it's April and October elections, when the elector, by right of age and prop erty qualifications, appeared at the lot or "viva voce" for town officers and general management of town affairs. These occasions, besides special town meetings and general trade, kept the people of the old town in touch with an acquaintance valuable. The people of the original town in 1856 would have preferred the larger New Milford, but the business of Bridgewater had tn- creased pace, increasing the popula- tiOn. Some questions of improvement came up for consideration, among the rest better roads, which the business interests of Brldgewater did not think was properly considered by the old town. Some of the people of Bridge water were affected with kind of pride that this so.called neck of Litch- field County should be either the head or tail. That the name of Bridgewa- ter be not the name of an ecclesiastic- al society only, (there being more than One) but should represent 8 town with the rights and privileges of the same. Some of us waiving political prospects in advantage of the measure. State laws have since been enacted dividing minor offices between existing par ties. During the 50 years of town experience but one Republican has been chosen to represent Bridgewater in the councils of the state, and for our own part we are glad to notice that Sanford was elected to do it.
 THROUGH THE CHANGE OF BUSINESS all that was looked for was not accom- plished. The manufacturing of hats having entirely dropped out, as well as nearly all accretiOns which hac grown up around the business, ano largely the cattle business, both se prosperous at the time of 1856.
 Bridgewater,a a city on a hill, with itt ambuscades, namely Chicken Hill an6 hill, making transportation difficult was without opportunity, hence buSi ness and population must leave and to day reduced to one general store, anC for want of more definite classified tion, an industry we term ThOmp sonian business, located upon a lot we at one time had our hand upon tt make a home, population less thar one half it's maximum figure.
 The broad pastures of the West fo the feeding of cattle and the Bee Trust have undermined the large cat tie trade of which Bridgewater L5 truce to thlS diminuence, lest we ma, think this old home of ours, and ou fathers home, is going out at the lit tie end of the horn. Micah of olt said: "Ye have taken away my GCd
 What have I left?" We have upon former occasion made mention. o those Bridgewater has sent out t. other communities. Of brain an,
 brawn which have been more thai tonage of merchandise. Men who hay
 m ade their markOin trade, letters an
 professions. We have left a legacy il
 the memory of those active in thi town, who have formed the back ground of the present, and here, stnc
 1t is in the family and at home, W , think it in place to mention a few 0 them. We never saw him, but hay not our fathers told us of
 OLD DIR WARNER,
 of intelligence and good commo sense, a benedictiOn to the sick. I some way, which it is not our to ques tion, one of his daughters became tn
 wife of Dr Judson, joining intellfgenc
 with versatility, who for many year diagnosed the ills of this region, a6 ; ministering their specific remedy at cording to the "Materia Medica" (
 his days. Lyman Smith, of goo F public school education as we'll as edu
 cation as merchant in New Have1 . being in possession of a fortune at hi majority, was model of probity an . financial ability.
 Glover Sanford, serving an apprel