The city of New Haven is located in the southern part of the state of Connecticut along the Long Island Sound. The English Puritans who founded New Haven Colony in 1638 laid out the town according to a grid, known as the ‘Nine Square Plan,’ that made accommodations for future growth.
“Arguably, this makes New Haven America’s first planned town. Incorporated as a city in 1784, early New Haven was a thriving port and mercantile center, as well as home to Yale College. In the 19th century, industry dominated.” (Connecticut History)
“The layout of New Haven’s nine-square grid, though not the plan itself, is attributed to the original settlers’ surveyor, John Brockett. Evidence of this can be found in the Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649:”
“‘Itt is agreed by the towne and accordingly ordered by the court thatt the Neck shall be planted or sowen for the tearme of seaven yeares, and that John Brockett shall goe about laying it out forthwth, and all differences betwixt pty and pty aboute ground formerly broke vp and planted by English there shall be arbitrated by indifferent men wch shall be chosen to that end.’”
“‘Itt is ordered that Mr. Davenports quarter, Mr. Eatons, Mr. Newmans and Mr Tenches quarters shall have their first divisio of upland to begin att the sea side after the small lotts are layd out, and so goe on to the cow pasture, and to have their meaddow in the east meaddowes. ..’”
“Brockett laid out a street a half a mile long running parallel to West Creek, the original landing point for the colonists arriving in Quinnipiac Harbour from Massachusetts aboard the Hector in 1638.”
“Using the street as a baseline, Brockett mapped out a town plat (or area of land) a half-mile square, which was then divided by two parallel streets running east and west and two running north and south.”
“Forming nine equal squares, the plan left the center square as common space with the meetinghouse in the middle. The common space, called the market-place, is today New Haven’s Town Green.”
The other eight squares or quarters were fenced and assigned for house lots in relation to the amount invested in the common stock of the company. … New Haven’s Nine Squares are bounded by the streets known today as George, York, Grove, and State.” (Connecticut History)
“There are several public squares in the city. The central one, commonly called the Green, is equaled by but few in the country. It contains the State House, and three Churches, and is surrounded on all sides by rows of stately Elms.”
“Wooster Square, in the eastern part of the City, is also a beautiful inclosure; also York Square and several smaller ones, in various parts of the city.”
“The City enjoys the reputation of being one of the most beautiful in the United States, and there is probably no other so extensively ornamented with as great a profusion of trees as this. The principal are the elm and maple. From their great abundance in all the streets, New Haven is familiarly called the ‘City of Elms.’” (City Guide to New Haven, 1860)
In 1843, Miss Naomi Emma Morse and her elder widowed sister, Mrs Mary Merrick, moved their Seminary for Young Ladies into a rented house on the North side of York Square.
“(Morse) was born in Westfield, Mass., June 13, 1802 …. the youngest of the twelve children of Jacob and Naomi Morse. Her mother did not survive her birth.”
“Her eldest sister, afterwards the wife of Rev. Lyman Strong, of Colchester, Conn, faithfully performed to her a mother’s part. She was educated at the Westfield Academy, and at Albany, NY.”
“For several years, in company with an older sister, who was afterwards Mrs. Merrick, she taught in Troy, N. Y. Subsequently she spent some time in Virginia, in the family of her brother-in-law, Rev. Stephen Taylor, then professor in the Theological Seminary in Prince Edwards County …”
“… and afterwards, until his death, pastor of a Presbyterian church in Richmond Returning North for a visit, she was induced, in connection with Mrs. Merrick, then residing in New Haven, to open a school for young ladies in that city, which in 1839 had fewer of such institutions than often since.”
“This enterprise prospered and grew into the widely known ‘Young Ladies Seminary in York Square.’ This after a time passed entirely into the hands of Miss Morse. In connection with this, was the great work of her life. She brought to it several qualifications of a high order.”
“Always courteous, quiet, and self-possessed, firm in her purpose, yet gentle and winning in her manner, she readily gained the confidence of her pupils, and strengthened their resolutions to do well.”
“She was happily, by her own varied experience, fitted to sympathize not only with others, but with those who, from peculiarity in health or temperament, especially needed a mother’s care and counsel.”
“She aimed to fit her pupils for the sober realities of life. Truthfulness and fidelity to duty, in her judgment, were more than learning. To be useful was more excellent for a woman than only to be accomplished.”
“Skilful in reading the motives and in discerning the deficiencies, quick also in appreciating the worth and the honest endeavors of those she instructed, she sought with rare patience and tact to correct the one and develop the other.”
“Apparently devoid of selfishness, it was her delight to enter heartily into the plans, and to promote, at whatever cost to herself, the welfare of her friends. Her Christian character was built upon firm faith in the Bible, and deep conviction of the value of the gospel.”
“In her eyes, the young lady who had not become a disciple of Christ, lacked one thing of transcendent importance. Her family and school were repeatedly the scene of a blessed revival, for which her Sabbath instructions aided directly to prepare the way.”
“Not a few of her pupils returned home with new and elevated views of their obligations to live to do good, as well as to prepare for the life to come.”
“To the measure of her pecuniary ability, and often far beyond, she aided girls who desired the advantage of her school and were unable to pay the expense.”
“One of these, now herself honored and beloved, says, ‘A more unselfish person I have never known, nor a purer life. My feeling towards her, from my earliest childhood, was one of extreme veneration and respect.’”
“Another says, ‘I have ever cherished for her the deepest affection – words are weak to tell how much. I know her memory will be ever sweet and precious to those of whom she had the care in early youth. She was untiring in her devotion to the welfare of her pupils.’”
“The continued love and gratitude of her former pupils was manifested a few years ago in a way at once surprising and pleasing to her, and honorable to them.”
“Aug. 24, 1852, (Naomi Emma Morse) became the wife of Rev. Hiram Bingham, who is so widely and favorably known as one of the pioneer missionaries at the Sandwich Islands, where two of his daughters (one of them, educated at Mrs. Bingham’s school) are now engaged in conducting a young ladies’ seminary of a high order.” (Hiram’s first wife, Sybil, died in 1848.)
“In 1864 the school was relinquished; but Mr. and Mrs. Bingham remained in New Haven. After Mr. Bingham’s death, Nov. 11, 1869, her health gradually failed, and partial paralysis made her largely dependent on the kindness of friends …”
“… some of whom thus returned, with filial tenderness and assiduity, the rich fruits of her example and instruction in former years, until suddenly the message came, and she departed to be with the Lord.”
“The world is richer for such a life, and the hearts of many are made at once sorrowful and glad when it disappears. It was fitting that loving friends, as they stood around the coffin to look for the last time on that calm, sweet face, should, by singing some of her favorite hymns, give utterance to their own feelings of Christian hope and thankfulness.” (Congregational Quarterly, 1874)
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