Sketches of the town of Topsham, Orange County, Vermont, 1929, Part 3

Author: Craig, Frank H., 1859-
Publication date: 1929
Publisher: Bradford, Vt., The Green Mountain Press
Number of Pages: 210


USA > Vermont > Orange County > Topsham > Sketches of the town of Topsham, Orange County, Vermont, 1929 > Part 3


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12


Total wages for the term: $200.00.


Number of pupils enrolled: 28.


34


THE SCHOOLS OF TOPSHAM


Fall Term :-


Teacher: Miss Velma R. Jones. Number of weeks taught: 12. Total wages: $252.00. Number of pupils: 30.


Winter Term :-


Teacher: Miss Velma R. Jones. Number of weeks taught: 12.


Total wages: $252.00. Number of pupils: 28.


WEST TOPSHAM SCHOOL, DISTRICT NO. 17.


The first school in the west part of town was in District No. 3. The building in which school was kept was located on "Zion Hill" less than one mile east of what is now West Topsham village. The building was of brick, and must have been erected about 1810.


Zion Hill was the center of a Calvinist Baptist settlement be- gun by David Bagley, Jonathan Sanborn and others. The building in which the first school was held was erected primarily as a church, but was also used as a schoolhouse.


We find in the town records that in 1807 the single term of school cost $12.00. In 1811 a summer and a winter term were kept, costing respectively, $12.00 and $18.00. Alma Cunningham taught in this building.


The brick building gave place to a framed building, which about 1883 was moved with oxen to near Orange Heights, where it is said to be now used as a sugar house. District No. 17 was


35


1277089 THE SCHOOLS OF TOPSHAM


organized in 1841. Later District No. 3 was united with District No. 17. The first schoolhouse in District No. 17 was situated on the left hand side of the road at the foot of the long rise to the West Topsham postoffice. School was kept here till the present building was erected.


In 1859 two terms of school were kept in No. 17, a summer term of twelve weeks costing for teachers $14.00, and a winter term of twelve weeks costing $30.00. The board for teachers cost $28.87, the fuel $7.00, a total cost of $89.87 for the year. One teacher at this time reported 153 cases of tardiness for the term.


The present building was built by Roswell M. Bill in 1859 at a cost of $3,000.00. February 1, 1860, he sold the lower part to the town for a schoolroom. Charles Divoll, the first teacher in this building, died from wounds received in the Battle of the Wilderness. Others of the earlier teachers were: Mrs. M. G. Kezer, Lucy C. Dickey, A. N. Fellows, and Mrs. C. E. Woodward.


From 1860 to 1865 there was held a select school of about twenty-five pupils.


In 1882 there were so many pupils that two teachers were needed. In 1890 it was again a one-room school. W. C. Belknap taught the winter term for $23.50 per week. He had 40 pupils. The number of pupils has varied so that part of the time it has been a two-room school.


There were plenty of children in this neighborhood in early days. The birth. statistics of the town give large families; six, eight, thirteen, and one of eighteen children. The mother of to- day has an easy time compared with that of her great-great-grand- mother, who had to knit and mend stockings for from ten to twenty pairs of hands and feet. And the father who now complains of the expense of bringing up one or two offspring ought to think himself well off when he recalls that father of early days with twenty mouths to feed and twenty bodies to clothe.


The following is the report of the West Topsham school for the year 1928. It was a one-room school in the spring, a two- room school in the fall and winter:


Spring term: Marion McLam, teacher; 10 weeks; wages $200.00; 30 pupils. The lower grades were taught by Liva D. Londry in the fall and winter. Each term was for twelve weeks. She received $240 for each term, and had 24 pupils. The upper grades were taught by Mrs. Otalie B. Simpson. She taught twelve weeks in each term, received $252.00 for each term, and had 13 pupils.


36


THE SCHOOLS OF TOPSHAM


Would that the records of the schools of Topsham were more complete so that I might name more of the teachers who have taught in the schools of that town. Many of those teachers are gone. They lie upon the sloping hillsides covered alike by the flowers of summer and the snows of winter. Their work is done, but the truths they taught by precept, by example, and in class, will never die. These truths still march on in the lives of the men and women who received instruction at the hands of these teachers.


THE TOPSHAM HIGH SCHOOL.


In 1854 N. R. Johnston, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at East Topsham, began to give lessons in the higher branches. As some of his pupils were teachers and others were preparing to teach, the school was styled the Topsham High School.


