Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-15
Deserted Places.

Deserted Places.
In the eastern part of the central
ortion Of Windham county, Vermont
about six miles west OF the Connecticut
River, and running nearly parallel, with
it, is long range of hills, or rather one
continuous hill, stretching from Dummers-
ton to Rockingham distance of twelve
or fifteen miles, and rising from the valley
on either side from one mile to three.
From the summit is an extensive view,
reaching far into New Hampshire on the
east, and revealing for more than fifty
miles on the west, the prominent peaks of
the Green Mountain range. Conspicuous
among these may be seen the Haystack of
Wilmington, the rocky hills Of Jamaica,
the mountains of Stratton, of Dorset and
Peru. The hill attains it's greatest hight
between the towns of Putney and West
minister on one side, and Brookline on the
other. Scattered over it and along its
declivities are the deserted homes of
former generation. In every direction we
find the relics Of an ancient household
few decaying timbers, an old cellar and
the crumbling walls of a massive stone
CullunSl. ne dhduuOuCu ldIulS dIO luIu-
ed into out pastures for sheep and fatten-
ing cattle. On some of them the houses
are still standing, and the sheep lie on the
stone hearth and the kitchen floor
a former resident of Putney, an octo-
genarian and an old school teacher, says
that when young man, he taught school
in one Of the districts on this hill, Of sew
enty scholars In this district there is
now no school, no scholars, and only two
houses inhabited. In another district ad-
joining, in which there is not a single
house now standing, he taught school Of
sixty scholars. These districts were both
The evidences of desolation continue on
both sides of the entire range.
1t is painful to think how many long
days and years of labor have been expend-
ed on these deserted homes. Here are huge
stone walls inclosing nearly all the fields,
standing now after their weight has press
ed the earth for more than half century,
as high as a mans shoulders And like
heavy old fences inclose the old roads
that lead up to the hill-old roads never
to be travelled more In winter, the pierre
ing winds that sweep here with fury, pile
the snow in those old tracks, and it lies
undisturbed. No farmers come, as of old,
with oxen and plows, to break their way
through the drifts
1t would be difficult to tell what induced
the early settlers to undertake to establish
homes in such locations. Perhaps when
the country was covered with forests, a
slightly view, such as these nights afforded
might have an attraction to the pioneer.
The idea that once prevailed, that the hills
were most productive, may have been a
stronger reason. Whatever may have
been the cause, the high hills seem to have
been preferred. 1t was mistaken choice
and the consequences are seen IN the
abandonment Of thousands Of farms.
The lands that have been described are
but type of the condition to which many
Of the rough places Of New England are
Half the towns of Yer
mont have similar deserted tracts The
bleak hills are abandoned, and residences
are sought in more accessible places in the
valleys or near the villages. While many
towns have a smaller population than in
1850, the villages in the same towns have
often doubled or trebled in size since that
period. A town in this county that has
lost thirty per cent. of its population since
1890 has two considerable villages that
have grown up while the town has been
losing this percentage of its inhabitants.
The gain in the State of $1,000, shown by
the recent census, is nearly made by the
towns Of Rutland Burlington and St.
Adams. five compute the gain in Brat
tleboro, St. Johnsbury, Bennington and
numerous small villages scattered through
the State, it shows loss in the agricultu-
raj districts. Estimating the increase in
all the villages in the State at 45, 1000, and
deducting $4,000, the gain in the whole
State, loss is shown in the remainder Of
the State Of 10000. The estimate of the
loss outside of the villages, is believed to
less than the facts will warrant.-N E.
Homestead.