Putnam patriot., 1920-09-03
BROOKLYN JAIL I'm
HUNDREDTH YEAR
Town Was Formerly County
Seat.-Putnam Was Not
On the Map At Time
Array of Legal Talent Century Ago
In Ten Towns

Souvenir William H. Taylor Of
Hartford. who delights in digging in
to the records of the past. announces
that the county Jail al Brooklyn is
100 years old this year. This was
before Putnam was Incorporated as
town and there were ten towns in the
county Mr.. Taylor writes:
The jail at Brooklyn is one hun
bred years old this year. For many
years it was veXed question and ex-
cited much contention in Wiudhara
county where the county court house
and Jail should be located. Hampton
as holding the exact geographical cen
ter of the county as then stated. was
exceedingly active in the matter. On
December, 1917, a committee was
sent TO Hampton by a general court
TO consider the situation. Every town
il the country sent its best men to
join in the deliberations; including
several able lawyers" Hampton
was unable to secure a report in their
favor and after careful deliberations
and other meetings the committee re-
ported in favor ef Brooklyn. The
general assembly accepted the report
and act approved May 81, 1919, pro-
vided for its execution.
At town meeting in Brooklyn,
June s, committee was appointed to
correspond with other towns and a
thousand dollars was pledged for the
court house and Jail. Delegates in
favor of their respective towns met IN
conference on June 10 tc consider the
matter. A committee reported $4,000
would be needed, of which Brooklyn
guaranteed $4,000 and that the bal
ance should be raised by the other
towns. Thompson, Plainfield, Can
terbury and Sterling voted their APP
preparation without demurring. but
towns whose ambitious aspirations
had been blighted withheld their
quota, but public spirited citizens sub
scribed literally and the sum desired
was finally raised At a meeting of
the county court July 20 a committee
was appointed to "fx the plan where
on court house md Jail should be
erected" At the May session of the
general assembly of 1890 it was
enacted that latter the court house
and gaol in Brooklyn shall have been
accepted or approved" the sheriff
was authorized and directed to re-
move all prisoners from Windham to
Brooklyn land thereafter the gaol in
Brooklyn shall be used as the only
prison of said county" On July 26.
1920. special court of common
pleas was holden. Judge David
Bolles presiding. His associates were
james Gordan. Jr., ARENAS Gurley,
David c. BoIles, Clerk Andrew T.
Judson was present as state attorney
Edmond Freeman as sheriff, Ebenezei
Baker was appointed as keeper of the
Jail and jail limits were assigned.
At the following session August Is
William Tyler was appointed keeper
of the jail. Business opened will
much animation. The bar of Wind
ham county at the time boosted of ;
very creditable array of legal talent
and as now, held prominent positio,
in the state. 1t reported from Brook
lyn John Parish, Daniel kies, iona
than A. WEIGH, Uriel Fuller; Ash
ford, David Bol1es. Philip Hayward
Samuel Ashley; Canterbury, Ruff
Adams, Andrew f. hudson, DAME
Frost. Jr; Hampton, Joseph Hamp
ton, Joseph Prentice, Chauncey 7
Cleveland, KiIlingly, EbenCzer Young
Plainfeld, Joseph Eaton, Ira Case
Pomfret, John Hoibrook, Elisha Il
Perkins, Jonathan r. Han; Sterling
Calvin Hubbard; Thompson, Georg
Learned, Simon Davis; Windham
Jabez Clark, SanIoel PEI kins, Davi,
Young, John Baldwin. John Fitch
Thomas Gray. Edwards Clarke
Woodstock, John Mcclellan. Ebenn1e
Stoddard, John f. Williams
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