USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Gazetteer and business directory of Bennington County, Vt. for 1880-81 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
The Congregational Church of East Dorset, was organized with seven members, by a council of Congregational ministers and churches, October 1, 1867, Rev. Franklin W. Olmsted was the first pastor. The first church edifice was erected about 1838-9, as a Union Church ; it was rebuilt in 1876, and occu- pied by a Union congregation of Congregationalists and Metho- dists. The present number of members is thirty. The present pastor is Rev. James L. Harrington.
St. Jerome's Church, (Roman Catholic,) at East Dorset, was organized in 1853, with 300 members, by Rev. C. Baylan the first pastor. The first house of worship was erected in 1858, the present one, which will seat 500 people, in 1864. The church property is valued at $10,000. The present membership is 600, under the pastoral care of Rev. Thomas J. Gaffney, who is also pastor of the church at Arlington, and at Danby and Walling- ford in Rutland County.
1
GLASTENBURY.
Glastenbury, chartered by Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, August 20, 1761, is a little more than six miles square, and is centrally located on the east border. It is one of the roughest and most inaccessible towns in the State. Bald and Glastenbury Mountains are the most elevated peaks here. The only portion permanently settled is a small section in the north-west part. Within a few years, by reason of an extensive lumber and coal interest in the southern part, a number of families have settled, perhaps permanently.
The town is watered by Peter's Branch, flowing west and then north into the Battenkill ; Furnace Brook and Bolles Brook, flowing south, and by branches of Deerfield River, flowing east into Windham County.
The population in 1880 was 241, and all, except one, white.
During the year ending September 30, 1885, the town con- tained one common school and employed four female teachers, at an expense for salaries of $76.00. The number of pupils attend- ing school was 26, and the total amount expended for school purposes was $ 193.00. Norman Mattison was the superintend- ant.
There is no post-office or church in the town. On Peter's Branch in the northwest part is located the saw mill of the Eagle Square Manufacturing Company, where from 250,000 to 500,000 feet of lumber is annually manufactured.
In 1854 Messrs. R. C. Root, John Harper and Samuel H. Cornell, all of New York City acquired lands in Sun- derland and Glastenbury, amounting to about six miles square ; subsequently T. W. Park and Wm. Butler Duncan, purchased Cornell's interest and part of Harper's. To develop this property a company was formed, and in 1872 the Bennington and Glastenbury Railroad was built, connecting with
132
TOWN OF GLASTENBURY.
the other railroads, in Bennington, and following the valley of Roaring Branch and Bolles Brook into Glastenbury. The whole length of the road including sidings, is nine miles. In the first eight miles above Bennington an elevation of 1200 feet is reached. A portion of the grade on the branch is at the rate of 250 feet, and the steepest on the main line is 230 feet per mile. This is probably the steepest grade in the United States, on any railroad of regular gauge run by traction power. Before building the road the projectors were advised by many civil engineers that it would be impossible to run the road with such a grade. But Mr. John B. Jarvis, of Croton Aqueduct and Erie Railroad experience, a gentleman in whom Mr. Root had much confidence, said :- " Go ahead, good machinery will work," and the wisdom of his advice is verified in the fact, that though the road has been run steadily for eight years, often with trains of twelve to fourteen cars loaded with lumber or coal, no accident of importance, or any injury to train men or passenger has ever occurred. Conscious of the im- portance of continual caution, it has uniformly been exercised by the employees.
The Glastenbury Railroad Mining and Manufacturing Com- pany's tract lies principally in a valley among the mountains at an elevation of 1200 to 1500 feet above Bennington. As yet their operations are confined chiefly in the southern portion of the tract in the vicinity of the railroad. They have eighteen charcoal kilns erected, of the capacity of forty cords of wood or 1600 bush- els of coal each. Fourteen of these kilns are running, and the company ship about 28,000 bushels of charcoal each month.
Their saw mill, 120 by 60 feet, containing a large circular saw, is driven by a forty horse power engine, and is capable of cutting 1,000 feet of lumber per hour. About 500,000 feet is sawed each year. Spruce is the principal lumber manufactured. The company also have a store, a blacksmith shop and a boarding house, for the convenience of the business, and of the employees. The embryo village is named after the town.
