USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wallingford > History of Wallingford, Vermont > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
120
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
ious services, the Declaration of Independence was read, eulogies pronounced and the Rifle Com-
RESIDENCE OF M. C. ROBERTS.
pany fired a last volley over the open grave of A REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER. Thus passed one of a stalwart race who for over fifty years was closely identified with the interests of the south- ern part of the town.
East Wallingford.
Although one of the first settlers eventually moved into the eastern part of the town, and was followed by a number of others, there was no village settlement, until the coming of the rail- road. East Wallingford is the youngest of the three villages in the township. It is also the more vigorous. While divided by a mountain range from the north village, still great interest in town affairs is manifest by "those from the East side"
121
THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY.
as any March meeting will attest. The drive or walk from one place to the other is most beautiful.
For quite a distance one follows Roaring Brook as it zig-zags its way over a stony bed towards the Creek. The music of its waters is an enchant- ment and the reflected shadows are intensified by the o'er shadowing hills. Up through the gulch one readily believes the signs, located in conveni- ent spots to notify the passing motorist to "GO
ON THE ROAD GOING EAST.
SLOW-DANGER," as the road narrows and the sides become precipitous. On the crest of the hill a glorious panorama of hill and vale is spread before you. Again the typical New England Farm is seen, with every appearance of prosperity and comfort.
The road winds around the slope of the hill, crossing a bridge recently constructed (1910) to abolish a dangerous grade crossing. There clus- tering around the church with its three or four streets is the village proper. Joel Constantine was the first man to settle in this section, making
122
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
his home near where W. Cutter now lives. He built and operated a saw mill on the site of the Aldrich mill. This was in the year 1812. Three years later a tannery was built by Nathan Smead. Var- ious persons ran it until 1865, when it became the property of Huntoon and Sons. In 1869 it was burnt down but rebuilt the same year.
The hotel was built in 1863 by E. A. Cutter and from that time until 1879 it was run by H. E. Sawyer, D. Ensign, C. Allen, H. L. Warner, A. Ahite, J. B. Powell and Joel Todd. There were sleeping rooms for twenty-five guests, and the
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. PELKEY.
dancing hall was claimed to be the largest in the state connected with a hotel. Special efforts were made to secure the vacationist and at the time that Joel Todd was proprietor, the house had a very enviable reputation. It was burnt in 1888. For several years A. W. Duval has conducted the hotel opposite the depot but this year 1911, the
123
THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY.
railroad commissioners having closed the road because of danger in crossing the track, he moved his house upon the old hotel foundation, and so continues to show the hospitality of the house upon the old stand. One of the most conspicuous sights is the Baptist church with its tapering spire. It was erected in 1860 at a cost of $2,000. The church was organized on March 3, 1861, by the Rev. Joseph Freeman with a membership of 29.
L
BAPTIST CHURCH, EAST WALLINGFORD.
124
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
INTERIOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The interior is commodious and pleasing, seating about 200 people. While the church has had fre- quent changes of pastors, there are several agen- cies that have continued its influence and helpful- ness. The Sunday School has weekly sessions and the Ladies Aid Society is of great assistance to the work of the church. The following have served as ministers:
Joseph Freeman To
Sept. 1861
J. P. Farrar
Sept. 1861 to Oct. 1863
Chas. Coon
July 1864 to June 1866
E. P. Merrifield Sept. 1866 to Nov. 1868
Joshua Fletcher Nov. 1869 to Dec. 1869
J. D. Farrar May 1870 to May 1872 .
E. A. Wood
July 1872 to Oct. 1872
A. G. Chick May 1876 to May 1880
T. P. Kellogg
Nov. 1881 to Jan. 1882
T. H. Archibald
Feb. 1882
to Sept. 1883
125
THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY.
