Portland...  On the Move |
Issue 66 ~ News from your Town Hall ~ July 1999
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Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence and presented it to the Continental Congress on June 28, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though we treasure the document, the initial signing was by no means unanimous. Four days later (after some editing), only nine out of the 13 colonies voted in favor of it. On July 8, the Declaration was publicly read aloud twice in Philadelphia’s Independence Square to cheering crowds and pealing bells. The Province Bell in Independence Hall was rung as well and was renamed the Liberty Bell. The signing of the document was not completed until August. The first July 4th celebration took place the following year. By the early 1800s, the holiday traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established. |
Safety First! Protect Your Home While You’re Away You can safeguard your home while on vacation by following these simple steps:
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Portland Fireworks: July 10th
Independence Day|
Please Note: The Town Hall will be closed on July 5 to celebrate Independence Day. |
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By: Doris Sherrow Portland’s 1st European Resident Portland histories typically include little information about James Stanclift, the first Englishman to settle in town. The reason becomes clear from a remarkable 1995 genealogy by Sherry Smith Stancliff, The Descendants of James Stanclift of Middletown, Connecticut and allied Families (James preferred the latter spelling; more recent descendants use the "-cliff" ending). Of his 73 years, Stanclift spent the first four decades in England, the next decade in other parts of the world, and did not come to Portland until he was 50. And then he came as somewhat of an outsider, not making as large a mark as others in the workings of church and government from which we generally draw our portraits of historical figures. He was a simple stonecutter. James Stanclift was born about 1639 in Halifax Parish, York, England. As a younger son, under British law, he would not be able to inherit the family estate, so he learn a trade to make a living: stone masonry. He was a generation younger than the Puritans and Pilgrims who first settled New England, but he and his family also encountered trouble with the Church of England. So, on August 2, 1680, James put himself under indenture to leave England and work four years in Nevis, in the Windward Isles. In 1684, Stanclift turned up in Lyme, Connecticut, in debt to three wealthy New Londoners who traded in the West Indies. Perhaps they paid for his passage to New London, or bought out his indenture. In Lyme, Stanclift met and married Mary (Tinker) Waller, a wealthy widow, in 1685. For the next four years, he ran a farm on the northeast shore of what we know as Rogers Lake. He also engaged in brick-making, and carved gravestones for those who could afford them, often for relatives who had died long before Stanclift entered the country. Lt. Reynold Marvin’s stone, dated 1676, is such an example. On February 24, 1687, James Stanclift and the town of Middletown entered into an agreement whereby he would build "chimneys, and other stonework" for Middletown and receive in payment "a parcell of land upon the rocks." Offering land and land division right to men with various necessary trades was a common colonial practice, not unlike offering tax breaks to desirable businesses today. "The rocks" referred to the outcropping of brownstone on the east side of the Connecticut River in what would someday become Portland. |
Stanclift was listed as a resident of Lyme on the August 1688 tax list; the births of his son William in September 1686, and his daughter Martha in December 1688 are recorded in the style of the Lyme town clerk, but in October of 1689, he divested himself off his property in Lyme. By May 5, 1690, the Middletown selectmen deeded him "A parcell of Land on the East side the Great River near his hous [sic]." Thus he had probably moved to East Middletown (Portland) in the summer of 1689, to build his own house and construct the stonework and chimneys for Middletown, as per his contract. Stanclift’s willingness to live on the east side of the river is not surprising, given that he was a newcomer to the area, drawn by economic interests, rather than a member of the community which settled Middletown in the 1650s. His wife, too, had no Middletown roots. James and Mary had two more children, James in 1692, and Sarah on 1695 (recorded in the style of the Middletown town clerk). Mary also had three daughters from her marriage to the late William Waller. The family probably lived in the vicinity of Commerce Street. A painting by John Wells Stancliff (owned by the Portland Historical Society) supposedly depicts the Stanclift house, showing a small Cape Cod with a center door and windows on either side. However, Stancliff’s rendition of the roof is problematic: it is very low-pitched. A 1690s house would have had a very steep roof pitch, like the House of the Seven Gables in Salem. Either Stancliff erred in painting the roof, or it was remodeled in the century or more between him and his several-greats grandfather. The Stanclifts and the nearby Richard Gill family seem to have been the only white residents in Portland in the 1690s (although William Cornwall might have been north of Wangunk meadows that early). Apparently Stanclift employed the "locals." A 1702 diary entry from Stonington speaks of an Indian named "Sacient" delivering head- and foot-stones for the grave of Rebecca Minor carved by "Stancleef" – possibly the diarist’s rendering of the Indian’s pronunciation of the name. James Stanclift was middle-aged when he left England. He was 46 when he married, and 56 when his last child was born. He quarried more than twenty years in the rich brownstone of Portland, and carved gravestones for families all over Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 1712 there was a serious influenza in Connecticut. James died in October, and Mary in December of that year, possibly from that epidemic. James’ sons were left at ages 25 and 20, to carve the tombstones for their parents’ graves. There was no graveyard in Portland until the following February, so James and Mary Stanclift, the first family to settle in Portland, lie in the Riverside Cemetery in Middletown. |
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The Future of Portland – is a matter of P.R.I.D.E.P.R.I.D.E. sign administrator, Mike Giuliano, announced today that the town signs next to the Middletown bridge is now available for organizations to use. Organizations wishing to use the sign to advertise their events must be non-profit and non-political. There is no cost to advertise events of interest to the community, but users must be willing to follow a set of guidelines. A complete set of sign specifications is available from Milke Giuliano. In general, signs must be 24" by 78", be weather resistant and have black lettering on a white background. For sign design specifications, design tips, suggestions for places to have signs made and questions about length of time a sign may be up, call Mike Giuliano at 342-0814. How Firecrackers Work Firecrackers offer a wide range of colors and shapes. Burning chemicals provide the bright, distinct colors – charcoal and iron, a brilliant orange; strontium salts, red; and Barium nitrate, a bright green. Blue is the most difficult color for firecracker makers to create. The chemical composition and the way a firecracker is packed determines the shape – whether it’s a fountain, wheel, snake, or Roman candle. The thundering boom comes from a flash powder. There's
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Sue McDougall, a Gildersleeve School teacher, will take the children around the library’s grounds looking for anything that crawls, flies and creeps! The group will also be on the lookout for interesting plants. Out-of-town families interested in the program may sign-up beginning Tuesday, July 27.
