E. Belcher Mead Stricken At Sea Dies in Havana (1916)

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. December 12, 1916. Page 1.

Death Follows Attack of Pneumonia While on Voyage to the Tropics

Cable dispatches from Havana, Cuba, on Saturday, brought news of the death of E. Belcher Mead, former representative to the legislature and a prominent and wealthy Greenwich resident, which occurred there early on that day. Mr. Mead with Judge Fred A. Hubbard was on a pleasure trip to the Indies when he was stricken with with an attack of pneumonia and his condition grew steadily worse after he was taken to a hospital at Havana where death occurred early Saturday. He was in his 67th year.

News of the death of Mr. Mead came as a great shock to the entire community as he was apparently enjoying his usual good health when he departed on the southern cruise about a week ago. He is believed to have suffered from a cold while aboard the ship enroute from New York to Havana and the ailment developed into an acute attack of pneumonia which owing to his advanced age and resultant weekend condition, caused death quickly.

The remains are being brought to Greenwich by Judge Hubbard and it is expected that they will arrive sometime tomorrow. The uncertainty as to the arrival has made impossible definite arrangements for the funeral to be made.

Mr. Mead was a descendent of one of the oldest families in this section, his ancestors have them come to this country early in the sixteenth century. He was a son of Captain Elkanah Mead and Jane Mead and one of eight children. Two brothers, Elkanah and Abram, and one sister, Elizabeth Mead, survive him besides a widow and two children, a son and daughter.

Mr. Mead was born in Greenwich and was a lifelong resident of the town. When still a young man he became identified with the Standard Oil Company and in later years he was one of the really successful men in the oil business. He retired from active service a few years ago.

While Mr. Mead was always a public spirited citizen and deeply interested in the affairs of Greenwich he refused to hold public office until 1914 when he accepted the nomination as candidate on the Republican ticket for the legislature and he was elected. He refused a renomination and served only one term. He was recently elected a director of the Greenwich National Bank to succeed the late Willis H. Wilcox.

Mr. Mead was for years a member of the Second Congregational Church and he served faithfully as a worker in the ranks of the congregation.

Greta Garbo and the Lyman Mead House, Cos Cob

Several years ago an article was published about the Lyman Mead House in Cos Cob. The house was on the market at the time. It has since been sold and remains as-is near the Cos Cob Railroad Station.  

An excerpt of this article featured this interesting history. The house was at one time owned by Joseph Buhler -Greta Garbo's attorney. According to the piece she was a guest here: 

Upstairs is a bedroom that was used as guest quarters for Greta Garbo, the famed Swedish actress, when visiting her attorney, Joseph Buhler, who owned the house from 1921 to 1950. Buhler, a senior partner in the firm Buhler, King and Buhler in Manhattan, was also the attorney and friend of other theatrical lights of the era — actor H.B. Warner and Jack Whiting, a song-and-dance man, among them.

In World War I, Buhler was a captain in military intelligence and founded the Men from the Front Section of the Committee on Public Information. Before World War II, he organized the Wake Up Committee to alert the public to the dangers of the military plans of the Axis powers. 

He received citations from U.S. presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt and was decorated by England in 1947 for distinguished service in the cause of freedom, according to The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.

Judge Mead Dines With Cities and Boroughs Committee

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. September 15, 1916.

James R. Mead of Greenwich.

Judge Mead Will Again Be Choice For Senate (1916)

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. September 1, 1916. Page 6.

Miss Mead Returns: Had Served Three Months in Devastated France (1919)

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. Friday, June 6, 1919. Page 1.

Miss Belle Mead returned aboard the steamship Canada on Monday, after serving ten months as representative for Mount Holyoke college in reconstruction work in France and also engaged in work with the Society of Quakers at Verdun and the devastated regions of France. While on her way overseas, an attempt was made by German submarines to blow up the steamship Campania, upon which Miss Mead was a passenger, but without success. The was practically the last effort on the part of the Huns on the seas.

Miss Mead, who is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Mead is now stopping in Greenwich. 

Will of Emma F. Mead Probated (1916)

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. Friday, June 4, 1916. Page 1.

Deceased Bequeathes Estate Estmated at $3,600 to Sister, Sarah Mead Mead

The will of Emma F., daughter of the late Lyman Mead, has been admitted to the Greenwich Probate Court. The petition shows that the deceased left an estimate sum of $3,500 or which $3,000 is in Greenwich real estate, the other $500 being in personal property.

Sarah M. Mead, a sister of the deceased, is named as executrix of the will and is also the sole beneficiary. 

Burglars Enter Mead Stationary Store Sunday/Police Find Good Taken From Mead's Store Here (1916)

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. October 17, 1916. Page 1.

Several Kodaks and 300 Fountain Pens Taken By "Key Workers"

A burglary which the police believe is the work of youthful outlaws, was reported on Monday morning when employees ofnthe Mead Stationery Store discovered that about three hundred fountain pens and a number of kodaks were missing. A thorough search of the premises failed to reveal any windows by which an entrance may have been gained and the olive are of the opinion that thieves entered the store by means of a key to one of the doors.

The fountain pens were taken from a large stock which is carried at the Mead store and some of them are valuable. The kodaks are first-class machines and are expensive photographic equipment.

The police are working on the case and have a clue which may lead to arrests before the end of the week.

Source: Greenwich News and Graphic. October 20, 1916. Page 1.

The police have succeeded in recovering all of the loot that was taken from the Mead Stationery store on Saturday or Sunday night, and it is probable that the thief will be arrested in a few days. An anonymous telephone message lead the police to take up the search in the right direction, and true fountain pens and kodaks have been returned to their owners.

The original opinion of the police that the burglary was the work of an amateur key worker seems to have been correct, according to reports. It is believed someone who was familiar with the store obtained a key and made the entry in a bold manner, probably some time Sunday night.

Chief Talbot declined to say where the loot was found, but intimated that some interesting disclosures may be looked for in the early future.