USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 38
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office buildings now aggregate three and a quarter acres of floor space, and even these are inadequate for their increasing business.
The present officers are Nathan G. Williams, president, treasurer and general manager, and Walter C. Smith, assist- ant treasurer and secretary. At the present time about 720 operatives are employed. When the present general manager came to Bellows Falls, in 1877, there were but twelve employees. To his business ability is largely due the present success of the company and its favorable influence upon the development of Bellows Falls.
SILK-WORM CULTURE
For some years between 1835 and 1845, Bellows Falls produced a quantity of silk, made from the cocoons of the silk-worm. At that time, as in various other decades, there was a wave of excitement in many places in the United States over the idea that fortunes could be made in this industry here as well as in other countries, but it has almost uniformly proved disastrous in this country.
The largest venture in this vicinity was made about 1838, when a number of citizens of Bellows Falls attempted it and continued the business four or five years. The two leading spirits in the enterprise were Dr. Artemus Robbins, a local physician who had accumulated considerable property, and Rufus Guild, a relative of our townsman, George O. Guild. The propagation of the silk-worm in Bellows Falls was by methods identical with those still in vogue in China and British India, the great silk-producing countries of the world. The company set out very thickly all over the land now known as the " New Terrace," a variety of mulberry trees, the leaves of which are the principal food of the silk-worm. The trees varied in height from two to twenty feet, looking at a distance something like an orchard of apple trees of various sizes. When left to ripen, the fruit looked similar to the blackberry only longer and without the objectionable seeds.
Within a few years, a medium sized mulberry tree of this
Silk Culture in Bellows Falls 425
variety was still growing and bearing fruit in Alstead, N. H., and there is a splendid specimen of rather large size at present growing on the Saxtons river road in Gageville about one-fourth mile beyond the electric car barn on the left-hand side of the road. The leaves were plucked at particular times and fed to the worms. A large building with the siding boards on hinges, resembling a tobacco barn, stood near the brow of the present New Terrace at a point near the street leading from School street. Here were the tables and shelves upon which the leaves were spread, and on which the worms were placed to feed. In about thirty-one days from the hatching of the insects, during which time they fed upon the mulberry leaves, they formed the cocoon, which took but three days. A day or two later they were carefully picked and the moths killed by boiling or steaming. The cocoons were then unwound and the threads prepared for use. In this locality the winding and spinning was largely done by the small old-fashioned flax wheel then in so common use, and there are still in town a number of articles made' wholly from silk produced here.
At one time the enterprise looked so favorable that the company was offered $20,000. for its mulberry trees, upon the successful culture of which all depended, but the owners were so enthusiastic that they refused, and a year or two later a large proportion of the trees were killed by severe weather, the parties lost the amounts they had invested, and silk culture was never attempted here again. At about that time mulberry trees were set out upon a smaller scale in various parts of the town, there being a grove of them upon the land between Green and Cherry streets. Another grove was located on the Olcott corner lot in Rockingham village near the old Alexander Campbell mansion. It is not known that there was more than one place where the worms were actually reared and silk made in this town; that being on the New Terrace as stated. The town of Mansfield, Conn., at one time produced a number of hundred pounds of raw silk annually.
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History of Rockingham
Dr. Robbins lived many years in a dwelling on the site of the present S. S. Vilas residence near the corner of Green and School streets, which was burned May 20, 1849, while he occupied it. He later owned a small house on the opposite side of the same street on the lot now occupied by the home of Dr. G. H. Gorham. Because of his silk-worm venture Dr. Robbins lost a large portion of his property. He died May 16, 1857, at the age of eighty-one years.
AN OIL-MILL AT BELLOWS FALLS
Among the first mills to be erected in Bellows Falls pre- vious to 1824, was one for making pure linseed oil from flax- seed. It stood near where the machine room of the Robert- son Paper company now stands.
The flax seed was poured upon a large stone floor, on which two immense stones, like grist-mill stones, set on edge, were made to revolve around an upright shaft, like wagon wheels turning in a circle, thus crushing the seed. It was then shovelled into a large iron barrel about six feet long made to revolve in a fire-place over a wood fire until the crushed seed was thoroughly cooked. It then went into smaller strong iron barrels which had one movable head, and these in turn were put into a large log hollowed out with solid ends. A press set in motion, with cog wheels and screw, forced the movable heads of each barrel inward and the oil flowed out into the log trough, and from that into receptacles to be shipped to the market. The cakes of oil meal remaining were ground up and used for feed. In the old mill an arch for boiling the oil was used.
