USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 34
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In May, 1846 the authorities at Washington caused the East Bennington post-office to be discontinued, from the fact that it was nearer the upper village office than the regulations of the department then permitted But during the next year the accommodating incumbent of the Bennington post-office being actuated by a desire to serve the majority of his people, caused the office build- ing to be drawn on timbers. using several teams of oxen as a motive power, to the lower village and placed on the lot at the corner of Main and South streets opposite the Putnam House site. This was an occasion of great rejoicing in East Bennington. Bells were rung, and the whole people turned out and cele- brated the event as a jubilee. The Bennington people, however, felt deeply offended at this usurpation of authority and most unwarranted action on the part of their postmaster, J C. Haswell, and at once sent a committee, David Robinson, John S. Robinson and Benjamin F. Fay, to Washington, to lay their grievances before the proper authorities. That visit resulted in the removal of the office back to the old town, and the vindication of the rights of its people. Then they rejoiced, and the citizens of East Bennington were correspondingly depressed in spirits.
J. C. Haswell, the village postmaster, as is well known, was the editor and publisher of the Vermont Gasette, and with the removal of the post-office also came the removal of the newspaper office as well. The former he was com- pelled to restore to its proper town, but the authorities had no control over the paper, which thereafter became one of the institutions of the east village. But the upper town's people suffered not this indignity to pass unnoticed ; they at once established another printing office in their town and christened its issue the "Vermont Gasette," being the same name the other paper carried at its head. But this led to confusion ; Mr. Haswell still remained postmaster, and as such had the first handling of all mail matter; how then could he distinguish whether matter addressed to the Gasette was intended for his or his oppo-
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nent's perusal ? This latter complication of affairs led to the appointment of a new postmaster for Bennington in the person of Henry Kellogg. Mr. Haswell was not charged with improperly handling the mails, but the good of the serv- ice demanded his removal from the position. When a permanent post office was established at the cast village he was appointed postmaster. That was in January, 1848. The Gazette that issued from the office "on the hill" proved an unprofitable investment for its proprietors, Messrs. Aiken and Lull, who, in order to save themselves, purchased the opposing paper and published that, letting the other drop.
The struggle for supremacy between the two villages continued for some time. The removal of the post-office was but the "beginning of sorrows" for the upper place. On the 28th of October, 1846 the court-house was burned, and. following that disaster the East Bennington people made a strenuous effort to obtain the new building for their town; but the upper townsmen were rather too sharp in the proceedings that followed, and retained the county buildings in their locality for a score of years longer. But when the court-house was again destroyed by fire in March, 1869, the laws of necessity and convenience demanded that the building be erected at the east village, which was accord- ingly done, and without opposition from the people on the hill.
But another thing. A noted writer has said : "He who steals my purse steals trash ; but he who robs me of my good name takes from me that which cannot enrich him, and only impoverishes me." This old saying is brought again to mind by knowledge of the changes that have taken place in the names of these rival towns. The name Bennington was given the little hamlet on the hill more than a hundred years ago, and long before the idea was conceived of building up a village such as now enjoys that name ; and the old village, that was entitled to the name by every consideration of reason and propriety, has been compelled to yield that also along with its institutions and industries, in favor of the new-comer. Bennington on the hill was continued to be so called until the authorities at Washington, in answer to a general demand, changed the name of the post-office to West Bennington, in 1849; and on the same day, July 12th of the same year the post name, Bennington, was re-established at the lower village, and Horace T. White was made postmaster. Thus has time witnessed the downfall of the one, and the uprising of the other. Then, again, West Bennington was subsequently dropped, and in its place we now have the present name of "Bennington Center." But for all this the town has lost none of its historic interest or value. The loss of its court-house and name has been par- tially compensated for in the erection of a magnificent monument commemo- rative of the famous battle of Bennington ; and in front of where once stood the famous old Catamount Tavern there stands another substantial stone mon- ument to mark the spot. And these shall be as enduring as time. Benning- ton Center is a delightfully situated village around which clusters a wealth of
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historic memories that can never be forgotten while the monuments stand; and Bennington village, as the name is now applied, is a busy little municipality, noted for its large industries and the general progressiveness of its people.
Such, in brief, was the situation of affairs at Bennington at and immediately prior to the time of its incorporation. But the village, whether under the name of Algiers, or East Bennington, or Tigertown, or Polly wogs, or such other appel- lations as were applied to it, was in existence long years before the act of incor- poration was passed, and was a thriving little hamlet with a number of indus- tries of what was then considered much importance. In truth, if well verified tradition is to be relied upon, and in this case it certainly is, within the limits of the present village of Bennington there was built and in operation the first flour or grist-mill in the State, and it stood upon or very near the site of the present extensive works of the Cooper Manufacturing Company. A grist-mill was in operation here until about the year 1853, when Benton and Jones bought the water privilege, and converted the grist-mill into a paper- mill.
