Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-12
The Catamout Tavern

Last week we Published brief notice Of
the destruction by fire OF this venerable
3. tavern. in Bennington Center. and as Il
was an ancient landmark Of unusual inter
est, which can never be replaced, it is wor-
thy a more complete 90 final statement. ''
From wel!-eompilcd history Of this build
ing ana its associations, IN the Bennington
Fire Press, we make some interesting ex-
tracts in addition TO what was published last
week.
1t was built, as nearly as can be ascertain
cd, in 1867 OF s. and the substantial manner
in which it was erected is well attested by
the condition of some Of the original clap
boards which Geo W Robinson, Esq, took
from the north side on the night of the fire,
and now tas in his possession. They were
shaved by hand, not sawn, put on with
wrought nails, cut nails not then having been
invented, and the side from which they were
take was in better condition than the sides
of many a house whose = siding has mot
been on rs many months as this had years.
From the Williams Quarterly of a few
years since we take an interesting descrip-
ton Of the old spot, making the alterations
and additions which were necessary to his
tOrIcal accuracy
. just above the graveyard stands an un-
painted, weather beaten frame house half
hidden by tall trees. a stranger would
scarcely notice it, yet it is nothing less than
the famous - CatamOunt Tavern - or Land
lord FIy's.' 1t IS two stories high, with
plenty " ground room, and in its day was
doubtless rather above the " ordinary run "
Ia fact, it is well known TO have been the
largest and most popular of any IN the vicin-
ity, and formerly tavern stands were more
numerous than at present 1t was the rem
devious for the Green Mountain Boys and
the Council Of Safety met IN one Of the
rooms
When Ethan Allen and Seth Warner were
outlawcd and reward offered for their cap
ture, they retaliated by Offering similar re
wards for their prosecutors, - said persons
~ be delivered to US at Landlord Fay's. y
side door opened directly into the old
bar-rOOm OF &" office, - now parlor, a room
Of ample size for those days. with low cell
ings, heavy wainscottings, carved not in
English oak, but in native pine, with pro-
fusion Of small cupboards and 8 chiney clos
cts" These with the Wainscotting seem to
be characteristic of the homes of our ances-
tors. This room was the place of common
resort. The bclated or storm beaten travel
Ter, tie village lawyer talking loudly Of pol
itics and the question Of the day, the old
e sqGire with his dry remarks and - sol
ii chunks f sense as Captain Cutie
would say-the Taw-bOned, stalwart woods
men, who gulp their liquor at one swallow,
the hunter recounting his latest adventure
to some over-grown, awkward, faxen-haired
boys, the schoolmaster deeply revered for
his . farming r with a sprinkling Of . Col
onels " ard - Captains, . met here on COM
mon footing. Nowhere is there a better ex-
ample Of pure democracy. Over all is thrown
the CHEEKY light from the large open fire
place, where doubtless, as Whittier pleasant
y writes
q Beneath the andirons struggling feet
The mugs Of cider simme slow
The apples sputter in a row."
On the opposite side Of the small hall is
larger room in which were placed many of
the wounded after the battle of Bennington,
while IN an adjoining room lay the bodies OF
those who that day lost their lives. Both
these rooms resemble the old bar-room in
their general appointments. The old ire
places which are still so cheerful where they
have been allowed to remain, have been
closed up and their places supplied with more
modern and more fashionable air-tight stoves.
Opening out of the room in which the dead
we're laid is a small apartment, net larger
than ten feet by twelve, lighted by a single
window The fireplace here is still open
and on its marble cap-stOne are the words