USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
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After the old court-house was burned, in 1791, it became necessary to build another, and that the surroundings might be complete, Captain Richardson was called upon to make another donation of land for public purposes, which he at first declined to do, but, under Charles Marsh's threat to erect the county buildings in another part of the village, the doughty Captain yielded and donated the " common " land to the public, to the extent of its present area. Thus, what is now the magnificent Woodstock Park was brought into existence, and around its boundaries was built up the main business part of the village ; but when the avail- able lands here were all occupied, further enlargements for business pur- poses built up the lands east of the common, on what is now Central and Elm streets. An avenue of travel found its way into the park lands by the laying out and building of what is now Central street, being opened during the year 1800. This was followed by other thorough- fares, some parallel and others lateral, in the east part, which resulted in the ultimate transfer of business to that locality, while around the common the old store buildings were replaced with, or converted into, dwellings and several public buildings.
The first attempt at improving the lands of the common was made some time previous to 1830, when they were plowed and graded; but during the year last stated a fund was raised by subscription for the purpose of laying out the park and planting it with maple trees. Then,
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or about that time, when this work was completed, the common became, properly speaking, a "Park." But when, after the village had become incorporated, the " city fathers" attempted to build a plain fence about the park for the protection of the young trees, then troubles commenced. Some people did not propose to be denied the use of the old common for all purposes of travel and convenience, and brought the authorities into court as defendants. A long litigation followed and was termi- nated in the success of the local government. The last fencing, the pres- ent iron and stone structure, was built during the year 1878, under the direction of Oliver P. Chandler, Justin F. Mckenzie and George W. Paul, committee, with a fund raised by voluntary contributions on the part of generous citizens of the village.
After the destruction, in 1791, of the old court-house a second was built, but not on the same site. For the new structure land on the north side of the park was used, at the corner where the road crosses the cen- ter bridge This was a more pretentious structure than its predecessor, but a plain frame building, with a tower on its front, and in the tower a bell was placed. But on the 4th of July, 1854, the court house fell a victim to the flames, the result of the carelessness of some over-enthu- siastic person who was celebrating on that day. The third, the present court-house, was erected on the lot where stood, in early times, the dwelling of the sisters Myrick, spinsters and garment makers, queer characters, in a way, of the village.
The Norman Williams Public Library .- Here is the most beautiful public building of Woodstock ; a perfect gem, an ornament to the vil- lage, and a fitting tribute from a grateful son to the memory of kind and loving parents. The site whereon this building now stands was the home of Norman Williams, one of the substantial and worthy men of the village ; and in the "story and a half" house here standing he dwelt for fifty years, from 1818 to 1868. The original house on the site was built for the widow of Josiah Cleveland in 1798. In 1883 the old house was removed, and in its place Dr. Edward Higginson Williams caused to be erected, at his own expense, the stone library building. The exterior and interior design and finish of the library are so well known that no description is necessary here; that it is one of the most ornamental and useful institutions of the village, is all that need be said ;
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that it is fully appreciated, every person in the region understands. The library has a capacity for about fifteen thousand volumes, and on its shelves are now nearly seven thousand, gifts from all sources. In the reading-room are elegant portraits of Norman Williams and his wife, and in the reception-room is a similar portrait of their son, the founder of the institution, Dr. Edward H. Williams.
Of the ancient structures that once had a being on the park front, but few remain. The locality has lost much of its appearance of three- quarters of a century ago, and could the resident of that period now return he would discover no familiar landmarks to assure him of his whereabouts, unless, perhaps, the old Hutchinson and Churchill home- steads might appear natural; or the residence wherein dwelt Dr. Gal- lup, or the old brick school-house on the opposite side of the park, might revive familiar scenes. Another of the ancient landmarks still lives, the old Eagle Hotel, but that has been so frequently remodeled and enlarged as to have lost all semblance of its former self. And should one go to the corner of Elm and Central streets there would no more be seen the famous Barker Hotel, with its spacious back yard ; and on the opposite side of Central street the old frame row now has dis- appeared, and on its site is built the substantial two and three-story brick blocks. On the signs, too, over the several places of entrance, there appear names that were unfamiliar to the townspeople fifty years and more ago. "Church buildings," it is said, " never change." This is a rather doubtful statement, or one, at least, that requires a deal of explanation to make its truth readily understood.
