USA > Vermont > Washington County > Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889 > Part 41
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ance business outside of the state, and therefore does not subject the company or its members to the danger of conflagrations of large cities. It is distinct- ively and purely a Vermont insurance company for the insurance of Vermont property, and furnishes to its patrons the safest and best kind of insurance at its actual cost. The present officers of the company are W. G. Ferrin, presi- dent ; John H. Senter, secretary ; and Harlan W. Kemp, treasurer. The last two named have been associated together in the joint management of the company since November 1, 1885.
The National Life Insurance Company has been in business over thirty-nine years, and ranks among the first of this character of institutions in the coun- try for soundness, economy of management, and upright and liberal dealing with claimants and policy-holders, and in all that is creditable, reliable, and popular. The company was chartered in November, 1848, and began busi- ness in 1850. Its formation was largely due to the effort of Dr. Julius Y. Dewey, who early became its president and manager, and continued to di- rect its affairs up to the time of his death, in 1877. Thegrowth of this com- pany has been a healthy one; it is careful in the selection of its risks ; favorable above many other companies in its rates ; prompt in adjusting claims, and it merits the confidence of the people. January 1, 1889, it had 16,850 policies in force, insuring $32,312,303, an increase of $7,389,979 over the amount in force the previous January. The assets of the National Life are over $5,000,000. The present management of the company is made up of the following well-known Vermonters : president, Charles Dew- ey ; vicepresident, Edward Dewey ; secretary, George W. Reed ; treasurer, J. C. Houghton ; assistant secretary, Osman D. Clark ; medical director, A. B. Bisbee, M. D. Board of directors : Paul Dillingham, Chares Dewey, W. H. H. Bingham, George W. Reed, Dudley C. Denison, Frederick Billing's, Edward Dewey, James C. Houghton, Fred E. Smith, Perley P. Pitkin, James T. Phelps, Wheelock G. Veazey, George Briggs. Of the above board of di- rectors, ex-Gov. Paul Dillingham has been in the directory since the organi- zation of the company. President Charles Dewey has been a director since 1851. Secretary George W. Reed has held his office since the formation of the company. The National Life issues all approved forms of policies. The "installment bond " plan of this company commends itself to the favor of the public, and this form of insurance has become an important feature of its business. This company insures only first-class lives in the northern states, as people living in this section are generally longer lived and freer from epidemics and scourge. This feature of its business is highly appreci- ated by patrons of the National Life, as it is far from equitable to insure people of the North and South on the same basis.
RAILROADS.
In 1805 the legislature chartered a stock company which built a turnpike from Montpelier to Burlington. Up to 1830 the stock had not paid large
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dividends. The great freshets of that year had swept away all the bridges, and otherwise seriously damaged the road so much that the proprietors hesi- tated about repairing it. The brothers Thomas and Hezekiah Reed, then enterprising young men of Montpelier, offered the sum of $10 per share for what originally cost $175, and their offer was accepted, whereupon they put the road in fine condition. About this time water communication was made between the Hudson river and Lake Champlain, by the completion of the canal, which threw a vast amount of teaming and travel onto the turnpike, and rendered it profitable to the Reeds. This also became a part of the great central mail route, stage line, and thoroughfare from Montreal to Bos- ton. The fine coaches and superb teams of four and six horses, of Messrs. Cottrill and Day, created a sensation in every village, and were the admiration of the whole country.
The Vermont Central railroad, by the terms of its charter, was obliged to pay the owners of the turnpike for their franchise. They compromised, took the turnpike, conducted it in their own interest, but abandoned it when the cars commenced running.
The first advent of the railroad cars into Montpelier occurred July 4, 1849. J. W. Hobart, the present general manager of the Central Vermont railroad, was the conductor, and John Danforth, engineer. The train contained ten platform cars, each freighted with 100 barrels of flour. The acting station agent was Walter Hine, who was master of transportation. In the autumn of that year J. Edwards Wright was appointed the first permanent station agent at Montpelier, and remained until August, 1851.
