Darius Starts Teaching School, But Rowdy Gang Causes Him Some Worry

In the preceding chapter Merrill told of the barn raising, the feats of strength performed by the young men of the settlement. He told about Darius passing the examination for a teachers' certificate and securing the appointment as teacher of the home school.

Chapter 23

It was with the determination to win that he started out the next Monday morning for the little school house where he had first gone to his mother ten years before and where he was now to teach.

Arrived at the school house he found the usual motely assortment always found at a country school, assembled in the yard, ranging in age from four to twenty. Some were playing leap-frog, some wrestling, others sitting on the old stone steps whittling out bows and arrows, and still others were throwing and catching and old yarn ball, playing "three old cat."

The greeting was very friendly, and in such terms as as "Good morning teacher;" "Hello, Dide!" "Hello teacher!" "Teacher can I set on the back seat?" "Teacher, can I and Frank Percy sit together?" And so on.

To all of which Darius responded pleasantly. Every pupil there knew Darius personally; and he thought there was no occasion to anticipate trouble, but trouble came, as trouble will, and when least expected, but not till the end of the winter.

I can see my father now in my mind's eye, as he told me, many years ago, of his first experience teaching this school How he would smile at the recollection of the trouble that came at the termination of his first term. I will try to relate it as he told it to me.

The first two weeks were taken up in organizing the classes and getting them started in the regular routine of their work. This had been a hard job, as there were about thirty pupils in all, and some of the twelve and fourteen-year-olds were not so far advanced as others many years younger, which made it very difficult to grade them.

After about three weeks, when everything was running smoothly, Darius proposed to start a singing school One night just before closing he put the proposition up to a vote of the school.

"All in favor of organizing a singing school, to be held in this school house, two nights every week, make manifest by raising the right hand."

About twenty hands went up.

"Contrary same sign."

Four hands went up and Darius noted that they were the big boys from the west settlement over Bunker Hill. These were the illiterate element who delighted in picking a quarrel among the younger boys to see them fight, much more than learning their daily lessons. In truth Darius was glad they objected because, he reflected, I don't suppose they had any better voice for singing than the bullfrogs in the mill pond. As he dismissed the school he asked all those who wished to join in the singing class to remain until he could take their names down. The others could go at once. The big boys who voted against it walked sulkily out, but hung around the yard till the others were dismissed.

Darius had told them it would be fifty cents a month for each. Ten had signed up at once, but the others would have to see their "folks" before knowing whether they could afford to take the lessons, and so the singing school started on its long and successful career. And what fun they had! How they all did enjoy it!

Frank Percy was a natural comedian, which in those days meant clown. And then there was big Nate Thurber.

At the first meeting Darius ranged them all in line, in front of the rostrum and then with ruler held high, he said:

"Now then, everyone altogether. Repeat--in unison, the scale--D0-ra-me-fa-sol-la-ce-do--reverse," beating time up and down with the ruler, "Do-ce-la-sol-fa-me-ra-do." "Good, now then, once more."

But Frank could hold in no longer. "Say, Dide, where'ed you find that anyway--up Little Trout River?"

"Shut up, Frank," said Nate, "and tend to your business."

But Frank wasn't ready to shut up yet. He was always grinning. He continued:

"Nate says he can give the owl hoot a good deal better than he can speak that 'hog' Latin, and he wants another husking bee."

That set the whole class roaring, Dide included. Nobody ever got vexed at Frank, as he always had a smile on.

As the winter slipped by everything went fine. The singing class had reached to twenty pupils. And now about the middle of February the pupils were asking Darius to give an exhibition on the last day of school, which would be about the last of March.

It was certainly gratifying to know that he had succeeded in getting his pupils sufficiently interested to go to the extra exertion of staging an exhibition, which meant a night or two each week for rehearsal. He gladly gave his consent, at the same time reminding them that now they would have some real hard work ahead of them. They were to select their own pieces, to be approved by him--songs, speaking and dialogues and readings--the whole school taking part in the entertainment, except the four big boys who voted against the singing class. They were invited to take part, but sulkily refused.

In about ten days the first rehearsal was held in the school house and the rehearsals were repeated once a week.

These four big boys (I prefer to withhold their names) would often come to these rehearsals but would never enter the school room, preferring to look through the windows until they really became a nuisance and it was very annoying to Darius, as they would race around the building shouting to each other in vulgar language which could be plainly heard inside the building. Darius was now righteously indignant. Going to the door he called them by name. They came slowly up in front of him.

"Well, what's the matter, Dide?" asked one of the loudly.

"Boys," said Darius, calmly, "you are old enough to be gentlemen. You are old enough to know that you are acting very ungentlemanly to say the least. You know, too, that you are willfully disturbing our rehearsals. Now I ask you kindly to discontinue your visits here on our rehearsal nights, unless you can come as gentlemen and not as disturbers of the peace."

"Huh! Is that all?"

"That's all until I have occasion to say more."

Then closing the door, Darius, angered almost to the fighting point, returned to finish the rehearsal, but apparently the trouble was still to come.

Rumors were current among the younger pupils, and finally reaching Darius' ears, that the four rowdies,--can we call them anything better?--were making plans and bragging that they would break up the exhibition. These rumors did not affects Darius in the least, in fact it made him all the more determined to make the entertainment a success.

One morning a few days later while on his way to school, Nate Thurber met one of these reprobates, the one called Mike, and Mike sneeringly remarked:

"Well, I s'pose you'll be singing in some big show in the cities next thing. Fool's notion, that singing 'schule! hey Nate?"

Nate promptly answered:

"Well, Mike, I don't agree with you. In fact I think the fools were all left out of it."

"Ye do, hey? Well, we'll show ye they haint." "Say," he added, "I got a good cow dog that wants to jine your singing 'schule' and I kicked him till he couldn't stand up for it." and he laughed loudly at his supposed wit.

