The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-11

we have met to observe the cen tennial anniversary of the Bridgeport Ladies' Charitable Society.
 Please go back with me in ina ginatfon to 1913.
 a'The Borough of Bridgeport had been incorporated in 1900. At this time it's total population was only 572. The business portion was situated along Water street, from State street to Fairfield avenue. The houses of it's citizens were oif Main street and the connecting streets, There was only one road through the town from State street to Berkshire, and Golden Hill was but a pasture ground dotted here and there with the tents of the Ind ians. The Indians were living in con- sidera bIe numbers on Golden Hill and over in Fairfield, lingering around their old hunting and fishing grounds. Those in Fairfield were called PeQuon- mock Indians, and had encaD7pme ments near Tin Bridge, their Sachem being located near the gardens of James Horan & Son. Those in Bridgeport were known as Golden Hill Indians, and built their wigwams under the hill where now is Elm street. There was great destitution among them and it was these red men who were among the first to receive the care of this society.
 '+In addition the War of 1872 was still dragging along in its discouraging course, and there was want and pow erty among families whose husbands were in the war.
 Bridgeport was really a large will lage. Every one was personally known to the other residents. There were no railroads, no telegraphs, no telephones, no daily mail, and but few cities in the State. The people were nearly all natives. There was no pauper class. and the cases where as- sistance was needed were known, to- gether with the causes for their exist ence. Under ordinary conditions in dfvidual charity had been sufficient to care for the needy and unfortunate, but hereswas a situation that required something more.
 Several ladies met with Mrs Cap tain Abijah Hawley to sew and make Haw1ey- was the mother of, the late Mrs. Frederick H., Lyon, and resided in the, house now occupied by Mrs. Lyons family on Main street.) The formation of a society was suggested, a voluntary association known as The Bridgeport Female Benevolent Socie- ty' was organized, and Mrs. Hawley was chosen President, or Almoner, as she was called, for as late as 1878 this was its chief and only official. Rev. Elijah Waterman, at that time pastor of the North Congregational Church, wrote the short constitution under which they worked for seventy years and until they received a charter from the legislature. In fact this is said to be the only written record of the so- ciety for it's first half century.
 ''The records of the society and it's members, prior to 1854, are lost, and no full report of members and cases cared for, was kept until 1867, but there is a sketch written by Mrs. Olivia A. Sturdevant, it's then Presi- dent, in 1884. seventy years after the commencement of the society. There were then two persons living who re- menabered when the society was or ganized. They were Mrs. Samuel E. Ferguson and Mrs. Captain John Brooks; both had been members of the society, and from them much of the subject matter of the sketch was gathered A paper was prepared and read at the 18th anniversary in 1888, by Mrs. L. H. Norton its then Secre- tary.
 From these sources I have largely gathered what I am able to give in this brief paper.
 ''The following were its first man agers: Mrs. Polly Hawley, who lived on Main street; Mrs. William Peet, who was the grandmother of our es- teemed fellow townsrnen, W. w. and E. w. Harrall, and who resided on Bank street, where the Bridgeport Public Market now stands; Mrs. Isaac Hinman, who lived on Wall street Sylvanus Sterling, who lived in the house which is now the parsonage of the First Church on Golden Hill; Mrs.