Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-08-26
IN WINDHAM COUNTY
TOWNSHEND
AS Others See Us.

a Franklin county Mass.) resident,
now or recently on a visit to our village,
sends this pleasant article to his
home paper, the Greenfield Gazette:
"Townshend village lies on a sort Of
plateau at n considerable elevation above
the meadows, which border the West
river, a branch of the Connecticut. These
meadows grow good crops of corn, pota-
toes and grass and appear much like the
Deerfield meadows. There are two gro
Gerry and general merchandise stores in
the village, kept by Mr.. Holland and Mr..
Low. a tin shop and a combination har-
ness repair shop, soda and cigars and bar
Der shop. The tin shop also carries
pop and supports a barber chair. The
post Office is at a private house. Two
mails are received and sent out daily,
both north and south. This comprises
the places of public business with the ex-
ception Of the Townshend Inn. Howard
Burke, proprietor. This is I'm every way
an ornament and addition to the village.
Built a half a dozen years ago it looks
brand new and is clean and neat in all
its appointments. \ good table is kept
and sojourners are sure to be well treated
there and can find on the hottest day,
a shady spot and a reviving breeze on
It's broad piazzas. \ number of tram
stents are accommodated there besides
several regular borders. who linger to en-
joy the pure air and scenery. the quiet
and healing of these good old green
mountains.
Those who laid out Townshend fol-
lowed the good old fashioned custom Of
including in the place a common The
churches, Baptist and Congregational,
town house, stores, the inn, a circulating
library Of about 600 volumes which is
kept at the house of DR.. Osgood. and
some of the older and more substantial
houses face the common and circle around
IL. In the centre of the common, which
is well shaded by naples and provided
with swings. is n fountain of very pretty
design. In mentioning the buildings
which face the common / omitted the Lee
land and Gray seminary. which occupies
a handsome new wooden structure. the
old brick building having been destroyed
in the fire 10 years ago. which wiped out
a good part of the village. This high
school occupies a prominent place in the
towns life. At present 1t has an en-
rollment of So pupils who come from all
the surrounding towns. quoting from the
1904 catalogue-"What is now Leland
and Gray Seminary was incorporated by
the legislature of Vermont i'm 1884 under
the name of Leland Classical and Eng
fish School in honor of Lieut.. Gov. Le-
land. The name was changed to Leland
and Gray seminary in 1862"
The Baptist church is a very pretty
modern structure. built to replace one
destroyed by fire 10 years ago. Rev. Mr..
Royal is an exceptionally earnest, brainy
and broad minded man and well fitted to
work In a broader field. But really who
could wish a broader field than this, or
one more worthy of thoughtful %cultiva-
ton. The New Highlander is an analytical
thinker who demands the truth with no
frills nor popish tomfooleries' mixed in.
Woe betide the young minister who comes
To such a field expecting to win favorable
notice by dudish dress and long worded,
high sounding platitudes in lieu of SER
mons, and blessed is he who has the
mind and heart big enough to understand
and sympathize with his simple. homely
flock, to minister to their needs and
walk with them from day to day as with
a brother and friend. And such a man,
| am sure. is also the minister of the
Congregational society, Rev. Mr. Baker.
His church is an older building but shows
care and is beautiful in its old style, re-
j~uvenated and freshened by paint and
new carpets. etc. \ modern pipe organ
furnished accompaniment to a well rem
dered anthem by the village choir as l
listened last Sunday from my pew by the
gratefully open window.
"A pretty just estimate of a town can
be formed by observing the respect its
people show their dead. Townshend's
cemeteries. the three near the village
CTownshend is a large and old town
and has, l am told. seven cemeteries in
alb are neat and well kept, the stones
don't lop over at all angles or lie down,
but show care and attention. \ tomb
is located by the cemetery on the Jamaica
road.
"Townshend: \ good old town to die
in. but a better one to live in. grow strong
and happy among it's honest, wholesome
people and delighted by refreshing
springs and IL grand and green clad and
cloud capped granite hills"