USA > Vermont > Addison County > Bristol > History of Bristol, Vermont, 1762-1959, 2nd ed. > Part 3
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Meetings were held during the summer for a few years, but these were finally given up and the Church was returned to the donors' descendants (about 1947). They in turn deeded the Church to the Town of Bristol, the same to be used for school and educational purposes.
The First Baptist Church - Unlike most of the towns in the country which considered the support of the Gospel and the building of a meet- ing house as town business to be taken up in town meetings, Bristol kept church and town matters separate. The first religious society in the town was the Baptist Church, organized in 1794 by Elden Joseph Call with nine members. The first Baptist minister was the Reverend Thomas Tuttle, who remained only a short time. The first settled minis- ter in town who received the use of the minister lot was a pastor of this church, the Reverend Amos Stearns, who was ordained at the home of Robert Holley in Bristol, September 2, 1818.
For the first few years, services were held in private dwellings, barns, and school houses. In 1819, the Baptists, the Congregationalists, and the Universalists joined forces and built a meeting house which was to be shared according to their contributions of labor and money. About 1837, the Baptists came into full possession of the building, which still serves them as their church. The first extensive remodeling was done in 1885, when an addition was built on the north end of the church to ac-
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commodate the church's pipe organ, which served until 1938 when it was rebuilt.
While Reverend Wesley A. Kinsie was pastor (1894-1903) the present parsonage was built. Soon after this, a bell was placed in the belfry, the gift of Egra B. Eddy. It was rung the first time in 1904. During the years that followed, the church flourished, and the church membership was increased by one hundred new members.
In 1925, the church building was extensively remodeled and com- pletely redecorated at a cost of nearly $10,000 under the able chairman- ship of Mrs. Frederick R. Dickerman. The pastor was Reverend J. Fowler. One of the changes was a new entrance which made possible a center aisle in the main auditorium. New memorial windows were added, as well as new pews, hardwood floors, and modern lighting. The new pews had originally belonged to the Baptist Church in Vergennes. At this time, the spire was restored to its original form.
In 1953, the church raised a fund to redecorate and modernize the kitchen. At about the same time, a new electric organ was bought with money from the Grace A. Hanks Memorial Fund. The present organist is Mr. John Sumner Sherwin.
One of the features of the work of the church has been the School of Missions. Organized in 1929, this school has been held annually for six weeks each year (since then). Soon after this, the Daily Vacation Bible School was started and is now held for two weeks each summer.
In the regular Gospel work of the Ministry, in its evangelistic and missionary efforts, and in the training of its young people to exercise Christian influence wherever each one may go, the church receives sup- port from its various organizations. The largest of these is the Treasure Seekers Society which includes all the women of the Baptist membership and congregation. This society, which was organized in 1886, now in its 73rd year, still carries on work for worldwide charity and missions. Since 1942, it has sponsored a flower show in Bristol, which, though comparatively small and unprofessional, has been highly successful. Other organized groups are a thriving Sunday School and outside study classes, young adult and youth groups. One of these is the Pocock Club, formed in April, 1957, as an adult group for Christian fellowship. The present pastor is the Reverend Ronald Carver.
The Federated Church - The Congregational Church was organized in July, 1805, by the Reverend J. Bushnell of Cornwall, who occasionally preached there after that. No definite place of worship was established until 1819 when the Congregationalists, the Universalists and the Bap- tists built their Union Church. In 1837 the Congregationalists sold their share in the building and built a meeting house for themselves. This church they later leased to the Advent Christian Society. Their first settled minister was the Reverend Calvin Butler, who was ordained in 1842. In 1890 the Congregationalist Society had nearly died out, but it became active again in 1899 under the fine leadership of Reverend C. N. Thomas, and a new church was built on North Street. They federated with the Methodists in 1917.
The Methodist Church was organized in 1813 when services were held at the home of Ebenezer Saxton. The first sermon was preached by the Reverend Scovenberger. No meeting place was erected by them until 1819 when a chapel was built which served until the present build- ing at the corner of North and Church Streets was erected in 1840. Dur-
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ing Mr. Skaftes' pastorship (1904-1905) this church was extensively redecorated and completely modernized. It was again redecorated in the spring of 1939. After the two churches were federated in May, 1917, it has been known as the Federated Church. Since the Methodists far out- numbered the Congregationalists, a Methodist pastor has always been in charge. Services were held in the Methodist Church except during the summer months when services were held in the Congregational Church until the church was sold to the Masons for a Masonic Temple.
