Professor of languages at Middlebury College. Died at age 28 in September 1817 after a fall from the roof of Painter Hall.
Undergraduate Amasa Moore, Middlebury Class of 1821, gave a report of Allen's death in a letter to his father on 27 September 1817 (quoted in David H. Bain, 'The College on the Hill', 1999):
"Probably you have heard of that dreadful event which took place here on Tuesday last if not perhaps a short imperfect recital may not be uninteresting -- as I have gathered it from the students.
"Last Tuesday Professor Allen went on the top of the New College [now Painter Hall] for the purpose of fixing some of the chimnies which smoked. To effect this he laid a plank across the college from the top of one chimney to the other. He then laid a long pole which might be five or six inches through at one end and three or four at the other lengthways of the college, extending from one chimney to another and a ladder was out up against the middle chimney. He then laid a board from the plank to the pole for a stageing. He placed one of his knees on the pole and the other on the board, and was in the act of nailing the board to the pole when the pole broke where there had been an augur hole bored. He fell on the roof, which is ten feet and then slid slowly towards the edge of the roof, while in this situation he made some useless efforts to save himself and when arrived at the edge caught hold of it then looked to the scholars who were on the roof than at the pole which came rolling after, and which instantaneously precipitated him headlong to the ground. He struck on his head and shoulders and curled up in a heap.
"The scholars descended in tumultuous haste jumping through and over the banisters from the top of the stairs to the bottom until they reached the ground. 'Allen is dead' was reiterated from every tongue and thrilled through every breast with freezing horror. A general shriek from all present proclaimed to the inhabitants the misfortune. All within hearing rushed to the spot. The deepest interest, the greatest anxiety was depictured in every countenance.
"Allen was taken up and conveyed [to] the room which I now occupy as there was no nearer bed -- where he died the following night in extreme pain.
"From the roof of the College to the ground is at least 40 feet and ten more to the top of the Chimney.
"Professor Allen was allmost the idol of this town. But as I am unable to do him justice by recounting his merits I shall leave them for persons of better abilities to eulogize upon."
The exact date of Allen's death is unclear. The gravestone reads 28 September, but Moore's letter, written after Allen had died, is dated 27 September.
Undergraduate Amasa Moore, Middlebury Class of 1821, gave a report of Allen's death in a letter to his father on 27 September 1817 (quoted in David H. Bain, 'The College on the Hill', 1999):
"Probably you have heard of that dreadful event which took place here on Tuesday last if not perhaps a short imperfect recital may not be uninteresting -- as I have gathered it from the students.
"Last Tuesday Professor Allen went on the top of the New College [now Painter Hall] for the purpose of fixing some of the chimnies which smoked. To effect this he laid a plank across the college from the top of one chimney to the other. He then laid a long pole which might be five or six inches through at one end and three or four at the other lengthways of the college, extending from one chimney to another and a ladder was out up against the middle chimney. He then laid a board from the plank to the pole for a stageing. He placed one of his knees on the pole and the other on the board, and was in the act of nailing the board to the pole when the pole broke where there had been an augur hole bored. He fell on the roof, which is ten feet and then slid slowly towards the edge of the roof, while in this situation he made some useless efforts to save himself and when arrived at the edge caught hold of it then looked to the scholars who were on the roof than at the pole which came rolling after, and which instantaneously precipitated him headlong to the ground. He struck on his head and shoulders and curled up in a heap.
"The scholars descended in tumultuous haste jumping through and over the banisters from the top of the stairs to the bottom until they reached the ground. 'Allen is dead' was reiterated from every tongue and thrilled through every breast with freezing horror. A general shriek from all present proclaimed to the inhabitants the misfortune. All within hearing rushed to the spot. The deepest interest, the greatest anxiety was depictured in every countenance.
"Allen was taken up and conveyed [to] the room which I now occupy as there was no nearer bed -- where he died the following night in extreme pain.
"From the roof of the College to the ground is at least 40 feet and ten more to the top of the Chimney.
"Professor Allen was allmost the idol of this town. But as I am unable to do him justice by recounting his merits I shall leave them for persons of better abilities to eulogize upon."
The exact date of Allen's death is unclear. The gravestone reads 28 September, but Moore's letter, written after Allen had died, is dated 27 September.
