Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-13
Notes About Charlotte.

that an adequate history of his life would
contain all that was important in the
annals of the English nation for LIi, a
century. To say that the history Of this
town sustains similar relation to our State
might be more than the strict truth would
bear. but the towns are few whose history
and influence have been of greater relative
importance. In this and few subsequent
articles | wish to call attention, in style
both humorous and grave, to some of the
salient points of the history and greatness
OF Charlotte. To-day shall speak of its
ancient history, or more strictly of Char
lOtte in prehistoric times. According to
the best data which | eau find this town
first saw the light l76. SID years ago the
25th of May last-the precise hour cannot
now be ascertained On that day-and the
student of history will notice that it was
about l76,4 years prior to the Declaration
OF Independence, Mount Philo's" bare
and somewhat SCARED brow was lifted above
the waters. All the first Summer it seemed
acres in extent, on which grew few simple
specimens OF herbage. with tangled masses
OF sea-weed on the northern slope For sew
eral hundred years that island, steadily
gaining in size and height as it was raised
above the surface of the water, was all the
world knew of Charlotte. 1t was the only
nd n
spires of the Adirondacks on the west Snake
Mountain in Addison to the South, the
lower ranges of the Greon Mountains on the
east, while awav to the north naught met
the eye 5ct the dark blue sea. Little
dreamed the proud mariners of those early
days, as they guided their rude crafts over
these waters. that future ages would find,
hundreds of feet beneath them, 80 busy,
enterprising, wide awake, patriotic,
cultured and sensible community
as now dwells in Charlotte. Then the
huge leviathsns sported themselves
at hide and seek" in the waters which
spread dark and deep all over the town
from Pease to Philo Noun tain, and from
lovely Mutton Hill to substantial Baptist
Corners Alter Mount Philo's six hundred
years of solitary Lille. one beautiful June
morning speck on the surface of the placid
waters was seen at the North. 1t was seen
for several day-, and then after fearful
storm it was found there still, and subse-
Quent investigation showed that it was solid
land. Pease Mountain was born Some
four hundred years later during dry SUM
mer long sloping ridge wGs found near
the surface Of the water which in few
years remained permanently above the sur
face. ltwas beautiful Mutton Hill Tradi-
tion says three families, of E-quiTaux,
l presume. occupied these three isles
In the watery waste tor many
generations. until the Baptist Cor
ners was raised above the waters, as well
as some Of the scattered elevations about
the town. After all my researches no defn-
ite information can be found, but every
thing points to the establishment of a post
Office at East Charlotte with daily mail,
but whence or whittier, no one can decide.
With natures gra dual and mighty uphesv-
ings. slow, but steady and sure, the area of
dry lard became greatly enlarged and
Mount PhilO became hahltible far down its
northern slopes, and an enterprislng man
in those early days of 'squatter soyer-
eighty" settled upon the beautiful farm so
long occupied by A. c. Palmer, ESQ :,
while all OF Mutton Hill was put under cul-
ture, as well as the ridge north and south
of the Baptist Corners; and everybody went
East for their mail, as Alexander's and
West Charlotte were still under the waters
Then came little isles wheTo the two Viii
liams brothers live. and one of great
beauty now occupied by Edward
Root and his mother. while the
farms Of Darwin Roo. and Mr.. Lewis
were the homes Of the whales and other
denizeus of the deep The simple ships of
that early period sailed proudly up from
"Old Ii over western Fcrrisburgh and
| Charlotte, through narrow channel in the
valley between W W Highee's and George
| Pease's. over fertile " Guinea" across "El-
wood Farm" and cast anchor under the
| leeward side of statley elm by the old
| lime kiln north OF the road near William
QuInlan's, while the crew went over t. the
i" corner for lew groceries and the mail
During these long generations the wate-
| currents were busy at work shaping the
| hills and valleys of the lower portions of the
| town, and the casual observer has noticed
that then as now these currents set strongly
to the north or little east Of north The
south s2d southwest sides Of Mount Philo,
Pease Mountain, Mutton Hill, In fact.
| nearly every ehInence are almost destitute
of soil and vegetation. The strong
| currents washed all away, and these
southern slopes are Jagged. rocky and ab-
rupt The northern slopes are gradual,
well covered with soil and beautiful of out
| line, shaped BY currents whose force had
| been spent on the southern rocks. The
immense gravel bank which o. II. Alexan-
| der is transforming into such q beautiful
pear orchard and erspery was propped up BY
the eddying current running between Pesse
Mountain and Mutton Hill. The trend of
every valley in the town is little to the
East of North, showing the direction of
those early deep sea currents for tens of
| thousands of years. In fact all the ilight,
| unprOGuctive, useless sand once covering
| these rich clay farms was carried of by
those ancient currents and deposited about
the wilds of Essex Junction, u place whose
virtues have received fitting notice in tho
uniorgetable lines Of E. j. Phelps. Esq
This removal of the primitive sand shows
that nature. ever thoughtful OF her worthy
children. had chosen and was preparing
this town for the future homes of her favor
ite Onts But after the lapse of scores of
thousands of years the waters OF the Lake
only dashed mp against the -Four Corners"
and the Ferry" was where the buildings
of l.. K. Huhbell now stand, with deep
setting bays in various localities, especially
| ha asf Of hon
came long period Of rest and
quiet in the elements. and the shipping"
was confined to the west part Ot the town,
and with the business ihrrIts.- went the
pOstOiiice, where II rrmuIhtd until quite II
recent date. The discovery ui America by
Columbus produced but little fleet on the
ancient population OF this town, who's hab-
its, modes of life and tastes were simple as
be6tted such race they allowed tho pine
to cover all the plains and heavy forests to
climb lar up the hill sides, so that timber
and fuel and stumps might bs ready for
those of modern times. BY and by nature
had one III Jre upheaval ard the astOnished
citizens about the Four Corners one Sep
tember afternoon SAW the old familiar lake
recede far away from them and finally rest
within its present borders and the valuable
farms down towards the lake came forth
the first land raised above the waters, 81
"lolly Joe Barton homestead was the
last though hot least in Importance.
DANIEL WERsrtEs EXPERIENCE OF FAME. -
After President ryleI's second veto oi II bill
to charter IA bank Of the United States, every
member ut his cabinet. save llr. Webster.
Indignantly resigned. The Wing. trlcd their
level best tu loosen his ErIp on the state de
partment, hut all their Efforts were unaval-
my Then they came down upon hun like a
thousand of brick. They denounced him
with the variations. About this time an en-
thusinstic admirtr called To see HIM. Find
ing him ia gloomy mood. he exclaimed
''Alr. Webster, You ought not I" he gloomy
about anything Your lame is made. Fame
replied Webster, land much for fame
Wher,upon he told the following tstory- He
said he was travelling in railroad car on a
certain 'occtson, and IT SO happened that he
was seated 10y the side of a very old gentle
man lie soon found out that this old gentle