History of Putnam Heights, Connecticut
While Putnam village, in a certain sense absorbs and dominates the
town, the outlying portions have yet a distinct character and life. of
their own. Two miles east of the busy village old Killingly hill reposes
in serene tranquility. Transformed in name to Putnam Heights, with new
elements and new inhabitants, this ancient village still retains its
primitive characteristics. Business has long since flown to the valley.
Its one church maintains but intermittent service . its one school is
scantily attended, and modern institutions fail to gain a footing, yet
this very repose and fixedness, as contrasted with the rush and tumult of
everyday life, have a peculiar charm, and the wearied denizens of " the
tired city's mart " welcome this place of refuge. A number of families,
more or less associated with the hill, have permanent summer homes here.
Mr. T. J. Thurber, formerly of New York, continues through the year. The
recent discovery of a spring of delicious water, with its appropriation of
the beautiful Indian name of this section, may prove an additional
attraction. Aspinock spring and the old hill, with its pure air and wide
outlook, merit a lamer constituency. " Beautiful for situation,"
commanding one of the finest views in the county, with its
well-established church and common, Killingly hill was long a leading
business and social center, especially noted for its popular taverns and
largely-frequented trainings. Probably the hill reached its acme of fame
and prosperity soon after the arrival of the cotton factory, when
proprietors and operatives from Pomfret factory, Howe's factory and "The
Stone Chapel " sought spiritual and secular privileges at its meeting
house and store. The store kept by those enterprising merchants, Ely &
Torrey, exceeded anything in eastern Connecticut. Thurber's tailor shop
was almost equally celebrated, supplying young men far and near with
wedding and "freedom " suits, and fashionable long surtouts. The private
class or school of "Priest Atkins " was another peculiar institution of
Killingly hill, filling the place of the present State -Normal school, in
fitting young men and women to become thorough and successful teachers.
"Choice spirits " on the hill forwarded the organization of the first
missionary and Bible societies of Windham county, one hundred and
twenty-two ladies in North Killingly and Thompson organizing as a " Female
Tract Society " in 1816, while spirits of a very different order were
lavishly dispensed from Warren's tavern-the headquarters of mirth and
conviviality. A large circle of relatives and friends enjoyed the
delightful hospitalities of justice Sampson Howe's genial household, and a
still wider constituency bowed in meek submission before the dictum and
prescriptions of Doctor Grosvenor..
The old " Moffats Mills," at East Putnam, established in time immemorial
by an early Killingly family, is still represented. A second grist mill
was built on the same site by James Cady. In 1860 Calvin and William
Randall bought a privilege on the same Bowditch brook, and built a small
-mill for the manufacture of cotton yarn. The whole establishment and
privileges were purchased by G. A. Hawkins and Augustus Houghton in 1865.
They doubled the capacity of the mill, put up new buildings and made many
improvements. C. J. Alton succeeded Mr. Hawkins in ownership. Houghton *
Alton have sold their interest to Norwich owners, who as the " East Putnam
Yarn Company " employ about twenty-five hands, and manufacture 3,500
pounds of cotton yarn weekly. Pleasant residences and a neat little Free
Will Baptist church are to be found there. Mr. Houghton sided generously
in repairing this edifice and maintaining stated worship. Its pastor, Mrs.
Fenner, has done much valuable missionary work in the vicinity. The Cady
mills, at the Four Corners and near the state line, have been maintained,
with intervals of suspension, for many years. This eastern part of Putnam,
formerly traversed twice a day by the convenient Providence stage coach,
has been left behind and thrown backward by the all conquering railroad,
while the valley west of the town has been built up by the same arbitrary
power. Many new houses and families appear in the old Gary district.
Population year by year stretches farther southward. The old families are
mostly gone. Mr. Ezra Dresser still occupies one of the old Dresser
homesteads, the other is improved as the town farm. The name of Gary, once
so familiar, is transferred to westward towns, where it bears an honorable
record. Judge Gary, of Chicago, descends from the old Pomfret family. The
Holmes's, Sawyers, Gilberts are mostly gone. Even the Perrin family, so
associated with the valley, is no longer represented. The old Perrin house
has also passed away.
Back to: Putnam, Windham County, Connecticut History
Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889