USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
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Second ward .- All that portion of the village lying west of the east line of North street, and north of the north line of Main street.
Third ward .- All that portion of the village lying east of the east line of North street, and west of the east line of Safford street, and north of the south line of Gage street.
Fourth ward .- All that portion of the village lying east of the east line of North street, and west of the east line of Safford street, and north of the north line of Main street, and south of the south line of Gage street.
Fifth ward .- All that portion of the village east of the west line of South street, and west of the east line of Silver street, and south of the north line of Main street.
Sixth ward .- All that part of the village lying east of the east line of Sil- ver street, and west of the east line of Morgan street, and south of the north line of Main street.
Seventh ward .- All that part of the village lying east of the east line of Morgan street and Safford street.
On the 25th day of November, 1884, the Legislature of the State passed an act that amended and consolidated all previous enactments relating to the corporation of Bennington, and established its institutions on a more firm and definite basis than it had heretofore enjoyed. The second section of the act of 1884 defined the boundaries of the village corporation, which ordinarily, would not be of importance in this chapter, except for the fact that the original boundaries are already given, and to show the changes that have been made, and the growth of the town it may not be enlarging too much on this subject to give the limits of the village as they at present exist, as follows: "Beginning at the northwest corner of lands owned by Charles E. and Elijah Dewey, situate on the north side of Main street ; thence easterly along the north
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side of said Dewey's land to the west bank of the Walloornsac 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 Rockwood's canal; thence south on the west bank of said canal, and cross- ing Main street, thirty and one-half rods to a point about eight fect westerly from the southwest corner of Isaac Moon's wagon shop ; thence south, seventy degrees west, to the highway, or Beech street, so called ; thence onward, on the south line of S. L. Godfrey's land and across the mill pond to the highway called Morgan street; thence south, four degrees west, on the east line of said street, seventy-nine rods; thence southerly along the west side of said high- way the following courses and distances : South, six and one-fourth degrees west, twenty-six rods ; south, seven and one-half degrees west, thirty-two rods; south, fifteen degrees west, twelve rods; south, forty-two and one-half degrees west, twenty-nine rods; south, twenty and one-half degrees west, forty rods, to the southeast corner of lands owned by Isaac T. Pratt ; thence west, twelve degrees north, one hundred and forty rods in line of lands owned by said Pratt, to South street; thence same course (west, twelve north,) about one hundred an l fifty rods; thence north, twelve degrees east, two hundred and fifty rods to the Lebanon Springs Railroad; thence northwesterly along said railroad, about twenty rods to the southwest corner of Mrs. P. L. Robinson's house lot; thence north, twelve degrees east, on the west line of said Robin- son's house lot to the north line of Main street; thence westerly along the north line of Main street to the southwest corner of said Dewey's land ; thence northerly along the west line of said Dewey's land to the place of beginning," etc. Section 3 of the act provides that the annual election of village officers shall be held on the third Tuesday of March. Section 4 provides that there shall be elected annually, by ballot, the following officers: A president of the village, seven trustees, a clerk, treasurer, collector, and three auditors. The trustees shall be elected one by each ward, and the trustee elected by a ward shall be president of that ward. The other officers are elected by the vil- lage at large. The appointive officers to be chosen annually by the board of trustees are one street commissioner, seven fire wardens, one from each ward ; and not to exceed more than seven police officers, one of whom they shall designate as. chief."
This is a brief outline of the history of this branch of the municipal govern- ment of the village of Bennington ; and in closing this department of the chap- ter it is not out of place to mention the names of those who have from year to year been called upon by the votes of the people of the village to repre- sent them in the various offices established by the acts of the Legislature, from the time the village was first incorporated, in 1849, to this present. The suc- cession of village officers, except those connected with the fire and police de- partments, of which mention is made hereafter, has been as follows:
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
1850 .- Moderator, A. P. Lyman ; clerk, D. F. Squires ; collector, Henry F. Dewey; treasurer, Luman Norton; trustees, Charles Colvin, George W. Harman, Peter H. Story, Abel 11. Wills, Zadock L. Taft, Albert Walker, Samuel H. Brown.
