USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Morristown > History of Morristown, Vermont > Part 21
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It is not known that John Flanders taught singing, but for years he led the singing at church when the serv- ices were held in the old town house at the Center and also
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acted as drum major on public occasions. Doubtless the custom of lining the hymns which prevailed in colonial times had long since been given up, yet the responsibility of leading the singing, when there was no musical instru- ment to assist, must have been no slight one.
The distinction of teaching the first singing school probably belongs to Moses Weld, a Revolutionary soldier, whose love of music was so great that it is said that he carried his singing book into the army with him. It is not possible to make a complete list of these old time musicians, but among them were E. R. Ober of Eden, who conducted singing schools throughout the county; George Story of this town, whose entire family were musical; Lucius Hadley, a well known resident on the LaPorte road; Mr. Wilkins and A. H. Cheney of Stowe; W. F. Whipple, whose contribution to the musical development of the town deserves a more extended notice; Enos Fletcher of Water- ville, probably the last of the itinerant singing masters; and others, who, through their love for this art, helped to relieve the monotony of the busy lives of our fore- fathers. One likes to linger over the picture of these families, young and old, gathering together week after week to enjoy the ministry of music. There naturally arises a comparison of those days with the later period, when the victrola and radio bring the work of great artists to most homes. However much the quality of the product may have improved, does the individual receive equal benefit by the change?
Successive years of singing schools had trained a body of musicians capable of more advanced work, and during the late 60's and 70's there flourished the Morristown Musi- cal Association. It included not only local talent, but members from Elmore and Hyde Park. An orchestra, consisting of violin, flutes, and cello, augmented the voices and each year this organization presented a very credit- able program. The first public concert was held in Feb- ruary, 1867, before an audience, gathered from the entire county. The local paper speaks of the contributions of Miss Cora Clement and Prof. Wilbur F. Whipple as "among the most interesting features of the program." This
shows that previous to that date Prof. Wilbur F. Whipple had come here from East Hardwick. His natural musical ability had been cultivated by years of study in Boston and he not only possessed a rich baritone voice, but was a skilled performer upon the organ, the piano, the pipe
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organ, and violin, and gave lessons on them. Under his leadership the Morrisville Silver Cornet Band was organ- ized and flourished. He was active in securing for the Congregational Church the first pipe organ in town and arranged two public concerts, the proceeds of which were given to the organ fund. For twenty-five years he was organist and choir leader at that church and for five years never missed one Sunday, even though in those days there was a church service fifty-two weeks in a year. For many years he was associated with his brother-in-law, Joseph Clement, in the mercantile firm of Clement & Whipple, but his lasting contribution to the life of the town lay in the more than thirty years he gave freely of his time and talent to enrich and elevate its musical ideals. Mr. Whipple died in 1901.
THE CHORAL UNION
In 1893 George M. Powers brought to Morrisville as his bride, Miss Gertrude Woodbury of Burlington, whose sweet, natural voice, perfected by careful training, had already given her a recognized standing in the musical circles of that city. £ Mrs. Powers at once took an active part in the musical life of the town. Its singers rallied to this new leadership and the operetta "Pinafore" was presented in 1897 and was followed in 1903 by "The Mikado." As an indication of the popularity of these entertainments, it is noted that "The Mikado" ran three nights to crowded houses and the call for its repetition was so insistent that in a short time it was given two more evenings.
In 1913 the musical interest in town crystallized in the organization of a Choral Union with a membership of one hundred, and this organization has been maintained down to the present time (1935). That it had high aspira- tions and ambitions is shown by the fact that May 6, 7 and 8, 1913, it staged a Musical Festival with only seven outside artists assisting. Selections from Wagner's "Lohengrin" and "Tannhauser," Donazetti's "Lucia," Gounod's "Re- demption," and "Faust," as well as modern composi- tions, such as Anderton's "Wreck of the Hesperus" and Coman's "Rose Maiden," were successfully presented at four concerts under the able direction of Mrs. Powers. Enthusiastic audiences and a satisfactory financial showing
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testified to the popularity of the effort. This success was repeated in 1914. Since its organization the union has participated in all but two of the oratorios which the State Federation of Woman's Clubs has presented in connection with their annual conventions, besides giving several worth- while concerts at home.
