The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-05

Porter's birthplace at the corner of East Main and Mill streets.
 The farmhouse is built of field stone, well constructed, and Is supposed to be about l50 years old.
 On my visit to MT Porter last Monday afternoon he told me many beautiful things about his life as child on the farm and in the quaint old field-stone house.
 He was sitting in his big arm- chair at a window that overlooks his dower-garden. For the warm day his immaculate white shirt was open comfortably at the throat His unwrinkled face was smoothly shaven and beamed with kindliness and intelligence. should call him-"the handsomest man in Waterbury," There is something in Wales Porter's face that only good man could have.
 He held in his hand that af- ternoon the same pictures of the two old Waterbury houses that you see on this page, and so we were inside of one while we were talk ing about the other.
 To explain the points of the compass from the old farmhouse he said, "As a child saw the sun come up gloriously from over Long Hill, and go down into the immense forest that began just across the road from our house, and was so full of wonder any mystery to me-"
 About Lakewood Park" he said, There wasn't any park there when I was a boy; and there wasn't any lake either, when we first moved up on the farm. But can tell you all about the lake that is there now. I saw that lake created. My father sold the flow age rights to the Great Brook Water company over 40 acres of our farm to make the 'lake". Yes. I saw the first dam built, and to my great surprise and de- light one morning, I beheld beautiful lake sparkling in the early sunshine. Of course the park didn't come for many years later.
 MT Porter's vivid descriptions of their family life inside the old house and out on the farm made 1t very real, with many a thrill. He made me see the big kitchen with its huge old-fashioned fire place He assembled the old "com- pany" for Christmas" n d Thanksgiving" dinners. He point ed out the window of the room he slept in, and the windows where he placed the lighted pumpkins" on "Hallow'e'en. He pointed out the location of the white-oak (now gone) where the swing" hung; and the place where he kept the plank for the "teeter". He in- troduced me to the "bulldog,". with the comment. "He was the ugliest dog in Waterbury. He even tried to bite my father, but he was al- ways good to me-"
 He showed me the poultry-yard, and the pig-pen, and paraded a half dozen fine horses for me to see, and as many cows, which he shared in the milking from the time he was years old
 He took me out to one of several barns to see the assortment of "buggies" and wagons" and "sleighs," and called my attention to the shining harnesses" and strings of "sleigh-bells." And of course he made me peek into the "hay barn" and sec the high beam from which he jumped off into the "hay-mow."
 He showed me "the old well with the oaken-bucket," that was be- hind the house, and never ran dry; and he pointed out the To- cation of the brook" where the cattle and horses drank.
 He explained to me that his father was not a farmer. but ap expert platter" employed for g years in the manufacture of Wm R. Hitchcock. who was succeeder by his sosi, Rufus Hitchcock. They made metal and dress but tons. etc, and we-e located where