The school term was of two and one-half months. School was kept in vacant rooms in the Village of East Topsham. The attendance soon increased so that it was necessary to hire an as- sistant. Among those who held the position of assistant to Mr. Johnston at different times were the Misses Lora Miller, Emily F. Willey, Frances E. Johnson, and Mr. Robert McNiece.


All the ordinary academic subjects were taught. Among these were Astronomy and Moral Science. The school term al- ways closed with an examination and a public exhibition. The exhibition consisted of essays, debates, declamations and music. The following is an extract from Mr. Johnston's diary of November 18, 1858:


"Closed ten weeks school. In the program was a debate on dissolution of the union. The debaters opposing dissolution re- ceived applause; their opponents hisses." One of those oppon- ents, Charles Divoll, later gave his life to preserve the union.


The highest enrollment in this school was between twenty- five and thirty. During the Civil War thirteen young women were enrolled, the young men being in the service of their country. The school continued for about ten years, closing with the pastorate of Mr. Johnston.


37


THE SCHOOLS OF TOPSHAM


EQUIPMENT OF TOPSHAM'S EARLY SCHOOLS.


In making these sketches of the schools of the Town of Tops- ham there are some things which deeply impressed me. Among these were the frequent change of teachers throughout all those earlier years, and the lack of reference books and maps. "Readin," "Rithmetic" and spelling seem to be the only subjects taught.


With no history, no geography nor composition and very little writing in the schools the daily routine must have been monoton- ous indeed. It is little wonder that pupils were disgusted with school and took every opportunity to stay at home.


Every school reported a lack of maps, globes and dictionaries, not only in the earlier schools, but even to the present time. All of these are essential to good school work. Every school should have its maps and sufficient blackboard space for its largest class to work at one and the same time.


Probably the greatest detriment to progress in the schools of the town has been too frequent change in teachers. No school can do the best work when its teachers are changed two or three times each year. Good teachers should be appreciated and kept for a series of years if possible.


I find in some districts that boys and girls are using the same out-buildings. Because their parents and grand-parents used the same building it is no reason why two separate buildings should not be provided today. There is no doubt that a feeling of deli- cacy sometimes prevents a child from using this building, often to the serious detriment of his health.


Privies should be in the basement of the schoolhouse when it is possible to have running water. If outdoors there should be two of these buildings separated by as much space as the school- yard will permit. Trees or shrubs hiding these buildings would add to the beauty of the yard and contribute to the finer elements in the natures of the school children.


38


THE SCHOOLS OF TOPSHAM


THE OLD SCHOOL BELL.


The village schools of Topsham have belfrys in which hang bells; the country schools still have the old hand-bells. For over a hundred years the old bell in the various districts has rung out its summons calling the boys and girls to the schoolhouse doors.


Battered, worn and gone are some of the schoolhouses, but the old bell, symbol of promptness and industry, still remains as an essential a part of the school as the children themselves.


The old bell wherever it be, On battered desk or belfry high, Still calls as in years agone To boys and girls, far and nigh.


Be prompt, be prompt, it ever says, No place have we for a laggard here,


Come, hurry up, m'y boy, my girl, Come with a smile and not a tear.


The tasks you do and lessons learn, In these youthful days at school,


Will make your path thru all of life Ever a part of the golden rule.


For school is only a grinding mill, Where the best of men are made,


Where manhood's stamp is firmly fixed, For every boy and every maid.


39


WAITS RIVER


WAITS RIVER


The name was originally spelled Wait's as is shown on older maps and papers, but the common usage now is to write the name without the apostrophe.


In 1759 a force of New England soldiers known as Rogers' Rangers were sent against the St. Francis Indians in Canada near Three Rivers on the St. Lawrence. The Rangers met the Indians on October 5th, 1759, and punished them severely for the depre- dations they had been committing in New England.


The return of the soldiers was by way of Lake Memphrema- gog to and down the Connecticut River. The difficulty of traveling in the deep snows of winter and lack of provisions caused several of the men to perish.


Major Robert Rogers, who commanded the expedition, had expected to find supplies on the Lower Coos. Not finding these he discharged his Rangers, telling them to seek food wherever they could.


