USA > Vermont > Washington County > Waterbury > Waterbury, Vermont, chartered June 7, 1763 : bicentennial celebration, 1763-1963, Sunday, June 30th to Saturday, July 6th inclusive > Part 1
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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00063 3518
Gc 974.302 W291WB
WATERBURY, VERMONT, CHARTERED JUNE 7, 1763 BICENTENNIAL . .. 1763-1963
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019
https://archive.org/details/waterburyvermont00unse
WATERBURY, VERMONT
Commemorative Book
BURY CENTER
TOP OF
BANK HIL
1763
1963
OKING SOUTH DOWN BANK HILL
WATERBURY, VERMONT
SOUTH MAIN STREET BRIDGE
BICENTENNIAL
C. V. RAILROAD STATION
TERSTATE SUPERHIGHWA
Materbury & Bank
TERT of Records
763
George the Thing By the Grace of God of Good Millon France XJela Ring Defender ofisine &
1763-1963 Souvenir Edition
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12-89
A Salute to an Old Neighbor
National Life has some very close ties with Waterbury and its people. Down through the years Waterbury residents have been members of the Company's home office staff in Montpelier.
And in 1848 it was a man by the name of Paul Dillingham of Waterbury who helped to establish the National Life Insurance Company. A leading lawyer, Mr. Dillingham served Vermont in Congress and as Governor. He was a highly es- teemed director of National Life for nearly half a century.
Today, the fledgling company Mr. Dillingham helped to rear ranks as the 9th oldest and 23rd largest life insurance company in the country. It is the only major company among the 1450 life insurance companies in the United States to have grown to such a size in a rural environment. It operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Since its beginning, National Life has paid to policyholders and beneficiaries more than one billion dollars.
Our warmest best wishes go to Waterbury on the occasion of its 200th birth- day ... and to the people of Waterbury who have always demonstrated a deep pride and affection for their fine community.
National Life Insurance Company Montpelier, Vermont
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Waterbury, Vermont CHARTERED JUNE 7, 17 6 3
BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
1763
1963
WATERBURY, VERMONT BICENTENNIAL
1763 - 1963
SUNDAY, JUNE 30th to SATURDAY, JULY 6th INCLUSIVE 1963
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Allen County V ... dic Librery Ft. Wayne, Indiana
Greetings
Waterbury, always noted for its generous manner of entertaining its friends and visitors, will use every effort to see that all will feel the hospitality of our people and our town.
In welcoming all, to our Bicentennial Celebration, we extend the friendship which our two hundred years have mellowed in our hearts, and trust that those visitors who are among us will carry away most pleasant memories of Waterbury, its people and its fun.
With courage, confidence and fortitude that has enabled us to lead and accomplish much for such a small town, we are looking forward to the future and new goals.
We have, in this year of 1963, turned back the clocks two hundred years to honor the pioneers who founded and incorporated our town. Beginning with a Coronation Ball for our Queen and a fantastic parade, we move through a period of celebration that will arouse the enthusiasm of all.
There are many people behind the scenes, all willing and capable workers who have not sought glory in their jobs. To them we owe a debt of gratitude. To these people we owe the success of this greatest venture.
Our sincere thanks to all the business people, near and far, who have supported the celebration so wholeheartedly - and special thanks to the General Chairman, to all Division Heads and Committeemen who have worked steadily for months preparing for this Bi- centennial event.
