USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Hartford > Pictorial history of the town of Hartford, Vermont, 1761-1963 > Part 5
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Col. Nutt made his first purchase of land in 1817 when he bought
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
FIRST JUNCTION HOUSE
40 acres from Elias Lyman. Through the years he purchased ad- jacent farms until he owned 500 acres.
In 1849 he witnessed the successful operation of the Vermont Central Railroad adjacent to his land and was one of the first sub- scribers to stock in that company. Soon other railroads were enter- ing White River Junction and Col. Nutt saw the need for hotel accommodations. He went to Enfield, New Hampshire, and bought the Grafton House. He had the building taken down and trans- ferred to White River Junction where he put it into operation as the Junction House.
During the same year that he entered the hotel business he was also appointed White River Junction's first postmaster. This office he held for ten years.
Col. Nutt's busy and successful career ended by his death on January 1, 1871. He is buried in the South Main Street Cemetery.
When the Junction House was first built the area in front was a wide ditch and it was necessary to build a narrow foot-bridge across it from the hotel to the railroad station. The ditch was used
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
--
AREA IN FRONT OF HOTEL
for dumping purposes. Ashes, tin cans, broken bottles and other rubbish were scattered about in an unsightly array. In "The Land- mark" dated July 18, 1890, the following article appeared :
"If any person has old garbage that is an eye-sore about their premises, the ground between the depot and The Landmark block will be found a convenient place of deposit. The pile already on the grounds is large but we presume the railroad folks will furnish more ground when needed. It isn't every village that offers such an attraction to the traveling public. How refreshing and restful it must be to the weary traveller who has been whirled along through green woods and fields, to let his eyes rest upon a pile of elegant red and yellow labelled fruit cans in a beautiful setting of coal ashes and broken bottles."
This situation was not fully corrected until 1898. A small portion of the area had been filled in from time to time and a small park was created in the 1880's. In 1898 the Central Vermont Railroad Company filled in the complete area and granted permission to the Loyal Club to convert it into a park. A series of projects were started to enhance the beauty of the land, a water fountain being installed and many trees planted. Work on the park was completed in 1902.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
LOCOMOTIVE X TENDER BY JOHN P. LAIRD. BUILT AT.
LATEAM & COS WORKS.
W. R. JUNCTION, VT.
COMPETITOR
ADVERTISEMENT OF THE LATHAM LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
AN EARLY HISTORY OF WHITE RIVER JUNCTION
Taken from "The Republican Observer", the first paper ever pub- lished in White River Junction :
"In 1849 there were only three farm dwelling houses and the same number of families at the locality known as the Junction upon the south side of White River and only five scholars in the school district. The locality opposite upon the north side of White River was known as the "Point" and was practically three miles distant as the only access to it by carriage was to make the circuit of White River Village (Hartford) .
"Upon the construction of the several railroads centering here, 'White River Junction' became a place with its name, and was at once looked upon as a 'centre' for business. At about this time the Lathams from Lyme, New Hampshire, came here and built a ma- chine shop and iron foundry. In 1852 they greatly enlarged their works, so that they consisted of an iron foundry fifty feet by ninety feet, a car shop two hundred feet by forty feet, and a machine and locomotive shop three hundred and twenty feet by forty feet. These buildings extended northerly from the tall chimney now standing,
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
and this chimney is the only relic of those extensive shops. In 1854, Latham & Company failed and the shop and machinery were dis- posed of at sheriff's sale and foreclosure of mortgage, and remained idle until 1859, when they were again put into operation. The foun- dry was leased to one party, a portion of one shop to another party for a shoe peg manufactory, and the machine shop to a third party. These several parties continued their respective businesses until 1861 when the shops were all accidentally destroyed by fire.
"This was a great fire for so small a place for at the same time the passenger and freight depots, two large railroad woodsheds, a large barn and a large storehouse on the north side of White River were burned.
"This left the Junction pretty much a black spot. The hotel and about twenty-five dwelling houses were all that was left of it. Ten of these dwellings were erected by the Messrs. Latham. A few of these continued to be occupied by tenants who paid only nominal rents. The parties operating the several shops, and the men em- ployed by them soon left for other places. There are now only nine or ten families here, who were then residents of this place.
"This state of things continued until about 1869. To be sure a few families had moved into vacant houses, but few new ones had been built. This year the Vermont Central Railroad Company purchased the walls of the old forge and repaired and used it for an engine house, until 1874, when this was taken down and the present large engine house was built, this place having been made the terminus of one of the divisions of the railroad. In 1867, a new highway bridge was built across the White River, after a long and sharp contest.
"From this time the present growth and prosperity of the Junc- tion may very properly be dated. The new division in the railroad brought more of their operatives here for residence. Another shoe peg manufacturing company erected new shops and began their business again. The new bridge put the town on a thoroughfare for highway travel between neighboring towns. Consequently, a neces- sity grew for more dwelling houses. At the present time the number of dwelling houses upon the south side of White River are ninety- four-furnishing residences for one hundred and forty families. There are also thirteen shops, stores, churches, and other buildings. Upon the north side of White River there are twenty-three dwelling houses, furnishing residence for thirty-three families, making on
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
the whole one hundred and thirty buildings, and residences for one hundred and seventy-three families.