In 1873 a post-office was established here, Charles B. Bradley. now of Bennington, was the first and only post master. The office was discontinued in 1878. Mr. Bradley, who was then an agent for the company, moved the first (French) family into this
133
TOWN OF LANDGROVE.
part of the town in Feb., 1872. Other families followed rapidly until quite a settlement has been formed, mostly in the employ of the company.
The small triangular portion in the north-west part, that runs up among the mountains from Shaftsbury heretofore mentioned began to be settled probably more than a hundred years ago, for by the census of 1791 the town contained 34 inhabitants. Who the first families were is not known, as the town was not organ- ized until March 31, 1834, and consequently there were no public records previous to that date. For all practical purposes the people had considered themselves residents of Shaftsbury.
LANDGROVE.
Landgrove was chartered in 1780. It is the north-east corner town of Bennington County, is six miles long from north to south, and from about half a mile at the southern to two miles wide in the northern part. The surface is less mountainous than the towns west of it, and there is some good farming lands. It is watered by two branches of West River and their tributaries.
The population of the town in 1880 was 246, all of which were white. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1880, the town contained three school districts and employed four female teach- ers, whose salaries amounted to $222.93. The number of pupils attending school was 40, and the total amount expended for school purposes was $245.49. Horace E. Fenn is the superin- tendent.
LANDGROVE (P. O.) a hamlet on a branch of West River, near the center of the town, contains one store, one saw and grist mill, one blacksmith shop, one wagon shop, and nine houses.
Horace H. Harlow's saw mill was erected about 1850, at Landgrove. Soon after a run of stones for grinding meal and feed was put in, and about 1865-6 machinery for manufacturing chair stock was added.
134
TOWN OF LANDGROVE.
The mill saws about 100,000 feet of lumber, e clusive of chair stock, and of the latter about $1500 worth is manufactured, per year.
Landgrove Hollow is a hamlet of dwelling houses on Flood Brook, at the intersection of roads 18, 19, 21 and 22.
Chamberlain's Mills on Lath Factory Brook, road II, originally built for a lath factory, was subsequently changed to a handle factory and again to a saw and planing mill and chair stock factory, which business is now carried on.
J. H. & W. W. Abbott are engaged in the manufacture of cab hubs and toy stock on road 8.
The formation of this town was not due to any original design before immigration, but from the following :--
"Capt. William Utley, with his son Asa, were the first settlers. They moved from Connecticut with their families in the spring of 1769, and stopped in what was then the town of Andover, now Weston, in Windsor county. There they cleared a small piece of land and planted corn and potatoes, but soon went about two miles further west and made another stand on a branch of West River, supposing they were in the town of Bromley, now Peru. After remaining here a few years, they discovered they were on a gore of land between Andover and Bromley. They then with about twenty others, made application and obtained a charter from the government of Vermont, in November, 1780, of all the lands lying between Andover, now Weston, and London- derry on the east, and Bromley, now Peru, on the west, 7,220 acres.
They proceeded to survey and allot the town, and establish the . west boundary of the town between this and Peru."
" After the town of Peru was considerably settled, the proprie- tors of that town became dissatisfied with the Utley line as they called it, and claimed further east some more than two lots to the Munn line, which they claimed to be the original line. This was the occasion of considerable excitement and litigation between the proprietors. All but two of the inhabitants living on the dis- puted territory had purchased under Landgrove titles, and voted and paid taxes in Landgrove. The two purchased under and voted and paid taxes in Peru, and remained in this situation many
135
TOWN OF LANDGROVE.
years, without any interposition of the towns until 1834, when the town of Peru, by a vote of the town, caused all inhabitants living on the disputed territory to be set in the grand list of that town, and enforced the collection of taxes. which immediately caused suits at law to be commenced, to be defended by the towns. These suits were however discontinued by compromise between the towns; and in 1835 the Legislature of the State, by the request and joint petitions of the towns, established the jurisdictional line a little west of the center of said disputed territory, which has ever since remained the permanent and peaceable jurisdictional line between the towns."
The town was organized March 15, 1800. The first town clerk was -Daniel Tuthill; Asa Utley, David Carpenter and Joshua Dale, the first selectmen ; Joseph Holt, first constable; David Carpenter, first town representative. The first birth on record was that of a child of David Carpenter, August 26, 1787.
