The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-10-09
AN OUTSIDERS GLIMPSE
of Barre, It's Granite Business and State
House at Montpelier.

Writing in the most recent number Of
The Presbyterian, Rev S. " Bediekian
presents an outsiders glimpse of Barre
and Montpelier, which is here reprinted
IAN invitation to supply the pulpit OF
the church AT Barre, Vermont, while Rev,
George 4. Sehlbrede of Monaco, Pa, is
considering the unanimous call recently
extended TO him by the congregation
offered me the rare opportunity Of seeing
something which | had never seen before
namely, granite quarries. ! had lived
among the hills of good old Pennsylvania
and seen numerous limestone quarres,
and both hard and soft coal mines, but
this was the first time that | saw hills
and mountains impregnated with gran
ite II is true ! also found near these
quarries a considerable quantity Of coal
Of fine quality, but this was all imported
from Pennsylvania, for / discovered that
the black diamond Of the Keystone state
was indispensable in both the quarries
and the granite works. The state OF
Vermont has inexhaustible beds OF mar
BILE, granite and slate, some $50 varieties
Of these rocks, chiefly marbles. having
the man Of commerce In the early days
when these twain explorers of nature
had not yet entered the treasures OF the
state. her neighbor, New Hampshire, cas-
lily captured the proud title of being
called "the Granite state" but now the
title more correctly belongs to Vermont.
Barre is town of some twelve thou
sand inhabitants of various nationalities,
nestled among the hills which form her
chief sources of wealth. Here are extern
sive sheds, fully equipped with improved
machinery for converting the rough and
shapeless blocks OF granite into articles
of commerce, from the simplest tomb
stones and paving blocks TO the most ar
tistic statuary and monumental work.
This work is seen in the eity's ceme-
teries, and Is shipped to all parts of the
country Apart from many attractive
homes, Barre may justly be proud of her
churches, public library, the gift of a
citizen. good daily newspaper, and up
to-date schools, among which the Spauld-
ING high school and the Goddard semi
nary-an academy of Universalist fotin-
dation, but open TO all--rank very high.
Ii should also, be noted that Barre has
no saloons, these having been voted out
BY local option.
"a trolley ride of six miles from Barre
through a beautiful section of country
takes one to Montpelier, the state capt
tal-a city of some seven thousand in
habitants. and the birthplace Of Admiral
Dewey, OF the Spanish-American war
fame. The State House is small but
coy, somewhat similar in appearance 10
other State Houses, being capped with
glittering dome. Two monster Krupp
guns, trophies from the Spanish cruiser
Castillo, are suitably placed on the ter
race leading to the main entrance of the
buildings. Apart from the legislative
chambers and executive offices, the State
House contains also sort OF a hall OF
fame. where are seen the venerablelook
ing portraits in oil of the distinguished
men who have acted as governors Of the
state. There are, likewise, in the corri-
doris some war trophies and state colors,
as well as a number OF memorial tablets,
reciting the gallant services of her sons
who distinguished themselves in the Civil
war A modest but highly interesting
museum 1.-THE cabinet" affords the WIS.,
itor a great deal of pleasure and profit.
For here he will see the mounted speci-
mems Of large collection Of the birds,
beetles, wild animals, reptiles, minerals,
etc, OF the state; the exhibit in marbles
and GRANTEES being particularly attrac-
tive.
"There is no Presbyterian church at
the capital but the one at Barre is
beautiful structure and easy to speak in.
The church which has membership of
two hundred and twenty-five is anxious
Iy hoping that its call will be accepted by
Mr. Sehlbrede, as, truly, the harvest is
ripe here. There is large number of
Young people and infants in the congre
CATION, who will, mo doubt, under an
efficient pastor, make an army OF work
ers apd tower of strength in this re-
mote section Of the presbytery Of Bos-
ton. The only other Presbyterian church
in this neighborhood is that in Grantee
vile, some three miles south OF Barre,
where Rev. Mr.. Macarthur, beloved
brother, is leading the flock in the green
pastures of Gods word, preaching both
in English and Gaelic. Graniteyille, as
the name indicates, is village near the
great quarries, where there is but one
Protestant ehurchthe Presbyterian
the Roman Catholic church being farther
in the country, thus making Brother
Macarthur somewhat of monarch of all
he surveys.
Barre is 900 miles northwest of Bos
ton, and is reached by the Boston and
Maine and the Central Vermont rail
roads,