USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Hartford > Pictorial history of the town of Hartford, Vermont, 1761-1963 > Part 4
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
ELIAS LYMAN, 3rd
Elias Lyman was Hartford's first and most successful business man. He was an almost constant purchaser of real estate and at on~ time owned, with few exceptions, most of what now constitutes the village of White River Junction.
He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, February 23, 1768, and received his education in the Northampton schools. When he became of age in 1789 he was presented by his father with the cus- tomary "freedom suit" of clothes, fifty cents in silver, and one-half interest in a new flat-boat which his father gave him in partner- ship with his elder brother, Justin.
In 1790 he married Anna White of Hatfield, Massachusetts, They made their first home in Weathersfield, Vermont, where Mr. Lyman operated a store. His store burned and in 1790-91 he established his business in Hartford at the mouth of the White River. Mr. Lyman transported a great amount of merchandise on the river. According to an eyewitness there were at one time over one hundred tons of freight on the Meadow; in the brick store "thousands of bushels of grain and thousands of barrels of cop- peras; twenty-five hogsheads of molasses; fifty-five tierces of salt (a tierce held seven bushels) ; a large amount of iron and steel and
35
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
THE LYMAN HOMESTEAD WHICH STOOD ON THE CORNER OF PINE AND MAPLE STREETS
INSCRIPTION ON MARKER : ON THIS SITE STOOD THE LYMAN HOMESTEAD 1796-1930 BUILT BY ELIAS LYMAN HARTFORD'S FIRST MERCHANT AND MANUFACTURER AND OCCUPIED BY THREE GENERATIONS OF HIS DESCENDANTS.
Erected by the Thomas Chittenden Chapter DAR 1934
nearly a hundred barrels of liquor, gin, rum, brandy, and wines of all kinds." Some of the river freight was carried by Samuel Nutt whom Mr. Lyman had aided considerably in starting in business.
In 1804 Mr. Lyman built the open or King Post bridge across the river to West Lebanon. The framework was built on the same day that Mr. Lyman's daughter, Clementine, was born and he often jokingly referred to the bridge as her twin.
36
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
Closely related to the toll bridge was the Lyman aqueduct. It was built by Elias Lyman after his purchase of the Bugbee farm in 1820-21. The aqueduct ran from Caesar Brook under the White River and along Maple Street supplying the Lyman buildings and other houses on the Point.
His cotton factory on the site now occupied by the Hartford Woolen Mill was built in 1823 and was the second in the State of Vermont.
The elder brother, Justin, handled the outside business interests. The foreign trade which he conducted suffered tremendous losses at sea, estimated moderately at $91,113. Elias and his elder sons protested against this trade and threatened to dissolve the partner- ship. Justin promised to abstain but made another unfortunate venture in purchasing wild lands in New York state. In January, 1820, Elias Lyman published a notice that the partnership was terminated. As a result Justin brought suit against Elias, claiming that the publication of this notice had greatly injured his business reputation. The lawsuit, costing in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand dollars, provided revenue to the lawyers engaged in the case. When they met socially in the days of the trial they mutually pledged each other to the continuation of the suit of Lyman vs. Lyman. The lawsuit ended in 1829 with the sale of all the property belonging to the firm. Justin outbid Elias on the cotton mill and the toll bridge. He did not bid on the Lyman home solely because this act would have injured his business interest in this area.
Elias lived only a year after the termination of the case. On the 22nd day of November, 1830, he died of fever at the age of sixty-two.
THE LYMAN TOLL BRIDGE
Crossing the Connecticut river was a challenge to the early Hartford settler. A ferry offered limited service when the river was not too turbulent and the ice could be crossed in many places during the winter months. The ingenuity of Elias Lyman, 3rd provided Hartford with the first bridge connecting the Town of Hartford with the neighboring Town of Lebanon.
On the 21st of October, 1795, the legislature of Vermont passed an act to incorporate certain companies for locking falls, cutting canals, and building bridges over the Connecticut River between the mouth of the White River and two miles north of the mouth of
37
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
A VIEW OF WHITE RIVER JUNCTION AS IT APPEARED IN 1862
Mink Brook in Hanover, New Hampshire. The corporators were Ebeneazer Brewster, and Rufus Graves of Hanover, New Hamp- shire, and Aaron Hutchinson of Lebanon, New Hampshire.
These corporators sold their franchise to Elias Lyman, 3rd of Hartford, Vermont, for the sum of $300 in 1800. Mr. Lyman then built an open King-post bridge across the Connecticut. This bridge was a toll bridge.
