The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-08-31

SINGULAR DISCOVERIES AT THE STAR
SPRING.-In excavating for the foundation
of the new bottle house at the Star Spring
some Developments have been made, which
are likely to excite widespread interest.
One of our reporters made IA special visit
to the Spring, and was amply repaid by
an examination of the curious develop
ments he found. Upon the northwest
portion of the lot, nearly in rear Of the
old bottling house, at distance Of twelve
feet from the surface, the workmen re-
moved "A solid piece of rock weighing
nearly ton. Underneath this,was found
what is supposed to be fre-palce, which
undoubtedly was used by the Indians as
long ago as 1890. From present indica-
ton it had been constructed with much
care, being neatly curved, and from the
top was removed huge stone which
would wei Oh upward ton. AT the foot
of the fireplace we discovered ashes, bones
and other relics, which We suppose to
have been formed by the water between
the layer of rocks. From colonial historic
sketches, we learn that this property in
the year 1872 was in possession ola tami-
ly by the name Of Swain, and that it was
custom in those days to boil the water
from this spring, which was then known
as the Iodine Spring, the salts being used
as medicine. From these facts,it is evil
dent this fireplace was used for that
purpose, and the stones with which il
was formed had been originated by the
spilling of this water,in a indicated form
upon them, and thought the long perioc
which they have remained has become al
hard substance as the pures rock itself
The bones which were found bear marked
evidence of belonging to the animal king
dom, and no other idea of their origin cal
be formed, then that they came out o
the meat which probably had been cooked
in this fireplace, and had been cast away
only to bear faint remembrance Of thos,
who had inhabited this tract, when tn,
value and present use of the water Were
unknown. AT distance of about two
feet from the fireplace is large cave
which as yet, has not been developed sui
iciently to ascertain of what dimension
or depth it may be. The mouth is abou
a foot large, and from indications keep
growing larger to the depth of twent.
feet. We saw pole twenty feet in lengtl
run into it,and failed to meet distractions
or find any bottom. 1t contains water
f and is evidently very large, as it woul'
/ float on either side, sixteen feet. No dc
finite idea, as to what it is, or how it ha
been constructed can be found,an furthe
excavations will only develop what nov
lies hidden, underneath the mass of rock
> which seems to form substantial wa
entirely around it. Whether this wall
the work of past generations, or has bee
r formed by cavity in the rocks, yet re
i mains mystery. But we hope to b
able to learn more substantially of it
/ originality soon, and if possible, give som
information of what character, and wha
time it was built. Other relics novel i
f appearance and beauty, such as ore, Goa
p and limestone, have been extracted. A
! mong them perfect infants leg in stat
of petritication, found in the rock-th
length from toe to knee being eleve
e inches with about five and three-quarter
inches Of the thigh, the foot being fou
v inches long. The limb was found in
. position to indicate that it had been bun
led in sitting posture. The rock i
which the petrifcation was found, giyin
the full impression of the leg,is preserved
These curiosities will be on exhibition 70
a short time at their bottling house an
e alone are worth visit to this spot. w
) shall endeayor to learn in due time, NOR