The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-09
ONE OF VERMONT'S
OLDEST HOUSES
Interesting Dispute Over
First Dwelling in Green
Mountain State

The first settlement in the state of
Vermont is claimed to have been at
the site of Fort Drummer in the town
of Brattleboro, about one mile south
of the present village, in 1924, says
the Brattleboro letter in the Spring.
field Sunday Republican. The claim,
however, has been disputed by able
writers in the north part of the state
who say that the first settlement was
in Isle La Motto in the county of
Grand Isle. However it may be GER
tain it is that the first settlement in
the town of Brattleboro and in south
ern Vermont was at the place first
mentioned. 1t is a fact not generally
known that the first settlement in
Brattleboro outside the limits of Fort
Drummer were made on property now
owned by hhe Brattleboro Retreat.
In 1857 Benjamin Moore erected a
dwelling on the present site of the
Retreat farm house. Soon after it's
erection he was killed by Indians and
his wife and children carried captive
to Canada.
Five years later John Arms of
Deerfeld who later became one of
Brattleboro's leading and most in
fiuential citizens and who was Brat
tleboro's first postmaster, establish
ed tavern on the same site which
became one of the most famous hos
telries in southern Vermont. Col.
Ethan Allen when he came to this
part of the state to inform the inhab-
itants of Brattleboro and Guilford
which were strong Tory towns, that
"unless they peaceably submitted to
the authority of Vermont that their
territory would be made as desolate
as Sodom and Gomorrah," made Coy
Arms tavern his headquarters and
later Gen. John Stark was a guest of
the house just before the battle of
Bennington. Maj. Arms was killed
by a kick of horse in ITO, and
widow and son continued the bust
ness for several years afterwards.
When repairs were being made on the
farm house some 20 years ago several
relics were dug up included in which
was a broken rusty sword consisting
of hilt and Is inches of blade all of
which was hand made, and an old
fashioned iron door knocker.
The second settlement in this part
of the town was in 1862 by Samuel
Wells who also come from Deerfeld
and later became both colonel and
judge. He at first built log house
west of what is now known as Linden
Lodge and about 10 years later built
a substantial and commodious three
story house which now forms the
front part of Linden Lodge, one room
of which at the present time show
the massive timbers and their original
design. Much care evidently was
taken to protect against outside invas-
ion. Although Linden Lodge has
been remodeled several times undopb- |
teddy it can claim to be in part the |
oldest house now standing and in use
in the town of Brattleboro. Linden
Lodge was widely known at one time
as the former location of Burnside
military academy and at present is
charming home for voluntary patients
of the Brattleboro Retreat. 1t is To-
Gated near ravine in which is found
what is known far and wide as the
"Cold Spring" The approach to this
spring is faced with cobbles and the
retaining wall of the walk leading to
the steps is of immense boulders. A