USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Gazetteer and business directory of Chittenden County, Vermont, for 1882-83 > Part 12
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After the division of the town and the proper organization of South Bur- lington as a town and Burlington as a city, the board of aldermen of the latter place met the selectmen of the former, and a basis of settlement was agreed upon, settling all questions and dividing all property in which each had an interest. The payments due by virtue of this agreement are shown by the following statement, copied from the records, which may prove of interest to many :--
BURLINGTON, June 17, 1865.
Due from the City of Burlington to the Town of South Burlington. One-tenth of valuation of Town Hall,
$ 3,000.00
Basement of Court House 125.00
66 balance in hands of Treas. in town of Burlington, 51.31
66 County order in favor of Town of Burlington, 10.25
balance due Town of Burlington from Town of Williston, 1.02
66 uncollected rents of Town Hall, down to Feb- ruary 21, 1865, 6.06
66 valuation of personal property of Town of Burlington in Town Hall and in the hands of highway surveyors, 27.00
66 balance due Town of Burlington from Town of Colchester, 4.74
66 uncollected Town Taxes in hands of Samuel Huntington, Constable of Town of Burlington, 28.09
excess of State Taxes for 1864. in hands of said Huntington as said Constable, 42.82
3,296.29
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TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
Amount brought forward,
$3,296.29
Due from the Town of South Burlington to the City of Burlington.
One-tenth of outstanding notes of Town of Burlington above specified, $2,120.00
&
balance of judgment against Town of
Burlington in favor of the Merchants' Bank, 10.95
66
66 interest on the U. S. deposit fund for the
year ending Feb. 1, 1865, due from the Town of Burlington, 93.39
66
66 excess of liabilities of town liquor agency
over assets, 40.66
66 receipts of liquor agency since Feb. 21, 1865,
paid into the treasury of the Town of Burlington, 179.76 2,444-76
Balance due from the City of Burlington to Town of South Burlington, $ 851.53
Having thus followed the division of the town, we will now endeavor to speak more minutely of the city, and then of its near relative, South Burling- ton. No city or village in the New England States surpasses Burlington in beauty of location. The hill upon whose gentle slope it is situated rises gradually back from the lake front until its highest point is reached one mile from the shore. The principal streets extend east and west, and are inter- sected at right angles with numerous others extending north and south, cut- ting nearly the whole city into regular squares. Upon the highest point, College Hill, is situated the University, of Vermont, from whose observatory a view may be obtained of the surrounding beautiful scenery-scenery that few, we take it, will claim to have seen excelled. On the east rise the Green Mountains, Mansfield and Camel's Hump in full view from base to summit. with a fine sweep of open country between. On the north is the valley of the Winooski, and of Lake Champlain stretching north to St. Albans Bay, while on the south the hill sinks away and leaves in sight Shelburne Bay with its picturesque shores, land-locked, and apparently a lake rather than a bay, and with everything that is beautiful of hill and dale, woodland and meadow, dis- tant water and mountains sinking into the horizon, for accompaniments of the scene. On the west the sweep of the eye takes in the gentle slope of the city to the lake shore, the bay, Pottier's, Red Rocks, Rock and Appletree Points, and between the city and the opposite shore, ten miles distant, one of the broad- est parts of Lake Champlain, reflecting the mountains and flecked with the shadows of clouds, gemmed with the green isles Juniper and Four Brothers, while the Adirondacks sink into the horizon beyond, stretching north and south for nearly a hundred miles, Old Whiteface "heaving high his forehead bare" behind the front tier of Peaks right opposite, and Mount Marcy and his tall companions on the southwest, with the tracks of land-slides marked in white on their blue sides. Immediately below, from the front of the college green, extend the broad well-kept streets, leading to the lake front, where acres upon acres of land have been made by filling in along the shore, and the
7
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TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
whole now covered by immense lumber yards, large mills, and extensive wharfing, proclaiming that enterprise, commerce and manufacture are march- ing onward, hand in hand. Between us and this manufacturing district, stretching north and south, lies the fair city, with over 11,000 inhabitants, its substantial public buildings, public square and Battery Park, five banks, five hotels, eight churches, fifteen public schools, long rows of business blocks and many elegant private residences.
