USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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In 1874 our county was represented in the Senate by Redfield Proctor, of Rutland, Simeon Allen, of Fairhaven, Luther P. Howe, of Mount Tabor, Fay- ette Holmes, of Sudbury. Mr. Proctor was a native of Proctorsville, Mr. Allen of Fairhaven, Mr. Howe of Ludlow, and Mr. Holmes of Hubbardton. The first three had before their election as Senators been members of the House.
In 1876 Ner P. Simons, of Rutland, Samuel Williams, of Castleton, Henry F. Lothrop, of Pittsford, Charles W. Brigham, of Pittsfield, were elected Sena- tors. Mr. Simons was born in Williamstown, November 1, 1831, and had not before been a member of the Legislature. Samuel Williams was born in Rut- land, January 8, 1837, was assistant clerk of the House in 1858 and 1859 and secretary of civil and military affairs in 1861-65. Mr. Lothrop was born in Easton, Mass., March, 1820, and had represented his town of Pittsford in the Legislature. Mr. Brigham was born in Barnard, May 17, 1831, and had already had legislative experience in the House.
In 1878 the Senators were Horace H. Dwyer, of Rutland, Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, of Brandon, Levi Rice, of Tinmouth, Charles A. Rann, of Poultney. Mr. Dyer was born in April, 1820, and had held no legislative office previous to his election as Senator. Mr. Ormsbee was born in Shoreham, June 8, 1834. He represented his town in the Legislature in 1872, and is a lawyer. Mr. Rice is a merchant and farmer, was born in 1826 and represented Tinmouth in the Legislature in 1853-54. Mr. Rann was born in Poultney, May 23, 1823. He is a farmer and produce dealer, and has represented his town in the Legisla- ture.
The senators for 1880 were: Walter C. Dunton, of Rutland; Royal D. King, of Benson ; Orel Cook, of Mendon; Eemmett R. Pember, of Wells. Mr. Dunton was born in Bristol, November 29, 1830. He was for many years judge of probate of the Rutland District, and one of the judges of the Supreme
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Court. This is his first term as a legislator in our State. Mr. King was born in Benson, November 17, 1825, and was representative from Benson in 1852- 54. Mr. Cock is a physician, lumber dealer and farmer. He was born in Rut- land, December 7, 1813, and has represented Mendon in the Legislature. Mr. Pender was born in Wells, September 21, 1846.
Table of Senators from Rutland County from 1867 to 1880, both inclusive. - Ira C. Allen, 1867 and '68; Simeon Allen, 1874; Rodney C. Abel, 1870; W. Brigham, 1876; Charles D. Childs, 1882 ; Merritt Clark, 1869; Charles S. Colburn, 1882; Lucius Copeland, 1869 and '70; Orel Cook, 1880; Walter C. Dunton, 1880 ; Horace H. Dyer, 1878 ; Henry F. Field, 1884; Henry C. Glea- son, 1872; Ansel L. Hill, 1884; Edwin Horton, 1884; Walter E. Howard, 1882 ; Luther P. Howe, 1874 ; Fayette Holmes, 1874 ; Leonard Johnson, 1884; Howard L. Kellogg, 1872; Royal D. King, 1880; Capen Leonard, 1867 and '68 ; Henry F. Lothrop, 1876; George A. Merrill, 1869 and '70; Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, 1878 ; John Prout, 1867 and '68 ; Redfield Proctor, 1874; Em- met R. Pember, 1880; Charles A. Rann, 1878; Levi Rice, 1878; Nathan T. Sprague, 1872 ; Ner P. Simons, 1876; Wheelock G. Veazey, 1872; Samuel Williams, 1876; Aldace F. Walker, 1882.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Post-Office Building. - The present post-office building was begun in the opening of 1857, and finished in the winter of 1858-59. The cost of its con- struction in round numbers was $56,000, exclusive of the furniture. The su- pervising architect was the well-known government architect who built the Vermont State House, Ami B. Young ; J. J. R. Randall, architect, of Rutland, was superintendent of construction and disbursing agent. The contractors were B. F. Colby and Mr. Bird. The building is fire-proof, constructed of Boston pressed brick, and iron, with the foundation and underpinning of Ver- mont granite. The roof was originally covered with galvanized iron, but this was replaced about ten years ago by a roof of copper. The basement was in- tended for a United States prison, and a number of cells were built for the ac- commodation of United States prisoners ; but only one person has ever been confined in any of them, and he only for a day and a night.