FRANK M. GUILD, JR. CRAIG S. PARKER H. L. MYERS Selectmen Town of Waterbury
ORRIN CARPENTER, President MAYLAND MARTIN LESLIE SMITH Trustees Village of Waterbury
THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
Waterbury Bicentennial Association Inc., Officers
President
Charles Parker
Vice President
Lloyd Squier
Treasurer
Paul Graves
Secretary
Frank Bailey
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
General Chairman Treasurer Headquarters Chairman Secretary
Dr. Robert Kennedy Paul Graves Dr. Edwin Steele Frank Bailey
Insurance Chairman
Operating Cap. Chairman
Fireworks Chairman Decorations Chairman
Walter Guptil
Edward Griffiths George Wells Myrtie Beane
REVENUE DIVISION Charles J. Adams, Chairman
Historical Program Committee Stanley Chase, Chairman Robert C. Luce Lloyd Squier Lyle Woodward Alton G. Wheeler
Concessions Committee Frank Guild, Chairman James Sabin Norbert Anair
Novelties Committee Louis Bailey Stanley Copeland Vernon Wissell John Lowell, Jr. Harold Vincent Stephen Atwood
Celebration Ball Committee Sally Hood, Chairman Waterbury Jr. Women's Club
PARTICIPATION DIVISION Betty Davis, Chairwoman Kenneth Longe, Men's Chairman
Brothers of Brush Committee Freeman Sweetser, Jr. Robert A. Herbert
Men's Hats and Ties Committee Kenneth Sabin
"Celebration Belles" Committee Beckie Warren Rose Grout
Ladies' Sunbonnets and Dresses Committee Amy Myers Blanche DeForge Florence Jewett
Kangaroo Court Committee Janet Harwood James Izor Co-Chairmen
Promenade & Caravan Committee
Dorothy Dean Edward Steele Eleanor Parker Francis Miller
SPECTACLE TICKET DIVISION Bernard Sherbert, Chairman
Ticket Committee Norman Nelson Robert McGee Donald Burnham Sheldon Truax
Cashiers & Gates Committee Walter Guptil George Izzo Richard Sabin Willard Breen
Patrons Ticket Committee Dwight Stimson
Audience Area Committee Earl Towne
Advance Sale Committee Willard Breen
Awards Committee Conception Conti
PUBLICITY DIVISION Craig Parker, Chairman
Press Release Committee Janice Morse Mary Barnes
Distributive Committee Barbara Butterfield
Radio and TV Committee Brian Harwood
SPECTACLE DIVISION Edward Griffiths, Chairman Robert O'Brien Robert Kennedy Craig Parker
Properties Committee Hymen Myers, Chairman George Wells Stewart Gibson Rebecca Higgins James Harvey Wilfred Kelly John Scott Max Ayers Richard Adams Margaret Grant Claire Marshall John King Wayland Martin
Scenario & Title Committee Alton Wheeler, Chairman Ralph Putnam Lyle Woodward Alice Post
Construction Committee Ernest Metayer Marcel Metayer Leo Metayer Harold Marden Wendall Parker Jerome McArdle
Cast Committee Mrs. Charles Adams, Chairman Mrs. George Izzo Mrs. Earl Akey Mrs. Nelson Dibbell Mrs. Andrew Chalmers
Mrs. Edward Griffiths
Mrs. John King Mrs. Biagio Palermo Mrs. Roland Fordham Mrs. Wesley Logan Mrs. Raphael Lowe
Grounds Committee Robert Eagan
Costume and Make-up Committee Mrs. Edward Lewis, Chairwoman American Legion Auxiliary
Sound System Committee Warren Chase
HOSPITALITY DIVISION Max Ayers, Chairman
Dignitaries and Guests Committee Alton Wheeler
Traffic and Safety Committee John Shea John Vincent
Lawrence Carey Buddy Duprey
Alan Young
Arthur Douglass
Housing Committee Eva Breen
Pioneer Event Committee Norma Parker
Hospitality Center Committee Dascomb and Ruth Rowe
Transportation Committee Harold Wheeler
SPECIAL EVENTS DIVISION Max Bailey, Chairman
Merchants Promotion Committee Biagio Palermo, Chairman Louis Bailey
Parades Committee Neil C. Fisher
Historical Windows Committee Beulah Gillam Francis Ryder Rebecca Higgins Mildred Steele
Music Committee Roy Kelly Alice Bailey Co-chairmen Mrs. Roy Kelly
SPECIAL DAYS Orrin Carpenter, Chairman Saturday, June 29th. BICENTENNIAL QUEEN'S DAY Frank Bailey, Chairman Sunday, June 30th. RELIGIOUS HERITAGE DAY Max Bailey, Chairman Neil Fisher Alice Bailey
Monday, July Ist. SENIOR CITIZENS HOME-COMING DAY Max Ayers, Chairman Hospitality Committee Tuesday, July 2nd. AGRICULTURAL DAY Keith Wallace, Chairman Harold Marshall Wednesday, July 3rd. LADIES DAY Beatrice Cooley, Chairman "The Wesley Wanderers" Thursday, July 4th. BICENTENNIAL INDEPENDENCE DAY Neil C. Fisher, Chairman Friday, July 5th. YOUTH DAY John Clement, Chairman Elaine Deal and the Centerettes Saturday, July 6th. BROTHERS AND BELLES DAY Betty Davis Kenneth Longe Co-Chairmen
