Norwich bulletin., 1910-06-11


 strais Int from the shoulder and did not hesitate to to speak right out in meet ing what he thought personally of some of New LondosJs sinners. He was an eccentric but really good man and had the respect of everybody in New London and vicinity where he spent the greater part of his long and useful life. The elders faVorite place Tor baptism was off Bank street, in the open city space just below the custom house. In those days the waters of the Thames flowed under the small bridge and made quite a cove to the east Of the railroad tracks Here hundreds used to assemble to see Elder Swan baptize some of his converts and listen to the oid-time Baptist hymns. That was many years ago. just before the civil war. but the elder and his place of baptfsmal ceremony is still fresh in the minds of the men of today who as boys heard the clergyman lead in the singing of Jordan's Bank
 What was nice sheet of water in those days had been gradually filled in until all that remained was a muddy flat that soon became almost a public nuisance. A year or so ago this place was completely filled in by the city street department and nicely graded, the railroad company doing away with the bridge and building d substantial bulkhead instead. It was Alderman James F. O'Leary's intention as chair
  to transpose this place into a beauty spot, by seeding it down and planting flowers and shrubbery therein. and a few park benches and make it a sort of waterside par<let, but this plan has been temporarily postponed and for a good reason.
 The small boys have confscated it as playground and Alderman O'Leary has no desire to drive them away as did the chairman Of the public property committee many years ago, when he stopped ball playing in Will Hams park by planting trees in the diamond and prohibiting the playing of baseball there for evermore. The boys of that time showed their disapproval of the act by hanging that alderman in effigy from the limb of a large elm tree that stood in front of the Garfield block in State street.
 Among the boys of long ago who helped stuff the old suit of clothes with straw and hang it on a limb that hung well over State street, and who pinned a placard on the breast of the effigy. bearing the significant ''J. B. C. Beware" and which was pasted on the sidewalk all over the city. is now one of the leading business men of the city. and is probably reminded of the incident as he see the boys nowadays playing baseball in that little parklet below the custom house, which covers the spot where Elder Swan did most of his baptizing. This gentleman whose place of business is not far from the custom house probably imagines what might be done in resentment should Alderman O'Leary prevent the boys from playing baseball on that ground. But Alderman O'Leary is not that kind of city official, for he is one Of the altogether too few men, who remembers that he was once a boy and therefore knows how it is himself
 While New London has perhaps the finest lot of schoolhouses taken as whole. as there is in the state of Con- necticut, there is one partially aban- dOned school building that should re- ceive more attention. If is the old Colt street school building that is now only used in the winter season for night school The building and the grounds are neglected and the property is gradually becoming an eye-sore and is far from being creditable to the board of school visitors who have it in charge, or to the city of New London. Just at this time when the Municipal Art society is planning 10 make New London a city beautiful. it would seem that something should be done along that line with the city property in Colt street.
 It is the only wooden building within the jurisdiction of the school board and is in marked contrast to the other fine brick structure, and should either be kept in respectable condition or be demolished. When other new school
 
 buildings were disposed of, but for some reason other this one has been retained and for what purpose does not become manifest. If il is to be preserved relic, something should be done in the preservation line before it is too late. The building is di- lapidated. unsightly bordering on the disgraceful and the spacious grounds are unkempt, neglected and 1black-eye to the city's progress and mars the good impression of visitors when point ed out one of the Bchoolhouses of New London. and is of no earthly use as an educational institution or archi- tectural study. As to the night school, sessions could be held in any of the other school houses which are adapted to methods of modern education which would be more advantageous to the students and the teachers. That old Colt street school house should be put in presentable shape or wiped from the public school property list forth with.
 At the eounoii meeting. Monday even ing, Alderman Prentis made inquiry relative to the boat landing which it was proposed to build just below the custom house, and for which appropri- ation had been made at the annual city meeting. Alderman O'Leary ex- plained that it was a dangerous spot to establish a crossing where eS press trains passed frequently at a high rate
  sponsible for the placing of boat land ing at such a dangerous place, even if it could be done without litigation with the railroad company which would probably object to the location. Alder man O'Leary. however. said he was willing to go ahead and award tho con- tract for the landing provided the board of aldermen desired and would assume all responsibility. sFie said boat landing was needed at that point but he favored an overhead land ing but the present appropriation would not warrant such an expenditure. So the matter was dropped without further debate and the action of Alder man OLeary given tacit approval.
 This boat landing matter at this place was inausurated during the Armstrong administration. when ahe plot east of the railroad tracks was filled in. but the plan did not include a boat landing with access at grade over the tracks. Ii WAS contemplated to build the landing and thus secure the right. that would he likely to he taken away should the owner nert month