Organization of the new Town of Putnam, Connecticut
With all this growth, and bustle and hurry, there was inevitable
clashing and jangling. Nothing could have been more complex and
unmanageable than this cluster of villages, belonging to three distinct,
independent towns, with no central authority to bring and hold them
together, and legislate for their best interests. That so much order and
harmony existed under such unfavorable circumstances was undoubtedly due
in great measure to the early character of the place as developed under
the strong hand of Mr. Wilkinson. There was also something in the new
spring and impulse, the pleasure of helping up-build a new and vigorous
community, that brought the inhabitants into friendly and mutually helpful
relations, working together as one man for the good of the whole section.
As the inconvenience of the situation became more manifest, various
projects of relief were suggested, such as separate voting places, borough
privileges, etc., but nothing met the case till. the formation of a new,
independent town was suggested. Like many other popular movements, it
seems to have started simultaneously from several sources, or if one man
suggested this natural solution of a difficult problem, it was assimilated
with such avidity that the name of the originator was swallowed up in
universal acclamation. Mr. Edmond Wilkinson engaged in carrying out this
project with great heartiness, giving freely money, time and influence.
A public meeting of those favoring a new town was promptly held, and an
energetic committee appointed, through whose agency a petition was laid
before the legislature in May, 1849, showing the difficulties of the
situation, and praying that the villages "known as Pomfret Depot,
Wilkinsonville, Rhodesville, Ballouville and Morse's Village might be
incorporated into a new town, made from portions of Thompson, Killingly,
Pomfret and Woodstock, and designated as Quinebaug. Indignant
representations from the four towns therein named procured a prompt
rejection of this presumptuous petition. Opposition but increased the zeal
and determination of the new town agitators, and made them more united in
effort. New inhabitants coming in caught the spirit of the contest, and
joined with the older citizens in contending for sectional rights and
independence. Few battles have been fought in which there was more harmony
among the assailants. There were no traitors in the camp. Few if any old
town sympathizers were to be found in the villages, but in the outlying
country demanded by the new town there were many who objected strongly to
any change in their municipal relations, whose names swelled the mammoth
memorials gathered by its opponents.
Leaving out Harrisville from the prospective town, in 1851 petition was
renewed for parts of Thompson, Killingly and Pomfret. Again they were
beaten, though evidently gaining the ear of the general public. The old
towns perceiving the fiery spirit that animated their youthful adversary,
roused themselves to greater effort. Their strongest men, their sharpest
lawyers were retained as committees and agents. An actor reports " Each
Legislature was besieged by the friends and opponents of the measure;
lobby members reaped a golden harvest; much other business was seriously
embarrassed by this bitter and use less strife; party politics was invoked
on both sides; to the democrats it was going to make a whig town and leave
the old towns hopelessly whig, a result to be fearfully dreaded; and to
the Whigs it would make a democratic town, and inevitably fix democracy as
the ruling power in the old towns, and thus ruin the state and county; to
the miserly men the taxes would be increased enormously in both the old
and the new towns."
It is hard to realize that so much time, temper and money should have been
freely squandered by three intelligent towns in fighting against the
inevitable. Taking Putnam for name and watchword in 1854, after a brief
suspension of hostilities, the new town champions battled on to victory.
The rise of the know-nothing party and the election of Mr. Sidney Deane as
representative hastened the inevitable result, and the Goliath of
conservatism fell before the youthful representative of energy and
progress. The final hearing of the case, May, 1855, excited unusual
interest in the state. Very able counsel was employed on both sides. The
closing arguments and pleas were offered in one of the largest halls in
Hartford, which was crowded with eader listeners. Hon. Charles Chapman
made a forcible appeal in behalf of the old towns. He was answered by
Windham county's special orator and advocate, ex-Governor Chauncey F.
Cleveland, a life-long democrat in the true sense of the word, the friend
of the people and of everything relating to the highest good and
development of individuals and communities, who had been deeply interested
in this unequal struggle, and now surpassed himself in his most earnest
pleas that the petitioners should be allowed their reason-able request for
expansion and town privileges. Six years of arduous conflict were rewarded
by triumphant victory, and liberty to embody as a distinct town was at
length heartily accorded. Ringing bells and booming cannon bore the joyful
tidings to the ears of conquerors and defeated, and the Fourth of July
celebration held a few days later in Putnam village, had a new and vital
meaning to its rejoicing participants. While all citizens were interested,
and to a degree helpful, the main burthen was borne by the van-leader, Mr.
Edmond Wilkinson, who planned and carried out details from the beginning
to the end, and paid five-sixths of the legal expenses.
The first town meeting was held at Quinebaug Hall, July 3d, 1855. George
Warren, Esq., served as moderator. James W. Manning was chosen town clerk
and treasurer; George Warren, Horace Seamans, Luther Hopkins, selectmen;
Asa Cutler, agent of town deposit fund and treasurer of the same; Alanson
Herandean, Moses Chandler, Erastus Torrey, Abel Dresser, Jr., grand
jurors; Abiel L. Clarke, constable. Sign posts or bulletin boards were
ordered to be set up, one near the depot, one at Sawyer's store, one at
South Putnam, and others at any suitable place, and the several books
needful for public records were ordered.
Back to: Putnam, Windham County,
Connecticut History
Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut,
Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889 Back to: Windham County, Connecticut
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