When the Vermont Federation of Woman's Clubs sent a group of eight women and a director to participate in the national musical contest, held at Atlantic City in 1926, the local Choral Union furnished the director, Mrs. Powers, and one of the members, Mrs. Ila Niles Jackson. Mrs. Jackson was already favorably known beyond the borders of her own state, for in 1901, as a member of the Alice Neilson Opera Company, she has toured in England as well as this country.
Mrs. Powers has not only been the leading spirit in this work, but for twenty-two years she was leader and director of the choir at the Congregational Church. Thus in a very literal way she carried on the torch laid down by Professor Whipple.
MORRISVILLE DRUM CORPS AND BAND
Another proof of the statement that Morristown is a musical town is found in the fact that for the greater part of more than sixty years an excellent band has been functioning. The following data in regard to its member- ship and activities has been furnished by D. A. Sanders, who has been secretary of the organization for more than twenty-five years as well as serving as leader and playing on a variety of instruments.
Before following the story of the band, mention should be made of the Morrisville Drum Corps, which flourished during the late 80's. This organization, composed of school boys under the leadership of "Rob" Barnes, a Civil War drummer of North Hyde Park, was in great demand. From a photograph of the corps its personnel is given as follows: £ Robert Barnes, leader; Horatio N. Cram, drum major; fifers, Henry S. George, Charles Goozey, Walter Fitch, William Whipple; snare drums, Ellis E. Foster, Leon E. Brackett, Walter Gilbert; bass drum, Wallace Gilbert; cymbals, Horatio Barrows and Edward Cram.
It seems certain that the first band owed its incep- tion to the enthusiasm and ability of Mr. W. F. Whipple and as early as 1868 the Morrisville Silver Cornet Band
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furnished music for the first graduating exercises at Peoples Academy, and Mr. Whipple was its leader. Other references are made at later intervals to Mr. W. I. Paul, for many years well known as a violinist and orchestra leader, as the director of its activities. There is still in the possession of the present organization one of the old "over shoulder" instruments which were in use soon after the Civil War. In 1883 its personnel was as follows: Leader, Charles Spaulding ; treasurer, C. A. Gile; secretary, Charles Hadley ; members, George Woodward, J. A. Robin- son, Fred Spaulding, A. O. Gates, Percy Stone, A. B. Mun- son, H. Drown, John Morgan, E. S. Robinson, W. E. Field, S. Town, A. W. Spaulding, and George Collyer. That year the first of the band stands was erected in Academy Park. But the tide of its fortunes ebbed and flowed as the enthusiasm of its members waxed and waned and on the great gala day of the town, its hundredth anniversary, it is noted that the bands were all imported, only the Morris- ville Drum Corps appearing from this town. Perhaps this led to the activity recorded in the "News and Citizen" of July 17, 1890: "Morrisville has a brass band. An
organization was effected Saturday evening. C. A. Gile was elected leader, J. J. Burdick, assistant leader, and D. A. Sanders, secretary and treasurer. It is expected that there will be fourteen players, and next week we hope to publish the names. With the musical ability in the band we may be sure of excellent music. It should be liberally sustained." After a few meetings in the town hall this attempt was discontinued and a juvenile drum corps furnished music as occasion required.
On July 10, 1895, another attempt was made with better success and the Morrisville Military Band was organized, with the following officers: President, C. A. Gile; secretary, D. A. Sanders; treasurer, C. B. Greene; leader, W. E. Dufer. This organization functioned for about two years, but upon Mr. Dufer's leaving town it gave up for want of a leader. Two or three years later Mr. James Simms, a very fine cornetist, organized another band, made up for the most part of younger players, and this was well under way when he, too, moved away. Mr. James Winn took up the reins and kept up the interest for some time and was succeeded by D. A. Sanders, who held the position of leader until 1905, when another reorganiza- tion took place.