After Elias Lyman's death in 1830 a corporation was formed by Francis Lyman, Thomas Belknap, and Wm. J. Hummersley. This group was incorporated by the New Hampshire General Court under the title of Lyman Bridge Company. In 1836 the group removed the old King-post bridge and replaced it with a three-span covered bridge. This also was a toll bridge.
The capital stock was fixed at 200 shares, par value $100 per share. The rates of toll were fixed by the Superior Court of Judica- ture. The charter provided that the proceeds from toll should not exceed ten per centum per annum on the cost and expenditures in- curred on account of said bridge, and that the directors should once in every five years make an exhibit to the Superior Court of the
38
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
cost and expenditures to date, with an account of all toll received under penalty of the forfeiture of all rights.
The company never complied with these conditions, but watered the stock from time to time to make it appear that the large amount of toll received did not exceed ten per cent of its cost and expendi- tures and continued to "bleed the public".
In 1867 the bridge had fallen into a dilapidated condition and it was sold to Asa T. Barron for the sum of $2,500. After making some repairs, he continued to exact the original rates of toll which made the property a bonanza to him. In 1879 legal proceedings were taken by the Town of Lebanon, New Hampshire, against Barron. Investigation revealed that the property was rewarding its owner in the neighborhood of $1,800 per year, or nearly 70 per cent instead of the 10 per cent limit originally set by the court. Lebanon purchased the bridge from Barron and made it free to the public.
In 1895, plans were made to build an iron bridge across the river and arrangements were made to dismantle the old Lyman bridge. A large derrick was erected near the railroad bridge underpass to lift the granite from the railroad cars to teams to transfer them to the job for piers and abutments.
Every spring the people of White River Junction and West Lebanon expected to see the old bridge carried away by high water but each year it weathered the heavy pressure of spring freshets-a tribute to the bridge-building skill of the early settlers- and now, after sixty years of service the bridge was to be dis- mantled manually.
The preliminary work of dismantling began on Tuesday, August 13, 1895. Many people crossed the bridge for the last time on this day, some undoubtedly with a feeling of deep sentiment for the old structure that had served them so well through the years and in which they had frequently found welcome shelter from sudden storms.
A temporary bridge, 440 feet long, had just been completed. It was agreed that the old bridge would be turned over to the con- tractor. Hartford's portion of the cost of the new bridge would be $3,700. The height of the new bridge above the water was to exceed that of the old bridge by six feet on the Lebanon side and four feet six inches on the Hartford side. Professor Robert Fletcher of the Thayer School, Dartmouth College, was consulting engineer.
39
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
DISMANTLING THE LYMAN BRIDGE - 1895
The removal of the middle pier of the Lyman bridge disclosed the fact that its foundation was a crib built of pine logs which were as sound as when they were first laid over ninety years before.
Heavy rains on Tuesday, November 26, 1895, caused the Con- necticut River to rise about five feet. At about one o'clock on Thurs- day morning, one of the horses used as a support under the frame- work of the iron bridge was washed out by the high water and came down against the temporary bridge taking that structure out clean from shore to shore. In about a half-hour the middle staging under the iron bridge collapsed and the iron settled into the river.
This setback, plus the high-water hazard, caused considerable delay. Work could not be resumed until December 12th. The bridge was then completed without further delay and was opened to the public March 4, 1896.
In July of 1896 the Old Toll House near the bridge was moved back so that the road could be widened from the underpass to the bridge.
The introduction of the automobile early in the twentieth century brought a steadily increasing flow of traffic through the iron bridge. This shortened the life of the bridge and it was replaced in 1936 by
40
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
a similar span. At this time the height of the bridge above the water was increased another twenty inches.
The threat of high water which constantly endangered the bridges in this area was alleviated in a large degree in recent years by a new flood control dam at Union Village, Vermont, on the Ompompanoosuc river about ten miles north of White River Junc- tion, and also by the new power dam at Wilder. A proposed flood control dam at Gaysville, Vermont, and the recently completed flood control dam at North Hartland, Vermont, will give this area com- plete control over the rampaging rivers that have caused so much damage in the past.
MAJOR DAVID WRIGHT
Major David Wright was born, March 14, 1749, in Lebanon, Connecticut. He married Hannah Bailey and they came to Hart- ford, Vermont, on their honeymoon in 1771. He served in the Con- tinental Army during the Revolutionary War. When his wife died in 1814, Major Wright had the tomb built which is shown below.