During the past ten years, many memorial funds have been given to the church to beautify the edifice and to buy equipment for the church building and the parsonage. Among the people so remembered are Mrs. Irene Wheelock, Mrs. Grace Hanks, Mrs. Shiverette, Dr. R. J. Bristol, Mr. Elmer Boynton, Miss Olla Boynton, Anna and Edward Geary, and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Guindon.
All departments of the church - the Ladies' Aid Society, the Youth and Adult Fellowship, and the Sunday School - are very active under the leadership of the pastor, the Reverend Jonathan Bursey, who came to Bristol in May, 1955.
Mr. Bursey has been honored by his appointment by Governor Johnson as Protestant chaplain at the Weeks School in Vergennes.
Catholic Church - The Catholic Church, St. Ambrose, was built in 1877 under the direction of Reverend Patrick Cunningham, pastor of the Middlebury Catholic Church. It is located just beyond the Bristol High School building and faces the common from the west. The first Mass was celebrated here January 1, 1878. The first resident priest, Reverend Michael Carmody was appointed in 1893. He had the parochial residence adjoining the Church built between 1893 and 1896. At the present time Reverend Christopher McHugh is in charge and the Congregation num- bers about 700 members.
There are four parish organizations; The Catholic Women's Club organized in 1935 and consisting of 80 members; St. Ambrose Ladies Sodality, organized in 1938, consisting of 80 members; the Holy Name Society, organized the same year, consists of 95 men and boys and the Catholic Youth Organization consisting of High School students.
The recent major improvements have been the rearrangement of the pews making possible a center aisle, a new exit door on the north side of the church and enlargement of the basement, making a large hall which is used for all parish activities.
Cemeteries of Bristol - The earliest cemetery in town was located on Bristol Flats on the farm now owned by Alec Hammond. No trace of this now remains. The next cemetery in point of age is probably Greenwood Cemetery situated at the foot of Stony Hill to the West of the village. Three stones in this cemetery bear testimony of early burial, one of a child, Amanda Soper in 1802, the second a twin stone marking the graves of two daughters of George and Anna Sumner, one of whom died in 1804, the other in 1808. The third stone was placed in memory of a Dafoote child who died in 1808.
Three other cemeteries which have been in existence for a long time and are still maintained are the Varney, Meehan and Briggs Hill Cem- eteries.
Land for the Catholic Cemetery, located north of Bristol Village was purchased in 1807 by Father Boyle and was blessed by the very Reverend Thomas Lynch in 1898.
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Catholic Church, Bristol Academy, School Building, Baptist Church
Catholic Church & Rectory, Public School Building
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Epitaphs - Found in the Varney Cemetery :
Here lies entombed Henry Mclaughlin, Esq .- Age 54. He was among the first settlers of this town in which he was a useful and honorable inhabitant for nearly twenty years. When he removed with his family to Hopkinton, N. Y. and while from thence, on a visit with his wife to their friends, was taken sick and died at Middlebury, Vermont on the seventh day of Febru- ary, 1813. Seven days after, his wife died also. It may truly be said that love in early youth united their hearts, and that during their lives which were full of painful afflictions, friend- ship and affection entwined with Christian graces so strongly cemented the indissolvable bands, that in the manhood of age inexorable death could not dissolve or sever them. Peace to their ashes, the index of their well spent lives, points to heaven.
Betsey Haskill, died May 2nd 1810-Age 23 years.
"Youth don't forget as you pass by, you'll turn to dust as well as I."
In memory of Deodama, daughter of Col. Ezekiel Dun- ton and Comfort his wife who died April 28, 1810. Age 16 years.
With all the charms that sense and worth impart.
She gained esteem and cheered the parents hearts.
But death's cold hand our brightest hope destroys And blasts the opening bud of future joys.