Previous to its incorporation, the city was looked upon as a very prosper- ous village ; yet it had no village charter, although some attempts had been made to procure one. In the fall of 1852, an application was made to the selectmen of the town by several freeholders, requesting them to warn a meet- ing, to ascertain if the town would make an application to the legislature for an act to incorporate the whole or a part of the township into a city. A meeting for this purpose was called, therefore, on the 7th of October, when the following resolution was introduced by Lyman Cummings :-
" Resolved, That it is expedient to incorporate a part of the town of Bur- lington into a city, with proper boundaries, and suitable provisions therefor."
It was also voted that a committee be appointed to carry the resolution into effect, with an amendment recommending that the proposed city em- brace the whole instead of a part of the town. A committee of five was ac- cordingly chosen, consisting of George W. Benedict, Timothy Follett, John VanSicklen, D. W. C. Clarke, and William Weston, who were instructed to report at an adjourned meeting to be held on the 12th instant, following, a draft of a bill to incorporate a part or all of the town into a city. At this adjourned meeting the committee reported as directed, and the resolution was adopted by one hundred and sixty-nine ballots in the affirmative against sixty- three in the negative. The legislature was in session at that time, so the bill was immediately sent in, when an act was passed incorporating the village and that part of the town lying north of it, into a city, and likewise an act chartering the village of Burlington, with the power left to the town of adopt- ing or rejecting either act. Accordingly, on January 21, 1853, a meeting was held within the limits of the contemplated city, to ascertain which act should be adopted, with the following result : for a village charter, 273 votes were cast ; for a city charter, 233 votes. As it was thus decided that the " city act" should be abandoned, another meeting was called on the 7th of the fol- lowing month, for the purpose of voting on the question whether the village charter should be accepted or rejected, and the vote being taken there were cast for accepting the charter, 115 votes ; for rejecting it, 200 votes. And, thus ended the first attempt to incorporate the town or a portion of it into a city, until 1864, when an act passed the legislature, incorporating the city, as previously mentioned.
In pursuance of this act, a special town meeting was warned, January 2, 1865, as follows :-
99
TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
" The inhabitants of the town of Burlington, who are legal voters in town meeting, are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Town Hall in said Town on Wednesday, the 18th day of January, A. D., 1865, at 10 o'clock A. M., for the following purposes, viz .: Ist. To choose a Moderator to govern
said meeting. * * 3rd. To vote by ballot on the accept- ance or rejection of a certain Act of the Legislature of Vermont, approved November 22nd, 1864, and entitled 'An Act to incorporate the City of Bur- lington.' by the terms of which act those in favor of the acceptance of this act shall cast ballots on which shall be inscribed or printed the word 'Yes,' and those opposed to such acceptance shall cast ballots on which shall be in- scribed or printed the word 'No.' 4th. To do any other business proper to be done at such meeting.
CAROLUS NOYES,
L. B. PLATT, Selectmen."
P. H. CATLIN,
Pursuant to the foregoing warning, the meeting was held at the time and place specified, and was duly organized by the election of William G. Shaw as moderator, who appointed Albert L. Catlin, James A. Shedd, Russell S. Taft, and Nathaniel Parker, tellers to sort and count the ballots. The whole number of ballots cast was 671, upon 452 of which was found inscribed the word 'Yes,' and upon 219, the word 'No.' Within twenty days after the ac- ceptance of the charter thus made, the selectmen of the town, according to the provisions of the act, divided the city into wards, appointed places in each for the holding of elections, and ward officers to officiate until an election should be made, and also issued the following warning for the first city election :-
"The legal voters of the city of Burlington are hereby notified and warned to meet in their respective Wards, at the places therein hereinafter severally designated and appointed, on MONDAY, the 20th of FEBRUARY, A. D., 1865, at 10 o'clock A. M., for the election of Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and Ward officers, as prescribed in the Act incorporat- ing the City of Burlington. And the undersigned, Selectmen, have divided the City of Burlington, in conformity to the said Act of incorporation, into three Wards, which are hereby severally designated : The North Ward, the South Ward, and the Centre Ward * *
"Given under our hands at Burlington, this 4th day of February, A. D., 1865.
CAROLUS NOYES, L. B. PLATT, P. H. CATLIN,
Selectmen."
