USA > Vermont > Windham County > Brookline > The local history of Brookline, Vt. : The general history of the town > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
m 3 1833 01096 2782
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/localhistoryofbr1886stic
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THE LOCAL HISTORY
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BROOKLINE, VT.
The General History of the Town. BY CHARLES P. STICKNEY.
The History of the Baptist Church, BY JOHN B. STEBBINS.
WRITTEN FOR VOLUME V. OF THE VERMONT HISTORICAL GAZETTEER.
She stands the sweetest flowery vale E'er fanned by summer's gentle gale.
ABBY MARIA HEMENWAY, Editor. [ COPYRIGHT. ]
PRICE FIFTY CENTS.
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CHICAGO :
1886.
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1781085
F 84316 .8
HEMENWAY, ABBY MARIA, 1828-1890, ed.
The local history of Brookline, Vt. The general history of the town, by Charles P. Sticx- ney. The history of the Baptist church, by John B. Stebbins ... Chicago, 1886.
42p.
Double pagination; also p.848-884 of the Vermont historical gazetteer. "Written for volume V. of the Vermont his- torical gazetteer."
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NL 37-6587
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O.N. Golandia
A representative of the Blandin Family ;- Lamach Blandin, being the first, or one of the first settlers in Brookline.
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BROOKLINE,
BY CHARLES P. STICKNEY.
DEDICATED
To The Leading Families of Brookline,
WHO GAVE AN ORDER FOR EACH INHABITED HOUSE IN TOWN.
BROOKLINE,
OR
"THE GRASSY BROOK REGION."
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The town of Brookline comprises a valley six miles long, by two to three wide; and originally formed parts of Putney. Athens and Newfane, and con- tains nearly 17 square miles. Nearly three miles in lengthi belonged to Athens on the northern. part : the southern part, to Putney, and the south-western part, on West River to Newfane.
GRASSY BROOK,
which has one source at Lily Pond and one on Hedge-hog Hill in Athens, flows through the length of the town and falls into West River. It derived its name from the open meadows in the northern part, producing a large growth of grass where the pioneers of the region went to cut their hay.
The town is geographically, a little to the east and to the north of the centre of Windham County and 7 miles west of Connecticut River, about equal distance Gom Bellows Falls, north and Brattle- boro, south. and the township seems to
have been seperated from others by nat- ural divisional lines; a range of hills, east and west; the highest point in the eastern range 1100 feet from the valley, below. It is a picturesque valley with its fertile meadows, verdant hillsides, and primeval forsets, so alluring to the early settlers ; and settlements were made, it is supposed, prior to 1777.
THE FIRSTBORN.
The record of the first births are as follows:
Martha Whitcomb, April 29, 1777: Jonas Negus, Dec. 12, 1777; Cyrus Whitcomb the 3d. March 17, 1779.
It is a matter of conjecture who was the first settler.
CYRUS WHITCOMB,
a few years before 1777, settled upon the lands now owned by John B. Steb- bins, on the southern boundary, origi- nally, of the town of Athens.
Other early settlers were: Ebenezer Wellman on land of Stebbins; Apollos Austin upon land of Charles P. Stick- ney, Ebenezer Harwood upon the farm of Elbridge Mason, Jotham Stebbins on the Rufus Stebbins' farm and John
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Blandin upon the farm now owned by young to-day how did these large fam- Allen O. Wellman. ilies live ?
LAMACH BLANDIN
who came here from Attleboro, Mass .. is thought by some to have been the first settler. It is said he had his choice of all the land for 20 cents an acre. and he made his selection upon the rise in the road a little south of Daniel E. Whitney's house. The wall of his cellar is to be seen at the present time.
Others who located early in this vi- cinity were: Timothy Wellman upon land now owned by Hiram Whitney; Jonathan Boynton and William Skin- ner on land of Andrew S. Rist; to the south of this farm. Daniel Bixby and Richard Whitney, and Rosebrook Crawford, on what is called Whitney hill ; Francis Drake on Bemis hill.
