Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-02-09
AN UNBROKEN FOREST
With Here and There a Clearing.

such Was BrattlebOro in I70s---The
Means of CONFERENCE.-The Roods
ana Where They Ran----The Times
were Primitive, but the People Were
wise, PiOus and Happy.
Giving the names of the gro yn men. and
the neighbOrhoods where thew lived in
connection with the location of the meet
Ing-house in March, 176S, last week, did
hoC SET forth exactly how things were here
at mat time. Choosing a surveyor to in
specI and oversee that roads be kept in
Sooa order and repair would signify alone
wen wrought and commodious roads, for
horses and wagons at least. But at that
time there was not wagon, nor four
wheeled vehicle of any kind in town: nor
a tWo-wheeled vehicle of greater refine
ment than an OK cart. The travelling was
on horseback, by men on saddles and nv
women on side saddles, or on billions he
hlnd the men, and on foot. When people
went up to worship in the meeting-house
they did not go in carriages, nor even in
chalses, but rode in this way or walked.
Inc roads were such as were necessary for
such riding, and except in rough places
were merely cleared paths of the required
width. One such road came from what is
now Vernon, then Hnsdale, back of Col.
Hunts, past Royal Woods, over Cemetery
MIL, across the brook by rude bridge.
where the bridge is now, further east than
MAIN street is now, further west at the Asy-
lum hill, past Major Arms's at the Asylum
farm house, towards Judge Wells's at the
Women's Retreat, then through the woods
to the river, and across the river by ford in
summer, and on the ice in winter, and on
TOWARDS IJnmmprStnn IoI
the country road. Another one left this
as 1t turned toward the river and led past
Judge Weiss above Oscar Wares, north
OF Mr.. Leray's, south of Mr.. Dunklee's,
past Oliver Carpenters, over Wicopee hill
to Newfane hill. This was cared for by
Brattleboro people to "Fane line," and
was called the town road. The roads
were not built for settlers to locate upon,
Dut the settlers began their clearngs and
quilt their houses where they thought best,
and roads were made to them. One pass
able on horseback led from the town road
to Abel StOckwells, where Mr.. Barna
Clark's farm is, and beyond to Charles
Phelpss northwest of there.
Fort Dummer meadow had been cleared
before the town was chartered in 1853,
and settlers there lived in the houses at
the fort; Major Arms, Judge Wells and
John Sargent, above mentioned had been
here five years, and Samuel Knight, north
west of Judge Wells's, four years, and each
must have had considerable clearngs:
the rest had been here less time and had
but just begun. Except these clearings the
town was an unbroken forest in which the
clearings were small breaks.
All lived in log houses; the meeting
house was the only framed house in town,
a nhoh lv g.,
ished. A great drawback in building was
want of nails, all of which, as well as all
tools of iron or steel, had to be made by
hand. Oliver Cook was the blacksmith,
and lived not far from where Mrs. Ware,
direct descendant from him, now lives.
DIR. Wells, who had come from New York
the year before and lived where Mr.. Ca
pen now does, was the only professional
man in town. The nearest clergymen
were Rev. Bunker Gay at Hinsdae: and
Rev. Joseph Lord of Putney, who did not
preach regularly. He preached for Col.
Hinsdale at his fort at North Hinsdale
awhile, and may have preached here.
The nearest lawyers were Charles Phelps
and his son Solomon in Marlboro; but
Judge Wells had Jacobs law dictionary,
and was somewhat learned in the law.
Samuel Knight, who afterwards became
lawyer, the first in town, and a chief JUS
tice of the state, was then farmer, rear
ing family and clearing his land. The
nearest store was Aaron Whitneys at
Mortified, and not much, compared with
what is now bought, could be got there.
Cotton goods were wholly unknown, and
clothiLs had mostly to be spun and woven
by hand from wool and fax.
This situation was less luxurious than
81, hut sV,tor
health, hardihood, and perhaps happiness
the people of that time have not been ex-
celled by those who have come after them,