Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-20
AN OLD CURIOSITY.
Ancient Wooden Tablet Found by Mrs
 Mary B. Yeomans of Columbia.

In overhauling a quantity of miscel- i laneOus articles in the attic recently,
 Mrs. Mary B. Yeomans of Columbia came across an ancient curiosity and reminder of the past. 1t was a piece of yellow pine board about 16X11 inches in size, edges beveled and corners clipped. The board is engraved and written upon both sides and bears the l date of 1852. Upon one side are the following names of the young men of that period Jonathan c. Fuller, aged 22; Charles A. Scovell, aged 28; Sam ] uel B. Fuller aged 20; Elmore C.. Dewey, Lewis D. Abbott and Warren Fuller" These were all Columbia young men and with two exceptions are well remembered by James P. Lit tie of Columbia. There also appear the names of Amos w. Gay of Leba- non and Ezra Daggett of Millidgeville Ga. These are all under date of June 20, 1892. The following inscription, written in ink, also appears: "Elmore c. Dewey, one of Summers agents for begging at the halves. He, the said Dewey, said he made some days six was we do not know. as, it has no sig nature and what she was begging for is not stated, but in another hand writing someone added these words: And very rascalIy begging it was, too" Near the bottom of the board : a cat and underneath these words: John Greens Cat; J. c. Fuller, June 20, 1892" On this side of the board is also written: Jonathan Fuller's property" from which we may req sonably suppose that he was the originator and owner of this wooden tablet.
 On the reverse side are more names and memoranda of events which oc- cured during 1882. The names are: Charles R. Fuller for many years pro- priet0r of d drug and notion store To- cated at the north end of Columbia Green, well remembered by the older and middle aged people of our town; Gerard A. Bascom, who previous to 1865 resided on that portion of the old Hartford and Norwich turnpike now covered by Columbia lake at a point little south of the residence of Mrs. Welch; Austin Dickinson, aged 20 years. Some of the events of the year were noted down as follows Gall writ ten with ink): This meeting house was built in the year of our Lord 1892. Snow was three inches deep 18th of May, 1882. The first Lord s day in August Lorenzo Dow is expected to preach near the spring west of the meeting house.
 Lorenzo Dow was a noted and very eccentric preacher of that period a. sort of travelling evangelist, selecting
  using quaint methods in turning peo- pie from the error of their ways. It is said that at one time he preached from a platform in large willow tree near the house now occupied by the families of W. H. and Ralph Buell. near the west end of the lake. At one of his meetings one of his hearers had recently had something stolen. Dow said he would show him the thief and during his discourse he mentioned the theft and the sin of stealing; then, taking up a good sized stone which he had brought for the purpose, shouted: And now watch while l throw this stone at the thief" raising his arm as if about to perform the act One man in the audience duc]Ied his head. Dow had found the thief. Doubtless the boys of 1882 thought if such noted preacher was coming into town it was worth noting down on their wooden tablet.
 Another event reads: "1S32-Frost every month in the year." When a boy MT. Little heard men speak of that year when no corn matured fit for grinding or seed. Another reads: This day the commit is expected, June 25, 1892" Whether or not this expectation