Those who settled early in the south part of the town were: Abijah Moore on the farm of Wm. P. Stebbins; Wm. Robbins on land of Everett P. Well- man, Daniel Benson south of this farm; Peter Benson upon the farm of Jacob Bush. Those who settled on the borders of West River were: Benjamin Flint. on the farm of Oscar C. Merrifield. the beautiful meadows in the forks of Gras- sy Brook and West River: Ebenezer Ober on the meadows of Timothy M. Albee ; Christopher Osgood on land of Luther Osgood. north-east of his mead- ow; Luke B. Osgood on land of George E. Ware, and James Walden upon the farm of Charles A. Cutler; all whom are supposed to have come to this val- ley prior to 1780.
1780 to 1790, settlers came in fast. The population during this decade was larger than at any other period in the history of the town. It is safe to say, there was one family or more to every 50 acres. It may be a conjecture to the
The wood was cut and burned in a kiln and from the ashes salts of lye were made, packed in wooden trouglis taken on their backs over the hill to Putney, where there was a settlement on the Connecticut River and exchanged for the little necessaries of life.
MOVE TOWARD TOWN ORGANIZATION.
Prior to 1794, the settlers grew dis- satisfied with the lack of political rights as townsmen, inconvenient to the town meetings in the neighboring towns and none of their own; unnecessarily op- pressed they sought relief through the legislature. and through an act of the session of Oct. 30, 1794, the south part of Athens and all that part of Putney, lying west of an abrupt elevation of land, gave to the inhabitants residing therein, "all of the priviliges and im- munities" which the inhabitants of other towns have and enjoy, excepting electing and sending a representative to the legislature and conventions ; receiv- ing to the freemen of said parts of Ath- ens and Putney the right of meeting with and voting with the freeinen of the towns from which they had been re- spectively severed in all freemens meet- ings for choosing a representative to the General Assembly and other purposes.
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THE FIRST TOWN MEETING.
Peter Benson was moderator; Jolin Waters was chosen town clerk; Peter Benson. Lamah Blandin, Jotham Steb- bins, selectmen; Abijah Moore, town treasurer; Thomas Walker, constable and collector; Ebenezer Bugbee, Will- iam Hills, JJohn Blandin, listers; Ben- jamin Farmer, leather-sealer: Ebene- zer Wellman, grand-juror, Benjamin Farmer, Ebenezer Bugbee, tithing- men, Ebenezer Harwood, ponnd-keep-
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er. Samuel Blandin, hayward; Jona- than Ellenwood, Benjamin Farmer, Cyrus Whitcomb, Ebenezer Bngbee, highway -surveyors; Delvis Briggs, .. Jonathan Ellenwood, Joseph Root, fence-viewers; and William Hills, seal- er of weights and measures.
SCHOOLS - THE SABBATHI.
To the organization of the town, 1794. there were no school-houses, or public place for worship. Schools were kept in dwelling-houses and such places as wouldl best convene. The Sabbath was observed by groups gathered together with due solemnity, when the one most gifted would be appointed to conduct their worship.
PRODUCTIVENESS.
From the organization 1694. to about 1824. the land had become cleared, the rich soil yieldled bountiful crops. the light loamy knolls and plateaus would produce 70 bushels of corn per acre without the fertillizers. White clover upon the hillside was in abundance. It was a period of general prosperity.
Roads were laid out and more busi- ness carried on than at any other period of the town's history. At the junction of the roads, leading through the valley and over the hill to Putney, and west- ward to Townshend, which was the seat of her commercial business.
The road leading eastward and west- ward was the thoroughfare for towns westward to Putney, Westminster and Boston.
Within this period the town contain- (1 3 stores, 2 hotels. 2 blacksmith shops, 3 -aw-mills. 2 grist-mills, 2 tannery, 1 pota-hry, 1 doctor. and one councillor at law.
THE FIRST STORE.
Samuel Wheat, who lived in Putney. i- . u] ]w ned to have put in the first store,
which was last occupied by Ephraim HI. Mason. Mr. Wheat did not move here, but employed Daniel Sabin to do his business here; he also run a pot- ashry, located just east of his store.