Captain Joseph Wait, with a small squad, pushed on ahead of the others and within a short distance killed a deer. Keeping a small portion of this deer for themselves, they hung the rest in a tree for the other Rangers who were expected to pass that way soon. That there might be no misunderstanding, Captain Wait cut his name on the bark of the tree from which he had suspended the deer. As the tree stood on the bank of a small river emptying into the Connecticut, the grateful men in remembrance of their benefactor called the river Wait's River, by which name it has since been known.


Waits River rises in Harris Gore. It enters the Town of Topsham near the northwest corner. After meandering south- ward near the western bounds of the town for several miles, it turns eastward and leaves the town about 2 34 miles from it south- eastern corner. A number of brooks in the western part of the town empty into this river. A branch sometimes called Jail Branch enters Waits River from the south about half way from its easter- ly turn to Waits River Village.


Another stream called Tabor Branch rises in the northern and central parts of the town and flows south into the Town of Corinth, where it unites with the main river.


The many hills of Topsham make good water sheds. The town has innumerable brooks and springs. Nearly every home


40


WAITS RIVER


has its running water for both man and beast. Probably no town in the State has a more abundant supply of good water.


WAITS RIVER ON A RAMPAGE.


The following item taken from the Bradford Opinion of Feb- ruary 20, 1925, shows that a mail-man's work is not all fun:


"Kenneth V. Batten had a thrilling experience on his return trip to Waits River Thursday night of last week with his snow- mobile, mail and one passenger, Raymond Locke, who is attend- ing school at Bradford Academy. Waits River 'breaking up' by reason of rains and the continued thaw was in its worst mood; huge cakes of ice jammed and dammed the river in places only to break and let the waters pass on. When Mr. Batten went down in the afternoon there was only a little water backing into the road below John Felch's. Not thinking but that he could again drive through it Mr. Batten drove into the water which had deep- ened since his trip down in the afternoon. The water reached the floor of the car. It was impossible to turn about, and when the water came even with the lights and they went out, the engine stalled and the car was at a standstill. It was a moment when one 'thinks fast and serious' even though all is darkness. Mr. Batten got out and, feeling his way to the rear of the car, took the mail sack and the lad, carrying them for about twenty rods out of the icy rushing waters. Mr. Batten stated that only the weight of the boy (about 135 pounds) and the mail sack kept him from being carried off his feet by the swiftness of the current. A yoke of oxen was obtained and the car was pulled out of the water and Mr. Batten reached the postoffice at Waits River at 11 o'clock."


ANCHOR ICE.


It is an interesting fact that ice sometimes forms in early winter at the botton of Waits River before the river freezes over. The reason for this is as follows: In early winter the swift running water of the river is reduced to a temperature below freezing. This cold water running over and against the rocks in the bed of the river reduces them to the same temperature as the water. It is a well known fact that still water freezes sooner than running water. The motion of the water in the river is checked by the cold rocks in the river's bed. These rocks form a nuclei to which this still water freezes. For the same reason ice forms along shore before it does out farther in the swifter current.


WAITS RIVER VILLAGE.


This village grew up about the sawmill established by Amasa


41


WAITS RIVER


W. Clark in 1809. The first store dates from the time of the grist- mill built in 1819. An impetus was given to the growth of the village when in 1854 E. C. Swift became owner of the mill site and erected a fine new saw mill and grist mill.


The village now has fourteen dwelling-houses besides a church, a parsonage, a sawmill and bobbin factory, a postoffice, a store and a blacksmith shop. The population is 34. Within a mile of the village there are twice the number of dwelling-houses and about three times the population. This village is situated upon Waits River, from which river it received its name.


THE OLD MILL HOUSE.


Entering Waits River Village from the west one sees an old unoccupied house on the right-hand side of the road. This "Old Mill House" as it was called many years ago was built about 1811 and was occupied for many years by the different mill owners or by the mill hands.'


The frame of this building, the oldest now standing in the village, is entirely of hewn timbers well pinned together. The lath were split by hand and the original boards were made by an up-and-down saw out of logs from the virgin forests which covered not only the neighboring hillsides but the very site of the old house itself.


Here the family gathered on winter evenings. The father sitting by the fire after a hard day's work in the mill. The mother sitting quietly by. Her never-idle hands engaged in mending, darn- ing or knitting. The children gathered about the table lighted only by a tallow dip or a tallow candle.


Few books, no papers at all, yet these and others of such hardy pioneers are the stock from whom came the men and women who peopled the Great West and made of our country a great na- tion.