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BROTHERS OF THE BRUSH Left to right: Dr. Bob Kennedy, General Chairman; Harold Wheeler, Chairman Transportation; Ken Longe, Participation Chairman-for Men
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WASHINGTON COUNTY.
WATERBURY,
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1.
THE HISTORY OF WATERBURY Background and Early Settlers
In this history of Waterbury it is interesting and im- portant to note something of the background of those who braved the hardships of this remote wilderness and settled here along the fertile valley lands of the Winooski River.
More than twenty thousand liberty-loving English people found refuge in New England in the years between 1630 and 1641. While the greater part of this emigrant movement was made up of God-fearing farmers from Lin- colnshire and the eastern counties, there was not only a common desire for religious and political freedom, but an inspired determination to establish in their homeland, a system of publicly maintained elementary schools, so that their children might be sufficiently educated to take part in, and carry on the principles of self-government. From the descendants of this stock, came the early settlers of Vermont and Waterbury.
It is doubtful if any Indians ever settled in this area. The Waubanaukee and St. Francis tribes were nomadic and fished and hunted along the Winooski and its tribu- taries and it is on the banks of these rivers and brooks that Indian relics have been found.
Winooski is an Indian name for the wild onion that grew profusely along its banks. The river was a favorite thoroughfare for French and Indian raids on the English settlements to the south and so commonly used it came to be called the French River.
The original grant of land by King George III to His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq. provides "One whole share for the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and one share for the benefit of a school in said town.
The Charter was granted June 7, 1763 and contains the names of 66 grantees, only one of whom ever came to Waterbury. Colonel Partridge Thatcher came to Waterbury to make a survey of the town in 1774. He built a surveyor's camp near the present Twin Bridges. Although prominent among the original proprietors, Mr. Thatcher did not choose to settle here. Thatcher's Brook takes its name from the pioneer from Connecticut. It can be safely said that the immediate grantees from Benning Wentworth were land speculators unwilling to face the perils and hardships of an unbroken wilderness.
The first settler in Waterbury was James Marsh, a native of New Canaan, Connecticut. His early struggles perhaps foreordained the endless and sometimes tragic battle local citizens have had with the Onion River, now known as the Winooski.
Marsh came to the site of Waterbury in the spring of 1783 and selected his holding. He cleared a plot of ground on the northerly slope of what is now the Hope Cemetery, extending toward the river and planted it to corn. He re- turned to Bath, New Hampshire, where his family was and awaited the ripening of his crop. In the fall he came back, harvested his crop and stored it in a roughly built corn- crib against the needs of the following year.
In the early part of 1784, he brought his wife and eight children as far as the fort at Corinth, where he left Mrs. Marsh and five children and proceeded on to Waterbury with two sons and a daughter. This journey was made on snowshoes. Arriving here he took up temporary abode in the surveyor's cabin at the mouth of Thatcher Brook. He was dismayed, however, to find that his store of corn which he had so carefully harvested the year before had nearly all disappeared. Probably taken by animals or Indians. By means of fishing and hunting, he managed to eke out a scant living while he replanted his corn from his meagre supply of seed.
