USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wallingford > People of Wallingford, a compilation > Part 3
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 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
Another fire, due to an ignited chimney, occurred in 1884 and destroyed the old tavern building known locally as "The Beehive." This was a somewhat imposing structure with a row of large square columns across the front, two stories high. It had served as a tavern for a time but in later years was in part the pri- vate residence of its owner, with several tenements on the Main Street side. It was located just north of the Congregational Church, and when it burned was the property of Mrs. Ethelbert Eddy, formerly Mrs. William Waldo.
W. D. Hulett was well established in Rutland as proprietor or principal owner of the Combination Cash Store, and was still the owner of the old Wallingford House in 1893, when he had it reconstructed, bearing the name "The New Wallingford," shown opposite page 32. When reconstruction was completed
[31]
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
Mr. Hulett engaged J. H. Otis, a veteran hotel manager in the Adirondack Mountain region, to manage his hotel in Walling- ford. This he did for two years, much to the satisfaction of the people of the village as well as to the patrons of the house. It was well patronized, a number of people coming from southern states to spend the summer. In later years it was not so popular and declined until superseded by the present True Temper Inn.
John Scribner died in 1900, but the other members of the firm of Batcheller & Sons lived to see their company-incorporated in 1882 under the same name-become a constituent of The American Fork & Hoe Company in 1902. The new corporation had been organized by uniting the principal makers of forks and hoes throughout the country. When the founders of the local company approached the end of their lives, the people of Wall- ingford were fortunate in having the industry which had been such a large factor in creating the village continued by a strong, conservative concern. Of course, it brought changes but they came gradually. The officers of the old company resided in Wall- ingford and had personal acquaintance and contacts with the workmen in the factory, whereas the officials of the new company resided in Cleveland and were deprived of this intimacy, although W. C. Mason remained as local manager. On the other hand the new company expanded its plant, employed more men, bore a larger share of the tax burden and adopted a generous policy toward the community, evidenced by liberal contributions to ob- jects of public welfare. It built a new hotel at large expense to replace one that no longer attracted patronage. The True Temper Inn has been a distinct ornament to the village and plays a most important part in making it attractive to both visitors and resi- dents.
The people of Wallingford have much to be thankful for and one item is a public library, housed in a handsome building, the gift of the late Gilbert Hart of Detroit, Michigan. The building,
[32]
"THE NEW WALLINGFORD"
THE GILBERT HART LIBRARY
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
constructed of terra cotta brick and marble, was erected in 1893, and was presented to the Gilbert Hart Library Association of Wallingford, July 16, 1894. The deed of gift states that it was given "for the purpose of establishing and perpetuating a public library and reading room. . . . for the entire period of its exist- ence. .
The conditions of conveyance are:
"1. The said Association shall remain active under its present name and for the purposes for which it was created.
"2. Said Association shall keep and use said premises and the Library Building erected thereon by said first party, exclusively for library and reading room purposes.
"3. Said Association shall sustain, care for and keep in active operation the said library and reading room free to the public and shall maintain and keep in repair the said library building and grounds and shall pay within two months after they fall due all taxes and assessments levied against the said premises and all buildings and their contents thereon situated.
"4. Said Association shall keep the said library open to the public for its accommodation, at least three days each week at such hours as it may determine; and it shall keep said Reading Room open to the public for its accommodation every afternoon for at least four hours and every evening except Sunday evening for at least two hours, but nothing herein contained is intended to limit said Association to the number of days or number of hours each day as above specified."
The Articles of Association are as follows:
"We, the Subscribers, hereby associate ourselves together as a Corporation, under the Laws of the State of Vermont, to be known by the name of The Gilbert Hart Library Association, for the purpose of receiving, maintaining and caring for the grounds, buildings and library, to be donated for the use of the
[33]
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
inhabitants of the Town of Wallingford, at Wallingford in the County of Rutland in the State of Vermont, upon the following conditions :-
"First: To accept from Gilbert Hart of Detroit, Michigan, the land and building thereon to be by him erected, and the furnish- ings thereof, and the Library of Books therein to be placed, upon such terms and conditions as shall be placed thereon by the donor.
