Willimantic's 1893 Charter as a City -
Part 4 by Pete Zizka 3-11-2023 |
Now that the charter had been approved, the
main topic being discussed was who might be the first Mayor of
Willimantic. It was said that the new mayor and city officials would
require, “ a world of good judgment, a careful study of the future needs
of the city and an eye for economics which the people demand”. The new
leadership would also be called upon to draft a complete set of city
ordinances. The Republicans were considering Oliver Risley (treasurer of
First National Bank), Colonel Dwight Chaffee (manager of the Natchaug
Silk Company), and George Harrington (a wholesale grocer). The Democrats
mentioned Edwin Buck (a local businessman and state bank commissioner).
Following the Democrat’s caucus, and after much arm twisting, Edwin Buck
accepted the nomination for Mayor. The Republican caucus nominated
George Harrington. Then, with less than a week to go before the
election, an injunction was filed to prevent the election based on the
grounds that the vote to accept the charter was improper. The judge,
Elisha Carpenter, refused the injunction but asked the borough officers
and the lawyers for the petitioners to meet with him. After a lengthy
discussion, the suit was dropped but with the understanding that, “an
application would be made for a temporary injunction restraining the
newly-elected city officers from perfecting the organization of the city
government”. Two days later, and under the cloud of uncertainty as to
whether the newly elected officers would be able to assume their duties,
the election was held. held. Both candidates were seen as
possessing the knowledge and ability to run a city. However, the general
feeling in the city was that the Republican slate of candidates was far
stronger than the Democratic slate. After a hotly contested race, George
M. Harrington was elected as Willimantic’s first Mayor, defeating Edwin
Buck by the slim majority of 632-618. The Republicans were elected to
every city office. For the first time in Willimantic’s history, voting
took place in the four separate wards from which the Aldermen were to be
elected.
But with the election
completed, the injunction to stop those elected from occupying their
positions was filed. Throughout the new city, there was a general
disapproval of the injunction proceedings. Even those who had previously
been opposed to the charter felt that the new city officers should be
allowed to begin their duties. Mayor Harrington went to Hartford to
appear before Judge Carpenter and applied
to have the injunction dissolved. Following a lengthy hearing, the
injunction was dissolved. The judge said that, “the secret ballot law
relates only to elections and not to meetings for the transaction
of ordinary business”. Finally, on
December 19, 1893, the first meeting of the Common Council of the city
was held. (The Common Council was made up of a Board of Aldermen, one
from each of the city’s four wards, and eight councilmen, two from each
ward. A councilman-at-large presided over
the board of councilmen. Besides the Mayor, there was a city clerk and
treasurer.) The meeting began with an
address by Mayor Harrington which was, “greeted with hearty applause”.
The group quickly got to work and established meeting times for the
future for both bodies. The Board of Aldermen elected Charles Capen as
President of the Board. Then both boards began the task of examining
previous years’ expenditures in the hopes of being able to ascertain
what might be needed in the future so that estimates could be presented
in a future public meeting.The newly elected government consisted of
Mayor George Harrington, City Clerk and Treasurer Herbert Sanderson,
Councilman at Large James Hillhouse, Sheriff Edgar Richmond. Aldermen
were Herbert Chappell, Charles Capen, Brigham Spaulding and Walter
Brigham. Councilmen were Lorenzo Litchfield, Fred Sanderson, James Rose,
Walter Bennett, Leander Freeman, Edmund Parent, Anderson Walker and
Timothy Reagan. The new Mayor had previously served in the Connecticut
legislature and had also served as clerk of the railroad committee. He
had come to Willimantic in 1874 and soon established a growing grocery
business. In Willimantic, he had served as the borough warden and was
said to have been,” one of the best wardens the Borough ever had”.
Willimantic was off to a good start. Today’s photo shows Willimantic’s
first city government. Click on photo for larger version |
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