St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-11-01

site of the Methodist church. Many
are the caperS that were cut about
this old tavern and stable by driv-
ers passing through here on their
way to Boston after goods. The
round trip with a four-horse team
taking about four weeks. Fair
banks scales were taken to Bur
lington in teams by John Rowland
while iron for their blast furnace
was drawn from Franconia. Where
the Goss garage now is was a bog
and muckheap, overgrown with
cat tails and was also the source of
small brook that trickled down
through the Gov. Fairbanks place
Some time before 1850 a footbridge
was placed across this bog by pri-
vate subscription so that persons
wishing to cross would not have to
go around by what is now Church
street.
Amusements of the Time.
When the young people of the
town wanted any news they always
went to the Center, usually walking,
for there was much more going on
up there, besides dances were held
there and the young people
were attracted by these. About this
time the young people attempted
to introduce dancing here but the
pious people objected so strenuous
ly that the dances were not held.
A hall in the ell of the Tavern,
which was burned in the Kirk livery
stable fire number of years ago,
served as a dance hall and occasion
ally few congregated there, they
dancing stealthily and without mu-
sic. These dances were squelched for
time being.
The real popular amusement of
the day was wrestling. Each sec
ton of the town had a champion
wrestler who stumped everybody
to wrestle. The principal wrestlers
were Sol Woods, Henry Jenkins
Smith and Ira A. Bagley. The
most amusing wrestle was for the
town championship and was be-
tween Bagley of Paddock Village
and Jenkins representing the Plain.
The match was held in the street in
front of the Tavern one Saturday
night by lantern light. Jenkins won
in two strenuous straight falls.
These wrestling matches were often
held far into the night, even after
midnight and on Saturday night the
pious referee would often turn his
watch back as Sunday approached.
Inc Ola Yellow store.
Across the road from the Tavern
stood a two tenement house while
Nose Kittredge had a store on the
site of Browns block. This was
called the old yellow store and was
later moved back where Number 4
hose company now is. The Capt.
Barney residence formerly stood be-
tween the Agency house and the
R111- nj h11f ic in
of the Agency building and is used
as tenement house. Few changes
have been made in the general con-
struction of this house since this
early time so one can see how one
of these early houses appeared. On
the Passumpsic bank site was the
Fuller place with an extremely
steep bank behind. This was a one
story house with several out build
ings and was always painted red.
Next to this, on the same side, was
the John Crossman house which was
one of the largest houses in town at
that time.
Near Music Hall lot was the paint
shop of Thomas J. Parks with the
paint daubed all over the buildings.
Just beyond was the gulch which
was very deep so that good sliding
through this trickled a small brook
that had it's source in a cat tail bed
and swamp on the northwest corner
of the North church lot. Frogs long
ago ceased to croak there for the
hole was drained and filled up soon
after this time. On the church site
stood the old church which in IS47
was moved below the Court House
and converted into a tenement
house. There was a gallery on the
sides and rear of the church and the
old fashioned sheep pen pews were
the furniture. "Gramp" Brown was
one of the early members of the
choir in this church.
On the Museum Site.
On the east side of the street were
two small ram-shack1e buildings,
one on the Museum site and the
other on the lower corner of the
Brooks place, belonging to Isaac
Woods. DR.. Calvin Jewett's resi-
dence was ON the site of the first
house north of the North church.
This small house was moved back
from the street and is now a tene-,
ment house in the rear.
Training Ground at Fair Ground.
What is now Summer street north
OF Church street was the training
ground and fair ground. About this
time the Danville rife team came
down, put up their tents and gave
an exhibition of drilling. The
Scotch Greys of Barnet, Ryegate
and Teacham companies were also
present The Floodwood Military
company with Capt. William, c. Ar
mold, commander, upheld the local
honors. Nearly all the land west of
Main street to the golf links was
cleared and cattle used to come up
from pastures east of Main street
the gulch near Music Hall
to pastures above. What are now
Charles and Maple streets was
wild stumpy lot where lost children
were always looked for
First CALIFORNIAN Office.
The Deacon Bracket house stood