The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-08

Tell me the tales that to me were Long, long ago; long, long ago.
 Do you remember when Bishop O'Reilly appointed the Rev. Thomas J. Synnott pastor of St. James? This was the brick church that stood fac- -ng Washington avenue on the corner of Arch street, which church In lew years proved to be too small for the rapidly growing parish. Father Synott began to turn his efforts toward the founding and building of St.
 Augustine's church on Washington on avenue. Father Synott was not only a good and holy man but he was both progressive and gifted in matters ma teria1 as well as spiritual. He quietly bought a stone quarry in North Bridgeport; next he began to use the stones to lay the foundation walls or the church. The corner-stone was laid in August, 1866, and Rev. Father
 Hewitt of the PauliSt Fathers or New York, officiated at the ceremony.
 Another interesting bit of personal history concerning Father HeWltt will be appropriate here. He was the son of the Rev. Nathaniel Hewitt, pastor of the Presbyterian church on Myrtle avenue. who resided in the house on Golden Hill. next door to the residence of Edward HarraI. me, me house is still standing. The father orthodoxy was, of course, opposite 10 that of his sons; consequently when the cornerstone exercises were III progress it is presumed that pr. Hewitt closed the back window of his home and displayed little interest in what his son was doing, in full sight of his fathers home and .hls own birthplace.
 However, these little differences, on which is the right road to Heaven were as they still are. The son con- tinued in his way, and his father, as sisted by the Rev. MT. H1nsdaIe, kept right on preaching in the Presoyder- ian church till it was burned in 1SI4.
 Father Synott finally completed st. Augustine's church. which was ded- tcated in 1868. Right Rev Bishop Mcfarland officiating. Good olo ately termed by Catholic and Protest ant like, was beloved. admired, re- spected and sought after by the ma jority of the citizens of Br1dSeporl- His grave is in front of the church ne loved and served so well. beside the steps of the main entrance.
 Do you remember that elm Sa,pI1ng that George Bailey planted behind ms little red barn, down where Seaside and it didn't do any harm At last Dr. l. Dever Warner came to town. He bought the Bailey farm and built himself beautiful home facing Park nIace. Warren R. Briggs was the' ar chftect. That elm sapling still stands but it is greatly changed. It is now large and spreading tree, a grand sz tinel, which stands in front Of Df- Warxsrs last home. The contem- porary and successive generations or men pass away yet that beautiful elm still casts its shadow on the living.
 Do you remember the old stone fac tory on upper Main street where Haight and Hubbe1l manufactured carriages for the Southern market? Just south stood Patrick Sloan's s plack- smith shop, where horses, oxen ana
 -I, ,o6 Q MT Sloan became prosperous, because of his industry, do you remember now he, too, drove fast horses around the track at Seasids Park. competing with Nathaniel Wheeler, Frank Ives. simon A. Howe, "Hi'' Warner, Howard Bar mum, A. R. Hale, George Meeker, William H. Perry, William Hloparo, A F. Wilson, ''Dick'' Sherwood, Henry others, while the band played in the pavilion Saturday evenings? 'Those were the happy daysi"
 Do you remember when the three months troops returned after their services given in the beginning of the Civil War? Grim, Sunburned and rag ged two of these companies treated the citizens of Bridgeport to a shan home folks at fever heat, and a real battle was longed for by high and low. Eliakim Hough owned a large tract of land known as "Cupid's Grove
  ants and the audience. This grove flanked the west side of Yellow Mill Pond and extended back about mile from Stratford avenue. The western line was near the residence of the Hough homestead, next to that of Mrs. Augusta Wood, known in those days as the Johnson estate.
 On the afternoon in question, all the "40O" as we'll as those under that de sirable number. Hooked en masse into the lower part of Cupid'S Grove to witness the battle. A number of the scared and disreputa ble-looking vet erans of three months service under Southern suns, marched from the Ar mory. which was in those ds:-s the deserted ~chool house on State street. and deployed in the grove One com pany marched towards the upper sec ton of Cupid's Grove and the other company expanded in battle line across the lower part of the grounds The plan was for each company to advance until they met, and then tc blaze away at each other. similar fl action to the battle of Bull Run Then upon signal each was to retreat pre- ciseIv as the maneuverS were executed