"Of course," said Nate, "the dog would have been far more acceptable to us in the singing school and probably has a much better voice than his mater."

His thrust angered Mike so much that he attempted to give Nate a good threshing right on the spot.

Nate was only about sixteen but was quite large for his age, and Mike soon found that he had tackled a bigger job than he had figured on. But Mike, feeling highly insulted, was determined to "lick" him in a way he wouldn't forget it. After a hard tussle he got Nate down and then commenced pounding him. Just then, unnoticed by either of them big Miles Miller [Bill Miles] strode up on his way to school.

"Hey! what's this mean? Here, you big bully, get off that boy or I'll give you a dose of the same medicine."

At the same instant he seized Mike by the coat collar and jerked him none too gently to his knees, adding a good swift kick from his heavy cowhide boots.

"Take that, and don't let me catch you in any more of your dirty tricks or you won't get off so easy."

Mike turned black with rage and sneaked off muttering to himself:

"You just wait, Mr. Bill. You'll get your pay for this."

Copyright 1930
By Charles E. Merrill

In the next chapter Mr. Merrill tells how the rowdies tried to break up the "exhibition" in the school and how Darius, Nate Thurber and Bill Miles put to rout the four bullies who had been causing all the trouble.

Young Giants Delight In Showing Their Strength At Barn Raising and Bee

In the preceding chapter Mr. Merrill told how stone "fences" were built, how the fields were cleared and dragged with home-made spike-tooth harrows, how the potatoes were planted. He told of the plans for the new barn and how the timbers were trimmed by hand.

Chapter 22

The next day after the rafters and lumber were all delivered, Darius told Mr. Weed of his great need of getting the barn ready for haying, and Mr. Weed quickly gave him three days off.

When Darius told his father of his plans and that he wanted him to go fishing with him to Little Trout River the next day, grandfather exclaimed:

"Mighty! Mighty; Dide! I reckon it's all as you say. Seems to me you'n Wes's pretty much running the farm now. Better dig the worms tonight so's we can get off 'bout daylight."

True to form, daylight saw the well on their way to Little Trout River. Grandfather started fishing at the bridge to fish down stream. Dide was to hit the upper rapids four miles south and fish down to the bridge. They were to meet at the bridge at four in the afternoon. Each had a lunch and a ten quart pail in which to carry the trout.

Little Trout River was well named, the sparkling clear cold water was literally alive with the speckled beauties, and long before Darius reached the bridge, his pail was running over with trout. When he reached the bridge it was about 4 o'clock, judging by hte position of "Old Sol" in the universe. Darius was suffering from a thousand mosquito bites, his face and neck and the backs of his hands were covered with little puffed up blotches and streaks of blood where he had vainly tried to scratch them off.

While waiting for his father he poured the fish upon the grass, and taking out his pocket knife proceeded to clean them. Before he had finished grandfather appeared with his pail not guite full, but Darius knew that between them there would be plenty for the supper. Before starting for home they cleaned the whole catch and in another hour were home.

Darius put the trout in a tight box and sunk it in the ice cold Balm of Gilead spring, placing a heavy stone on top of the ox to keep it in place.

Next day was the day appointed for the raising. In the house grandmother and Abbie had everything prepared for the next day's feast, figuring on about twenty men to feed. Wes had gone the rounds of the neighborhood and invited all to the raising and bee. Gill Dolloff had been retained for "boss" of the raising.

By nine next morning the men commenced to arrive and in another hour the work was well under way.

Carrying the heavy timbers to their relative positions, and posts and joists to their places on the platform, they put together the first "bent," fastening it with key ash pins.

Then fifteen or twenty men with pike poles (that Darius had borrowed from the mill pond) ranged in line abreast the bent, awaited the commands of the boss as he guided and steadied the corner posts.

"Now then! All together! Heave! Up! Up! Up! with her, boys. Heave ho! Up with her, I say!"

Such were the sharp orders from Gill, while every man was straining his utmost. Darius could hardly keep his eyes away from Gill Dolloff. The man's superb strength and cat-like activity, as he sprang from beam to beam, driving the key ash pins and giving the right orders at the right place and time. Just like clock-work that frame went together.

Nearly all were young men, agile, supple, with apparently no limit to their endurance. They were proud of their strength, each claiming he could outlift the other.

Twenty strong and willing men can put through a lot of work in two days' tim if they have a competent and energetic boss as foreman, and such a boss was Gill Dolloff. Darius always held that man in high esteem.

At the end of the second day the barn was roofed and shingled, much to the satisfaction of Wes and Darius. Grandmother and Abbie had done their share, too.

At the parting many a friendly slap on the shoulder did Wes and Darius get, with such exclamations as, "Well, Dide, let us know when you get another big catch of trout and we'll see that he get another barn 'throwed up," and "Wes, give us another husking bee, but send Dide fishing first;" and "Wes, don't let Dide steal any more kisses belonging to Nate, ha! ha! ha! ha!"

Darius was certainly well pleased with the outcome of his scheme for finishing the barn, and yet it was far from being finished. It was only ready for the storing of hay and grain, but that was all he had expected from the bee. Next spring they would have to plank the ground floor and build the stanchions for the cattle. But then he and Wes could do that on rainy days.

The following Monday found them looking up the old scythes and whetstones and Eli turning the grindstone while Wes held the scythe firmly on the stone.

When Eli's arm got tired and the stone commenced to slacken its speed, Wes would bear on with renewed energy and ask Ei to bring his baby brother, or someone who could turn the grind stone for him, whereupon Eli would take revenge by turn so fast that the water from the trough under the stone would fly all over Wes' face.

