Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-17

down through the locks, she being little
larger than would pass easily, but it was
accomplished and the boat passed here but
few times, proving financial failure ow-
ing to the shallowness of the river. A few
years later another steamboat was built
here on the beach below the locks. 1t was
run a few seasons between here and
Charestown, but did not pay. The ma
chinery was taken out of her and her hull
drawn out on the bank near the Patch"
where she lay and rotted for many years
until an unusually high water took her
away. There was great enthusiasm when
the Barnet passed here, great crowds,
cheering and firing of cannon, it being con
fidently expected the whole system of nav-
cation of the river would be revolutionized,
which did not prove true.
Old Cady Parks was well known char
acter of the village who had charge of
drilling and blasting of rocks. He knew
all about the explosives of that day, and
did all the drilling and blasting of stone for
the canal company, as well as acting as un-
dertaker of the place. When the blasting
for the old factory foundation was being
done, in 1886, an immense stone was thrown
into the air and came down plump through
the roof of the Conant building on Bridge
street, crashing down through every story
to the ground floor, but not niuring any
one. At one time while the first paper
mill was being built, and considerable
blasting was being done, a Wing conven-
ton was being held on Pine hill. 1t had
been arranged that an extra blast was to
be touched off by Parks at a particular
point in the proceedings as the village had
no cannon. When the blast was fred
large stone smashed through the roof of a
tenement house that stood where the
Granger block now does. 1t happened that
this house was at the time occupied by an
extremely rabid Democrat named Hiram
Graves, who was another well known CHAR
acter of his day. He never could be convinc-
ed it was not put up job on him and intend
ed to strike his house. This house was for
merly the village schoolhouse, a square
building with peaked roof, standing on a
little eminence where Whitman's grocery
store now does, and which was leveled
when the railroad was built. This was the
location of the school of the village until it
was moved to the corner of Cherry and
School streets, where Mrs. Aaron Armss
residence now stands.
William Conant, the cabinet maker, was
man of some property, and he built the
brick block on Bridge street now occupied
as paper mill storehouse. He was a well.
known and unique character of the village,
as well as OF a somewhat convivial turn of
mind. | well remember his coming up out
of the square one day somewhat filed with
spirits not ethereal, and being met by a
citizen well known for his temperance pro
clivities he was chided for his habits and
condition His reply was remembered and
quoted for many years, as he rejoined in
his quick wit, "Well-er-I er-know "a
good many-men in this world er-who
have earned-excellent livings-minding
their own business"
During the Cos, at the time negotiations
were pending for the sale of the whole
of the property of the Bellows Falls Canal
company. 1t was offered to me for $25, 900
in gold by George Atkinson. offered $25-
OOOin paper currency only land the premium
at that time upon gold made the difference
between us.
The present grist mill was built in 1881
by John Carey, wealthy English barris-
ter, who obtained valuable water rights
from the Atkinsons while they owned the
canal, and which rights still exist, that
mill having the first right to the water,
even before the paper mills. Carey sold
the mill to Col. Alexander Frazier, who
was an English officer and who sold his
commission for $50, 900 when he came to
this country.
In the historical articles of The Phoenix
relative to the early history of the toll
bridge l noticed the name of my mothers
father spelled "Geern Although the pro-
nunciation is like that the spelling should
be 'Geyer," it being an old English name.
Mr.. Green has been very feeble the past
year or two, and during last summer he
hardly ever left his room. During this
winter his condition has been such as to ex-
cite considerable alarm. He has been very
i'll large part of the winter and closely
attended by his wife, Mrs. Hetty Green,
and their daughter Sylvia
Mr.. Green's family Bible is an interest
ing and valuable book from a historical
standpoint, besides having the chronology
cal record of his family for over 1875 wears.
1t is an old English Bible printed in Lon
don in 1913 and has records by each gener
alton of the family since Among them,
and of local interest: Nathaniel Tucker,
his Bible, 1916" His son Nathaniel made
this notation 1853 the West Butment of
the Bridge gave way in consequence of 3
days Rain, May 26th.-Thursday night at
II ock. Great Freshet at Bellows Falls.
Rain began 3rd. Sept, continuing until
II at night.-The west end of Bridge was
moved Is inches. The wharf was carried
away" (The wharf referred to, Mr.. Green
explains, was protection of logs above !
the west abutment.) "The river was new
err known to be so low, Sept. >, 1899" "E. |
II. Green bought the Tucker house at Bel |
lows Falls July LIST 1879" Bellows Falls |
Company sold out to Lem. Blake LIST. Nav |
1875 q failed in 1S39-built foundation |
for factory" This refers to the old cot |
on
NAMED in sight until the erection of the
paper mill of John Robertson & Son about
20 years ago.
Grand Master j. H. Blakeley and w. f.
Conway were in st. Johnsbury last night
attending district meeting of Odd Fellows.
at which the grand sire of the United
States, the grand master of Massachu-
sets, as well as many other eminent mem
oers of the order were present. A very
interesting meeting, to which the public