Bristol High School - Green and White Yearbook (Bristol, RI)

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12 THE GREEN AND WHITE Providence, the early settlers did not come because of religion; they came simply to start a real seaport town. These settlers were men of wealth and good standing. The four original owners were Nathan Hayman, Stephen Burton, John Walley and Nathaniel Oliver. Walley was a member of the council and later became Judge of the Superior Court. In 1712 he returned to Boston and died there. But the most prominent owner was Nathaniel Byfield, whose father was an English clergyman. He came to this town with the first settlers, remaining here for nearly fifty years. He chose for his home the peninsula across the harbor which was then known to the Red Men as Papoose Squaw Point. But like Walley he returned to Boston to spend the remainder of his life. We have Colonel Byfield to thank for our broad shady streets, our first schools' and the common. When the town was laid out, land was set apart for the support of the ministry. The first meeting-house was built from trees hewn from the common and was built on the site of the court house. It was known as the First Baptist Church. The interior was surrounded by a double row of galleries and the floor was covered with large square pews. In 1681 the people had assembled and decided that the town should be named Bristol, for that was the name of the second most important center of commerce in England. At the same time Richard Smith was made the first town clerk. Some of the most important settlers were Benjamin Church, Nathaniel Paine, Nathaniel Reynolds, William Ingram, George Waldron, Jabez Gorham, Uzal Wardwell, and Benjamin Bosworth. Another settler of Bristol was soon made Senator. His name was Burnside, for whom the Burnside Memorial Building is named. His home, which still stands, was on Ferry Point overlooking Mount Hope Bay. There is also a large statue of him on horseback in front of the Union Station in Providence. The growth of Bristol’s trade increased greatly in the next one hundred years. But then came the Revolution! Bristol and its people suffered greatly. In the first year of the War the town was bombarded by a British fleet and in May, 1777 troops marched into Bristol, burning homes and meeting houses. Saint Michael’s Church, which then stood on Church street, was burnt to the ground twice. But Metacom, brother of the dead King Philip, was a friend of the Whites and did his best to help them. During the fierce struggle the Town Hall, which is now the Pastime Theatre, was used for a signal tower; the Artillery Hall was used as a blockade house. A young Frenchman, the Marquis de Lafayette, who wished to help Washington, lived in the Reynolds House on Hope street. It is to Walley, Byfield, Hayman, Burton and Oliver that we are indebted for our town. In later years streets and schools were named in honor of these gallant men, but we are not allowed to forget the very first people of Bristol, for Metacom avenue was named for the great Chief s youngest son and we also have King Philip’s chair and spring on Mount Hope, Rhode Island’s only mountain. R. MORRIS, ’22. BRISTOL AS IT IS TODAY Bristol, one of the oldest Colonial towns of New England, was settled in 1680, and incorporated January 27, 1747. Its charming location, combined with its broad, elm-shaded streets and. handsome residences has won for it the name, “Beautiful Bristol.” The town has a population of 13,000. Bristol has a fine harbor and about twelve miles of water front. The town has more than thirty miles of macadamized roads, and the main thoroughfare to Providence, is in care of the State Board of Public Roads. Bristol. Rhode Island, the county seat of Bristol County, is located 15 miles southeast of the city of Providence, with which is is connected by two lines of railroad, the N. Y., N. H. H. R. R., and a suburban line over the highway. The motive power for passenger service on both lines is electricity, affording a most comfortable and speedy means of travel. Trains run every hour on each line in either direction, with additional service morning and night. There is also steamboat service to and from Bristol, Providence, and Fall River, and a ferry-boat, which also carries automobiles, connecting with an electric railroad to Newport, the fashionable summer resort. Bristol has a modern sewer system throughout, with ample, up-to-date water supply, electric lights and gas; a branch of the Industrial Trust Company of Providence with a capital and surplus of eighty million dollars; American Railway Express; local telephone exchange; Western Telegraph ; Rogers Free Library containing 19,500 volumes in its own building; three good hotels, one for summer guests; two moving picture houses; excellent stores; a semi-weekly newspaper; several garages; churches of all denominations; four efficient volunteer fire companies with two motor fire trucks; and an efficient police department; children’s play grounds; tennis clubs; a large common with two base ball diamonds. The Schools of Bristol are its special

