The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-30

Of particular interest in this To- cality ls 0 small book called "Bans tam" published by The Warren Nc. Arthur Corporation, ono Park aves ilue, New York City. Like our own city, Waterbury, formerly Mattatuck, the early history is mixed up with Indians and white men, and the uls timate settling by those hardy men who came through this valley from Pennington. Bantam" tells the story of the well known little town to the north of us located on Con- rlecticut's largest lake, and its near- by neighbor, Litchfleld.
 The book is written and compiled in almanac form, and iYl 1t are jot- ted down year to year happenings of note from the middle l600s to i04l, Warren McArthur of the Warren McArtllur Corporation believes as is stated in a forward "that the future of highly technical industry and the happiness of the skilled workers efn- ployed will be one with the history of the small town in America" For this reason he has settled In the Ltchfield area and today is operat. ing tho successful plant that occu- pics the site and buildings of the former Bantam Ball Bearing Com- pany. Ills company designs and manufactures aircraft and navy seating equipment. Previously his seating equipment was used in in stitutionS and offices and for oonn- merciai aircraft. Since iD3O, how ever, the facilities of the plant have been devoted to building for military aircraft. Until recently Mir. McAr. thur made his home in New York and Litchfield, but has recently piir. chased c farm west Of Bantam.
 War Crles Of Red Men
 The Bantam Almanac has for one Of its early entries, From Wyantes muck to MattAtuck, and from Pootes tuck to Bantam were heard dismal llowls of wolves and the war cry of the red men of the forest" Tn such a fashion did Bantam and LItch- field history start. and iil l686 is the important notation concerning the reyoking of colonial charters. The Almanac here states: "Connecticut men hide their charter In Charter Oak and to save the Western Lands (known as Bantam, later Litchfield) from Andros tearly land grabber) i, grant them to the towns of Hartford and Windsor.
 One of the earliest names men. | toned In the Almanac is that of Marsh The first John Marsh came from Hartford in i7ib with wife and small children, "fords the Mattatuck, climbs Chestnut Hill, sees the gun- set and camps at the big spring at the foot of Che hill. site of the Marsh home in succeeding generations. Re. turns to Hartford satisfied he has seen aS beautiful c country as ilior- tal eye could rest upon. Those ac- quainted with the Chestnut Hill ridge in Litchfield recall the Marsh home and the descendants of the original Marsh are well known in these parts. Many other prominent Litchfield names appear in the AL Inannc, the Seymours, and the Buels.
 The i7i0 entry states that John Marsh and Deacon John Buel grant- cd right to settle Bantam. For . time Bantam was known as Bantam Falls. later shortened. Each entry is important and pertinent to the his- tory. A vast amount of local tBafl- tam, Litchfield, Goshen and 'sur- rounding plaees) are brought into the outline. Tn the Almanac we read about the melting of bullets made from the statue of George III, the stopping off of George Washington (actually), the opening of the Judge Tapping Reeve law school (first in AInerica), the early mall coaches be- tween New Haven and Lenox, the early taverns, the mall carrying from town to town on horseback, Miss Sally Pierce's opening of the first academy for girls in America, the Beechers Lyman, Henry Ward and Harriett Beecher stowe), the first churches, the first store. the first passenger train to Winsted over the Naugatuck railroad and many other important notations referring to past and present history.
 The Shepaug!
 Just at this time with the third -----------------------.