Table Of Content

~w London Yl :J{istory Of I ts Peop{e In Celebration of NEW LONDON/S 350th ANNIVERSARY "Downtown New London" © by Roger W. Dennis 1937, oil on canvas, 28 x 28 inches Private Collection !J{f,w London I Yl :J--[istory Of I ts Peop[e CARMELINA COMO KANZLER, Editor Published in Celebration of NEW LONDON'S 350th ANNIVERSARY 1996 © April 1, 1996 by City of New London 350th Anniversary Celebration, "All Rights Reserved", Carmelina Como Kanzler, Editor. Illustrations Courtesy of Dennis O'Brien Milton Moore Robert Patterson Brian McCarthy Photos Courtesy of Peter Burgess New Haven Colony Historical Society Richard Gipstein New London Landmarks Rosalind Mallove New London Public Library Published in Commemoration of the Three Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of The City of New London and sponsored in part by CITIZENS BANK ___,_.- About The Editor .._____ Carmelina Como Kanzler was born in New York, New York and has lived in Connecticut since 1%5 when she moved here with her husband Julius S. Kanzler and sons John and Mark. She earned a B.A. in History from Connecticut College, an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Haven. Before moving to Connecticut, she worked for the music publisher, G. Schirmer, Inc. in administrative positions. In Connecticut, she was the Executive Director of a hearing and speech center until she retired in 1992. She was elected to the New London City Council in 1983 and served as Deputy Mayor 1983-84, Mayor 1985-1986, and 1987-1988. ------------- ii INTRODUCTION My expectations for this book were clear from the beginning. I had a theme running in my head and a vision in mind's eye. However, I must admit that the end result was far more than I envisioned. The history was to be about the different people that lived in New London beginning with the Native Americans who first inhabited this land, and continuing with those that arrived later. It was to be a history that present day New Londoners could relate to. I had not expected to write this entire book; there was not enough time. My plan was to lend my expertise, provide resources (often written papers), be on call for consultation and, lastly, have complete license to edit. Having lived an active life in this area for over 30 years with service on many boards and agencies, i.e. political, economic development and, especially human services agencies, I realized that I had tremendous resources right there in my head, ·and also a roomful of friends to call upon. I selected 15 subjects and set out in search of the authors. Publicity in The Day attracted some volunteers and I had my first two writers. The others were 'pressed' into service by me. However, in finalizing this book, I found that three groups could not be included. With the time planned for research, we could not find sufficient material to warrant inclusion in this book. The Indian history had been previously published as a supplement in The Day and the author had the difficult task of cutting it down for this book. The watercolors used in this chapter had also been used in the supplement, and with the permission of the artist, Dennis O'Brien, we were able to reproduce them here. The Huguenot history was written as a research paper funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council. It has been reproduced in its entirety. For the African American history, I searched for a writer that would tie in the 'remembrances' of local people with history dating back to the mid-1600s. Thus, I chose Dr. Stacey Close, a history professor who has lectured in this region. Brian McCarthy offered me the use of the 1795 document used in this chapter. When I could not find an author of Polish descent to write the history of the Poles of New London, I asked a non-Pole to write this history. I am sure you will agree that he has done a splendid job. As for the rest of the authors, they were all tied in one way or another to the group they were writing about. ill When the first four manuscripts were turned over to me, I began to breathe easier. They were fascinating~ My expectations for a book that could be read and enjoyed by everyone who shared a love for New London was beginning to be realized. Please note that I am completely responsible for the format, final content, editing, and the selection of art work/photographs. I did consult with many and I am asking that, if you find it lacking in some areas, do not direct any criticism towards the writers, editorial assistant or photographer consultant. They were given a time frame to work with and were constricted as to the length. I value them highly and my hope is that you will as well. In conclusion, I wish to thank Citizens Bank for their financial support; making this book affordable to all. In addition, I would like to thank Roger Dennis for granting permission to use his painting on the cover of the book, Marcia Stuart of the New London Public Library for her help in research, and Faye Vathauer for the many volunteer hours she spent in making this book 'camera ready'. My thanks to Maria Hileman, Harold Hanks, Robert Patterson and, Milton Moore of The Day for their help and generosity in the use of colored etchings and photographs for the history on the Indians. My thanks to Tom Hahn, photographer consultant. My thanks to Mark L. Kanzler, my editorial assistant. My thanks to