Connecticut western news., 1885-01-07

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 recently visited New York and ol
 my way home stopped at Mount Yer
 non, Westchester Co.,, N. Y, to look a
 the village which and two others plan
 ned or organized about 8 years ago.
 took a stroll around the village with NJ
 J. C. Rankin.
 Tine growth of Mount Vernon is as
 tonishing and beyond description About B years ago Mir John Stevens
 c. A. Cooper, G. w. Cooper, J. M. Cor nell and few others met in St Luke'' hall, corner of Hudson and Grove streets, New. York City, to talk about getting homes in the country where they could reside and go to and from their places of business in the city ev' cry day.
 Out of these meetings there was an association formed called The Home In dustrial Association. There was to be one thousand members The associa' ton grew so very fast that they had to hire large hall down in Grand street. A hall was hired and ill a very few weeks the one thousand members had their names enrolled on the books of the association. Every member was to pay one dollar every week. The next thing was to find the land suitable for vil- lage within 45 minutes ride by rail from the city. Many places were visited. After a careful examination 1t was voted to buy the land where now stands Mount Vernon, the finest village on the New Haven railroad. The owners of the land were Messrs Haywood and Purdy. The farms were bought at once, There were 375 acres. A surveyor was hired to lay the farms out into 1000 lots, giv- Ing each member one lot. It was laid out in streets and avenues. The lots were 100 feet front by 105 feet deep. The land, the laying out and grading streets and avenues, cost the association S91. 500, making it cost each member $9l.50. There were plots left for pub lie schools.
 At present there are 1000 houses and 1000 inhabitants in Mount Vernon. There are eight very fine churches. The Reformed Dutch church cost about $50,000. This church is built of mar ble. The largest public school build- ing is built of brick and cost $40, 900. MT c. E. Nichols is the principal of the school. About 700 children attend the school. The sidewalks are Jagged with stone. The streets are macadamized. The village is lighted with gas. Most of the men do business in the city, go- ing down and up on the New Haven railroad. Most of the houses are very fine. Some of the avenues are over one mile long. The village is one of the finest on the line of the New Haven railroad.
 We walked down to East Chester, which Is about 15 minutes walk from Mount Vernon. East Chester is the oldest village in thIs part of the country. The first church that was built in East Chester was St Paul's, built 220 years ago. In the Revolutionary war the British had this church for their hospl- tai. In the year 1765 the old church was torn down and the present one built It is built of stone and is in first rate order. and it looks as if it could stand another 120 years.
 Just around curve in tue road there stands house over 100 years old. At the close of the Revolutionary war this old mansion was filled almost every win ter evening when it was good sleighing with sleighing parties from New York. They would dance till broad daylight and then would go home with tho girls in the morning. There are some big stories told about this old house. A few minutes walk past this old mansion we come to a neat little white cottage Going up to the front door we knocked and an old lady came to the door and invited us in. There are two old ladies living in this neat little white cottage, Mrs Catharine Groshorn, over 91 years old, and her daughter, 70 years old. The old lady Is as smart as cricket and so is her daughter Mrs Catharine Gros- horn is the widow of William Groshorn, a soldier of the war of 1872. Mir Gros- horn was a member of Missmers Co.,, N. |. Militia, and was in most of the hottest of tine war of 1872. He was in the war until its close; then he settled in Westchester county. Mrs Groshorn brought out some of her old relics. The first one was brass teakettle that came from Germany aud was 115 years old. It was all handmade and 1t was lined with some heavy metal. It appeared to be in good order. The next was copper skillet; this also came from Germany and was over 100 years old. It was to put coals in and then set the teapot on to keep the tea hot. The next was a silk skirt that was Mrs Catharine Gros- horns mothers wedding dress. She was married and lived in Germany. The silk skirt was 110 years old. Next they brought out lots of china ware. The cups and saucers were of the best of china and there were lots of other small trinkets. They have about two acres with a neat cottage on it. It is painted white, with green blinds. These two old ladies live all alone, but they have a good watch dog to guard the house by night. As We were about to leave Miss Groshorn brought in & dish of very fine