Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-12-05
An Antique Room.

among them Mrs. George R. Wales; her
hobby is an admiration for the quaint and
ancient. Many people who have never
visited the place have heard of this antique
room, SO for the purpose of giving its read
ers an idea of what might be seen repre-
sentative of the TINES made Mrs. Wales a
call recently and asked the privilege Of ex-
aiming the room and informing the public
regarding a few of its mysteries. He soon
discovered that the only unpleasant feature
connected with the undertaking was the alb
sence of an elevator. The room is on the
third floor and is reached by devious stair
ways. However, when once the goal is
reached the visitor feels well repaid for his
effort. A glimpse of the room in magma
ton carries one back hundred years. On
all sides are articles of furniture which in
the eyes of the fathers seemed luxurious,
but now look odd enough.
To describe all that can be seen would
require more space than is at our disposal,
and so we mention only few of the really
interesting articles. Most OF the specimens
have come through various channels from
various members OF the Wales or Campbell
families, Mrs. Wales being a daughter OF
DR.. Daniel Campbell Of Saxtons River.
A recent acquisition and one of great
interest is an old dictionary printed in Lon
don in 1878 presented Mrs. Wales by
Henry Willard of Westminster. On the
fly Leaf is written in the handwriting OF the
former owner, John Norton's property,
Ammo Domino, 1893" Norton was once
the keeper of the famous tory tavern in
Westminster and was great-great-great-
grandfather of Mrs. Wales. By its side
is Bible dated 1898.
A bureau once the property Of Grand
mother Clarrissa Campbell stands on one
side of the room while nearby is a foot
stove once used in the Congregational
church in Westminster. This stove is made
of punctured tin and has wooden frame
and handle. The ancient worthless rted to
fill it with Goals and place it in the pew
under the feet. One would think that the
combined effect Of pulpit enthusiasm and
foot stoves ought to keep a congregation
in tolerably comfortable condition.
There are chairs and antique stands once
the property Of Capt. Edward Hall, grand
father to Mr.. Wales, and on the wall is an
ancient looking glass once owned by Grand
mother Wales. A rocking chair once be-
longing to son OF General Bradley, one
of the oldest families of Westminster, and
one of the straight back chairs by great
aunt, Lydia Wright, also adorn the room.
A pin cushion made in 1917 contains a
piece of wedding gown hand-embroidered
in 1907 there is string of gold beads and
ancient earrings which belonged to Anna
Norton, daughter of John Norton; also
a home spun linen scarf with Melted fringe
made by Aunt Smith Of Saxtons River in
her 85th year.
In one corner is flax wheel, clock reel
and spinning wheel once owned by great
aunt, Phoebe Goodell. Another attrac-
ton is a set Of brass candle sticks with
shutters and tray which formerly belonged
to Asenith Hallet, great aunt.
Mrs. Wales sought long and earnestly
for corner wash stand and finally secured
one from Fort Moultrie, near Charlestown,
S. c. A brass warming pan which will
hold peck and with a handle like a can't
hook is grim reminder Of the days of log
houses and cold winters.
The most notable thing in the room is a
colonial bed stead with its high posts of
cherry and its curtains, once owned BY FL
dad Harlow of Westminster West. The
stead now has set of springs and a mat
tress, which Mrs. Wales stated confden-
tally are Of modern origin, as the bed has
to be used occasionally and the Stats that
the fathers used to consider all right are
not luxurious enough for their degenerate
descendants. On the bed is blue and
white counterpane woven and spun by Orpha
Hall and Phoebe Goodell many years ago.
Among the many other things of interest
are pieces of old china, a watering pot, an
ancient gown, a wreath of family hair in a
frame painted by Aunt Mary Holmes of
Grafton, china tea pots, and autograph al
bum, card table once the property OF
Clarrssa Campbell, rugs made by Mrs.
Rufus Bosworth now living in Rockingham,
and pewter candle sticks, etc.
A very interesting article is huge peck
ct book, II by 5 inches, with pocket for
every letter in the alphabet. and room enough
to carry the United States treasury. 1t
was probably used before the day of
banks.
A High Daddy" is piece of furniture
used in one of the lower rooms which oripi-
nally belonged to Mrs. Thomas Fullerton
before her marriage in 1900. She was a
daughter of John and Anna Norton of
Westminster.
Mrs. Wales has established quite repu-
tation as an antiquarian and is justly proud
of her really fine collection. A visit to her