Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-15
Clever Work of a British Soldier Pre-
served Since the War of 1872.

There are not many New England
houses which contain a guest cham
Der, the walls of which were decorated
by a refugee from the British army
while in hiding. But there is a house
in BernarGSton built in the latter part
of the last century which sheltered a
deserter from the British troops dur
ing the war of 1912. The house is the
old Ryther place, situated on the old
stage road to Brattleboro and about a
quarter of a mile from the Bernard
ston. 1t stands just at the fork of the
roads to Turner's falls and to the
county seat. 1t is Q two7stOry, white
painted house with green blinds, and
in very good state of preserYat ton.
The old well in the yard suggest the
long ago, and the long string of out
buildings and barns gives the place the
air of a genuine New England farm.
In this house lives Mrs. William
Ryther, who was the son of DR.. Gideon
Ryther, well known the country round
in his day.
The doctor was a son of Lieutenant
David Ryther. The family name was
earlier spelled Ryder. DR.. Ryther was
the third physician in Bernardston, be-
ginning practice in 1896. He was
town clerk eleven years, treasurer
eight years, selectman and assessor
six years and in 1895 was representa-
tive to the general court. He was the
first postmaster of his native town,
being appointed April 8, 1918, and
holding the office until his death,
which took place Sept. ID, 1888. The
old Ryther homestead was always a
place where the stranger would find
welcome.
William Ryther, who died year ago
last August, was a well-knOwn printer
He learned his trade in Springfield and
later worked in this town, but he was
best known as publisher of the Yer
mont Phoenix at Brattleboro. Owing
to deaths in the family he returned to
Bernardston in 1859 and carried on the
farm until his death. Mrs. Ryther
says her husband was about 6 years
old when the British soldier was enter
tanned at the old home, and that he re-
membered the circumstance, but none
of the details. The Englishman came
to the house one might, and, as the
story goes, was admitted by the hos
pitable family. For many days the
refugee stayed at the farmhouse and
hi cd tho hours INV 1laintinO q n
decora ting the walls OF his hosts
''spare room.'' The walls were of
coarse, white plastering, but under his
skillful touch they were tinted
handsome buff and then decorated
with ferns in blue, clusters Of straw
berries and scroll work. A border Of
light red was painted around the top.
Over the mantel he painted what is
supposed to BE- a representation Of the
Boston harbCr. Trees, a soldier Oh
horseback and an old stage coach com
pleted the decorations. That the
painting is genuine is attested to by
the fact that no two clusters of straw
berries are alike, showing that the
whole work was from imagination.
Soldiers came one lay and took the
whilom artist away handcuffed, and
the strictest search and inquiry on the
part of the late Dr.. Ryther failed to
reveal anything Of his end. The room
has been preserved since that time,
and today the visitor can see the work
of this soldier artist as it was finished
eighty-three years ago. 1t is an inter-
esting room, with its low ceiling
crossed by a huge beam. The furnish
ings are oId-fashioned, but everything
is neat. The tall, old bookcase, brass
trimmed looking glass and Old-fash-
toned chairs are in keeping with the
surroundings. Mrs. Ryther lives at the
old place and a part Of the house is
rented to another family. Outside Of
Bernardston the fact that the room
with the original decorations is pre-
served is not generally known, but the
residents of that quiet village have
known the story from infancy and
hand it down to their children.-Greenli
field Letter to Springfield Republican.