Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-04-05
The HILL" IN 1s4e.
Described BY c. w. Levings, Student
at ORANGE Co. Gram. School.

- SfahSC w. oFdNfs SSHOSfs
The a22sarInes OF the ship IN 1916
may be stated as follows The street Of
grand proportions, two miles long and 100
feet wide, was garnished with yellow
dock, white daisies. mullen, and Canada
thistles, and afforded pasturage for village
cows during most OF the summer. Said
cows had no infusion of s'gentle blood in
their veins-no Durhams paved the
earth, no Jerseys snuffed those morning
airs; but slime backs" "brindles" and
''lop- horns, tracing, maybe, their des-
cent from some Puritanical heifer in the
hold OF the Mayfiower, were content
under the leadership OF the Widow Pin
ney's COW that taught the secret fastening
OF every mans gate or pair OF bars from
Priest Dan BlOdgett's on the south to the
Carpenter tavern stand on the north.
Real estate was at low-water mark, the
impetus to business generally, given by
the new I'll orado in California, not TAX
ing place until three or four years later.
There had been time when it was con-
fidently believed that the state capitol
would be located at Randolph and the
massive building would be perched upon
the rocky eminence opposite the old Fos-
ter stand IN the TarbOx sheep pasture. AS
late as 1876 there were yet those who be-
lieved the Sleepy Hollow" quietude OF
the "Hilln would be disturbed by the bus
tie and Importance OF law making town.
The business carried on was found in
two stores at the lower end OF the street,
and one midway kept by Mr.. Alvord,
where checked calico, Goldfish and Med
ford rum we're TO be had. Maxham's tav-
ern held It's position where II could watch
for the occasional traveller coming from
any one Of the cardinal points. 1t was the
general rendezvous for both Wing and
Democrat, for all horse traders aud for
Al . q al
who stock leetle sunthin'p as hard Ell
der, toddy or the ancient "black-strap."
There were two churches, the Orthodox
and the Methodist-occupied part OF the
time by the Universalists from East Ran
dolph-which scowled defiance at each
other from across the street and reached
out misery hands for their share of the
students OF the Orange County Grammar
school. The "0ld Iron Works" pulled up
its dickey, took a pinch OF snuff, parted
the tails OF its Sunday go-to- meetin' uni
form and firmly and complacently seated
itself shy right OF discovery while the
circuit riders across the way put spurs To
their Armenian nags and calamity gall
Hoped around the outworks OF protesting
tion and foreordinatlon, feeling for vul-
nerable point, the while they guarded the
citadel from attacks OF universal salvation.
Judge Chase's law office contained more
dust and cobwebs than briefs; the office
OF old DR.. Smith divided honors with that
OF tall DR.. Pember, and the three shoe
makers held their own with cowhide
boots at Il 80 per pair and by keeping the
school girls well shod In calfskin shoes.
Ormael Partridge made sleighs that were
the pride OF Vermont winter loads. His
boys, not to be behind their father in
mechanical ingenuity, made font of
wooden type and published a newspaper
"a He'd s.The EnterDriseO
Esquire VIM. Nutting, brother OF Rutus,
the grammarian, had law office few
steps north Of the academy campus.
Mrs. Jasper Tucker made an occasional
dress or bonnet. but was chiefly engaged
in remodeling those OF previous dates,
exhibiting designs little dreamed OF in
New York and Paris.
On the Common in the rear OF the
Orthodox church stood the old gunlouse
to point moral or adorn tale. Though
the eager curiosity of the school boys was
barred by a ponderous paddock, yet stolen
chances through cracks and knotholes re-
yealed the threatening form OF rusty six
FOUNDER mounted upon huge wheels
painted blue. Other tokens of grim war
we're there in the shape of bayonet
sheathes. cartridge boxes and canteeDs
| Picture group OF young school boys
seated on the grass among the dandellons.
! listening with eager ears to accounts OF
/ how that selfsame gun had vomited lts
/ deadly contents IN Revolutionary fields
and in the War OF 1912. In piping times
of peace it had been taken as far north as
/ Brooktield Center and even TO chelsea
/ green to be used in the mimic battles OF
| the musters; and, il tradition might be
4 relied upon, had once been put in lighting
trim to repel threatened invasion from
scadding.