The Congregational Church .- The society of this church was un- doubtedly the pioneer of the religious institutions of the village, or of the town and has its origin in the primitive gatherings to which Rev. Aaron Hutchinson occasionally preached in Joab Hoisington's barn, or, if in cold weather, the dwelling house of some member of the society. After that the society " worshipped " in the little log meeting- house, on the road west of the (now) Woodward mills, under the pas- toral charge of Rev. George Daman. But the society at length out- grew this old structure and, in 1807-08, built a new frame meeting-house on Elm street, on lands donated by Mr. Charles Marsh, on part of which his law-office stood. The edifice here has twice been thoroughly re-
33
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paired : first, in 1859, and again in 1889. The last improvement was made through the generous contribution of Mr. Frederick Billings, the whole expense being borne by him. . More than that, in 1880 he caused to be erected, adjoining and annexed to the church edifice proper, a beautiful and appropriate memorial chapel. The property now owned by the society of the Congregational church is perhaps more extensive and valuable than that of any of the several societies of the village, consisting as it does of the present elegant edifice and chapel, with a large and commodious pastor's residence, the latter being on the east side of Elm street.
In September, 1774, the people of the town voted to hire " Mr. Aaron Hutchinson " to preach for them, but no society was then organ- ized, neither were the gatherings at all denominational ; but at the saine time a majority of the townspeople inclined to Congregationalism, and the teachings of the first minister were supposed to be of that order. The first settled pastor of the society was Rev. George Daman, who was or- dained December 26, 1781, and continued his relations until the 22d of May, 1792, and was then dismissed.
Following the retirement of Mr. Daman from the pastorate, the soci- ety had no settled minister until 1810, but during the interval had occa- sional or supply preaching a part of the time and otherwise united with the Baptist society, which had then been formed. On the 25th of April, 1810, Rev. Walter Chapin became pastor of the Congregational church, and remained such until the time of his death in 1827, and was succeeded by Rev. John Richards, he being ordained November 27, 1827, retiring, however, February 1I, 1831. Rev. Robert Southgate came to the pas- torate January 4, 1832, and was dismissed in October, 1836.
In February, 1828, Rev. Worthington Wright was ordained pastor of the church, and continued in that relation for a period of more than twelve years, retiring in September, 1850. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Clement next succeeded, July 14, 1852, and remained nearly fifteen years, until June 16, 1867, when he was dismissed upon his request. Rev. A. B. Dascomb became pastor in December following Dr. Clement's dismissal, and continued such until February 3, 1874. In September of the same year Rev. Lewis A. Hicks was ordained pastor, and was dismissed July 13, 1881. The last pastor, now recently retired, Rev. James F. Brodie, was ordained February 21, 1882, his pastorate ending in 1889.
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The Universalist Church .- Universalism in Woodstock became first rooted in the withdrawal or rumored secession of Benjamin Emmons from the Congregational society, which is said to have taken place somewhere about the year 1786. Benjamin Emmons was not only one of the lead- ing men of the town and State, but one of the earliest and most influen- tial members of the first church society, and his acceptance of the doctrines of a new and then pronounced unorthodox belief was the cause of much confusion in the old society. About the same time other former mem- bers of the parent church left the fold and became identified with the new society, among them Captain John Strong, Dr. Stephen Powers, Judge William Perry. The new society, too, had converts from other denominations than the Congregationalist, and there were some few of the townspeople who, perhaps, had leanings toward Universalism at the time of their coming here. Considerable accessions to the ranks of the society from the Baptist church were also noticeable at about this period.
