The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-03-09
Forthe Register.
The Old Red School House in Corn
wall

Forthe Register
The Old Red School House in Corn
wall,
The character of men is often modified,
if not shaped, as much by the places with
what they are familiar in early life, as by
the instructions they receive, How many
can trace impressions lasting as life, to the
locality or the stru,ture of the place of
worship, to which they were led in child
hood by a purout,d hang. How many
more can truthfully ascribe the early bent
of their intellect to the location Oil the
architecture of the School House in which
they received the rudiments of education
TO its neat and attractive appearance; !;
to its tasteful and inviting Fairgrounds,
or to the scenery which opened upon their
vision with ennobling effect, Az they looked
abroad upon the surrounding landscape.
Who requires proof that amid such scenery
the spirit of oratory and the genius of
poetry have often been awakened and
nurtured into energy and activity. And
who, conscious Of impressions thus pro-
| duced upon his mind and heart, does not
with indescribable interest, revisit even
the site of the building where his school
days began?
"Up springs, at every step, to claim n tear
Some little friendship formed IN childhood here
And not the slightest leaf, but trembling teens
With golden visions and romantic dreams"
1t was the primary concern of the first
settlers of Cornwall, like their Puritan
ancestors, to provide facilities for the wor-
ship of God, and for the education of their
children. Their early School Houses,
though not as commodious as the neat
and tasteful edifces with which most of
the Districts have since provided them
selves, nobly answered the purpose for
which they were constructed. Among
these structures the "Old Red School
House." in several respects held a promi.
nent place. Its location is beautiful, with
landscapa bounded on the North West
Of New York on the South by the hills
of Sudbury and Hubbardton on the East
by the Green Mountains, visible almost
from Killington Peak to Mansfield Noun.
tain, distance cf more than sixty miles.
Aside from its location, there are two
points in the history of this venerable
structure, which render it an object Of
more than usual interest.
Here, for long series Of years, we're
held the meetings of the Young Gentle
mans Society-an association kindred in
its character and aims to the Literary
Societies OF our Colleges. This Society
was established very early in the present
century, and embraced among its founders
and early members, the late Gov. Slade.
Reuben Post D. D., lion. Ashley Samson,
and others distinguished in the several
professions, who have finished their work
and gone to their reward besides many
others who still live, honored and useful
in the pursuits to which their lives are
devoted.
The membership Of the Society was
perpetuated by election, no young nan
being eligible until he was fifteen years
old, nor unless he sustained fair moral
character. The active Members, called
OrdiHGry members, were young men, while
older men were elected hon1rory Mem
bers, with the expectation that they would
occasionally participate in the exercises of
the Society, and otherwise give it their
countenance and support. The meetings
were held weekly on Thursday evening,
from September to March, and punctual-
ity of attendance was secured by n system
Of fines rigidly imposed, and as rlgldly
collected, unless the delinquent should
render to Committee appointed for that
purpose, satisfactory reason for abesnce.
Every member was bound to faithful
observance of its laws, under penalty of
expulsion, which penalty in the prosperous
days the Society, involved disgrace that
very few young men were willing to incur.
The Society collected Library Of several
hundred volumes, which were iudiciously
selected and kept in fine condition by a
rigid code Of regulations. Attendance
upon these exercises, and the reading of
this library inspired many young men with
fondness for literary pursuits, the result
Of which is seen in the fact that more than
forty natives of Cornwall have passed
through a course of Collegiate study.
In the Red School House, as ii was
contiguous to his dwelling the venerable
Father Bushnell was accustomed, during
his long ministry, ordinarily to hold his
Sabbath evening NEE irgs. Here he come
at the appointed hour, usually bringing in