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In 1905 Morristown held a grand Fourth of July cele- bration, music for which was furnished by the Morrisville Military Band and the Peconic Band. The latter was a Morrisville Foundry production, consisting of a home- made truck propelled by a gasoline engine and having a platform large enough to hold the band, consisting of C. P. Greene, C. B. Greene, C. A. Gile, F. L. George, Eli B. Gile, and others. That fall a reorganization took place and these officers were elected: President, J. M. Kelley ; leader, C. Porter Greene; secretary and treasurer, C. H. Crane. Mr. Crane held the office about a year and then was succeeded by D. A. Sanders, who is still serving in that capacity.
The band was sadly in need of new instruments, but had no money in the treasury. It was decided to hold a band fair. As the instruments were needed for use at the fair, two sets were ordered to be sent on trial, one from the C. G. Conn Co. and the other from the Boston Musical Instrument Co. The former came in due time, but a fire in the factory of the latter delayed their shipment. How- ever, permission was obtained from the Conn Co. to retain their instruments so that the two sets might be compared. And the band found itself with about $1,500 worth of instruments in its possession and an empty treasury. But the fair which was held for five evenings, with con- certs, the drawing of prizes, and dancing each evening was a financial success so the instruments were paid for and a balance left in the treasury. These new instruments were deeded over to the village of Morrisville, so they could be used only by local bands and could not be disposed of without the consent of the trustees of the village. Several of these band fairs have been held and always with profit to the band and, in addition, concerts, dances and plays have been held to raise money.
At the next March meeting the town appropriated $200 for the band, provided it furnished music for Memorial Day and gave at least ten outdoor concerts dur- ing the summer. This amount was later increased and the village has also given a sum annually.
In 1913 the band lost one of its best players in the death of Channing B. Greene, the first of its members to pass on; there was a lack of interest and no concerts were given that summer, but in the latter part of the year, through the efforts of Mr. Walter C. Ward, the organiza-
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tion was revived. A few of the old players came back, but the majority were new men, some of whom had never played before, and they were mostly of high school age. D. A. Sanders was the leader and two meetings a week were held, one for the beginners and the other for the whole band, and when the concert season opened there were thirty-one members. They tried to carry on the same routine as previous bands, but owing to the World War were greatly handicapped. In 1918, as the Stowe band was in the same plight, the two organizations united, the Stowe boys coming here for rehearsals. The follow- ing summer the united band gave concerts in both villages, and played for several patriotic meetings, including the celebration at the end of the war when the the soldiers returned home.
In 1920 another reorganization took place. A sub- scription paper was circulated among the business men to raise funds to hire a leader and Mr. C. P. Greene was hired for the position. Soon afterwards the town increased its appropriation to $500 and the village voted a like sum. Since 1926 the band has been on a commercial basis, each member receiving fifty cents for attending rehearsals and one dollar for each concert given during the summer.
Since 1905 this has been one of the best equipped bands to be found among country organizations. At the present time another change is taking place, with the addi- tion of several new members from the high school. In 1930 Mr. Greene, with the assistance of Mr. J. O. Reed, organized a band in the village schools. It was a success from the first and has been a fine thing for both school and band. At the present time it is under the able direc- tion of Willard K. Sanders.
The band has had many different meeting places, in the Tift block at the foot of Main Street and in the adjoin- ing building, in the town hall, over MacDonald's blacksmith shop on Bridge Street, over the H. A. Slayton & Co. feed store, etc. In 1921 the room over the fire station was secured and meetings have been held there since.
In 1930 the Rotary Club gave the members of the band a banquet at the Randall Hotel in commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its organization, and pre- sented Mr. Greene with a gold mounted baton and Mr. Sanders with a gold trimmed desk set. That the band has been a source of enjoyment, not only to the people of
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Morristown, but to those from surrounding towns, is evidenced by the crowds which attend the concerts given during the summer months. These concerts were for- merly given in Academy Park, where during the past forty years four wooden stands were built. Then one of cement was constructed and used until 1931, when an up-to-date "shell" type stand was built on the school grounds not far from Peoples Academy and given by Mr. A. H. Copley. At the dedication of this stand on July 2, 1931, Justice Powers, in the course of his remarks, called upon C. P. Greene, J. O. Reed, H. E. Woodbury and D. A. Sanders, pioneer mem- bers of the organization, to rise as he publicly expressed the gratitude of their fellow citizens to these men who, by their loyal support, have done so much to maintain an institution which has added greatly to the pleasure of the music loving citizens of this locality.