"Second: To raise the necessary means by donations, gifts, as- sessments or otherwise to keep said buildings and land in suitable and proper condition and repair for use of a public library only; to protect the books therein and make additions thereto, and pro- vide for the heating and care of the library and reading rooms, and the pay of a librarian and janitor, if necessary.
"Third: To make and enforce proper and suitable rules and regulations for the use and management of said library, not in- consistent with the laws of this State, or the terms and conditions upon which the same is donated.
"Dated at Wallingford in the County of Rutland, this 25th day of March, A.D. 1893.
William C. Mason
Wallingford, Vermont
Justin Batcheller
John D. Miller
J. B. Hilliard ,
Wm. G. Marsh
John C. Batcheller
Wm. A. Bushee
S. Henry Archibald
A. G. Stone Lyman Batcheller
A small circulating library which had existed in Wallingford for many years formed a nucleus of the new library. To this collection were added numerous government reports and docu- ments which served to fill the empty shelves. Additions came chiefly as gifts from interested persons, but the growth at first
[ 34 ]
1
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
was slow for there was no money with which to purchase new books. The town has appropriated each year sufficient money, with the income from several endowment funds, to heat the building, to pay a librarian and a janitor, and to subscribe to several papers and magazines, but nothing for books. As time went on bequests were made that have created an endowment fund now amounting to four thousand three hundred fifty dol- lars. Most of the income from his fund is used for current ex- penses, although a small amount is specifically for the purchase of books. 1330335
About ten years ago, at the suggestion of Dr. R. A. Kingman, there was established in the library a pay-shelf from which books are rented at two cents a day. The proceeds thus earned are used to purchase more books. This pay-shelf, confined chiefly to cur- rent fiction, has been popular from the beginning and has sup- plied a constant addition of books to the library, for when the pay-shelf books have earned their cost they are placed in the library and are free, thereby keeping it to some extent abreast of the times.
There have been many books and magazines donated by friends of the library, and the book committee have endeavored with the funds available to purchase books requested by the teachers of the high school. In recent years the school children have made constant use of the library. For that purpose it is well equipped.
The number of books in the library at the present time is about five thousand eight hundred. The number added during the past year was four hundred forty-five. The circulation for the past year has been ten thousand five hundred twenty-eight.
In his History of Wallingford Mr. Thorpe tells of Mr. Hart's birthplace in Hartsboro and the home of his grandfather, an early settler in town.
Mr. Hart served in the Civil War as Captain, Company H, Sec- ond United States Sharpshooters, elected by the company which
[ 35]
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
was formed in Wallingford. About 1870 he removed to Detroit, Michigan, where he lived the remainder of his life. His outstand- ing characteristics were a stern integrity and tenderness toward children. His acts of charity were many, and practically every business move he made was inspired by friendship more than any- thing else. He loved his country with an intense devotion that one could see in many of his public acts, and throughout his life there shone a keen sense of humor. He scorned hypocrisy to a great degree, and his ideals of life were simplicity, honesty and sincerity. He was public spirited. He was appointed a member of several important state and city commissions. He was a trustee of the Harper Hospital and gave generously to that institution. He was fond of hunting and fishing, and got much pleasure in a small power boat, owning one of an early type equipped with a naphtha engine.
The old Town House had served its purpose for sixty-five years but it was no longer in keeping with the neat and comfortable homes that lined the main streets of this attractive village, nor did it offer accommodation for town offices. It provided a single assembly room in a one-story, unpainted building, used princi- pally for town meetings. Even this assembly room was at times too small to accommodate the citizens that gathered on the first Tuesday in March to elect officers, vote a tax and "to transact any other legal business when met." A view on School Street, facing page 17 shows the front of the old House and beside it the resi- dence of Dr. Hitt, which is the Lent Ives house that originally stood on Main Street.
The desirability of building a new Town House to replace the old one had been the subject of discussion for several years; and the subject of a more desirable site was sometimes debated. The problem of financing a new building presented no serious difficulty, for Alonzo Kent, who died in 1895, had bequeathed the town three thousand dollars for this purpose, and Alphonzo P.
