The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-04-03
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
items OF local interest taken from the columns
OF The Press, thirty years ago.l
April 5, 1877.
FLOOD ITEMS AND INCIDENTS.


The total of losses shrinks from first
estimates given, and direct losses of
parties in this town, including dam
sge to town itself. will probably very
little exceed $500, 900. But indirect
ly. through losses of business aud of
accounts, and interruption of business,
the town will suffer to an extent that
il is hard to compute by commercial
ratings But the thrift and enter
prise of our people will conquer this
adverse fortune, and in time we shall
again see the town making rapid
strides in the way of growth and add
ed valuation.
1t is now ten days since our great
calamity, and already things are be-
ginning to mend. The town has
voted to proceed to repair roads and
bridges. Warden Howard has put the
reconstruction of roads within the
borough into the hands of @. O.
Parkess.
Trains began running regularly
again on Saturday p. M, the boat
train of Saturday night making trip
down OH nearly its usual time. Tenn
porary bridges have replaced those
washed away, and the track made
passable in all the places. Many pre-
dicted a two weeks suspension of
business in consequence of the disaster,
but energy, system, and good manage
ment have comprised all in little
more than four days. The entire
loss to the company, including damage
to cars and loss of freight, it is now
thought, will be less than $780,
probably not more than $25, 600
The old bell of the church was dis.
covered last Thursday, lying in the
new bed of the stream in the Springs
House Park, with iron hangers attach
ed, and apparently not injured. About
thirty of the cushions have also been
recovered, and being of hair can be
made over as good as new. Nothing
else can be found, except in com
pletely broken condition Fragments
of the organ are strewn along the
river, and are generally chosen by
visitors as relics of the flood.
Mr. Burwell's body was discovered
last Friday morning lying on the south
river bank in the Woodlawn grounds, |
nearly opposite the Mineral Springs !
mill. The body appeared to be neither
mutilated nor bruised. The funeral
services were held at the Baptist
church on Sunday morning, and were
largely attended.
at Stafford Hollow, where the iron
bridge stood, is wide gorge, with
perpendicular banks, 25 feet deep.
The roadway here was built upon
the dam, and is swept away with it.
The dam was the first one built in the
town, having been built by the town
about the year 1920 for grist mill.
Before it was built beautiful water
fall fell from the ledge which here
crossed the stream. But removal of |
the dam does not restore this natural |
attraction, an inclined plane of stones
and rubbish now leading from the
ledge to the riverbed below. Before
the dam went off water stood in build
ings above it nearly to the second
off.
The boys have been buised since
Saturday in working over the ground
just south of the railroad, where the
bank vault seems to have gone to
pieces. Some $50 to $75 in silver
pieces which we're in the vault seem
to have been here scattered over a
sp,ce about 100 feet square, and by
digging from to - inches many
pieces have been found. One man
found between 81 and $8, but the
average which has fallen to each del
YER has been poor compensation for
time and labor. Two gold watches,
and some silver ware have also been
found, which had been deposited in
the vault for the heirs of Hannibal
Alden.
The railroad is building temper
ary freight depot, and has a large
force at work making repairs to it's
in this village. Engineer
q. Fl. Arms has been summoned back
from Pennsylvania to make surveys
for this emergency.
The National Bank to-day opens
temporary rooms in Baker and Heald's
John Brown block, having received a
arge safe for use. Indications are
that the parties digging for the safe
ire in it's near vicinity, all the vault
stones and its door having been found,
moving that the vault containing
The safe went to pieces just south of
The railroad track OF course un.
i'll the safe is found there will be un.
,asiness and an unsettled feverish
tate of feeling on the part of the
business community, but there is little
DOM for doubt that the safe is in the
,icinity of those in search of it and
hat it will be found within a few
hours.
The Hope Company are using steam,
md building a temporary dam to
procure water power. /
GOOD for everything salve is used for
nd especially recommended for Piles. !"