The Rev. Hosea Ballou was the first minister of the society in this lo- cality. He became a preacher of Universalism by ordination in 1794, but prior to that time he had been a Calvinistic Baptist. He became minister in charge of the Woodstock society, in connection with other similar organizations, in the year 1803, a relation that was continued until August, 1809, when he left the State and accepted a call to the church at Portsmouth, N. H. After Mr. Ballou's departure the society had no settled minister for many years, but services were frequently held during the period, the desk being supplied by various ministers of the church, among whom were Joab Young, C. G. Persons, Uriah Smith, Jacob Holt, William Bell, and possibly others.
But during this period, the society having no established leader or minister, it suffered severely and became somewhat disorganized. The work of again building up and re-organizing fell upon the next settled minister, Rev. Russell Streeter, who came to the charge in 1834. As well as firmly re-establishing the society, to Mr. Streeter belongs the credit of having brought about the erection of a convenient chapel on Church street, during 1835. The parsonage property of the society was formerly the home of Dr. Thomas Powers, and was purchased for a min- ister's residence in 1877.
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Rev. Russell Streeter severed his connection with the village society in 1839, and was succeeded in June, 1840, by Rev. Mr. Fay, since which time the succession of pastors and supply ministers has been as follows: Rev. O. H. Tillotson, 1841 to 1847; Rev. D. M. Reed, four years ; Rev. Jonathan Douglass, 1852; Rev. Chapman, six months ; Rev. J. S. Lee, 1854; Rev. J. D. Cargill, 1859 to 1861 ; Rev. William H. Pattee, 1862; Rev. Moses Marston, 1862 to 1866; Rev. J. T. Powers, 1867 to July, 1870; Rev. Elmer Hewitt, April, 1871, to October, 1876; Rev. O. K. Crosby, April, 1877; Lucian S. Crosby, two years; Rev. B. M. Tillott- son, and the present pastor, Rev. J. F. Simmons, who moved to the village during the year 1889.
The Christian Church .- The society of the Christian church in Wood- stock had its organization somewhere about the year 1806, and drew its membership generally from the growing population of the town and par- ticularly from the old Baptist society. The first minister of the Christian church appears to have been Elias Smith, who preached here some six weeks and made considerable additions to the society. Still greater work was done by Uriah Smith, under whose ministrations, it seems, two soci- eties were in existence in the township. One of the most effective min- isters of this church was Frederick Plummer, who first visited Woodstock in September, 1810, and through whose labors the society was greatly increased, and numbered among its members some of the leading fami- lies of the locality. The meetings in the village were usually held at the court-house, but the worthy and zealous elder prosecuted his labors throughout the township and vicinity, wherever a field presented for fruitful results. Mr. Plummer continued his missionary labors in the vicinity until 1813.
The court-house continued to be used as the principal house of the society until the year 1826, at which time Elder Jasper Hazen generously purchased for the society the lot of land on Pleasant street, whereon was erected, that same year, the commodious brick edifice, in which the first service was held in January, 1827. In the tower of this edifice, in 1827, Elder Hazen also caused to be placed a clock, which did service until 1859, but then became worn out and was subsequently sold. However, in 1876, another clock was procured to replace the former. This was provided through the generosity of Frederick Billings, who, on the 14th
A.LITTLE.
Moses Ridder
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of July, 1889, executed a quit-claim deed thereof to the village of Wood- stock. (The remodeled Congregational church is likewise possessed of a clock, the gift of the same person.) The Christian church edifice has been twice thoroughly repaired : first in 1860 and again in 1876. Rev. Moses Kidder became minister of the society soon after 1846, and has continued for a period of upwards of forty years, and is still engaged in that capacity. Prior to Rev. Kidder's coming Elder Jasper Hazen was the officiating minister, and his immediate predecessor was Elder Rand. To Jasper Hazen attaches the honor of having virtually founded the church. The lot on which the building stands he bought, and the edifice was erected almost wholly through his personal efforts, and largely with his means. And it is said, too, that he manufactured the brick used in its construction. Elder Hazen was born in Hartford, this county. Mr. Dana has written at length concerning his life, which see.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The seed of Methodism was sown in Woodstock during the closing years of the eighteenth century, by the somewhat sudden and unexpected visit of Lorenzo Dow. He preached in the court- house, but his lectures could not have been considered de- nominational at that time, for some of the people, even of that church, did not look upon Dow as the advocate of Methodism. The young cleri- cal aspirant was finally denied the use of the court-house for his meet- ings, and left the place in disgust. Many years afterwards he returned to Woodstock and again preached, and then formed the nucleus of the present society of the town. The first meeting-house was built in what was known as the South Parish, about the year 1807, but none was erected at the North Village until 1835-36, when lands were purchased from General Lyman Mower, where the present church building now is, and upon which a small frame edifice was erected. In 1865 such radi- cal repairs were made that the building was practically reconstructed, and was dedicated with appropriate services on the 9th of November, 1865. The Methodist parsonage on the hill was built in 1852.