Anthony Jones followed Mr. Wheat in the mercantile business, and Isaac Palmer, Mr.Jones Palmer; failed about ; 1817. He was arrested and put in jail, but broke the jail, and never was seen here afterwards.
HOTELS.
The house of Walter S. Bennett is one of the oldest houses in town, it was built for a hotel. At this place there was a public house from the earliest date to about 1853. Isaac Taft is sup- posed to have kept the first tavern, and also a store, which was a little to the east of his house.
Luke Atherton followed Mr. Taft, and Samuel Churchill, Mr. Atherton, and Oats Haven, Mr. Churchill.
FIRES.
In 1823, Mr. Haven's store was burned together with the barn of Benj. Ormsbee. Wm. C. Lee was arrested, convicted of the larceny, and sentenced to the state prison.
John Waters built a large house that was burned in 1886, owned when burnt by Elbridge G. Mason, being the sec- ond and last occupied house, burned.
Mr. Waters had a push for business, he kept a hotel and a store. but he be- came involved and failed. Cyrus Whit- comb, who was bound with him, also failed. By this misfortune two of the first settlers were lost to the town ; both removed. And Lamah Blandin, also, removed in 1815.
THE OLD TANNERY
was between the houses of Rufus and Samuel Stebbins. and managed by John Bixby.
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SAW AND GRIST MILLS.
A saw and grist-mill were early put in below the bridge. by E. R. Bush's house, and occupied by John Benson.
A grist-mill was built on the mead- ows of Wm. P. Stebbins, owned by William Moore.
A saw-mill was built upon the Blandin brook. by Jothiam Stebbins, at an early date.
Elijalı Davis of Athens built a saw- mill and a grist-mill in the north part of the town, who' was followed in pos- session by David Cotwell, Ben. Walker." D. E. Whitney. E. H. Mason, and Winchester Smith. In 1868, Lorenzo W. Bush, bought the mill and moved it where it now stands. Three times the torrent of the freshet in Grassy Brook swept out his dam: but being a man of pluck and energy. he has rebuilt.
HOTELS CONTINUED.
Those who followed Taft in the ho- tel were : Samuel Churchill. Benjamin Ormsbee, Edson Higgins, Franklin Walker, Thomas Gordon, and Joe Codding, who took down his sign about 1852.
THE FIRST DOCTOR
came from Putney. and settled here a few years before 1815. He first lived where Loren Ranney's house stands. but afterwards moved to the south part of the town. He was a successful prac- tioner and did much toward building up the business and prosperity of the town. and raised up a family of children. who became useful citizens. He moved to Newfane in 1839. but is represented in town by his youngest daughter. the wife of Leverett K. Williams.
ney's. He was frozen to death, about 1828. his house became unoccupied and was burned.
ANNEXATION.
Sept. 20, 1819, a town meeting for that purpose, was hield :
"Voted to receive that part of the town of Newfane. lying on the east side of Wantastiquet. or West River, to be annext to the town of Brookline, as a part of said town of Brookline."
This augmentation added mneli to the wealth and prosperity of the town, and the agitation which brought it on, was on account of crossing the river for town business. There was no bridge over the river in this vicinity at this time, and when the river was high it was im- possible to pass over by fording. In attending a town meeting in March. the men passed over in the morning ou the ice; before night the river broke up. and there was no way of return, and their wives and children were doomed to a night of wretelied fears.
On the 7th of October. it was :
"Voted to receive the following per- sons now residing in Newfane. to be an- nexed to and became a part of said Brookline. viz : Luke B. Osgood. Jona-
in town was Dr. William Perry, who than Cutler. Lot Holland, Win. Bently, Elisha Flint. Harvey Osgood. Anthony Moron and Christopher Osgood."