The whir-r-r- and shriek of the saw and carriage and the hoarse shouts of the men carrying lumber about the mill constituted the daily entertainment for Darius. After supper at home, a load of hay was waiting to be stowed away, to be pitched off by Wes and Eli. And if Darius failed to mow it away fast enough, they would bury him with huge forkfuls of dusty but sweet-smelling hay, and then shout in derision at the green "mill hand" as he would emerge from under the hay with the sweat ploughing furrows through the dust on his face and dripping from his nose and chin.

"Never mind, Dide, we'll make a farmer of you yet," shouted Wes.

Darius enjoyed the caprices of his brother Wes almost as much as Wes did himself, and took his cajoling good naturedly, the way it was sent.

Grandfather was not what could be termed an expert farm manager, preferring to tinker at this and that, fishing and trapping at odd times, but he was shrewd enough to observe in Wes and Darius the making of good business managers and he was keen enough to know that such men were as essential for success in farming as in any other business. So gradually the management of the farm devolved upon Wes, and with Darius' help, he proved himself master of the job.

Together these two brothers planned many improvements on the farm, but Darius had no intentions of becoming a farmer. He thought the labor was altogether too hard for the small compensation derived therefrom.

As a matter of fact Darius was endowed with what the old sages would call "long sight." He visioned the lakes and mountains and the wonderful works of nature, as something to be sought after, by intelligent people in the future as a place of recreation and rest, a place for the successful healing and rejuvenating of worn otu mentalities, and also a place where sportsmen could enjoy to the fullest extent the pleasures of fishing and hunting.

To Darius the visions had come involuntarily keeping pace with his physical development, constantly enlarging until they proved to be a reality, instead of a vision. Thus the magnet gradually overpowered him Resistance was useless and submission became a glorious pleasure.

Biding his time, waiting only to see his parents and brother Wes in comfortable circumstances, he would then save up for his own personal ambitions, viz, to sometime own a goodly portion of his beloved mountains and lakes.

With Darius' after-supper help, haying was soon finished. Then cam corn-hoeing. This was a long, tedious, disagreeable job, but like all other jobs it came to an end at last. Harvesting came next and was done done the same as haying, all by hand, mowing with the old scythes, raking into windrows, bunching with the forks, and after it was thoroughly dried in the sun, then hauled to the barn, to be threshed during the winter. Usually they threshed only enough for seed the next spring. Then cam potato hoeing, another hard task, and then a few days with nothing but the chores. Then a little later corn-cutting and "stooking." And last but not least, potato digging.

About the time potato digging was finishing, Darius cut the last log in the mill pond, and the next day he started for Malone to take the examination for a teacher's certificate.

Walking to Malone, he went directly to Mr. Wheeler's and he and Bill had a good visit.

Next morning he went to the Academy where the examinations were held. It took nearly half a day to answer the questions in the blank forms. Then Darius had to await his turn for the papers to be checked up and passed upon. It was quite late in the afternoon when he was informed that he had made ninety-eight points, or counts, out of a possible one hundred, for whicih they could give him a first grade certificate.

Darius was well pleased with the results of his examination. Friend Bill could not persuade him to spend another night in Malone, for he knew his mother was counting the minutes until his return. It was nearly midnight when he was the little candle light in his mother's bedroom where she was sitting up waiting for him.

Entering the front door, osftly, he went directly to his mother's room.

"Well, mother," he said, "I guess you and father can take a rest once in a while now."

Producing the certificate, he handed it to her.

"Well, my son, I expected you would get that, all right. Have y ou asked Mr. Weed for the school?" (Mr. Weed was trustee that fall).

"Yes, and he is going to let me have it, and wants school to commence next Monday."

"Oh, Darius, why didn't you get some store clothes when you were in Malone?"

"Well, mother, I prefer to wait until I earn some money teaching. I might perhaps have got them on credit, but that's not a good way to begin. So good-night, mother, I must get to bed."

Now Darius in most respects was not unlike other y oung men of his age, and though he was overjoyed at his success in securing the home school, he still had many misgivings, wondering how his former playmates would receive him as their instructor, especially those who had grown in the last three or four years, much taller and heavier than himself. Quite a number of the older ones belonged to the rougher element, including the big boy who had stolen his skipper a few years before.

Inexperienced as he was and only eighteen years old, he could not keep back an occasional feeling of dread as to how he would succeed in his newly acquired job.

Copyright 1930
By Charles E. Merrill.

In the next chapter the author tells of Darius' experience in teaching school, how he organized a singing class and about the trouble he had with the bullies of the neighborhood.

The Old Guide Tells How Fields Were Cleared and Stone 'Fences' Were Built

In the preceding chapter Mr. Merrill told of the difficulties experienced by the settlers in obtaining the necessities of life during a "hard" winter. He described the pills and remedies concocted by his grandfather and sold to a Chateaugay druggist for a few cents a dozen. The assistance given by the women of the household by their knitting, sewing, cooking and in a hundred other ways was also recalled by the author.

Chapter 21

Grandfather soon returned, his apple trees all delivered, and in the box was a pair of plump little Berkshire pigs which he had taken in payment for the apple trees. As Darius climbed into the wagon he commenced shooting questions:

"How's mother and Wes and Abbie? How much grain and corn and potatoes have you planted?"

"Hold on! hold on! boy, give me time or ye'll have to ask all over again," grandfather exclaimed.

"Wes has been working like a tiger. Mother and Abbie--Well, Well, all about the same. Got old Eli Darling to shave some more shingles. Wes says we must have a new barn before haying. Sowed so many oats the old barn won't hold 'em all, and nigh ten acres corn this summer. Potatoes ain't planted yet. Guess that's 'bout all. Got to stone the potato ground 'fore it's planted. Mill running? Yes, off an' on. Help's been mighty scarce, with everybody doing their spring work. Bill was asking the other day when you would be coming home. Guess he wants you again."