At the meeting thus warned, the following list of officers were elected : Mavor, Albert L. Catlin ; recorder, E. R. Hard ; aldermen, Lawrence Barnes, Levi Underwood, Calvin Blodgett, Omri A. Dodge, Giles S. Appleton, and Russell S. Taft; clerk, J. R. Hickok. Common Council,-president. Salmon Wires ; J. H. Worcester, Henry Loomis, and J. A. Arthur, North Ward ; Salmon Wires, Charles Willer, and W. H. Brink, Centre Ward ; George W. Beckwith. O. J. Walker, and P. D. Ballou, South Ward ; and William H. Hovt, clerk. By an amendment to the city charter, however, approved No- vember 9, 1865, the common council was abolished, and the government from March, 1867, established in the Mayor and board of Aldermen, the said board
100
TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
being, since 1873, when the city was re-divided into five instead of three wards, composed of two aldermen from each, making ten in all.
WATER WORKS.
The water supply, at the time of the organization of the city, was exceed- ingly poor, as may be inferred from the following official statement, made in 1865: "There are 650 who depend for their entire supply of water upon the lake, which is mostly hauled in casks; 1828 persons who depend entirely upon cisterns ; 1,214 upon cisterns and wells, fifty-seven upon springs and the lake ; forty-eight are entirely dependent on their neighbors, and one thousand persons receive water from the Aqueduct Company."
The great cause of this deficiency was the difficulty, and at most points im- possibility, of sinking wells a sufficient depth to strike a water vein; but the lake and the Winooski afforded means for an abundant supply, and the city council early turned their serious attention to the subject. The village had been afforded an indifferent supply by an aqueduct company, organized in 1850.
As early as 1827, the Champlain Glass Company, whose works were located on the lake shore near the Battery Park, laid a line of log pipes thereto, from or near the present residence of Henry Loomis, on Pearl street, for the purpose of conducting water to their factory from several springs in that vicinity. This line was in use until 1850, when Frederick Smith, who at that time was a part owner of the glass factory property, started a stock com- pany, known as the Burlington Aqueduct Company, which was incorporated by the legislature for the purpose of furnishing the village with an adequate supply. The old logs were superceded by iron pipes, about three miles of which were laid during the first year. A reservoir, forty feet square and twelve feet in depth, arched over with brick, was built in the center of Pearl, near Williams street, which is still in existence. This reservoir was supplied by four springs, two being situated on the lot now owned and occupied by George L. Linsley, at that time owned by Warren Root, and two just above him, one in the center of the street. Subsequently, about the year 1855, an arrangement was made with the old Pioneer Shop Company, by which water was pumped from the lake. But even then, as previously shown, the growth of the community had made the supply wholly inadequate to the demand ; consequently, the city took the affair in hand and issued bonds to the amount of $150,000.00 for the construction of new works, and bought the property of the Aqueduct Company for $24,000.00, coming into possession October I, 1866. A resolution for the construction of the new works was adopted by the city council on the 2d day of April, 1867, and the city now has one of the finest supplies in the State. The reservoir is situated at the junction of Winooski turnpike and University place, a distance from the pump-house of 8,362 feet, with a head of 289 feet, and a capacity of 2,236,000 gallons. The pump-house and machinery are situated at the foot of Pearl street, and were
IOI
TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
first put into operation December 25, 1867. There are at present twenty- seven miles of mains, with 1,620 service pipes or taps, through which was used, during the year 1881, 216,869,535 gallons of water, for which the city received $24,407.21. Throughout the city there are 123 public, and twenty private fire-hydrants, the great force of the water precluding the necessity of fire engines, as hose has only to be attached to the hydrant when a powerful stream is thrown. In addition to the first appropriation of the city, there has been bonds issued at different periods until the whole bonded debt of the water works is now $244,900.00, and their entire cost $271,470.83.
GAS WORKS.
On the 5th of November, 1852, the Burlington Gas Light Company was incorporated by the legislature, with John Peck, president ; Charles F. War- ren, treasurer ; and Salmon Wries, secretary. During the following year, the construction of the works, located at the corner of Bank and Battery streets, was commenced, and finished in 1854. The contract was let to Dugand, Cartwright & Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., who constructed works for the manu- facture of gas from coal ; but in 1879, the process was changed, and petrolium gas is manufactured instead. The works were finished, and the city first lighted May 15, 1854. with only a few miles of mains, which have since been extended until they aggregate ten miles in length, conducting gas to 365 meters. The present officers of the company are Nathaniel Parker, president, and F. H. Parker, treasurer and superintendent.
MANUFACTURES.