TOMB OF THE DAVID WRIGHT FAMILY
41
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
Prior to his death he witnessed the entombment of his son, David Wright, Jr., in 1817, and his son's wife, Elizabeth, in 1818. Elizabeth was one of the Hazen family who have made their home on Christian street since pre-revolutionary days. Major Wright had a great fear of being buried alive and, before his death, he left instructions that the cover of his coffin should not be nailed down nor the door of the tomb sealed. It is said that he had stone shelves put, one above the other, around the sides of the tomb except on the left of the entrance where he had only a lower shelf. This is where he directed his own coffin to be set and a mallet placed with him. He died February 21, 1822, at the age of 73.
The inscriptions on the tomb are as follows :
Major David Wright died Feb. 21, 1822 ae. 73 yrs.
David Wright, Jr. died May 10, 1817 ae. 36 yrs.
Bela Wright died Sept. 1, 1829 ae. 43 yrs.
Hannah wife of
Elizabeth wife of
Betsy wife of
Bela Wright
Major David Wright died June 14, 1814 ae. 62 yrs.
David Wright, Jr. died Mar. 11, 1818 ae. 42 yrs.
died Aug. 31, 1846 ae. 56 yrs.
DR. HORACE WELLS
DISCOVERER OF ANESTHESIA
In Hartford village, on January 21, 1815, was born Horace Wells, dentist, and benefactor of mankind. He lived here only three years. Most of his public career was spent in the practice of dentistry in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the first one to demonstrate the use- fulness of nitrous oxide gas and employ it for dental and surgical operations. While attending a public lecture on "Laughing Gas", Dr. Wells conceived the idea of using it for surgical anesthesia and the next day, December 11, 1844, he gave a demonstration by having one of his teeth painlessly extracted under its influence.
On January 21, 1848, while under the influence of a self-admin- istered overdose of chloroform, Dr. Wells was arrested in New York City for having sprayed the clothing of several people on Broadway with sulphuric acid he had in a vial. The following day he was permitted by the police to get his razor and other necessi- ties from his room on Chamber Street. The next day, Sunday,
42
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
--
BIRTHPLACE OF DR. WELLS SCHOOL STREET, HARTFORD, VERMONT
January 23, 1848, after attending church services, he returned to his cell and, feeling that the publicity would ruin his career, ended his life. He was buried in the Old North Burying Ground but later his body was removed to Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Dr. Wells received many honors and is recognized as one of the seven "immortals in dentistry".
The marker on Dr. Well's grave bears this inscription:
HORACE WELLS 1815-1848 Discoverer of Anesthesia
43
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HARTFORD, VERMONT
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES
The Congregational Society of White River Village was formed in November of 1827. The first meetings were held in a house belonging to Phineas Kimball. Research indicates that this may be the home now owned by the Ritchie Willard family.
Original organizers of the Society were George E. Wales, John Strong, Harvey Freegrace Leavitt, Elias Lyman, Wyllys Lyman, John Grout, Zerah Brooks, David Trumbull, and Phineas Kimball.
These members decided to build a church at the west end of the village, fifty by seventy feet in dimensions, and divided into eighty slips or pews which were to be sold for forty dollars each to defray construction expenses.
Construction plans were completed in January of 1828 and the contract for the building was awarded to Jedediah Dana of Leba- non, New Hampshire. On Thursday, January 8, 1829, the new meet- ing house was dedicated.
To strengthen their membership the new Society issued invita- tions to the North Hartford Church in Dothan and the Center Church at the Center of the Town to make the new meeting house
44
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
their place of worship. The invitation was coldly declined by the North Hartford Church but the pastor of the Center Church, urged by his congregation, accepted the invitation.
On Sunday, January 11th, 1829, services were held in the new church for the first time. Many members of the Center Church were in attendance. Their pastor, Rev. Austin Hazen, officiated at the service and preached the first sermon.
The interior of the church was remodelled in 1903. Under the guidance of Louis Sheldon Newton, architect, of Hartford village, the interior was enriched to make it harmonize with the exterior. The completed design retains the style of the times in which the church was originally built.
This beautiful church was rededicated on the evening of May 26, 1903.
The Congregational Society in West Hartford was organized on January 29, 1829. A church was established on June 3, 1830, with eighteen members. Services were held in the brick school house until a church could be built. Construction of the church was com- pleted in 1832. Repairs and renovations were made on the church in 1860 and again in 1884.