The appropriation for the erection of this building was obtained through the instrumentality of the Hon. Solomon Foot, who at his death bequeathed his splendid library to be kept in the building. It now fills the north end of the second story.
Town Hall. - Before Rutland could boast of a hall of its own for the trans- action of public business, the town meetings were held alternately in the east village and at West Rutland. The old court-house on Main street was the accustomed place of meeting in the former village. In the spring of 1853 the town entered into a contract with Josiah Huntoon, under a part of the provis-
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ions of which he began the erection of the first town hall. On the 6th of the following September Mr. Huntoon conveyed the land and appurtenances to the town by deed, in which was recited the condition that he was to occupy the basement and lower floor under a lease from the town. The building was then nearly completed. It stood on the south side of Washington street be- tween the building on the corner of that street and Main street on the east, and the building then occupied by Tuttle & Huntoons as a printing establish- ment. The second floor of this hall was devoted exclusively to town business, and the third floor was occupied by the Masonic order of Rutland, and also served the purpose, occasionally, of a lecture-room. It was unhappily de- stroyed by fire in the fall of 1868. The present town hall, its successor, was not erected until 1872, when it was completed under the supervision of John . Cain. The lower floor is occupied by the village departments, containing the steam fire engine, municipal court-room, village records, clerk's office, village police and a lock-up. The upper story, which has a seating capacity for about one thousand eight hundred persons, is used for the transaction of town busi- ness, and for various public meetings and entertainments.
Rutland High School. - The High School building was erected in 1852, but was rebuilt and enlarged in 1879, so that the village now has a school- building it may well be proud of. It is beautifully located on a hill near the head of Center street, commanding a fine view, at the same time receiving the benefit of the healthful air of the higher land. It is a handsome, commodious structure, built of pressed brick, with stone trimmings, and well ventilated. It also contains a library of about 2,000 rare volumes, which are kept in a room nicely and appropriately furnished for that purpose. The school has also valu- able apparatus for astronomical and philosophical illustration, the whole being under the charge of the principal, Oscar Atwood, M. A. (See account of Rut- land schools in history of that town).
The House of Correction .- Previous to the establishment of this institution and its erection in 1877-78, prisoners guilty of felony were confined at Wind- sor. The original idea of the institution was to make it a place of confinement for convicts sentenced to less than twenty years' imprisonment and jail prison- ers. In 1878 the Legislature so amended the laws that the original purpose of the institution as a "work-house" was altered to its present status as a "house of correction," and the criminal laws were changed so as to allow the court at its discretion to sentence persons convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment in the State prison, to this house of correction. The institu- tion was built in pursuance of an act passed by the General Assembly in 1876. Rutland was selected as the site, upon condition that the county should con- tribute $20,000 towards its erection, thereby gaining its use as a county jail. The buildings are located just west of the village line, on the bank of East Creek, and cost about $60,000.
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The institution is divided into a north and south wing, or extension, with kitchen, guard-room and chapel between; contains seventy-five cells, four of which are lined with boiler iron and furnished with solid iron doors. These are used for confining dangerous or refractory inmates, and is, indeed, about the only mode of punishment inflicted, the present management relying more upon kindness than harsh measures to preserve discipline. When a prisoner enters the institution he is first obliged to make thoroughly clean his person, and then is dressed in a clean suit of clothes, and from that time until his re- lease habits of cleanliness and good manners are constantly enforced. All con- versation with fellow-prisoners is prohibited, and in health a full day's work required. One day in each week they are gathered together for religious in- struction and advice, and at all times the superintendent and keepers are ready by kind words and kindly admonitions to strengthen their resolutions to lead a better life when released. The female prisoners are kept well employed in making, mending and washing the prison bedding and clothing.
During the summer of 1879 M. R. Brown entered upon the contract now in force for the labor of the prisoners, and L. G. Bagley is now his partner in the enterprise. (See " Marble Industries of Rutland.") This contract, for fin- ishing marble, was to continue for a term of five years from September 1, 1879, and is terminable by either party upon six months' notice. It has since been extended five years longer. By its terms the contractor is to pay twenty-five cents a day for the labor of each prisoner employed up to August 1, 1880, and thirty cents thereafter. I. M. Tripp was first appointed superintendent, but resigned his office before the close of the first month, and G. N. Eayres, the present superintendent, was appointed to fill the vacancy. To the good char- acter, judgment, prudent and careful management of Mr. Eayres much of the success of the institution is due.