Darius like the mill work better than farming, so he asked:

"How much could you hire a farm hand for, father?"

"Well, I spoke to old Eli's boy 'bout helping us. Says he'll come for five a month and 'found.' He's big enough to do a man's work. Guess he's inclined to shirk when he's alone. But maybe if Wes or I keep him in sight he'd do pretty well."

"Don't you think we had better try him and let me work in the mill? Think I'll ask Mr. Weed for fifteen this summer. And if Eli's boy is no good you can probably find a good man before haying."

"Good idea, Dide. I was thinking that way myself."

Soon they passed Alec Drown's and now they would soon come to Little Trout River, and in spite of his recent experiences in these woods, Darius wished he had his fishing lines and hooks, because he would enjoy pulling out a nice mess of speckled beauties for his mother.

In reality his hunting trip had only the affect of making him all the more eager to explore the vast wilderness, but next time with a compass, he thought.

About two o'clock they pulled up on front of the new house and Darius was met at the door by his mother and Abbie.

"Well, my boy, how are you?" she asked. "My, but you look good. And how do you like Malone school?"

"Malone school is all right and a necessary institution for the good of the people," said Darius. "But I am ashamed to say that I prefer the Chateaugay lakes and mountains."

"Oh, Dide! don't say that," exclaimed Abbie. "You know you can never be anybody in the mountains. You should study law or be a doctor."

"Never mind Abbie," said grandmother. "There's nothing to be ashamed of for preferring the mountains and lakes. And," she added quickly, "you know what trying to be a doctor amounted to with your father in New Hampshire, don't you?"

"Yes, but I know Dide wouldn't be so foolish as that," said Abbie.

"Well, you know my dear sister," said Darius, "if everybody studied law or medicine who would cultivate the soil or subdue the forest? We need health resorts in these mountains as much as we need doctors, and tillers of the soil much more than we need lawyers."

Silenced, but not convinced, Abbie hastily prepared a good substantial lunch for Darius and her father.

Darius could hardly wait to slip on his old farm clothes and get out into the field in search of Wes and "Young Eli" as he was called. He found them at last down in the newly ploughed potato ground, digging and hauling stones preparatory to planting the potatoes.

Grandfather was down cellar as soon as he had swallowed his lunch, sorting and cutting the seed potatoes.

"Hello, Dide!" shouted Wes, "come on here and show us what you're good for. Don't believe you can roll a rock on the stone boat half as big as I can. Let's see you dirty them soft paddies of yours now."

"Huh! when you find a rock too big for you and Eli to roll together, I'll put it on for you," said Dide. Eli guffawed loudly at this good natured badinage and Darius, seizing the crowbar, commenced helping to pry up the big stones.

Wes and Eli had been digging and hauling all day, dumping the stones along the roadside where they wre to be placed to form a wall fence.

Upon the arrival of Darius, Wes directed Eli to take the team to the barn, and return and help lay the wall.

To build the wall, the largest stones were laid on the outer edge, or about four feet apart and then filled in between with the smaller ones. The rule was to start the wall four feet wide on the ground and build it four feet high and narrow to two feet at the top. First, stakes were driven at intervals of six rods in a straight line parallel with and twenty-five feet from the center of the highway. These stakes were to designate the center of the stone wall.

The boys laid up about three rods of wall before the supper horn sounded its welcome blast across the fields.

There was no class distinction in the backwoods settlement. The "hired" man was never called a servant and he also shared all the comforts of the household, as a member of the family.

The next day being Saturday, Darius again helped on the stone wall. Stones of all sizes and shapes, big and little, round and square, thick and thin, smooth stones and jagged stones, flat and three-cornered, and some with not much less than forty corners, and nearly all colors from green to white, all went to sleep for ages in the great line of fences which surrounded their lttle empire like the wall of China in its sense of protection.

The boys succeeded in laying about five rods of wall that day. Darius, with grandfather's help, placed them in the wall, while Wes and Eli kep up the digging and hauling. By night they had gone over practically the whole potato ground, and Wes declared that Monday night would see the last potato covered. Darius was glad when the supper horn sounded, for his "paddies" were sorely bruised and stained with handling the rough stones.

After supper Darius went down to Uncle Bill Weed's and soon had completed a bargain for his summer's work. Mr. Weed was to give Darius fifteen dollars per month, but Darius was to take one thousand feet of lumber at six dollars per thousand feet, each month in part payment of his wages.

Darius' work at the mill started the following Monday and as usual he carried a text book.

"Because," thought he, "if I never return to school, I must keep up my education as I possibly can."

Daylight Monday morning found Wes with the team leveling the potato ground with the old crotch, spike-tooth drag, which grandfather had made two years before. Commencing on one edge of the field, back and forth he would go, turning a sharp corner at each end of the ploughed ground, lapping one half of the drag each trip across the field, over the ground dragged by the preceding trip, thereby making a double dragging.

Grandfather followed with a bag of potatoes hung over his left shoulder. With his right heel he punched a hole in the soft dirt. At the same time with his right hand he dropped a seed potato in the hole so punched. Proceeding thus in a straight line, he crossed the field to a stake he had shoved into the ground for a guide. He removed the guide stake as each row was completed.

Eli followed grandfather with the hoe, pulling three or four hoefuls of dirt over each potato and then patting the dirt down with a resounding clap of the hoe blade on top of each hill.

By noon Wes had the field all dragged and in the afternoon helped grandfather finish dropping. By supper time there still remained about twenty rows to cover, so after supper Darius and grandfather finished covering while Wes and Eli milked and did the chores.

Strenuous indeed were those days of many years ago, when the sturdy thoroughbreds of our nation had to do with their hands what the modern machinery of many yeas of invention, are doing today. If they were to come back to earth at the present time and see what wonderful things are being accomplished at the pressing of a button, what would they think?

