The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-06
Residents of Exclusive Dis trict Grasp Chance to Dust Commercialism from Desirable Dwelling Neigh borhood = Spring That Once Supplied Citizens May Be Used Again.
E. w. Harra1, Head of Fair field Rubber Co.,, to Sell Interests in Suburban Plant to Great Concern Heads Movement to Re store Advantages to Vicin- ity.

Civic spirit, engendered by, a desire Of the older families of Bridgeport to maintain the prestige of Golden Hill will probably result in a combination of business changes of momentous 1mport both to Fairfield and this city.
 Negotiations now practically con- cfuded will see the withdrawal of B. w. Harral of this city from the presf- dency of the Fairfield Rubber, Co.,. the probable sale of the property to large national interests, the purchase of the Star Shirt. factory at Golden ral and other associates now living in the vic1ssity, and conversion of the main building into an enormous and beautiful apartment house.
 While it is denied by MT. Harra1 to- day that the sale of the Fairfield Rubber Co. has been completed or that deeds have passed to those in- ferested with him in the purchase of the Star Shirt factory, it was admit ted that the negotiations had gone be- yond the stage where there is any Likelihood that withdrawals from the deals will be probable.
 Through well informed sources it is learned that the exclusive Golden Hill cehnmunfty, once the most distinguish ed section of Bridgeport, has long looked with displeasure at the en- croaching commercialfsm. A recent < protest to the common council was made against a garage location as far removed as Fairfield avenue
 It is in view of the possibility of in 41ustriaI ercroachment that the heirs of many families closely Identified with the wealth of historic associa- 4fons of the Hill, headed by MT. Har- raI, decided upon the radical move rnent that will result in the recon Etruction, of the big factory building, the demolition of the older structures,
 1Jo T1G G11i ton avenue and Golden Hill street and reopening and Identification of the Famous spring that once furnished all Bridgeport with it's water.
 The Star Shirt factory, running un- der the operation of William F. Mo- han and c. l.. Bauscher. officers of the corporation, living in New York city, which was recently ordered closed, has a most interesting history.
 The site is that of the old Golden Hill Indian reservation, it was once a center for the tepees of the tribes section gushed freely fTon the natural rock Assures.
 Early in the colonization of Bridge port, as distinct from Stratford, the little community got much of its water from the spring and prior to 1924 a man named Wetherbee obtained a right to pipe the water around the ecelivity now outlined by Harrison and Elm streets to the corner of Main street and Fairfield avenue
 Old wooden pipes were used to convey the stream to what is now Fairfield avenue and Main streets, where all avai1ed themselves of the water. Wetherbee was paid for keeping the pipes in condition and this was ~Br1dgeport's first water sys- tenn.
 During the 'so's Bridgeport became interested in the manufacture of shirts for large New York cIothiers. Tn 1849 'Thaddeus Barnes came from New Haven to manufacture shirts for c. B. Hatch & Go of New York. The softness and purity of the Golden Hill spring appealed to him for the wash ing of fabric and in 1853-4 he erected a small building beside the spring. He was progressive and is said to be the first shirt manufacturer in the world to adopt the use of the sewing machine in that work for the Wheeler S. Wilson factory was located here and supplied him. He was among the first to introduce steam power to op- crate the machines. In 1858 c. B. and enlarged the buildings. An addi- tionaI and larger building was erected in 1861 which survived until the spectacular fire of 1906, when the latest addition was built
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