W. G. Patterson Sept. 1884
to Dec. 1885
J. R. Patterson Dec. 1885 to Dec. 1888
R. B. Tozer Jan. 1890 to Jan. 1892
G. H. Wrigley Aug. 1892 to Aug. 1894
A. G. Myers
Oct. 1894 to Oct. 1895
Fred T. Kenyon Oct. 1895 to Dec. 1897
A. G. Chick
Jan. 1898 to Aug. 1902
L. H. Morse Aug. 1903 to Dec. 1905
R. A. Burrows Jan. 1906 to Apr. 1907
I. M. Compton Aug. 1907 to Nov. 1909
Frd'rk Emerson Jan. 1910 to
The present pastor is the Rev. Frederick W. Emerson, who reports en- couragingly up- on the work of the church. Greater efforts are being made to make the church an influ- ence in the com- munity toward solving some of the problems that have arisen on account of the changed con- ditions of rural life.
REV. FRED'K W. EMERSON.
126
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
SCHOOL STREET, EAST WALLINGFORD
The oldest store is that now occupied by the Ridlon Bros. It was started in 1866 by White and Bucklin and soon changed to W. R. Spaulding and
THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
127
THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Co., who continued it until the present proprietors took possession. Here is also the village post- office. The following have served as postmasters: Joel Constantine, Henry White, W. H. Congdon, H. P. Hawkins, J. P. Powell, Jerome Converse, John R. Priest, W. R. Spaulding, J. E. Ridlon.
There are several stores and one large carriage and blacksmith shop carried on by J. J. McGuirk.
THE LATE S. D. HAZEN, M. D.
School street is a beautiful thoroughfare, well sha'ded by trees and having many attractive resi- dences. Here is also the Public School, the upper part of which is used for the meetings of the Mill River Grange, an organization for the promotion
128
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
of husbandry and agricultural arts. Mr. P. Maloney serves as School Committeeman for the east- ern part of the town. Many delightful views can be had in the vicinity. The Mill River winds its way between the hills and helps to form many enchanting scenes. The drive to Cuttingsville and on to Claren'don Gorge is one of great inter- est.
For about fifty years the physical needs of the people were attended to by the late Dr. Hazen. After studying medicine in Natick, Mass., he graduated in 1866, soon after settling in East Wallingford, and continued until his death, which occurred early in the year.
There is a flourishing Masonic Lodge, known as "Mt. Moriah," and they have well furnished rooms in which their meetings are held. The local Grange is also a strong organization, so that the facilities for promoting the social life of the people are not lacking.
An atmosphere of repose steals o'er one in viewing the natural beauties that surround this village. The quiet calm of the hills in their majesty and glory prove the truth of the poet's song, that-
"To one who has been long in city pent 'Tis very sweet to look into the fair And open face of heaven."
129
INDUSTRIES.
CHAPTER XI. Industries.
L YMAN Batcheller was born in the mountain town of Stratton, Vermont, in 1795. His wife was Anna Gale of the same town, whom he married in 1816. After the birth of his first son, Isaac Gale, he moved to Arlington, Ver- mont, where he set up a forge and began to work at his trade. His other children, Susan, John, Laura, Lyman, Jr., and Justin were born in Ar-
The Old Stone Shop when used as a Fork Factory.
lington. In 1835 he moved his family to Walling- ford, purchased a small water power and with the help of the older boys, laid the foundation for a business that has since been closely associated with Wallingford's growth.
In 1847, the first shop was burned but a new stone shop was built. It is now commonly called 'the old stone shop' and is an object of interest as the oldest fork factory in the United States. This
(9)
130
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
cut taken from an old ambrotype in the possession of Mr. Charles N. Batcheller shows what the old shop was like when used as a manufacturing plant. Like the phoenix of old who rose from the fire with added strength, so with new buildings and a new partnership (for the three sons, Isaac Gale, John, Lyman, Jr. formed with their father the firm of L. Batcheller & Sons), the business rapidly increased to larger proportions. Mr. Batcheller was characterized by fairness, honesty and integ-
...
THE BATCHELLER BROTHERS.
"By the work one knows the workman."
131
INDUSTRIES.
rity. His word was as good as his bond. He was a staunch abolitionist and his house was often used as a station of "the underground railroad". As a citizen, he was highly respected and died February 5, 1858.