Only six weeks now to haying, and a barn to raise and finish, corn to how, butter to churn twice a week. No end to the daily round of labor which confronted them. Yet did they once think of neglecting or shirking the responsibilities that each day brought forth? No, their practical education had taught them a good lesson. Eternal vigilance was their watchword. A happy combination of morals had been injected into their physical training, which gave birth to future developments which they could well be proud of, had they had any conception of their outcome.

Grandfather and Wes had agreed that a twenty by sixty foot barn would fulfill the requirements of increased stock and crops for several years to come. And now with Dide's help nearly every night after supper, Wes would take the axe and crosscut saw away up on the spruce knoll back of the sugar bush and cut spruce trees and hew them into square timbers for the foundation and framework for the barn.

This was a slow, hard job. Perfectly straight trees had to be selected and felled, first placing some old logs and chunks of half rotten timber where the falling tree would land on them, thereby holding the trunks about one foot above the ground. The with the axe they would "ross off" a narrow strip of the rough bark on both sides from butt to top. The strips so rossed were ten inches apart and about three inches wide. Then with a long chalk line well blackened with a dead fire brand they would snap a black line the entire length. Then standing on top of the tree, with their axes they would (chop) into the opposite sides, as deep as to be perpendicular with the black lines, then with a broad-axe the scored sides would be hewn smooth and straight on these lines, making a straight stick of timber ten inches thick. (Railroad ties were made in the same manner a few years later.)

Cutting off the top end of hewed timber, they next turned it down on the flat side, and proceeded in like manner to hew the other two sides. That done they had a forty foot stick of timber ten inches square to be used as sills on the stone abutments for the barn.

Every ten feet the entire length of the barn a twenty foot cross sill had to be mortised into the side sills, and in turn the cross sills had to be mortised every three feet to receive the floor joists. The floor joists were made from smaller trees cut ten feet long and hewed or "straightened," as it was called, on one side, the ends flattened to fit the mortises.

Darius soon perceived that he and Wes could not get out all these timbers in time to raise and finish the barn before haying. So he engaged the services of Gilbert Dolloff, an expert framer, who lived in the lower settlement. Mr. Dolloff was kept busy most of the time framing barns for the farmers. With his valuable assistance they soon had everything in readiness for the raising.

Then it was that Darius, with his usual good foresight, planned a little extra for the raising. It was now only one week to commencement of haying, so as he and Wes were walking home from the last day's hewing, Darius said:

"Look here, Wes, you know we can never get that barn ready for haying alone."

Without waiting for a reply from Wes, he went on:

"Now, I've thought the thing over, and here's my plan. We'll keep Gill, and you and he get out the rafters. While you are doing that, send Eli with the team to the mill for the lumber for the roof. I will buy the lumber from Mr. Weed. Then we will get the rafters down, set the day for the raising, and tell all the men it's to be a double raising, or a bee, the second day to pout the roof on, and that we will give a trout and turkey supper each day."

"If you'll guarantee the trout," said Wes, "I'll do the inviting."

"I'll guarantee the trout, and," Dide added, "if they don't quite finish the roof, you and I won't take long to finish it up."

Copyright 1930
By Charles E. Merrill.

In the next chapter Mr. Merrill tells about the barn raising and how Darius and his father provided the trout dinner for the twenty hungry men. He describes the intricate work of "framing" the barn and tells of the herculean efforts required to get the big timbers into position.

Chateaugay Train Station, about 1890

courtesy Patricia Curtin

Bank of Chateaugay

courtesy Patricia Curtin

Chateaugay Four Corners

An early photo of Chateaugay "Four Corners", as it was also known, looking north. The only building still standing is the hotel, left, although it has been since changed several times.

courtesy Patricia Curtin

California, Here We Come!

Chateaugay Troop 2 Scouters embarking for Irvine, California from Lake Clear Junction. From left: Royal Nadeau, Herb McCoy, Kermit McCormick, Jim Humiston, Alan Godfrey, Scoutmaster William Cullen, Dick Ryan, Frank Ryan, and Don Sweet. July 10, 1953.

Courtesy of Patricia Curtin

"Doc" Sweet

Here are a few of "Doc" Sweet of Chateaugay to enjoy!

Happy 11th Birthday!

Dr. J. Donald Sweet and his father James W. Sweet harrowing and seeding on the family farm in the Shee Woods May 21, 1922.


Dr. Sidney M. Martin, Dr. J. Donald Sweet, and James "Donnie" Sweet with patient preparing for x-ray. 1945.


Dr. J. Donald Sweet with his hunting companion "Doc" White. Although the present school (background, across street) was occupied by grade school students, the landscaping was not complete.


James W. and Elizabeth M. Sweet enjoying the Chateaugay Centennial Festivities at the Chateaugay Rotary Park, August 1969.

Thanks to Patricia Curtin, Chateaugay, for all of the great photos in this and several other adjacent posts!

