November 3, 1891 New-Haven-Register
Suit against John Stow
The trial of the suit of W.T. Bartlett, treasurer of New Haven County and the treasurer of Fairfield County, Walter Quintard, against John Stow of Oxford, was taken up, Attorneys Doolittle and Bennet appearing for the plaintiffs and Attorney DeForest for the defendant. The suit is brought by the county treasurers for the possession of a house near the last abutment of Zoar Bridge over the Housatonic River from Oxford to Monroe.
Since 1807 when the charter for the erection of a toll bridge was granted, the bridge has passed through many vicissitudes being washed away and rebuilt several times. In 1889 the legislature passed an act transferring the bridge to the counties of New Haven and Fairfield. For many years at the east abutment there has stood a house which had been used as a general store and toll house. John Stow claims that he owns it. The country treasurers also claim ownership and hence the suit. The witnesses for the plaintiffs were five old residents of Oxford and Monroe and two photographs of the bridge. Although the suit is brought in the name of the county treasurer, the county commissioners are the ones most interested in the suit.