Leaving his children with a small supply of provisions he set out for Corinth to bring back the rest of his family.
Before their father returned, their food ran out and they were forced to subsist on what fish they could catch and the few wild vegetables they could gather. Finally, they set out for the McFairlane home in Richmond. After many hardships, including an encounter with a bear, they finally reached the kindly McFairlanes.
Meanwhile, the elder Marsh had encountered un- expected difficulties on his return from Corinth and one can imagine his great fear and anxiety when he arrived - three weeks late-to find the children gone. However, a member of his party was immediately sent to Richmond on the possibility that they were there, and soon a happy reunion was brought about. Marsh's difficulties continued. A sudden flood washed away all but twenty bushels of his grain.
The story of the ill-starred James Marsh ends tragically with the arrival of Caleb Munson in the settlement. Going to Richmond to meet his new neighbor and escort him to his home site, March 29, 1788, he crossed the river to the home of Mr. Brownson for the purpose of remolding some pewter spoons. Attempting to recross at night on the river filled with floating ice, he fell between the ice cakes and was drowned.
Ezra Butler, the second settler in Waterbury, came in 1785. He took up a tract of land near Thatcher Brook, later building the first frame house in town, opposite Butler's Pond, which still stands and is now occupied by George Wells, Jr. A veteran of the Revolutionary War, he took a prominent part in the early history of the town and state.
Mr. Butler called the first town meeting in March, 1790. He became Governor of Vermont in 1826 and earlier served as Representative to Congress where he had a verbal altercation with Daniel Webster. Ezra Butler took an active part in the town's religious life as well as its civic and political. He helped build the Congregational Meeting House in 1824. He claimed to be the Town's first minister and the controversy between Butler and one Deacon over the right to ministerial grants is interesting reading. Butler won after a long and somewhat bitter legal battle, but he turned the grant of land over to the Town for school purposes.
Polly Butler was the first white child born in Water- bury.
The Town started its municipal life when in March 1790, a warrant was issued by Ezra Butler to convoke a meeting of the Freemen to perfect the organization of the Town of Waterbury. Butler was chosen Town Clerk and the first selectmen were E. Butler, Richard Holden and Caleb Munson, Munson serving as Treasurer. Elias Marsh, son of James Marsh, became constable and Phineas Waters, first highway surveyor and fence viewer.
Thus the town was organized under the independent "Republic of the Green Mountains." A complete and sovereign government, independent of the United States or that of Great Britain or any other power or potentate.
It is interesting to note that since the granting of its charter in 1763, Waterbury has been under the three flags of three countries, the British Empire, the Republic of the Green Mountains and the United States of America when the "Republic" became the first State to join the thirteen original colonies as Vermont in 1791.
During the hectic and uneasy years of the Haldiman Correspondence and the "Republic," we were an outpost in the wilderness, maintaining our freedom, our territory and our integrity in spite of being besieged from all sides by those who would subject us. Even General Washington refused the hazards of tangling with the Green Mountain Boys. This in brief is our background and our heritage. We should be proud of it.
HIGHLIGHTS IN WATERBURY'S HISTORY
1763 Waterbury Charter granted by King George III to Benning Wentworth, Esq., June 7.
1770 Meeting of town proprietors in New Milford, Conn., May 10, to lay out township by survey.
1774 Survey of town by Jabez Pritchard, Izaac Hitch- cock, William Daviss, Partridge and Paul Averill.
1783 First settler, James Marsh cleared a tract of land on northerly slope of what is now the cemetery, and planted corn. Brought family to his holding in 1784.
1785 The second settler, Ezra Butler came to Water- bury.
1788 March 29, 1788, Caleb Munson arrived. James Marsh accidently drowned while attempting to cross the ice-filled Winooski at Richmond. October 23, Polly Butler, first white child to be born in Waterbury.