In September, 1933, Mr. C. P. Greene resigned as director and no meetings were held for three months. Then they reorganized with Willard K. Sanders as leader, and the keen interest of the younger members indicates that the reputation of the town for having one of the best bands in the state will be maintained.
CHAPTER XV
THE PRESS, THE POSTOFFICE, AND
PUBLIC HOUSES
IN this age when the radio has been added to the mam- I moth daily as a means of disseminating news, it is difficult to picture a day when knowledge of the outside world was confined to the visits of the weekly newspaper which told not merely the important local events, but of occurrences of national and world-wide interest. With- out doubt the press of that day, inadequate as it seems, was a potent factor in shaping public opinion, and the quaint sheets issued from many small towns bore fruit in political action. The fourth estate was a significant element in the early history of Vermont and the story of its begin- nings in any town is worthy of consideration.
The first newspaper in the county was published at Stowe in 1830 by the Rev. J. P. Hendee, father of Governor Hendee, and was called "The Christian Luminary." It was a semi-monthly which appeared less than three years and was followed by a series of papers issued under dif- ferent names at Johnson. It was not until 1848 that the hamlet of Morrisville could boast of its own publication.
The "North American Citizen," published every Thursday in Morrisville and Waterbury by Joseph A. Somerby, began its career in 1848. It bore the inscription, "The Vermonter's Own Paper; devoted to news, education, morality, agriculture, science and art, literature and gen- eral miscellany-independent in politics." Mr. Somerby had served his apprenticeship in the newspaper world in Waterbury, where he had published "Excelsior" in part- nership with Melvin Stow, and "The Free Mountaineer" of Waterbury and Montpelier. As his slogan indicates, this was a general newspaper and except for its advertise- ments contained little which was of more interest to Morris- town than to Montpelier. No file of these papers is extant, but if there was it would reflect American thought and interest rather than local life.
This publication was succeeded in 1852 by "The American Observer," published by Mr. Somerby and
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Charles Scott. The prospectus of the "Observer" makes the following statement of its conception and purposes : "A desire from the Weslyan Methodists in all parts of New England, having been repeatedly expressed that a weekly anti-slavery newspaper devoted to the interests of the Weslyan Methodist denomination should be permanently established within our own borders has induced the sub- scribers to commence the publication of such a newspaper. We rejoice at one thing especially, that our denomination is not based upon men or names, but upon principles. Principles that were laid down and established by Orange Scott, whose name will always be associated with the cause of the oppressed, and Popular Rights, and will live in the affections of the good, when his pro-slavery opposers will be remembered only to be despised. We must expect to meet with opposition, endure reproach, and make sacrifices ; but these we can cheerfully bear, in the cause of God, justice, mercy, and humanity. Let the strength of our principles support us-let the magnitude of the cause in which we are engaged stimulate our exertions-let the true spirit of Christianity give direction to all our efforts, and the glowing prospects of success which brighten upon the not very distant future, inflame our zeal. What have we to fear so long as we are conscious of doing right. And while our enterprise commends itself in its high moral aspect more particularly to our own Denomination, it must be a question of absorbing interest to the philanthropist and Christian-to all who desire the perpetuation of Free Institutions and the universal prevalence of those princi- ples of Christian Morality without which freedom is but a mockery and a name. It will be our endeavor to make in every respect a Good Family Newspaper. Every thing of an immoral tendency will be carefully excluded and we shall give it a somewhat general character, that those who take but one paper may have a summary of all the important news.
"SOMERBY AND SCOTT."
From this it is evident the paper had high ideals and great expectations. It had its authorized agent for receiv- ing subscriptions in Philadelphia and its men to receive advertisements in Boston and New York.
The year following Somerby was carrying on the enterprise alone with an enlarged paper bearing the slogan,
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"Free Discussion, Free Land, Free Education, Cheap Post- age, and a Free Press for a Free- People." He worked manfully for the success of the Free Democratic ticket which included among other nominees for county offices Horace Powers for senator, Samuel Pennock for assistant judge, and Thomas Gleed for state's attorney.
