The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-05-29
THE CASTLE IN THE AIR.
row A WASHINGTON VETERAN
LIVES IN A TREE.
''Airy CASTLE and Its One. Armed 0c-
cupant-A House That Sways
With Every Breeze.

Pdtndedter correspondent, is GARY
CASTLE" situated at Mount Pleasant, a
mile north of the boundary Its name
is not a misnomer. 1t is q veritable
castle in the air." Its sole occupant is
A. B. Hayward, clerk in the pension
office. He is known about town as
1.-THE man who lives in a tree" During
the war he was first sergeant in the
second New Hampshire regiment and
served three years in the army of the
Potomac. At Cold Harbor a bullet
shattered his right arm, and before night
1t had been amputated near the shout
der. lie has become exceedingly skill
full in the use of his left hand. lie
writes neatly and rapidly, and manages
to do almost everything that other men
do with their two arms, except to play
base ball. He has been in the pension
office for many years, and is one of the
most faithful and efficient men in the
bureau. He is bachelor.
Two years ago he conceived the idea
OF living in tree. He had grown tired
OF boarding house life and the close, hot
air of the city in summer. Looking
about he found place that seemed ia
vorable for carrying out his scheme. a
little way outside the boundary and half
mile from his present location. An in
terview with carpenter resulted in the
building of platform twelve feet square,
in clump of trees, fifteen feet from the
ground. On this platform he pitched
tent, and there he lived for year. Ac-
cess to his eyrie was had by means of
ladder, which every night he pulled up
after him. He took his meals at q house
w IIo II
and healthful that year ago he deter
mined to build him castle in the air
upon larger scale. He bought four or
five acres of ground where he now is.
There is sharp declivity, studded with
large oak trees, just where pretty street
from the village of Mount Pleasant loses
Itself. Here in the encircling arms of
these great oaks. thirty-five feet from
the ground, where the latter is lowest,
looking from distance like an over
grown birdsnest, is GARY Castle"
Come right upl" CHEEKY called out
MIR. Hayward to myself and couple of
lady friends, the other evening. We
had gone out in response to hearty in
vitation to visit the castle. We went up
by steep, inclosed stairway, and found
ourselves on a firm, smooth floor among
the thick branches of the trees. On
every hand were the buds just bursting
into leaf under the gentle breath of
spring. The air was sweet, pure and
exhilarating. After cordially welcom-
ing us, he said:
'4'lease excuse me few minutes
while eat my dinner, which is Just
ready. Make yourselves perfectly at
home. within or without the castle, and
l will soon rejoin YOU"
With that he lodged down a little
stairway beside the trunk of tree, into
big box that seemed to be hung under
the platform. This was his dining room
and kitchen. A colored boy was bob
bling around making himself generally
useful. The clatter of dishes and the
odor of good coffee gave evidence of
activity in the commissary department.
We wandered obout the platform, which
is fifty feet long and thirty feet wide,
with nigh railing around the edge and
seats at frequent intervals. After taking
in the beautiful view of village, hill and
forest, we entered the castle itself.
1t is octagonal in form, longer one way
than the other. Its extreme dimensions
are thirteen by nine feet. The walls
are of wood, neatly and strongly built to
the height of four feet. From this
point rises double roof of
canvas, securely fastened and firmly sup
ported by poles. The interior is most
charmingly cosy and attractive. "Isnt
this lovcly2" was the duet uttered by the
feminine voices as we entered. Darkness
was just settling down. A lamp shone
brightly upon the novel scene. The
walls are profusely adorned with pic
lures, and little shelves and brackets
here and there contain little articles of
bric-a-brac. A comfortable looking bed
stretched across one end. Three or four
unique chairs and hassock or two are
disposed about the room. Upon the
small table is register in which visitors
enter their names. CHANGING over this |
saw the names of many prominent citi-
zens of Washington; Congressman and
officials who had called to enjoy the hos
FATALITIES of "Airy Castle"
Mr.. Hayward soon entered with his
right sleeve hanging empty by his side.
His face beamed with smiles. He seemed
like one who was at peace with all the
world, and had just had good dinner.
For half an hour he entertained us de-
lightlully, telling us in reply to our
questions all about his life in the tree
tops.
'How did you spend the long, severe
winter" asked.
81 doubt" he replied. eff any person
in Washington was any more comfortable
and happy than I was. You see that
little oil stove therel Well, that kept
the castle warm during the coolest
/ weather. When the snow Law thick
upon the ground and the wind howled
through the trees, swaying my cot
tage to and fro, / was as snug
and comfortable as you can
Imagine. Yes, l am rocked about
some when the wind is high, hut l like
it. 1t is some like being on vessel at
sea. Perhaps you have noticed that this
platform is not fastened to the trees. 1t
is built closely around them but is sup
ported by large posts resting upon the
ground. So the castle is perfectly Sc
cure, and when the wind rocks me about
In i,,cf ii IA