Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-07-09
For the Oxford Democrat.
Our VILLAGE.

Judge Others by myself should say that
such |. no, the case For one I would like
to SEQ portion Of the paper every week de-
voted to little local sketches, descriptive Of
our rural homes and Villages, than which
there are mono more beautiful AMI petur-
e.quc m all New England. And even ia
little local pride il manifest in such delinea.
tons, | think IL eIcunble, for we all
imagine that our cwn place, In some re-
.pects, eScels Others, and this pride and at
,aehment to home is not only right but
necessary in order that each and all may be
con,cnted. We also like 10 have Others un-
dcr,,and and aPprec ate the Peculiarad'an,
ages 81 our situation.
"our village" aas had more rapid
growth than any other Of the sane sire in
the county, and in this particular mos, re-
sembles tho villages which spring up 80
rapidly in tho west. Nine year. ago ,hero
was but one hoese 10 this vicinity and that
was surrounded by forest. 4 village hero
had never then been though. Of Whom tho
Railway wa, surveyed and located through
,hi. region Il became necessary Tor the back
towns Of Rumiorj. Andover, DiNhsld AMI
Others, TO have aroad 10 connect them there
with. and as this was nearest the road was
built. A public house then became ucces-
.ary for the accommodation Of those who
connect with the railway at this point. aud
around Iii. as a nucleus thl present village
ha. been built. 4" Our village now num-
Der. nearly three hundred inhabitants, aud
is increasing.
Situated on tho east shore Of Bryant's
Pond il !. direct communication by good
road. with all the places Of interest in the
adjoining towns. On the opposite side Of
the pond Noun. Christopher, hold and
densely wooded mounuin, re,rs 10 head.
. forming magnificent background Tor tho
picture, its dark green foliage contrasting
beautifully with the POLISHED surface Of tho
pond and the neatly painted houses Of tho
village. From the summit o! this noun
tain. which is easily assembled, a. il slopes
toward. tho west, fine view is had Of Ito
surrounding country. The pond atound' in
a fine species Of trout.
I The public house in " our village has
lately been repaired and enlarged, and now
affords a pleasant home for the traveller.
Horses and carriage. are furnished a, shor.
notice. A stage makes tri.wcckly trips be-
tween this place and Andovcr and DiIheld.
Southwest Of the village stands the Univer-
salst Church, situated in one OF " Gods
frs, temples a beautiful pine grove.
This isa most charming retreat in which
to spend the holy sabbath, aud tie signing
Of the winds through the trees always in
duce. meditation AMI prayer. Al the Eastern
extremity is the Bapti., Chapel. Tho means
Of education have not been neglected here.
ior our citizens during the pas. year have
erected ine school house, pleasantly 10
Gated on an elevation which oyerlooks tho
whole village, in which a high school is to
be opened.
i One scriou. drawback 70 our growth and
prosperity is the want Of water power TO
propel machinery. But this misfortune Is
partly made up in our ineIhaustablc quar-
rie, Of granitc, which are now largely work
cd, and give employmcn, TO large number
Of workmen. rhi. granite is Of q superior
quality, Of uniform color, FREQ from tho
salts Of iron, and we'll adapted to building
purposes. Mr. Ira Andrews, Of Bedford,
the onterprising contractor for the masonry
on the Grand Trunk Railway, i now taking
gu, larger quantities iorrcPairing and build.
ins bridges.
/ The people Of this place, in clearing their
lands. have adopted plan indicative OF
good taste in the preservation Of thu original
fores, trees for ornamental purpose-. Tho
lots Of Rev. r. Durham and X X Dunham,
more particularly tho former, on the west
side Of the railway, are specimens Of this
practice Their houses are protected from
the hot summer sun. and iheir buildings
and gardens from the cold blasts Of winter.
Elder Dunham has one Of the finest flower
gardens in the country, Of which propose
TO speak more atlength a. some future time.
There is one thing which our citizen. have
no, taken hold Of yet, and that is public
cemetery. But am glad TO say that the
public mind has been OF late directed to the
subject, and DO no, doubt that something
will be done. There oush to be. Nothing
speaks palmer and more emPhAticaIly for
the intelligence and refinement Of a people
than a well.reguated and ornamental rest
ing place for the faithful dead.
Tho old practice, 20 common in the eoun'
try. Of selecting the most barren places for
burial grounds. of throwing upa rough
fence. IL fenced at all, aud then allowing
brakes and bushes to grow up in their own
Wild way is. to cay the least, very bad
one. A fertile spot should be selected par
tally covered with trees. and with plain
neat fence. Avenues should be graded and
rravelled through it, and the land cultivated.
And above all, aoNer' should BE- freely
planted around the graves Of the departed.
How appropriate is the opening rosebud,
shedding its fragrance around the resting
place OF sleeping childhood the locust, that
speaks Of buried affections; the weeping
willow that mourns for friends long parted
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