Court-House and Fail .- Immediately after the organization of the county Tinmouth, being the center of population and the home of the most prominent men of the county, was selected as the shire town. The court-house was neither more nor less than the inn of Solomon Bingham, located on the Tin- mouth Flats, one mile east of the present meeting-house, on the east side of the highway. It was built of logs, was one story in height, and about forty feet long. The family occupied one room and the courts were held in the bar- room, which sufficed to accommodate all the attendants upon the courts of those early days. The jury retired for consultation to the log barn almost ad- joining. In this house was also held the first county election more than one hundred years ago. The jail was also built of logs and stood about a mile north of the court-house, at the intersection of the roads from Tinmouth village with the East Road, on the north side, on the line between Buler Waldo's farm and the Spafford farm, and about fifteen feet from the hotel. It is said that a blanket at first served as a door.
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In 1784 Rutland was adopted as the shire town, and the courts thereafter held session, until 1792, in the old gambrel-roofed building still standing on West street in Rutland village. Externally it was then substantially as it is now. It had two rooms, one with a floor and the other with none. The west one was the court-room, having a floor and elevated seats on the north side for the judges, and benches for the jurors, witnesses and spectators. The east room had no floor and answered all the other purposes of a court-house, grand and petit jury-room, etc. The jail, which was built of logs, stood a few yards to the northwest of the court-house.
It was in this building that the first United States District Court ever held in Vermont had its session, on the first Monday in May, 1791, with Nathaniel Chipman as judge and Frederick Hill as clerk. The State Legislature held sessions here in 1784 and 1786. In November, 1786, the anti-court mob en- joyed in this building their momentary triumph.
In 1792 funds were raised by contribution, and a more stately court-house was erected in Main street, just above the old Franklin House. It was framed and stood facing the north. The Legislature, during its first session therein, on the 25th of October, 1792, passed " An act for the purpose of raising by lottery the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds lawful money, for the pur- pose of defraying the expense of building the new Court House in Rutland." In 1828 the citizens, deeming it necessary to rebuild the already time-worn structure, again raised funds by voluntary contribution, and contracted with George W. Daniels, who bricked up the outside eight inches thick, and sub-let the wood-work to W. W. Bailey. In 1844 the building was extended a dis- tance of forty-four feet. Thus the structure served all the purposes of the agents of the law in their work of redressing injuries, repressing crimes, and, generally, of distributing justice. It was destroyed by fire on the morning of April 3, 1868. The court, which was in session at the time of the fire, held the remainder of the term in the office of Judge Prout, the presiding judge ; one term it was held in the Christian Association rooms; two terms in the old town hall, and the rest of the time, until the new court-house was ready for occupancy, in the United States court-room. The present court-house was begun in 1869, and first occupied in the first week of March, 1871. Its cost, including a small outlay for finishing touches superadded during the ten years after its first service, was $72,000. In the spring and autumn of 1885 an ad- ditional sum of about $5,500 was expended upon it for improvements. The rear entrance was opened, the clerk's office was enlarged, the court-room was made more comfortable and handsome, and new heating apparatus was added.
Rutland County Historical Society .- This association was organized in the office of John Howe, of Castleton, on the IIth day of June, 1880, by the elec- tion of the following officers : Barnes Frisbie, of Poultney, president ; James Sanford, of Castleton, vice-president; John M. Currier, of Castleton, secre-
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tary ; and R. C. Abell, of Westhaven, treasurer. The object of the society, though clearly indicated by its title, is said in Article II of the Articles of Confederation to be "the collection and preservation of historical facts, more particularly such as relate to the county of Rutland." At a special meeting held in the vestry of the Congregational Church, in Castleton, on the 26th of October, 1880, the most important measure adopted was the appointment of a committee consisting of one person from each town in the county, to make ar- rangements for an appropriate celebration of the centennial of Rutland county.
Following are the names of such committee : Martin C. Rice, Benson ; John A. Conant, Brandon ; J. B. Bromley, Castleton ; H. B. Spafford, Clarendon ; John C. Williams, Danby ; A. N. Adams, Fairhaven ; Cyrus Jennings, Hub- bardton ; S. C. Peck, Ira; O. Cook, Mendon; O. Myrick, Middletown ; C. W. Brigham, Pittsfield ; Charles Colburn, Pittsford ; Marshall Brown, Pawlet ; Merritt Clark, Poultney ; L. W. Redington, Rutland; E. N. Fisher, Shrews - bury ; A. W. Hyde, Sudbury ; Levi Rice, Tinmouth ; J. E. Hitt, Wallingford ; Hiland Paul, Wells ; John Crowley, Mount Holly ; R. C. Abell, Westhaven ; Hiram Baird, Chittenden ; D. W. Taylor, Sherburne.
