St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-02-01
Correspondence.
EARLY ST. JOHNSBURY.
Interesting "Reminiscences bv an Old
Resident.

viewing my life it occurred to me
that l might be able to recall some
things that have not yet been record
ed l was born in St. Johnsbury in
1908 l have always lived here and
as l look back upon my life many
memories cluster around my early
days.
Mr.. Barber was the first merchant
in town and his store was near the
head of Main street. Mr.. Dickerman
was the clerk at this store. Mr..
Barber built the house a the head of
Main street now occupied by Mrs.
Lucas, and on the door of this house
is a handle made by Jesse Farnham.
The last time Luther Clark was here
he told me that Mr. Barber built his
house a year before he (Mr. Clark
built his house. Irving Frost now
lives in Mr.. Clark's house and it is
probably 80 years old. Mr.. Barber
sold out to Daniel Chamberlain who
was in trade here some years. Mr..
Phelps succeeded him and his store
was where Col. Fletcher's house now
stands. Mr.. Phelps had a dog
"Tiger" who proved an excellent
watch dog. One morning Mr..
Chamberlain came into the store
and found Tiger holding man by
the leg. why Isaac Wing" said
Mr.. Phelps, what are doing here %
well" said Isaac, Il wanted to go
home, but old Tiger would not let
me-" Soon after this Mr.. Wing re-
moved to Canada.
John and Luther Clark succeeded
Mr.. Phelps. They made and sold
saddles, which were extensively used
by both men and women instead of
harnesses. When they went to Bos-
ton one time to buy their leather
goods it occurred to them that they
might also bring home some gro
ceries for their own use. When the
neighbors learned what they had
oOAC Liz oShOd ~ la Nc SOluN u
ceries brought home to them. The
Clarks did this and the first grocery
store in town had its origin in this
way.
By and by the saddle business be-
came less profitable and the Clarks
turned their attention to making
L, he
into the potash business on the
ground where the North church now
stands. The same building was af-
forwards used by pottery maker
and l have now in use a my house
pan made from his wheel
l helped build three houses of
worship on the ground where the
North church stands and have at
tended service in all Of them. The
first one l worked on was built in
1927 and occupied for 20 years. 1t
now stands Just South of the Court
House. The second building is now
Music Hall. l well remember how
DIR. Jewett used to preach in the first
meeting house in the village. He
was DOlu anu DHJ Ii.
When the church was first organized
it fitted up a small building which
had been used as a store, for place
of worship. This was located on
Main street, where Mrs. David
Boynton's house now stands. This
building the church occupied two
years. Later it was moved to the
site of the Passumpsic Savings Bank
and torn down about - years
ago.
When Ephraim Paddock built his
brick house which is now occupied
by James Taylor he had to send to
Walpole for a gang of brick makers
and they made the brick in his yard.
William Gage, brother of the late
Josiah Gage was foreman of the
gang. The same men also built
Captain Martins brick house on the
lot now occupied by D. D. Patter-
sons house. The old Arnold house
at the head of Arnold Park is one of
the oldest in St. Johnsbury, and the
last time / was there | noticed that
the door sill was worn lower than
the ground outside. There presided
the faithful Aunt Ruth" an old
negro servant.
Samuel Crosman lived on the East
side of Main street and his shop was
on the West side. Gov. Erastus Fair
banks married the daughter Of Mr..
and Mrs CrOSman.
A tavern was kept in these early
days by Seth Ford at the lower end
of Main street and Mr.. Boardman
also kept one near where the Acade-
South HILL ctor,H
When Erastus Fairbanks first came
toSt. Johnsbury, in 1912 he began the
study of law with his maternal uncle,
Judge Ephraim Paddock. Another
early resident of the town was Judd
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