Captain William Utley, the first settler, died March 17, 1790. His widow survived him about twenty years, and both were buried on the farm where they first settled. Asa, the oldest son, who came with him from Connecticut, died in town August 8, 1837, at the age of 87 years. He held various offices of trust during many years. Asa and Henry Utley, and Mary Gilman Utley Fenn, wife of Austin Fenn, now living in town, are great grand- children of Captain William Utley, and a portion of the land on which he settled is now owned and occupied by Austin Fenn and his wife.
Barachias Abbott, born at Andover, Mass., Dec. 20, 1771, a member of the society of Friends, came to Landgrove with a pack on his back. When on top of Andover Mountain he looked west · to the place where he finally settled, which was a dense forest. He journeyed on and erected a house of logs, when leaving a man to finish it, he went back to Templeton, N. H., and married Anna Coulburn and brought her to his new home. Upon arriv- ing there he found no floor to the house and only a blanket for a door. Bears were plenty and Mrs. Abbott had occasion to drive at least one bear away from the vicinity of the house.
Mr. Abbott died at the age of 84, and was said to be at the time of his death the wealthiest man in town. The farm where
€
I36
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
he located is now owned and occupied by Joseph C. Bar- ton, on road 5. Elias Abbott, eldest son of Barachias, born in 1802, is still living with his son James H., on road 8. Among other prominent early settlers were David Carpenter, from Con- necticut, a poor man when he came, but who became quite · wealthy; Gideon Davis and his son Gideon, jr., Reuben Holt and John Martin. The last mentioned was the first permanent settler in the southern part of the town in 1801. He grew quite wealthy.
Hiram Farnham, who keeps a small store at Landgrove, came to this town when a child, in 1806. Daniel Swallow came 'from Mason, N. H., about 1810, to Weston, Vt., and from there to Landgrove in 1814. He lived here until about 1840, where he died aged 57 years. Jotham Swallow, his son, is now living with his son Wesley J., on road 14.
Elijah Woodward, from Francistown, N. H., settled here about 1807-8, and died at the age of 70. His son Charles W. lives on the farm settled by his father. Ebenezer Styles, from Wilton, N. H., settled in town about 1800, and was in the war of 1812. His son F. K. was born here, but now lives in Peru.
MANCHESTER.
Manchester, a northern central town, was chartered by Govern- or Wentworth of New Hampshire, August 11, 1761, to 64 gran- tees, none of whom ever settled here. The town is six miles square. On the west Mount Equinox rears his lofty head, 3872 feet above tide water, and on the eastern border, the continuous line of the Green Mountains look down upon the beautiful ter- races and valleys below, through which the Battenkill River winds its way from Dorset southerly by a somewhat tortuose course into Sunderland, on its way towards the Hudson. Bourn, Stony and Lye brooks from the east, and West Branch, Glebe and Skinner's
-
137
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
Hollow brooks, from the west, are its principal tributaries. The soil is fertile and produces the cereal crops, grasses, roots, &c., in abundance. Dairying and sheep and stock growing commands the attention of farmers to a large extent, and these pursuits add largely to the wealth of the town. The manufacture of maple sugar is carried on quite extensively in this town, as it is in many others in this county. The Bennington and Rutland Railway enters the town from Sunderland and passes through the town along the valley of the Battenkill.
The population of the town in 1880 was 1929, all of which, except one, were white.
During the year ending September 30, 1880, the town had nine school districts and employed four male and eleven female teach- ers, at an expense for salaries of $1540.94. The number of pu- pils attending the common schools was 384, and the total expense for school purposes, was $2069.62. The superintendent was Mrs. M. S. Bates.
MANCHESTER, a post village near the center of the town, at the foot of Mount Equinox, contains the court house and jail of the north shire, or Manchester district, two churches, (Cong. and Epis.,) one seminary, one bank, two summer hotels, one printing office, one general store, one drug, one book and boot and shoe. two jewelry, and one hardware and furniture store, one tin shop and stove store, and one manufactory of fishing rods, reels, &c. The village is not supplied with water power. It extends mainly on both sides of a single broad street, lined with beautiful elms, three of which are of very large size, each. covering an area of about 100 feet in diameter, their trunks measuring 12 to 14 feet around them two feet from the ground. They were planted by Dr. William Gould about a hundred years ago. For a long dis- tance on the street the fences have been removed, thereby giving a park-like appearance, which is heightened by the elegant side- walks of sawed marble, of which there is three and a half miles laid in this village.