Picnic Pals is for preschool-age children and accompanying adults. Held each Tuesday at noon, July 6 to August 10, the program includes stories and movies. Lunch Bunch is for children entering first grade and older. The program is at noon each Wednesday, July 7 through August 11. Adults do noot need to accompany children. This program also features stories, movies and an occasional craft. For more information about the lunch programs, call the library at 342-6770.
The Portland Library Board donated the Gazetteer in honor of the Friends of the Portland Library. The presentation was made at a reception given by the Library Board to honor the Friends. In presenting the book to Friends’ President J.J. Smith, Library Board Chairman George Law commented, "The Board is very pleased to donate this book in recognition of the many contributions that have been made by the Friends of the Portland Library. The Friends make the difference between a good library and a great library." First Selectman Ed Kalinowski agreed. He said that whenever he tells people where he is from, people say, "Oh, that’s the town with the great library." Kalinowski praised the Friends for their activities in support of the Portland Library. The Friends recently approved funds to begin a library DVD collection, to purchase a CD display unit and additional shelving for children’s picture books, videos, recorded books and to re-upholster some chairs. |
Always Something
New at the Portland Library|
Ever Healthy, Ever Green
Many of the facts about exercise that we take for granted are just plain myths. Most of us have enough trouble making the time or the commitment to a physically active lifestyle, without the difficulties and confusion that these myths can create. So, here’s some accurate information to help do away with some of the most common exercise fallacies. First, note that sweat loss is not fat loss. When you lose significant weight during a workout, that is not fat loss. Weight lost that quickly is water weight and will return within a few hours as you replenish body fluid stores. So don’t make exercise unpleasant by forcing yourself to be uncomfortably warm, or destroy the fun of exercise by trying to measure its effectiveness by hopping on a scale before and after exercising. It’s also important to remember the difference between aerobic exercise, which is good for heart health and fat burning, and muscle toning exercise. "Spot" exercises (like sit-ups) tone muscles in a particular body location; they maintain strength of those muscles and help avoid flabbiness due to poorly toned muscles. However, these exercises do not selectively get rid of fat deposits in those areas. Flabbiness caused by excess body fat is solved with regular aerobic exercise (such as walking, swimming and biking) and a low-fat diet, as recommended by the American Institute for Cancer Research for cancer prevention and overall good health. Years ago people were told to avoid drinking during activity, but now we know that dehydration makes exercise more difficult, decreases performance, and can be dangerous. People who exercise continuously for over an hour in extreme heat may benefit from special sports drinks, but for most of us, plain cool water is sufficient. Drink two cups within the hour before significant exercise, and continue to drink water during and after exercise. Work out at a pace that is comfortable for you. If you’re exercising for good health and a fit appearance, the idea of "no pain, no gain" offers no help. In fact, researchers have found that the biggest factor in burning body fat seems to be time. Moving continuously at whatever pace you can comfortably maintain for at least 20 to 30 minutes seems most effective. The bottom line is: don’t be deterred by exercise myths that make exercise an intimidating endeavor. Just make the time for enjoyable moderate activity. And remember that exercise doesn’t replace good eating, it accompanies it (provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research) |
Words of Wisdom "I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." William Penn "Justice is truth in action." Benjamin Disraeli "Be yourself is the worst advice you can give some people." Tom Masson "Make good use of your time and you shall never lack for satisfying experiences." Lori Hard
Special Hours! The 1st Selectman’s Office, along with the Planning Department, Building Department, Environmental Health Department and Finance Office will stay open on Tuesday evenings until 7 PM. They will close on Fridays at noon. Other offices at the Town Hall will remain open at their usual time. |
Dispelling the Exercise Myths
