Community » Stratford's History » Stratford's History 1824-1889

Stratford's History 1824-1889

(The following Stratford History was taken from The Stratford Bard 350th Founder's Day Parade Issue.  The Stratford Bard 350th Founder's Day Parade Issue was generously shared with us by the Stratford Historical Society).

1824   Marquis de Lafayette passed through Stratford and stopped at Marshall's Tavern. Spent one half hour greeting the citizens.
1825 The Rev. Joshua Leavitt, D.D. pastor at First Congregational Church.
1826 Congregational Church Sunday School organized by Dr. Leavitt.
1830 The Rev. Thomas Robbins pastor at First Congregational Church.
1831 The Rev. James Harvey Linsley ordained to ministry of Baptist Church. He had already opened a mission at the lower wharf wholly at his own expense
1832 The Rev. Frederick W. Chapman pastor at First Congregational Church.
1834 Methodist Church ceased to be on B circuit and became a station with a resident minister.
1836 Bridgeport made a city.  Housatonic railroad built.
1837 Universalist Church building dedicated.
1839 Second Methodist Church erected. The Rev. William Bouton Weed pastor at first Congregational Church.
1840 Probate records of Stratford, formerly kept in Fairfield or Bridgeport, henceforth kept in Stratford.
1842 "General Lafayette," first steamboat up the Housatonic to Derby.
1843 Death of Mr. Linsley.
1844 Putney Chapel built. New York and New Haven Railroad chartered.
1845 Congregational lecture room built. Naugatuck railroad chartered.
1846 About time of movement to settle middle west. Stratford people went.
1847 Frederick A. Sedgewick became head of Stratford Academy.
1848 Drawbridge widened. First snowplow in town, built by Mr. Sedgewick.
1849 First railroad trains passed Stratford.
1850 Stratford's "Spirit Knockings."
1851 Death of Hon. David Plant, Lt. Gov. 1823-1827. Tide Mill at Eagle's Nest, built by the Johnsons, burned.
1857 The Rev. Joseph R. Page pastor at First Congregational Church.
1858 The Rev. Benjamin L Swan pastor at First Congregational Church. Third and present (1939) Episcopal edifice consecrated.
1859 Fifth and present Congregational Church built.
1860 Dyke rebuilt at Little Neck Creek.
1861 Civil War. Stratford men in Union ranks, women provided comforts for them and for wounded in hospitals.
1862 The Rev. B.L. Swan, early town historian, resigned as pastor of Congregational Church.
1863 Company K, 8th Regt., Connecticut National Guard, organized.
1864 The Rev. Louis R. Charpiot pastor at First Congregational Church. Christ Church chapel erected.
1866 End of War.  The Rev. William K. Hall pastor at First Congregational Church. Episcopal bell sent to Troy for repairs.
1867 Beginning of prayer meetings in Putney.
1868 Drawbridge collapsed as steamer passed through.
1870 Legislature authorized construction of new bridge at the Ferry.
1871 Two hundred shad caught at one haul in Housatonic River.
1872 Mr. Sedgewick resigned charge of the Stratford Academy.  Building now occupied by the U.S. Post Office (1939), built by St. John's lodge.
1873 The Rev. Frank S. Fitch pastor of the First Congregational Church. Third bridge over Housatonic at the Ferry completed.
1875 Fire company organized.
1879 The Rev. Samuel Howard Dana pastor of First Congregational Church. Death of Mr. Lounsbury at Christ Church.  Act of insane wife.
1881 Academy discontinued, sold and moved to Lundy’s Lane by colored citizens for use as church.
1883 The Rev. Joel S. Ives pastor at First Congregational Church.
1884 Old Yellow Mill burned. Built by General Joseph Walker.
1885 Common schools merged in one graded school at the Center. Stratford Library Association organized.
1886 St. James R.C. Church incorporated. Cupheag Club organized. Charter granted to build Lordship Meadows road.
1887 Town purchased Masonic Temple for town hall. Housatonic Boat Club organized.
1888 Great blizzard. Large fair held by Veterans’ Association of Co. K. 
1889 Celebration of town's 250th anniversary.  Soldiers’ Monument on Academy Hill unveiled. West Stratford given to Bridgeport.

Additional Links
Events from 1637 to 1939 are from the Rev. Stanley Sellick’s records on file at the First Congregational Church.  Much of the information was compiled by M. Hale and published for the 300th anniversary. Town Historian Louis Knapp has provided the Bard with an update from 1939 to 1989. These historical facts were put together by Bard Editor Dorothy Euerle. (All the foregoing was taken from The Stratford Bard 350th Founder's Day Parade Issue.  The Stratford Bard 350th Founder's Day Parade Issue was generously shared with us by the Stratford Historical Society).