The raising of flax and hemp for purposes of clothing, as well as oil manufacture, was in the early days of this town an important and extensive industry. The younger genera- tions know but little regarding it and hence a slight descrip- tion is interesting. The flax seed was sown in the spring and the plants were pulled in the autumn. After the seeds were thrashed, the flax was exposed to the weather until the woody part became tender enough to be separated from the
Oil-mill-Distilleries-Cascin Co. 427
fibers. After drying, the woody part was removed by a pro- cess called "breaking." The flax was pounded with a heavy wooden knife called a "swingle," which separated the fine from the coarse tow. It was then drawn over an iron-toothed comb called a " hetchel," which drew out the imperfect fibres, and it was then ready for the distaff and the little spinning wheel which was a necessary article of furniture in every household.
DISTILLERIES
Early in the last century there were many distilleries scattered throughout this section of New England which did a thriving business. They distilled cider, perry (the juice of pears), wheat, corn, barley and oats into various kinds of spirits then in common use.
There was a distillery near what are now Lawrence mills, one in Saxtons River village, one just north of West- minster village known as the " Allbee distillery," and one of the largest located at South Charlestown on the east side of the highway about ten rods north of the brook near what has recently been known as the Hooper place. This distillery was owned by George H. Ingersoll, who was a merchant of the village and the principal owner of the toll bridge across the Connecticut river at that point. This distillery was burned in 1833.
Many of the oldest inhabitants relate that among their earliest remembrances are the incidents occurring while they were on their weekly trips to these distilleries,-sent by the housewives for the purpose of procuring the regular stock of yeast, for which the distilleries of those years were the principal supply.
THE CASEIN COMPANY OF AMERICA
During the year 1893, an industry was started in Bellows Falls that became temporarily one of the leading local busi- ness enterprises. It began in some experiments made by William A. Hall in the office of the Fall Mountain Paper
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History of Rockingham
company, of which he was superintendent, and resulted in the dividing of milk into its constituent parts and the utilizing of each of these for specific purposes.
The most important constituent being casein, which rapidly entered into the manufacture of many articles of com- merce, the name of the company later organized derived its name from it and has since been known as "The Casein Company of America." A large plant was erected in 1896 at the extreme south end of the village near the mouth of Saxtons river, and in a few years about two hundred per- sons were employed. Mr. Hall covered his processes by patents, a company was organized in New York with a large capitalization, and similar plants which are still eminently prosperous were erected in various parts of the United States. Mr. Hall made a handsome fortune and retired from the business in 1903. In 1904 the local works were abandoned, the manufacture being transferred to other places, and the extensive buildings are at present vacant.
CHAPTER XXX.
NEWSPAPERS-PRINTING -BOOK-MAKING
The first printing office in Vermont was established at Westminster in the summer of 1778. In February, 1781, was commenced at Westminster the publication of the first newspaper ever printed in Vermont, called the Vermont Gazette or Green Mountain Post Boy. The next news- paper established in Windham county was the Federal Galaxy, at Brattleboro, in 1803, by William Fessenden, brother of the editor of the first Bellows Falls paper. The third one established was The Reporter, also at Brattleboro, in 1803. The fourth newspaper founded in this county was the Inde- pendent Frecholder and Republican Journal at Brattleboro in 1808.
The first newspaper to be published in the town of Rock- ingham, and the fifth established in Windham county, was the Vermont Intelligencer and Bellows Falls Advertiser founded January 1, 1817, and published weekly on Monday. Its editor was Thomas Green Fessenden, a lawyer who had practised his profession here two or three years, and who attained a degree of fame as a writer, becoming, in later years, prominent in literary circles upon both continents. This paper was established, owned and published by Bill Blake & company, who occupied a building upon the corner of Westminster and Mill streets, facing the Square, where the flatiron building occupied by the Corner Drug store now stands. They carried on an extensive printing and publish- ing business ; also a book bindery and a wholesale and retail book store. In addition to these, they owned a paper-mill where they manufactured both writing and printing paper, for the manufacture of which they sent teams out into all the surroundings towns to gather rags.