Montpelier is at the terminus of a branch of a little more than a mile in length. Instead of passing all trains in and out over this branch, a small en- gine called the " Abigail Adams " runs to and from the junction ; and while a small car was in process of construction, when business required it, a large one was used, and often the little " Abigail " was unequal to the task ; then the conductor, baggage master, and engineer were compelled to aid by push- ing the whole distance. This engine was found inadequate and was super- seded by the " Flying Dutchman," a baggage and a first-class passenger car. James A. Bowers, who is still an engineer for the company, for a time run the " Flying Dutchman." The Central Vermont depot at Montpelier is an elegant brick building, opposite the Pavilion, and was completed in 1880. The interior is divided into a spacious central hall, gentlemen's and ladies' room, and ticket office on one side, and baggage room and telegraph and express offices on the opposite side. The whole building is warmed by steam, and is surmounted with a lofty dome, in which is placed an illumi- nated clock that strikes the hours.
The Montpelier & Wells River railroad ran its first through mail and pas- senger train November 30, 1873. Their depot in Montpelier is a fine brick structure.
The Barre Branch railroad is operated by the Central Vermont railroad.
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THE MONTPELIER VILLAGE WATER WORKS.
In 1860 George B. Reed, Esq., demonstrated the feasibility of bringing water into Montpelier from Berlin pond, by a preliminary survey, and meas- ured distances and altitudes. The next step to be taken was to secure the right of way along the route, and possession of the water. This he failed to accomplish, and the enterprise slept the ensuing twelve years.
In 1872 Samuel Wells and Mahlon Taplin so agitated and advocated the necessity of an adequate supply of pure water for culinary, sanitary, and fire purposes, that the village appointed a committee to make further investigations, and gave them a year in which to make their final report. Mr. Wells was placed at the head of the committee, and within the time had procured an adequate charter. The committee also made estimates of cost, and reported at the end of the year. All were convinced by the favorable report, but some advo- cated the use of substantial iron pipes, others less expensive cement pipes. This disagreement killed the enterprise and it rested another twelve years.
Again, in 1883, the question came before the village, and December 17, of that year, the following named gentlemen were elected bailiffs, and instructed to complete the system of water supply : Ward No. I, Morton Marvin ; No. 2, Joel Foster ; No. 3, A. J. Sibley ; No. 4, A. O. Cummins ; No. 5, S. M. Walton. The board of bailiffs elected Mr. Foster their chairman, and the work was pushed with such energy that it was completed the ensuing Octo- ber. The sequel is that Montpelier has now a water supply which is unsur- passed by any in Vermont ..
Berlin pond has an area of 231 acres, and the reservoir, a little more than a mile down the stream, from the outlet of the pond, from which the main pipes are laid, contains an area of four acres, and is 364 feet above the village. The village completed its work by laying a main pipe of twelve inches in diameter, from the reservoir, from which water was carried into the houses of every one that desired it, and at a very moderate expense. The village has a system of hydrants, at convenient distances, and with the immense pressure of the great fall a fire of any extent has been unknown since the system has been inaugurated. The village found the supply of water largely in excess of the demand, for the purposes which it was originally designed, and the surplus has been rented to turn motors that drive light machinery. To en- courage manufacturing, and produce revenue, the village has (in the season of 1888) laid another main pipe from the reservoir to the village, of twenty inches diameter, and many prophesy that in a little time the water works will pay all municipal expenses. The analysis of the water, by the state assayist of Massachusetts, shows it to be of unusual purity.
Telegraph and Express .- At the October session of the legislature in 1848 the Vermont and Boston telegraph was chartered, and, in connection with the Cheney & Co. Express, an office was opened in the Central Vermont railroad
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depot the next year, where a successful business has since been conducted. These companies have been superseded by the American Express Company and the Western Union Telegraph Company, and are ably managed by their agent, H. W. Drew.
Montpelier telephone exchange .- During the winter of 1880-81 A. C. Brown invited the attention of the business men of Montpelier to the advantages to. their business of a telephone. With the encouragement of only thirty-three subscribers, and with hopes that it would grow in favor, Mr. Brown opened the exchange April 1, 1881. His list contains about 250 patrons and stations ;; his lines extend into twenty-seven different towns, and five different counties, and contain about 400 miles of wire.
