The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-27

ton to Albany. 1t seems from early
history that not only Brattleboro but
nearly every early New England town
wished to be connected by road from
Boston to Albany. Many of these
early roads fell into disuse. and now
when we behold these same highways
we find they have become grass grwon
and covered with a mantle of forest
foliage, as year by year they have
dropped backward into primeval silence
and oblivion, until only by accident or
painful searching you discover it at all,
its once hospitable and cheerful associ-
ates the homes of the people, having
fallen silently into so many cellars over
which lilac and tansy or greensward
and maple have gently erected nature IS
living memorial
The first tavern keeper in Greenfield
was James Corse, celebrated hunter
and Indian scout. In the Indian mas
saere of 1904 his family were great
sufferers, his mother and sister being
taken captives. The mother was slain
before reaching Canada, and his sister
never returned. In 1880 the govern
ment of the state of Massachusetts de-
sired to find out the exact route which
the Indians travelled. James Corse
gladly took up the work, as he was also
anxious to find out what had become
of his sister. His report of the Indian
| trail was given as from Fort Dummer
| to West river, then up the Connecticut
river some "a miles, thence over to
Black river, following it to its source,
| which is in Plymouth, Vt, then 80
miles more or less northwest until they
| come to the tributaries of Otter creek
| sometimes called Arthur creek
| After reaching this point they travelled
| by canoe the length of this river and
| up Lake Champlam into Canada.
The first tavern in Bernardson was as
| early as 1860 kept by Sheldon. In
1863 Major John Burke kept a tavern,
which fact was announced by a shield
shaped sign, having painted on its
center a decanter and glasses, while in
] large letters surrounding this design,
it stated that here was provided cen
tertainment for Man and Beast This
old sign was preserved and can now be
seen in Memorial Hall, Old Deerfeld
Near the Memorial Hall. with its
treasures galore, is the Frary House, a
part of which probably was built as
Early as 1858. 1t is the oldest house
IN Franklin county, and was used for
a tavern by Selah Barnard in 1863, at
which time he added the south part
Barnard was a major as well as an
inn keeper. There is a pretty story of
his marriage. When in l746 he was
going to war and went to his neighborS
to say goodbye, a baby was laying in
its cradle, and the soldier said to the
mother: "Keep her until the war is
over, and | will marry her. Twenty
| years later Elizabeth Minis became his
wife.
The typical tavern of the times was
usually substantial building, in out
ward appearances that of Colonial
house, the ceilings low, the doors quaint
~ panellcd, with antique hinges and
latehes, a barroom with counter and
shelves for liquors
The Averill stand at Wilmington is
over 100 years old, and is used today
for a home. The last dance was held
there in 1860 in the hall which runs full
length Of the house on the second floor
1t was lighted by candles, placed high
above the spectators who sat around
the sides of the hall, and they as vel
~ the wall flowers carried home fol
souvenirs quantity of tallow drippings
on their Sunday go to meeting
| clothes. There was also a stage house
in Wilmington, another stage house il
Searsburg (the town where the United
States postmaster receives the munif
cent salary of 800 a year,, still anothe
stage house on Woodford mountain
lust before the last descent into Ben
nington.
| must speak of the Old Catamoun
tavern at Bennington. 1t was built b,
Stephen Fay before 1870, a woodei
structure A by 81 feet, two storie
high, having two high fireplaces in eacl
: story, also large fireplace in the base
ment or cellar On the marble mantl
: IF one of the freplaces were the words
COUNCIL ROOM = At this fresid
Ethan Allen sat the night before Ii
f sent forth the summons for the Greer
I Mountain Boys to muster for the cap
( | ture of Ticonderoga This tavern ha,
I unique sign, from which it derive
: its name. On a high post before tn
! front door was placed the stuffed ski
of catamOunt and with his larg
n teeth showing he appeared to be grin
4 ming deiantly toward New York. Thi
4 tavern was burned in 1871.
q Major Frederick W. Childs has a yer
n ancient lantern at his summer HON
o which formerly was use1 in front o