The following article found in an old newspaper dated January 8, 1892, gives evidence of further repairs and renovations :
"The last day of the year 1891 was a day of rejoicing for the Church at West Hartford when the church in its new beauty and freshness was dedicated to the worship of God, and, when A. J. Smith was ordained and installed pastor of this church by a council called for that purpose at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Smith passed a very creditable examination and the vote was unanimous, after which Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Wheeler entertained the members of the council at dinner. Dedicatory services commenced at 2 p.m. After the pre- liminary exercises an historical statement of the church was given by Rev. S. L. Vincent of Jamaica, Vt., a former pastor of this church. Sermon was delivered by Rev. P. McMillan of Woodstock. During the service and through the eloquence of Rev. McMillan, and the generous loyal hearts here and in neighboring churches, a sum of money was raised, enough to pay off all indebtedness. At the close of the afternoon service all were invited to supper in the vestry prepared by the ladies. Ordination and installing exer- cises commenced at 6:30 p.m. First-reading minutes of the Council,
45
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN WEST HARTFORD
sermon by Rev. James Ramage of South Royalton; ordaining and installing prayer laying on of hands, by Rev. S. L. Vincent, this with the charge to the pastor by Rev. A. S. Chase made a very impressive and touching part of the service; right hand of fellow- ship by Rev. Prescott Fay of Quechee; address to the people by Rev. H. M. Perkins; and benediction by our Pastor closed the service."
Regular services have not been held at this church since June of 1961. The church is opened for funerals and weddings and is served by neighboring pastors. It is still a very imposing building.
A. G. DEWEY COMPANY
In July, 1836, Albert Galatin Dewey founded the first reworked wool (or shoddy) mill in America.
Mr. Dewey was born in Hartford, Vermont, in 1805, the eldest in a family of three girls and one boy. His father owned a small farm and was able to furnish only the barest necessities for his
46
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
-
-
*
*
-
-
-
AERIAL VIEW OF DEWEY WOOLEN MILLS NEAR QUECHEE GULF
family. The death of his father, when Albert Dewey was only eighteen, left him the task of providing for the family.
Young Dewey tried the carpenter's trade, serving a three-year apprenticeship with Mr. Elihu Ransom of Quechee. When released from his apprenticeship he followed the carpenter's trade until 1831.
During this year he found employment in the shop of Daniels & Company of Woodstock, Vermont, manufacturers of machinery for the textile industry. He was keenly interested and mechanically minded and within four short months had gained sufficient knowl- edge so that he was sent on the road to install textile machinery for the customers of the firm.
After five years with this company Mr. Dewey decided to build and operate his own woolen mill. He chose a site for his mill near the head of Quechee Gulf. The initial years were unsuccessful but his creditors had faith in him and helped him to get established.
By 1856 all debts were paid and the business began to prosper. Mr. Dewey's two sons, John J. and William S. Dewey, joined the
47
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
--
DISMANTLING OF THE DEWEY MILL
firm, and in 1886 when Albert Dewey died at the age of 81, the two sons took over the operation of the woolen mill.
James F. Dewey entered the firm in 1904 and William T. Dewey in 1934. William Dewey is the fourth generation of the family to operate the mill.
The construction of the flood control dam at North Hartland on the Ottauquechee River forced the Dewey's to leave their scenic location near the Quechee Gulf. The century old mill and the many homes that housed generations of woolen workers were torn down in 1962. Little is left of what once was the thriving community of "Dewey's Mills".
The business was transferred to the Baltic Mills in Enfield, New Hampshire. Additional carding and spinning activities are being performed in the mill in Hartford village. This building, which formerly belonged to Hartford Woolen, was recently purchased by the A. G. Dewey Company.
A gift shop near Quechee Gulf displays many of the fine Dewey products.
48
مكتشف : جبند.
INN IN WEST HARTFORD
WEST HARTFORD-POMFRET STAGE
49
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
In 1838 Alvan Tucker opened a hotel in the village of West Hartford which was kept by him until 1840. After a succession of various proprietors Frank Wheeler obtained possession of the property in 1888. The building was destroyed by fire in 1924.
The stage coach on the preceding page made the run between Pomfret and West Hartford. Chauncey Perry, the driver, was born in 1813 and died in 1892.
HOTELS IN HARTFORD
The Pease Hotel, later named the White River Tavern, is within the memory of many local citizens. However, this was not the first hotel in the village of Hartford.