Civil War Letter of William Bell Miles, by John Dodge Miles

William Bell Miles (1824–1885) came to Franklin County in 1825 from Bath, NH with his parents, John D. and Martha Emerson Miles, who settled on the west side of Lower Chateaugay Lake adjacent to the Drew place [This app. 100-acre piece of property, later known as "The Ranch" and owned by Millard Douglas, apparently wasn't deeded to them--in Martha's name--until sometime in the 1850s, as I accidentally ran across this transaction in the courthouse; therefore we still don't know where they lived for the first twenty years in Bellmont, although it may have been down in "Weeds"]. His father, sometimes referred to as “Squire Miles,”(1) was a stonecutter who learned his trade in Bath, where his brother operated a mill. John Miles and John B. Jackson, another early Chateaugay Lake settler, ran the Jackson and Miles mill,(2) located northwest of the bridge later known as “The Forge,” until it was taken over in 1826 by Roswell Weed.(3) In 1832, John was later supervisor of the Town of Chateaugay.(4) William’s surviving siblings were Adaline Young, Martha Jane Kirby, Olive Susan Cantwell, Abner, and Josephine Percy [m. Frank Percy]. Martha and Olive were schoolteachers in the early school district;(5) Olive later married William P. Cantwell of Malone, and was an instructor at Franklin Academy. William married Lydia A. Smith prior to 1850, who died in 1856. William then married Lydia Maria Kirby (1829–1902), When William enlisted in the Union Army, he left behind his wife with two young daughters, one of them an infant. During his later years, William was a farmer, and he served as superintendent of the local Methodist Sabbath school,(6) was a steward of the church,(7) and was an election supervisor in Bellmont.(8)

The letter that follows was written during William’s Civil War service in October 1861, at Camp Graham near Washington, D.C., where the 22nd Reg. NYSV was guarding the capital. The recipient, James Sweet of Chateaugay, was an ancestor of the late Dr. James Sweet, also of Chateaugay. In the letter, William mentions both Fanny and Ezra Sweet; Ezra worked in a sawmill on Chateaugay River near the Sweet family farm.(9)

Daniel Dockum(10) has provided information about William’s Civil War service:

William B. Miles was born October 30, 1824. He enlisted in the Union Army with the 22nd New York State Volunteers on April 28, 1861. He was 36 at the time but his enlistment record indicates that he was only 29. He enlisted in Schroon Lake, New York in Company I under the command of Captain Lyman Ormsby.

The 22nd NY was part of a brigade which contained the 22nd, 24th, 30th and 84th NY regiments. The 84th was also known as the 14th Brooklyn. The 2nd US Sharpshooters were also, at times, a part of the brigade.(11)

William’s statement “I have been only two days since I have been enlisted” is odd, considering his April 28, 1861 enlistment date. Has a word been omitted, such as ‘sick’, after ‘I have been’? Another anomaly concerning William’s service record was his age: although he was actually 36 when he enlisted, on his service record his age was given as 29. Finally, since most of the soldiers from Franklin County enlisted in Malone, why did William enlist as far away as Schroon Lake? Did he try to enlist locally, and was turned down because of his age? Did he lie about his age in order to be accepted, in an area where he was not personally known? Given the fact that other area soldier enlistees such as David Blow and Nathan Thurber were William’s friends and neighbors from Chateaugay Lake, it’s difficult to know.

William comments on his living conditions(12) (“…we have poor beds I have not slept on a bed since the twenty egith of last April only on the ground all last week and fore part of this we have had no shelter ober us a few cornstalks…) and gives some information regarding how he supplemented his income scavenging grease: “…the company makes my wages up to twenty dolars a month when I was in camp in washinton…I use to make three dollars a week a saveing grease…”(13)

Finally, William gives an account regarding how he shot a “rebel” soldier while on a scouting patrol: “…I shot one rebel it was when I was out on a scouting party he was behind an old stone chimey and he was first taking aim at one of our men and I was just behind of corn so he did not see me I just took aim and he fell…”

Dockum adds the following details regarding William’s Civil War Service:

The brigade served under Brigadier Generals E. D. Keyes, C. C. Auger, John Hatch, and finally, Colonel Walter Phelps who originally commanded the 22nd regiment.

The brigade was part of General lrwin McDowell’s Corps (Army of Virginia) in the early part of the war. Much of the regiment’s early service (June 1861 to August 1862) was in northern Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, protecting the capital city. They fought at Groveton and Gainesville, Virginia on the 28th and 29th of August 1862 and then in the second battle of Bull Run (Manassas) on August 30. Between these two battles, Union losses were 14,800 killed, wounded or missing. Confederate losses were 10,700 killed, wounded or missing.

General Joseph Hooker became the new Corps Commander and led them at South Mountain, Maryland on September 14, 1862 then at Antietam (Sharpsburg, Maryland) on September 17. The battle of Antietam resulted in more than 30,000 casualties making it the bloodiest day in US history. They then fought at Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 13, 1862. The Union lost 1,180 killed, 9,028 wounded and 2,145 missing in that battle. The final big battle for the 22nd was under Major General J. F. Reynolds at Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 1–4, 1863. The Union lost 1,512 killed, 9,518 wounded and 5,000 missing in that battle. Confederate losses were 1,581 killed (including Stonewall Jackson) 8,700 wounded and 2,000 missing.(14)

Soldiers of the 22nd then returned home to New York in June 1863. Records show that William Miles mustered out at Albany, NY on June 19, 1863.(15)

[Uplous?] Hill, VA
Oct 11, 1861

Mr James Sweet

Respected

i take this optunity of writing to you in hopes find you well and i am the same

i have only been two days since i have been enlisted

i shot one rebel

it was when i was out on a scouting party

he was behind a old stone chiney and he was just taking aim at one of our men and i was just behind of corn so he did not see me

i just took aim and he fell

that only chance i have had to shoot one and only one i have for i dont have no chance to go very near them for i am cooking for the [company] i belong to and been cooking for them ever since we came to washington

the company makes my wages up to twenty dolars a month when i was [at] camp in washington

you is use to make three dollars a week a saveing grease

o James you have no idea what a buatiful country this is & there is some of the hansomest peach orchards i ever see

we have plenty to eat and wear but we have poor beds

i have not slept on a bed since twenty egith of last april only on the ground

all last week and fore part of this we have had no shelter ober us a few cornstalks

i dont think that this part of the army will make any attacked on othe rebells unless they make attack upon us for they say delay is worst than fighting fighting them

i had a letter from your aunt fanny and your uncle robert and they where all well

he wrote to me that he had been to your house a little summer

Jimmy i cant i cant write you anymore new at present

give my respects to your father and Mother margret and Ezra and his mother and all enquireing friends

no more at present from your friend

William Miles

if your write to me direct your letter

William Miles
22d.Reg. N.Y.S.V.
Camp Graham
Washington, D.C.
in care Capt L ormsby

---

(1) Merrill, Charles E., The Old Guide’s Story of the Northern Adirondacks (Burlington, Vermont: George Little Press, 1973), 100.