Montpelier Gas Light Company was chartered by act of the legislature in the fall of 1853, and commenced business in the fall or winter of 1856. The streets were lighted during the sessions of the legislature only by thirty-two lamps, until 1880, when W. W. Park, then a bailiff, brought the matter so forcibly before the people that they have had the streets regularly lighted since, and the lamps were increased to seventy-six, before they were super- seded by electric lights in 1885.
The Standard Light and Power Manufacturing Company is officered as follows : C. P. Pitkin, president ; F. W. Morse, secretary ; E. D. Blackwell, treasurer. The other directors are D. G. Kemp, Thomas Marvin, Hiram Atkins, and A. J. Sibley. The company now lights the streets of Montpelier village with sixty-seven electric arc lights, and furnish individuals with 1,400 incandescent electric lights. They also light the streets of Barre with thirty- six arc lights from their dynamo on Winooski river.
The Pavilion, opposite the passenger station of the Central Vermont rail- road, is one of the finest hotels in Vermont. The house is heated by steam and lighted by arc and incandescent electric lights, and is in every way fitted in first-class style. J. S. Viles is the proprietor.
The New Montpelier House, George Wheeler, proprietor, is located on State street, and in close proximity to the State House and Central Ver- mont passenger depot. This is one of the good hotels of New England. The house is heated by steam, and the rooms are comfortably furnished; it has the necessary appurtenances of closets, bath rooms, telephone, and livery. The table is good ; the waiters polite and attentive.
CARE OF THE POOR.
The Montpelier poor-house and farm is located in Berlin, on road 8. It has six inmates, who are comfortably clothed and kindly cared for by the pres- ent keeper, J. F. Woster, and ably assisted by his wife, Mrs. Woster. Ed. M. Irish is the efficient superintendent for the town. Their board is as good as that of well-to-do farmers. The inmates are expected to be cleanly and
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observe sanitary rules. On the whole they are made welcome, and feel that the house is their home.
EDUCATIONAL.
The pioneer settlers of Montpelier, as early as 1789, made provision for the education of their children by supporting a school taught by Jacob Davis, Jr., in a log house near Middlesex line, on the Winooski river. This was con- tinued until 1791. During 1791 a school was kept by David Wing, Jr., in .Col. Davis's house. In the fall of 1794 the town was divided into six school districts. Since then schools have been regularly maintained.
During 1794 a library association was formed at the center of the town, books purchased, and a circulating library established at the house of Gen. Parley Davis. Works of fiction and all religious books were excluded from this library. Their library contained about 200 volumes, and were treatises on philosophy and other sciences, history, biography, travels, and good morals. The first library established in the village was organized February 14, 1814, and was not so exclusive in character. Both libraries were in existence many years. .
In 1888 Montpelier had five common school districts and one union graded school district. These schools were taught by two male and sixteen female teachers, at an average weekly salary of $38.88 for the former and $7.67 for the latter. The whole number of scholars attending any school was 665, of whom ninety-two attended private schools. The amount raised by district taxes was $2,395.38; the entire income for school purposes was $6,799.46 ; while the whole amount expended for all school purposes was $7,226.27. Rev. Howard F. Hill was superintendent.
The Montpelier Public Library association opened its rooms February 23, 1886, and offered to the public the use of about 4,000 carefully selected vol- umes. Their rooms are open Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and even- ings throughout the year, and also from October 1 to April I on Monday evenings. The charges for cards, entitling the owner to the use of the library, are one dollar a year, or sixty cents for half a year, and to stockholders only half these rates. The trustees have made an effort to make the department of American history of special value. On their shelves may also be found biographies, travels, works on the sciences, fiction, juvenile literature. and many miscellaneous books. Their pleasant reading room is supplied with a variety of newspapers and magazines, entirely free to the public.
Washington County Grammar and Montpelier Union Schools .- Montpe- lier began its work of public instruction in 1789 or 1790. Its first school stood by the side of the river near the Middlesex line. In 1794 there existed six school districts. November 7, 1800, Hon. David Wing procured an act incorporating the "Trustees of the Montpelier Academy." Moneys were raised by subscription. A two-story building, forty-four by thirty-six feet on the ground, was erected at the intersection of what is now Main and Spring
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streets, near the academy bridge. In 1813 the name of the academy was changed to Washington County Grammar School, and from October its trustees, as a county corporation, appropriated to its exclusive use the rents received from the grammar school lands in the county. In 1822 the first building was destroyed by fire. A new building was at once begun, and in the interim preceding completion a Mr. Sherard supplied a classical school. The new school-house was built of brick, and cost $1,600, of which about $800 was also raised by subscription.