The old mill was known as the Safford Mill from the fact that it and the lands adjoining were the property of Samuel Safford. Opposite to the old Saf- ford grist-mill stood at an early day a saw-mill, and this, too, was of ancient origin, its erection dating back quite as far as the old grist-mill; in fact, it is ยท believed that the lumber used in building the grist-mill was sawed here. The old saw-mill went out of existence many years ago, probably about the begin- ning of the present century. At a later day there was built on the site now of the Cooper Company's east building, near the corner, the blacksmith and wagon shops owned and conducted by Deacon Enoch Winslow. Here was, it is thought, the first smith's shop in the village, if not in the town. All evi- dence of its existence is now destroyed. It is possible that some person still lives who remembers the old chair shop that stood on the site of Charles Coop- er's machine works, and was operated by Dewey and Woodworth. When it was built we know not, but it was run here for a time, and until succeeded by the tannery business of Buckley Squires. The latter business was discontinued between the years 1843 and 1846, after which the water privilege remained un- used until about 1865, when Charles I. Cromack built and operated a planing- mill there. Some time after his death Milo G. Remington became proprietor, and converted the mill into a wagon shop, but it finally passed into the hands of Henry W. Putnam who rebuilt it for its present use.
Another tannery building used to stand on the east side of North street, north of the main stream, and for many years was run by Newell Squire. It was not a particularly successful enterprise, and was unoccupied for a number of years before its destruction by fire, and the latter event must have occurred over forty years ago. The building stood about where Elbert Putnam's resi- dence is now located. On the west side of North street, several rods north of Main street, there stood another tannery that was built about IS38, and owned
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and operated by Daniel Conkling. After his death the building remained idle, but Enos Adams finally bought the plant, run it as a tannery for a time, and then converted it into a pottery. In this same building also was another in- dustry. the grinding of quartz and feldspar for the manufacture of porcelain warc. The pottery machinery was put in about the year 1859. About 1865 Mr. Adams commenced the manufacture of steel governors here, which he still makes in connection with his other extensive manufactures.
At a very early day there stood a little tannery building on Main street, about opposite the present Free Library Hall. Its use as a tannery was dis- continued prior to the year 1830. On the same site and in the building Messrs. Godfrey & Adkins afterward operated a wadding-mill, but the latter was burned down about 1838 or 1840. On the site of the ruins was erected the first planing-mill of the village, built by Lyman Harrington, A. P. Lyman and others. This firm also had a cooperage works in connection with their other business, and manufactured powder-mill kegs. The old building still stands, although frequent repairs and enlargements have destroyed its original appear- ance. The property at length passed into the hands of A. D. Stewart, who run the planing-mill department and leased the upper part to Sylvester Peelor for the manufacture of sash, blinds and doors. About two years ago Mr. Stew- art sold to James Lindley, the present owner. This is now a well-known and prominent building on Main street, and is occupied for several uses.
In mentioning these of the carly industries of the village some mention must also be made of the woolen cloth manufacture conducted by Joel Valen- tine on the site of the present large and substantial building occupied by the Valentine Knitting Company. Joel Valentine established business here in 1824, although the privilege was in use some ten or a dozen years earlier than that time. The business commenced by Mr. Valentine, or his predecessor in occupancy, led to the founding of the extensive business now in operation here. The old building was destroyed by fire in 1836, but was at once rebuilt and continued nine years longer, when again the factory was burned. It was then rebuilt by Alonzo B. Valentine, son of the founder of the business, and by him continued and enlarged upon to its present vast proportions.
Then there is to be mentioned among the old industries of the village, all of which contributed so largely to its growth and prosperity, the old pottery that was established in 1793 by Captain John Norton, in the south part of the township, on the road leading from Bennington Center to Pownal. In the year 1833 the works were moved to Bennington village, then generally known as Algiers, when the business was enlarged and continued to the present time, although its management has been changed several times, as will be seen by reference to the pages devoted to the present manufacturing interests of the village.
These were but a part, although perhaps a major part of the manufacturing
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industries of the infant days of Bennington, and in existence before its act of incorporation was passed, and before the village became separated from the township of which it formed a part. And as the proportion of population and manufacture then stood, so, also, was the proportion of mercantile and other business interests, as well as institutions for the spiritual and educational wel- fare of the townspeople. There was the Methodist Church, the society of which was organized in 1827 ; the Baptist society, organized during the same year ; St. Peter's Episcopal Church, formed in 1834, while the Second Congre- gational, an offshoot of the old society at the upper village, was formed in 1836. Fifty or sixty years ago, and perhaps longer, the village had two hotels, one kept by Isaac Weeks on the site of the present Putnam House, and another further up Main street, presided over by Jacob Lyon. The school- house, a plain frame structure, stood on Union street.
