Connecticut western news., 1917-04-26
CANAAN'S EARLY HISTORY
High School Pupils Engage m Reseanch
 Work.

. Rev. J. c. Goddard said "1sftchheld County is only thirty-three miles long by twenty seven miles wide but has produced more great men than any other like area ir Connecticut. Canaan has furnished good percentage of the number.
 Washington Irving declared "It te a good thing for man to be born near mountain which may serve as his range finder for life and to which he may tether his memories" This priyi- lege has each town in Litchfeld County. Our surroundings are hills, mountains and high places. These uplands stand about us like sentinels. Its rare beauty of scenery and ease of accessibility afford attractions not to he found in sll towns. "The hills rock.ribbed and ancient as the sun"
 Virginia is proud of calling herself the mother of Presidents, but we rosi- dents of Litchtield County have a prouder title tThe mother of the Ocm- monwealth.
 North Canaan is bounded on the north by Sheffield, (Mass. ], on the enss by Norfolk, on the south by Canaan (Falls Village), on the west by Sails bury. The Housatonio River forms tho natural boundary between North Canaan and Salisbury. The area is I2, ,4S0 acres. Population in 1910, 2,12l.
 It is situated in the northwestern part of Litchfield county, 55 miles from Hartford. Canaan originally included (Fails Village) Canaan, and our present township, North Canaan, wikk an area of about 50 sq, Miles. h wac sold at auction at New London in i7SS. Settlements began in June of that year
 Among the first settlers were DanieA and Israel Lawrence and John Frank lin. The first settlers came from tho Eastern part of the state, some O. horseback, bringing with them the necessaries of life, such as the spinning wheel, feather bed and dinner p0k, others under the guidance of Isaac Lawrence started with team composed of yoke of oxen and one horse. They were obliged to abandon the horse at New Hartford and much of the way from there they cut through forest of heavy timber.
 For several nights after they arrived in this town they slept in their wagoRs under a large oak tree Lear the present site of Johnson and Lindell's factory,
 A loom for weaving carpets was made from this tree and at present time is fn the Lawrence House now owned and occupied by Mrs. H. k. Lyles der- cendant of the Lawrence family. This house was tho first of any inpo' tance that was built in the town and was completed in l75I, and known as the Lawrence Tavern" f N
 A unique feature of the Lawrenee House is the stone step before the fronfs door, which contains the followingifa- scription;
 "Isaac Lawrence came here June 2, 7SS " This House Built l7bt.
 Isaac Lawrence died December 9, 1793,
 aged Ss, Lydia Hewitt his wife
 died November II, 1767 aged 6u. Sons Daughters James Azubah | Steven Anna Isaac Hannah Asa ....' Lydia William
 Elijah Solomon ..-. This was 8 stopping place for thu stage coach enroute between Hartford, New Haven. Albany and Hudson. Hero was the beginning of the post offica. the chimney. shelf. In repairing inc house few years ago letter wss found bearing the date 1905. The town was incorporated in l7B9. The first ,clergyman, the Rev. Elisha Webster, was settled in October l740
 Many Indians were roaming abous this section for several years after thu first settlements were made but were usually inclined to be friendly and gave no particular trouble to tho settlers.
 The early settlements were confined mostly to the parts of town now known as East and South Canaan: much in connection with the early history of the town is traditional.
 Land was cheap, farm of seyerua acres could be brought for promise and a sixpence to bind the bargain.
 The first forge was erected east of tine Forbes residence, near the housc which is now occupied by A. O. Adam, This forge was brought on horseback from Salisbury. Ship anchors wero made here and were hauled by ox.teams to Boston, New York and other seapors cities, these anchors weighed, on an average, about two tons. A slattinE mill was also erected and operated near the forge. Squire Forbes operated a forge over the Salisbury line where cannon were made for the Revolution ary War, he also operated a paper mils in the southern part of the town. This mill was burned in 1900.
 On the shore of Lake Wangum, on Canaan Moutain are vestiRes of an old