New Britain herald., 1927-03-26

tain BelCher built a Sour foot stone
wall along what is now the eastern
boundary Of the Norton farm, west
Of the present location of the rail-
road tracks. -Four feet high, it was.
/ and not very Ions. and with that ac-
compllshed, Captain Belcher rested
on his laurcls. it would seem.
Much speculation is still atoot as
to whether Captain Belcher shirked
the Job OF fortress building or
whether he thought that short
four foot wall was enough TO shelter
a colonial home defender against
the Indian onslaughts. AS 1t hap
pened, King Phillip. the Indian
leader. gave up the campaign soon
after and the war not touching
Connecticut, Captain Belcher's four
foot fort languished undefended
and gradually fell into decline. 1t
still exists although SO overgrown
with brush and battered through
the ravages OF time that it is little
known nor noticed by the casual
nasserby. Berlin rabbits now use the
ramparts Of the fort for refuge from
Berlin dogs so after all Captain
BcIcher's efforts have not gone for
n1usht.
Gideon North Made Pistols
Gideon North contributed his
part to the industrial history Of the
town when, during Revolutionary
days he conducted one OF the first
pistol manufacturing industries in
the country. A minister is RESPONSE
HE for the decline Of the fire arms
business as once, when Norths two
sons were present. the local minis
ter drove by and seeing Gideon at
the door shouted out, Still making
pistols to kill souls?"
The old manufacturer. incensed
at the insult to his pet business.
cried back. NO. making pistols to
save lives" Honors rested even but
it is thought that the two sons took
the clergyman's words to heart as
they did not continue the business
upon the death OF the old man.
North's pistols are highly priced by
collectors OF old firearms to this
day.
Other short side lights Of curious
incidents show that on one occasion
the monthly visit Of the candy
seller so attracted one young girl
OF the community that she forgot all
caution and found her demise in
overstuffing her colonial appetite.
Another harmlessly insane old
woman who acted as seamstres. for
the village, used to place a row Of
chairs beside her bed and hold con-
versation during the night with
what she termed the Bill Witches"
Another Berlin housewife. upon
finding a ragged. tired, hungry
troop OF Colonial soldiers encamp-
cd in her front yard, detached from
its regular division, killed and
butchered an OK for them and fed
them then and there. Her son later
hauled so much water for thirsty
Colonial soldiers that he became an
invalid and died soon afterwards.
Town Watches Negro Slaves
Some negro slaves which. being
to tho south from
Africa. rebelled and ordered the
ship turned back, eventually landed
on the shores of New London and |
were befricnded by the people |
there. Being transported to Far
minGton they passed through Berlin
and the whole town turned out to
see the blacks pass through.
Such anecdotes are discourar-
ingly scarce in the history of the
town and It is only after wading
through pretentious file of dates
and figures that they are able to be
found. To those who know Berlin
today. they hold a special flavor as
the old houses and older trees have
looked upon the scenes pictured in
the dusty dog cared volumes of the
carly life OF the town.