1851 .- Moderator, A. P. Lyman; clerk, D. F. Squires ; collector, Henry F. Dewey; treasurer, Luman Norton; trustees, Joel Valentine, Enos Adams, Julius Norton, George W. Harman, Peter II. Story, Jedediah Dewey, Charles S. Colvin.
1852 .- Moderator, A. P. Lyman ; clerk, D. F. Squires ; collector, Henry F. Dewey; treasurer, Luman Norton; trustees, Charles S. Colvin, George W. . Ilarman, Zadock L. Taft, Joel Valentine, Julius Norton, Luthier R. Graves, Moses Harrington.
1853 .- Moderator, George W. Harman; clerk, David F. Squires; col- lector, Henry F. Dewey ; treasurer, George W. Harman ; trustees, Mason C. Morgan, Enoch Davis, Zadock L. Taft, Joel Valentine, S. Mason Robinson, Charles E. Dewey, Bernard Golden.
1854 .- Moderator, Joel Valentine ; clerk, David F. Squires ; collector, Henry F. Dewey ; treasurer, George W. Harman ; trustees, Mason C. Mor- gan, Henry G. Root, Charles S. Colvin, S. Mason Robinson, Nathaniel B. Hall, Henry Norton, Robert H. Coventry.
1855 .- Moderator, Decius W. Clark; clerk, David F. Squires; collector, Henry F. Dewey ; treasurer, Sirrene P. Peck; trustees, John D. Fisk, Lafay ette D. Hamlin, Henry S. Norton, S. Mason Robinson, Calvin Norton, James L. Stark, jr., Edward Norton.
1856 .- Moderator, Joel Valentine; clerk, David F. Squires; collector, Henry F. Dewey; treasurer, Sirrene P. Peck; trustees, James L. Stark, jr., S. Mason Robinson, Mason C. Morgan, Joel Valentine, George W. Harman, George Benton, Hiram Bingham.
1857 .- Moderator, Joel Valentine; clerk, David F. Squires; collector, Henry F. Dewey; treasurer, Sirrene P. Peck ; trustees, Luther R. Graves Ist ward ; Peter H. Story, 2d ward ; Isaac Weeks, 3d ward; Joel Valentine, 4th ward ; Lafayette D. Hamlin, 5th ward; Asahel Harwood, 6th ward : Charles S. Colvin, 7th ward.
1858 .- Moderator, Joel Valentine; clerk, David F. Squires; collector, Henry F. Dewey; treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany; trustees, Norman B. Har- wood, Lemuel Grover, Loan J. Marsh, Edward Norton, Lafayette D. Hamlin, Asahel Harwood, George Rockwood.
1859 .- Moderator, Hymen Tuttle ; clerk, David F. Squires ; collector, Henry F. Dewey ; treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany ; trustees, Henry D. Hull, Lemuel Grover, Resolvy Gage, Alonzo B. Valentine, John R. Gates, James H. Bennett, George Rockwood.
1860 .- Moderator, S. M. Robinson, jr. ; clerk, Thomas J. Tiffany; col-
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lector, John E. Pratt ; treasurer, (none chosen); trustees, Hymen Tuttle, S. M. Robinson, jr., Resolvy Gage, Henry A. Norton, Frank Purdy, Henry E. Bradford, Z. L. Taft.
1861 .- Moderator, George W. Harman; clerk and treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany ; collector, John E. Pratt; trustees, Henry E. Bradford, A. M. Day. H. G. Root, S. M. Robinson, jr., Z. L. Taft, A. B. Valentine, Resolvy Gage.
1862 .- Moderator, Z. L. Taft; clerk and treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany ; collector, H. G. Root; trustees, H. E. Bradford, A. M. Day, H. G. Root, S. M. Robinson, jr., Z. L. Taft, A. B. Valentine, Resolvy Gage.
1863 .- Moderator, Joel Valentine ; clerk and treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany ; collector, Buel Rockwood ; corporation attorney, George W. Harman ; trus- tees, Buel Rockwood, John G. Harwood, L. D. Hamlin, Charles E. Dewey, Albert Walker, Resolvy Gage, S. M. Robinson, jr.