The increase in business necessitated larger opportuni- ties for production and it was not long before they removed their factory and offices across the railroad to their present location. The plant was built for a woolen mill but was used for the manufacture of wooden shoe pegs. The old stone shop was used, and still is as a pol- ishing shop.
In 1868, Mr. Justin Batchel- ler and Mr. John Scribner, his brother-in-law, having been engaged in mercantile business in town for twelve years dis- solved their partnership and became members of Messrs. Batcheller & Sons. The manufacture of hay and ma- nure forks had not only in- creased in volume and variety, but the product was one of the very best of its kind. With the Batcheller quality a reputa- tion was made, not only in this country but abroad that has been unexcelled. In 1882 a stock company was formed
A Water Reflection
132
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
PiJi
--
FINISHING SHOP AND STOCK ROOM.
and incorporated as Batcheller & Sons Company.
The Batchellers were interested in the welfare of their adopted town and aided in many ways its advancement. Many men were employed, some having grown old in the company's service. The present plant is comprised of two sections, one part being near the old dam, consisting of engine room, hammer and machine shops, and the other a finishing shop, being a little to the north. In the vicinity two typical sounds are heard, one the constant pounding of the heavy hammers and the other caused by revolving cylinders in which the forks are polished by means of stones. Water is run into the cylinders and then with a rotary motion forks and stones are rolled together for several hours at a time.
With the gradual change in business conditions, the development of corporations and combina- tions, for economy of production and control of certain industries, the Wallingford plant lost in a measure its personal identity, by absorption.
133
INDUSTRIES.
In September, 1902, the Batcheller works were taken over by the American Fork and Hoe Com- pany, the largest manufacturers in the world of all kinds of Hand-farming and Garden tools. The main offices of the company are in Cleveland, Ohio, and the output of twelve large factories is con- trolled by this concern. In addition to the works in Wallingford, there is a plant in Jackson, Mich.,
THIE HAMMER SHOP.
the Withington Works, with a capacity to produce one dozen goods per minute. At Fort Madison, Iowa, there is the Iowa Farming Tool Company Works, while in Ohio, there are three distinctive plants, in Geneva, in Ashtabula and Willoughby. The latter is used largely for experimental pur- poses, in the development of improved machinery and methods. Pennsylvania claims two of the
134
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
Company's plants, one at North Girard and the other at Frankford, Philadelphia. The southern works are in Harriman and Memphis, Tennessee, the latter offering splendid facilities for shipping both by rail and water. The Bolles Works are located in Binghamton, New York, while Vermont has one other shop in the Ely Works of St. Johns- bury.
The quality of production in the various fac- tories controlled by the American Fork and Hoe Company is such that when they label their goods as "True Temper," they are absolutely guaran- teed to be such by one of the most responsible cor- porations in existence.
One of the pleasing features of working for this Company is the Employees Pension System. Like many public servants and employees of the great railroad systems, the great body of workers on the pay roll of this Company can feel that con- tinuous faithful service for definite periods will
OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN FORK & HOE COMPANY.
135
INDUSTRIES.
bring a measure of appreciation, that is sure to become more frequently expressed by employers, in the years that are to come.
"THE OLD STONE SHOP" AS IT NOW IS.
Mr. William C. Mason is the General Manager of the Wallingford plant. Coming here in 1878 in the employ of Batcheller and Sons from Rut- lan'd, he has ever since associated himself with the best interests of the town. For thirteen years he served upon the School Board, acting as chair- man for the greater part of the time. He is now the 2nd Vice President of the American Fork and Hoe Company. Under his management the capa- city of the local shop has greatly increased, addi- tions and enlargements becoming necessary. Only this fall the entire plant was closed some weeks to allow a new steel flume and turbine water wheels to be installed increasing the power in the finishing shops 40 to 45 per cent.
136
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
The officers of the American Fork and Hoe Com- pany are:
W. H. Cowdery,
President.
E. S. Kretsinger,
Chairman of the Board.
T. H. Russell,
First Vice-President. Second Vice-President.