In memory of Isaac Ball who died Aug. 17, 1809. Depart my friends, dry up your tears Here I must lie till Christ appears.
In memory of Ruth Sumner who died Feb. 1, 1809, Age 27 years. Farewell bright soul, a fond farewell,
Till we shall meet again above
In the sweet groves, where pleasures dwell, And trees of life bear fruits of love.
Bristol School
Bristol Schools 1789-1959 - The first school in the town of Bristol was a simple building of logs erected by voluntary contributions of labor in March, 1789, and located on Bristol Flats. The first action in town meeting in regard to schools was in March, 1793, when the eastern part of the town through the Notch was set off as one entire school district. This was subdivided two years later, in town meeting, and at the meeting in 1803 two northeastern districts were reunited. The first official report of the schools was made in the census of 1810 and was attested by the town clerk, James Day. At this time all children between the ages of four and eighteen were classed as scholars if they attended school at any time during the year. There was a total of 481 scholars in the ten districts which were named as follows; Center, North, Northeast, "Leg," United, Southeast, Hill, South, North Hill, and Village. The district sys- tem of schools continued until March, 1893, when the nine districts then existing were brought under control of one committee and the town sys- tem was adopted.
In 1837, a two-story building was erected in the village with the intention of establishing secondary education in the upper story. This effort was unsuccessful. In 1855 the selectmen were authorized to raise
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$600 to aid construction of the "Bristol Literary and Scientific Institute." This two-story building was completed in 1856 and constitutes the basis of the present High School. Horace Thomas was the first teacher in the new building. The school was moved to its present location on the park, from the corner of Maple and Pleasant Sts. about 1876.
About this time also, Bristol's first village school was moved from its location (the present site of the Catholic Rectory) to Garfield St. and became a private residence.
By 1898, as the school on the Park was serving as both graded and high school, lack of space necessitated an addition intended to house the high school departments. Tuition was free to all pupils whose parents or guardians resided in Bristol. A furnace and running water were instal- led in the graded school also.
A Union School District was formed in 1907, consisting of Bristol, Lincoln, Starksboro, Monkton and New Haven, and a superintendent of schools was employed. A. W. Eddy of New Haven served as the first superintendent. At this time, there were 36 pupils in high school with a total of 262 in the whole school; 125 were in the six rural schools of Bristol.
Bristol High School was rated a first class school and offered college preparatory subjects and also commercial subjects in the fourth year. In 1910 agriculture was added as an elective course.
In 1912, a two-story addition was built on the north side and steam heat was installed. The next year, John L. Selden came from Massachu- setts, to teach agriculture. He later served as principal, superivising principal and superintendent of the district. Domestic science and teach- er training courses were added to the curriculum. The latter course was designed to provide teachers for rural schools. Athletics and music formed part of the school program.
About 1919, Bristol became a Junior-Senior High school with 6 elementary grades; the 7th and 8th grades constituting the junior high school and taught in part by high school teachers. The remaining four grades made up the high school proper.
Only four rural schools remained open by 1929 and transpartation became an important item in school costs.
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In 1930, $30,000 was voted to erect a supplementary building to provide additional classrooms, also a gymnasium and auditorium. This addition, located to the north, was of modern fireproof construction and connected to the old school by a passageway.
By 1941, the school population had increased to 210 in the element- ary school, 50 in the junior high and 156 in the senior high with only 29 in rural schools. A shop course in electrical work and in auto mechanics had been introduced, but due to the war and scarcity of teachers, these projects had to be dropped. However, the Johnson Lumber Co. made a farm machinery course available under the National Defense Training Program.
In 1948, the school board reported over-crowded conditions and the need for more rooms and better facilities ; normal improvements having been disrupted by the war, ensuing scarcities and high construction costs. One elementary grade was being taught in the basement of Holley Hall. The former Advent Church building was donated by the Howden heirs for school purposes. An industrial arts shop was set up in the lower part of this building.
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The South Bristol school, the last rural school, was closed in 1950 and the total enrollment in Bristol was 408. The upper part of Howden Hall was converted to two classrooms and an office for the superintend- ent. John Selden resigned after thirty-seven years of devoted service to the schools of the district. He was succeeded by Milton G. Moore. A driver training course was added; music which had been missing, re- appeared in the curriculum; a physical education teacher was also on the teacher rostrum. The cost of education to the town had passed the $50,000 mark.
