Photos: Solomon Stoddard Mead's Home in North Greenwich

We are indebted to Christiane Hyde Citron of Denver, Colorado for the photos featured here. They are of what was Solomon Stoddard Mead's home. Until this past decade the house stood at the corner of Riversville and Cliffdale roads in North Greenwich. The house was demolished.

Charles Courtney Curran Paintings: Solomon Stoddard Mead's Home, North Greenwich

We were delighted to receive these images of what was Solomon Stoddard Mead's home (built circa 1795 by Benjamin Mead III) in North Greenwich.

Our thanks goes to Christiane Hyde Citron of Denver, Colorado for furnishing these. We are attempting to find the originals.

In one of her emails to us the artist is identified as Charles Courtney Curran. For some background of the artist please go to this link and this one, too. 

Etching: Titus Mead (1778)

We received this etching today from family descendant Lance Mead. This is a scanned etching of Titus Mead or Greenwich, Connecticut. It is dated May 15, 1778. The original is in the family archives located at the Greenwich Historical Society behind Bush Holley House in Cos Cob.

'As In Old Colonial Days. Entertainment of the Ivy Guild' (1897)

Source: Greenwich Graphic. Saturday, February 17, 1897. Page 1, Col. 1.

Quaint Frocks Gown Modern Maidens -An Entertainment Full of Interest and Pleasure.

The entertainment given by the Ivy Guild of the Congregational Church on Washington's Birthday, was one full of interest and quaintness, both in the exhibition of relics and the costumes of the ladies who took part. It was under the management of Mrs. Henry Dayton.

Some of the dresses worn were used in the time of Washington, and were still in a remarkable state of preservation. The oldest gown to be seen was the one worn by Mrs. Thomas A. Mead, which was over two hundred years old, and was made of heavy blue brocade.

Other young ladies who wore quaint gowns were Miss Grace Child, Miss Edna Kimball, Mrs. Augustus Knapp, Miss Mary F, Dayton, Miss Julia Mead, Miss Clara Mead, Miss Jennie Mead, Miss Lillian Hitchcock, Miss Hait, Miss Katherine Rundle, Miss nannie Brush, Miss Alice Sampson, Miss Hattie Reynolds, Miss Mabel West, Miss Alice Mead, Miss Carrie Knapp, Miss Alice B. Fiske, Miss Ella Lyon, Mrs. R.J. Walsh, Mrs. W. H. Pullen, Mrs. Henry Dayton, Miss Susie Peck.

Mrs. W.H. Pullen wore a green silk costume over one hundred years old, with white bonnet; Miss Rundle, pink silk dress; Miss Lillian Hitchcock, green silk costume; Miss Julia Mead, pale gray silk dress; Miss Tillie Mead, old light silk dress; Miss Edna Kimball, light party dress, trimmed with red velvet; Miss Alica Mabel West, corn-colored silk; Miss Alice Sampson, gray silk; Miss Nannie Brush, lawn silk; Miss Hait, dark red plaid silk; Miss Alice Mead, brown spire; Miss Grace Child, yellow silk; Miss Carrie Knapp, organdie; Miss Alice Fiske, brown silk; Miss Hattie Reynolds, light silk; Miss Ella Lyon, white silk, trimmed with yellow; Mrs. Augustus Knapp, black silk with beautifully embroidered front; Mrs. Henry Dayton, changeable corn silk; Mrs. R.J. Walsh, black silk.

During the course of the evening a musical programme was rendered, which consisted of a violin solo by Miss Rebecca Wilder Holmes, with piano accompaniment by Prof. Anguish; a piano solo by Mrs. W.H. Pullen and Miss Susie Peck; a solo by Miss Edna Kimball, "Beauty's Eyes,' and for an encore 'Ben Bolt.'

The room had been prettily decorated with flags and blue and white counterpanes as drapery. The two tea tables were presided over by the Misses Katherne Rundle, Julia Mead, nannie Brush and Mrs. Augustus Knapp.

The hair of all the ladies who took part was dressed in old-fashioned style, with big tortoise shell combs.

There were very many interesting relics on exhibition, some of which were an old table used by General Putnam when he lived in the little cottage on Putnam Avenue, which still bears his name, loaned by Mr. F.A. Hubbard; also the looking glass the venerable "Put" is said to have used just before he made his leap down the hill, loaned by Miss Tillie Mead; a desk made over one hundred years ago, loaned by Mrs. Henry Dayton; a piece of ingrain carpet from Mr. Oliver Mead, whoch was in use seventy-five years ago, the material for the manufacture of the same having been raised in Greenwich; some old-fashioned jugs, an old cannon ball from Nelson Mead, a sermon delivered in Greenwich in1776 by Rev. Mr. Avery; a spinning wheel and chair over two hundred years old, by Mrs. Jabez Mead; a newspaper printed in 1800, a desk of Washington's; a parasol used in 1776; several pewter platters over one hundred years old; a fine exhibition of old china by Mrs. Hait, also some by Mrs. Henry Dayton, Mrs. John Dayton, Mrs. George Silleck. Mr. Fiske, the artist, had a splendid display of paintings and several old pieces of firearms.