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History of Rockingham
The Intelligencer was ably conducted, and was a zealous advocate of the doctrines of the old Federal party. It studi- ously refrained from any local news items or reference to local affairs. In a number of instances, during the first few years of its publication, the editor felt it incumbent upon him to make a long apology for having in a previous issue briefly referred to some important local news.
The paper was divided into separate departments, there being the " Moral Department," " Agricultural " "Useful Arts, Recipes, &c.," " Politicks," news " By Mail," "Poets' Depart- ment," " Anecdotes," and " Aphorisms": the whole constitut- ing a general make-up which would seem peculiar to-day.
In February, 1822, Mr. Fessenden went to Boston and established there the New England Farmer. In July of that year his name was dropped from the Intelligencer and it was "Published by Cyrus Barton." Mr. Barton studied law in the office of the Hon. William C. Bradley, and afterwards became associated with Isaac Hill as one of the editors of the New Hampshire Patriot. Angust 4, 1823, the inscription was changed to "Published by J. Hubbard Wells." The paper was at one time edited by William Masters, who came here from Concord, N. H., and for a brief period Edmund Burke was editor. The issue of Saturday, December 1, 1832, showed the name to have been changed to the Ver- mont Intelligencer, "Volume 3, No. 41, New Series, Samuel HI. Taylor, Editor and Proprietor." In 1835 Mr. Taylor dis- posed of the property to Benjamin G. Cook. He soon sold the establishment to William F. Mack who permanently dis- continued the publication a little later.
The Vermont Chronicle, the newspaper organ of the Congregational churches of Vermont, was established at Bel- lows Falls by Rev. E. C. Tracy in April, 1826; removed to Windsor in October, 1828 : then to Montpelier in January, 1875, and later to St. Johnsbury, where it was discontinued about 1897.
The Bellows Falls Journal was established August 8, 1835 by William F. Mack & company, evidently in the plant
431
Bellows Falls Gazette -World of Music
formerly used by the Intelligencer. Mr. Mack was father of the young man of the same name later connected with the Bellows Falls Argus. The Journal was "Published every Saturday morning (Office opposite the Bank )," "Job printing executed on short notice." The building "opposite the bank " was a small one of wood standing about where is now the centre of Union block. This publication did not survive many years. No. 19, dated December 11, 1835, shows J. F. McCollam to have been the editor upon that date. Vol- ume 3, No. 2 August, 19, 1837 shows it at that time to have been published "by William F. Mack, office opposite Hyde's Stage House," thus placing it on the west side of the Square.
The Bellows Falls Gazette, a stanch Whig paper, was established in November, 1838 by John W. Moore. Its heading bore these legends,-"The Labor of the Press and the Liberties of the People, must Stand or Fall Together." " Devoted to Home Industry, Foreign and Domestic News, Agriculture, Literature and the Arts." A few numbers during 1841 were issued by Moore & Fulton. In 1843 it was purchased by the late Dr. S. M. Blake and Goldsmith F. Bailey, who conducted it for one year, after which Dr. Blake continued its publication alone until February 14, 1846, when John W. Moore repurchased it. Mr. Bailey removed to Fitchburg, Mass., where he studied law and subsequently went to Congress from that district. June 5, 1851, the Gazette was sold to O. H. Platt, after which, as the Vermont Republican, it was published at Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, and Ludlow simultaneously. In 1855 and 1856 O. H. Platt and A. N. Swain were editors, it being printed at Brattle- boro. Its connection with Bellows Falls was discontinued August 6, 1856, upon the establishment by Mr. Swain of the Bellows Falls Times.
The World of Music, an eight page quarto, issued bi-monthly, was established by John W. Moore in connection with the Gazette, January 1, 1840. It was devoted to the musical interests of this section of New England and attracted much attention, although it was continued but a few years.
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History of Rockingham
The Republican Standard was established in the fall of IS49. The plant was a new one in Bellows Falls, the money for the enterprise being furnished by leading Democrats in different sections of the state, to advance the interests of that party in this section. These promoters were Bradley B. Smalley, Burlington ; Alexander McLane, Fairlee ; Stephen Thomas, West Fairlee ; H. E. Stoughton, Chester ;, William P. Barker, Bellows Falls; Fabius Bancroft, Grafton ; and Erasmus Plimpton, Wardsboro. The editor was William F. Mack, Jr., but much of the editorial work was done by William P. Barker of this village. As a boy of fourteen years, George O. Guild, still a business man here, went into this office and learned the printer's trade, following it for some years. Mr. Mack was soon appointed route agent in the mail service, and he was succeeded as editor by Mr. Burke of St. Johnsbury. The office was in a frame building near what is now the north end of Union block, on the east side of the Square. In 1854, the Republican Standard was merged into the Bellows Falls Argus.