May the old Mill House stand for other centuries exemplifying by its strong and well-built frame the hardy characters of our an- cestors. May the difficulties and hardships endured by the people who lived in this old house and others like it help to make the youth of today appreciate the many modern improvements now in use.


THE DUNBAR HOUSE.


The old Dunbar house now owned by Clifford Chalmers is next to the "Mill House" the oldest in Waits River Village. Asa Dunbar leased the land upon which this house stands of Aaron Bullard December 13, 1837.


42


WAITS RIVER


The lower part between the main part and the barn was prob- ably built soon after the lease was given, the main part a year or two later. The barn was built a number of years later. Both parts of the house have frames of hewn timbers.


WAITS RIVER.


This village lies in Topsham, A village quaint and old, Its scattered houses number A score or more, I'm told.


Low houses flank the roadside, A road which winds away To meet the misty cloudlands, Where morning sunbeams play.


Below the road, the river Leaps swiftly in its bed,


A-many are the brooklets By which this stream is fed.


Through clumps of trees the river Reflects the sun's clear light,


The lightning flash of fireflies, A-lights its course at night.


In brook and river hidden, By rock, by tree and fern,


The wary trout lies sporting At every crook and turn.


Above are hillside meadows, Where red the berries flaunt,


Still higher stand the maples, The pride of old Vermont.


A cowbell tinkles faintly, And softly hum the bees. While melody of birds Fills all the forest trees.


Pastoral scene this village, None fairer can be found.


Here Nature dons her richest, -


For us 'tis holy ground.


43


WAITS RIVER


THE STORE AT WAITS RIVER.


The first store of which we find any record was kept by E. C. Swift in 1854-5 in what is now known as the "Old Mill House." In 1855 Mr. Swift built a small store on the site of the one now standing. This building was later enlarged to its present size.


A "company store" was started in this building in 1861. This store was not successful and did not continue very long. A small store building stood in the present parsonage garden a few years ago. This building was burned about 1919.


The buildings on the "store lot" are now owned by E. S. Locke, who conducts a general store business. This is a typical country store, handling feed, groceries, meats, hardware, drygoods, boots, shoes, and ready-made clothing.


In addition, Mr. Locke's large and roomy house furnishes an ideal stopping place for over-night summer guests. "Lockehurst," as the place is called, took care of 115 night lodgers during the summer of 1928. Most of these guests were tourists.


MILLS AT WAITS RIVER.


On January 1, 1808, the selectmen of the Town of Topsham. Vt., acting as agent for "The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," a corporation established at London in that part of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called Eng-


44


WAITS RIVER


land, leased the land which became the "mill site" at Waits River to John McCrillis.


December 9, 1809, Ebenezer Bullard sold about three or four acres of this land to Amasa W. Clark for a mill site. The price paid for this land was forty dollars. Clark made a dam and did sawing with water power till March 14, 1815, when he sold his equipment and site to Moses Mills.


Moses Mills sold his holdings to Jonathan Jenness September 20th, 1815. The saw-mill passed from the hands of Jenness to Gillman White December 16th. 1819. White made an improve- ment by putting in a grist mill.


The mill site and mill were sold by Gillman White to James Dickey and others April 4th, 1821, for five hundred dollars. On November 17th, 1825, James Dickey sold the mill, mill site, mill pond and with these about ten acres of land which afterwards be- came the "Parker Bayley" lease.


The old lease from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was renewed May 16th, 1828. A new lease was made out to Parker Bayley. This lease was for about thirteen acres and included the mills, mill site, mill pond and approximately all of Waits River Village on the north side of Waits River east- ward to the church and Pike Hill road.


After passing through several hands E. C. Swift got possession of the mill property on January 11th, 1854. Mr. Swift erected the mill building now standing and for a number of years did a flour- ishing business with his saw and grist mills.


Mr. Swift sold to D. P. Jackman April 26th, 1858. Mr. Jack- man added bobbin making to the other occupations carried on at this mill. Later the mill became the property of Beede & Locke. For several years now the mill not only made bobbins and lumber but had a cider mill and machinery for making bowls and clap- boards.


The mill was run by water power furnished by damming the Waits River until January 7th, 1921, when H. Wallace Chalmers bought the mill property. Mr. Chalmers discontinued the grist mill and improved the bobbin-making part of the mill. He put in an 80 horsepower boiler and a 40 horsepower engine. This engine and boiler still furnish the power for the mill.


