Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-19
OLD HAMPTON PAPERS
THE ETERNAL ROAD QUESTION.

In 1762 there began a great enigra- non to the Wyoming Valley or the Promised Land. This emigration ragged like an epidemic for years. Elihalet Dyer of Windham was famous in for Ward1ng the emigration he was so ac- tice, that a wit of that day composed the following ditty:
 Canaan of old, si we are told
 When 1t did rain down mama,
 Want half so good food for heaven
 ly food
 As Dyer makes Susquehanna."
 This emigration was badly enfeebled In Til by a terrible flood and accunlu- IatIon of ice that carried away near ly every bridge in Windham County. All the bridges on the Natchaug Will llnantIc and ShetuCket were swept away and demolished. These bridges were abundantly used by families, cat tie and teams from Plainhe1d, Volun- town and the south part of Rhode Is- land. The Windham authorities re- fused to rebuild the bridges without outside help. as they claimed that the other towns would receive more bene- lit from them than they would, so they put up with the inconvenience of no bridges rather than to accommodate their neI2hbOrs. Consequently many high ways were left impossible and the people were obliged to travel many miles around to find fording places: and were thus in constant danger of being thrown from their horses and drowned.
 A complaint was then laid before the General Assembly that FVindham re- fused tn rebuild the bridges. Dyer FL ! derkin and Nathaniel Wales Jun Were 1 deputized by the town to represent it at the Assembly meeting, and they ex- plained that these bridges were on the borders of the town: that they had hpar hr1i1t q Io op pounds Sterling within few years and that the expense of rebuilding them was fntolerable as long as it was to 1 accommodate other towns more than | themselves. So they begged for relief and aid but their request was refused and q bill was passed That Windham | should build and maintain 8 good cart l bridge over said rivers at the places l designated. Viz: one Of the Shetucket 1 OH the road from Windham to Hart 1 ford known as the old Town Bridge: | one on the Willimantic then called the 1 Iron Works Bridge Mansfield was to 1 rebuild the Natchaug bridge and in 1 1I14 Windham was ordered to build and maintain d bridge on the Shetucket 1 upon the new road laid out to accom- = l odate the travel to the New College in 1 Hanover. The Selectmen were now re- quired to provide suitable houses for l the poor and persons to take care of l them; rates for the same to be paid 1 for in provisions
 In 1913 2 new turnpike from Wind ham to killingly was demanded but 1 once more the question of bridges ! arose and it was ont without remon
 strance that the new turnpike was se- l cured
 This turnpike passes directly through 1 Towards Valley in Hampton and in its 1 day was heavily trave1ed thorough 1 fare. Many taverns did a, thriving l business along it's course. FbenezeI /! Jewett well rnembers the Curtiss T 1 tavern (noW owned by Henry Humes| 1 when it was so crowded witf
 guests, though it is a large and com | modious building, that travellers woult | be obliged to sleep in their wagons b9 | the road side, as there was no room
 to accommodate all who wished tc
 stay.
 In those days the silvery notes O
 stage drivers and Post riders horn'
 f1oated across the beautiful valleys
 calling the quiet inha oitants out anC
 putting them in touch with the worlc l that was constantly passing back ant | forth over the turnpikes.
 But later when the shrill cry of tn, i steam whistles awoke the echoes II l the old Hills of Hampton the .iroi i horse" carried the business away iron
 the turnpikes. and left the tavern
 empty and forgotten.
 The turnp1kes too were neglected
 and a half century showed but littl
 progress or improvement in their con
 dition, until the automobiles came, an
 once more the warning horn resound 1 throughout the valleys. And now whe1 1 q hundred years have rolled away tn | demand come again 10 Windilam, no
 for q new turnpike from Windhan1 t Killingly: but for a new State Road l But as in the days of early WindIlan l the expense of proper bridges arises ] and il is stated that the town doe not like Co put out the egpcnse cn 1