The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-05-27
AN HISTORIC PLACE
Memories Of the Old Center Church
On the Hill.

On the fil'.
Editor OF the Banner: Through
the kindnes OF friend ! have been
furnished with a copy OF the Troy
Press OF Aug. 1S,ult., containing an
interesting article on the centennial
celebration OF the old First church.
A cut accompanied this article and
brought back to my memory many a
fond recollection" OF Bennington In
1850.
| was then boy of nine years OF
age. visiting relatives for the summer
and | consider Il fortunate for my
self that | saw and knew the village
and the church. before the arrival OF
1 the summer tourist, before innova-
tions, that, however. utllitarian, are
lnartistic and destroy much that APP
pealed then 10 one to the New Eng
land spirit born.
Mr. Hunt was then the minister
He occupied the house west or near
| to DIR n. Swlft's In the direction of
Academy hill The Fays still lived
diagonally across the street nj the
point OF descent OF one OF the roads
leading down TO the east village. A
Mr. Hunt afterwards lived just be.
yond the Fays. higher up on the hill
His wife was a Raymond, sister u
think OF my Cousin Abble." wife OF
Robert Pierpont OF Rutland.
The old academy shall never for
get. We used TO go there 10 late af
ternoon church prayer meeting and |
never hear the hymn-tune -'Arling
ton" without having the old academy
Interior an upper story on | remem-
Der right brought up before me. The
lobinsons we're In that day identified
with the hill ! wonder what has be-
come OF my old playmate. "Steyie"
Robinson. with whom used TO go I'm
bathing In 1851 at the old red covered
bridge over the Walloomsac az the
foot OF the hill. ! remember my lady
tailoress lived on the hill ON a side
street running to the left from the
main one, and | connect her In some
way with the gorgeous brass buttons
on my Jacket and the big snuff box
from which she was constantly re-
freshing herself. as believed then for
purposes OF sartorial inspiration.
Henry lsham and were especial fav.
orites OF hers and used 10 consider her
quite a superior sort OF n person.
There was another Robinson boy
there In lS5O5l whom especially lik-
cd. lie had far more Of the hustler"
about him than "Stevie" The latter
was an easy going. lovable fellow
who looked on the whole world as his
friend and was not mistaken.
Mr. Hayes and his numerous family
OF teachers then presided az the sem
mary and Albert Hubbel and his
brother Robert Ga brother In love OF
mine. too.) and Katie" Hubbell were |
my schoolmates then and there. |
There were also Willie Weeks. Henry |
Merrill and the Robinson boys. refer. |
rcd 10 above. Time has erased the |
names. although I still remember In.
oldents connected with the personal.
ity OF many others.
Mr. Hunt was not an eloquent |
though n somewhat SNOWY" preacher. |
I do not think he was popular. re-
member feeling n sort OF sympathy |
for his wife, quiet. unassuming won
an and his shy little daughter. when ]
Jaw them In church. In some way
conceived n boyish and therefore j.
June Impression that ne lacked the
faculty OF making friends. Picrpont
isham with whom lived for n year nj
that time plainly showed and I'm
church too. his antipathy 10 the poor
man and In his dissent 10 portions OF
his sermons by n sort OF porpoise
like putting and n turning OF his en-.
tire big body In his pew which really
Used 10 alarm me as | was afflicted
sith an abnormal Imagination and
know. by experience. how disagree
able Pierpont lsham could make him.
self when he wanted to.-and he gen.
rally wanted 10 q.
The Lymans. too. come back 10 me.
They lived next To the lahams In
quite an English sort OF house. set
hack from the street. tat right an.
Ties with the main street. the begin.
nlng OF the west road.) and In the rear
u the Walloomaac. Opposite this
place ON -thc brook" was the wheel
wright shop (ln is50l where my FIRST
lied. THE Condor" was made. II was
m awkward affair aud | broke my
nose sliding on II down Seminary hill
m important historical episode which
fear has escaped the local historian.
On the corner across from the Wal.
oomsac was SIR Swifta His daugh.
Ter married Lawyer Gardner. another
antipathy Of Picrpont isham Thought
ihcse Swlfts we're his wife'a conncc.
ilons.l probably shared Artemus
Wards lack Of elective AFFINITY for his
wifc's relations
Opposite Mr. Swift's and separated
rom the meeting house BY the road
eadlng down TO the east village was a
General store kept by n man whose
name ! cannot remember. but who
truck me aa resembling my own
south Carolina people OF that class Of
business by reason OF his accessibility.
sociability aud general fricndlincas
Ny father always liked 20 meet him
aud apparently the feeling was mutu.
A. Beyond this store on the same
side Of the street vas Miss Swift's
ana then recall n little beyond. until
he Sanford place was reached: al.
though Principal Hayes occupied a
house near the sanfordA and board.
d with him.
Was there a Charlie Sanford" In
those days. a Jolly. hail fellow. well
net sort Of youth. II seems 20 me