Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-11
HOW ONE TOWN GREW.

> 1
OF town that has profited richly fron
its own efforts in its own behalf, w
could not possibly find a better on
than Mortified. Vt.
Twenty years ago-the writer re
calls well-Northfeld was dead. There
, was only one industry in towns
wooden factory at Gouldsyille-tha
employed more than half a dozer
hands. Everything was stagnant
The very air breathed discourage,
ment There were 10 be seen on the
hilisides slate openings-long un-
worked. There still stood relics OF
the towns former activity, decaying
remnants OF the structures once util-
lied as headquarters of the Central
Vermont Railroad company, when
''old Gov. Paine" ruled. A disman-
tied wooden miu, wholly idle; brick
factory building, once the hive of busy
looms, then partially tenanted by
wheelwrights and carpenters who
walked with care over its creaky
floors; crumbling slate mill whose
room was so much better than its
company that il was removed TO en-
large lumber yard; the dingy "mud-
shop" which we boys used to burglar
ize and relieve OF old lead scraps
speedily transformed into candy)
on our way to and from the swim
ming-hole nearby; and the tall brick
chimney, spared by some unkind
fate from the chair factory conhagra-
tion-standing like mourntul monu-
ment proclaiming to railway travellers
the towns moribund state these made
up the sum total of Northfeld's bust
ness enterprises. Even a once-thriving
Methodist campmeeting, which strug-
gled on for some years amid the gener-
al waste, finally succumbed, and its
cottages were carted off to serve as
lighthouses.
Amid such an atmosphere OF gloom, |
the croaker held full sway for years.
He took delight in gathering on the
store steps in summer or around the
store stove in winter, wearing smooth
the surface of the convenient seat
provided by the merchant with an
eye to business, since his patronage
depended largely on the purchases
OF this class of customers and be must
needs consult their comfort.) With
others of similar turn of mind and
the croaker enlarged his
mental horizon by descanting on the
former glories of the town, catalog-
uing the repeated failures to revive
it, and predicting the time when
grass should grow in all the streets.
The only real excitement Of the 1sJ ,
was the "cohtihHoHs performance of
euchre at give Points, and the
arrival OF the day trains. Mortified,
at this period, was indeed eroaker's
paradise.
5ut times finally changed, and
note this-they didn't change them
selves. No selflmpelled zephyr cast
aside the mantle If depression and
started Nerth6eld on the high road
to prosperity. 1t was the well.ap-
piled work of few philosophical
citizens that set in motion the ball
which has rolled unto the present.
The town hadn't large resources. 1t
wasn't a railway center. 1t lacked
abundant water power. But it did
have several convenient sites where
granite cutting might be carried on.
So these citizens, with little enconr-
agement and with the whole pack
of croakers yelping at their heels,
did what they could, with what they
had to do with. Taey secured from
the railroad company-always alive
10 its own ultimate interests low
shipping rate for Barre granite to be
cut in Northheld and re-shipped to