There may be living within the township or village a number of persons whose memory can carry them back to the time when the greater part of the tract now covered by the buildings in the village was used mainly for farm and garden purposes ; and if memory will thus serve them, they may recall to mind the old trotting course that must have been a mile in circumference, and was situated between the soldiers' home and what is now Pleasant street. And they may remember, too, how certain Sabbath-breaking persons were wont to assemble here on the first day of the week and engage in trotting and speeding their horses, to the great annoyance and disgust of the respectable element of society. And it was customary too for persons from New York State to meet here on Sunday and trot their horses for money and other prizes. Public sentiment strongly opposed these numerous acts of desecration, but still they were continued week after week, and until the Rev. Dr. Peters announced from the pulpit of the old First Church that on the following Sunday he would make this indulgence the subject of special mention in his discourse. The sermon | was duly delivered and the public sentiment was aroused to such a pitch of excitement that the law abiding citizens of the community put an effectual stop to such ruthless proceedings in the future.
Incorporation of the Village .- Long before the year 1840 the majority, if not all, of the water privileges along the Walloomsac were taken up with man- ufacturing enterprises. These brought a good population to the town, and its growth became rapid and permanent, necessitating the extensive building of houses and mercantile buildings ; still, in 1848, the hundreds of population in the village proper could be counted on one's fingers. But even with this com- paratively small number of inhabitants it was found not only desirable, but necessary, that the village should be incorporated that its internal affairs might be administered by the residents separate and distinct from the township of which it had hitherto formed a part. It is a well-known fact that the average rural resident has but little interest in measures that should be taken for the
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improvement of a hamlet or village, all of which call for an expenditure of money, and from which he could derive no return or probable comfort, and, therefore he naturally opposes any project for the improvement of a locality from which he can have no direct benefit, but for which he is called upon to pay an additional tax. Therefore, if the inhabitants of any unincorporated vil- lage desire to materially improve their locality or condition at the public ex- pense, they must have recourse to municipal organization ; and, as this condi- tion practically confronted the people of the village of Bennington they availed themselves of the statutes of the State and separated the village from the town - ship by means of an act of incorporation.
Of the provisions of this act it is not essential that a detailed mention should be made other than to describe the lands taken for village purposes, as follows :
" Beginning at the southwest corner of Jedediah Dewey's farm, and running thence north, nine degrees east. on said Dewey's west line, one hundred and thirty rods, to A. P. Lyman's land ; thence northwardly to the center between the dwelling house of said A. P. Lyman and the dwelling house of Lyman Harrington, in a straight line to the north side of the highway, and on the south line of said Dewey's land ; thence westwardly on the north line of said highway, to the north corner of said Dewey's land ; thence northwardly on the west line of said Dewey's land, to the lands owned by Lyman Patchin; thence eastwardly on said Patchin's south line to the west bank of the river; thence down the said river upon the west bank thereof, to its confluence with the Roar- ing Branch ; thence up the said branch, upon its south bank, to the west bank of Colvin's canal ; thence south on the west bank of said canal; and onward thirty-two and a half rods, to a small cherry tree; thence south sixty- nine de- grees west to the road, and onward on the south line of S. L. Godfrey's land, and across the mill pond to the highway leading to the Weeks farm; thence south, four degrees east, on the cast line of said highway, seventy-nine rods, to the southwest corner of M. C. Morgan's land ; thence north, seventy-nine de- grees west, on the south line of original lots, three hundred and one rods, to the place of beginning, shall hereafter be known by the name of the village of Bennington; and the inhabitants of said village are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, with the usual powers incident to public corporations, to be known by the name of the village of Bennington."
It was, therefore, by this act of the Legislature of Vermont that the corpo- rate village of Bennington was brought into existence. The act was approved and became a law on the 3d day of November, 1849. Among other things it was provided that " an annual meeting of the said corporation shall be held on the first Monday of January," (1850), and that at this and every annual meet- ing held thereafter the freemen shall proceed to elect a moderator, who shall preside at all meetings; a clerk, who shall keep a record of all the proceedings
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of the corporation, seven trustees, who shall have the management of the affairs of the corporation, and the necessary power for that purpose; a treasurer and collector. A subsequent provision of the same act authorized the election of seven fire wardens whose duty it was to suppress all tumults and riots, to di- vide the labor of all persons present, and to look to the protection of goods and property in cases of fire.
