The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-11-06
Picnic to Ethan Aliens Ancient Cellar.

In commencing this brief description,
we first say Mrs. A. w. Pierce of Lon
donderry and Mrs. M. W. ,Barret of
Manchester are sisters and claim relation
ship to Ethan Allen, and the rierces and
Barrels for many years have been In the
habit of holding an annual picnic some
where on the west of the Green Mount
aims. The gathering last year was held
on the summit of Mt. Equinox and Mrs.
Barret proposed that in 1896 our dinner
should be eaten at Ethans old cellar hole.
As the time drew near Mrs. Pierce pre-
pared her condiments and in the after
noon of September second started for
Manchester street. Reaching this desti-
nation near night, during the evening, ar
rangements were made for the following
day. The morning of Sept. 3, dawned
fair, cool and crisp. After breakfast
loaded up and started for Sunderland.
reaching Bentley's store we drew up for
directions. As luck would have it Mr..
Bentley was out, and at once pointed out
the ancient possessions of Allen, the
bounds of which We're ten or fifteen rods
away from the store and directing us to
call on Mrs. Graves, the widow of Eben
Graves, about 40 rods farther on at the
Sycamore tree. Calling on Mrs. Graves
and finding her lady of "A years OF age
and well preserved and quite interesting.
Interogating this lady in regard to Aliens
residence in Sunderland she replied,
"Where this house now stands. The
| cellar of Ethan Allen was under the
north side of this house, waving her
hand to The north rooms. The old Allen
house was taken down in 1910 and my
husbands father built this house, much
| larger than the old one, and the ell or adj
dition on the west, covering the ancient
Allen well. This addition was formerly
used tor dairy room, now used perhaps
for kitchen, we did not inquire. Over
the well was square hole over which
were planks spiked down and through in
tirstices we thrust our cane distinguish
ing walling which we easily took to be
the walling of well. Two doors, relics
from the old Allen house were doing duty
in this apartment, one elect, the other a
panel, opening into smaller apartments,
these doors very ancient in appearance
and pattern, somewhat worn but still
| firm. Desiring q specimen from the
doors, the lady smiling replieds "She had
always been obliged to resist relic HINT
ers." Mrs Graves continued: II was
married to Eben Graves in 1850 and at
that time the old office of Ira Allen was
just across the road from this house and
in that building was the first treasury of
a Vermont organization. Also Ia Alien
buried daughter while living here who
was inferred in the cemetery Just over
toward the borough. And Mary Brown
son, the wife of Ethan Allen, died in the
room over the old cellar, and was carried
OH bier upon the shoulders of neighbors
three and one half miles and buried at
Arlington in the cemetery, by which now
stands the stone church, Our folks used
the old office six or seven years after my
marriage for grainery before it was re.
moved.
By Mrs. Graves permission our women
spread down their table cloths under the
wide spreading branches of the sycamore
in front Of the mansion. Now the cater
ing appeared from baskets, boxes anc
caus and if Ethan was there in spirit hi
must have enjoyed the emenations of thai
dinner, or be voted difficult. Through
with our dinner aud things pack up. Ii
the mean time Mr.. Bently Informed III
he had part of sill under his barn tina
came from one of the Allen buildings, 81
Mr.. B. and Mr.. Barrel took up the BARI
floor and obtained specimen, then w
went to the apple tree, set out by Ethan'
own hands, the age of the tree we mucl
doubted, but ON seeing it we no longe
planted by Ethan Allen. And if W
have ever seen an apparent vital effort u
continue existence it is stamped IN TIL
venerable tree from which we obtained
punkey specimen of wood, also three .
four apples and some small twiss. |
, any DOUBT the age of this tree let ther
pay it a visit, seeing is believing. No,
we will let the reader know of our furthe
journey TO Arlington.
Calling on Mr.. Felt, a venerable gentle
{ man residing al Manchester, very earl
this morning who informed us Ethan
house stood where the Arlington dept
now is, and his well was about rod b,
lyond. This information exercised OF
thoughts considerably during the for,
noon. But wishing TO substantiate ii
carrying of Mrs. Aliens rema rs to A
lngton, and the why, and secondly |
learn if possible in regard to a resident
in that place. On reaching the place Oh
women were alighted on the sidewalk
front of the cemetery gate to sea.
among tie inscriptions on the head stone
while Bairet aud myself went in scare
of information. After walking son
time and meeting resident apparent
and inquiring in regard to the tradition
of Aliens residence the stranger referil
to Mr.. Camtield in the brick block O
posite the stone church. Not KNOWN
whittier brother Barrel had gone, we 4
. rected our steps to the Rev. Mr.. Car
: fields. As we neared that side of Il
e street some.people were turning in iowa
"a the door, we also noticed a lady comm
II quite fast down cross street to t
d main, with bare head and everyday
W appearance straight from the drawn
e room, she turned in to the brick block b
y fore us. We passed up the step TO {
piazza, rang the bell. We heard sol
= one come from room into the hall a
!, answered tile bell call. 1t was the la
= that last entered the door. We at on
intrndured nur self nv name and Mace