Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-01-05
BIC FlRE.s ANNIvERsARY.
Buildings Destroyed in connasrstion
of27 Years Ago.


In continuation Of the article in las
weeks COURIER about buildings de
stroyed:-
Immediately south OF the White Rive
House was the livery stable, originally
part Of the White River House property
but sold to Elmira Guernsey, and at Tn
time OF the fire occupied by Albert l.
Stearns. South Of this was lane leading
to the line OF the railroad, used largely
for drawing in bark TO be loaded on thu
cars. South Of this was the new block 81
Guy +. Graham, erected a few year
previous on the site OF an old stOrehouse
The new block was occupied by Edwin
Fisher for postOffice, Theodore A. Chad
wick for harness shop. e. w. Skinner
for a jewelry store, and Mrs. TarbeH fOi
a millinery store. A the time Of the fire
Mrs. Tar bell was carrying line quite
/ large for those days, and the fire practi-
cally ruined her. The upper part of the
block was occupied for dwelling purposes
by Mrs. Tarbell and J. q. Sargent, who
had entered the employ of q. r. Graham
as clerk in 1863. After the fire, Mr.. Sar-
gent opened store in the Child block
and sold out some Of the damaged goods
and then went into business for himself
in his present location.
South OF the new block were the store
and dwelling OF Clark Davis. The house
was one OF the oldest in the village. The
ground upon which il stood was bought
In 1921 OF Tile Parker by William Bur
bank, clothier, who probably erected
the house about 1895 When built, il
stood somewhat in the rear OF its later
location and about where the railroad
runs. It is believed it was moved nearer
the street to make way for the railroad
track. Mr.. Burbank became mixed with
the "two- for-one" party and lost his
property. He then went to farming,
first where ID. G.. Brown now lives on
Camp brook, and later on the James
Chamberlain farm near LillieVilie. The
house passed through several hands,
finally being bought by DR.. 10 Deni son
and Dudley Chase The former practiced
medicine here about 1872, and later. Dur
ing their ownership it was rented TO
various parties. Among the tenants was
Nathan Pennock, brother Of Nathaniel
Pennock, still living in Somerville,
Mass. Nathan Pennock was a good
singer, like his brother, and married the
daughter OF DR.. Smith Of Randolph. The
wife died, and Nathan Pennock moved
TO Boston and was constable Of the court
of insolvency many years until his death
in 1864. The house was later owned by
big" David Owen, who sold it to Clark
Davis about 1917, who owned it till the
1877 fire.
On the site OF the Graham new block,
there once stood a house which was oecu-
pied by one Johonnott, a silversmith by
trade. Johonnott was a good workman,
but inclined to drink too much intoxieat-
ing liquor. When oyercharged, he was
uneasy and by no means an agreea bic
companion. Among other habits in which
he sometimes INDUCED was that of
getting up IN the dead OF night going to
the rear OF his house and blowing a large
tin horn that was kept hanging near the
door. This was annoying to those living
near and especially to Mr.. Page. The
latter resolved 70 put quietus upon these
cratic movements, and one night when
Johonnott was INDUCING in his noisy
pastime he slipped out OF the house and
crept up near enough to dis
the outline Of Johonnott's figure
in the darkness, and with a stick of wood
piled him aud the horn in an undistin-
guishable mass of ruins. The serenade
was broken of for that night. Mr.
Johonnott later went West When Mr.
Francis became the owner of the brick
store he bought the Johonnott house, and
tearing II down erected a warehouse
which was used by him and later by Mr.
Graham to store wool.
Before the Clark Davis house was moved
forward, a blacksmith shop stood near the
road in which Stephen Cleveland used to
work. Between the Davis house and the
OF the fire, small shop Of comparatively |
recent erection. which was occupied by
Aaron j. Davis, for the sale of goods |
notions, periodicals, etc
II is found on investigation that there |
are several men in the village who antedate |
Dr. r. NJ. Chase in business at Bethel. |
There is one point, however, where we
md that DIR. Chase outranks them all. |
lie has been the longest continuous adj |
yertiser in the COURIER and its prede- |
cessors. DR.. Chase inserted his card first |
about 1873 and has had the same in every
issue ever since.
Aaron j. Davis seems at present writing |
TO be the dean OF the business men in this |
village. Before 1860 land before ne was |
Of age he was engaged in business in 4
small store in the basement Of the 4
Sylvester block In 1862, he bought out |
the business OF Lyman Child, then con-
Quoted in the Jacob Smith block, also |
known as the "Bee Hive" and standing 1
where the town hall now stands. Here
he, conducted a grocery business, and |
bout year later he bought out Allen /
Meserve, who was conducting clothing l
business in the Bethel Mills block. Mr..
Davis moved his business there and /
there several years.
Nj. A. Moody embarked in business as
! produce dealer in 1865 and took out a i
produce dealers license, costing SO He 4
.ook in produce in the Sylvester block
basement This was before the time OF
,reameries, and nearly all the farmers
sold their produce through produce
iealers. He continued business al This /
location in 1866 and 1867. In 1868. Mr..
Moody was in Illinois. In 1869 he sold
goods with o. +. Shaw in the Sylvester
block two years. From 1871 to 1877 he
vas in business With l.. 5. Bird at first in
he Jacob Smith block. In 1874. the /
block now occupied by him was built. /
and Bird & Moody moved In there,
Since January, 1878, Mr.. Moody has been 4
IN business by himself in his present /
ocation, giving him the record Of the +
longest business in the same location.
Speedy Relief.
A salve that heals without scar is De-
W tits Witch Hazel Salve. No remedy 4
effects such speedy relief. II draws out
soothes, cools and heals an /