Prior to the time of the erection of the meeting-house, and perhaps for some time thereafter, this was but a station or a mission society, and the services were conducted by circuit or local preachers. From the time of building the first edifice, 1836, the succession of pastors in charge of the society of the Methodist Episcopal church has been as follows:
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Rev's. S. Quimby, A. G. Button, T. Twitchell, R. H. Spaulding, Copeland, W. J. Kidder, Lewis Hill, A. V. Howard, I. H. Patterson, J. W. Spencer, C. Kellogg, D. Field, S. G. Kellogg, Z. Haynes, C. Fales, L. C. Dickinson, A. L. Cooper, Albert L. Pratt, Joshua Gill, Ira La Barton, P. Merrill, A. C. Stevens, N. W. Wilder, A. M. Wheeler, J. W. Gurnsey, O. M. Boutwell, T. P. Frost, L. L. Beman, A. J. Hough, A. H. Webb, Joseph Hamilton, I. McAnn.
St. James's Church, Protestant Episcopal .- The parish of St. James's church was organized during the early part of the year 1827, through the efforts and influence of a number of the leading citizens of the village and vicinity. The church did not experience the vicissitudes incident to the early life of some other of the institutions of the place, but was estab- lished and built up at a time when the people were prepared for it and able to accomplish its work. The early services of the church were usu- ally held in the court-house, and occasionally the Congregational edifice was placed at the disposal of the new society. Rev. Joel Clap seems to have been the missionary laborer in this field, his services commencing during the latter part of 1825. The next year measures were taken for the erection of the church, which, according to the original design, was to have been of stone, but the plan was afterward changed and the structure built of wood. The stone, which were delivered on the ground, were used for the building of the double houses standing east of the li- brary building, facing the park.
The church was completed and occupied for services in December, 1827, and was consecrated in September of the next year by Bishop Griswold and assistants of the diocese of Vermont. The parish purchased the rectory property in 1854. Rev. Joel Clap continued as rector of the parish until 1832, and was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin C. C. Parker in October, 1833, and the latter in turn in 1839 by Rev. John Grigg. On June 12, 1840, Mr. Clap returned to the church, and continued until 1847, retiring on December Ist, and being immediately succeeded by the Rev. M. A. Herrick, the latter remaining until February, 1861. Next came Rev. Joseph N. McIlwaine, in October, 1861, who officiated as rec- tor until July, 1866, when he was sent to another field. The Rev. Roger S. Howard was next sent to this parish, July, 1867, and remained until June, 1869. Following the retirement of Mr. Howard the parish
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was supplied for a few years by James O. Drumm, a deacon in orders, commencing in 1870 and until 1872, and from that time to October, 1873, by James A. Hughes, also a supply. In December, 1874, Rev. N. G. Allen succeeded to the rectorship, and remained until 1877, being followed November Ist, of that year, by the present rector, Rev. Francis W. Smith.
Schools of Woodstock .- The village of Woodstock is as well provided with school buildings, and with the proper facilities for affording an ex- cellent high school education, as can be found in any municipality of the State having no greater population than this. Three commodious school -houses now exist in the village for the accommodation of pupils, and these are respectively known as the primary, intermediate and the high schools. The primary school, as the schools are now arranged, is on River street; the intermediate on Lincoln street; and the high school, " on the hill," has both primary and high school departments.
