St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-05-20


the pictures are black. An old fashioned
! wainscoting borders this room from the
floor to height OF about two feet, three
inches, and only,one board is used for the
width and the longest length is about
Is feet, sho owing the size of some of our
!, first growth. Even the carpet in this
room is ancient, having been put down
in 1847 and is we'll preserved and it still
keeps its original color. The pattern is
a large figure, grayish in color with red
and brown mixed stripes. There are
other relics in this room which any one
would be proud to possess. An old man.
tie clock, called the banjo clock, is at
least rs years old. 1t was one of the
first small clocks made, and as was the
custom of the time, a picture was painted
on part of the face, illustrating some
famous event. The battle of the ships
Hornet and Peacock is gaudily repre-
sented on this which not only gives US
an idea of warfare but also OF the skill
! OF the artists of the day. Old, heavy
silver candlesticks and several other
treasures help give the room an old
appearance. There is also small round
table VIII ch, though not SO old as some
OF the other furnishings, deserves word.
The top OF this table is made of Italian
marble cut in small blocks in rows, the
larger blocks circling the edge. The
blocks are about an inch long by half an
inch wide and as the centre is neared
these blocks become smaller until they
are very small. A two-inch circle in the
centre is composed of mosaic work, some
OF the pieces being scarcely the size of a
pin head, and of various colors. These
pieces are so worked together that an
excellent picture is made. AS was the
custom OF the times. the parlors of these
| houses were only used on special occa.
slons, funeral or wedding, and this
accounts for the well preserved condition
| of this room. No children were allowed
to play in these rooms for fear of dam
aging the furnishings.
| The other rooms in the house are of
equal interest though none of them con-
tain such a collection of antique treas
ures as this one. Nearly every room
contains large fireplace for that was
the principal method of heating, and the
chimneys are very large and have ire
mendous draught. There is a complete
set of andirons, tenders and shovel to
the fireplace in the parlor. The andirons
are curious in shape and devise and were
probably pounded out by hand. The
original bellows, fender and shovel com.
plete the equipment to this fireplace.
The kitchen, situated in the ell, is a
very interesting room and though
| modern range and other conveniences
| have been added, enough of the old re.
mains to almost make one long to see
| just how our ancestors cooked their
meals. In one corner is a brick arch
about three feet high and of the same
width and about six feet long. The top
is covered with bricks with the exception
OF three places where pots are set down
in One kettle of brass larger than the
Others was used for boiling clothes, and
it is about 10 inches across tine top
and about 13 inches deep. The second
iron kettle was used to boil vegetables
or meat in and this one is considerable
smaller than the other. The smallest
kettle, or rather tea and coffee pot, was
used Tor tea or coffee and at the bottom
OF each kettle is faucet from the kettle
through the bricks from which the water
could be drawn. This last place has
been cemented up. The hrepot is in the
farthest end from the chimney and the
fire can easily circulate around the three
pots so that only small fire is needed
tor large amount OF work. The ash
pot is directly below the fire CRATE and
there is also pot under each kettle to
facilitate cleaning the ashes out. large
brick oven nearly round stands in the
Woodshed, but with an entrance from the
kitchen, This oven is about six feet hehi
and hive feet across, with large amount
OF room inside. In this was baked the
beans, potatoes and other dishes, and
food enough for a small army can be
baked in this at once. This arch and
oven is strongly made with three or four
bricks III thickness and will probably last
for years. Another heating apparatus is
in the sitting room, and though not so
old, really shows the skill and durability
OF workmanship of that day. This is an
air tight sheet iron stove which has
always been in use since 1886 and still is
in excellent repair. Still another heating
apparatus, though not in use, is a small
tin loot stove, square in shape, not over
10 inches long with holes punched in the
sides and cover. Inside small door is a
tin receptacle in which live Goals were
put from which heat for quite a time
was given out. On the cold winter even.
lngs this foot stove was used and large
? amount OF comfort derived from it. This
, stove was taken to church and out
. driving.
The dining room is constructed on the
same general plan as the other rooms
e though short alcove in this room has
=, a vauted ceiling and in the dining room
j as in the other rooms is fireplace with
S olden decorations including pictures 40
g to 90 years old. The paper on the walls
o is not old, it has been there only 81 years
and is OF the style that is now becoming
= popular again. 1t is light coIored with
e a colored stripe running vertically
l through it. On the wall is a mirror
G about212 'eet long and Is inches wide with
the usual gilded frame and at the top
painted on the glass, is a landscape
t IN water colors. The colors have
. not changed their shade in 80 wears
q OF existence. A large desk of cherry and
bird's.eye maple, 80 years old, and
y probably more, with shelves above
S serves as cabinet and on these shelves
are costly pieces of crockery that the
servants have reyerenced The raras+ M