[36]
THE TOWN HALL
FORK
HOE CO.
AMERICAN FORK & HOE Col
THE PLANT OF THE AMERICAN FORK & HOE COMPANY
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
Stafford, who died in 1902 the sum of six thousand. Besides these gifts Joseph Randall died about a month after Mr. Stafford and left one thousand dollars for a town clock. With these three sums in hand the subject was taken up at the March meeting in 1905, in a resolution offered by A. G. Stone reading as follows: "That the town vote to build a new Town Hall on the site of the present Town Hall and the adjoining lot to be purchased of W. D. Hulett, to be known as the Stafford Building in which shall be located the Alonzo Kent Hall, at an expense not to ex- ceed ten thousand dollars. A building committee consisting of the Selectmen, F. H. Hoadley and H. B. Barden be appointed to carry out the terms of this resolution." A vote was taken and the resolution was enacted.
Shortly afterwards the lot adjoining the old Town House on the west was acquired of W. D. Hulett, who removed the Lent Ives building to a lot in the rear where it now stands. Newton C. Bond of North Adams, Massachusetts, was chosen to be the Architect and Engineer of the new building. A contract was entered into with Edward Kilburn of Bellows Falls, Vermont, to construct the building. During the construction Mr. Kilburn fell from the building and was killed. His wife completed her husband's contract. The front of the new building is shown fac- ing page 36.
The building provided a Town Clerk's office with a vault in which to keep records, and a small assembly room on the ground floor. On the second floor there was a large assembly room with a stage, and in the basement a room in which prisoners could be locked up, but which has been used most frequently for an over- night lodging place for tramps.
A bronze tablet on the front of the building reads:
STAFFORD BUILDING ERECTED BY FUNDS DONATED BY ALPHONZO P. STAFFORD ALONZO KENT JOSEPH RANDALL 1906 A.D.
[37]
1
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
Perhaps the dream of Franklin Post, in which he saw an indus- trial and civic center at the north end of Wallingford village, is coming true; at least great changes have taken place since he built the three-wing factory beside the railroad, diverted the waters of the Creek for power, erected a double row of dwelling houses on River Street, and opened two cross streets, one of which bears his name and the other that of our sugar producing tree. The inn remains at the four-corners but who can say that a future generation will not see a hotel on the block bounded by Main, Franklin, Railroad and Maple Streets where he visioned it. The depot has not yet been moved, but when the center of pop- ulation changes it may follow. He did not succeed in having the Tinmouth Road terminate at the center of his picture but no one can say that will not be its ultimate destination.
Franklin Post passed on, and sixty years have wrought changes in that part of the village. Even as I write the ledges are being torn away to make a wider highway for traffic that did not enter into the dream of Franklin Post. Two gasoline stations have sprung up to supply fuel to the endless traffic, and a saw-mill reduces logs to lumber on the north side of Maple Street where a crop of hay was formerly harvested. No vacant building lots are now to be found on Franklin or River Streets, and homes sur- round the site of Wellman's limekiln.
The Post factory took a new lease of life when H. B. Barden and his brother, who had a small business manufacturing grass- hooks, corn-hooks, corn-knives, etc., in Granville, New York, were induced to move to Wallingford and occupy the idle plant. After they had been in Wallingford for a short time, they under- took the manufacture of scythes and later expanded to include pitchforks, hoes, rakes and other hand farm and garden tools, incorporating the business in 1902 under the name of Walling- ford Manufacturing Company. During the following eight years the business increased with the cooperation of John H. Graham
[38]
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
& Company of New York City, who found a market for the man- ufactured goods. E. L. Seniff, who had had many years of practical experience in the manufacture of forks, hoes and rakes, was se- cured in 1905 as factory Superintendent.