William C. Mason,
P. H. Withington, Third Vice-President. G. B. Durrel, Fourth Vice-President. E. D. Lowell, Secretary and Purchasing Director. Cyrus Reimer, Manager of Sales.
At the centenary of the town in 1873, one of the addresses made at that time was upon "The Batcheller Products." Even with the remarkable in- crease in meth- ods of produc- tion, there is still kept the same high stand- ard of merit and quality that have made this firm so famous.
WILLIAM C. MASON.
THE WALLINGFORD MANUFACTURING CO.
In the northern part of the village there is situ- ated the above plant. It now covers quite an area of ground. Mr. Franklin Post in 1869 was the first to build and operate a plant for the manufac- ture of forks and rakes. He organized a stock
137
INDUSTRIES.
company and associated with him Mr. Gale Batch- eller. Six houses were built for the accommoda- tion of employees and this opened up what is now River Street.
RIVER STREET.
For about two years it continued under the man- agement of Mr. Post and then Carver Bros. of New York City continued the business. After some time it was discontinued and the character of manufactured product changed. John D. Miller and Henry C. Cole secured control and began the manufacture of ox bows. In 1900 H. B. Barden and his brother, H. E., bought the plant. They came from Granville, N. Y., and began to make scythes, under the firm name of Barden Bros. Then secur- ing a patent on a grass hook and adding other farming implements to their production, they gradually increased the size and capacity of the shop that it was thought best to turn it into a stock company. This was done in 1902 under the name of the Wallingford Manufacturing Co.
138
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
Two years later the making of forks, hoes and rakes were added and the company's capital in- creased. Eight houses were built on Franklin and Railroad Streets and these are still part of the company's assets. H. B. Barden was President of the Company and he associated with him, Wm. A. Graham and Geo. A. Graham of the firm of John H. Graham and Co., of New York City. The Company's business rapidly increased. In 1904 the output amounted to about 12,000 dozen forks and hoes but in 1910 it reached 80,000 dozen, which did not include the output of grass hooks, · corn hooks and corn knives.
THE WALLINGFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
In July, 1910, there was a complete change. The Company disposed of their stock and with the re- organization, the personnel was entirely altered. Control was secured by The Welland Vale Mfg. Co., Ltd., of St. Catharines, Ontario, Can. This Company, the largest of its kind in the Dominion of Canada, thus owned its first factory in the United States. In addition to the plant at St. Catharines, there is the Bedford Manufacturing
139
INDUSTRIES.
F
The Company's Sawmill, Operated by A. Malcolm.
Co., of Bedford, Quebec, and the Canada Axe and Harvest Tool Co., of Montreal, combined with the Wallingford Mfg. Co. in the making of forks, hoes, axes, saws and picks, mattocks and scythes. All are under the control of The Welland Vale Mfg. Co.
1
U
WAREHOUSE AND STOCKROOM.
140
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
With the splendid facilities of the above plants, there is practically secured the control of the man- ufacture of farmers' implements for the Dominion of Canada. The Wallingford plant was over- hauled and under careful business management changes adopted. A new warehouse was con- structed 50 x 50, which added 7,500 square feet and largely in- creased storage capacity. Ar-
rangements have been made to
install an auto-
matic sprinkler
equipment, as a
safeguard in
case of fire. In
addition to the
regular pressure provided by the town hydrants, a large tank
holding 40,000 gallons of water
will be placed upon a 75-foot
Mr. A. W. Ferguson, Manager.
steel tower, thus greatly aiding fire protection. At one time it was estimated there were 1,325,000 handles alone in stock. John H. Graham & Co., while having nothing to do with the management, still act as selling agents. With offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, they have abundant opportunities to dispose of the Wall- ingford product. With the installation of im- proved machinery, the annual capacity has in-
141
INDUSTRIES.
creased to 100,000 dozen. During this summer the shops were closed several weeks pending repairs and preparing for a large volume of trade. This trade is not limited to the East, for while a full line of forks and hoes are made for the New England trade, special implements are made for the Western markets. The South has special pat- terns in planters' and cotton hoes, and far-off Tasmania, New Zealand and Australia prove to be some of the firm's best customers.
