St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-08-27
OLD THE MEMORIES.
Historical Houses.

Historical Houses.
Many questions have naturally arisen
among some of the alumni of Caledonia
County Grammar school since the centen-
NAL. We will reply to only a few OF them
at this time. The large old colonial
house located at the corner Of Church
and Main streets in Peacham, opposite
the old post office and John Martens
store, was built by two brothers, named
Buckminstcr Tor their home. In the rear
of the wing next to the shed, fronting on
Church street was a room, with two
windows, when the first school for
young ladies or girls was kept in the
village, according to tradition known
then as "The DANES School," A lady
from Chicago, a descendant OF the Walker
family, years ago visited the town and
asked the privilege OF seeing the red room,
where she had attended school in her
girlhood days, but which she found to
her dismay was used as the storeroom
of the family. She located the teachers
desk in the farther corner, and the seats
of the II or II pupils opposite. The
great cupboard extending down two.
thirds OF the side of the room on one side
was where the books and utensils were
kept. Later other pupils returning to
town, confirmed the story, and reported
that Miss Ruth Skeee was one of their
teachers. The school was considered a
good one of its kind and answered the
purpose WELL until some of the young
ladies desired to be taught the higher
branches as well as their brothers. When
the Academy was enlarged and gentle
men of the town made contributions Of
money, those wishes were grati6ed.
Some descendants of the early officers
stated that when the appeal was first
made by the parents in the village that
one of the trustees in town made ar
engagements Tor "The Danes School,"
employing and paying the teachers, but
it was never considered under the
Academy proper.
1t has ever been great cause OF graft
fication to the old residents OF Peacham
that women were held in such high es-
teen by the men in the cause of educa-
ton; that they were early recognized as
persons who had rights and privileges
and were worth educating. This is also
true in the laws of the state, for Yer
mont girls are "of age" at IS and can
make their own wills, while in the sister
state of New Hampshire 81 was con.
sidered the age at arriving at majority
Some weeks since in a gathering of old
students, We heard two ladies refer to
their first teacher in the Academy on the
hill, Laura Bradley, who grounded then
well and faithfully in Latin roots, while
a third spoke of her charm of person anc
manner. Rev. Henry Shaw made a very
truthful remark at the centennial that i,
seemed to him that every student thought
his or her teacher was the very hest one
We enjoyed the instruction of six of tn,
principals and various lady assistants
so we do not come under that class the,
were all different but all good in his OF
her special line or department, but moi
necessarily the last the best.
Later in that same colonial house anc
room were kept many boxes of old book.
and pamphlets, belonging to Gen. Will
liam Chamberlain relating to the earl,
settlement of Vermont, and congressional
documents when he was a Representa-
tive. Mr.. Stevens OF London, son Of tn,
noted antiquarian, Mr.. Harry Stevens O
Barnet, called to see if he could find {
rare old book in this collection. 70,
can imagine his grief and dismay, whei
box was opened, to find few pages o
this book lett, Tor the rats or mice hat
penetrated the box and made short worl
OF the book. The wondering children
clustered round, asked their father if thi
man was out of his head, to shed tear
and feel so badly over a poor, old, yellow
musty book, but learned that as agen
of the British Museum in London 70
making collection of American books
for two or three years past, that he ha,
written more letters and spent NOR
money in advertising in newspaper
from Maine to Florida for this boo
than for any other and all in vain unit
he found those few pages left, and h
=, firmly believed that was the only cop