Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-08-05
A HISTORIC CHEESE.
THE MONSTER THAT CHESHIRE SENT
TO PRESIDENT JEFFERSON.

TO PRESIDENT JEFFERSON.
Nearly Every One In Town Contrib
uted Cnrd. and Elder John Leland
Bossed the Job-The Formal Pres
entation at the white Hou.-
The story OF the great cheese made at
Cheshire i'm 1901 and sent the following
winter TO President jefferson as
New Years present has been many
times told I'm 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 a nd the
novel manner they chose for its ex
preston
In those days Cheshire was famous
Tor three things-its exceptionally fine
dairying interests and products. the
we'll 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 a 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 IN
bounded. IL was finally decided that
1t would be proper 10 give TO their es-
TEEN tangible expression I'm the form
Of mammoth cheese. which should
show TO the president the quality 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 20.
1901. was the date set for the making
OF the cheese. and the plan was To have
all the owners OF cows in the town.
with the exception Of the few federal
lists there were. 20 make their curd and
carry 1T 10 a central place for pressing.
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 the town Those who had curd
10 contribute brought IL with them.
some in large quantities and some I'm
small. but all extremely proud To con
tribute 10 the monster cheese that was
10 be sent 10 the president. Besides be-
ing a busy day IL was also gala day
FOR the inhabitants OF Cheshire The
farmers and their wives and families
turned out en- maSSe 10 witness the con-
struction OF what proved 10 be the
most famous cheese i'm all history. FOR.
though still larger cheese was made
I'm the town at n later date. this was
the presidents cheese. and the great
Elder Leland. who in the estimation IL
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 superintendent the mix
ing Of the curd were Obliged 10 wear
protecting aprons.
The hoop in which the cheese was
pressed was made for the occasion. II
was four feet in diameter and eighteen
inches deep and was secured with
strong bands of iron 10 enable IL 20
stand the pressure. When all OF the
curd had been mixed and sailed IL was
placed in this hoop. a follower which
had also been made especially for the
purpose was placed upon IL. and the
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 a HYMN
lined OF 10y Elder Leland was SUM by
the aSsemblage. and the people soma
rated FOR their homes. highly satisfied
with and very proud OF their DAYS
work. some days after IL was made
the cheese was taken 10 Captain Dan
lei Browns cheese house 10 h., cured
Its weight one month from the time il
was pressed was I ,235 pounds. The
moving OF the cheese from the cider
press 20 Captain Browns was made a
great occasion The people turned out
again. ana the cheese was followed hv
a big procession. Moses Wolcott. who
Kept the tavern" gave feast 10 an
present and thereby linked his name 10
this part OF the towns history.
The following December the great
cheese was sent 70 Washington in
charge OF Elder Leland and Darius
Brown. There were no railroads in
those days, and il was drawn on sled
To Hudson. y. y and shipped from
there 10y water. The presentation OF
the cheese 20 the president was an
event OF moment I'm Washington The
presentation was made at the White
House i'm the presence OF the cabinet.
foreign diplomats and other notables.
Elder Leland serving as spokesman
and assuring the president in suitable
terms Of the great esteem in which he
was held 10y the people from whom the
glft had como.-Springheld Republican.