During the development of the business from 1905 to 1910 the growth of the undertaking resulted in William A. and George A. Graham becoming the majority owners of the enterprise, and, as their principal business was a selling organization bearing the name John H. Graham & Company, they were not particularly interested in continuing the ownership and operation of a manu- facturing industry. At that time the Welland Vale Manufacturing Company, Ltd., of St. Catharines, Ontario, was interested in se- curing a plant in the United States which would give them en- trance into the United States market and also enable them to have manufactured in the United States a certain portion of their goods which could be produced advantageously in this country. The business was continued under the ownership and manage- ment of the Welland Vale Manufacturing Company, Ltd., from the time of its purchase in 1910 until July 1, 1924. During this period the officers of the Wallingford Manufacturing Company were as listed in Thorpe's History of Wallingford with the ex- ception that during the later years Marion D. Tryon was Secretary instead of H. C. Cook.
During the period 1910-1924, the plant, buildings and equip- ment, were thoroughly overhauled, improved and extended, and the business was put on a sound financial basis, through the ener- getic and efficient management of A. W. Ferguson, who came to Wallingford when ownership passed into the hands of the Canadian company. On March 17, 1924, the main building of the Batcheller Works of The American Fork & Hoe Company was entirely destroyed by fire. On account of a change in general conditions-a decline in annual consumption of hand farming tools had taken place in the United States-The American Fork
[39]
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
& Hoe Company felt that the producing capacity of the company did not justify the rebuilding of the manufacturing facilities of the Batcheller plant that were destroyed by fire. Rather than do this they preferred to purchase the plant and equipment of the Wallingford Manufacturing Company.
Coincident with this change, the needs of the Canadian com- pany for a factory in the United States did not seem to be as necessary to its operation as formerly, and they were therefore willing to consider a sale of property. As a result, the business and assets of the Wallingford Manufacturing Company were sold in 1924 to The American Fork & Hoe Company and the business was merged with the business of the Batcheller Works of The American Fork & Hoe Company, Wallingford then be- coming the principal New England plant of that company. Shortly thereafter Mr. Ferguson became Treasurer of The Ameri- can Fork & Hoe Company and removed with his family to Willoughby, Ohio, to be near the Cleveland office of the com- pany, and R. C. Taft, who was Manager of the Batcheller Works, assumed the management relinquished by Mr. Ferguson. Wall- ingford suffered a distinct loss in the departure of Mr. Ferguson and his family for they had contributed largely to the social life of the community.
During the operation of the plant by the Wallingford Manu- facturing Company, the trade names "Wallingford," "Claren- don," and "Climax" were established, and the products of the company were sold and distributed throughout the United States and in the principal export markets of the world. While the plant was operated by the Wallingford Manufacturing Company it employed from one hundred twenty-five to two hundred em- ployees and was in continuous production throughout the period with few, if any, slack periods.
Prior to 1907 the people of Wallingford obtained their do- mestic water supply either from wells or from nearby springs
[ 40 ]
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
through privately owned pipe lines, for there was no public sys- tem of supply. By a special act of the legislature in 1906, Fire District No. 1 of Wallingford was incorporated with authority to light the streets and make contracts for water as a fire protec- tion and for domestic use. The following year a private company constructed a small reservoir and laid a system of iron pipes in the principal streets from which water could be supplied to any householder who requested it.
A legislative act of 1919 amended the Fire District Charter, giving authority to make contracts and expenditures of money for water when approved by a vote of the people of the district; also authority to hold land to be used for parks or playgrounds, and to vote a tax for maintenance not exceeding three per cent of the grand list of the district.
A legislative act of 1929 amended the Fire District Charter giving authority to borrow money and issue bonds to purchase a water system. That year the water system which had been con- structed and operated by a private company was purchased by the Fire District, the transaction being financed by means of a fifty-thousand-dollar bond issue. Since then the system has been extended and operated by the Fire District officers, who form a Prudential Committee. This committee establishes water rates to meet operating expenses, interest charges and payments of bond principal as they fall due. The last bond will be payable in 1954.