Professor of languages at Middlebury College. Died at age 28 in September 1817 after a fall from the roof of Painter Hall.
Undergraduate Amasa Moore, Middlebury Class of 1821, gave a report of Allen's death in a letter to his father on 27 September 1817 (quoted in David H. Bain, 'The College on the Hill', 1999):
"Probably you have heard of that dreadful event which took place here on Tuesday last if not perhaps a short imperfect recital may not be uninteresting -- as I have gathered it from the students.
"Last Tuesday Professor Allen went on the top of the New College [now Painter Hall] for the purpose of fixing some of the chimnies which smoked. To effect this he laid a plank across the college from the top of one chimney to the other. He then laid a long pole which might be five or six inches through at one end and three or four at the other lengthways of the college, extending from one chimney to another and a ladder was out up against the middle chimney. He then laid a board from the plank to the pole for a stageing. He placed one of his knees on the pole and the other on the board, and was in the act of nailing the board to the pole when the pole broke where there had been an augur hole bored. He fell on the roof, which is ten feet and then slid slowly towards the edge of the roof, while in this situation he made some useless efforts to save himself and when arrived at the edge caught hold of it then looked to the scholars who were on the roof than at the pole which came rolling after, and which instantaneously precipitated him headlong to the ground. He struck on his head and shoulders and curled up in a heap.
"The scholars descended in tumultuous haste jumping through and over the banisters from the top of the stairs to the bottom until they reached the ground. 'Allen is dead' was reiterated from every tongue and thrilled through every breast with freezing horror. A general shriek from all present proclaimed to the inhabitants the misfortune. All within hearing rushed to the spot. The deepest interest, the greatest anxiety was depictured in every countenance.
"Allen was taken up and conveyed [to] the room which I now occupy as there was no nearer bed -- where he died the following night in extreme pain.
"From the roof of the College to the ground is at least 40 feet and ten more to the top of the Chimney.
"Professor Allen was allmost the idol of this town. But as I am unable to do him justice by recounting his merits I shall leave them for persons of better abilities to eulogize upon."
The exact date of Allen's death is unclear. The gravestone reads 28 September, but Moore's letter, written after Allen had died, is dated 27 September.
Undergraduate Amasa Moore, Middlebury Class of 1821, gave a report of Allen's death in a letter to his father on 27 September 1817 (quoted in David H. Bain, 'The College on the Hill', 1999):
"Probably you have heard of that dreadful event which took place here on Tuesday last if not perhaps a short imperfect recital may not be uninteresting -- as I have gathered it from the students.
"Last Tuesday Professor Allen went on the top of the New College [now Painter Hall] for the purpose of fixing some of the chimnies which smoked. To effect this he laid a plank across the college from the top of one chimney to the other. He then laid a long pole which might be five or six inches through at one end and three or four at the other lengthways of the college, extending from one chimney to another and a ladder was out up against the middle chimney. He then laid a board from the plank to the pole for a stageing. He placed one of his knees on the pole and the other on the board, and was in the act of nailing the board to the pole when the pole broke where there had been an augur hole bored. He fell on the roof, which is ten feet and then slid slowly towards the edge of the roof, while in this situation he made some useless efforts to save himself and when arrived at the edge caught hold of it then looked to the scholars who were on the roof than at the pole which came rolling after, and which instantaneously precipitated him headlong to the ground. He struck on his head and shoulders and curled up in a heap.
"The scholars descended in tumultuous haste jumping through and over the banisters from the top of the stairs to the bottom until they reached the ground. 'Allen is dead' was reiterated from every tongue and thrilled through every breast with freezing horror. A general shriek from all present proclaimed to the inhabitants the misfortune. All within hearing rushed to the spot. The deepest interest, the greatest anxiety was depictured in every countenance.
"Allen was taken up and conveyed [to] the room which I now occupy as there was no nearer bed -- where he died the following night in extreme pain.
"From the roof of the College to the ground is at least 40 feet and ten more to the top of the Chimney.
"Professor Allen was allmost the idol of this town. But as I am unable to do him justice by recounting his merits I shall leave them for persons of better abilities to eulogize upon."
The exact date of Allen's death is unclear. The gravestone reads 28 September, but Moore's letter, written after Allen had died, is dated 27 September.
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
