Litchfield High School - Yearbook (Litchfield, CT)

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1 Out of the numerous journals and pub- lications running from four to twenty-two years, arose a lasting record of the memor- able, historical events in and about Litch- field. In 1825, a Mr. Stephen S. Smith started a publication entitled the Litch- field County Post. After changing hands several times, in 1829, a Mr. Adams, the owner at that time, changed its name to the Litchfield Enquirer, which name has been retained to the present day. Following the Revolution, slaves were generally retained in the North and there are several instances of slavery in Litch- field. The slaves were gradually freed and by approximately 1800 they were all eman- cipated. Although Litchfield had no slaves to receive notice during the slave prob- lem, one of her former citizens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, became, through her bookt Uncle Tom's Cabin, an inciting force of the Civil War. Although the citizens of Litchfield sent many young men South to participate in the Civil War, there was not that electric movement of patriotism throughout the town which had been so evident in the Revolution. This was mainly due to the fact that the war itself was distant in the minds of the citizens and that the cause was not one which di- rectly affected Litchiield. The death toll for this town from Cold Harbor was high and affected the attitudes of many people in town. The white marble monument on the green commemorating our dead of the Civil War lists fifty-two names. In this period we see that two more Churches were added to the town's list, The Meth- odist Church in 1837 and the First Roman Catholic Church in 1858. The latter was E , - -L 1- 4' ff-'gi Lflpcr -I -Pf- ,.--tix Ts ..-f-+ . - v--5 N 5 g f- iff-' -L, gf f4- fp 'thi , X , f- On the green stands one of Litchfield's most beautiful buildings, the Congregational Church. Pictured at the left is the Oliver Wolcott home

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Th America School in C first jaw XJ 8, 1 if f gh!-an - ziggy gr.: f , North Street g..S... Q-Qi... Q-1 , Looking up 1' Ye olde curiosity shoppe ard of both moral and factual education. In 1810, Lyman Beecher was installed in Litchfield as the fourth and eventually the most famous preacher to hold that position. His daughter Harriet attended Miss Pierce's Academy and even then showed great promise as a writer. Thus during the winter time gay laugh- ter chimed with the jingle of sleigh bells and the ice rang to the sound of skates. Lyman Beecher spoke against intemper- ence to a dozing congregation and the old Phelps Tavern rang to the sounds of the various balls. In summer time young ladies of the Pierce Academy walked with the students of the Law School, Lyman Beech- er's congregation listened attentively in spite of the drowsy, summer air, and Litch- field hummed and seethed with its summer visitors.

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a direct result of the increasing Irish im- migration and the zeal of Miss Julia Beers and Miss Emma Deming, converts. After 1865, subtle changes which had long been at work now manifested them- selves through a certain expansive feeling which projected itself into the towns- people. During the early 1870's, extensive surveys were conducted for the laying of tracks for the Shepaug Railroad. When the Railroad was completed, swarms of weekend guests, travelers, and summer vis- itors entered Litchfield by that route. Car- riages would draw up to the depot, take on passengers and either transport them to a certain home or to the warm hospitality of what was then the United States Hotel. During the middle part of the nineteenth century, Litchfield, too, felt the surge of immigration which Hooded the country, es- pecially that of Irish nationality and the various infiuxes of some new custom or method in working. Litchfield was not only increasing in population but also in the town improve- ments which were being introduced more and more frequently. Street lights were installed, and, although many persons re- tained their private lamps, this system of lighting soon came to be an accepted fact. The general appearance of the town seemed to have improved with the various road repair tasks and the removal of snow from the thoroughfares in winter. All these im- provements indicate increasing community pride and civil self-respect, together with a certain relaxed atmosphere as compared with the tense rigors of Puritan days. This is the home of Colonel Ben'amin Tall- J madge, an aide to General Washington. In the midst of Litchiie!d's business district stands the County Court House. Q' Vx of-:551'T: ' 'f! Moors , f