Putnam patriot., 1928-02-09

Rome, where he had received the pail. Ga consecrated vestment in the form of scarf He was met by such crowds of people, who had assembled over there to crave his bles sing, that a bridge over the Alice broke down and great numbers fell into the water. The archbishop pray ed for them so fervently that not one perished. By 1725 Pomfret, Connecticut had bridge across the Quinebaug at the Great Ford, and road constructed to Providence and was represented in the General As- sembly Israel Putnam came in l739. In 17S6 John Hancock owned and lived in Pomfret a part of the time. The first post office between Boston and Hartford was established Jan Huary l, 1795.
 Eastford
 About 1739, when Ashford arrang- ed for schools, three districts were made :-Eastford, Ashford and West ford, each to build n schoolhouse and pay its own expenses. Eastford was incorporated as a town in May 1S47.
 Phoenixville
 9acvie fabled bird said to exist single, and to rise again from it's own ashes. Phoenixville, in the southern part of Eastford, has excel lent waterpower as the Bigelow riv- CT forms junction with the Natchaug near the village. In 1881 the phoen- ix company was formed and for many years carried on prosperous cotton business. In time the mills passed into other successful hands. Later the business declined and little busi- ness was transacted by what was the celebrated Phoenix Manufacturing Company. Phoenix purposes to ex- ist single and to rise again to prom thence.
 Whetstone Brook
 A quarry of rocks east of the ouinebaug which possessed qualities for grinding or sharpening tools lay near the mouth of branch of the Assawaga.
 Plain6eld
 Beautiful fertile plains between the rugged northest and southwest hills. early attracted settlers and land spectators and these fertile plains gave name to the locality. Plainfield was incorporated in 1899. 5000 Arcadians were expelled from Nova Scotia in 1765 by Massachusetts and British bayonets to be scattered over the colonies from Detroit to New Orleans. Some of these neutral French were distributed among the towns of New England. Forty-three of these unhappy prisoners were as- signed to Windham county by an act of the assembly. Plainfield seems to have been the only town that official ly made provisions for them. Wood furnished, doctoring "Frenchmen's cows" and going to Norwich for sup plies of beef is recorded.
 Longfellow's description of Louisia ma the Eden of Evangeline will ap- ply to Plainfield.
 beautiful is the land, with prairies
 and forests of fruit trees
 Under the feet garden of flowers,
 and
 and the bluest of heavens Bending above, and resting its dome
 on the walls of the forest.
 Sterling
 Doctor John Sterling, temporary resident, promised public library in return for the honor when the town was incorporated.
 It was resolved by The Assembly that part of the Ancient town of Vol untown be incorporated into dis trict town sby the name of Sterling and shall be, and remain in, and of the county of Windham." The first settlers were of Scotch percentage.
 The beautiful view from Sterling Hill of the village with decent church." pleasant homes, good school houses where reading, writing, mathe- matics and grammar were taught was contrast to those of the neighbor- ing state of Rhode Island, where the land was rocky and nnproductive, the homes unattractive and the people enterpr.sing though dissatisfied with the Government Land, which they took up.
 In 1908 the Sterling Manufactur- ing Company bought land at a letige of rocks, called the Devils Den Chimney and in 1909 the cotton factory was in operation. The build ings and homes were built of stone taken from the ledge of rocks, on the Devils Chimney" Here there was a circular area about 100 feet in diameter. "The rock is cleft in two places. forming at each a chasm or Assure of about fifty feet deep, through one of these runs a small stream of water, the other com municates with room of about twelve feet square, at the interior part of which there runs q small stream of water, at the interior of which there is a fireplace and chim ney extending through the rock above. forming an aperture of about three feet square. In another part of the rock there is a natural stair case winding around it from the bot tom to the top. In the winter large mass of ice is formed in the room by the dashing of water through the chimney. which continues nearly the whole summer. the sun being d- most excluded from the subterranean recess" The famous Devils Den Chimney was finally blown up to make way for the building of the railroad.
 The Sterling Company was one of the first in the country to bleach cloth by the use of chlorine instead of the sun. Sap works" were