Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-09-08
CHESTERFIELD ON THE HILL
Memories of Days Gone BY

Academy, which Was Literally a
Light Set on HiII---the Military
Companies and the Training Days---
People who Lived There.
Beautiful for situation, like Mount Zion,
is the old VILLAGE of Chesterfield on the
hill. The view to the westward from there
is extensive and grand. The most promi-
nent object is Stratton mountain, some
times called Hogback, and the Indian
name of which was Manicknung, that rises
in full size above the hills. In front of
the south end is Newfane hill, on which
formerly stood in plain sight the county
buildings of Windham county. In front
of that is the hill on which Dummerston
village stands, with the steeple of the
church in view among the trees From
and slopes and farms of nearly every town
in that county may be seen.
The village itself is not now what it was.
Formerly the most prominent building in
it was the oldmeeting-house,w which stood al
most directly south of and parallel with
where the stone town house now stands.
The place of its foundations is traceable now
upon the ground. The wagon road, there
now, passed close by its southwest corner.
1t was two stories high on the outside and
had belfry at the west end, with bell
on an open bell deck, above which, on
posts, rose the tall spire. The main en-
trance was under porch on the south side,
from which the broad aisle between square
high pews led to the pulpit on the north
side. There was an entrance through the
belfry at the west end and through an adj
dition of the same size as the belfry at the
east end to the floor, and up stairs to the
galleries which extended round on the
south side and each end. The singers sat
in the gallery in front of the pulpit, of
whom Willard Alexander, afterwards of
Brattleboro, and after him Rufus Harvey,
father of Hermon, for long time took the
lead. The pulpit stood high, with deacons'
seats in front, and was entered by stairs
through door on each side. Above it
was sounding board, and when the min
lister was seated he was out of sight
The academy stood on the east side of
the common, with the north end on the
same foundation as the north side of the
present schoolhouse and extending further
south than that does. 1t was two stories
high with school-rooms below and a hall
above reached through an entrance built
out in front. This was famous school
IL, I
most of the towns in the county, and
from affair; and for time it ranked next
to Phillips academy at Exeter among the
academies of the state.
The old Harvey house, built by Solomon
Harvey, practitioner of Physic," and first
town clerk of DTmmerston, stood on the
corner south of the old road. leading west
opposite the stone store; the old Britton
house on the same side of the street where
the house next but one south of the Con-
gregational Westinghouse stands; and
John Putnam lived in large square house
at the southwest corner of the common
where Henry Marsh lives. The house
next north of that Westinghouse was
the house next north of that was built by
DR.. Warren, who came from Wardsboro
and afterwards lived at Newfane and Brat
tleboro. The large house southwest of
the village on the Winchester road is
where Deacon Wood, father of Alphonzo
Wood, author of Woods botany. lived.
and where he was brought up. He paint
ed the consultations of the heavens on the
walls and ceiling of the south front cham
Der, where they remained till few years
ago. Now they they have been covered on
the walls with paper and on the ceiling
with whitewash.
A tavern and store were kept where the
stone store is; a store was kept in the last
house but one at the south end of the
street where Mr.. Halves lives, and one in
the low building opposite the Platts house
at the north end, and tavern, which was
the stage house, where the tavern is now
Phinehas Henderson was a lawyer and
lived in the long house on the west side of
the street at the south end, and Larkin G.
Mead, afterwards of Brattleboro, began
practice here and lived in, and his son.
Larkin G., the sculptor, and his daughter
Elmer, now Mrs. VIM. Dean Howells, were
born in, the house next north of the tavern.
Charles c. Webster, afterwards of Keene,
also began practice here, and lived in the
same house. His Office stands next north
of the house. 1t was afterward occupied
by Harvey Carleton. DR.. Harrington lived
on the hill east, near where the stone house
now stands, and DR.. Holland, father of
George Holland of Hinsdale, afterwards
lived at the same place. Dr. Carpenter
lived in the first house below the cemetery
down the hill east, and Moses Dudley had
tannery on the little brook in the hollow
below. Otis Amidon, father of Chas J.
Amidon of Hinsdale lived at the first
house on the right hand side of the same
road turning south; Esquire Asa Brtton
in a long low house where the cottage
stands at the northwest corner of the COM
mon, andI Warham r. Platts, postmaster
and sheriff, next north of the Methodist
Westinghouse.
All able bodied men between Is and As
had to train in some military company.
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