Much of the beauty of this village is due to the influx of summer travelers, who have been lured here by the magnificent scenery in every direction from this point, and by the excellent
138
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
accommodations provided by the popular landlords of the Equinox and Taconic hotels, and by other citizens.
Burr and Burton Seminary was incorporated by the Legisla- ture of Vermont, in 1829, and in the act of incorporation received the name of Burr Seminary, in honor of its founder, then recently deceased, Joseph Burr, Esq., of Manchester. Among other benefactions in his will, for benevolent purposes, was a legacy of ten thousand dollars, to be kept as a permanent fund, the in- terest of which should be expended, year by year, in providing for the education of poor and pious youth, having in view a pre- paration for the Christian ministry.
The Burr Seminary was first opened May 16th, 1833. For many years none but male pupils were received. In 1849 a female department was organized; and in 1860, in commemora- tion of Josiah Burton, Esq., whose liberal bequests for its benefit had nearly doubled the funds of the institution, the name was changed by act of the legislature, on application of the trustees.
The design of the seminary is to lay a substantial foundation in the English branches and the Classics; having constant refer- ence to that course which will make practical men and women and best fit them for the appropriate duties of life.
The Equinox House is now in its twenty-eighth year of suc- cessful administration under Mr. F. H. Orvis, who has won a national reputation as a popular caterer for the comfort of his guests. The house is capable of accommodating 300 guests in a sumptuous manner. Broad piazzas, and rich carpets throughout the house, even including the large dining room and office, add to the comforts of the guests, who come from all parts of the civilized world.
Mr. Orvis some years ago constructed Equinox Pond, which is fed by the waters of three mountain brooks. The pond covers about ten acres, and abounds in trout. He has also constructed a wagon road to the top of Mt. Equinox. Very recently, by the opening of road No. 2, from 19 to near the " Notch," the distance is very much shortened. On the summit of the mountain may be commanded an extensive and magnificent view. "To the south- east are Graylock and Stratton mountains, on the east are the Grand Monad rock and Ascutney Peak, and on the north-east the
139
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
magnificent peaks of Killington and Shrewsbury, whilst in the far distance may be seen the summits of Kearsage and the Franconia Mountains. To the south-west, in full view, rise the graceful Catskills, and along the western horizon stretch the Sacondaga, Kayaderosseras and Luzern mountains. Besides these, many other lofty peaks are visible, also Mt. Anthony and the observatory. On bright days, lakes George and Champlain may be seen to the northward, and the village of Saratoga also discerned."
Skinner's Hollow is one of the most striking features of Mt. Equinox, a deep defile on its southern side-a stream flows down at the bottom and suddenly disappears without any visible outlet. High up the hollow is a marble quarry, and near its summit a cave in which snow may be found throughout the year. Near by is "The Devil's Wagon Road," occasioned by an extensive land slide some years ago. The famous "Rocking Stone" is also in this vicinity, and is a remarkable curiosity. It is seventeen feet long, eight feet wide and five feet thick, and weighs thirty-five tons, yet is so nicely poised that it can be moved by the hand. Prof. Hitchcock says, that if the trees did not obstruct, it would be swayed by the wind. The stone was undoubtedly lodged here by glacial force, as its formation is identical with that at the sum- mit of the mountain three thousand feet above.
The Taconic Hotel, second in size, is now under the manage- ment of Mr. Henry Gray, son of A. J. Gray, Esq., the owner, and who gave it the present name.
The house enjoying a liberal patronage, helps largely toward the - prosperity of the village. The north wing of the house was raised in 1801, on the day of President Jefferson's first inauguration. It was first kept by Thaddeus Munson, and then by Robert Pierre- pont. In 1812 Capt. W. P. Black was proprietor, and in that year a Connecticut clock peddler left a brass clock at the house on trial, with the understanding that if not satisfactory it need not be paid for. The old clock still ticks out the hours, days and years in the office of the house, but no one has ever called for the pay. Inside the clock, the names of the proprietors appear as ollows :-
" Capt. W. P. Black, 1812 ; Martin Vanderlip, James A. Pierce, Wm. P. Black, E. M. Vanderlip, A. J. Gray, June 1874."
-
140
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
The house has been enlarged by the addition of the south wing, (on the ground originally occupied by the tavern of Wm. Marsh, where the first Council of Safety met, July 15, 1777.) One hundred and twenty-five guests can now be comfortably cared for.