The celebration was held on the 4th of March, 1881, and created a deep interest throughout the county. Many valuable historical papers were read, interesting letters were received from former residents, and the proceedings throughout were such as to create an abiding interest in the society and its work.
The semi-annual meeting of 1881 was held January 13th of that year, in the vestry of the Congregational Church, in Castleton. Henry Clark delivered an address on historic monuments ; Rev. J. K. Williams read a sketch on Dr. Lorenzo Sheldon ; a number of interesting relics were exhibited ; the by-laws were somewhat changed, etc.
At the annual meeting of 1881 (August 10), held in Adams's Hall, in Fair- haven, an interesting session was had ; papers were read, poems delivered, and President Barnes Frisbie delivered his annual address, which was ordered pub- lished, and the same officers were elected, with the addition of Joseph Jocelyn as the second vice-president. Thirteen new members were admitted.
The annual and semi-annual meetings of the society have been regularly held, and a spirit of historical inquiry and interest awakened in the county which must result in much good. The accumulation of relics, historical books, papers, etc., is encouraging and the future of the society seems assured.
The present officers are as follows : President, Hon. Barnes Frisbie ; Dr. John M. Currie, secretary ; Henry Clark, and Dr. James Sanford, vice-presi- dents ; R. C. Abell, treasurer.
Rutland County Agricultural Society. - This society was organized and held its first fair at Castleton in 1846. Its first officers were William L. Farn- ham, of Poultney, president ; Orel Cook, Rutland, secretary ; Zimri Howe, of Castleton, treasurer.
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For many years the annual fairs were held, alternately, at Rutland and Cas- tleton. One year, 1852, the annual exhibition was held at Poultney, and is the only exception of its being held at other than the places named. In 1860 the annual exhibitions were permanently located at Rutland. Some forty acres of land were purchased, situated about a mile south of the village, and buildings, sheds and race track erected, and the annual fairs have since been held thereon, the Vermont State Fair being held upon the grounds nine years.
After the usual seasons of alternate prosperity and depression, this society is now upon a sound foundation, is well managed and is popular with the in- habitants of the county. It has about $800 in its treasury, with all debts paid.
The following named gentlemen have held the office of president of the society since the organization : William L. Farnham, David Hall, Henry W. Lester, Joseph Sheldon, Bradley Fish, Alpha H. Post, Henry Hayward, A. D. Smith, Pitt W. Hyde, Lensey Rounds, jr., L. Howard Kellogg, Henry F. Lathrop, J. S. Benedict, Horace H. Dyer, Henry Clark, N. T. Sprague, H. D. Noble, Seneca Root.
The following gentlemen have filled the office of secretary : Orel Cook, ten years ; W. H. Smith, ten years; Henry Clark, fifteen years; Miner Hilliard, three years; Lensey Rounds, three years; C. C. Pierce, from 1887 to the present time.
Following are the officers for 1885 : President, Seneca Root, Hubbardton ; vice-presidents, J. L. Billings, Rutland, and Redfield Proctor, Rutland ; secre- tary, C. C. Pierce, East Clarendon ; treasurer, H. H. Dyer, Rutland ; clerk, J. D. Green, Rutland ; auditors, T. C. Robbins, Rutland, D. P. Peabody, Rut- land, A. S. Cook, Brandon ; trustees, Seneca Root, chairman, L. G. Fish, Rut- land, E. F. Sadler, Rutland, E. D. Hinds, Pittsford, J. W. Cramton, Rutland ; finance committee, T. C. Robbins, Rutland, W. C. Landon, Rutland, G. H. Cheney, Rutland, A. D. Smith Clarendon, Lester Fish, Ira ; directors, Rollin Gleason, Benson, Fred H. Farrington, Brandon, James T. Freeman, Castleton, L. F. Croft, Clarendon, Edwin Horton, Chittenden, E. A. Smith, Danby, J. R. Sheldon, Fairhaven, S. W. St. John, Hubbardton, Lester Fish, Ira, F. B. Barrett, Middletown, L. P. Howe, Mount Tabor, William B. Hoskinson, Mount Holly, Alonzo Ormsby, Mendon, D. W. Bromley, Pawlet, C. W. Brigham, Pittsfield, A. C. Powers, Pittsford, F. W. Moseley, Poultney, Henry Hayward, Rutland, D. W. Taylor, Sherburne, D. K. Butterfield, Shrewsbury, James M. Ketchum, Sudbury, Bartlett Stafford, Tinmouth, Russel Lamb, Wells, Joel Todd, Wallingford, R. C. Abell, Westhaven; general superintendent, Frank S. Hale, Rutland ; marshal, H. C. Hayward, Rutland ; assistants, Burt White, Clarendon, R. M. Spaulding, Rutland.
