religious worship at Norwich Falls. Their meeting-house on the Wharf Bridge, which was built in 1816, was carried away in 1823 by a flood. In the erection of a new church the attention of this denomination was directed to the rapidly increasing village at the Falls; and at this place, in 1825, their new house of worship was built and dedicated. This house continued to be used until 1853, when, on the dissolution of the Congregational church, the society purchased of Mr. Greene their present commodious edifice on Sachem Street. The former house is still standing on Lafayette Street, and is used as a carriage factory. A CONGREGATIONAL church and society were organized in 1827, and a neat brick chapel erected the same year. This building is still standing, and is occupied as a storehouse by the Falls Company. Rev. Benson C. Baldwin was ordained as pastor, January 31, 1828. This connection was soon dissolved. The Rev. Charles Hyde was installed in 1830, and continued in the pastoral charge about three years. He was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Newton, who was ordained in 1834. Rev. Thomas J. Fessenden was the last pastor of this church. Its members at length united with the other Congregational churches in the city, and the house of worship, as above-mentioned, passed into the hands of the Methodists, in 1853. The attention of the Thames Company was early turned to the importance of improving the means of education in the community that was springing up around their mills. The basement of the Congregational Chapel was fitted up for a school-room, and regular appropriations were made from time to time to promote the interests of education. The district system was continued until 1856, when the present tasteful and convenient building was erected to meet the increased wants of the population. In the erection of this house, Mr. Greene exhibited his usual foresight and generosity. As from two thirds to three quarters of the expense of the building would be paid by the Falls Company, the approbation of Mr. Greene was considered quite essential to the success of the undertaking. The plan submitted for his approval was for a much smaller school-house, to be built upon a very limited lot. Mr. Greene disapproved entirely of this plan, suggested an enlargement both of the house and lot, at an expense nearly double of what had been proposed, and then gave it his sanction. In 1856-57 the present system of graded schools at the Falls was organized, under the direction of John N. Crandall, who remained the principal until the summer of 1857. He was succeeded by Arthur M. Wheeler, who occupied the post for one year. His successor was Benjamin B. Whittemore, who continued as principal until the spring of 1864, when he was succeeded by his brother, Nathaniel H. Whittemore, who resigned in the summer of 1865, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Henry C. Davis, formerly principal of the Greeneville schools. THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON IN NORWICH. To Norwich probably belongs the honor of being only the second town in New England to establish the manufacture of cotton. The honor of being the first is very generally accorded to Pawtucket. But Mr. Samuel Batchelder, in his recent valuable work on the "Introduction and Early Progress of the Cotton Manufacture in the United States," has shown that to Beverly, Massachusetts, and not to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, belongs the honor of establishing the first cotton factory in this country. The factory at Beverly was visited by Washington while on his tour through the New England States, in 1789, and its operations carefully noted. "In 1790," says Mr. Batchelder, in the work above mentioned, "a person who had been employed in the Beverly factory was engaged to go to Norwich, Connecticut, to put in operation some cotton machinery, which was understood to be similar to that used at Beverly. This machinery was not built in this country, but was supposed to have been imported by some means from England. The parties engaged in the business at Norwich were Mr. Huntington, Dr. Lathrop, and others." The cotton factory here referred to stood nearly opposite the present residence of Daniel L. Coit. No water was used, of course, but the motive power was derived from human hands. I have seen some of the products of this factory, and they do great credit to the skill of its operatives. Charles Bliss, Esq., has shown me specimens of cloth which were made here, and which were purchased in 1808 at sixty cents per yard. They are inferior in no respect to the best cotton fabrics of the present day. This factory, however, was not long continued. Its successor was the Duck Mill of Howland & Baxter; and this, as has been shown, was converted, in 1813, into a cotton-mill by William Williams, Jr., & Co. Then followed the Williams and Thames Companies. The Falls and Shetucket Companies now, I believe, monopolize the cotton manufacture within the limits of Norwich. Falls Company. Capital, $500,000. J. Baxter Upham, President. Shetucket Company. Capital $500,000. J. Baxter Upham, President. The above companies represent in Norwich, at the present time, the results of the beginning in 1823. That beginning was based upon a capital of $75,000, which has now increased more than tenfold. One thousand spindles, in forty years, have been multiplied to more than thirty-one thousand; while an annual product too humble to mention in these days, has been augmented to more than ten millions of yards.