Conway & Londregan, P.C., for donating their time, services and cost to have this material copyrighted. Finally, my thanks to the following who offered help and with whom I consulted on many occasions: Linwood W. Bland, Jr. Patricia Hendel Janet Pearce Peter Burgess Sander Hendel Patricia M. Shippee R. Morgan Daboll Dr. Dorothy Leib Dr. Carl Stoner Caroline De Biasi Attorney Francis T. Londregan Paul Trevalle Pasqale Folino Attorney Thomas J. Londregan George J. Tyropolis Sharon Griffis Rosalind Mallove Clark van der Lyke Myron H. Hendel Gail McKissick Jane Wickham Lastly, my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the writers without whom this history could not have been published. They invested many months on this volunteer project. If we have inspired others to continue the research in the histories published here or encouraged others to research their own family histories, we have achieved a purpose - leaving a legacy for our children and children to come. Carmelina Como Kanzler iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I The Indians; Natives of This Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Maria Hileman Chapter II The Y a.Ilkees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Mason P. Andrews Chapter III Strangers in a Strange Land: New London's Colonial French Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Mary Beth Baker Chapter IV African Americans In New London: A Short Perspective . . . . 35 Stacey Close, Ph.D. Chapter V The Italians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Elisa Giommi and Angelo Cacciatore Chapter VI The Irish In New London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Ja tnes J. Gallagher Chapter VII From Generation To Generation: A History Of The Jews In New London.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Jerome E. Fischer Chapter VIII The Poles In New London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Charles Daniel Wolverton, Jr. Chapter IX The Hellenic-Greek History In New London . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Bessie Vallas Dallas and Mary Vallas Posner, Ph.D. Chapter X History Of The Lebanese In New London ............... 105 Nicholas N. Garra Chapter XI The Dutch At New London .......................... 109 Hendrik Verkade, Jr. Chapter XII Hispanics In New London ........................... 113 William Garcia and Daphne Morales-Walker V Mayors of New London Name Dates Name Dates Richard Law 1784-1806 Theodore N. Hansen 1942-194.3 Jeremiah G. Brainerd 1806-1829 Lewis B. Doane 1943-194.4 Elias Perkins 1829-1832 Frank N. Kelly 1944-194.5 Coddington Billings 1832-1835 James A. May 1945-194.6 Noyes Billings 1835-1837 Fred Benvenuti 1946-194.7 Jirah Isham 1837-1838 Richard R Morgan 1947-1948 ::-:rands Allen 1838-1841 Samuel J. Selleck 1948-1949 George C. Wilson 1841-CTuly 20) Fred Benvenuti 1949-1950 Caleb J. Allen 1841-1843 Frank N. Kelly 1950-1951 Andrew M. Frink 1843-1845 Moses A. Savin 1951-1952 John P. C. Mather 1845-1&50 Fred Benvenuti 1952-1953 Andrew Lippitt 1850-1&53 Thomas J. Griffin 1953-1954 Herny P. Haven 1853-1&56 Richard J. Duggan 1954-1955 Jonathan N. Harris 1856-1862 Thomas G. Martin 1955-1956 Hiram Wiley 1862-1865 Moses A. Savin 1956-1957 Frederick L. Allen 1865-1871 John P. Janovic 1957-1958 Augustus Brandegee 1871-1873 Antl)ony J. Impellitteri 1958-1959 Thomas M. Wall er 1873-1879 Wilfred A. Park 1959-1960 Robert Coit 1879-1882 Moses A. Savin 1960-1961 George E. Starr 1882-1885 Harvey N. Mal.love 1%1-1962 C. A. Williams 18&5-1888 Richard R. Martin 1%2-1963 George F. Tinker 1888-1891 Joseph F. Regan 1963-1964. George Williams 1891 (2 weeks) Thomas J. Griffin 1%4-1965 Philip C. Dunford 1891 (6 weeks) Francis T. Londregan 1965-1966 Ralph Wheeler 1891-1893 Harvey N. Mal.love 1966--1967 Andrew J. Bentley 1893-1894 Richard R Martin 1%7-1968 James P. Johnston 1894-1897 Joseph F. Regan 1%8-1969 Cyrus G. Beckwith 1997-1900 Thomas J. Griffin 1%9-1970 M. Wilson Dart 1900-1903 Richard R. Martin 1970-1971 Bryan F. Mahan 1903-1906 Hubert A. Neilan 1971-1972 Benjamin Armstrong 1906-1909 Daniel D. Schwartz 1972-1973 Bryan F. Mahan 1909-1915 William Nahas 1973-1974 Ernest E. Rogers 1915-1918 Thomas L. Harrington 1974-1975 E. Frank Morgan 1918-1921 Ruby T. Morris 1975-1976 Lucius E. Whiton 1921-1922 Richard L. Uguccioni 1976-1977 John F. Murray 1922-1923 Margaret Mary Curtin 1977-1978 Malcolm M. Scott 1923-1924 Carl Stoner 1978-1979 Waldo E. Oarke 1924-1925 Leo E. Jackson 1979-1980 William C. Fox 1925-1927 Wayne T. Vendetto 1980-1981 James A. May 1927-1928 David M. Fabricant 1981-1982 Malcolm M. Scott 1928-1929 Robert A. Martin 1982-1983 Cornelius 0. Twomey 1929-1930 Carl Stoner 1983-1984 E. Frank Morgan 1930-1931 Jay B. Levin 1984-1985 James A. May 1931-1932 Carmelina Como Kanzler 19&5-1986 Malcolm M. Scott 1932-1933 Robert A. Martin 1986-1987 Alton T. Miner 1933-1934 Carmelina Como Kanzler 1987-1988 Cornelius D. Twomey 1934-1935 Eunice McLean Waller 1988-1989 Ed win Cruise 1935-1937 Gregory Massad 1989-19()() Leo B. Reagan 1937 William Nahas 1990-1991 Joseph A. St. Germain 1937-1938 Anthony R. Basilica 1991-1992 Alton T. Min~r 1938-1939 William L. Satti 1992-1993 · Leo B. Reagan 1939-1940 Jane Givehand Glover 1993-1994 Robert B. Chappell 1940-1941 M. John Strafaci Le\.vis B. Doane 1941-1942 William L. Satti vi Pride in the Past Progress in the Future vii viii