The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-21


 Their only child was Samuel Si- mons Sanford, weii-known musician and professor in the Yale School of Music, and to him fell Simons' dock, inherited from his mother. Through him this dock has gone to his two children, Henry and Katherine.
 Introducing "Dr. Dodge"
 During the term of pr. Simons' ca reer in Congre ss, close question was to be voted upon- The worthy dec- the vote, so he arose from his seat in the old House of Representatives, and stood behind one of the marble columns Because of this action. his enemies in his home town used to call him "Dr. Dodge"
 After Dr. Simons returned from the capitol he became active in city poll tics. About that time the doctor layout of a street and short bridge from Main street down to the south- west corner of Simons' dock, to give second opening to that property. This street, of course, would meet the uses of the two mill buildings and the dock, to the advantage of the doctor s property. This projected street was to run beside the home lot of Captain Sterling. and he was to be assessed for it's benefits. These would be ex- tremely doubtful to the captain, and he naturally opposed it.
 However, the town meeting voted to lay out the road and to build the bridge. Whereupon, the captain, un- able to repress his feelings, arose and shouted: "I recommend that this street be named Dodge lane'!" And for many years it was called by that name Later, however, it was named Lumber street, because the earliest firm to do business on that street was Lyon and Curtis, who conducted a large lumber yard on the dock.
 One of the other buildings in this T--, &7 I1raC lyey and his brother-in-law, the Rev. Mir. Thurston- The former was a deacon of the North Congregational church, and the latter superintendent of the corn planters and plowshares.
 After a time James Staples came to Bridgeport to live, and he formed a partnership with Hincks and Thurs ton. All three being progressive and enterprising, the corn planters and plowshares went like hot cakes all over the then growing great western country.
 Dangerous Grade Crossing.
 All around Simons' dock was placed foot of Lumber street. Close beside the west side of that fence ran the tracks of the Housatonic railroad The gate was a dangerous place for the passage of teams because the high fence interfered with the view of the tracks. ....---..
 It was through this gate that Fred erick Wood drove his horse and car riage one afternoon in 1870. With MT. Wood was his eldest son, Angus tuS. Just the horse reached the railroad tracks. a switch engine, "Old Sal," came rushing by. The horse thrown out upon the track, and the Iocom otive passed over him, killing him instantly. This was a terrible blow to the victims father. A gen. l H. N respected, the fearful tragedy short ened his life and he died soon after wards from grief.
 After Lyon and I~lrus, and theil bookkeeper, Sturges Beers. retired Swords and Stilson occupied the saw mill Later on, Frank Miller be- came the lessee and extended the business across Washington avenue te the sizeable proportions it now main tains.
 On the northwest corner Of Simons dock was a large building occupies by Victory Curtis, builder Wht held through Hfe the respect and re- gard of the community. He was z devout member of the South Congre gatfonal church. Strictly honest, ht was sought for because of his inde' fatigable energy and devotion to al work entrusted to his care. Hi sons were Frederick, John, Victory and Eliot His daughter married Philo Beach and their daughter mar ried Orange Merwin.
 From the Housatonic main line 2 spur track was laid across Simons dock to the front edge of the dock where two monster hoisting crane were installed for lifting blocks O. marble off fiat cars. These were shipped here from Lee, Mass, were loaded on schooners and delivered il Washington for the completion of th' capitol of the United States and ths Washington monument.
 r. these hnge an6S cars. blocks of marble, sailors, loco | motives and general hullabaloo tha school boys of 70 years ago used te | love to play. It was a lively spot-s | good place to fish and catch crabs, | delightful place to go in swimming and the usual locality to "cut' schoo | and play "hookey.''
 1 Happy days-and now it's mud! before the time of Christ, electric l ,iehts and electric fans are to be seer