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THE GREEN AND WHITE 11 there was evident, but how did they get there? Did the lightning, through some freak or other, drop the sliding panel, which dropped the boxes, or did thieves attempt to take theih away? SAMUEL EISENBERG, ’23. SIR ROGER DE COVERLEY GOES TO A BRISTOL BASE BALL GAME I was standing in front of the main gate at the Sylvester Oval, when who should come strolling up but my friend Sir Roger de Coverley. We shook hands, and after discussing the weather which at that time was rather unsettled, we decided to take in the game. Just inside the gate we found a ticket booth, where Sir Roger purchased the tickets for both of us, and after he had deposited them in his pocket, we started to cross the diamond. We had taken but a few steps when we were hailed by a voice in the rear demanding our tickets. Turning around Sir Roger said, “I have just bought them at twenty-five cents apiece and do not intend to part with them just yet.” At that the ticket collector grew angry and insisted upon having them, saying that we could not go a step farther until we handed them over. After a short talk Sir Roger was made to understand that all tickets must be handed to the collector before entering the grounds. At last we managed to get safely seated in the front where we could see every part of the field, but our good fortune did not last, for a terrible shout from the well-known voice of “Faker” Hughes broke in saying, ‘‘Vacate there; those are reserved seats.” We finally managed to find seats which satisfied us, and here we sat in perfect peace, except for the interruption caused by a man throwing peanut shells into Sir Roger’s stove pipe, which had been left on the ground beside him. At last the game started. A man came into the field and announced the names of the different players, ending up with “batter up.” Sir Roger asked me who this last man was, but I was as unfamiliar with the name as he. At last the first man stepped up to the home plate .swinging a bat, but struck out, saying that the umpire was wrong in calling that last ball a strike; finally the first inning ended with great cheering on the Bristol side, for the score was two to nothing, in fayor of the home team. The game went along smoothly except for a few interruptions from Sir Roger who stood up, and told the umpire that the man who had stolen to second base was out. but he was forced to sit down. At the end of the eighth inning the score stood nine to nine, the visiting team was the next up to bat. The first man reached first base, and stole to second, when the pitcher threw the ball to the catcher the second man hit the ball into center field making a two base hit, and giving the man on second a chance to reach home plate. The score then was nine to ten in favor of the visiting team. The next man up to the bat bunted the ball half way between the home plate and the pitchers’ box, also giving him a chance to reach first base safely. Sir Roger jumped up saying that it was a foul ball because he thought it rolled outside of the first base line, but he could not change the umpire’s decision. At last a young fellow who could not stand the umpire’s decisions any longer stood up. and shouted to the umpire, “Hey Ump, did you take a correspondence course in umpiring a ball game?” The umpire could not stand this last remark, so he called a policeman, and ordered him to take the boy off the grounds. The latter with a farewell statement said, “It’s too bad that they have to go to India for ivory when there is so much running loose.” Leaning over toward me, Sir Roger said, “It is really too bad that a person could not spend an afternoon at a ball game without having to listen to foolish headed boys talk in such a shameful manner.” JAMES GOFF. ’23. BRISTOL IN THE EARLY DAYS Massasoit. who was chief of the Wam-panoag Indians, owned from Cape Cod to the head of Mount Hope Bay. His oldest son, Philip, was in charge of a tribe on our Mount Hope. Roger Williams, who founded Providence, soon became friends with Massasoit and although the Chief’s land soon was nearly all in the hands of white men, he never broke his friendship. But a year later Massasoit died and his son Philip became chief. Philip, who hated the Whites, soon declared war. Though he had prepared carefully, the news soon leaked out that Philip had banded together a number of tribes. The Whites formed companies of militia and Captain Benja-shed the first blood would be defeated, they first shots were fired. The first man killed min Church was put in charge. It was on Sunday, June 24, 1675, that the was a Wampanoag and as Philip’s wiser men had told them that whichever side were disheartened. In this case it proved true. King Philip was killed while crossing a swamp on Mount Hope, and his braves soon fled. In the next few years the growth of the town progressed rapidly. Unlike the people who settled Newport, Plymouth and

