Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-30

The GREAT TEMPLEToN LOAD oFWooD.
To the editor of the Boston DAILY AdUer-
ttSer:-I have been told that a story has
appeared in some of the newspapers, about
n load of wood long ago in Connecticut
said to be the largest on record, and to have
been gotten up by one of that Mcclellan
family which in latter days held the great
cunctatorship The wish has been ex-
pressed that should recall the great load
at Tempt eton, which outdid Connecticut.
The Rev. DR.. Wellington was the old
Templeton minister from early In the
eighteen hundre. Is, and Colonel Leonard
Stone was one of his parishioners. 1t was
the custom to supplement the minister's
moderate salary with presents from the
products of the farms, and especially with
wood. Now Colonel Leonard one day in
january, 1922, was drawing to the parson-
age some of his nice hard wood. 1t was a
good OK load; two cords or So As he was
going across the common with it, his
brother Colonel Ephriam, caught sight of
hi m from the store, and was surprised at
such great load.
"Hello!' says he why don't you take
your minister Il load of wood while you are
about itP"
"Now look here," says Colonel Leonard
i've been saving out lumber down't the
mill, and there is any quantity of slabs.
I'll give the minister as big load as you
can take"
Colonel Ephriam was man for fun.
He insligated the towns people to take
hold with him and accept his brothers
challenge. First they made the sled.
Long trees were cut for the runners.
These were made thirty odd feet long, and
set eight feet apart. TIE body of the
sled projected two feet over the runner on
each side. Thus the sled would hold
twelve regular cords at one layer. There
runner.
On the appointed day the men and the
oxen from all over town came to the meet
ing place. The sled was taken to the saw
mill and backed up against the pile, On
went the slabs with will. Col Leonard
stood by. laughing, cheering, urging them
along. When they had got on as much as
they thought would do. they htched up
the team. One hundred and sixty oxen
four abreast, found it easy enough to pull.
They had to 60 around through Baldwin
vile, because there was not room at the
Otter river bridge for the sled to turn in,
When they had got up on to the level
ground, above Baldwinville, they stopped
and unhitched. Then with their every
day sleds they went back to the mill to
bring more slabs. Forty cords lay piled
up on that sled. And the evening and the
morning were the first day.
The next morning came the rest of the
journey "up in town. The school children
were let out to see the great sight 60 by.
One of them, to whose home it was going,
says it looked as big as a house. 1t lay
unloaded for quite while out by the par
sonage; and people came from near and
far to see. 1t kept Mr.. Wellington in slabs
for years to come.
When the great sled was taken to pieces
some of the timbers were used in building
Mr.. Winch's barn, and may be seen ther,
in the framework until this day.
The Rev. Dr. Wellington was one of my
grandfathers and Colonel Leonard was the
other. All this did not become so, how
ever, for a generation after the great load
of wood Charles Wellington Stone.