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HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The First Internal Improvements - Laying out of Roads - The Old Military Road and other High- ways - Old Stage Lines - Effects of the Early Lack of Rapid Transportation - The Champlain Canal and its Influence - Other Navigation Projects - The Railroad Era - The Rutland and White- hall Railroad and Bank - The First Railroad - The Vermont and Canada Railroad Company - The Central Vermont Railroad Company - Bennington and Rutland Railroad - The Delaware and Hudson Coal Company's Line - Rutland and Whitehall Railroad - Great Changes.
T HE inland situation of the State of Vermont and her distance from the great arteries of travel and trade as eventually established, prevented the development of internal improvements and large commercial relations until a comparatively recent date. A large share of the attention of town officers in early days was devoted, as is always the case in new settlements, to the laying out of roads and their subsequent improvement ; highways of some description are almost the first public necessity with the pioneer. One of the earliest of the roads passing through this county, and one which has always maintained paramount importance, is still known as the Old Military Road, running from Number Four (Charlestown, N. H.), to Crown Point, N. Y. This thoroughfare was opened chiefly as a military measure. Its course was, in brief, as described by another, from Charlestown (which is one hundred and eight miles from Boston), to Nott's Ferry, to Springfield, on through Wethersfield to Charles Button's Tavern on Mill River in Clarendon ; then six miles to Mead's Tavern in Rutland, on the west side of the creek ; thence six miles to Waters's Tavern, in Pittsford; thence through " Brown's Camp," in Neshobe (now Brandon), twenty miles to Moor's Tavern in Shoreham, and thence on to Crown Point. It will be seen that it was the old and first north and south road across the country, on the west side of Otter Creek. This road was greatly improved in the year 1776, and a bridge was built across Otter Creek at Center Rutland.
In the same year a new road was opened from Mount Independence, on Lake Champlain, through Hubbardton to Center Rutland. The latter was then a point of considerable importance ; one of three old forts in the county was sit- uated at the head of the falls (then called Mead's Falls, after Colonel James Mead, the pioneer of Rutland), and the place bade fair in those days to be the center of the future business of Rutland county.
Other important early roads, opened before the beginning of the present century, were the north and south road from Clarendon through Rutland to Pittsford, a portion of which is the present main street in Rutland village; this highway was originally given a width of six rods; the Woodstock turnpike, from Rutland to Woodstock ; and the road from Rutland through Castleton
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and Fairhaven to Whitehall ; the latter was for many years one of the most important highways in the State ; a portion of it now constitutes West street, in Rutland village.
In the year 1818, Thomas Hammond, of Pittsfield, Nathaniel Penniman, of Windsor, and Moses Strong, of Rutland, were made commissioners to lay out a road from the court-house in Windsor, through Reading, Plymouth and Shrewsbury to the court-house in Rutland; and others rapidly followed as the demand for travel and business rendered them necessary.
It is not uncommon to hear old residents speak with a sort of admiration of the days when the principal roads were traveled daily by stage coaches of the old Concord style, drawn by four or more horses ; a tinge of regret is some- times noticeable in their reminiscences, as if they would fain take another ride of that description. Neither was it a very slow or uncomfortable method of travel. Over the main thoroughfares which we have noticed those often heav- ily-laden vehicles bowled along from stage-house to stage-house, sweeping up to each stopping-place, whither the sound of the horn had preceded them, the drivers wielding the long whip with wonderful skill and manipulating the four- in-hand with the greatest dexterity.
" Out of such enterprises," said George A. Merrill to the Rutland Histor- ical Society, " grew such men as Chester W. Chapin and Genery Twitchell, in Massachusetts, Robert Morse and B. P. Cheney, in New Hampshire, Mahlon Cottrill, Otis Bardwell, E. Foster Cooke, William M. Field, Joel Benson and Eleazer Wheelock, in Vermont, who, when their specialty was absorbed by railroad transit, took up analogous work under the new order of things, and be- came presidents of railroads, express companies, builders of cars and proprie- tors of palatial hotels, all with marked success.
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