USA > Vermont > Franklin County > St Albans > A centennial history of St. Albans, Vermont > Part 7
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" She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh will- ingly with her hands.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
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She is not afraid of the snow for her household : for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh fine linen.
Strength and honour are her clothing ; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
They were verily happy, with their Bibles, their spinning-wheels, their herbs, and their snuff-boxes. And the husbandman, with a healthy state of body, and a contented frame of mind, was equally so, with his pipe, almanac, and possibly his newspaper, both of whom could view with indifference, the contests of the world, and feel that the worst efforts of human passion, could never reach them, and who, if among us today
" Could look abroad into the varied field
Of nature, and though poor, perhaps, compared With those, whose mansions glitter in their sight, Call the delightful scenery all their own."
" Theirs are the mountains, and the valleys theirs, And the resplendent rivers, theirs to enjoy With a propriety, that none can feel,
But who, with filial confidence inspired, Can lift to heaven unpresumtuous eyes,
And smiling say, our Father made them all."
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NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The large balm of Gilead trees, in front of the Blaisdell house, were brought by Major Morrill, on horseback, from Connecticut, over ninety years ago.
The hall paper in the Houghton house, is the same placed upon its walls in 1800.
The majestic elms, on the corner of Congress and Main Streets, were planted in 1804.
The first carriage in town, with two seats, was owned by the Hon. B. Swift ; its body being bright yellow.
As early as 1800, a petition was presented the Vermont Legislature for a charter to incorporate " The Bella Maqueen Aqueduct Co." This was the Indian name of St. Albans Bay. No one can furnish any information in regard to the novel project.
As the question will be asked, why was it .nec-
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essary to republish the statement in relation to " the Cordex Sinaiaticus?" To which the writer retorts by asking, " why do orthodox libraries tol- erate the book that contains the statement ?"
Our town has been the residence of several noted characters, among whom was " Captain Joshua Montefiore," a brother of the late Sir Moses, who attained the age of one hundred years. He was also the brother-in-law of Sir John Rus- sell. The captain was the author of several books. among them, "The Commercial Dictionary," a copy of which I have seen in the possession of his son, Jo, a well-known attorney of St. Albans. Our town was also the residence of " the Princess Salm Salm," who attempted to aid the Emperor Max- imillian to escape from Mexico. I remember her in her girlhood, as Mary Joy. "A German Coun- tess" eloped to this country with a poor nail maker, and lived here many years, north of the Comstock place, in the little cottage that stood in the pasture.
A chair, once owned by Gen. Levi House, our first State's Attorney, in 1796, is now in the pos- session of Dea. H. M. Stevens.
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When the residence of the general was burning the preceptor of the academy was engaged in prayers. Said he, "boys, show yourselves to be men. We must all be cool and collected. Follow my example." He rushed up stairs and cast a gilt frame mirror out of the chamber window, and car- ried a feather bed down stairs as carefully as a baby.
The large apple-tree, south of the Bellows place, was planted by Ryan, over ninety years ago.
" Virginia," the only man ever hanged here, was buried south of the old cemetery gate, in 1820.
St. Albans has been in existence one hundred years without a town hall. " En arriere," " Proh pudor."
When "the Noah Wells structure," the first three-story building in town caught fire, it being in advance of the times, was facetiously christen- ed " Noah's Folly." The Methodist parson, Dr. Pier, by name, who had began to doctor the bodies in preference to the souls of men, rushed down across the village green, with a family syringe and a pail of water; which, by the way, however humiliating it is to relate, was the only engine we
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had to extinguish fires at the time, and who, many years afterwards, was pointed out as " the St. Al- bans Fire Department."
Clam shells have been found three feet from the surface, at the foot of Aldis Hill, suggesting the theory, that the waters of Lake Champlain may have once flowed as high.
After imprisonment for debt was abolished in Vermont, having received its death blow in our old Court House, it then became legal to confine poor debtors within the jail limits. Red posts marked J. L., in black, were planted a mile each way from the jail. This draconian law also re- ceived its death blow, when a poor old debtor lost his wife, whom he wished to bury among her kin- dred in another town. The procession halted at the red post, and the old man footed it back to his desolate home.