THE GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE :
Not equal to the plague of Egypt, quite. but it nearly destroyed all crops of that year. A few fields of grain were saved by drawing ropes acrost the fields. two and three times a day. To represent what hay and grass was de- stroyed in the town on the fertile mead- ows of John B. Stebbins. only about 3 tons of hay could be gathered. Trees HOLBROOK BENSON. ESQ. and all green vegetation were stripped practiced in town. to some extent. He of their foliage. Nor yet did adversity lived on the hill west of H. N. Whit- in these years come singly:
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June 20, 1821, marks the day the most memorable for adversity in Brookline:
THE JUNE FRESHET.
In the morning the heavens were clear and sunshiny, a little past noon, around the summit of Lily Pond hill, the sky became dark and heavy, and soon ter- rifie peals of thunder vibrated the air, and the rain came down in such torrents as to cover the ground with a complete sheet of water. To use the words of Barzillai Stickney, who witnessed it :- " It seemed as though the heavens met the earth, and instantly. a mighty, bil- lowy sea came rushing down. carrying rocks, stones and trees to the valley be- low." About one half the deluge came down through Grassy Brook, the other northward through Athens intoSaxton's River. Every bridge was swept away. The Valley road in many places was completely destroyed, and many acres of the rich, loamy meadows made beds of stones and gravel. Hugh stones were lifted up and carried like pebbles ; near- ly all growing crops in the Valley were destroyed.
The scholars in District No. 2, hear- ing the tumult, came out on the bridge just north of the school-house to see how rapid the water came. not appre- hending danger; Dr. Wm. Perry living near seeing the impending danger. rush- ed ont and drove the scholars back. As he stepped from the bridge, a huge swell of water carried it off and Mr. Perry was seperated from his family for the night; but the lives of several of the scholars were undoubtedly saved.
So destitute were several families after his visitation that aid was sent to them by the people of Putney.
So large and rapid was the torrent of " natural Saxton's River, a distance of 9 miles, it was with great effort that
the help in the factory there were res- cued. Sarah Perham, the mother of the writer, was carried on the shoulders of men who waded waist-deep in water.
The brick had been left for the Round school house, npon the north side, but so powerful was the deluge they were taken up and carried to the south side, upon a higher ground, where the house now stands. To give a vivid conception of the deluge. large logs floated past C. P. Stickney's house in the road.
The people felt the pressure of the damage done: the thoroughfare acrost the hills ceased, the stores were elosed, small farms were sold, and the hillsides being deserted the population decreas- ed. The building of roads up West River. helped also to bring about this result.
FIRST REPRESENTATIVE.
The town had now been organized 30 years without the right to elect a representative. In 1823. this right was granted; and in 1824, Benj. Ormsbee was elected as the first representative. At this freeman's meeting, the number of votes for representatives to Con- gress, were Phineas White, 74; Wm. C. Bradley 6, showing a poll of 80.
THE FIRST TOWN OFFICERS.
William Perry, moderator; Benj. Ormsbee. town clerk; Thomas Crane, Benj. Ormsbee. Lot Holland, select- men : Israel Whitney, town treasurer; Thomas Crane, Anthony Mason, Daniel Bixby, listers; Anthony Mason, constable; Asa Flint, John Blandin, grand jurors: John Blandin, Israel Whitney. Elisha Flin; fence viewers; Alvin Boyden, the pound-keeper. Isaac Welhnan, Saml. Stebbins. Thos. Wells, Christopher Osgood, Daniel Bixby, Isaac Whitney. Zephaniah Perry. high- way surveyor. Rufus Stebbins. sealer of leather. Samuel Stebbins, dealer of
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weights and measures ; Christ. Osgood. Elisha Fairbanks. tything men; Eben. Pool, Willard Phillips, Joel C. Lee. Lewis Cady. Bradley Fairbanks, Ira Cutler, haywards; Eben. Whitney. Jacob Burditt. grand jurors to court: Elisha Flint, Asa Flint. Amos Haile. . Israel Whitney. John Phillips, Samuel Stebbins, petit jurors: Benj. Perry, Amos Haile, sextons.
A UNION MEETING HOUSE. [ For a few years prior to 1836. the subject of building a honse for public worship was discussed. but an endeavor to unite did not succeed, On March 18, 1836, a meeting was held for that purpose. Ephm. H. Mason was elected chairman, Asaph Coy. clerk.
