History

N.I.A. History

In 1662, the present Nichols area was deeded to the Town of Stratford by and Indian tribe and in 1670, the Stratford residents began to use it for outlying farms and pastures. The Nichols family took a large tract in the center and about 1690, built the first house at the northeast corner of Center Street and Huntington Turnpike. They were followed by the Fairchild, Curtis, Brinsmade, Plumb, Hawley, Peet, and Ufford families among others.

From 1690 to 1800, Nichols was a typical farm village, completely self-sustaining except for church going in Stratford and Trumbull Center. It produced its own food and clothing, leather goods and shoes, tinware and lumber.

About 1800, local industry expanded and carriage and saddle making grew until in the 1850s, about 500 people were employed, riding and driving carriages in from the surrounding villages or boarding in Nichols. In 1848, the Episcopal and Methodist churches were built, beginning the first steps taken in local organization, since previously all church and civic activity had been centered in Stratford and Trumbull Center.

By 1880 the carriage and saddle factories gave up to western competition, and eventually were torn down. At that time, most of the families still had the family names of the first settlers. They had their small farms, had saved up some money, and were able to live comfortably, although many of their children left to find work elsewhere.

All was not harmonious in Nichols, however, The War of the Revolution had Tory sympathizers. Religious differences were serious in those days, and set family against family, and created bad feelings which lasted well into the 1900s. Even the local self-governing school district caused violent controversy. They did, however, agree to be buried in one cemetery, organizing the Cemetery Association in 1853 after the small plot on Unity Road became filled.

With this history of 200 years, it is most interesting that this group of rather highly individualistic people could, in 1889, agree to come together in a community organization. It was probably the result of their individual good housekeeping. At the time, Nichols was outstanding for the neatness of its homes, nearly all well painted and surrounded by white picket fences to keep out the many horses and cattle. In contrast, the bad roads, no sidewalks and no street lighting, had an appeal for action, and led them in 1889 to organize the Nichols Improvement Association.  

The Bunny Fountain

In 1895, Anna B. Peet presented the village of Nichols with a water fountain in memory of her husband, John Benjamin Peet. Mr. Peet, born and raised in Nichols, had prepared plans for this fountain, but died before the project could be completed. As designed, the original fountain was topped with a kerosene street lamp and provided separate watering facilities for horses, dogs, and humans. It was placed at the point of the Nichols green.

As automobiles replaced horse traffic, the fountain fell into disuse, and as it deteriorated, the Nichols Improvement Association considered selling it for scrap.

In the early 1930's, Lewis D. Christie, Sr., the NIA Chairman, took on the project of turning the horse trough into the Bunny Fountain most people remember. After the base was moved to the triangle at Unity Road and Huntington Turnpike, Mr. Christie removed the lamp, cast a larger water basin, and added the now familiar bunnies, mushroom, and cattails. Water and electricity for the fountain were provided through lines from Mr. Christie's home.

With Mr. Christie's declining health and death, the fountain again fell on hard times. In the early 1970s the fountain was moved again, this time onto NIA property directly across from its previous site. In May, 1971, it was rededicated in memory of both Mr. Peet and Mr. Christie.

Over the next twenty years, weather, pranksters, and outright vandalism took their toll on the fountain. In October, 1992, the membership of the NIA, under the leadership of then president Pete Elshout, voted to undertake a major restoration of the fountain. Barry Unger, former NIA president was chose to direct the project.

With fundraising efforts led by Wesley Sage, and through pancake breakfasts, the sales of "Nicholswear" t-shirts and sweatshirts, and from the success of two Jingle Bell Run road races, over $40,000 was raised to complete the project we celebrate today.