Connecticut western news., 1911-09-07
AN, OLD-TIME FOURTH
Decon Stevens Takes His Best Girl to
 Balloon Ascension.

While listening a short time since to conversation between yourself and my brother-in-law, C. s. Foster, of Winsted, was reminded of something which transpired over fifty years ago when was a going man and before l was mar ried. At that time nothing was known of aerial navigation as 1t is carried on at the present time, but simply balloons, and it was considered great event for one to accompany his balloon in its as- cent.
 think it was in 1858, a short time be- fore I was married, which was on Nov. 25, 1858, thatthe people of Winsted plan ned great Fourth of July celebration, not quite equal to our last Fourth of July but intended to be a grand success, and as an attraction to call out a great crowd they advertised balloon ascension by Professor Spencer, who was to accom- pany his balloon In its ascent, which proved to be drawing card. The Fourth of July occurred that year on Saturday do not remember much about the cele- bration, except the balloon ascension,
 
 only that there was a great crowd, much enthusiasm and great deal of noise. l do not even remember who the speaker or speakers were, or whether they had any speaking at all which perhaps may not be wondered at after considering some I personal experience that had on, before and after the Fourth, which will relate.
 After reading the advertisement of the celebration was seized with strong desire to attend it, and see the balloon as- tension and conceived the idea that it would be a nice thing for my best girl to see it also; so l proceeded to lay my plans to accomplish it. The first thing to do of course was to get the girls con- sent which was not a hard thing to do, as was very we'll acquainted with her. The next thing was to secure means of transportation, as at that time there was no public means of conveyance that could accommodate us. So l engaged horse of neighbor, one that I had frequently driven and, by the way, was very lively and skittish. one, but one that always got there.
 This neighbor had no top buggy, so engaged one of another friend who lived two miles in an opposite direction, with the understanding that it should be back the same night as he wanted it to take him to church the next day, which was Sunday. Having made these arrange ments on the morning of the Fourth, started out and having got the horse and | carriage together I drove to the home of my best girl (who, by the way, proved 10 be one of the best that ever lived, and afterward became my wifeD where l found her all ready, on time, as she al- ways was, and we proceeded on our way to Winsted, going through Norfolk by way of Granville and what is known as Danbury Quarter, road that intersects the main road to Winsted near Colebrook Station. I remember while driving through Danbury Quarter near the school house, the horse took fright at something beside the road, and darted out of the road so quickly that it nearly upset the carriage, and it ran on two wheels for several rods, but finally right ed itself, thus avoiding an accident.
 Proceeding on our journey we reached Winsted sometime before noon, when, I left nay companion at her brothers C. F. Fosters, where joined her after having left my horse at livery, to be cared for At MT. Fosters we had very pleasant dinner, soon after which we witnessed the balloon ascension, which as remem- Der, was nearly the close of the celebra- tion,so it will be seen that could not be expected to know much of the other part of it..
 Soon after the balloon ascension we re sumed our journey and drove to Mrs. Seymours hotel at Colebrook center, where we had planned to take supper Arriving there we found that Mrs. Sey- mour had attended the celebration and had not returned, and consequently our supper was delayed until late hour, and it was beginning to grow dusk, when we left Colebrook on road with which was not we'll acquainted, having passed over 1t only few times; and with the prospect of dark night, there being no moon until acout II o'clock, and in the face of an approaching thunder shower which broke'upon us before we had pro- ceeded many miles, when it became so I dark that we could not see the horse or road, only as' the lightning lighted the way, and I was obliged to leave my com panion alone In the carriage and lead the horse for some distance, being able to keep in the road only by feeling with my feet, which made it slow travelling until we reached the main road leading from Norfolk to Winsted, with which l was better acquainted. Then we were all right and we reached my companions home about II o'clock, where I left her