"Voted that it is the minds of this meeting to build a union meeting-house in this town.
"Voted to choose a committee to confer with the Baptist Chosen: Asaph Coy. Sam'l Adams, Sam'l Rist. such committee. At a meeting, held March 24, 1836: "Voted to choose a committe to draw a plan of a Union meeting house. and a constitution and by-laws to govern the same."
Chose: Barzillai Stickney, Rufus Stebbins. Asaph Coy. Benj. Ormsbee, Benj. Walker. Dan'l E. Whitney. to compose said committee. Chose :-- Rufus Stebbins. Epln. H. Mason. a committe to try to form a union with the Baptist society."
"At a meeting. held, April 12. Barzillai Stickney. Daniel E. Whitney. Benj. Walker were chosen, building committee.
At a meeting held April 25. Samuel Rist, Rnfns Stebbins. Barzillai Stickney, Joel Harwood. Wm. B. Root. Eph. II. Mason. Dr. Wm. Perry were chosen locating committee.
At a meeting held June 6, voted to add Win. Perry. and Joel Harwood to the building committee.
" Voted that the building committee procure a deed for the building as soon as may be.
During the season the Union Church was built by Methodists and Universal- ists. The names of those who signed the covenant of the society were: Timothy Walker, Israel Whitney, Sam'l Rist, Rufus Stebbins, Eph'm Mason, Barzillai Stickney, Hiram Whitney. Asaph Coy, Benj, Walker, Franklin Walker, Dan'l E. Whitney, Joel Ranney, Luke Rist. David Walker, Liberty Harwood, Sullivan Pollard. Joel Barwood. Eben, Harwood, Colton Evans, Charles Evans, Amos L. Rist, Eben. Whitney, William Rist. Timothy H. Whitney, David Skinner, William Ranney, Jr., Benj. Ormsbee, David Kidder, J. L. Blandin, Philip Bemis, Jr., J. S. Osgood, William B. Root. Jr., Christopher Osgood, Wm. Perry, Wm. B. Root, William Hulett, Jolm B. Turner. Jacob Burditt, Sam'l Butter- field. Geo. Harvey, Norman C. Marsh. Asa Flint, Otis Harwood, Joel A. Har- wood. A. A. Flint. Rev. Wm. Hodges preached the dedication sermon for the Methodists, and Rev. Mr. Hemphill, for the Universalists, and both were pastors of the church for many years.
For the first 25 years the church was prosperous.
Rev. O. R. Edwards, for the last 20 years, has occasionally supplied the pul- pit for this church.
BUILDING OF A BAPTIST CHURCH.
A Baptist church was built the same year; Samuel Stebbins, Samuel Cutler, and Ira Cutler contributed largely for its erection.
At the raising of the belfry, the wall being brick. the west bent of the belfry was raised and stayed and as the men commenced to lift the second bent, the supporters of the work gave way and precipitated 40 men a distance of nearly 20 feet below among fallen timbers
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and boards. The jar of the falling timbers lossened the stay of the bent that was raised and that started down- wards, too; but seemingly by the hand of Providence it was stopped by a pro- jecting brick : had this fallen upon the men below, many would have been killed. Those who received injuries were Delais Wellman, Samuel Bennett. leg broken: Joseph Murdock, shoulder dislocated : Everett Wellman, struck in " the back by a spike. and Ira Cutler and Benj. Derry, who received internal in- juries. Although this accident seemed like a fatal blow, at first, in one week after, the belfry was successfully raised.
From the advent of the two new churches to 1860, were years of general thrift and prosperity. Good schools and good society were sustained ; Sam'l Stebbins and Francis Merrifield, took the lead in aceumulating wealth.
When the Vermont and Massachu- setts Western Railroad was being agitated, these men took an interest in the big enterprise for then, and con- tributed to its building.