"The Old Bake Shop," which was drawn through Main Street nearly fifty years ago, by one hundred yoke of oxen, now stands in the rear of the Fairchild's lot.
The only oak tree on Congress Street, near the
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residence of Dea. Bently, is an offspring of one of the original monarchs of the forests.
A man lived and died here, at the age of 81, whose mother was married to four husbands ; and he, himself, had six wives here, and one in the state of New York.
The first silk dress here, was worn by the spouse of Jack Curtis, the builder of the Houghton house. The first silver-plated double harness was owned by Wm. Nason, the father of the general.
The first spinning-wheel, and the first umbrella, were owned by the family of Major Morrill.
The first parasol, and the first silk cloak, by the family of Asa Fuller, who purchased the Hoit house in 1800, of Silas Hatherway.
The latter sported the first gold-headed cane, and broadcloth cloak in town. He is also sup- posed to have owned the first watch, as he was taxed on the only watch in Swanton, in the year 1801.
The first maple sugar was made from sap, gath- ered from the original trees growing on our pres- ent park.
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A church that will solicit a subscription from an excommunicated member, is in a pumiceous con- dition.
The most fervent amen in town, was uttered by an ex-governor, when his railroad litigation had reached the extreme end of its caudal appendage. and his friends then responded to the fiat of Arch- bishop Laud, "Let all the people say amen."
The writer has just stood by the grave of Capt. John Warner, of Revolutionary memory, who has been alluded to as locating here as our first physi- cian, in 1792. He was the brother of the famous Col. Seth Warner, a member of that noble band of Vermont patriots. The late Gen. Nason, who was present at the burial, had frequently pointed it out to our citizens. It is hoped that the rough, old stone, without inscription, may be replaced by a fitting monument.
St. Albans could boast of a miniature painter. and a music teacher, as early as 1822, and a den- tist as early as 1826.
In the early history of "the Old Bank of St. Albans," established in 1826, a clerk absconded with about seven thousand dollars, entrusted to
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him, to carry to Burlington. It being before the (lays of railroads and telegraphs, no trace of him was discovered, until a young man from this county, left Boston on a mackerel smack, which being wrecked on the coast of Maine, the passen- gers went ashore near a little settlement, and be- ing Sunday, the young man attended church. As he turned his eyes up to the gallery, was much surprised to see the bank thief, leading the choir, who, returning to the inn, asked the landlord who the chap was that lead the music? "Oh, that is a nice young man, just settled here, and is about to marry into one of our best families." Our friend held his tongue, and the next day, being able to leave in his vessel, hastened home, and related his story, promising the bank officials, that if they would pay his expenses, and allow . him a reason- able compensation for his time, would deliver the robber into their possession, who being brought here, and it being learned that he had all the money, except what he had paid out for his ex- penses, the officers consented to let him go, with- out prosecution, on refunding the balance. They however, exacted a promise from him, that he
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would lead an honest life, and possibly their leni- ency may have been influenced by his age, and a regard for the feelings of his friends. But the chap wanted a certificate from the church, in which most of the bank men were members. "that his standing was as good as ever." One man pro- tested, and wished that his vote of " no." be written plain at the end of his name; for, said he, “no man can stand as well in any church, or in any position, after he stole thousands of dollars, as he did before." Examination of "the Congrega- tional Church Records," will inform the reader who the man was, who possessed the courage to say " no." It will be perceived that bank iniquity began here at an early date, but no one now would presume to designate such a transaction as robbery, for many of the courts now define it as "a mere error of judgment."
Our United States banking laws seem to have been made for every state in the Union, but Ver- mont, and the meanest laws of Vermont, seem to have been created especially for St. Albans.
The most orthodox stranger within our gates, can safely gaze upon " our Court House " without
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committing idolatry, for it is the likeness of noth- ing in heaven, nor on earth, nor in the waters under the earth.
The first one-horse chaise in town, was owned by Judge Asa Aldis. The first doctor's gig, or sulky, by Dr. Charles Hall.