1790 First town meeting called by Ezra Butler in March to perfect the organization of Waterbury. Ezra Butler chosen Town Clerk; Caleb Munson served as Treasurer; Elias Marsh Constable; Phineas Waters, first highway surveyor and fence viewer. Richard Holden, Caleb Munson and Ezra Butler were the first Selectmen. Thus the town was or- ganized under the independent "Republic of the Green Mountains." A complete and sovereign government, independent of the government of the United States or that of Great Britain or any other power or potentate.
The first school building was located at a point where Stowe Street crosses the railway.
1792
Town was represented in General Assembly by Daniel Bliss.
1805 Legislature granted a charter to a turnpike com- pany for a road between Montpelier and Bur- lington.
1812 Waterbury represented at the Battle of Plattsburg, September 11, by some forty men under General John Peck and Captain George Atkins.
1824
Congregational Meeting House was built.
1825 Marquis de LaFayette visited Vermont, passing through Waterbury.
1826 Ezra Butler elected Governor.
1841 Anti-Slavery Convention held at Waterbury July 1 and 2.
1849 First newspaper printed in Waterbury, The Free Mountaineer, edited by J. A. Somerly. October 1, Central Vermont Railroad completed into Waterbury from Middlesex.
1859 In March meeting it was voted: That the town and freeman's meetings be hereafter held alternately at the Street and at the Center.
1861 Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, April 15, call- ing Congress to convene in special session July 4. A company was recruited and drills begun in Waterbury in early May. During course of the Civil War, 250 Waterbury men joined the Union forces. Death losses were over eight per cent of all sent to the field. In 1864 thirteen Waterbury men were killed in battle.
1865 Paul Dillingham of Waterbury was elected Gover- nor of Vermont.
1882 Village of Waterbury incorporated by Act of Legislature.
1888 W. P. Dillingham's election to the Governorship was celebrated by a torchlight parade, speech making and music.
1890
Vermont State Hospital for the Insane erected.
1894 April 30, a resolution was passed at a special town meeting granting the Columbian United Electric Company a franchise to occupy a portion of the side of the right of way of the highway and for crossings, widening, etc.
1895 The Waterbury Record established by Fred N. Whitney of Northfield and edited and managed by H. C. Whitehill.
1896 The rules and regulations governing the Village Water Works were adopted.
1897 Mount Mansfield Electric Railroad Company gave notice of its purpose to begin construction from Waterbury to Stowe.
1898 Permission was given April 12 to the Vermont Telephone and Telegraph Company to erect and maintain poles and wires on certain streets.
1914 Soldier's Monument unveiled May 10, 1914. This monument, a gift of Franklin S. Henry to the Town of Waterbury, commemorates the gallant service to the nation by the soldiers from Waterbury 1861-1865.
1917 April 16, the United States declared war on Ger- many. In September local young men registered for the first draft. Over one hundred Waterbury men served in various branches of service in this country and overseas.
1918 November 11, the Armistice was signed and wildly celebrated by parades, bonfires and general re- joicing.
1919 Members of famous Yankee Division were mus- tered out of service and returned home.
1927 November 3 and 4 a flood caused death and wide- spread destruction in Waterbury and Winooski Valley. Town under martial law for a time as soldiers, Red Cross and other organizations as- sisted citizens to rehabilitate.
(continued forword )
1928 A check of $10,000 received as a gift from the citizens of Waterbury, Connecticut, to the citizens of Waterbury, Vermont. The money was used for rehabilitation purposes.
1929
Stock Market crash and period of depression.
1931 Radio Station WDEV established by Harry C. Whitehill July 16, 1931.
1935
Little River Dam Project started.
1936
New Waterbury High School Building and Audi- torium completed.
1937
The National Guard Company B 118th Q. M. Regi- ment headed by Capt. Rex Morse and Lt. John Wright was formed May 10.