As provided by the act the first meeting for the election of village officers, and others authorized by the act of incorporation, was held at the town house on the 16th of January, 1850. A temporary organization was effected by choosing J. P. Godfrey, moderator, and David F. Squires, as clerk, pro tem- pore. But it appears that the officers for the year were not elected at this meeting, a motion having been made by Calvin Gilson that the meeting stand adjourned until the 30th of January following. On that day the freemen again met, chose Joel Valentine moderator, and then proceeded to select village offi- cers. On motion of A. P. Lyman a committee of ten was appointed to nomi- nate suitable persons for officers of the corporation for the ensuing year ; which motion being carried, the committee was as follows : Samuel Rockwood, Moses Harrington, Samuel H. Brown, Abel H. Wills, Paul Boynton, Jedediah Dewey, Luther R. Graves, George W. Harman, James H. Bennett and Christopher W. Fenton. This committee reported the nomination of the village officers who were duly elected by the meeting, as follows: A. P. Lyman, moderator ; David F. Squires, clerk; Charles S. Colvin, George W. Harman, Peter H. Story, Abel H. Wills, Zadock L. Taft, Albert Walker, and Samuel HI. Brown, trustees; Asahel Booth, Lemuel Grover, Buckley Squires, Madison E. Wins- low, James H. Bennett, Calvin Gilson, and Moses Harrington, fire wardens ; Henry F. Dewey, collector, and Luman Norton, treasurer. The meeting also appointed a committee consisting of George W. Harman, A. P. Lyman and David F. Squires, to prepare by-laws for the corporation.
The act by which the village of Bennington was incorporated has been sev- eral times amended, and upon some occasions the corporate limits have been extended. As at first laid out the lands taken were parts of what have always been known as the Dewey, Pratt, and Safford tracts, so called from their pio- neer owners.
The annual meeting for the election of officers was continued to be held in January until the year 1874, at which time a change was made, and the elec- tions were thereafter, and until 1881, held in April; but in ISSI the corporate laws of the village were radically revised, and a reorganization practically cf- fected. Under this revision the village had a president, and the affairs of the corporation were conducted with more formality than had been the previous custom.
Prior to the early part of the year 1856 it was the practice of the freemen to choose their trustees from the village generally, and without especial refer-
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ence to locality, as there was no subdivision of the village into wards or dis- tricts before to that time. But at a meeting held on the 6th day of February, 1856, a by-law or ordinance was adopted by which the village was divided into seven wards, constituted as follows :
Ward No. I shall include that portion of the village lying west of the east line of South street, and west of the east line of North street, and south of the south bank of the river running from the Safford pond to Booth's pond and onward.
Ward No. 2 shall include that portion of the village lying west of the east line of North street, and north of the south bank of said river.
Ward No. 3 shall include that portion of the village lying east of the east line of North street, west of the east line of Pottery street, and north of the south bank of said river.
Ward No. 4 shall include that portion of the village lying east of the east line of North street, south of the south bank of said river, and north of the north line of Main street.
Ward No. 5 shall include that portion of the village lying east of the east line of South street, west of the west line of Morgan street, and south of the north line of Main street.
Ward No. 6 shall include that part of the village lying east of the west line of Morgan street, and west of the west side of the Safford bridge, and south of the north line of Main street.
Ward No. 7 shall include that part of the village lying east of the east line of Pottery street, north of the north bank of the river to the Safford bridge, and thence by the north line of Main street.
The section of the by law, by which this division was made, also provided that " until the next election of trustees," James L. Stark, jr., shall have spe- cial jurisdiction over ward number one, S. M. Robinson, jr., over ward number two, Hiram Bingham over ward number three, Joel Valentine over ward nuin- ber four, George W. Harman over ward number five, George Benton over ward number six, and M. C. Morgan over ward number seven. The second section provided that when future trustees were elected one should be taken from each ward of the village.
This custom was continued in force until the annual meeting held in Janu- ary, 1867, at which time a preamble and resolution were adopted that returned to the old practice of choosing trustees generally, and without regard to ward residence. The resolution was as follows : " Whereas, the increasing popula- tion of the village of Bennington, with the many streets and highways which have been added within the limits of its charter since its organization have rendered the different wards disproportionate and unequal, it is therefore re- solved, that the by-laws of this corporation are so far amended that the trus- tees for 1867 be chosen without regard to the particular ward in which they
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may respectively reside; and that said trustees shall so divide the moneys to be expended, and the services to be performed, among their number in such manner as may, in their opinion, be for the best interests of the village."
The same resolution also requested the trustees to examine the boundaries of each ward in the village and after making such alterations as the interests of the village suggested, to report the same to the next annual meeting for the consideration of the freemen there assembled. Another resolution passed at this same meeting authorized the election of two auditors, whose duty it should be to examine the accounts of all officers of the village and settle with them according to their services.
But the re-arrangement of the wards of the village was not brought up for consideration until the annual meeting of January, 1869, at which time the by- laws were amended, and the village territory again divided into the following wards :
First ward .- All that portion of the village lying west of the west line of South street, and south of the north line of Main street.
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