The following gentlemen were the preceptors during the first period of the Academy's and Grammar School's career : James Whorter, James Dean, Joseph Sill, Benton Pixley, Ira Hill, Thomas Heald, Justus W. French, Sen-
MATTHEWS.
UNION GRADED SCHOOL .*
eca White, Heman Rood, John Stevens, Jonathan C. Southmayd, J. B. East- man, Augustus R. Wood, Aaron G. Pease, J. H. Morse, M. Colburn, George W. Clark, Davis Strong, Horace Herrick, J. E. Goodrich, Charles Kent, and C. R. Ballard. Joshua Y. Vail was a temporary teacher in the early days of the school, and Robert Hale in its later days. Under J. C. Southmayd, who for twelve years exercised an able, influential preceptorship, and Aaron G. Pease, thereafter professor, and president of the Vermont University, the County School reached a high point of efficiency, and had a good reputation through the state as a fitting school. Dean and Clark also became profes-
*The cut from which we have reproduced, on a smaller scale, the new Federal building at Montpelier, and the cuts of Christ and Bethany churches, are the property of Hiram Atkins, of the Argus and Patriot, to whom we are indebted for the use thereof. Those of the Union Graded School building and the Church of the Messiah and the Baptist church are kindly loaned us by Arthur Ropes, editor of the Watchman .- PUB.
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sors in the State University, and Pixley, French, Wood, Pease, and Clark became clergymen.
In 1858 philanthropic Hezekiah H. Reed made the Grammar School a bequest of $1,000. Prompted by this bequest, the four districts of the town were united into a union school district, and with this the County School was joined by act of legislature. For these united schools a new building was constructed at the head of School street. The work, begun in the spring of 1858, was completed in the summer of 1859, and cost $19,000. This house is used to-day. It extends one hundred by forty-five feet, has a central projection in front, setting out twelve feet and thirty-three feet in extent, and rising to a height of three stories with the rest of the structure. The base- ment is of granite, the superstructure of brick, with cast-iron window caps. Each of its two lower floors contain four school-rooms, while its upper floor is finished off as a chapel for general exercises and public assemblies. This school was opened about September 1, 1859, under the principalship of M. M. Marsh. It then had about 400 pupils, taught by eight teachers. Sub- sequent principals were the following : 1862-71, Daniel D. Gorham ; 1872-74, C. W. Westgate ; 1875-77, J. E. Miller ; 1878-79, A. W. Blair ; 1880, W. W. Prescott ; 1881-83, H. R. Brackett ; 1884-85, B. F. Brown ; 1886- , Joseph A. De Boer, the present incumbent.
The school to-day possesses practically the same system as that with which it begun in 1859. There are primary, intermediate, and higher grades, pro- viding from first to last a preparation for the college. The school also pos- sesses a library of about 3,000 volumes, and a laboratory for practical work in the physical sciences. Its enrollment in 1888 was 401 ; average enrollment,. 349 ; percentage attendance on total enrollment, eighty ; on average enroll- ment, ninety-two ; percentage of tardiness, .67 of one per cent. Its grad- uates have found their way to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Vermont Uni- versity, Middlebury, Amherst, Williams, Smith's, Tufts, and other colleges. A carefully-taken school census at the beginning of 1889 showed that there were but eight pupils out of a local school population of 623 not in attend- ance upon school as provided by law. These figures testify to the healthful. status of public opinion on educational matters, as well as point back to- seventy-five years of prosperity on the part of Montpelier schools. Among its lady teachers, who have achieved a marked success, should be named Elizabeth F. Sweet, since 1859, lacking three years, a teacher in the Union School, and Flora M. Terrill, for ten years preceptress in the Grammar School. There are now ten teachers employed in the work, music, drawing, and tem- perance physiology having been added to the elementary studies. But there are evidences of an approaching time when the work of reconstruction and added building must again be considered, if convenient, appropriate, and proper provisions are to exist for all the children of Montpelier.