1864 .- Moderator, Thomas White; clerk and treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany; collector, Henry F. Dewey ; trustees, Isaac Weeks, J. H. Loring, William Bates, Z. L. Taft, Buel Rockwood, Henry F. Dewey, S. M. Robinson, jr.
1865 .- Moderator, Joel Valentine ; clerk and treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany ; collector, Henry F. Dewey; corporation attorney, George W. Harman ; trus- tees, S. M. Robinson, jr., J. H. Loring, Joel Valentine, Henry E. Bradford. Henry F. Dewey, Isaac Weeks, R. B. Godfrey.
1866 .- Moderator, Isaac Weeks; clerk and treasurer, Thomas J. Tiffany ; collector, Leander Powers; trustees, S. M. Robinson, J. H. Loring, Luman P. Norton, Henry E. Bradford, Henry W. Putnam, Isaac Weeks, R. B. Godfrey.
1867 .- Moderator, Hiram Bingham ; clerk, Thomas J. Tiffany ; treasurer, George W. Harman ; collector, Leander Powers; auditors, G. W. Harman, William S. Southworth ; trustees, Henry E. Bradford, Charles E. Dewey, E. S. Pratt, H. W. Putnam, H. W. Booth, George Benton, Isaac Weeks.
1868 .- Moderator, James B. Meacham ; clerk, Thomas J. Tiffany ; treas- urer, George W. Harman ; collector, David Love; auditors, George W. Har- man, and William S. Southworth ; trustees, Isaac Weeks, Henry W. Putnam, H. W. Booth, George A. Wood, L. D. Hamlin, Buel Rockwood, and J. H. Woodman.
1869 .- Moderator, George W. Harman ; clerk, Thomas J. Tiffany ; treas- urer, George W. Harman ; collector, David Love; auditors, William S. South- worth, and George W. Harman ; trustees, Henry W. Putnam, Henry G. Root, Sylvester Peelor, Albert Walker, G. A. Wood, L. D. Hamlin, and Buel Rock- wood.
1870 .- Moderator, William S. Southworth ; clerk, Thomas J. Tiffany; treas- urer, Luther R. Graves; collector, David Love; auditors, George W. Harman and William S. Southworth; trustees, Henry G. Root, Henry W. Putnam, Hi- ram Bingham, L. D. Hamlin, R. B. Godfrey, Sylvester Peelor, and J. A. Hotchkins.
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
1871 .- Moderator, Jolin R. Gates; clerk, Thomas J. Tiffany; treasurer Luther R. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham ; auditors, William S. South worth and George W. Harman ; trustees, Milo Remington, Henry W. Put- nam, Sylvester Peelor, Olin Scott, Hiram Bingham, L. D. Hamlin, and R. B. Godfrey.
1872 .- Moderator, John R. Gates; clerk, John R. Burton ; treasurer, In- ther R. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, William S. South- worth, George W. Harman; trustees, Milo G. Remington, Peter H. Story, Andrew M. Johnson, Olin Scott, Daniel Huling, L. D. Hamlin, and R. B. Godfrey.
1873 .- Moderator, George W. Harman; clerk, John R. Burton : treasurer, Luther R. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, Hiram Bingham. Thomas J. Tiffany ; trustees, John L. Quackenbushi, Joseph H. Loring, Lucius M. Holton, Lyman F. Abbott, George A. Wood, John V. Carney, and Charles W. Benton.
1874 .- (Annual meeting held in April, instead of January, as heretofore). Moderator, Henry J. Potter ; clerk, John R. Burton; treasurer, Ellis A. Cobb; collector, C. F. Sears; auditors, Thomas J. Tiffany and Daniel McEowen ; trustees, Milo G. Remington, Joseph H. Loring, Thomas P. Burton, Thomas A. Hutchins, George W. Ilarman, Jolin V. Carney, and Charles Colvin.