* * During the present year, 1865, foundations are laying for a vast increase in the industrial facilities of this city. The Occum Company, with a capital of $100,000, is constructing a dam in the northeasterly section of the town, which will afford water-power equal to that of Greeneville. Two cotton and one woollen mill are already in progress; and in the coming year another dam will doubtless be built, which will render available a still larger power. It is said by competent judges, that the amount of water-power in the vicinity of Norwich at present unemployed is equal to that of the whole of Rhode Island. NOTE D. THE first charter for a railroad between Norwich and Boston was granted at the annual session of the general assembly of the State of Connecticut, in May, 1832, upon the petition of Jabez Huntington and others; and by its provisions William P. Greene, John Breed, William C. Gilman, Asa Child, and John A. Rockwell, their associates, successors, &c., were constituted a body politic and corporate, under the name of the "Boston, Norwich, and New London Railroad Company." In March of the following year, 1833, the legislature of Massachusetts granted a charter, by the provisions of which Samuel Slater, Stephen Salisbury, and Jonathan Davis, their associates, successors, &c., were constituted a body politic and corporate, under the name of the "Worcester and Norwich Railroad Company." By subsequent acts of the legislatures of Massachusetts and Connecticut, bearing date, respectively, April and May, 1836, the above-mentioned companies were united in one body corporate, under the name of the "Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company." In the year 1837, the legislature of Massachusetts authorized the issue, upon certain conditions, of scrip or certificates of debt, in the name and behalf of the Commonwealth, for the sum of four hundred thousand dollars, to aid in the completion of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad. When application was made for the benefit of this act, a question arose as to whether the specified conditions had been complied with on the part of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company. The State authorities refused the issue of the scrip to the treasurer of the Company, and persisted in this refusal until Mr. Greene appeared before them and convinced them that the required conditions had been virtually and legally fulfilled. By acts of the general assembly of Connecticut, passed in 1837 and 1839, the city of Norwich was authorized to issue certificates of debt to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars, in aid of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company. In the accomplishment of this object, so important to the success of the railroad, Mr. Greene bore a conspicuous and influential part. NOTE E. THE following notices of Dr. Benjamin D. Greene are worthy of insertion here: 66 - Benjamin Daniel Greene died in Boston, 14 October, 1862, aged 68 years. He was the eldest son of Gardiner and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Greene, and was born in Demerara, South America, where his parents were then residing, - 22 December, 1793. His father was well known as the wealthiest citizen of Boston. His mother, whose virtues and amiable character were long remembered by her contemporaries, and who was a sister of the late John Hubbard, of Boston, died during his early childhood. Her maternal cares were assumed and fulfilled by Elizabeth Copley, a sister of Lord Lyndhurst, the present Mrs. Gardiner Greene, between whom and her adopted son a cordial affection subsisted through life. The subject of this notice was fitted for college in the Boston Latin School, where a Franklin medal was awarded him in 1807. He held a respectable rank in his class, and graduated with honors. After leaving college he became a student at law in Litchfield, Connecticut, and entered upon the practice of his profession, which he soon relinquished for that of medicine. Passing four years abroad, he travelled extensively in Europe, and completed his studies in the schools of Edinburgh and Paris. Attracted by scientific pursuits, he was highly appreciated as a botanist, and became the intimate friend and correspondent of Sir William Hooker, and other men of distinguished attainments. He was a liberal contributor to the Boston Society of Natural History; was its first President; and his valuable library, uncommonly rich in scientific works, was ever open to the researches of his associates. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. |