The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-11

bama was not a State mad Montgomery was not incorporated. The village was called then New Philadelphia" Al about here were thick woods, swamps and ponds. In the woods just out there in the middle of the street was the log house into which my parents moved. but when my father died in 1S15 we lived on what is now Dexter Avenue, between Lawrence and McDonough Streets. There 1 was married and went for while to the home of my sister, Mrs. Conrad Webb 1t was on the spot where the home of Mrs. Louise Johnston, Szl Madi- son Avenue Is now. We first went to housekeeping on Dexter Avenue next to where pr. J. B. Gaston's home is. But the home we afterwards built and lived in until my husband died in 1888 was on the corner of Monroe and Hull Streets and 1t still stands.
 50 you see have" she continued. lived on this, the square bounded by Madison Avenue, Hull Street, Dexter Avenue and McDonough Streets ever since 1885, and since lS19 within a stones throw of this home."
 Mrs. Fountain" I said, '"when one notes the changes in Montgomery in twenty years, 1t is startling to contem- plate how great they must be in a life time nearly ninety years"
 "Yes." she replied. T have roamed over these streets, many a happy sun ny day, gathering huckleberries. black berries and wading in the ponds.
 What do you remember of the first place of worship here?" was one of the questions asked.
 recollection" replied Mrs. Fountain thta room and 1t stood on the hill where now is called Five Points There we had service, perhaps once a year, where ever any preacher happened to pass our way as they did now and then. for in those days 30 many families were eTni- grating.
 "The next place of worship was the court house where occasionally we had service and the first real church was a fram building built on the site where afterward the Court Street Methodist Church was built. I joined that church in 1ss1 and have been a member of 1t ever since. The present church was built in 1s56''
 Next I asked about the "amusement features of these old days.
 q never went to the theatre myself so don't remember anything about when the first professional performances took place, but we had a Thespian society here. near seventy years ago. when was young, and used to so to see the home talent MT. washburn's father was one of the actors. The performances of this band of amateurs took place In the old Lafayette house. which was situated on the corner of Commerce and Tallapoosa Streets, and which has recently been torn down."
 Mrs. Fountains description of the burn ing of the Capitol in lS4G was graphic The hopelessness of such a fire in those days when buckets of water were the city's only weapon of defense against the raging fire was terrible. Tt happened at noon." she said, and we thought 1t a great loss to the State. It was very much such a building as the one with which 1t was replaced. Capitol Hill was then called Goat Hnl.' and was given to the State by Mir. Andrew Dexter. whose children. Andrew, Sam and Sophia were my inti- mate friends. His wife, Mrs. Andrew Dexter. was the first person buried in our cemetery
 Lafayett'E visit in 1895 was the next subject about which inquiries were made