Perhaps these different papers had not received the support he expected, at any rate it would seem the project had not proved as profitable as he hoped, for his business card as a mason appears, and later he was one of the firm of Somerby & Terrill, general merchants. In the year 1854 there appeared "The Vermont Weekly Tribune," pub- lished at Burlington, Morrisville, and St. Albans, by Somerby & Sampson, with the former acting as local agent and editor, but this, also, was short lived. After a few years the local field was covered by "The Lamoille News- dealer," established at Hyde Park in 1860.
In the spring of 1873 "The Vermont Citizen" was started at Morrisville by A. A. Earle, who four years later purchased "The Newsdealer" and combined the two sheets. During the time that newspapers have been published in the town at least three well known figures in this field of work have been associated with them and not the least of them was Mr. Earle.
Araunah Augustus Earle was a native of Lamoille County, having been born in Hyde Park in 1826. Later his family moved to New York, where at the age of sixteen he began his journalistic career in the office of the Essex County Republican. He soon returned to Vermont and worked as journeyman in several different offices, but, restless by nature, like so many other young men of the period, he was attracted by the opportunities of the West and set out to seek them. While there, he had the unique experience of walking from Kansas City, Mo., to the Pacific Coast. Starting in April, 1852, he arrived in Port- land, Oregon, in August and resumed his work as a news- paper man in Oregon and later in Washington, but re- turned to his native state after two years.
Here he set out upon a career of establishing news- papers. "The Orleans Independent Standard" and "The National Opinion" at Bradford were founded by him and he was editor and proprietor of the "St. Johnsbury Times" before coming to Morrisville. In all these papers he maintained a unique reputation because of his sharp
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tongue and caustic wit. His locals were breezy and unconventional and not infrequently gave offense to the persons mentioned, but he pushed everything he thought contributed to the progress of the town, and the modern publicity agent would delight in his originality. As an example of his style the following excerpt from his report of the races and balloon ascension on July 3 and 4, 1873, is given:
"We are not much of a trottist. Fast horses are not our delight. Of the two we much prefer a campmeeting ; but will confess to getting just a little excited when we witnessed the last race, for our favorite 'Jerry Drew' was in it and he struck out so grandly on the home stretch that it seemed as if he had wings. If he could only score as well as he can fly over the home stretch we would bet on him against any horse in New England. Utton, too, is a good driver; cool headed, self possessed, temperate and virtuous.
"But the balloon was what called the crowd together, and was the all absorbing object of interest during the day. About 8000 tickets were sold on the second day, including team tickets; of people there were about .. 5000. The ascension was made at 1.40 P. M. · It rose to an alti- tude of about a mile and rested over Morrisville like a luminous globe, for some fifteen minutes, when it once more took a heavenward shoot and went nearly a mile and a half higher, and then sailed off slowly, gracefully to the northeast-all eyes intently watching it until it passed into the clouds. The view . was magnificent and grand beyond description. Jay Peak, Montgomery Mountain and Notch, Mansfield, and Camel's Hump, the White Moun- tains, the Adirondacks, Champlain, Memphremagog, the St. Lawrence-all these were seen or dimly outlined below or beyond him. They will stay upon the map of his memory like so many flowers plucked from the garden of paradise. The balloon was up a little more than an hour when it descended into a thunder storm; it then rose higher and met a storm of snow which sent it down into the wilderness near the line between Eden and Hyde Park, landing we think, upon land owned by George Waterman. Mr. King landed in a tree safely, exploded his balloon and commenced to ransack the wilderness for an outlet to the promised land. Being city bred and not used to the woods, he took the wrong direction, got lost, wandered about for
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a while and when dark came went to bed supperless on the-wet ground. No breakfast, no dinner, no supper on Saturday, but plenty of travel all day, while the midgets, mosquitoes and black flies by their constant nips and bites satisfied him that he was mortal, but that if that kind of fun was continued a great while longer he would be immortal. He thinks he would rather liquidate any other bill than a mosquito's. He rose at three A. M. on Sunday, said his prayers (we hope) and commenced tramping again, went down a stream and found the Jewett mill at eight o'clock. Here he met a few of the hundreds search- ing for him and went with them to the Haskin's house where he took something to eat and drink for the first time in two days and a half."
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