In 1952, it was voted to build a five-room building on Mountain St. on the so-called Kilbourne property. This new building was intended to house four elementary grades and provide a multi-purpose room. In 1953, the number of school directors was increased from three to five. In September of that year, the Mountain St. school was ready for use, but the multi-purpose room had to be converted immediately to a class room. The rising birth rate due to war marriages forecast the pressing need for still more class room space for the lower grades.
A citizen's study group, appointed by the selectmen, in 1955 recom- mended the building of an addition to the Mountain St. school, to consist of seven classrooms and a multi-purpose room. This arrangement would care for twelve elementary classes and provide facilities for the hot lunch program, which had been in effect since about 1947, under the capable direction of Mrs. Warner Shadrick. It was not until 1957, how- ever, after five special town meetings, that the addition was open for occupancy.
The estimated cost of the Bristol school system had now reached approximately $140,000 with about one-third of this amount defrayed by State Aid payments. Thirty-one teachers including the principal were employed. About half of the high school staff held a master's degree or the equivalent. College preparatory subjects offered included three years of Latin, French and German; elementary, intermediate and ad- vanced algebra, plane geometry and trigonometry; the laboratory scien- ces, chemistry, physics and biology. The commercial course covered four years with typing, shorthand and bookkeeping inserted in the last two years. Home economics and shop work were available and the music department afforded band instruction and chorus singing. Physical education brough sports and health instruction to everyone. These sub- jects were in addition, of course, to the basic subjects of English and History, with an elective course in Speech.
The school system, which had unavoidably lapsed from its high status prior to World War 2, due to a scarcity of teachers, materials, low salaries and frequent changes in personnel, has been quietly and ably revitalized and expanded under the administration of Superintendent Codding and Principal Breen. The majority of teachers now own their own homes in the village and there is a minimum of changes in the teaching staff each year.
It is also worthy of note that a program of immunizations and physical examinations from infancy thru the senior high school year has been set up through the school system for the protection of Bristol school chidren. Mrs George Purinton, assisted by the state department public health nurses and local doctors was responsible for this develop- ment.
The following men have served as Principal: Charles S. Paige, 1892- 1902; W. H. Botsford, 1902-1906; C. M. Hazen, 1906-1907; F.H. Wallace,
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1907-1909; B. E. Hicks, 1909-1910; G. G. Newell, 1910-1913; J. O. Baxendale, 1913-1915; R. W. Hedges, 1915-1917; J. L. Selden, 1917-1935; (1928-1935 as supervising principal) ; L. R. Rowe, 1935-1939 ; J. L. Gunn, 1939-1943; R. E. Howes, 1943-1946; Clinton DeMeritt, 1946-1947; Thos. Sullivan, 1947-1950; Stuart Marshall, 1950-1952; Richard Breen, 1952 -.
German School - The Middlebury College School of German was conducted in Bristol for six weeks during July and August, the classes being held in the Bristol High School. The German School was establish- ed in Middlebury in 1915, the first of the Middlebury College language schools, but was discontinued in 1918 due to World War 1. When it was re-opened in 1931 it was set up in Bristol according to the two lead- ing principles of the Middlebury Idea - isolation from other educational projects and concentration on one subject. The students were pledged to speak nothing but German to each other during the six weeks course. They were housed in private homes but boarded at the Bristol Inn Annex, where all their social activities were held. Dr. Ernst Feiser, professor of German at John Hopkins University, headed the school after its re- organization in 1931. A class for beginners, a practical demonstration in teaching high school German, was available to students of Bristol.
In 1950, the German School returned to Middlebury, the College having been able to build dormitories to accommodate the summer students.
Lawrence Memorial Library - The Bristol Library was established on January 20th, 1893, when a group of public spirited citizens met and formed the Bristol Library Association. The library was opened in one room over the Patterson Store in August, 1893. It was financed by mem- bership fees of $2.00, yearly tickets of $1.00, private contributions and public entertainments. A rental collection which aided in financing the projects was also kept.