The burials, previous to 1802, were in the Dor- sey Taylor lot, and the lower part of Upper Wel- den Street, which was then back of some of our first stores.
In 18-, a resident of St. Albans, had a rooster in confinement, and, strange to relate,.he discov- ered two eggs in a nest. The rooster was permit- ted to escape, while "the U. S. Attorney" was preparing the indictment, according to Ver- mont law. This demonstrates the imperfections of our state laws, for as far back as the 14th Cen- tury, a rooster was convicted, and burned, for lay- ing just one egg.
In March, 1837, a wolf was seen near Aldis Hill, which, being encircled at its western approach, by over one hundred armed men, L. B. Senior was chosen to terminate the earthly existence of his lupine majesty, who was afterwards suspended on
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the tackle in front of the first Brainerd store. In 1842, a deer ran up what is now Pearl Street. through Main Street, and jumped over the head of a lady, weeding in the Houghton garden.
In 1848, a lynx was shot in some woods adjoin- ing the Webber place, on Lake Street ; and as late as 1883, sharks were seen in the vicinity of our banks.
The only tribe of Indians discovered by our early settlers, were digging ginseng for the Chi- nese market, which the almond-eyed brides of the flowery kingdom would string in links, with jewels between, and wear as necklaces, to generate the opposite sex.
The author's excuse for not giving the particu- lars of the St. Albans raid, is owing to the very elaborate, in fact, the best account of it ever pub- lished, which was by E. A. Sowles; and it is re- gretted by many, that he could not have occupied his past time, in portraying other matters for the real benefit of the public, as faithfully as he has done that.
A few years ago a couple were passing St. Lukes, when the bridegroom replied to the re-
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mark, a very pretty church. Yes, it must be a great cleanser of sin. Why so ? Don't you see ? It is built of Castile-soap.
In the list of aged persons, who lived here, the name of Sam Trotter was accidentally omitted. He was the son of an African king, and is said to have died in the north end of the town, at the age of 117 years.
The writer would have been glad to have taken advantage of this work, by giving his opinion of one of our failed banks, on which our press, and much venerated clergy, have remained far too silent, and indifferent, to satisfy the victims. He also would have been equally pleased, to have re- sponded to numerous requests, by presenting his religious views ; and to have expressed his senti- ments upon his favorite subject, " horticulture." In lieu of which, he would respectfully suggest to our clergy, the propriety of preaching quarterly sermons, during their residence here, upon the Decadence of Financial Integrity.
The people of St. Albans subscribe liberally for the support of foreign missions, but one country to which we send missionaries, is our superior in
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many ways. In China, if a banker places other people's money where depositors cannot find it. he has his head cut off.
It matters not how the three following anecdotes found their way into the editor's drawer of a popu- lar magazine, but as the incidents transpired in " this place," many years ago, the writer considers them a part of our history, although the names are not published.
One Sunday, one of our religious societies. being without a pastor, invited a D. D., stop- ping at "The Welden," to conduct the servi- ces for them. During his prayer he expressed himself in the following terms: "Lord, send this people a minister after their own heart. Not an old man, in his dotage: nor a young man, in his goslinghood ; but a proper, nice man, with all the modern improvements."
Three little girls were playing on Bank Street. One said. "We are richer than you. We have got a carriage. and horses, and a silver teapot." No. 2 said, " My folks are richer than that. We have got a mortgage on our house, and a skunk under our barn." "Sha !" said No. 3. " I am richer
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than both of you, for I have got a grandma." Ah, my friends, how near right was our last little maid ?
During a revival here, several years ago, a worthy, but impulsive old sister, shouted so fre- quently as to disturb the services. But expecting a distinguished preacher from a distance, some of the official board went to the woman's son, and re- quested him to use his influence with his mother, to keep quiet on that particular evening, which she promised to do. But the preacher, being wrought up to the highest pitch of pulpit eloquence, and "the glory to Gods," being so much louder than usual, two of the brethren formed a saddle, with their joined hands, upon which the son assisted the mother to mount, and when the middle of the aisle was reached, she shouted out, " I am more favor- ed than the Master. He had only one ass to carry him, but I've got two. Glory Hallelujah."
