Connecticut western news., 1915-06-17
SCHOOLGIRLS ESSAY ON CANAAN
By Sara Reel, Read at Commencement
 Exercises.


 the Housatonic River, east by Norfolk and south by Cornwall.
 The land was sold at auction in 173S. In May TAO. the first settler arrived. His name was Samuel Bryant He came from Stamford in an ox-team. MT. Bryant had six sons. one of whom was the first white child born in this town.
 In June, Daniel and Isaac Lawrence and their families came A little later MT. Hewitt arrived. After this great number of emigrants came. In 1741 a church was formed at South Canaan, consisting of four persons. MT. and Mrs. Bacon and MT. and Mrs. Lawrence.
 The house where MT. Lawrence lived was called a Tavern" Here the stages stopped as they passed through towards Hartford, Albany and Pough- keepsie. I he house is now occupied by Mr. H. E. Lyles.
 Over the front door hangs the same iron lantern frame from which the light used to shine to Puide the travellers. Under the door is the same broad stone doorstep on which the names of all the members of the family are carved.
 At the time of the Revolutionary War Canaan promptly responded and sent many men to the front. Jonathan Gillette enlisted when IS years of age. At Horseneck, near Greenwich they were taken prisoners and brought to New York and imprisoned ill the old sugar house. Here he was kept for ten months. He, with three companions. fared better than many of the prisoners because he knew MT. Hutton, warm friend of his fathers. He saw that they were we'll supplied with food and later exchanged MT. Gillette for an English soldier. The Jonathan Gil. lette house still stands.
 Another landmark is the Douglas Place, :" where MT. Hitchcoc now lives. Here number of Hessian soldiers were kept while marching from Boston to New York. The large fireplace still remains where the soldiers cooked their rations.
 Nathaniel Stevens was another early resident. He with four brothers and one brother-in-Iaw were soldiers during IlIC 1lENOlulions I1IS DIOllltI-lu law was a member of Sheldon's Light Brigade" He was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton. Valley Forge and Yorktown.
 At this time man named Captain Hewitt lived along the banks of the Blackberry River. He served under Ethan Allen when Fort Ticonderoga was taken. Before the fort was taken he entered ais spy. He was dressed as simple cOuntryman looking for an aunt from Varmount. He played his part so we'll that no suspicion was aroused. He was allowed to enter and wander about at will, the soldiers even entertaining him, they were so amused by his simplicity. He pretended never to have seen a cannon, and asked what those long iron things with holes in the ends were for. After getting all the information he could. he wandered out ill further guest for the missing aunt. After the fort was taken the captain of the guard told Hewitt that if he had the least idea who he was, he would have killed him.
 Squire Forbes was another early resi- dent. He owned a sitting mill where nails were made from bars of irou. When this sitting mill was built there was but one other that was very near here. That one was at Boston. There was another in Maryland.
 The production of nail rods in Ca naan brought much business into the town. In the old state prison in New gate making nails was one of the en- ployments of the inmates. In Lake vile two miles from Salisbury, Squire Forbes had forge where many cannon were cast during the Revolutionary War, varying in size from four to forty five pounders. In Canaan he had forge and anchor works. It is tradi- tion that part of the chain which was stretched across the Hudson to prevent the enemy from ascending the river, was made ill Canaan by Squire Forbes.
 One man, who became very famous in later life, became interested with Squire Forbes, in the Salisbury ore beds, and was bookkeeper for a shcrt time. This man was Ethan Allen, a native of Connecticut.
 heV. Hiram Eu(ty, Cnaplaln or Itle Second Connecticut Volunteers was taken prisoner after the first battle of Bull Run and carried South. He was taken from place to place until he had been an inmate of five confederate prisons. After twelve months of con- finement he was released and came home to regain his strength.
 The scenery of this town is very beautiful, especially from Canaan Mountain. This mountain was called Wangum by the Indians.
 We have four churches and an excel lent High School. We also are very glad to say that we now have the fourth year added to our High School. We also have a good water supply.
 The Douglass Library, which con- tains over three thousand vnlumes is