The first extensive manufactory commenced at Burlington was in 1827 when the Champlain Glass Company built a factory, between Champlain and Battery streets, near the Battery Park, and commenced the manufacture of window glass. For a long time the company was quite successful and did a large business, employing as many as two hundred hands ; but later, more, from mismanagement than any other reason, it declined, and finally practically died, in 1834. Mr. Frederick Smith, however, who was then a young man employed in the office as an accountant, considered he had the requisite tact and energy to rebuild the enterprise, and therefore bought out the business, and, with several changes of partners, carried it on successfully for a number of years, or until 1848, when the manufacture of glass was abandoned, principally on account of high prices of fuel. In the meantime the manufacture of cotton cloth was commenced, a business which has since grown to extensive propor- tions.
Burlington and Winooski Cotton Mills .- In 1845, a firm under the title of The Winooski Mill Co., was granted a charter by the legislature, for the pur- pose of carrying on the manufacture of cotton cloth at Burlington. During that year the company was organized, with a capital stock of $25,000.00, and Joseph D. Allen elected president. Thus it remained until 1853, when the
102
TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
legislature authorized the increase of its capital to $75,000.00. Manufactur- ing was first commenced in a wooden building, known as "the oil mill," situ- ated on the west side of the highway, near the south end of the covered bridge, at Winooski Falls.
On the night of January 1, 1852, the entire works were destroyed by fire. Soon after this catastrophy, in the following spring, a site some twenty rods above the bridge was purchased, and a commodious brick and stone factory erected, 45x103 feet, in addition to the wood building, 34x84 feet, already standing upon the site. In 1880, the property was purchased by the present proprietors, Joel H. Gates and Robert G. Severson, who have been many years prominently identified with the business interests of Burlington, and is now operated by them under the firm name of Joel H. Gates & Co. They soon made many improvements, and greatly increased the concern's facilities, so that the mill property of the company now consists of the greatly enlarged mills at the falls, and their large factory on Pine and St. Paul streets.
The falls factory is devoted exclusively to the process of picking, carding, and spinning, where 23,000 spindles, and the machinery necessary to supply them, are continuously running during the working hours of each day, in ad- dition to the machinery for a well-appointed repair shop, the whole of which is driven by water-power. Immediately adjoining the mill are the necessary storehouses, tenements for operatives, boiler-house, where steam is generated for heating purposes, and various other requisite out-buildings. Upon Pine and St. Paul streets, in the western part of the city, is located the weaving mill-a large frame and stone structure, two stories in height, with a basement. The two main floors are each 50x360 feet, containing 650 looms, while the basement contains the machinery for measuring, folding and baling the finished cloth. At one end of the main building, forming an "L," is a substantial brick structure, 50x100 feet, two stories high, in which are located the repair and machine shops, and the machinery for dressing warps, etc., and also the boiler room, containing four large boilers which supply the steam for running the engine (one hundred horse-power) and heating the buildings. Within con- venient distances are the office, boarding-house, barnes, stables, ice-house, etc., all situated so as to leave a large yard, or clear space, around the mill, thus providing ample light and air at all seasons. Their machinery and equip- ments are all modern, and capable of turning out work fully up to the times.
The class of goods manufactured is what is called " print cloth," 25,000 yards of which are woven daily, making an annual product of 7,500,000 yards, giving employment to 350 persons. Thus the establishment is one of the largest and most extensive concerns in the State, and very ably managed by its general superintendent, Mr. Horace W. Barrett, who has been connect- ed with the institution ever since it was first established, in 1845.
The Pioneer Mechanics' Shops. - About the year 1850, the cause of the dearth of manufactures began to be canvassed by several of the representative business men of Burlington, with a view to changing the condition of affairs.
-
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TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
" Here is a village with undoubted facilities for manufacture," they said, "with communication by water and rail with the large cities, and there is no reason why it should not become an extensive manufacturing center, could we only induce some good live mechanics to act as 'pioneers.' " And they were right.
The awakening of this sentiment soon took practical development, owing principally to the energy of Messrs. Frederick Smith and Henry P. Hickok, resulting in the establishment of "The Pioneer Mechanics' Shops Co.," May 31, 1852, a stock company with a capital of $30,000.00, divided into shares of $25.00 each. The legislature had granted them a charter in November of that year, and the first directors were Henry P. Hickok, Frederick Smith, T. R. Fletcher, Edward W. Peck, and Morillo Noyes. Land was donated for the erection of suitable buildings, by Henry B. Stacy, Henry P. Hickok, Eliza W. Buel, and Nathan B. Haswell, the said buildings, with steam engines and fixtures for running machinery, being intended "to be rented to mechanics and manufacturers, in convenient allotments, in such manner as to facilitate and invite the introduction of new branches of mechanical and manufacturing industry."