(2) Seaver, Frederick J., Historical Sketches of Franklin County and its Several Towns with Many Short Biographies (Albany, NY: J.B. Lyon Company, 1918), 174.

(3) Ibid.

(4) Hurd, Duane H., “Chateaugay,” History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York, (Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1880), 462.

(5) Seaver, 182, 176.

(6) “William B. Miles obituary,” Chateaugay Record, vol. 8, no. 4 (May 1, 1885).

(7) Hurd, 464.

(8) Hurd, “Bellmont,” 442.

(9) Recently, James Vaugh, a family member who now has the original letter among the papers left by Dr. James Sweet, contacted me regarding William Miles’ Civil War service. At a later date I received digital copies from James that were taken by his photographer friend in North Carolina.

(10) Daniel Dockum is a great-great grandson of William Miles.

(11) Correspondence to John Miles from Dr. Tom Clemens, a noted Civil War historian. Regarding the brigade and who was in it, Clemens cites Frederick H. Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, vol. 1 (Dayton, OH: Morningside Press Reprint, 1978), 284. Clemens comments further, “That the brigade was called the Iron Brigade can be found in William F. Fox’s Regimental Losses of the Civil War (Dayton, OH: Morningside Press Reprint, 1985), 117.”

(12) In quoting from the letter, I have retained William’s unique spelling and punctuation.

(13) Miles served as a cook for the 22nd NYSV.

(14) Christian J. Heidorf, Shoulder Arms! Letters and Recollections of the 22nd New York Volunteers and a Community at War (Glens Falls, NY: Chapman Historical Museum of the Glens Falls-Queensbury Historical Association, 1998). Correspondence to John Miles from Dr. Tom Clemens: “…casualty figures are from Heidorf’s book, the only history of the 22nd published.…”

(15) NY State Adjutant General’s Records, 22nd NY Vol. Inf., Albany, NY. Dr. Clemens was so kind as to respond to my queries regarding the information he gave to Dan Dockum several years ago.

Loomis Titus, Civil War Soldier, Chateaugay, NY

Lumus, Loomis, or Luman M. Titus died at Camp Clarkson, VA in 1863. Titus is listed as Loomis in the 1860 census and some military records (Austin).

He was born Aug. 8, 1836, the son of Benjamin and Betsy Titus. He was a farmer and lived on the Jericho Road near Chateaugay.

This is another contribution from Jack Monaghan; thanks for the great material!

First Passengers on Steamboat "Maggie"

Frank Percy

M. J. Reynolds
Lewis Percy

These are photos of Lewis Percy listed as the engineer of the first run steamboat "Maggie" and the two passengers, Frank Percy and M. J. Reynolds. Reynolds was a son of the "Chateaugay Infant" and rebuilt and operated the corner store in Brainardsville during his lifetime. Percy was the father of Abner and Charles who operated a store at the Forge in its heyday and Lewis Percy was a nephew of Frank and contributed land for a church society in the North Burke area.

High School, Chateaugay

This is where I am going to be educated.

Sunday morning 20th [October, 1907]-The ground is white with snow this morning

how is that for winter weather

B.M.L.

With Love from Maud L.

Rainbow Lodge and the War of 1812

These scans show the obverse and reverse sides of a Jewel to be found in the Grand Lodge Museum in New York City. The Jewel is made of silver. The inscription on either side verifies statements made in a letter written by Gates Hoit, in regard to the plundering of the Masonic Lodge Rooms, by the British soldiers during the War of 1812. The only original record of this incident is in this letter, which is now in the possession of his great-great grandson, R.W. Herbert H. McCoy. Gates Hoit was the first Junior Warden of Rainbow Lodge, and he was Secretary of the Lodge at the time of the incident. Rainbow Lodge was the first Lodge in Chateaugay, petitioned in 1809.

The inscription reads as follows:

"Rainbow Lodge was plundered by his Britannic Majesties forces at the Four Corners, Febry 5814, and the Jewels, records &c taken into Canada. This Past Master's Jewel was generously given by the Brethren of Montreal to commemorate their truly, Masonic Conduct, in snatching the Jewels and Carpet from the hands of the profance and restoring them to Rainbow Lodge."

Another version of the story states that the original carpet and jewels weren't located, but the Montreal Brethren presented Rainbow Lodge with replacements that were an improvement over the original that were stolen by the British.

Aaron Sargent, Civil War Soldier, Burke, NY

Aaron Sargent was born in Burke, NY, 1843, the son of Ebenezer and Rebecca Reynolds Sargent. He served in the 98th NY, Co. G as a private.

Aaron was wounded at Chapin's Farm on September 29, 1842. He died less than a month later at Portsmouth Grove, RI, on October 22, 1864.

He was buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY, grave #3498.

John Austin, October, 2000

Courtesy Jack Monaghan, Bellmont, NY

Beautiful Downtown Brainardsville

This is where the expression "Beautiful Downtown Brainardsville" originated.

Forge School, 1926

Picture of the Chateaugay Lake and Forge School, dated September 16th, 1926. From the estate of Millard Douglas. Marjorie Douglas is first on the right, second row, and Millard is fourth from the middle. To his left is John LaPoint; Gerald Dockum is first at left on the first row.