We have the best hotels, the best liveries, and the best looking lot of babies in the state.
The following, taken from a paper of a quarter of a century ago, deserves repetition during this "period of greed," as the subject of the notice re- ceived many sneers for his peculiarities :
C
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"It is within the memory of middle-aged men. that St. Albans had no furniture stores, and if any- body was so unfortunate as to die, a coffin had to be made to order ; and to this day, the smell of varnish is suggestive of a funeral to more than half of the population. Cabinet makers shops were the predecessors of the great stores, which now draw trade from fifty miles, and no goods were kept on hand, not even a set of chairs. The first shop in town was kept by a Mr. Mussey. He was suc- ceeded by Lewis Beals, and he by Wm. Bridges. who carried on the business many years, from which he retired, for official station. This subject, H. L., learned his trade of Mr. Bridges, and came here from Peacham, where he was a school-mate of the late Thad. Stevens, of Pennsylvania. At one time Mr. L. failed, and was several thousand dollars below par. But he struggled with his large family, and instead of repudiating the debt, or ' capitalizing' it, as the fashion is now, he closely economized for twelve long years, and paid it, every dollar with interest."
We commend this honorable deed to the young men of this more reckless day.
The writer was informed by a citizen of Fairfield. that he possessed "the vane of our first Court House," which building was erected in 1802, the
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bell of which, was paid for by the ladies of St. Al- bans. One lady, who subscribed twenty dollars, attained the age of ninety-eight, which was as lib- eral in those days, as two hundred at the present time. But how often she must have heard "that bell," and what curious scenes " that old vane" pointed at, when the boys blowed where they listeth. And oh, that bell! ever on the ring; at all times, and in all seasons, and for all occasions. At rosy morn, at high noon, and at dewy eve, it was on the ring. Methinks I now hear it, sounding out on the stilly night, and it echoes back, reminding me of those sportive occasions of " the past." . But remembrance is now more pleasing than the music was then, for however melodious the sound of bells is to most ears, a poet has aptly said,
"The sweetest of every music is mute."
O, memory ! Weird musician of the soul.
The latitude, the longitude, and the superficial area granted. "The wreckers of banks," while the victims were deprived of their interest, is a travesty on justice, and a disgrace to American civilization.
The following studies should be introduced into
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our schools, by an act of the legislature, and en- dorsed by the courts :
The Ethics of Swindling. The Dynamics of Speculation ; with other People's Money. Perjury, æsthetically considered.
We who have been deprived of the benefits de- rived from these studies, should see the necessity of having them adopted for the future success of the rising generation.
A word in regard to our charities. It is rather humiliating to think, with all our pretense, we are indebted to an outsider for "our endowed insti- tutions." To . the noble giver," we can say in the language of another, "If there be a pleasure on earth, which angels cannot enjoy, and which they might almost envy a man the possession of, it is the power of relieving distress." But this much the writer feels to be true, that "the Hos- pital " would never have been endowed, had not " the Home " been blessed with a perfect matron, and the most able management. Yet, there is no place in Vermont, where the inhabitants have con- tributed so cheerfully, and so liberally for promis- cuous charities as here, and for celebrations, no
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place in the state has approximated to them in their subscriptions and successful results.
Nathan Green was the first man married in our town. Limna Potter was the first female, and John B. Meigs, the first male born in St. Albans. It has been stated that Herman Green was born previous to Mr. Meigs.
The funeral of Herman Green, who died here at the age of 74, was attended by his mother, who was the first woman married in town.
From the writers' earliest recollection, the two mounds on the south side of the old cemetery, have excited the curiosity of the youth every few years. They are two old-fashioned tombs, one of which belonged to Asa Fuller, who purchased the Hoit house in 1800. The other to John Curtis, who built the Houghton house during the same year.
The aid and encouragement received from every town in our county, to the endowed chari- ties of the generous Chauncy Warner, is undoubt- edly a hint for some of our worthy men to do likewise.
The first piece of meat purchased of a regular butcher, was by the late Dr. I. L. Chandler.