Thus has grown a concern of which the town can be justly proud for just as the "Batcheller Label" meant something that was worth while, so with the product of the Wallingford Mfg. Company, the name "Wallingford" on their goods means abso- lutely "The First Quality."
The officers of the Company are
James D. Chaplin, C. G. MeGhie,
President.
H. C. Cook,
Vice-President. Secretary.
A. W. Ferguson,
Treasurer and Manager.
RESIDENCE OF B. C. ALDRICH.
142
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
What was formerly the Adams Snow Shovel Company, with a shop on School Street, operated for many years by Mr. F. H. Hoadley, has come into the possession of Mr. Barney C. Aldrich. After being closed down for some time it is Mr. Aldrich's intention to continue the manufacture of snow shovels and add to the production other implements that will promise a ready sale.
The grist mill situated on the south side of Roaring Brook east of Main Street was started by F. W. Johnson in November, 1876. Formerly there was a tannery on this site conducted by Geo.
THE GRIST MILL.
Vaughn. In 1909 it was entirely overhauled by the present proprietor, Mr. F. Edgerton, who carries a full line of feeds. The mill has a capa- city of about 150 bushels of grain per day.
The Creamery is located on Church Street and since 1890 a great deal of milk has been sent to Boston and Worcester from this plant. It was
143
INDUSTRIES.
THE CREAMERY.
built as a cheese factory by Mr. M. V. Williams in 1876, and the upstairs was used as a public hall for dances and entertainments. When the skating rink craze was in vogue it was here the young folks gathered. In 1885 the Brigham Company of Bos- ton secured control and has since operated it with four other plants in the vicinity. Mr. A. W. Andrews is their manager. When making cheese it is possible to turn out 900 lbs. in a day and it has been no uncommon thing to make a ton and a half of butter per day. The equipment is thor- oughly modernized and there has recently been placed in position a new pasteurizer.
144
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
THE PRESS.
The first newspaper ever printed in Wallingford was published from 1855 to 1860 by Philip H. Emerson and Amasa W. Bishop. It was called the Local Spy. Both Mr. Emerson and Mr. Bishop were studying law at the time in the office of David E. Nicholson. Their place of publication was in the "Central Block" on the site of what
M DEET.
THE LOCAL SPY.
WALLYDOPOED, VY, MUYEICHEE. $),
.......---
----
--
- ------
--------
----
-----
---
----
----..
-
EF YALLT! EMEL 41
----
-
------
------
------
-----
.....
----
-----
---
.....
--
-----
-----
---------
------
--
-------
1
-¢
-
-
-
-
-
--
. ... .
----
---- &
-------
--------
---
P: uff
-
---
--------
عيب أو البد
------
---------
-
---
-------
---------
THE YIIT'S TRILLET
--
-
-----
------
------
..... 4
-------
.. +
----------
THE LOCAL SPY.
is now the Batcheller Block. In 1877 Addison G. Stone established the "Wallingford Standard." From its columns much of interest has been gathered in the compilation of this work. The "Standard" was published for three years being merged in the Rutland Times in 1880.
-
----------
145
THE TOWN'S WAR RECORD.
CHAPTER XII.
The Town's War Record.
I HE town freely furnished her sons for war purposes. A patriotic call never went un- heeded, and even the earliest records re- veal how the citizens taxed themselves to the ut- most in order that those who volunteered should find every encouragement. The following names are gathered from an old newspaper as those who fought in the stirring days of '76 and in 1812. Their graves are now in the village cemetery but they do not include all who represented their home town at the front: John Randall, John Robbins, Lent Ives, Robert Harmon, Phillip White, Joseph Randall, Philbrook Barrows, Daniel Edgerton, Zephaniah Hull, John Fox, Elias Crary.
In the quiet hillside burial grounds which have been disused for some time can be found graves of noble patriots as following list attests:
Revolutionary Soldiers buried in Wallingford: James Culver, William Fox, Lient. Abraham Ives, Asa Anderson, Philbrook Barrows, Eli Cal- kin, Sgt. Nathaniel Dennison, Cyrenius Dewey, Jerathmiel Doty, Andrew Hewitt, Nathaniel Keyes, John Sweetland.