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THE GREEN AND WHITE 13 pride. It has several school buildings. One of them, the Colt Memorial High School, is one of the most beautiful and best equipped school buildings in the state. It is a white marble structure costing $250,000 and is a gift to the town by one of Bristol’s public spirited citizens, Col. Samuel P. Colt, in memory of his mother. Evening schools are conducted free each winter in the High School and various grades. The John Post Reynolds School was built by the town in memory of John Post Reynolds, Superintendent of Bristol’s schools for many years. The Byfield, Oliver and Walley, are all brick schools. The State Soldiers’ Home is located in the suburbs of Bristol and in the town are also located three other public institutions: the Home for Aged Women, the Benjamin Church Home for Aged Men.' and the Children’s Home. Those desiring sites for homes can find beautiful locations at Beach Terrace and Bristol Highlands, two recently developed suburban plats, charmingly situated on the shore, very accessible by railroad. Although desirable as a place of residence, Bristol is also the manufacturing center of this region. The principal industry is the manufacture of rubber goods in the National India Rubber Company, a branch of the United States Rubber Company which has forty three other factories throughout the country. It employs 4300 persons. It is one of the best modern buildings for its size in the country. It is equipped with two first-aid hospitals, a dental office, an Americanization School. A weekly paper called Keds Live Wire” is issued by the company. They have a fully equipped Day Nursery on High street for the benefit of their employees. The D’Wolf Inn. under factory management, has been established for the benefit of the women who are employed at the factory and whose homes are out of town. Here is located also the world famous plant of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, the reputation of which has been established by the building of yachts that have successfully defended the America’s Cup against the world during the past 20 years. This company also builds steam yachts, small racing sloops, and marine engines, and employs about 500 skilled mechanics. On the north side of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Plant is the Public Bath House which formerly was at the foot of Church street wharf, but was removed to this more favorable location. This building was donated to the town of Bristol by Charles B. Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell also donated in memory of his wife, the Martha Rockwell Convalescent Home, situated in the suburban part of Bristol, overlooking the harbor. Charles B. Rockwell is the owner of the Cranston Worsted Mills which manufactures the finest worsteds and yarns obtainable. It is a growing industry employing at present about four hundred people. About two miles from the compact part of Bristol is the beautiful entrance to Colt’s Farm on the Drive. The entrance is of white marble. On each side of the entrance are two large bronze bulls. The macadamized drive extends five and one-half miles around the farm. On the west side of the drive has been erected one of the most up-to-date dairy barns, equipped with all modern and sanitary machinery for use in its different branches. Prize cattle, horses, swine and poultry are raised on this farm. It is always open for free inspection to the public. Colonel Colt has also added another building to Bristol, a colonial type apartment house, known as the “Colt Apartments,’’ furnished with all modern and up-to-date improvements. Another place of interest is the Mount Hope Farm, owned by Rudolph Haffen-reffer. Mr. Haffenreffer has expended a vast amount to improve this historical place, adding modern buildings, dairy and horse barns. He also specializes in raising sheep for market. Bristol as she stands today is an enterprising town and a credit to the State of Rhode Island. RUTH SUZMAN, ’23. GRANDFATHER’S FIRESIDE PICTURES It was in the latter part of the month of October. The weather was slightly inclement. All day long the wind had been moaning through the branches of the trees, now stripped of their gorgeous autumn foliage. A few lonely crickets uttered some plaintive chirps, as if singing a melancholy dirge for the departed summer. Within the library of the old colonial mansion sat grandfather, smoking his favorite cigar, and gazing at the glowing logs in the fireplace. A pretty, little girl of five summers, who had been playing with her dolls, now came and climbed upon her grandfather’s knees, and begged him for a story. The old man who was in a reminiscent mood did not appear to heed the child, but continued to gaze into the burning logs. He was apparently asleep. Suddenly he was startled. What was it? A wo nan, a mere slip of a girl seemed to be standing before him. She wore a beautiful, brocaded satin dress, with hoop skirts. Her light, golden hair encircled her pretty face. In her arms she carried his favorite flowers, the beautiful purple and white lilacs. As he sat staring at her, the picture