The Newtown bee., 1900-09-14
BETHEL.
CHURCH ITEMS

The Young Ladies' Mission Circle of the Congregational church held an in- teresting missionary meeting, led by the president, Mrs H. l.. Slack, in the lecture room of the church, last Friday evening. Subject "Alaska.'
 The ssLittle Meeting'' for the children in the Methodist church, which has not been held during the warm weather, will be resumed again, Friday afternoon.
 The ladies' Aid Society of the Metho: dist church met, Wednesday, at the us- ual time and place.
 The "Paris Exposition" was the sub- feet of the literary meeting of the Ep- worth League held In the Methodist church, Wednesday evening. An inter. esting program was carried out as fol- lows: Paper, "Paris'', Miss Eva McKin- gle; vocal solo, Miss Udora Andrews {; "The genersl plan and scope of the ex. position," William Gilbert; vocal solo, B. s. Hickok; exposition notes; vocal solo, Mrs Howard Mckenzie; items of interest; the exposition as described by 8 isitor, Miss Anna Brown vocal solo, H. D. Fry.
 A meeting of the women of Bethel was held in the Methodist church, last even- ing, to take some action in regard to the temperance campaign. Many of the women who were active in last years campaign were present and made ar- ranQements to re.OrGaniZe for the same work this year. Ladies were appointed to take different streets in the town and talk with the women at their homes, and induce them to do all in their power in the interest of no Incense. The women also voted to have lunch counter on election day, the same as last year, and at the same place. Another meeting will be held next Monday evening in the Congregational church.
 The Y. P. s. c. E. of the Congrega- tional church held very enjoyable rally service in the basement of the church, Sunday evening. Muaic was furnished by a quartet, also solo by Miss Anna Smith after which the speaker of the evening, Rev MT Evans of Bedding, was intro duced, who gave most interesting and impressive address, taking for his text as have give unto thee."
 THE LOCAL PEACH CROP. peaches ever raised in Bethel Is now be- ing harvested. The crop sells readily in l the home market and will net the owner ! 8 good sum of ready money. Howard McKer zie on his Grassy Ridge orchard on Monday picked and sold about 60 bas. kets. A. s. Judd on his Chestnut Ridge farm has supplied the market with some l fine baskets of the luscious fruit. George Pierson of Elmwood district is large grower of peaches and small fruit. San. ford Platt has fine young peach orchard good prospects of a fine crop of peachea next year. James E. Barnum harvested a | few baskets of number one peaches with | better prospects of full crop for 1901. Many others have raised few baskets, enough for home use.
 Over a century has gone by since Ebenezer Silliman came to Bethel and l built his home which ia still standing on Hoyt's Hill. A part of the hill was then covered with large oaks and chestnut trees. MT Silliman first built barn and then house and very soon after set out an apple and peach orchard. The trees | fourished and grew and bore an abun- dant crop of fruit. There was always a good demand for apples for winters use. Cider was made by hogheads and rolled into the cellars for home drinking and found ready sale in the markets. Peach trees grew thrifty and to large size, bearing fruit in abundance. The crop of peaches which were fine and large met with no sale in the markets of the town. Tie fruit crop could be had for the gath ering. Large quantities were picked up and put into large tubs to ferment and then the juice of the peach was distilled into brandy, then favorite drink. Of course our grandmothers cut and dried large quantities of peaches for home use. An apple called the Lawrence Sweet was 1 generally used for the old fashioned ap- pie sauce. Until late in this century pc .ch trees grew wild in the fields and lived 0 8 great age, bearing fruit of an inferior qusl- ity which ripened in October and sOme- times were caught by the early frost. which gave the peach a mealy taste. Blood peaches were common and much sought after by the school children. For the past half century peach trees have been raised under difficult circumstances. A crop of peaches at the present day finds ready market and brings in to the raise good money.
 At recent meeting held in Danbury o1 the Western Connecticut Poultry AssC. citation, H. Cornelius Judd was appointed superintendent. Their annual Poultry show will be held Thanksgiving week ir Danbury.
 Miss Henrietta Shepard went to Brew
 sters, N. Y., on Saturday, to visit friends and returned home on Monday.
 John Eckert has cut and removed ( row of fine shade trees along Plumtreel road adjoining bis land. The tree wert
 planted by the late Henry Williams abou
 35 years ago.
 NEW MILFORD.
 ! Dea and Mrs c. B. Marsh are the happy pal ents of a daughter, born on Friday.
 . Dea Ethiel Greens house was burglarize on w edne sdey, the intruder securing $6 | wort of jew elry and clothing.
 SOUTH BRITAIN.
 Mrs Everett Platt is still with he