The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-16

Will SIldll pdutS I'll gldSS SET
in lead Closets and eupboards were
seen diving into the chimneys, some
times the former with turn around
the chimney and an inconspicuous door
suggesting hiding place. The family
usually sat in the kitchen on the old
high backed settles which kept off the
draft from the door, and blocks OF
wood were used for the children s seats
The walls were decorated with fiitches
of venison and bacon, crooknecks, fox
and coonskins AS the fear of Indians
died away muskets were hung alongside
the chains of dried apples and sausages.
The impression made by the scenery
upon the first arrivals must have been
an inspiration The rugged mountain
tops were dense with cedar, hemlock
spruce and all the evergreen trees. The
uplands were covered with oak, chest
nut, maple and walnut, having been
cleared by the Indians at intervals fol
hunting grounds. Below grew alder,
willow. hazelnut and other shrubs. Wat
ers that now run slowly down the
rocks and under the streets were then
dashing waterfalls and wide streams
Beautiful wild flowers were abundant
and the settlers inhaled the fragrance
of arbutus, shad flower and honeysuckle.
Animals and birds of all species belong
ing to the climate were everywhere.
Whines, howlings and melancholy
, boots of owls were brought by the eve
ming wind and sometimes the rattle
| of vcnomous serpents.
A story is told of young gallant
returning from an evening visit to his
lady love, who was hisssed at by o
rattlesnake and snapped at by a fox.
At that period a walk of two miles and
| back at late hour was courageous
deed This man certainly deserved "la
croix de guerre. .
There is another tale of cunning
violinist who charmed a large rattle
| snake with his music and the snake fol-
! lowed him into town street. He must
| have been a lineal descendant of the
Pied Piper.
John Arms began to build over and
enlarge his house, and being on the di-
rect road from Boston to Albany it
soon grew into tavern and was largely
patronized
| Here was located the first postoffice
and the first religious meeting ever
held by clergyman in this town took
place in the Arms Tavern.
/ The first store was opened here and
stores were of the variety order in those
days; for example: "Ebenezer Free
man from Boston, blue dyer, Informs
the public that he carries on the bust
ness of dyeing cotton, tow and linen
a most beautiful blue Tin indigo) with
despatch. Also takes genteel boarders
/ Has a handsome chaise to let A fam
Gus tintture for taking out stains.
most curious eye-water. Imperial lip
salve. Pilgrim S Progress, Vicar OF
Wakefield, King Philips Bloody War
Rev. Mr.. Sampson Occum's much ap
proved collection of Hymns and Spir
itual Songs All was up-to datel
, You DO not need to be told that tn,
Arms Tavern was headquarters fo1
Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain
Boys and that Stark stopped here OIL
, his return from Bennington covered
with glory They must have come BY
/ the Hayes Tavern in West Brattleboro
up over Meeting House hill to thu
|, Arms Tavern on the old trail
Harry R. Lawrence kindly loaned al
interesting book TO the old trails roat
committee. It is Badger and Porter :
Stage Register, containing full &C
| count of the principal lines of stages
t steamboats, and canal packets in tn
, New England states and state of New
York. No. II, March 4, 1928. Vol.
) No ). In it is found the following
; Boston and Albany mail stage VII
| of marlborough leaves Brigham : Ho
| tel, No ~ Hanover street, Boston
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at
. a. m. and arrives in Brattleboroug
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, {
| m, and arrives in Albany same even
ing. Through Cambridge, Walthan
! Stow, Bolton, Lancaster, Leominstel
. F'itchburgh, Westminster, Templetor
/ Athol, Orange, Winchester, Hinsdalt
. | Wilmington, Bennington, and Troy
; Books kept at Brigham's Hotel, No. 4
Hanover street, Boston, and Erastu
! Young's stage Office, Albany. Propri
etors, Field and futile, F. Eaer,
: Field, Athol; Hicks and Young, Al
bany.'
/ This proves post road from Bosto
< TO Albany via Brattleboro. The sign
0 board of the wayside inn swung at sue
ei frequent intervals along the main thor
V Oughfares that the traveller was slow il
2 deed who grew thirsty between tn
!, places. The old time landlord was yer