1875 .- Moderator, Henry J. Potter ; clerk, John R. Burton ; treasurer, El- lis A. Cobb; collector, James B. Meacham ; auditors, George A. Wood and Thomas J. Tiffany ; trustees, Henry G. Root, George W. Harman, J. P. Bur- ton, J. H. Loring, T. A. Hutchins, John T. Shurtleff, Charles S. Colvin.
1876 .- Moderator, Ilenry J. l'otter ; clerk, John R. Burton ; treasurer, El- lis A. Cobb; collector, James B. Meacham ; auditors, George W. Harman and Thomas J. Tiffany ; trustees, Samuel Keyes, Joseph H. Loring, L. M. Holton, T. A. Hutchins, George A. Wood, Randall J. Crawford, M. B. Morgan.
1877 .- Moderator, Henry J. Potter; clerk, M. B. Morgan ; treasurer, Dan- iel McEowen; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, George W. Harman. Thomas J. Tiffany ; trustees, Samuel Keyes, Joseph H. Loring, D. W. Hyde, C. F. Scars, George A. Wood, R. J. Crawford, and Buel Rockwood.
1878 .- Moderator, John Sibley ; clerk, M. B. Morgan ; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham ; auditors, Dwight P. Gates, Levi L. Lewis; trustees, John Sibley, Daniel Guiltinane, G. K. Morse, Dwight Riddle, David Bushnell J. F. Clark, M. B. Morgan.
1879 .- Moderator, S. F. Harris; clerk, M. B. Morgan ; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, Levi L. Lewis and Dwight P. Gates; trustees, R. W. Bennett, Daniel Guiltinane, A. M. Johnson, Frank Cromack, C. A. Hawks, David F. Squires, M. B. Morgan.
1880 .- Moderator, John T. Shurtleff; clerk, Henry A. Harman ; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, Charles F. Sears; auditors, Olin Scott and Dwight
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P. Gates; trustees, Ed. N. S. Morgan, Charles S. Clapp, Levi Bradbury, Henry M. Tuttle, Joseph V. Hupf, Franklin L Blake, Rufus B. Godfrey.
1881 .- (Annual meeting changed to be held in March). Moderator, John T. Shurtleff; clerk, James Carroll; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, John R. Pilling, Asaph P'. Childs; trustees, O. D. Adams, Francis Guillinam, Frank Tiffany, R. Goldsmith, G. B. Sibley, J. W. Scranton, Buel Rockwood.
1882 .- Moderator, John T. Shurtleff; clerk, Edward L. Bates; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, George W Har- man, George A. Wood; trustees, L. M. McIntire, J. R. Pilling, A. M. John- son, C. E. Graves, David Carpenter, R. J. Crawford, and Rufus B. Godfrey.
1883 .- Moderator, Thomas J. Tiffany; clerk, Edward L. Bates; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, Henry M. Tuttle, Olin Scott; trustees, Orrin D. Adams, William O'Donnell, Frank Tiffany, D. P. Gates, H. M. Harris, C. A. Hawks. C. W. Benton.
1884 .- Moderator, John T. Shurtleff; clerk, Charles E. Graves; treasurer, George F. Graves ; collector, James B. Meacham ; auditors, William B. Shel- don, Olin Scott, Charles E. Graves; trustees, Orrin D. Davls, William O'Don- nell, James Lindley, M. W. Stewart, Dwight Riddle, F. L. Blake, C. W. Benton.
1885 .- President, Luman P. Norton: clerk, Buel Sibley ; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, William B. Sheldon, Charles E. Graves, Orrin D. Adams; trustees, Orrin D. Adams, Daniel O'Donnell, M. Cullerton, Melvin W. Stewart, Dwight Riddle, Irving E. Gibson, Rufus B. Godfrey. Buel Sibley resigned his clerkship, and the board of trustees elected Charles E. Graves to the office. James B. Meacham was elected, by the board, to the office of village attorney. Samuel Keyes was elected trustee of ward I, in place of Orrin Adams, resigned. Samuel Keyes was also, on April 27th, appointed street commissioner.