In 1853, the shops were completed, located on the east side of Lake street, of brick, four stories high, 400 feet long, and 50 feet wide, divided into four apartments, each one hundred feet long, with a heavy brick wall between, the machinery being driven by two heavy engines in a building just east of the shops. It was not long before the buildings were occupied, proving the en- terprise a success, and chairs, doors, sash, blinds, and machinery were soon counted among the exports of Burlington.
The corporation, however, having borrowed money over and above their cap- ital for the completion of their buildings, and given a mortgage on their property to secure its payment, were unable to meet their obligations. so the mortgage was foreclosed, and the property came into the hands of Henry P. Hickok. Soon after, April 2, 1858, the entire buildings were destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of about $150,000.00. But manufacturing industries had become too firmly seated here to succumb to even this misfortune. The citizens of the town donated 8,ooo.oo towards the re-construction of the works, and Mr. Lawrence Barnes purchased the ruins, and immediately erected three brick shops, two stories high, each one hundred feet long and fifty feet wide, being the same, with others which have been erected adjoining, that are know as " The Pioneer Shops" to-day. Immediately after their re-construction, Jan- uary 1, 1858, the property was transferred to the present proprietors, B. S. Nichols & Co., who lease the shops to the following firms, who collectively furnish employment to 500 persons :-
E. B. and A. C. Whitney, who are successfuly engaged in the manufacture of brush stock. The Ferguson Manufacturing Co., in the manufacture of " bureau creameries." R. M. Clapp, curtain rollers and fixtures. J. R. Booth, doors, sash, blinds, etc. Messrs. Wing & Smith, manufacturers of shoe lasts
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TOWN AND CITY OF BURLINGTON.
and boot trees. Wallace S. Holland, manufacturer of fancy cabinets and cases, and Venetian blinds. S. C. Kimball & Co., in the manufacture of doors, sash, and blinds. Woodbury & Co., as a planing-mill. W. H. Brink, as a brass and iron foundry, and also by several other firms who carry on a less extensive business.
J. R. Booth's manufactory is under the management of U. A. Woodbury, and employs 1 25 hands. Aside from the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, etc., Mr. Booth, who resides in Canada, is extensively engaged in the manu- facture of lumber, having mills at Ottawa, where 47,000,000 feet of lumber are cut annually, 20,000,000 feet of which are sold from this point, making his business in Burlington, commenced in 1874, aggregate a half million dollars per year.
S. C. Kimball & Co. commenced business as Crombie & Kimball in 1 1858, in the Pioneer buildings, and continued thus until 1868, when their firm's title was changed to the one they now bear. This company employs twenty-five men, and turns out about $50,000.00 worth of manufactured goods annually.
R. M. Clapp's manufactory was established in 1870, employs twenty-five men, and produces $40,000.00 worth of goods per annum.
Wallace S. Holland's manufactory furnishes employment for twenty per- sons, and turns out $20,000.00 worth of goods per year.
J. W. Goodell & Co.'s marble and granite works, located on Pine street, are among the largest of the manufactories situated outside of the Pioneer Shops. Their buildings, which cover an area of several thousand square feet, are admirably located for conveniently carrying on this manufacture, as the rail- road passes right by the door, affording an easy mode of shipping and receiving goods, and also situated near the lake, from which a constant supply of water may be pumped, an item extremely essential in sawing and polishing marble. Business was commenced by them in the spring of 1875, under the manage- ment of Mr. J. W. Goodell, who, with Messrs. F. W. Smith and C. R. Hayward, constitute the company. Since that time they have been very extensively engaged in the manufacture of finished marble and granite work, and are now producing more marble tops for furniture that any other firm in the country. The method of working and polishing the various kinds of stone has been greatly improved during the past few years, and Messrs. Goodell & Co. have kept promptly up with the improvements, inventing not a few of them themselves, so that their factory is now an interesting place to spend an hour in observ- ing how the rough blocks of stone are metamorphosed into beautiful, polished specimens of mechanical and artistic genius, which eventually perform an active part in decorating both the interior and exterior of some of our grandest private and public buildings, as well as to embellish our cherished " cities of of the dead." Two hundred men are employed here continually, night and day, producing a quarter of million dollars worth of manufactured goods per annum.
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