Education in Woodstock, or in the immediate vicinity, had a begin- ning as humble as that of any other of its institutions. The first school- house was built in what is now the east part of the village, where stands the present residence of Prosper Merrill, about the year 1797. But the district soon outgrew this ancient building and the provision for another became a matter of necessity. For the purpose, during the year 1812, the building committee, comprised of three men, Lyman Mower, Sylves- ter Edson and Eben King, selected lands on the common, just west of where the court-house then stood, and here caused to be built the first really substantial school-building of the village. This was a plain, substantial two-story brick building and answered the purpose of prin- cipal school from the time of its erection down through the years of the village's early growth to the time of incorporation, 1836; and thence until the time of its sale or exchange for the present high school land, which exchange was made on April 7, 1853, between the com- mittee of District No. 8 and Lyman Mower. The old school building was converted into a dwelling house and is now the residence of W. L. Daman.
Soon after the exchange with Mr. Mower the village caused the pres- ent elegant and commodious high school building to be erected. These, of course, have been the public schools, those established and supported
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at the general expense ; but, in addition to them, there have been started in the village at various times select or private schools, and some of these were institutions of considerable prominence during the period of their existence.
Banking Institutions of Woodstock .- As long ago as the year 1806 the Legislature passed an act that brought into existence the Vermont State Bank, an institution to be directly under the control and patronage of the State, but provided with officers and directors in the several localities in which its branches were established. The Vermont State Bank at first consisted of two branches, one at Middlebury and the other at Woodstock. The first officers of the bank were Titus Hutch- inson, president, and Job Lyman, cashier for Woodstock branch. The directors appointed for the Woodstock branch were John Mattox, Titus Hutchinson, Elias Lyman, Mark Richards, James Tarbox, Benjamin Swan and Alex. Campbell.
"The next year (1807) two additional branches were established, one at Burlington and the other at Westminster. All the stock of the bank, and all the profits arising therefrom, were to be the property of the State, and all the concerns of the bank were to be under the control and direction of the Legislature forever. The immediate management of the bank was to be committed to thirteen directors, to be chosen an- nually by the Legislature, and who were to elect one of their number president of the bank." It was under these provisions that Titus Hutch- inson was elected president, as above stated.
" The bank at length went into operation, but the anticipations of the people were not to be realized. What had appeared so fair and plaus- ible in theory was found to work very badly in practice, and, although a history of the Vermont State Bank would afford an instructive lesson to the present and future generation, we have neither materials nor room for it here. Suffice it to say, its affairs were soon found to be in inexplicable confusion, and the institution insolvent. Various acts of legislation were resorted to for sustaining it, notwithstanding which its condition grew worse and worse, and within five years from its estab- lishment affairs were put in train for winding up its concerns. The Legislature in 1811 passed an act directing the removal of the West- minster branch to Woodstock, and the next year for the removal of the
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branches at Burlington and Middlebury to the same place, and also or- dering all bills of said bank to be burned, except what were necessary for the payment of checks due from the bank. In 1814 an act was passed ordering the treasurer of the State to burn all the bills of the State bank in his possession, excepting such as he deemed necessary to meet demands upon the treasury." 1
The Bank of Woodstock .- The unfortunate ending of the old Vermont State Bank did not seem to have any lasting effect upon the people, who one time declaimed against such institutions in general, for, when the Bank of Woodstock was incorporated, November 9, 1831, and the stock books opened at Barker's Hotel, more by far than two thousand shares were subscribed for and the requisite cash paid into the hands of the committee. On the 5th of April the stockholders elected a board of di- rectors as follows : Lyman Mower, Charles Dana, George W. Rice, Si- mon Warren, and John Pettes. The directors then elected Lyman Mower president, and Lyndon A. Marsh, cashier of the bank. Thus the old Bank of Woodstock was brought into existence and commenced business, but never was known as a highly prosperous concern. But without any comment on the vicissitudes it experienced during the pe- riod of its existence, it is sufficient to state that its affairs were wound up and it passed out of being with the expiration of its charter, being succeeded, merged into, or absorbed by
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