Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-10-08
T5e Oermont 45anlr.
lCorroponicnce Of The Fermont PhGnir.l
POULTNEY--MANUF CAN
DLESTICKS--THE CEMETERY AND
MONU MENTAL INSCRIPTIONS.
EAST porLrNEY, W., Sept. 10, iSj3

EAST PoULTNEY, W., Sept. 10, 1859.
NlR. EDITOR Very few, if any of your
readers are aware that more candlcstic>s are
made in a single factory in Vermont, perhaps,
than any where else in the United States. Such
is nevertheless the fact and the factory is in
this village. There is another in Connecticut,
and possibly some small establishments else
where, but the majority Of the candlc>ticis,
brass, iron, and tin, are made here. The bust
ness was commenced siX or seven years ago by
Mr. William Wheeler and is now carried on by
Mcs>rs Horace Eann. Chaunccy Edscrton, and
Norman c. Harris. Eighteen hands are en-
ployed, and thousand candlc,ticks day is
the average product.
OF course such la,gc results are not accom-
plishcd without the all Of machinery. In fact.
th, business. better than almost any other with
which am acquainted, illustrates the benefits
to be derived from the use of machinery and a
division of labor. About twenty-five different
acts are necessary to the making of candle
stick, about all Of which are performed by ma
chimes, most of them invented by Mr. Harris
The onl, operation in which machinery renders
no assistance is the insertion of three or four
rivets, which is wholly done by boy-powcr. y
powcr-press, working somewhat slowly but very
surely, first cuts out 'blanks" of the various
parts. Shape is then given to the tops and bot
toms by submitting them TO various "swcdgcs,' -
which, with few mighty blows, pound them
into exactly the shape desired. In the mean
time, the fiat blanks for the bodies are passed
through another machine which rolls them into
a barrel form. Polishing Of the several parts
is next in order. This is done in various ways,
but the best polish, which is bestowed on the
bottoms is obtained by furnishing with blood
stone. Then comes the preparation Of the mi
ror parts, thumb-piece, handle, litter, sc. The
final putting together of the candlcslicA i, ac-
complishel with great rapidity. timed man
and boy who finished fifteen in minute The
boy had the sticks lying before him in three
parts, which he put together, and handed to
the man, who fastened them by running them
through machine.
There is no soldering or brazing except on
some of the largest brass candlesticlls. They
are held together by two beads made by ma
chine, which does the work more cicctuallv
than any soldering can do. On rhis manner of
putting the stick together, patent has been
obtained. The stick being completed, it is sub
jectcd to another and final polishing, and the
brass sticks receive a coat of lacquer varnish,
applied while they are so hot as to make it cvap-
orate instantaneously. This preserves them
from all furnishing. One can hardly imagine
what becomes Of a thousand candlesticks day.
yet the manufacturers assure me that frequent
ly that number fails to answer the demand. \
single merchant in New York buys all that are
made here, and SO has the market under his al
most absolute control.
From the place of noise and life to the place
of silence and death. The old graveyard is a
profitable place to spend an hour not only to
be reminded of the mortality which we are so
constantly forgetting that when it comes to us
IT takes us by surprise as it it were Il thing un-
heard Of but to pick mp fragments of history,
biography, chronology, &C., which cannot be
gathered from any oh2r source. There are al
ways attractions for me in any enclosure, where
each in his narrow cell forever laid
ihe rude lulclathers OF the hamlet sleep"
This burial-pace contains indeed some of the
forciathers. The most ancient grave is that OF
Isaac Ashley, one of the very first settlers OF
Poulmey, who died April l7th, l777. Not far
distant is the grave of Heber Allen, an unds-
tinguished brother of Ethan and Ira. The head.
stone bears the following inscription
"Ihis grave contains the remains
of
Major lEBER ALLEN
who with his brothers assisted in
the struggle for the independence
of this and the United States.
lie was one of the earliest settlers
in this town. and died as he lived,
and as expressed by his brother
Ethan, the uoblest worl, of God
on the 10Th day of April,
ID 17s2,
Aged 3S years"
One OF the most conspicuous monuments ir