The Vermont Methodist Seminary .- August 13, 1832, Capt. Alden- Partridge, of Norwich, and Hon. D. A. A. Buck addressed the New Hamp-
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shire and Vermont conference, then in session at Lyndon, Vermont, on the subject of a literary institution within its borders. After the addresses the con- ference appointed a committee, of which Solomon Sias was chairman, to take into consideration the subject referred to. The committee reported that " in their opinion the time had come for the conference to extend its patron- age to a literary institution within its borders," and recommended that " a committee of seven be appointed to entertain propositions for locating this literary and scientific institution, with ;power to make contracts and enter into any arrangements necessary to carry the contemplated object into effect." After hearing the claims of Norwich, Chelsea, and Newbury the
THE VERMONT METHODIST SEMINARY.
committee finally selected Newbury because of its central and very desirable location ; and because the town had raised the sum of money stipulated, viz. : $6,000. Newbury Seminary was chartered in November, 1833. Funds were solicited by the first treasurer, Timothy Morse, and the buildings erected under his direct supervision, though the plans were made by Rev. Wilbur Fiske, of sainted memory. The school opened in September, 1834, with Rev. Charles Adams, now D. D., of Chicago, as principal; Rev. O. C. Baker, afterward bishop of the M. E. church, as assistant ; and Miss Elsey French, now Mrs. Joel Cooper, of Iowa, preceptress. Thus was founded what is now the Vermont Methodist Seminary.
A brief sketch of the school while at Newbury may be of interest. During the five years of Dr. Adams's administration the attendance increased from 122 to 326, and the school enjoyed a high degree of general prosperity. It
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is pleasant to note that in 1884, the year of the semi-centennial celebration, Dr. Adams and Mrs. Cooper were both still living.
In 1839 Dr. Adams was succeeded by Rev. O. C. Baker, who also remained at the head of the school for five years. The prosperity attending the first administration was even more marked in his. In addition to other work he organized and taught a class in systematic theology. Later this developed into the Newbury Biblical Institute, which in 1846 was removed to Concord, N. H., and is now the School of Theology of Boston University. It may be said that very few men have ever wielded as strong an influence over their students as did Bishop Baker over the young men and women at Newbury during his ten years of service there as teacher and principal. In 1844 Bishop Baker resigned to enter the pastorate. Rev. Clark T. Hinman, afterward the founder of the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill., was in charge of the seminary for the next two years. In 1848-54 the institu- tion was under the management of Rev. Joseph E. King, who for the past thirty-four years has been principal of the Fort Edward (N. Y.) Collegiate In- stitute. His administration may be styled among the most brilliant and suc- cessful in the history of the school. One very important measure of that period was the founding of the Female Collegiate Institute, chartered Novem- ber 12, 1849, Its object was the higher education of young women, while one of the effects was largely to increase the attendance of ladies. During the twenty-eight years of its existence more than 200 have been graduated, among whom were some of the strongest and noblest young women of this portion of New England. The principals for the remaining fourteen years at Newbury in their order were Prof. Henry S. Noyes, Dr. C. W. Cushing, Rev. Fennor E. King, Rev. George C. Smith, for the past twenty-three years prin- cipal of Drew Ladies Seminary, Carmel, New York, Rev. S. E. Quimby, . and Rev. S. F. Chester.
About 1845 there was established the Springfield Wesleyan Seminary, at Springfield, Vt. This was for some time quite a rival of Newbury, but for various reasons could hardly be called its equal. Until 1844 Newbury was central for the whole conference. But at that time that portion of the New Hampshire conference lying within this state was set off as the Vermont con- ference. In 1860 the Burlington and St. Albans districts were joined to this conference. The changes in conference boundaries left Newbury Seminary at the extreme eastern side of its patronizing territory. Springfield was no more fortunate. Moreover, funds were needed to repair the old buildings or build new ones. To many members of the conference, and to the trustees of Newbury and Springfield seminaries, this seemed the opportune moment for a union and a change to a more central location. After a spirited canvass of the advantages offered by Newbury, West Randolph, Northfield, Water- bury, and Montpelier, the last named place was selected. To the enterprise the town contributed for a location the fine plateau formerly occupied by the
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