The Elm House is a private summer boarding house, kept by Mr. Charles F. Orvis. No liquor is allowed to be sold in the vil- lage, and during the winter season the hotels are closed.
Music Hall on Union street, opposite the Equinox House, was built by Mr. F. H. Orvis, in 1868, at an expense of $16,000. It is handsomely finished, and is provided with a suitable stage. For balls and private theatricals no other hall in the State, outside of Burlington, is so well suited.
About twenty-one or twenty-two years ago, Charles F. Orvis, a gentlemen fond of fishing, and withall of a mechanical turn of mind, made a fly rod for his own use. One day a friend from the city borrowed it for a day's sport. Taking a fancy to the rod, he asked Mr. Orvis to make one like it for him. To please the gentleman Mr.Orvis complied. By and by an order came from New York for another rod for a friend of the first customer. An army officer secured one, and soon the orders came in so rapidly that to supply the demand, Mr. Orvis was obliged to establish a manu- factory, which he did about twenty years ago. He makes elegant and high priced rods, from the best woods for the purpose known, and has made several improvements. He has added the manufac- ture of reels, flies and other fishing material. His goods are in de- mand and are sent to every State and Territory in the Union (except three,) Alaska, the Dominion of Canada and Japan. A large portion of his customers are army officers, and all of his goods are securely packed and sent by mail. He has never lost a package.
Dellwood Cemetery .- When the old church yard in the village became filled with graves, a beautiful spot was selected at the south end of the village for a new grave yard, and this too, in time became over-crowded. The Hon. Mark Skinner, of Chicago, Hon. Helmus M. Wells, of New York, former residents of the village, seeing the necessity of enlarging the grounds, purchased the surrounding land and presented it to an association who would improve and ornament it. In 1865 Dellwood Cemetery Associa-
141
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
tion was incorporated, by act of the Legislature, and the land (about thirteen acres,) was conveyed to the Association by Messrs. Skinner and Wells. About $6,000 was subscribed for the enbelishment of the grounds, and the work was accomplished under the supervision of Mr. Burton A. Thomas, an accomp- lished rural architect.
The avenues and walks wind about artistically over the more elevated ground into the valley beneath, and along the beautiful creek, by daming of which a pond is formed at either end of the cemetery, and along the course of which are one or more water- falls. The stream is spanned by several rustic bridges. Under the bluff, with a broad carriage way in front is situated the receiv- ing vault, surmounted by bronze griffins. Hedges of cedar, hemlock, and arbor vitea in various parts of the grounds add beauty and picturesqueness to the view.
In summer the margins of the walks are lined with beautiful flowers and foliage plants from the green house of the Cemetery Association. Many handsome monuments and vases adorn the grounds.
The highly ornamental gate-way at the main entrance was the gift of Judge Skinner. Just outside the gate, on the left hand, stands a marble pedestal surmounted by a statue of "Mourning" depositing flowers. On the right hand, on a similar pedestal, a statue of "Gabriel," with trumpet in hand, personates the "Resur- ection." Both of the statues were carved in Italy, and are the handwork of a skillful artist. On the large gate posts are highly ornamental bronze vases, from which in summer time flowers and vines grow in harmonious profusion. The entire architectural effect of the gateway, is pleasing, and of Judge Skinners munifi- cience in this respect, the people of Manchester speak in terms of highest gratitude. Connected with the Cemetery is a large green- house where rare and beautiful flowers are grown, not only for beautifying the grounds, but for funeral or other special occasions.
Under the superintendency of Mr. George Smith " Dellwood " is by far the handsomest cemetery in the county, and probably is not far surpassed in the State.
FACTORY POINT, a post village on the West Branch, contains two churches, Baptist and Episcopal, three general stores, two -9
142
TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
.
hotels, one drug and one clothing store, two millinery stores, one tailor shop, one marble saw mill, one grist mill, one tannery, one army blanket factory, one furniture store, two wagon, two har- ness, two blacksmith and two shoe shops, two jewelers and one meat market.
MANCHESTER DEPOT, a post village on Battenkill River, and a a station on the Bennington and Rutland Railway, is growing in size and importance. It is the seat of two extensive establishments in the marble trade, and contains two general stores, one grocery, one hardware and tin shop, one shoe shop, one wagon and one blacksmith shop.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.