Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-06-01
A!isrrllanfnll5.
For the Waterman n Journal
OLDEN TIMES.---No. 5.
SEVENTY YEARS IN THE WIN
OOSKI VALLEY

ofinvective and abuse of that 'iancicnt
and honorable" institution. Placed,
injudiciously as it is, at the head and
front of Main Street, and encompass
sed on all sides by noise and hustle,
flying dust in summer and blasts of
sleet and snow in winter, and one
Of the most unsuitable locations for
such an institution, with the inces-
SAINT clat,er and jingliug bells across
the branch bridge and in the very
door slIls and window sils of the
crumbling edifce, can say Of the
"Old Academy" as a better man
once said Of his country, "with all
thy faults, love thee still" The
sweet memory of events, in the old
wooden building, consumed by fire,
on which the brick aud mortar now
stands, a mcmento Of the pad taste
of lis builders, still cluster in my
mind and have strong hold upon
my affections. 1t was there. in the
upper room Of the Old Wooden
Mansion, occupied, one half of the
lower story as dwelling house, and
the other half as an Academy in
which to teach the young icea how
TO shoot" that our fathers and moth
ers used TO worship God. The floor
cIa,iered beneath the feet Of those
who entered or retlred-but there
was n solemn Stiffness when the Man
of God, the loved and lamented
Chester Wright, the first settled
Minister of Montpelier, rose TO
pray or preach. and the choir Of
singers rose TO chant the Songs
Of David, the sweet Psalmist of
Israel, or sang the Songs OF Zlon.-
4 Full well | remember who constitut-
ed that first choir Of singers and that
frs, assembly of worshippers in the
old Academy Hall. Some OF them
still live and move in your midst
but far the greater proportion " sleep
with their fathers in the old burying
ground on IIubbard's hill pasture, in
the present resting place OF the dead
on Elm Street, then called Long
Gale, or rest 10 their graves in distant
portions OF the country. Among the
female singers, in that choir, was a
Young girl with a full and sweet
voice, who sang counter. Her voice,
or her face, ] know ioi which, | am
told, attracted the special attention
of a Printer Boy, Of some eighteen
summers. Tha, girl is now, your
mother, Mr. Editor.
Another members Of that choir,
with a inc treble voice, who was the
first female born in Montpelier, with
. a fine form, fair complexion and mild
blue eyes, is the wife of the oldest
. officer in the Fnsi Congregational
Church in your Village, literally a
friend of the widow and the father
less, who has well administered upon
J, more dead mems estates than any
/ other man in The valley of Winoos-
/ XII. "The memory Of the jus, is
best" even while living, and when
4 dead "lheir works do follow them
Another sill, of that choir, was the
/. Young and blooming companion Of
the late Erastus Watrous, Esq a
man Of fine talents and great worth
:, as q husband, iatber, and ciiizen.--
/, lie, and his three companions, with
/. many of his children, sleep in bow
d er, enclosed by a railing, side 10y
side, dus, to dust and ashes TO ashes
in the bury ing ground on Elm Street
;, already full TO Overlooking, soon 10
$ be removed, with the remains OF 9th
y ers, TO the new and beautiful Gene
/. terry, in rapid completion, under the
fine taste and good judgment OF
committee, whose labors reflect high
honor not only upon themselves, but
{ upon the people of Montpelier, who
have honored themselves and ih'
place, by the appointment OF then
committee, and the accomplishment
:. thus far, of the noble enterprise
Among the improvements in Mont
Il pelier, on the Valley, and in full vie"
Of the Winooski and one of lis tribu'
taries, this, in your humble servants
estimation is one of the besi--lf no
the greatest and best. should no
. covet the privilege of long lli'
among a people who neglect theiI
dead. When | visit your village
and your graveyard, | find more
= familiar names among the grave
!. stones than familiar faces in you
streets, you will not, therefore, won
der that | love to hold communion
with the dead and the living of thu
!. "Olden Times"
"Fifiy years ago" there lived,
!, little way sup the branch" free
will Elder, familiarly called " Uncl'
Ziba"-Elder Ziba Woodwork
&C lie was a man Of strong nerve and I
II, strong mind, intent on doing good
o. tho somewhat eccentric, and goo'
: deal iace,ious. lie used to call TN
Congregalionalists "yellow bellies !
b. and once upon time, set the day q
., Of his decease. But oulliving his owl
prediction, a village female, of tn
., "yellow-belly" stripe in religion
' :. matters, inquired Of "Uncle Zlba'
how il happened that he was yet up
on earth. She thought his iunera
os sermon was TO have been preache'
the last Sabbath in fulfillment Of hi
prophecy.-"O no." replied III