For the War of 1812: Freeman Reed, James Sabin, Ransom Moon, Caleb Warner, James Cook, Rufus Bucklin, Elihu Miller, Ezra Tower, Rev. Stephen Martindale, James Bump.
In the crucial days of "the sixties" when the Rebellion was growing and President Lincoln issued his first call to arms Wallingford promptly
(10)
146
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
responded with more than her proportionate share as witness the following:
Company
Regiment
Charles A. Adams
H
Cav.
Henry H. Adams
C
10th
Anderson Allen
7th
George C. Allen
M
11th
Henry C. Allen
I
5th
Leverett Allen
A
7th
Noel Allen
B
7th
Otis J. Allen
E
5th
Otis J. Allen
B
9th
Rudolphus Allen
H
2nd
George P. Barber
5th
Samuel P. Barber
5th
Carlos A. Barrows
H
Cav.
Eliot Bourn
4th
William Bourn
A
4th
David Bryant
Cav.
George D. Bryant
Cav.
William F. Bryant
E
5th
Albert A. Carpenter
B
7th
James T. Carpenter
B
7th
Eugene W. Clark
E
5th
Jacob L. Cook
4th
Summervill Crother
I
5th
Daniel L. Culver
2 s.s.
Harry Culver
2 s.s.
Eliphalet Culver
B
9th
George W. Cummings
F
6th
William Cummings
6th
George A. Dawson
C
11th
John M. Dorett
10th
Larkin S. Earl
I
5th
Charles M. Edgerton
10th
Joseph M. Carpenter
Cav.
147
THE TOWN'S WAR RECORD.
Company Regiment
Rufus A. Edgerton
Cav.
William Farr, Jr.
I
5th
Levi E. Foster
6th
William Foster
6th
David H. Fuller
D
7th
Francis A. Fuller
D
7th
William M. Gibson
C
6th
George M. Gorton
Cav.
Edwin Green
C
10th
Lewis Gregory
C
10th
Joel Grover
9th
Jeffrey Hart
Cav.
Willis Hart
2 s.s.
John Hawkins
B
7th
Edwin M. Haines
Chaplain
10th
Mason B. Hebbard
Cav.
Daniel G. Hill
C. S.
10th
Charles L. Hilliard
10th
Elizur Hopkins
B
7th
Lorenzo T. Horton
E
5th
Abraham Lapard
E
5th
Joseph Lassard
E
5th
Harrison Law
E
5th
Mathew Maginnis
E
5th
John Maker
6th
Thomas Mann
10th
John G. Palmer
6th
Alfred H. Patch
3rd
Benjamin A. Patch
4th
Daniel P. Patch
Cav.
Daniel B. Pelsue
D
7th
Henry G. Post
C
10th
Henry W. Pratt
Cav.
Jonathan Remington
5th
Charles W. H. Sabin
C. V. 9 M. S.
148
HISTORY OF WALLINGFORD.
.
Company
Regiment 10th
Dexter C. Shepherd
D
7th
Thomas E. Smith
E
5th
Harvey E. Stewart
H
2nd
William E. Stewart
2 s. s.
George R. Streeter
10th
Lewis Taft
7th
Ezra W. Titus
Cav.
Harvey Titus
Cav.
William Townsend
C
10th
Adm G. Wellman
C
10th
Austin B. Wellman
Cav.
Oscar E. Wells
C
11th
Horace H. Wheeler
A
4th
Mason L. White
9th
Daniel Wilder
9th
Joseph H. Winn
10th
Julius D. Wylie
I
5th
Edward Yarton
C
10th
Those who are credited under the call of Octo- ber 17, 1863:
Three years.
Company F
Regiment 4th
Amos L. Bontell
Alvin J. Cook
3 Bat. 11th
Francis M. Farwell
Levi E. Foster
3 Bat.
Willis Hart
3 Bat.
Joseph Hastings
11th
Ezekiel Hill
E
5th
Anthony Kent
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.