The streets of New Haven already extend to and over the southern border of the town. The town line lies directly across the Prospect street ridge, and crosses the middle of the reservoir of the New Haven Water Works. The north ends of Prospect street, of Winchester Avenue, of Shelton Avenue and of Dixwell Avenue, are within the town limits. So, also, are the following named streets: Goodrich, Marlboro, Morse, Arch, Beaver, Warner, Burke, Dix, Connel, Dudley, Allen, Edwards, North, Armory, and Mill Rock streets.

This advancing wave of population already entails special care and expense upon the town. At present, the greater number of the incomers are persons of extremely moderate means, and many of them are, or soon become, paupers and a burden to the town.

According to the census returns of 1880, the population of some of the chief centers, or villages, in the town of Hamden, was approximately as follows; the limits of the villages not being sharply defined:

The following table, taken in part from the census reports, direct, and in part from the Connecticut Register and Howe's History of New Haven, shows the number of inhabitants in the town at the end of each decennial period from 1790 to 1880 inclusive, and the population of New Haven for the same year. It is evident that the increase has not been great. The growth of the town in inhabitants has been slow. The population in numbers is not three times as great as it was in 1790, while in New Hayen the number is about fifteen times as great as it was in 1790. It shows the centralizing attraction of cities. New Haven is now growing more rapidly than ever before, and the indications are strong that the town of Hamden will soon begin to fill

up rapidly from the overflow of the city population. The horse railways contribute somewhat to the increase of the population of the suburbs of the city, and when they become sufficiently powerful and far-sighted to surmount the small natural obstacle of the Mill Rock trap dyke, there will be a rapid expansion of population upon the high plains beyond it.

SOCIETIES.

B

DAY SPRING LODGE-MASONIC.

AY Spring Lodge, No. 30, F. and A. M., was instituted by virtue of a Warrant granted May 15th, 1794, by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut, to the following named petitioners: Samuel Bellamy, George A. Bristol, Amasa Bradley, Tully Crosby, Ezra Kimberly, Levi Tuttle, Leverett Kimberly, Simeon Goodyear, Job Munson; and the following officers were therein appointed, viz: Samuel Bellamy, W. M.; George A. Bristol, S. W.; Amasa Bradley, J. W.

The Lodge was organized "at a Special Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, holden at the house of Bro. Samuel Bellamy, at Hamden, on Tuesday, 30th of December, Anno Lucis 5794. Present: M. W. William Judd, G. M.: Peter Johnson, S. W. pro tem.; Trihand Kirtland, J. W. pro tem.; Elihu Sanford, Treas. pro tem.; David Daggett, Sec'y pro tem."

The house of Bro. Samuel Bellamy, where the Lodge was organized, is still in existence, standing a few rods above the Congregational church at Mount Carmel, the old Farmington canal passing just in front, with a few ancientlooking poplars before the house, on the west bank. Here our brethren of "ye olden time" assembled to perform their labors in the solemn rites of masonry.

The minutes of the first communication are as follows: "Day Spring Lodge held agreeable to the Master's order, Monday evening Jan. 12, A. L. 5795. Members present at Bro. Bellamy's: Bro. Samuel Bellamy, Master; Bro. Geo. A. Bristol, S. W.; Bro. Amasa Bradley, J. W.; Bro. Ezra Kimberly, Sec'y; Bro. Job Munson, Treas.; Bro. Simeon

Goodyear, Bro. Levi Tuttle, Bro. Leverett Kimberly, Bro. Luman Frisbie, Tyler. Proposed: Elias Hotchkiss, by Bro. Simeon Goodyear; Jared Goodyear, by our Worshipful Master; they to be initiated the next Lodge evening." The next communication was held Thursday evening, Jan. 22.

It is recorded that on "June 26, A. L. 5798, the Brethren met, according to adjournment, for the celebration of St. John's day, and convened to the meeting house, where a sermon was delivered by Bro. Balden."

On the 28th day of February, 1805, it was "voted that this Lodge be removed to the house of Mrs. Barber, and that hereafter the Lodge meet at said place."

On Jan. 28, 1813, it was "voted that our stated Lodges be on the Monday preceding the full moon in each month, at five o'clock P. M., except that whenever the moon shall full on Monday, that shall be the day, according to the proposition of Brother Elam Bradley, made last Lodge, Dec. 24, 1812."

At a communication held Dec. 18, 1815, "Bro. Whiting proposed that the Lodge be removed before our next Lodge night." The Lodge voted to remove to the house of Bro. Eliphalet Gregory, and on Jan. 8, 1816, the Lodge met and probably occupied their new room. The house was situated a few rods below the present residence of Dr. E. D. Swift, and was for a time open to the public as a hotel or tavern. The building was destroyed by fire over thirty years ago.

No records of communications appear after May 18, 1829, until May 2, 1836, when a communication was held, at which Bro. Leverett Hitchcock was chosen Master, Dr. C. B. Foote, S. W.; Julius S. Tolles, J. W.; Elam Warner, Treas.; Lewis Goodyear, Sec'y; Leverett Hotchkiss, S. D.; James Wiles, J. D.; Eli Hull, Tyler and Steward. This communication adjourned to "our regular communication in October next;" and this closes the record until the resuscitation of the Lodge, Friday evening, Dec. 2, A. L. 5870.

The Charter of Day Spring Lodge was surrendered to the Grand Lodge, A. D. 1838, by Bro. Leverett Hitchcock. In A. D. 1870, Bro. Norris B. Mix, desiring the re-establishment of Day Spring Lodge, obtained of the following named brethren their signatures for a restoration of the old Charter: Leverett Hitchcock, Roswell F. Stillman, Edwin W. Potter, Norris B. Mix, Gilbert S. Benham, Jesse Cooper, Brainard T. Ives.

In May, 1870, Bro. Mix visited the Grand Lodge at Hartford, and procured the Charter; Bro. Leverett Hitchcock being at this time the only living member in the town.

After reorganizing, the Lodge occupied the room from which it removed to its present location, a little over four years. On the 4th of March, A. L. 5875, Day Spring Lodge came into its present elegant Lodge room, after dedication by the Grand Lodge.

ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a benevolent organization composed of Irishmen and men of Irish descent. It has branches all over the United States, Ireland, England, and Canada.

The First Division, A. O. H., of Hamden, was organized in 1873. It has fifty-five members, and is in a flourishing condition. The officers are: President, Patrick Maher; Vice-President, Andrew McKeon; Recording Secretary, Thomas Dunn; Financial Secretary, James O'Connell ; Treasurer, Michael Kelly.