Connecticut western news., 1908-04-02
CANAAN'S GREAT
 PUBLIC SPIRIT
DWELLINGS ARE IN GOOD TASTE

The Northwestern Outpost of Connect
 icut's industrial Actiyity-North Ca-
 naan is the Only Town in This Re-
 uion Which Gained fin Population.
 Sundays New York Herald contained an illustrated write up of Canaan and we herewith reproduce portion of the same. Considerable of the Herald's hls- torical matter was taken from the Scrap Book of North Canaan. published few years ago by O. H. Pease: I>>.
 Where the willow fringed Blackberry River winds westward in gentle bends through country of richly cultivated fields and velvety pastures and joins the grander Housatonic, where the encircling, crests of the Taconics form a vast am- phitheatre, itself half thousand feet above the sea-here, ill its mountain home, commanding superb views of en- chanting scenery and with it's endless succession of lakes and brooks, is Canaan, an important railroad centre, the gate way to the matchless Berkshires, the pioneer iron, lime and marble town of Connecticut, the residence of some of the States ablest and most honored sons, grand fgurehead for the parlor county of Litchfield. 0'r
 Canaan, which was sold at auction at New London in 1738, was incorporated and settled Q year later. In 1858 the town was partitioned, and the township of North Canaan was incorporated. North Canaan is only about half the area of Canaan, and it is jammed up against the Massachusetts line, but 1t trebles the mother town in population, and far exceeds it Ill enterprise and importance. Yet, notwithstanding this prestige, in- deed perhaps because of it, North Ca naan goes by the name of Canaan in rail- way, postal and popular nomenclature, while Canaan itself is recognized by the same semi official but universally needed authority only as Falls Village. The hair splitting State Register alone gives the two towns their legal designation.
 It is at Canaan Station, in the town of North Canaan, where considerable viii lage has grown up. Canaan (meaning Canaan Station) is the converging point of the Berkshire division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- road and of the Central New England Railroad, and, with direct outlet in all directions, is always 8 busy spot and the northwestern outpost of Connecticut's industrial activity. There is also daily stage connection with Clayton, South field and Mill River, Mass.
 If there is one thing more than another for which Canaan is noted it is the pro- gressive public spirit which is character istic of it's citizens and which eliminates conyergence and uncongeniality to such degree that, individually and collec- lively, they all work together for the welfare of the community Canaan, too, is unique among the hill towns of this region in that it alone has continued to gain in population as we'll as to sustain and enlarge it's reputation for the quality of it's citizenship. The spirit of "beauti- ful Canaan is found everywhere in the community. In summer time the village and it's environs are one huge park, con- taining mile after mile of tree bordered driveways, long stretches of restful grass plots and hundreds of brilliant touches of floral coloring and countless inspiring vistas in it's ruggedly picturesque land scape.
 While there are many examples of Colonial architecture and not a few "show" houses scattered about the town that demand special attention from the sightseer, the striking characteristic of the place is the number of dwellings to be found on every hand that are both artistic and comfortable. The latest ideas in construction have been seized by the architects of Canaan's new homes and been embodied in their designs. and the result is, not display of lavish expendi- ture, but evidence of good taste in the numerous dwellings of substantial and attractive pattern. Even where utility IS necessarily placed above beauty Ga naan is remarkably free from novels, shanties and ramshackle structures that 50 often are found in rural communities
 In the Canaan National Bank, an itsti- tuition incorporated year ago, and in the Canaan Saving Bank the town has excellent banking facilities. MT. George s. Fuller. who has been leading busi- ness man for thirty-two years, is presi- dent of both banks. MT. Fuller has held practically all the town offices. He con- ducts large hardware store. and was ill partnership with MT. J. w. Peet ill @ general store for twenty-five years. He owns the banking building and numer-