The Bellows Falls Argus was established January 1, 1854, it being an out-growth of the Republican Standard mentioned above, which had been discontinued several weeks. Hiram Atkins was the editor, then not quite twenty- one years of age, and, during a lifetime devoted to journ- alism, he made a unique though possibly not enviable success in the profession. The Argus was continued here until February, 1863, when Mr. Atkins moved it to Montpelier and adopted the name of the Argus and Patriot, under which name it is still published.
The Bellows Falls Times was established, and the first number issued, "Monday evening, August 6, 1856 " by A. N. Swain, who had had journalistic experience in Windsor and Brattleboro. It has always been a stanch Republican paper. It was edited and published for over thirty-two years by Mr. Swain, who established it upon a solid and lasting foundation. He sold it October 1, 1888, to F. H. Brown & company. It was afterward published successively by
MR. AND MRS. A. N. SWAIN. Thirty-two Years Editors of the Bellows Falls Times.
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.Job Printing
E. A. Start, E. G. Allis, and A. W. Emerson & company. It passed into the hands of L. P. Thayer & company, May I, 1895, and into the hands of the present owners, W. C. Belknap & company, November 1, 1896.
The Patron's Rural was started here August 15, 1882. It filled the place of the official organ of the Vermont State Grange and subordinate organizations, being devoted entirely to the interests of husbandry. It was conducted by officers of the above organization located elsewhere, and printed at the Times office, for about three years only.
JOB PRINTING IN BELLOWS FALLS
The first printing office in Bellows Falls was established and equipped during the year 1816, by Bill Blake & company. It was both a newspaper and job office, and the business now carried on by the Bellows Falls Times and the Times Press job office has been in direct succession to that established ninety years ago. At different periods the business has been suspended temporarily, but the line of succession is complete.
In connection with the establisment of the first newspaper, heretofore described, Bill Blake & company had a book, job printing, and binding establishment which was extensive for that early day. At their office, between the years 1817 and 1835, were published many books which became well and favorably known throughout the country. An incom- plete list is herein given of copies now in existence and treasured by persons and libraries in various parts of the country. It seems that the firm made a specialty for a time of school-books, and to many elderly people of to-day the reading of the title pages of some of those given below recalls their school days, when these were almost constant com- panions.
The first edition of the Bible printed in Vermont was issued from the press of Bill Blake & Co. in large quarto form, and it is tradition that an edition of the prayer-book of the Church of England was published here, but no copy of it has yet been found. The list of his publications shows a popular
29
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History of Rockingham
edition of the works of Josephus, and among the school books it is said that the " History of America," by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, became so popular that it went to the two hundredth edition. We have found it only to the thirty-fifth.
The binding is in some instances of wood, so common a form of binding at the beginning of the last century, while others are substantially bound in leather. The books indicate remarkably good workmanship for that era.
The book store of Bill Blake & Co., extensive advertise- ments of which are found, was in the first story of a building standing at the south side of the Square at the corner of Westminster street, where is now the Corner Drug store. In the second story of the building was located the printing office and bindery, as well as the editorial office of Thomas Green Fessenden of the Intelligencer. This building was built of wood, and in the year 1839 it was occupied as a "carriagemaker's shop" on the first floor, with the paint shop connected therewith on the second floor, an inclined platform leading to it for drawing the carriages from the ground.
Bill Blake & company manufactured all the book, news, and writing paper used in this vicinity at their paper-mill located where No. 8 machine of the International Paper com- pany is now running, just east of the stone grist-mill building, under the hill. The same business was continued in all its branches until during the '3os, the different firm names being Bill Blake & company, Blake, Cutler & company, and James I. Cutler & company. The paper-mill was burned July 12, 1846, and the printing office building, March 14, 1860.
A FEW BOOKS PUBLISHED IN BELLOWS FALLS
A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : on a plan adapted to the capacity of Youth, and designed to aid the memory by systematick arrangement and interesting associations, illustrated by engravings.
By Rev. Charles A. Goodrich. Bellows Falls, Published by James I. Cutler & Co. 1829.