Roberts House, Chateaugay

In the days of bustle skirts and oil lamps, the old Roberts House (Hotel Chateaugay) appears to be the center of activity. This photo was taken near the turn of the century.

Sheffield Park, Chateaugay, 1920s

Sheffield Park, Chateaugay, as it was between 1920 and 1930. The grandstand was a beehive of activity when the Chateaugay Ponies played baseball. At one time it also drew crowds to watch horse racing and bets were wagered. Some wins and some losses, in the golden days before the depression.

Rutland Station, Chateaugay

Remember when the Rutland Railroad was the center of activity of Chateaugay. Age was no obstacle in obtaining employment. All that was necessary was a pick and shove, strong arms, and a strong back.

Peterson's Restaurant, Chateaugay, 1934

Hyland Family, Chateaugay

Back row: Gerald Hyland, James Hyland (father), Ambrose Hyland, Grandpa Spellman, Grandma Spellman, John W. Hyland, Grandpa Hyland. Front row: Josee Hyland, mother, and Mary Hyland Ryan, about 1907. Taken in front of Pete Curtin home, Depot Street, Chateaugay.

Property of Hyland Family

Hoy Mills, Brainardsville, 1930

1930--Hoy Mills in Brainardsville when operating at full peak. Snow melting on the bank and logs floating near the bridge was the annual spring scene at this one-time busy log-processing plant. The older residents can recall many incidents that occurred during the era. The young people can only imagine.

Hay House Restaurant, 1956, Chateaugay

Franklin Street, Chateaugay, 1911, by Henry M. Beach

Forge Church, 1947

This picture was taken at the "Forge Methodist Church." in the summer of 1947. This building is now owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Standing from left are Oscar Chase, Otis Hurley, Adams Chase, unknown, John Otis, John Miles, Minnie Hoy, Marjorie Kennedy, Elsie Otis, Agnes Otis, Pauline Chase (on car), Mrs Pilinger (minister), Lorraine Smith, Eliza Coolidge, Elsie Adams, Eva Smith, Fannie Smith, Louise Chase, Maude Lambertson, Cora Kirby (or Mildred Smith), Jim Smith., Fannie Hoy, man with hat and boy unknown, also children unknown. Note all women of the church wore hats. Picture is the property of Paul Rubado.

Depot Street, Burke

A south view of Depot Street, Burke, from the four corners. On the oeft is the former Doherty property of which the structure is much the same today. It was originally a general store built by an early Burke settler, George Smith. However, the building at the back is gone. There is no date on this post card but notice the house and buggies on the right of blacksmith and wheelwright shops. They were operated by men named Barrow Crosby and Herman Cogland. The latter was a Town of Burke supervisor in later years. These shops and businesses have long disappeared. Next is a poch view on Setta Mae's home where she still resides and will be 91 years old on Oct. 14. The postcard is property of Andrew Crawford of Burke.

Churubusco Station

An east-bound passenger train leaving Churubusco Station at the turn of the century. Ben White was the Railroad Agent.

Train Wreck, Chateaugay Dump

Rozon's Grill, Chateaugay

Coryea's IGA Stores, Chateaugay, NY

Sheffield Farms, Chateaugay, NY

St. Patrick's Rectory, Chateaugay, NY

E. Barnes, Chateaugay, NY

Chateaugay Record

Regatta Day at Andrew Morrison's

Regatta Day at Andrew Morrison's, Upper Chateaugay Lake

Economy Cash Market, Chateaugay

King & Co., Lake Street, Chateaugay

Sunset Inn

Sunset Inn on Chateaugay Lake was once a mecca for vacationers from all over the country. The view from this large resort center was superb as it commanded the whole of the Upper Lake as well as the mountains to the west and south. In recent years the buildings were torn down to make room for private camps.

The "Maggie"

The "Maggie", operated by the Chateaugay Ore and Iron Co. This is probably the one built by Millard Bellows.

Prison Padre Builds Grotto

The Rev. Ambrose Hyland, Lower Lake camper known nationally as the famous "prison padre" responsible for the construction of the first church ever built within prison walls, is shown above in front of the stone altar at the Grotto of Our Lady of Fatima which he completed this summer on his camp property. Father Hyland lives at the lake during the summer, commuting to Clinton Prison at Dannemora where he is chaplain.

Courtesy Gay Lake News

Early Chateaugay Grads

P.S.--For the benefit of your readers who may be guessing as to the identity of the group whose picture is being printed elsewhere in this issue, I will say they are as follows: Left to right, John W. Roberts, Allen McClain, Orrin Martin, Hiram Keeler, W. H. Bentley.

Chateaugay M.E. Church

The Chateaugay Record, 1915

The Chateaugay Record building as it appeared before the "big fire" of 1915. In the doorway is Frank W. Ferrell, manager of the firm. Can you identify the other individuals in the picture?

Chateaugay Third Grade Class, 1921

How many can you identify? A picture of the third grade at Chateaugay High School taken in 1921.

Chasm House, Chateaugay River

Old-timers will recall the Chasm House shown above that for many years graced the gateway to the Chateaugay Chasm--and with its burning in 1907 virtually brought to a close the use of the picturesque Chasm as a vacation spot.

If this building had not burned it is quite possible that the Chateaugay Chasm today would rival Ausable Chasm as one of nature's most interesting phenomena. Once a mecca where hundreds of people vacationed each summer, the Chasm, though more beautiful than ever, is now visited by only a score of people, most of them on fishing trips.

The Chasm House was erected in the year 1863 and was a large and commodious structure. Special trains were run to Chateaugay from points in Northern New York carrying crowds to visit this hotel and to view the wonders of the Chasm.

At the time of the fire, the property was owned by the Chasm Power, and Mr. and Mrs. Pratt Hill were running the hotel.