The first action taken in town meeting in regards to a library oc- curred in March, 1901, when $50.00 was appropriated to help establish a public library. The appropriations were increased to $200.00 in 1902 and 1903. In March, 1902, the Bristol Library Association turned over its property, which included 1,095 books and a large collection of mag- azines to the town. The Bristol Public Library was established.
At the annual town meeting in 1910, the townspeople voted to ac- cept the offer of W. A. Lawrence to erect a library building and present it to the town. The town voted $800.00 for the library that same year. The building was completed and dedicated January 17, 1911. It was given in memory of Mrs. Lockie Partch Lawrence, first wife of Mr. Lawrence, and of his second wife, Mrs. Minnie Peet Lawrence, both of whom had been faithful workers in the library association. Mr. Law- rence left to the town a small real estate development, consisting of four tenament houses, known as Lawrence Lane, and a two tenament house beside the library to help finance the library, which has been known since 1911 as the Lawrence Memorial Library.
The town appropriates each year a sum of money to help maintain the library. At the present time it is $2,000.00.
The library has grown considerably in number of books, periodicals, and people using it. The schools use the library very extensively, and the young people enjoy its many helpful privileges. The present librar- ian is Mrs Sylvia Kirby.
In 1941, Bristol, Vermont, was the first of the seventeen Bristols in the United States to contribute aid to the people of the maternal city
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SEE
N. H. Munsill Hose Co.
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Masonic Temple
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of Bristol, England, which had been severely bombed. A sum of $700.00 was collected and sent. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, England, responded most kindly to this aid, by making a radio broadcast thanking us. Be- cause of his interest in us a scrap book history of all the informative data of the town was written by Merrit Allen, and photographs by George Lathrop were sent to the mother city. Since the war years, we have had letters, books and photos of Bristol, England. Many of these are in the library. We also have a beautiful painting, a little French doll dressed as the Northern French people are and a very pretty plate. All of these are gifts to us in Bristol, Vermont, for our help to France during the war years. They came on the Freedom Train.
It was after the work of getting the scrap book history that the Outlook Club decided to publish a bound edition of Bristol history from the years 1762 to 1940.
Utilities
Electric Lights - The 1890's proved a successful decade for Bristol. The first train ran from Bristol to New Haven Junction in January, 1892, and on the evening of December 23, that same year, the switch was thrown providing the stores and hotels of Bristol with their first electric lights. Four days later a 1,200 candle power arc light was installed between the Bristol House and Holley Hall.
The first electric plant was located about 30 feet above the second Rocky Dale bridge and had a fall of only 25 feet. The station was equipped with the latest model apparatus by the General Electric Com- pany of Boston and was considered one of the best plants in the state at the time. The dam was built by E. B. Palmer and the penstock con- structed by E. M. Smith who also installed the wheels. The plant was owned by Mr. Barrett of Rutland and T. S. Drake of Bristol and operated for nearly five years by George Randall. The life of the plant was short for it burned in 1897.
A new plant was built adjacent to the highway near the upper covered bridge and was taken in May, 1897, by W. N. Hughes who operated it until 1912. Mr. Hughes not only built the second plant but also the present one, now in use, and superintended building the tube. The present plant has a fall of 100 feet. In 1905 the Hortonia Power Company of Lake Dunmore bought the Plant from Barrett and Drake and later Edward Blackwell became manager. The Bristol line became connected with the Hortonia lines and remained thus until the plant was sold to the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, with head- quarters in Rutland, in 1926.
Improvements in the present plant have been made several times and it is now run semi-automatically. During the hurricane of Septem- ber, 1938, the dam was almost entirely washed away. In order to repair the damage, land was purchased by the Central Vermont Corp. and the main works changed from the south to the north side of the river.
There has been one fatality connected with the existence of the electric plant, the death of Mr. Tart in 1901. He was cleaning ice from one of the racks in the dam when he was swept into the high water. His body was discovered a few days later down the river.
Electric Service Progress - The past decade in Bristol has shown remarkable progress in the use of electricity for this area, according to Central Vermont Public Service Corporation who has supplied power to
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