Connecticut western news., 1911-04-13


 and barn, and improved and beautifiud the grounds. The place is owned by his widow, Mrs. Mary o Corbit.
 Next is house recently built by Nj. J. Kilmer, also house formerly belong ing to the mill property. These houses are now owned by Ferdinand Beckley, the smaller one being occupied by Mrs. James Fitzgerald Across the read ! from these houses is one formerly be- longing to the mill property but now owned by b. L. Peirce and occupied by Miss Bridges.
 Next the water privilege formerly owned and operated by Henry and Ed ward Ives, who conducted the busine of making sash, blinds and doors, also saw, plaster aud grist mill. After car rying on the business for several years they sold to Jay Underwood, who con tinued the business until he became rich enough to retire Gf you want to kno more about it ask Jay) He then soll to D. L. Peirce who iu sura sold to Johnson and Lindell, who discontinued the mill and are only operating the shop part and are doing a prosperous business
 Next is house recently built and oJ cupied by R. D. Peirce. Next a house also recently built by George Dederick and now owned and occupied by Fred Homau, our village shoemaker. Next a house built by Sarah W. Adam. This house was occupied for sometime by Mir. Turher, but do not know it's present occupant. Across the road from this h >use is the one formerly owned by Silas Beckley, who had two children, Samuel aud Maria Bsckley. It was in front of this house, when was selling meat in 1865, that Samuel told me of the assassin ation of President Lincoln, by which I was greatly shocked. After MT. Beck. ley's death this place was owned by Robert VanDeusen, also by Frank Hitch cock, and is now owned by the Misses Ella and Anna Brown. who have greatly improved aud beautiied it, making it one of the pleasantest places in our viii lage.
 Next is house built and occupied by William Hayward. It was afterward owned by George Benedict. It is now owned by Charles Nelson, who has much improved it. A little farther on is a house built by Jeffrey Purcell. It is now owned by Frank Johnson of the firm of Johnson 6 LindelI, who has en- larged the house and greatly improved the place. Still farther is a house built 1 by John Ryan, who now occupies it with his daughter, Mrs. August Boinay. Across the road from this house Is one which was used a5 a tavern for many years and was conducted at different times by MT. Wickwire, Ichabod P. Stevens. Jerome Holcomb and Patrick Fitzgerald. It was later owned by Whit ing Knickerbocker, who had & large family. Their names were Edwin, James, Frederick, George, Elizabeth, Robert Marie, Adelaide and Frank Kuickerbocker. Six of them are still living. Adelaide as have already said, was the wife of Frederick Watson. She is now Mrs. JuniuS Rhoades of this viii lage, and her daughter Mary is the wife of Albert Blrnes, of Great Harrington. Maria was an experienced dressmaker and carried on that occupation for some years. Many families in the village will remember her and her work. Since Mir. Knickerbocker's death the place has | Iaa, ia Owy,,od hw Mr. Rhoades. A little west from this house, across the railroad is the old Douglas \ house. Mrs. Esther Cunning tells me she has the record of the dea,h of Mrs. Benajah Douglas in 1804, and also of Benajah Douglas in 1610. so l think I am correct in saying that they were the parents of the ones whose names she gives me. They are William, Benajah, Suviah. Amelia, Mary and Betsey Douglas. I can learn nothing of the history of Suviah and Amelia. Mary and B9tsey lived on the old place until their death, Benajah build the house now known as the Vacation house, He had two children, William and Mary Douglas. William married Mary Watson They had one son, who died of tetanus when a lad. After MT. Douglas dnath as I have already said, his widow mar ried Hugh Franklin who greatly i'm proved the house and barns. They had one daughttr, Bessie Franklin After Mir Franklin s death Mrs. Franklin mar red Nathaniel Ward. who had two children, Lila and Edward Ward. Mr, Ward died after few years, leaving his wife third time widow. She after ward removed to Hartford and died there some years ago. These buildings, with a few acres of land, were later given by Lila >W"rd in memory of her step m 'chcr to the Episcopal Society to be used as a summer resort and is named the Mary Watson Home and ;amiliarly called the Vacation House.
 Continued next week.