The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-26


 or individuals wno stood out so prominently in the old-old days.
 Let's turn the spotlight on Dr. Daniel Porter, A bone setter. law knowledge was said to be more empirical than scientific. He served the first settlers until the first real professional man came along in the person of Dr. Ephrain Warner, q practitioner. Dr. Warmers fath- CT. John Warner. incidentally, re- seived the first grant of land Jan vary z1, 1889, located at the north east corner of Willow and Grove streets. A gasoline filling station new graces this particular site. Dr. Warner served during the so-called homespun age. before emigration, travel, trade and machinery. when there was no movement to reor- ganize society. or to humanize pun ishment. or to kindle hope in dis abllity, or to nurse depravity into c condition of comfort.
 There were hardly any de1ected classes then, little disability, few drones of idleness. and very little vice and poverty. There was no hospital, no quarantine in conta- gious cases, no X-rey. in fact none of the modern aids of science were available in those days. Red fan mel was the sovereign remedy against colds and rheumatism. Curative qualities were attributed to certain odd procedures which space forbids enumerating at this tiane. The old-timers slightly rec ognized the fact that disease re- suited from infection and some up- set in the body functions.
 Today we have here in Water bury 132 doctors and over 300 modern Florence Nightingales. Our health authorities strive to protect us against disease. And they in turn have vaccination and aerums of various kinds which are sup posed to protect us from certain diseases Most of the major dis eases from which the pioneers suf- fered and died have been con quered and some of them no longer exist. Rheumatic infections and pneumonia still exact their toll, however. and remain as problems awaiting the further advance of medical science.
 When one writes of doctors. he, as A general rule, permits his thoughts to wander to drug stores. and in looking up the records we nnd that Waterbury's first drug store was established fin 177O by pr. Abner Johnson at West Main and Willow streets. There are now II establishments of this kind lo- eaIly.
 The first dentist here was Aaron Gibbs, in 1893. Laughing gas was introduced in 1852 by another den list, Dr. George Yates. By 1895 Waterbury had 1G dentists. Today there are 77.
 Back in the old days there was hardly any business for lawyers, and in fact. no means of support for ministers. This situation changed as the years unfolded and Waterbury steadily grew into q worthwhile place. Now we have go lawyers.
 Waterbury had q couple of poets . long time ago. They were John Trumbull, . lawyer. and Lemucl Hopkins, . doctor. This was away hack in 1763, and even then Eng hSA poetry was called folly. non sense and an idle waste of valuable t1ms. Trumbull started one of his poems in 1775 and didn't complete it until 1782. It was in four cantos. Its specific purpose was to hold ofISee holders of England up to aeovn in the colonies and thus bring contempt upon England her self. Poet Hopkins helped produce ''Dsho" and Political Green house.. and other satirical writ ings. Bongwriters now produce most of our poetry although we Gtiil have some recognized creators ek poeticaI competitions.
 The first singing society here was the Oratoria organization in 1842. Tns first piano came here in 1904. Yt was owned by James Harrison, . wood clock maker. The second piano was brought here by Miss Maria Perry, a niece of Daniel Botsford. The young lady used to sing such popular airs as Bonnie Doon" and Sandy and Jenny.
 It wasn't until 1928 that Water bury had it's first brass band. It was called Jewitts band and 1t held the fort until 1S40 when the Brass band was formed. Concerts were held quite often in Center square and the boys" also whooped up political campaigns with their music. The band enter tained in various parts of the state and was in great demand at class reunions at Yale.
 The first organ arrived here in lhe First church about 1862. Be- tore that AimD the instrumental for the choir was furnished by orchestral tnstru- ments. Waterbury bac it's first book store in ls42 in the old Ly-