The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-03-26
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road bridge az bellows FlIls-hoW IL stood che
aOod-poucs-HrpubIeauism rosn rum.
CuAGLtsIowS, n, H., March n, 1850,
10 Tho Edto, Of Ihs CALIFORNIAN
stay Of few months Ia ola "Charles-
town, 40. 4, ~ has given on opportunity 20
learn q few oflhg many interesting incidents,
connected with the early history Of the place
and its inhabitants.
Previous 10 coming here / had made en-,
quiy concerning the origin Of the attach,
ment Of mo. 4 +" TO this ,own, and the ,ari-
Gus replies / received only len me slilI more
blinded, find that the title was given by
~ being the fourth fort built o. the Connec-
ucut river from its mouth, and the first SET.
element took it, name from the fort The
site Of the main fort l. nov pointed out 60
the stranger. who sees no indications Of the
monitor Of Indian ho,tilios and crueltics,
but instead, the spacious residence aud
grounds Of our esteemed citizen, Brooks
Kmba,l, Esq.
lie tells you that in cteayaling about biz
premises be- opened upon the sabtrrlneous
Nahn'F' NNhihk '"Nl lNlA WblN lhlt 10 sec
undary. but which IL now wholly obltcratcd.
it being covered by timben which have long
since dccujed. The site ofthis second block
house ia nov occupied by the Unitarian
church. a mile north are yeAto be seen the
ruins Of slill another block Mouse which
seem, to'havc been used a. pl(c, Of resort
and defence los the more daring settlers Who
we're led by the fertility OF the expanding
river valley md the retrcalinR lnliausto set.
tie ut this distance from the main fort. II
WAS near this place that Mrs. Johnson was
taken by the Indians.
The inhabitants Of this town have tcna.
-cians rcsarl Tor LIS hcnuiilll ynllrys md
healthy climate, You scarce can End au aged
person but who will tell you that he Wa,
bora ia town--,hat his grandfather was en-.
gagged iu the conflicts with the Indians and
suffered the many untold hardships and in.
convenience, incident to the cafly settlement
of Ncw England. Til, "lo,c OF home" &C.
counts for the marked r1ntaHruiuity of the
present Inhabitants feature nearly an
prcecdcul,d in more modern Vermont
This township has on arca Of about forty
square miles, being about twelve miles IN
length, By from two to four in width, and
seems 70 be a choice selection from the vast
and lyil.c valley Of the Connecticut
The winter just past Seems 60 have been
remarkable for depth Of snow, it being i'm,
practicable Tor farmers 70 DO the usual
mount % winter tcsmirF, the snow being
some Three and onc.hnl1 Zee, IN the woods.
,hiuk "Oll Caledonia" will hardly exceed
,hol This season.
Tho sun and rlif' for ten days past have
made sad havoc with this upcrabuudauee Of
snow, as oil Connecticut fcarrully shows. 1t
appears lhat northern Vermont aud New
Hampshire have aimed to ship their vast car.
goes OF snow to a southern market simul,a-
ucousy, and the sad consequence il the car
yinR away Of many bridges-,hc ono cross.
ing Sugar river at the junction with Conncc
ti,ul, the Cheshire bridge which connects
this town with Springdcc, Nt.-thi, bridge
was about siN hundred feet ia ieug,h Cover
cd) and bull, in 1888 at an e, ,cnsc Of twelve
thousand dolars-thc Sullivan Railroad
bridge leading on to the Island at Bellows
Falls il badly shaken, and trains are unable
to cross. IT'S really hoped this noble slruc-
ture will survive the "rush"-a new bridge
crossing at Wapolc, not quite ready for use,
was also carried away.
The Railroad bridge above mentioned WAS
watched with great anxiety as it stood ,srm.
bling in the Hood, and YOU may imagine the
anxiety to be somewhat increased ns the
spectators Witnessed section of the Chcsh.
ire bridge about two hundred feet in length
complete, nearing the central abu;ment with
u fearful momentum, threatening TO grapplr
with its proud resistant and bear il to certain
destruction. 1t struck in such position as
to balance ncross the pier. For moment
the contest seemed equal. The immense
wall of water powerfully aided the nggressor.
So great was the depression Of the standing
bridge that the track was separated at each
end, yet the monster withstood the shock,
md the nssaildnt passed by to meet its en-
tire destruction at the fai. hylow.
We have yet about foot of snow, but the
running water in the roads has spoiled the
sleighing for loaded teams. a few farmers
have commenced making sugar.
The political horizon Of the town is bccoim.
ing more enlightened by true Republicanism
although at the recent election the republi.
can majority was smaller ;han for years past,
but the decrease was directly owing to the
storm which kept the members OF the domn-
aspiring party taned out en- mGsse.
| attended the "town-meeting" for an
hour, and behcld at once the "sperrit" and
its influence, which usually characterizes the
"Hunkers" and yet the first article upon
their posted schedule. issued prior to the !
election, showing the reasons why the demo
cratic party should regain its power, was
THAT the liquor law shcald he repealed" al
80 the Estate reform school should he closed"