At the survey of the Vermont Valley - Railroad, a ront was contemplated up West River through the Valley of Grassy Brook and on to Chester. Had this been earried out as hoped, on this easy grade and less cost of construction more than equal to that of the Con- nectieut Valley, Brookline would have been the equal of lier sister towns for business. and a village wonld have sprung up as a depot for the upper towns of the West River Valley.
IN THE LATE WAR
were the early enlistment that near the elose of the war, her quota was nearly filled. and it lessened the trouble many towns had to furnish men.
Of hier noble sons, two were killed in battle, Henry Bush at Fredericksburg, and Marshall Wellman at, or near New Orleans.
Two died in camp, Alvan Higgins at New Orleans, Alonzo P. Bush at New Orleans.
John Barrett died of disease con- tracted while in the camp.
Hibbard Holden was so severly in- jured by a minne ball at Fredericksburg, which passed through his body, as to remain infirm for life.
William W. Perry was wounded in the head by a missile from a shell and disabled for life.
Of these brave and noble sons who have honored themselves abroad. J. W. Stebbins, is now a Methodist clergy- man in Minnesota.
Albert Merrifield, is a successful business man in Mendota, Ill.
Hibbard Holden, is a railroad agent al Salem, N. Y.
W. B. Stickney, A. B., is a railroad agent at Ann Arbor, Mich.
E. A. Stebbins, is a'successful dentist at Shelburne Falls, Mass.
At the close of the war, the town, in- stead of being impoverished, her treasury empty, and a huge war debt left for a future burden, had her treas- ury full and the expenses of the war all paid. But few towns have managed their financial business with greater success.
the patriotism of her sons was second to none ; when the Union's call for volun- RAILROAD BENEFITS. teers was given, many young men of What had long been felt a necessity to bring her farmers to an equal position promise were in her bouders. and they promptly responded. So free and large | in the transaction of business was bet-
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ter communication to the outer world and the advent of the Narrow Gauge Railroad up West River and aeross her borders has secured her this position,
Though hotly contested to give aid through the capacity of the town, she had refused by a small vote: but two of her enterprising citizens, Luther Osgood, and Osear C. Merrifield. eame to the reseue and furnished the sum of $1,000 more needed to complete the subscription before the world could be said -"Go." '
BROOKLINE OF TO-DAY.
For the last half century, the inhab- itants of the town have been gradually going out and farms consolidated; the meadows retained for tillage and the Other lands for pasturage, much of which has grown to timber. The val- ley of Grassy Brook inclines gently to the south and is so protected by nature's barriers that violent winds seldom oc- cur; and the soil is quick and warm and yeilds good erops to the faithful husbandman; the roads are pleasant, drawing travelers; the people are fru- gal and industrious. und in the valley of Grassy Brook are the homes of many good farmers; and Brookline has its
MINERAL SPRING
upon the hillside in the south part of the town, about a mile from the Valley road. It has strong properties of iron. and is much resorted to in the warm weather of the summer, and if proper- ly developed wouldl. doubtless. become a popular summer resort. as the seene- ry around is fine: just beyond from an easy carriage-road to reach. is a point of land misurpassed by any in the state for beauty of scenery : looking sonth. at the west is the valley of the Wantasi-' quet, deep and narrow. and at the east, the valley of the Connectient with her
broad, fertile meadows; at the west the high lands of the Green Mountains from Florida in Massachusetts, to Mt. Holly, with towering peaks at the north in this state. From this spot we sur- vey Shatterack, Manickmung, Hay- stack and Saddle-back. At the east is seen the Connectient valley from Holy- oke to Ascutney and extending east- ward over hill and valley. forest and meadow until the majestic summit of thie Monadnock closes the view in that direction; thence to the north is seen the line of the bhie Highlands and on- ward toward the White Mountains .- The seenery to allure, the soil quiek and productive, the Valley of Grassy Brook is one of nature's secluded spots wherein man can enjoy the fruits of his own labor. [Rather of a farmer's little paradise.]
EDUCATIONAL.
Schools were tanght here at dwel- ling-honses 'in 1795. The first school- teacher in town is said to have been Lucy Skinner, danghter of Samuel Skinner, one of the first settlers.
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