Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 9.djvu/175

 Waclnisett Mountain and Princeton.

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��tioned the General Court to grant him " ye easterly half of said Wachusett hill " in consideration of the loss of " lOo pounds lawful money" incurred by him in seeking for his lost child. This petition was endorsed " nega- tived " in the handwriting of the sec- retary. With this one exception the early settlers of Princeton seem to have suffered very little at the hands of the Indians.

Princeton, in common with its neigh- bors, underwent much religious contro- versy during the first half-century of its existence. The first meeting-house, " 50 foots long and 40 foots wide," was erected in 1762 "on the highest part of the land, near three pine trees, being near a large flat rock." This edifice was taken down in 1 796, and replaced by a more "elegant" building, which in turn was removed in 1S3S. The three pine trees are now no more, but the flat rock remains, and on ac- count of the fine sunset view obtained from it has been named " Sunset Rock."

The first minister in Princeton was the Reverend Timothy Fuller, settled in 1767. In 1768 the General Court granted him Wachusett Mountain to compensate him for his settlement over " a heavily burdened people in a wilder- ness country." It was certainly at that time neither a profitable nor useful gift, and it was a pity to have this grand old pile pass into private hands. Mr. Fuller continued as pastor until 1776. His successors were the Rev- erend Thomas Crafts, the Reverend Joseph Russell, and the Reverend James Murdock, d.d. At the time when Dr. Murdock left, in 18 15, Unitarian senti- ments had developed extensively, and " the town and a minority of the church " called the Reverend Samuel

��Clarke, who had been a pupil of Dr. Channing. The call was accepted and, as a result, a portion of the church seceded and built a small house of wor- ship ; but in 1836 the church and society reunited and have remained so ever since.

In 1 81 7 a Baptist society was organ- ized, and had several pastors ; but in 1844 the society began to diminish, and not long after ceased to exist. The meeting-house was sold and is now an hotel — the Prospect House. In 1839 a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized which still flourishes.

Besides Wachusett Mountain there are two other hills in Princeton that are deserving of mention — Pine HiU and Little Wachusett. The former is about two miles from the centre of the town and not far from Wachusett, and the latter is about half a mile to the north of the centre. Neither of these hills is large or high, their elevation being about one thousand feet less than that of Wachusett, but they appear like two beautiful children of the majestic father that looms above them. All these hills were once heavily wooded, but much timber has been cut off during the last century, and forest-fires have devastated portions at different times ; yet there is still an abundance left. Whitney speaks of the region as abounding in oak of various kinds, chestnut, white ash, beech, birch, and maple, with some butternut and walnut trees. The vigor- ous grow;h of the primeval forest indi- cated the strength and richness of the soil which has since been turned to such profitable use by the farmers. The houses in which the people live are all substantial, convenient, ctnd. in many cases, beautiful, being surrounded by neatly kept grounds and well - tilled land.

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