The number of pupils in the public school has kept pace with the increasing population and, in consequence of extended ad- vantages of a high school, greater equipment has been in con- tinual demand. In the beginning the town was divided into four- teen districts with a rural or primary school in each. In later years some of the rural schools were closed and pupils have been sent to the village where the high school is located. A school bus con- veys the children to and from East Wallingford. As the result of growth and changes, increased facilities have been required. In
[ 41 ]
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
1913 the school house was enlarged by adding two classrooms, lavatories and a larger lobby. Soon this was found insufficient and several primary grades had to be housed in the Town Hall building, using a part of the Town Clerk's office and a small as- sembly room on the ground floor. These rooms gave insufficient space, were inadequately lighted and ventilated for school pur- poses and lacked other facilities, but they were the only rooms available. After several years in these quarters loud complaints from parents of the children resulted in a vote of the town meet- ing in 1934 to construct an addition to the school house. The addition that year comprised two large classrooms and a gym- nasium, also new heating equipment and space in the basement for manual training. The enlarged school building is shown fac- ing page 44 and bears comparison with the original building of 1865, facing page 289. The facilities of the grades and of the high school are now equal to those of most other communities. A few pupils are prepared for college each year.
Wallingford is most fortunate in having a natural, wooded park of thirty acres beside a small mountain lake that offers ex- cellent bathing, within a fifteen-minute walk from the center of the village. This recreational facility was the gift of Lucretia Kent Stone to the Wallingford Park Association, Inc., a corpora- tion created to care and maintain the park for the benefit of the people of the community. The gift was also a memorial to her late husband, Addison G. Stone. The deed is dated April 28, 1919. On August 19, 1921, the exercises of presentation and acceptance were held in the park by the lake (now called Elfin but formerly Fox Pond) in the presence of a large assemblage of citizens. This park property is a part of land once owned by Solomon Miller and by his son Alexander.
The Park Association received another gift of land lying beside the Creek and Tinmouth road, September 10, 1929, for baseball and other sports. The tract has an area of about four acres. Prior
[ 42 ]
THE GROWTH OF WALLINGFORD VILLAGE
to the acquisition of this land the boys of the village had used a vacant lot lying between Main, Franklin and Railroad Streets, but as motor traffic increased the assemblage of cars and people in this locality became dangerous as well as inconvenient. Through the efforts of W. P. Cary funds were subscribed to purchase a suitable playground for the young people. Further contributions enabled the athletic field to be filled and graded to secure a level surface covered with turf.
The "Wallingford House" of John Ives, built in 1824 and re- constructed by W. D. Hulett in 1893 to bear the name "The New Wallingford," was destined to another transformation in 1927, after the property had been purchased by The American Fork & Hoe Company. Charles B. Rowley, Architect, residing in Cleve- land, Ohio, was given a commission to redesign the hostelry that had offered board and lodgings to weary travelers and had been a landmark in the village for a full century. That he executed his commission in a highly satisfactory manner is acknowledged by all its patrons. It is difficult to realize that such an attractive building could have been made on the frame of its predecessors, occupying the same ground. Even the old horse shed of the Wall- ingford House was utilized and but slight additions were made. The American Fork & Hoe Company has always shown a spirit of generosity toward the village of Wallingford in matters of pub- lic welfare, but no act of it has contributed so much as the con- struction of the True Temper Inn. While adding to the attractive- ness of the village, no doubt the company hoped to extend a knowledge of its product by making its trade-mark the title of the new hotel. Whether or not that was a dominating motive which inspired the purchase and improvement of the property, the name True Temper Inn has gone far abroad.
The inn was kept open throughout the first year after its com- pletion but the patronage was so small during the winter months that since then it has been closed from November to May. It has
[ 43]
1
PEOPLE OF WALLINGFORD
attracted many people to its comfortable lodgings and its gener- ous board. It is frequently the meeting place of groups for busi- ness or social gatherings.
At long intervals Vermont has been subject to floods. Those who suffered loss will remember the down pouring of rain on November 3, 1927, which caused a freshet, or flood. In Vermont the greatest damage was done in the Winooski valley, but Wall- ingford did not escape entirely. Rain began falling Wednesday afternoon, November 2d, and continued all day Thursday, com- ing down faster than the water could run off in the regular channels. As a result, streams overflowed their banks, bridges were carried away, roads were flooded, railways were under- mined, communication was interrupted and transportation was largely discontinued.
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.