Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-08-12
A HISTORIC CHEESE.
re MONSTER THAT CHESHIRE SENT
TO PRESIDENT JEFFERSON.

Nearly Every One In Town Contrib
oted Curd. and Elder John Leland
Bo>sed the Job-The Formal Pres
entsticn st the white House.
The story OF the great cheese made at
Cheshire in 1901 and sent the following
winter to President jefferson as a
New Years present has been many
times told in prose and verse. but is
worthy OF repetition as an interesting
bit OF local history. showing. as il does
the patriotic spirit by which the good
people OF Cheshire were moved and the
novel manner they chose for its ex-
preston
In those days Cheshire was famous
for three things-its exceptionally fine
dairying interests and products. the
well nigh universal adhesion OF the
voting population 10 the Democratic
party and Elder John Leland. an able
eccentric and witty Baptist divine
whose fame is part OF the history OF
Cheshire. Elder Leland and most OF
the other people OF the town were ar
dent admirers OF Thomas jefferson
and when he was elected president OF
the United States their JOY WAS un-
bounded. II was finally decided that
IL would be proper 20 give TO their es-
TEEN tangible expression i'm the form
OF mammoth cheese. which should
show 70 the president the qualits of
their material resources and something
OF the extent OF their admiration for
him
The announcement Of this plan was
made by Elder Leland from his pulpit
one Sunday morning and was received
with pleasure by the people. July %.
1901. was the date set for the making
OF the cheese. and the plan was To- have
all the owners OF cows I'm the town.
with the exception of the few federal
lists there were. TO make their curd and
carry IL TO n central place for pr essinr.
OF course there was no cheese press
large enough for the pressing OF such a
cheese as was proposed. and Elisha
Browns cider press was consequently
selected for the work.
When the day came for making the
cheese the people gathered from an
parts OF tho town. Those who had cur,I
10 contribute brought it with them.
some in large quantities and some in
small but all extremely proud 70 con
tribute 20 the monster cheese that WIS
10 be sent 10 the president. Besides be-
ing busy day il was also a gala dav
for the inha hitants Of Cheshire. The
farmers and their wives and families
turned out on masSe 10 witness the con-
Struction of what proved 90 be the
most famous cheese i'm all history. for.
though still larger cheese was made
I'm the town at later date. this was
the presidents cheese. and the great
Elder Leland. who I'm the estimation Of
the people OF Cheshire was second I'm
Importance only 10 President jefferson
himself. was leading and directing the
enterprise. Most OF those present were
arrayed in their sunday best. though
the women who supcrintended the mix
ing Of the curd were obliged 90 wear
protecting aprons.
The hoop in which the cheese was
pressed was made for the occasion. II
was four feet i'm diameter and eighteen
inches deep and was secured with
strong bands of iron 20 enable il 10
stand the pressure When an OF the
curd had been mixed and salted il was
placed in this hoop. n follower which
had also been made especially for the
purpose was placed upon IT, and tie
pOnderous wooden screws OF the old
cider mill were turned down on the
most precious body they had ever COM
pressed. After all was done n HYMN
lined of 10y Elder Leland was sung by
the asSemblage. and the people sepa-
rated for their homes. highly satisfied
with and very proud Of their days
work some days after 80 was made
the cheese was taken 10 Captain Dan.
lei Browns cheese house 10 be cured
Its weight one month from the time il
was pressed was l.oS5 pounds. The
moving or the cheese from the cider
press 20 Captain Browns was made n
great occasion. The people turned ont
again. AMI the cheese was followed hv
a big procession. Moses Wolcott. who
kept The tavern" gave q feast 10 all
present ana thereby linked hiS name 20
this part OF the towns history.
The following December the great
cheese was sent 10 Washington in
charge Of Elder Leland and Darius
Brown There were no railroads in
those days. and il was drawn on a sled
10 Hudson. y. Y. and shipped from
there 10y water The presentation OF
the cheese 10 the president was an
event of moment in Washington The
presentation was made al the White
House in the presence Of the cabinet.
foreign diplomats and other notables.
Elder Leland serving as spokesman
and assuring the president in suitabl,
terms Of the great esteem in which he
was held 10y the people from whom tht
gift had come.-SprinSfeld Republican
The Center OF Observation.