At the present time the mill is owned jointly by Jackman Brothers of East Corinth, Vt., and Flint Brothers of Washington, Orange County, Vt. Jackman Bros. turn hardwoods into rough bobbins, after which the bobbins are taken to the Jackman factory at East Corinth, where they are completed for market.


45


WAITS RIVER


Flint Bros. turn the softwoods of the neighboring hills into lumber. Much of this softwood lumber is disposed of at Barre, where it is used by quarry owners for crating granite.


During the year 1928 several carloads of bobbins, besides from six hundred to seven hundred thousand feet of lumber have been manufactured at this mill.


46


EARLY DAYS


-


EARLY DAYS


In the early days of the town all the heavy clothing was made in the home. The sheep were sheared, the wool carded by hand, spun into thread on the spinning-wheel, woven into cloth on the home-made loom, and then made into clothing for winter.


By 1816 Amplius Blake had a clothier's works in Topsham, where the farmers' wool, after being carded, could be made into clothing. In 1818 Hobart Wyatt rented the clothier works for three years. Wyatt put in a carding machine run by water power.


The writer still has in use a woolen blanket woven in 1847. The wool for this blanket was taken from the sheep by Mary Fel- lows, carded by hand, spun into thread and woven on the old home-made loom, all the work of her own hands. Later this blanket became a part of her wedding outfit.


Calico for summer clothing was obtained once or twice a year from Newbury and later from Bradford or East Topsham by swap- ping produce for it. The following prices are taken from an old receipt of the early 40's:


14 yards cotton cloth Sc


1 coat .. $5.00


6 yards calico @ Sc


9 yards calico @ 12c


1 deep plate 7c 10 glass dishes @ 8 1/2 each


A part of the pay for this bill was in footings (woolen stock- ings) at 37c per pair.


OUR GRANDMOTHERS.


Those grandmothers of ours labored from morning till dusk and then by candle light or by the light of the tallow-dip continued their work on into the evening. They spun the wool produced on the farm into yarn. This yarn was taken from the old spinning wheel and wound on a reel into skeins. The skeins were dyed with home-made dyes, then wound into balls by hand. These balls of yarn were knitted into stockings or mittens, or woven on the looms into cloth, from which blankets and clothes were made.


They strained the milk and kept the crocks, pans and pails clean and sweet. They skimmed the rich yellow cream from the milk and with the old dash churn turned this cream into the finest butter possible. They knew how to make "all-cream" cheese and "skim-milk" cheese that would fairly melt in a hungry mouth.


47


EARLY DAYS


They could bake all kinds of delectable dishes from corn. The corn-meal plum-pudding was placed in a small sack and then boiled in a kettle of water. They knew how to make "Johnny- cake," "Injun" bread and hominy. No more does a hungry boy eat a whole Johnny-cake in a bowl of milk and smack his lips for more. No more does he eat his hunk of Injun pudding covered with sweetened cream, and no more is his Sunday dinner made entirely of hominy and milk.


Those grandmothers met several times during the year at the quilting bee, where they finished the pieced blocks, made from the remnants of the year's dresses and aprons, into warm thick quilts that are still shown by their grandchildren.


In sickness they were ever ready to lend a helping hand. They knew all the first-aid remedies. Catnip and boneset hung in the garret at all times. Yellowdock salve could be made at a moment's notice, and sulphur and molasses were ever in the cupboard.


The home was the center of the family's interest. Every home on every evening was a typical "Cotter's Saturday Night." The mother was firm in her rule of the family. "No" meant no to the children. "You may stay a half hour" meant just one-half hour and no more.


As girls those grandmothers of ours wore sensible low-heeled shoes, calico dresses and aprons. They wore their hair in long braids tied with ribbons. In summer they wore sunbonnets made from calico remnants stiffened with a few pieces of flat paste- board, and in winter they wore cloaks having capes and hoods. Those sunbonnets often hid very attractive faces and sometimes the boys failed to get even a glimpse of those winsome hidden faces.


'Well! The world do move!" Our grandmothers have gone to their rewards. The mother of today has changed. The family life no longer centers about the home fireside. High-heeled shoes and scanty dresses have been brought from the French capital to take the place of the calfskin shoe and the voluminous calico dress. No longer do our girls wear their hair in long braids tied witlı ribbons. No longer are their faces hidden by the sunbonnet of yore. Civilization cannot stand still even though it sometimes progresses by means of the conceits of its individuals.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.