1886 .- President, John V. Carney; clerk, John H. Kelso; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, Luman P. Norton, Orrin D. Adams, John R. Pilling; trustees, Samuel Keyes, Daniel O'Donnell, M. Cul- lerton, Melvin W. Stewart, Dwight Riddle, Irving E. Gibson, William H. Brad- ford. Appointed officers: Health officer, E. B. Daly; village attorney, James B. Meacham; street commissioner, Arthur C. Sweet.
1887 .- President, John V. Carney; clerk, John H. Kelso; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, Charles H. Mason, John R. Pilling, Dr. H. C. Day; trustees, Samuel Keyes, (resigned, and William Martin elected to fill the vacancy), Daniel Guiitinane, Dr. E. B. Daly, M. W. Stewart, John V. Carney, I. E. Gibson, Edward D. Moore; appointed officers, village attorney, James B. Meacham.
1888 .- President, John V. Carney; clerk, John H. Kelso; treasurer, George F. Graves; collector, James B. Meacham; auditors, Charles H. Mason, C.
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Darling, Dr. H. C. Day ; trustees, W. G. T. Wright, Thomas McGrath, F. M. Crawford, Eli Tiffany, George A. Wood, George N. Phillips, John Coleman ; appointed officers, village attorney, James B. Meacham; chief of police, James E. Hurley ; fire wardens, Charles A. Pierce, Arthur J. Dewey, Michacl Mckeon, Charles H. Wakefield, Andrew J. Downs, Edward L. Bates, George M. Sibley ; street commissioner, Henry M. Tuttle ; health officers, Emmett B. Daley and Henry J. Potter.
The Bennington Fire Department .- There is no department of municipal government organized for a more laudable purpose than that for the prevention and extinguishing of fires ; and in a village like Bennington a double credit is due to the members of its fire department from the fact that their services must necessarily be gratuitous. The village of Bennington seems to possess the nec- essary means for fighting fire far beyond that found in villages of the same or even greater population. This is a wise precaution, for the extensive manu- facturing interests here demand protection, and any outlay of means for the maintenance of the efficiency of the department is certainly well expended. While the village of Bennington has not suffered from destruction by fire to any greater extent than other places similarly situated and conditioned, there have been during and even before its corporate existence, a number of disas- trous fires with consequent heavy losses, and the older inhabitants will remem- ber the period of years between 1856 and 1860, when it seemed that the place was especially afflicted with fire losses of an incendiary origin, and which called for an offer of a reward of five hundred dollars for the discovery of the guilty parties.
The history of the fire department of the village of Bennington, at least so far as its early organization, continuance and prosperity is concerned, has been much the same as that of its other institutions. The days of the old "bucket brigade " have long since passed away, and in its place there came the old hand engine, either light or heavy, according to the period of its use, and when this machine became in general use it was thought that the art of inventing imple- ments for extinguishiing fires had reached its greatest height, but in the present age the hand engine is to the modern steam apparatus about as the pail and bucket were to the hand engines. In Bennington the use of the steamer is unnecessary in many instances for the reason that the water pressure on the mains is so great as to afford all the power the firemen may need in ordinary cases; still, Bennington could hardly afford to entirely discard the use of the steamer, as there are districts in which the water mains do not extend, and over which the protection of the fire department must be extended.
The act of the Legislature that was passed in November, 1849, by which the village was incorporated, also provided for the annual election of seven fire wardens, and defined their duties and powers. Those elected to serve in this .capacity during the first year were: Asahel Booth, Lemuel Grover, Buckley
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Squires, Madison E. Winslow, James H. Bennett, Calvin Gilson and Moses Har- rington. The freemen of the village, at this same meeting, also voted that a committee, consisting of George W. Harman, A P. Lyman, and David F. Squires should draft suitable by-laws for municipal use and control. As ap- pears by the old records in the village clerk's office about the first work of this committee was to prepare an ordinance for the regulation of the fire depart- ment, the first section of the first article of which reads as follows: "There is hereby constituted and established within the village of Bennington, an asso- ciation to be called 'Bennington Fire Department,' to consist of such persons and officers, and such number of engine companies and hook and ladder com- panies, as shall from time to time be ordered and directed by said village."