The first hotel on the north side of the river in Hartford village was kept by Asa Richardson. This hotel was built in 1801 and sold to William Strong of Quechee in 1812. Mr. Strong sold it to Noah Ashley in 1815 who kept it only four months and then sold it to Consider Bardwell. Rapidly changing hands, Consider Bardwell sold it to Theodore Cooley within the same year. In 1820 George and Bani Udall purchased the property. The hotel was originally in the house later occupied by the Cones. Bani Udall closed this hotel and moved the business to a house standing on the site of the Pease Hotel. Udall failed financially and had to dispose of his prop- erty which was sold to a group headed by a Mr. Hodgman. They in turn sold the place to Tracy & Converse, a law firm in Wood- stock. On December 4, 1848, this firm sold the hotel to Luther Pease.
When Luther Pease died in 1876 the hotel became the prop- erty of Horace C. Pease. Due to many other business interests, Mr. Pease gave up the hotel business and it became the property of Charles W. Pease. The building was destroyed by fire on Janu- ary 24, 1889. Until a new one could be built Charles Pease used his home on School street for a hotel. The new hotel was built at a cost of $22,000 and was one of the best in the area. The hotel finally came into the hands of Allen L. Pease, who, owing to ill health, leased it to various managers. Upon his death it was sold to settle the estate. The Pease Hotel continued in operation under that name until 1908 when it was sold to Addison Ely of New Jersey by the White River Savings Bank. At the time of his purchase Mr. Ely changed the name of the hotel to "The White River Tavern". The property was officially declared bankrupt on February 12, 1912.
50
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
FIRST PEASE HOTEL
1
RUINS OF PEASE HOTEL AFTER FIRE, JANUARY 24, 1889
51
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
NEW PEASE HOTEL OPENED 1893
Securing authority for its sale, Attorney Roland E. Stevens, of White River Junction, deeded the property to H. M. McFarland, May 17th, 1912, for $8,500. Mr. McFarland conveyed the property to the Lamoille County Savings Bank of Hyde Park, Vermont, by quitclaim deed dated November 10, 1914.
The Lamoille County Savings Bank sold the property for $7,000 to H. L. Gale of White River Junction, in July of 1919. Mr. Gale razed the building selling the brick piers, foundation, and remainder of the lot belonging to the White River Tavern to Horace C. Pease on September 16, 1919.
The Old Pease Hall, once the gathering place for town meeting, scene of many social affairs, and host to many travelling entertain- ment groups, was the only portion of the hotel that was not torn down. This later became the property of Alfred E. Watson and was known by the familiar name, "Watson's Hall."
On Wednesday, December 3, 1941, the hall was completely de- stroyed by fire.
52
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
SEWAL E BEUKNAI
BORN Nov. 29.1812
The Vt. Sentral Railroad in which he sacrificed his Fortitne and his Life is mainly indebted the lie for its existence.
DIED June 19. 1849
TWO SIDES OF MARKER OVER THE GRAVE OF SEWAL BELKNAP IN WINDSOR, VERMONT
THE VERMONT CENTRAL RAILROAD
In the Old South Church yard in Windsor is a plain marble shaft bearing the following inscription :
"Sewal F. Belknap, born November 29, 1812, died June 19, 1849 -A man of unbounded enterprise, of strict integrity and an un- faltering friend. The Vermont Central railroad in which he sacri- ficed his fortune and his life is mainly indebted to him for its existence."
The first ground for building the road was broken in Windsor- December 15, 1845, on the farm formerly owned by Judge Elijah Paine. It was the first ground broken for a railroad in Vermont. Sewal F. Belknap was the contractor and it is to him that the success of the enterprise is due.
Passenger trains first passed over the road from White River Junction to Bethel, a distance of 27 miles, on Monday, June 26, 1848.
53
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
"The Winooski", the engine that made the initial run from White River to Bethel in 1848. The engine was loaned to the Woodstock railroad and also had the distinction of being the first engine to travel over the route from White River to Woodstock.
THE FIRST JUNCTION HOUSE
One of the first hotels in White River Junction was operated by Col. Samuel Nutt. Col. Nutt was also one of White River Junction's outstanding personalities. He was born in Topsham, Vermont, De- cember 23, 1791. He left home at an early age and worked for a while in Hanover, New Hampshire, and then in a tavern in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. Having saved enough money he pur- chased a river boat. On his first trip, while transporting a load of lumber, his boat was wrecked at Sumner's Falls near Hartland, Vermont. While bemoaning his loss it is said that he was discov- ered by Elias Lyman who volunteered to aid him and loaned him money to start in business again. Col. Nutt followed the river trade for over twenty years.
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.