Putnam patriot., 1908-12-18
Thompsoa ". (. I. U.
fThomp~on woman's Christian Tenn. perance Union meet at Vernon stiles Inn, December 10, 1908.
MISS gAHrEps ADDRESS

my home as representative Wofnei
 from all parts Of Thompson, meetin,
 with the esmmen purpose Of maintain ing the temperance standing Of th'
 town and furtbering its best interests
 But this meeting of Woman's Chris tian Temperance Union. in this olc sfage-coach iquor-dispensing tavern
 has broader significance. IL marks an epoch. It illustrates changes mol only in temperance sentiments and practice but in social and civic condi. tions. This old inn. built in 1918, re. presents the turnpike and stage-coach era, the era also of the dominance of the hilltop village. Thompson Hill, had long served as the seat of town government. Town meetings and town business were all conducted in the Con greaatlonal meeting house, constructed long before town organization. And after the war of 1872, and the develop ment of manufacturing interests, with the two great turnpike lines-f3oston and Hartford, Providence and Spring Notwithstanding on it's summit, Ills peculiar business facilities were recog
 nized and appropriated. Young men from all parts of the town fiocked to this business centre. They built this tavern, they set up stores, they initia- ted industries. Hezekiah Olney made and sold New York caps and hats in the adjoining building. Then came Edward Shaw with his jewelry and watchmaking, MT. Knights store with it's multiform supplies, Amy X Cros- by. and Rufus Coburn run other stores. Boots and shoes, saddle and harness, cabinet and carriage making, were all under full head dway, and bevy of car pentefs on hand building houses for the new corners. Eour stages made daily rounds, and constant stream of private travel passed over the high way. And just in the midst of this boom Vernon Stiles took possession ot this central tavern, swung out his th- fayette sign, and secured the monepo- ly uf stageseoaeh custom. He was model landiord-hig, jolly, hospitable, with wife of equal dimensions. The table was good, and the bar filled with tempting liquors. The old ina below was somewhat run down and the stiles Inn became most attractive, greatly facilitating the village boom. Two fashionable tailefs' shops. and an up | to.date mlliner's shop, were added. Young men from adjoining towns came to Thompson Hll for "freedom suitsn and watches. Factory girls from swamp and Potnffet came for bonnets and finery. A bank was instituted whose bills were current through the | whole country; m engine company was formed with suitable engine. \ l fine Arcade near Qunnetisset Inn WIS built for stores. The Baptist So ciety moved down from Brandy Hill, and built the present church ediliee X High School was opened, and sue cessive newspapers lionrished.
 These were the days of May and Sep tember trainings and "Genefnl Mus | ters, of caravans" with great proees- sions and bands of music, withicages of wild beasts ranged under il great | tent on the common, and wonderful exhibitions of monkeys and elephants. All these caterers found entertainment at the tavern.
 And there were private shows, Civil Authority New Years dinners, fire en- zine oyster suppers, sleigh rides, balls and parties-everything that would make a couatEy tavern attractive. But by far the most unique feature of the Vernon Stiles Inn was its agency in matrimonial ventures. Massachusetts and Rhode Island insisted upon pro
 longcd announcements of marriage in
 tentions: Connecticut allowed The cer
 emony after Il single publishnent ir
 any legally established meeting house
 IL became very much the custom fol
 matrimonial candidates in those adja
 cent States to drive up to Thompson
 Hill on Sunday morning, secure pub
 stiles Tavern. The ministers for a tim,
 performed this function at noon tim'
 intermission, but becoming alarme,
 at the resultant Sabbath breaking, re
 signed the office to Captain Stiles a
 justice of the peace, who, with his am
 pie form and melodious voice, perform cd the service with the unction of
 high church dignilary. Gavaleades q
 "Weddingers" appeared on the Hil
 eveiy Sunday. The prepared loaf O
 wedding cake never failed of it's mis
 Grana Green tn matrimonial annals
 This distinction added to other cause made our Inn the most popular an, noted in the Windham County of tha date. That liquor flowed freely zoe without saving. It ahounded tn othe taxerns, and was dealt out to custom
 CTS in every store. Our Stiles Inn Wa highly respectable according to tn standard of the times-a jelly, roystei ! ing rendezvous, where man and beas found congcnial entertainment, but n tale of any especial outrage or inhuma nily darkens its memory.
 IL was the opening of railroads an, the growth of manufacturing interest
 that changed all this, banished tn
 stages, diminished private travel, an ] .l l..