The object of this event  was to further increase the amount provided for the fitting of electric lights in the church. About $25 was realized for this purpose.

The disagreeable weather which prevailed on that evening probably kept many away who might otherwise have attended.

About Caucus Nominations (Seaman Mead)

About Caucus Nominations

Are Not Usually Private and Secret- Excluding Newspaper Men 

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HARTFORD, MAY 5, 1897

HON. SEAMAN MEAD

GREENWICH, CONN

DEAR SIR: -In answer to your question as to nominations made for judges of the various courts in New Haven county, would say: All nominations have been made in a previously called caucus, and no nominations has been made at this session that was not a caucus nominations. We thoroughly understood that the committee on judicial nominations would insist that all nominations must be supported by a caucus nominations.

Yours truly,

REUBEN H. TUCKER,

Chairman, New Haven County Caucus

As chairman of the committee on judicial nominations I have required that all resolutions referred to the said committee should be caucus nominations.

DWIGHT W. TUTTLE.

Mr. Seaman Mead had the above published in this paper, the News, last week. We should judge that it was an attempt on his part to prove something. What, we cannot exactly make out. We don't know that anyone denies that caucuses are held for a nominations; we haven't heard that they did, but it doesn't say anything in the above communication about these caucuses being private and secret and that newspaper men are not allowed in them. We should judge that Mr. Mead is trying to show that the caucus, private and secret, at which Mr. Burnes was nominated judge of the Borough Court of Greenwich was not unlike other caucuses, and that they were a common thing in the legislature. 

THE GRAPHIC made the assertion and stands to it that the caucus, which nominated Mr. Burnes, was the first instance on record when a county caucus had been held for the purpose of nomination a candidate for judge of a town or borough court. If this is not true, will Mr. Mead prove it? And if he does, we will admit that we have been mistaken.

Mr. Mead's paper, the News, as was stated last week, published in the following:

"The Fairfield County Caucus was a private one. Two or three newspaper men and others, who sought admission, being excluded."

Mr. Mead doesn't claim, certainly, that all caucuses are private, and that  newspaper men and others are excluded, as in this case.

Funeral for Mrs. Solomon Mead

The funeral services of Mrs. Solomon Mead were held at her late residence on North Maple avenue on Saturday afternoon at half-past four o'clock. The train from the city was delayed about a half an hour, owing to an accident at Port Chester.

The spacious house of Mr. Solomon Mead was filled to overflowing with the relatives and friends of Mrs. Mead. The room where lay the casket was most appropriately trimmed with potted plants and palms. A quartette choir sang a number of hymns, and brief addresses were made by the Rev. Mr. Hall and the Rev. Mr. Choate.

The pall bearers were George S. Ray, B.M. Wright, Shadrach M. Brush, A.A. Rundke. The internment was in the Congregational Church cemetery.

Obituary: Mary Elizabeth Mead (Greenwich Graphic May 8, 1897)

Source: Greenwich Graphic. (Obituary) May 8, 1897. Page 1, col. 5

MEAD.- On May 6th, Mary Elizabeth Dayton, wife of Solomon Mead, of Greenwich, Conn., in the 61st year of her age. Funeral services at her late residence on Saturday, May 8th, at 4 o'clock, on arrival of the 3.03 p.m. train from New York.

Mary Elizabeth Mead

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Mead, wife of Solomon Mead, died in New York on Thursday, May 6, aged 61 years. She had been in feeble health for some time and with remarkable fortitude bore her sufferings. Of  a kind and cheerful disposition, she had endeared herself to a large circle of relatives and friends. Her husband and seven children who survive her, have their deep sympathy.

She was the daughter of David Dayton. Her children are Abram N. Mead, of California; Mrs. Judson I. Wood, of Ilion, N.Y., Mrs. A.I. Mead, of Greenwich; Mrs. B.M. Wright, of Orange, Conn.; Mr. S. Cristy Mead, of New York; Mr. Everett and Miss Sarah Mead, of Greenwich.

Funeral services will be held at her late residence on North Maple avenue to-day on the arrival of the 3.03 train from New York.

The following communication expressing sympathy and the estimation in which she was held by her friends, has been handed to us for publication:

"All who knew her gentle and retiring life and the heroism with which she had borne years of pain and all she had been enabled to be to her own family, and to her many friends, were deeply pained to learn of the death of Mrs. Solomon Mead on Thursday, May 6.

"Not in robust health for many years, yet always serene and uncomplaining; not of a temperament under any conditions, perhaps to have cared too much for society, so-called, caring always, most of all, to do the duty that lay nearest to her and to serve and bless to the utmost those whom God had given to her in special trust, devoted and tender and self-forgetful as only a most rare mother can be, faithful and gentle as a wife and reliable and loyal as a friend and neighbor. She served her day and generation as God gave her opportunity and gone forward bearing with her a wealth of love from her own family that few mothers receive, and that must increase as the years go on, and the tender memory of all who knew her gentle and brave life. And so, "Sleep sweetly, gentle soul, in peace."     J.C.R.