Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-07-06
PARAGRAPHS OF LOCAL HISTORY.
[From the forthcoming History Of the
Town OF Rockingham
A Unlque Epltaph.

In connection with the story of the life
Of Moses Wright, and the early fisheries
here on the Connecticut river, the follow
ing curious epitaph upon a tombstone is
of interest. John Stratton WAS a son OF
Ruth (WrighD Stratton and a nephew of
Moses Wright The death occurred in the
falls at Bellows Falls.
Memento Morl.
Here lies inferred where Silence reigns
Mr. John STATIONS Sad Remains
Sam'el and Ruth once happy were
In Him. Their only Son and Heir
In January, e'er the sun
Had Eight and Twenty Curcits run
In Seventeen Hundred Fifty Six
With Mortals here on Earth to mix
He first began: but lost his life
In Seventeen Hundred Eighty Five
The first OF June as in his Tour
Where Walpole Rapids foam and roar
He to a rock went down too nigh
To pierce the Salmon passing by.
The Rocks Smooth, Classy, Sloaping Side
His feet betrayed. and let him slide
Plum down into a watery Tomb
No more to see his native Home
His tender Parents, lovely Spouse
Or those bright beauties OF his House
Three little helpless female heirs
Left to bedew his Grave with Tears
Alas, who can Their Loss repair
Or ease the Widows Soul of Care
Or furnish adequate Relief
To cure the Parents pungent Grief
Father of Mercies, hear our Call
Extend Thy Pity to them all
Let Momentary Ills like this
Issue in Everlasting Bliss.
"coward- Ice."
In the north part Of the town a traveller
often hears the old, and at times the
younger, people refer to a locality known
as "Coward-ice." Inquiry develops that
1t is a. section Of rocky road running near
the Connecticut river just south of NJ.
G. Roundys, and extending south to the
top of the long hill. 1t is so called from
legend handed down from early times
that one winter a bear of particularly
savage appearance was seen out on the
river ice opposite there and a citizen liv-
ing near started out very boldly to shoot
him, but he became alarmed and retreat
ed without firing his gun and both he and
the locality were always known thereafter
as Coward Ion -ice' later shortened to
"Coward-ice."
"Horse- Heaven"
A name more familiar than the above,
given over 100 years ago to the steep hill
just north of the Johnson & Gay place
on the Rockingham road, was given be-
cause of a well authenticated narrative
of an occurrence there by which a man
drawing a heavy load up the hill is made
over the side of the road and fell upon
the jagged rocks hundreds of feet below,
GO to heaven" instead of the more COM
mon profane expression so frequently
used. Evidently early residents thought
such praiseworthy and pious remarks
should be perpetuated, and they are until
this day. 1t has been generally under
stood that these names were OF compare
| lively recent origin, but they both appear
14Sicating the localities described in a
town nap OF the first road laid out from
Westminster s!ne north to the Springfield
line in the year lies,
The Destructive Fire Of 1917.
| The first serious fire occurring in Bel
lows Falls OF which there is any record
occurred May IL, 1912. The Washington
ian, printed at Windsor had the Following
account OF it the next day 1t was in the
nature of a news item dated at Bellows
Falls. There has always been a tradition
in regard to a serious fire at about that
| early date, but no definite information
has been had as to IT,
ION the night of the 18th inst, we ex-
perieneed In this village, by fire, the most
severe calamity ever felt in this part OF
the country whether we view 1t in rela-
ton to the public, or the immediate suf-
ferers
1.-THE alarm Of fire was given at about
In the evening. II broke out in one Of
the Paper Mills and in less than 80 min.
utes the other Paper Mill, size house
Bill Blake's dwelling house, the cottor
Factory, two Saw Mills and two Girls
mills were enveloped in flames. II wai
with the greatest difficulty that the Stores
and dwelling houses, north of the canal
upon the hill were preserved Besides the
buildings and the different kind of stool
| In them; a large quantity OF lumber be.
longing principally to w. Hall, Jr, wai