Bibliography of Bellows Falls 435
A HISTORY OF AMERICA, from the first discovery to the fourth of March, 1825.
Ninth Edition,
By Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, Fifth Edition Bellows Falls, Vt. 1825 ISmo. - - pp296, 20 Bellows Falls James I. Cutler & Co. IS26 12mo. - - pp296, 20
Twelfth Edition,
Same Imprint. 1827
Thirty-fifth Edition,
Same Imprint IS33 12mo. - - pp296, 20
COLBURN'S FIRST LESSONS INTELLECTUAL ARITHMETIC, upon the Inductive Method of Instruction.
By Warren Colburn, A. M. Stereotyped at the Boston Type and Stereotype Foundry Bellows Falls Published by Roswell S. Guild & Co. I835 16mo. - - pp178.
The AMERICAN READER: Containing a Selection of Narration, Harrangues, Addresses, Orations, Dialogues, Odes, Hymns, Poems, &c., designed for the Use of Schools, Together with a Short Introduction.
By John Hubbard, First Bellows Falls Edition, Bellows Falls, Vt. Printed and Published By Bill Blake & Co., and sold wholesale and retail at the Bellows Falls Bookstore, and by most of the principal booksellers in New England. 1817. 12mo. - - pp215
The ENGLISH READER ; or Pieces in Prose and Poetry, selected from the best writers designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect : to improve their language and sentiments ; and inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue, with a few preliminary obser- vations on the principles of good reading.
By Lindley Murray, Author of an English Grammar, &C., &C. Printed of Bill Blake & Co. Bellows Falls : 1820 (12mo. pp 290)
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History of Rockingham
Another edition of the above ENGLISH READER, bears the imprint ;
Bellows Falls, Vt. Printed and Published By James I. Cutler & Co., 1827 ELEMENTS OF GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY, with an easy and concise system of Land Surveying.
By James Hale Bellows Falls, Vt. Published by James I. Cutler & Co., Printers 1829 2mo. - - pp115
THE WONDERFUL AND MOST DEPLORABLE HISTORY OF THE LATTER TIMES OF THE JEWS; With the Destruction of the City of Jerusalem. Which History begins where the Holy Scriptures end. Whereunto is added A Brief of the Ten Captivities, with the Portrait of the Roman Rams, and Engines of Battery, etc. As also, of Jerusalem ; with the fearful and presaging Apparitions, that were seen in the air, before her ruin.
(By Ben Gorion Josephus) Bellows Falls, Vt.
Printed by Bill Blake & Co.,
1819 12mo. - - pp209
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD, A TALE. Motto. ( By Oliver Gold- smith, M. D.)
Bellows Falls, Vt. Published by James I. Cutler & Co 1825 ISmo. - - pp143
THE UNIVERSAL RESTORATION. Exhibited in four Dialogues between a Minister and his Friend. To which is prefixed a Sketch of the Author's Life.
(By Elhanan Winchester) Printed at Bellows Falls, Vt. By Bill Blake & Co. 1819 12mo. - - pp239
THE LADIES' AND GENTLEMEN'S DIARY AND ALMENACK ; With an Ephmeris for the years of Creation according to Sacred Writ, 57So, and of the Christian Era, ISIS.
By Asa Houghton Bellows Falls, Vt. Printed and Published by Bill Blake & Co. ISIS The same for 1819, 1822, and 1824.
THIE LADIES MONITOR, A POEM.
By Thomas G. Fessenden Bellows Falls, Vt. Published by Bill Blake & Co. 1818 12mo. - - pp180
Bibliography of Bellows Falls 437
THE HUSBANDMAN AND HOUSEWIFE; a Collection of valuable Receipts and Directions, relating to Agriculture and Domestic Economy. By Thomas G. Fessenden Bellows Falls Printed by Bill Blake & Co. 1820 12mo. - - pp190
WALKER'S CRITICAL PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY AND EXPOSITOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Abridged. To which is added an Abridgement of Walker's Key to the Classical Pronunciation of Greek, Latin, and Scripture Proper Names.
Stereotyped by A. W. Kingsley, Albany. Bellows Falls, Vt. Published by James I. Cutler & Co. and sold by them wholesale and Retail at their Book store. S. H. Taylor, Printer. 1834 sm. qto. pp423 A HANDBOOK FOR FARMERS, MECHANICS, MERCHANTS, LUMBER DEALERS AND WORKING MEN.
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