The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-07-20
NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY
NAMES JACKSON PEAK"

day in the annals of the Dorset Nat
ural Science Society, when the club
journeyed to Kirby Hollow, with a
number of invited guests in automo-
biles and on foot, and on up into that
lovely narrow valley which forms
the seat of what is commonly known
as the Giants Chair, for the purpose
Of christening the beautiful peak that
heads the valley. The assembling Of
the clans was an interesting and pic
turesque affair. Some carried Their
mos bottles, others baskets or boxes,
while the youngsters, Of whom there
were quite number, shook off dull
care and like the ravens trusted TO
Providence to feed them.
The president Of the Society, DR..
George II. Gilbert, marshalled the
company into a shady grove and soon
a picnic lunch was in full swing, after
which the forces adjourned to a grassy
knoll where the interesting ceremony
of christening took place When they
were all seated the president gave a
brief outline Of the purpose Of the
meeting and why the Society had cho-
sen the name of DR.. William Jackson,
the first Congregational minister in
Dorset, after whom to name the Peak.
He then read three letters of appre-
citation from descendants Of Jackson.
One from George H. Washburn, a
great grandson; one from Arthur Fl.
Washburn, son Of George H. and a
great great grandson Of the Doctor,
and last, one from Henrietta l.. Wash
burn, granddaughter Of DIR. Jack
son, which was perhaps the most in
teresting Of all. In it she spoke OF
her mother telling her stories Of the
early days of Dorset, and referred to
a portrait she had made from an orig
inal painting of her grandfather,
which was so successful that it was
almost impossible to distinguish il
from the original, and her apprecia.
tion Of the honor shown her grandfath.
er by the Society was very touchingly
expressed. Mrs. Washburn is the
daughter Of Cyrus Hamlin, founder
and first president Of Robert College
in Constantinople, Turkey, and her
husband, Dr. Washburn, was the sec
ond presidest
After reading the letters the presi-
dent introduced Mr.. West, the secre-
tary Of the Society, and Dorset's well
known orchard.st The latter gave
one or two amusing excerpts from an
old diary Of DR.. Jackson's, in which
he mentions that his meager stipend
Of $500 per year, is hopelessly insuf
fcient for his needs, especially az part
Of il was paid in grain. The grain,
he wrote, was credited on his salary
account at the highest prices, but
when he came to sell it TO a miller
he received only the lowest price, thus
his $500 was seriuosly depleted The
Doctor was evidently much beloved by
his congregation in spite Of their
seeming lack OF appreciation Of his
financial difficulties, and he served his
people right Loyalty for 80 years
Secretary Vests account was fol-
lowed by a delightful paper on The
Scenery Of Dorset" By the weep resi-
dent Of the Society, Mrs. Fahnestock.
well known in the literary world IN
der the pen name Of Zephine Hum
phery, and one might add that in Dor
set particularly her charming little
book ~over Against Green Peak,
may be found on every library shelf,
for in il she has described the charms
Of this Happy vaRey in indelible ink
Mrs. Fahnestock's paper vas a very
adequate appreciation Of the beauties
Of Dorset, for il Is undeniable that
/ everyone who visits i sooner or later
falls q willing victim 70 is charn.