1938
Little River Dam Project completed.
1941 The National Guard were inducted into the regular Army. The Municipal Swimming Pool was completed June 23. December 7, Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
1950
1962 The Korean War: Waterbury Company "V," National Guard Field Artillery Battery "A" 206 and Medical Detachment 206 mustered into Federal Service.
1951 2,500 turn out for dedication of World War II War Memorial. Congressman Winston L. Prouty ad- dressed the Armistice Day throng. The memorial contains the names of the 438 Waterbury men and women who entered the service of their country. Ten Waterbury boys made the supreme sacrifice.
1953 The Waterbury Inn fire: Nearly (100) one hundred years old, the Waterbury Inn was completely destroyed November 3 in Waterbury's most dis- astrous fire. Several other buildings were des- troyed along Waterbury's Park Row. Since then a new Waterbury Shopping Center has been erected on the site.
1955 Waterbury, Vermont, reciprocated for the 1927 Flood relief of Waterbury, Connecticut, when Frank W. Guild, Jr., and Victor Backels presented a check for $5,611.45 for a field house for recre- ation destroyed by a flood in Waterbury, Connecti- cut. The money was raised by popular subscrip- tion in Waterbury, Vermont.
1960
Interstate Route 89 opened to Waterbury.
The worst blizzard since 1888 struck Waterbury on the last day of the year and left the Town for some 12 hours with only emergency heat and no power. The Town in its usual resourceful manner struggled through the bitter cold and gale winds with only minor troubles to record.
1963 The Bicentennial Celebration June 30th through July 6.
Charles C. Warren Residence and First Automobiles in Waterbury
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES
The township of Waterbury is pleasantly situated in the valley between the Green Moun- tain range on the west and a spur of that moun- tain, called Hog Backs, on the east. Into this rugged wilderness came the first settlers who, amid countless hardships and privations, laid the foundations of this community. Perhaps it was not all done as we would have wished today and perhaps not all with the wisest fore- cast of the future. But they did, nevertheless, a great and stern work and we have entered into a continuation of that work.
We have a goodly heritage. As we consider the days of old, and talk of the years of ancient times, and of what our forefathers did, let it be our purpose, our high resolve and by foster- ing every worthy interest and enterprise to transmit the heritage we have received, en- hanced and beautified with every excellence, to the generations to come.
Our early settlers were very self reliant people living by tilling the soil, shooting the deer and moose and trapping the beaver. The former they killed out of necessity, their flesh or food, their hides for making moccasins and thongs to string their snow shoes. The latter were trapped for their skins, as the fur of the beaver at that time constituted the only article of traffic which brought its equivalent in cash.
While it is impossible to give details of all the various industries which have operated since the establishment of the town, mention will be made of many of them to present the diversification which has existed. Some in- dustries have employed only a few while others have had employees in larger numbers but none with a larger number than 125 with the exception of the Vermont State Hospital which now employs approximately 450. However, in the first century and a half the wood working industries and the various agricultural pur- suits were the main industries of the times.
The rivers and their tributaries afforded water power privileges for numerous mills and manufacturing plants and it was along these streams that these were erected and operated. On Thatcher Branch at Mill Vil- lage and Colbyville were three and two falls, respectively, and it was at these locations that the first mills were established. At Mill Village the first grist mill was built in 1792, followed in later years, at various times, by a tannery, a saw mill, a wool carding mill, a potato whiskey distillery, a potato starch factory, a tannery, a saw mill, a clapboard mill, an extensive busi- ness in children's cabs or carriages using peeled willows for wicker work, velocipedes, Colby patent clothes wringers, a box shop and various other wooden items have been manu- factured. All manufacturing in these two areas
was discontinued some years ago and today only one vacant building is left standing.
In order to better understand the develop- ment and expansion of the community let us consider some of the early conditions as com- pared with those of later years and of today.
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