The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-10-03
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20 thp centre 81 fitt-6eld. whore stands
she attraction - t.8ays festivities
Both sunshine ana gentle bfeee cen
tribute tomake the dAy perfect ~ tie
enjoyment TIE tErongs wb1 may bt
seen from each tgcetooracr Right
into pias6el3 Park. want d take
you and 6rst give yea a sketch II iis
early days, thai you may better anplc.
ciate the events which fellow.
lho aboriginal name Of the place
was "Pontoosuek az Indian word,
signiiyiug The haunt Of the winter
deer Bat sometime during tbo Rev
olatoa, Coz Barnard named It Pits
Geld ia honor q Wm Pitt Of England.
/ The winding housatonie has is name
involved u deep mystery but is sup.
posed 70 Be corruption # Hooesten.
nuc, which, being Interpreted means
the river beyond the mountains ia dis
Itiuctiou from The Hudson River and
referring to the Green Mountain range
which inteWenes
On this spot the soldiers Of the
Revolution eucamped; Ethan Allen and
other heroes held council and drilled
their troops, aud IN bur late war it once
more became The Gene Of military tac.
tics, But there Is also an interesting
history Of its own, dating back to the
days Of the early settlers,
When cur ioreiathers massacred the
forest one stately elm conspicuous for
its beauty was left, sole monument of
its fallen sisters This became sort
Iof centre from which all buildings and
points Of interest seemed u radiate,
and near it the first meeting house
was commenced in l16l.
But only after nine years Of division
and struggle was il finished in rough
frontier style to serve until the increa-
sing population demanded larger and
bet er building.
In 1892, the town voted a new edi
fee, and that it should be placed seven
feet further wost than the one Just des-
troyed. In order to do this they mist
sacrifice the beautiful elm, regarded
with such veneration by many of the
people, a few Of whom protested against
the sacrilege. But the town vote was
like the laws Of the Modes ane Persians
and its fate seemed inevitable, until
second Pocahontas interlered and It's
life was spared. The mansion Just at
the west Of the tree had been purchas-
ed by Mr., Williams, gentleman Of re-
iinementand culture, who was blessed
also with wife Of like tastes. This
heroic woman determined 10 save the
graceful ornament and shelter Of her
home and finding all entreates vain,
threw herself between the axe and the
tree when three blows only had been
struck. Her husband then agreed to
give as much land south Of the elm as
they would place between il and the
new meeting house, for a public park.
This offer was accepted, and to-day
Pittsfeld glories III small spot Of
ground, beautiiied by noble trees, a re-
freshing fountain and this new work Of
art the attraction Of thousands here
to-day.
The veteran elm continued TO carry
its leafy head toward the skies; shel
tered the child grown into old age q;
watched the church which came 50
near being its destroyer, grow old and
fall, and third phonix like, arise from
its ashes, Tw ice the fiery bolt Of hca
ven scathed its grandeur, until the
pride Of the village and the admiration
Of strangers began to show signs Of De-
cay lenderly was it cherished but
like all things earthly it must have a
tiIne to die, and III july 1864 finding it
bending beneath, It's own weight, the
citizens sorrpwfulIy pronounced il IN.
safe and literally with tears brought it
low When dire trunk was divided tie
portion were Kept AZ treasured me
mentos, aud three scars from AXE
strokes were found embedded IN tue
heart to tell tue story Of its romantic
preservation he thir. and last meet.
ing house erected upon this ancient
site, is now the handsome LIST Congrc.
gational Church 81 pittsfeld, for thirty
years the charge d Dr. Todd II is
now without pastor the doctor hav
ing resigned weaned with bis long
labors. Nearly opposite is neat look
ing brick building, the Athenmum,
which, with It's well lined shelves Of