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Wheat Beals, whose name is recorded in the list of long-lived persons, having died at the age of ninety, built the first railroad turn table in the United States. His father, Adam Beals, settled here when there were but four houses. He aided in throwing the tea overboard in Boston harbor.
The author was accosted by an outsider, who delivered himself as follows : "H. K., in that book you are writing, we don't want any of your high-flown, highfaluten stuff. We want fax, for fax is history, and all true history is nothing but fax." In reply, the following quotation slid from the tongue : " It is impossible for any writer to
satisfy the tastes of all readers, Some admire the wonderful in life, others are better pleased with historical events, and some love the facetious. Others must have the ravings of the hustings, or the tattle of the social circle, to satisfy them." The writer, however, has pursued that happy medium, with sufficient diversity to please all tastes, endeavoring to have his humble effort more thickly interspersed with pleasing facts, than bril- liant fiction.
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OUR MUSIC.
These reminiscences would be incomplete with- out some allusion to our musical affairs, of which we had none to notice until many years after the settlement of the town, with the exception, per- haps, of the drum and fife, the bugle call and the violin. I well remember the first tune I ever heard on the latter. It was in a hotel in front of the Brainerd store, which was called " The Bum- blebee in the Pumpkin." Every few minutes the fiddler would imitate the buzzing of a bee in a pumpkin blossom.
After a while, a bass-viol was introduced into one of the places of worship, at which time, it is said of a good soul, coming out of meeting, " That she wanted to die, if they had got to having fiddles in the house of God ;" but she had never heard any music before, but the hum of the spinning-wheel, and the croaking of frogs.
The first piano in town was in 1822, and owned by the late Mrs. Miranda Aldis Kellogg, and the second, near this date by Mrs. S. H. Barlow, pre-
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sented to her by her father, a British officer in Nova Scotia, which were followed by others in the Ferriss, Brainerd, Houghton, Kingman, Swift, and Smith homes, while at this time there are as many organs and pianos among us as wash tubs. Soon after, an organ was used in the Episcopal Church, followed many years after by one in the Congre- gational meeting-house, and at this writing, every house of worship can boast of an organ and a fine choir.
Keeping pace with our early music, were the singing schools. Even the author attended two winters, and learned two notes, viz .: " La and Ra." As early as 1839, a band of music was organized here, and I recall the founder reading a list of necessary instruments, among them twenty clario- nets, and three bass drums.
But from my earliest recollection, our musical talent has never waned, but has constantly been improving in culture, until our instrumental per- formers will well compare with the best, and are superior to most in other large villages.
So, too, our vocalists are rising on the high scale to perfection. It is seldom so many fine voices of both sexes are to be met, as here, of whom we can exclaim with Walton, "Lord, what music hast thou provided for thy saints in heaven, when thou affordest such music on earth." All
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of whom, to their everlasting credit, have cheer- fully rendered their services in times of affliction, and for charity's sake.
And judging this town from its saintly name, and musical fame, one would infer that God had designed it for a model place, a sort of Utopia, to live in and to die in, "for music is the child of prayer, and the companion of religion, whose spirit wanders through the halls and galleries of memory," enabling us to recall many matters connected with it. By so doing we are drawn to notice
OUR MILITARY,
Of which we had an un-uniformed company pre- vious to 1800. Soon after, we could boast of a troop of horse, the uniform of which was very unique, consisting of yellow cap, with gold band, and red feather, red flannel jacket, and yellow breeches. The horses of this company were ex- empt from taxation, which fact may possibly set some of our young men to thinking. This organ- ization was kept up until 1828, when, with a popu- lation of less than 2,400, we maintained three companies, the artillery, the rifles, and the old flood wood, and who remembers the latter? The officers were uniformed, but the privates were not. They were a very patriotic body of men, because they had to be. Every man, eighteen years of
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age, had to obey the warning, by being present and armed in some shape. Some brought guns. but most of them had poles, whip-stocks, or axe helves, and many of them would have cod-fish bound to their knapsacks, for lunch. What glori- ous times they had, and what sham-fights. Ten cents, in those days, would carry a boy much farther than as many shillings will now.
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