Section two of the same article adopted at the same time, but amended in 1851, reads : " There shall be formed by the fire wardens two engine compan- ies, the members of which shall reside within the limits of said village, which companies shall be regulated and controlled by such by-laws as the several companies shall establish for the government of themselves," etc.
Proceedings were at once instituted for the complete organization of the department. Asahel Booth and Lemuel Grover were appointed to purchase two engines and other necessary fire apparatus at an expense not beyond fif- teen hundred dollars, and contracts were made for the erection of two engine houses on lots purchased for that purpose. In due time all the purchases were made, the buildings erected, and the companies organized-the latter in No- vember, 1851. The two companies were organized with twenty members each, and these were "the boys who ran with the machine."
First Company .- Archibald Robertson, Lucius G. Welch, Henry G. Root, James B. Chandler, Hiram Bingham, Henry D. Hall, George Cady, George C. McEowen, Charles Dewey, William B. Booth, Hudson Smith, Leonard Barney, Sidney Squires, Horace T. White, Calvin Norton, Andrew M. Johnson, S. Ma- son Robinson, Oran S. Newton, Merritt Allen, James L. Stark, jr.
Second Company .- Asahel Harwood, Sirrene P. Peck, Alonzo B. Valentine, Russell B. Judd, William Emerson Olds, J. Halsey Cushman, Lafayette D. Hamlin, Charles H. Rockwood, John F. Hale, Warren Sibley, Anson Peelor, John Collord, Thomas Riddle, Franklin B. Norton, George W. Hall, Gordon N. Squires, David C. Harwood, William Morgan, Newton Gould, Daniel Mc- Eowen.
These were the original members of the two companies. Of course addi- tions were made to their number, and the names of some were dropped from the rolls. The names adopted to designate the companies were "Spartan Engine Company, No. 1." and " Protection Engine Company, No. 2."
In pursuance of a by-law passed at a meeting of freemen held on the 31 st day of March, 1852, the members of the fire companies met on the 7th day of April thereafter, and elected the following officers of the fire department: Chief
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engineer, David C. Harwood ; first assistant engineer, Anson Peelor ; second assistant engineer, Lemuel Grover ; clerk of the department, Merritt Allen, This by law was subsequently repealed, but the resolution by which the repeal was effected was itself rescinded, and the law stood until amended in January, 1858, by which amendment there was provided to be elected annually a chief and first and second assistant engineers of the department, subject, however, to approval by the fire wardens of the village; in fact the fire wardens were vested with control over the several companies of the department. On the 28th of January, 1858, the department elected its officers as follows : Chief en- gineer, Daniel McEowen ; first assistant, F. A. Rouse; second assistant, Jo- seph H. Loring.
This was about the period when fires were occurring with alarming fre- quency, and the greatest efforts of the department and the other residents of the village were required to subdue them. They were of incendiary origin, and so disastrous that the village trustees offered a reward of five hundred dol- lars for evidence to convict the criminals. About this time too, a movement was set on foot for the organization of a hook and ladder company as a part of the fire department of the village. In the year 1858 the necessary apparatus, trucks, hooks and ladders were purchased at a very moderate cost, and ready
for use, but of the formation of a new company for the purpose of using these implements in particular the records disclose no knowledge. Nor in these records is there to be found a succession of the fire department officers as they were, or should have been, annually elected ; such only as appear are given. At the annual meeting of the fire department in 1868 the following officers were chosen : Chief, George W. Hall ; first assistant, John V. Carney ; second assistant, Rufus B. Godfrey.
In this same year also, there was much discussion of the subject of purchas- ing one or more steam fire engines for the use aud increased protection of vil- lage property against fire ; and this matter came up in due form at a meeting of the freemen held on the 30th day of November, at which time Henry W. Putnam, G. S. Bradford, David Love, Olin Scott and George W. Hall were chosen a committee to ascertain and report to the freemen the cost of such en- gine or engines, with other apparatus required to place the fire department in first class condition.
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