"School records indicate that in 1877 there were upon the south side of White River, one hundred and thirty-two families and two hundred and thirty-six children under twenty years of age; upon the north side there were thirty-three families and sixty-nine children under twenty years-making a total of one hundred and sixty-five families and three hundred and five children.
"During the past year the number of new dwellings and other buildings erected will average as great as in the past ten years ; and for the present year preparations are being made for other new buildings, one of which is the new Methodist meeting house."
"N.B.S."
Doubtless these are the initials of the late Noah B. Safford. Mr. Safford was White River Junction Postmaster from September 1, 1879, until his death March 10, 1886. Mention in the letter of the anticipated building of the Methodist meeting house would place the date of the letter as 1878.
MILLS IN QUECHEE VILLAGE
The village of Quechee was first known as Quechy. On July 26, 1855, the name of the village was changed to Queechy. The present name of the village was adopted March 16, 1868.
Some of the earliest mills in the Township were erected in Quechee, the Ottauquechee River affording some of the most desirable waterpower in the entire Hartford grant.
As early as 1765 provisions were made by the town for an appro- priation for a sawmill in the village. The sawmill was built about 1769 by Benjamin Burtch, Abel and Elisha Marsh, and Joshua Dewey. Jonathan Burtch purchased this property in 1771 and added a grist mill and fulling mill. He operated his mills for seven years, selling them in 1778 to Lionel Udall. Two weeks later Lionel Udall disposed of his purchase to Joseph and Elisha Marsh.
Numerous transfers followed and eventually all mill privileges came into the possession of Eleazer Harwood and Matthew Ransom. Several more transactions ensued and John Downer & Company gained sole ownership of the village mill properties. In 1825 they built the brick building now standing in the village.
This company failed and the Quechee Manufacturing Company
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
J. C. PARKER MILL
that followed immediately operated the mills unsuccessfully and closed its doors in 1828. In 1857 Taft and Parker of Barre, Ver- mont, purchased the property. Mr. Taft retired the following year, leaving J. C. Parker to continue the business alone until 1866. In that year he formed a partnership with W. S. Dewey and Wm. Lindsey.
In October of 1869 the mill was extensively damaged by high water which undermined the north wing so that it collapsed and much of the wool was lost and valuable machinery was damaged. The building was rebuilt in 1870 and was operated by J. C. Parker until 1906.
The business was sold to Robert L. Harris and Almon G. Harris. In 1908 the firm name was changed to the Harris, Emery Company bringing the Quechee Mills and the Dustin Island Woolen Mill of Penacook, New Hampshire, under one management. Enlargements to the mill in 1915 nearly doubled its output.
Robert L. Harris, president of the mill, died July 4, 1923. The Harris, Emery Company closed the Quechee mill on February 1, 1951, and moved its equipment to the Penacook mill.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
HOWE TRUSS BRIDGE OVER QUECHEE GULF
THE WOODSTOCK RAILROAD
The act to incorporate the Woodstock Railroad Company was approved October 30, 1863.
"This act conferred the right of building a railroad, with single or double track, from some point in the village of Woodstock to some point on or near White River or Connecticut River, either in the town of Hartland or Hartford and passing through either or any of the towns of Woodstock, Pomfret, Hartford, with the right of crossing the railroad of any other company for the transporta- tion of persons and property by team or horse power with the stipulation that the company must commence construction within eight years and expend at least five thousand dollars and complete the road within fifteen years."
The construction of the road did not begin until 1869. Six years later, May 21, 1875, the first rail was laid at White River Junction. The Howe truss bridge over Quechee Gulf, one of the outstanding feats of engineering of the day, was completed on August 12th and
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOWE TRUSS BRIDGE
an engine was driven over it for the first time. The road opened officially with special excursions September 28, 29, and 30, 1875.
The length of the road was 13 88/100 miles, with 3/4 miles of side track. The Howe bridge was 250 feet long and the deck was 163 feet above the stream. The road cost $509,000.
It was the intention of the builders to extend the Woodstock railroad to Rutland eventually-an ambition that was never real- ized.
The construction of wooden bridges for railroads presented a challenge to bridge designers. The use of iron rods and bolts became more common during the last half of the nineteenth century when bridges were erected with iron uprights and wooden diagonal or crossbeams. William Howe of Massachusetts patented a bridge of this nature in 1840 and sold his patent rights to one of his asso- ciates, Amasa Stone, the following year. Many bridges were erected
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
using this plan during the latter part of the nineteenth century.
On August 13, 1875, the day after the first engine crossed the Howe truss bridge, nearly 3000 people assembled in Quechee to celebrate the event. Four brass bands were on hand to add a festive touch to the occasion. A grand ball was held in Quechee village that evening.
The Last Run of the Woodstock
THE H. H. PAINE-HARRY PAINE, ENGINEER
On April 15, 1933, fifty-eight years after its first run, the Woodstock railroad had its last excursion. In Woodstock, Vermont, at 11:00 a.m. Charlie Furber, the station agent, closed his ticket window for the last time. The engineer, Harry Paine from White River Junction, opened the throttle and the old "H. H. Paine" chugged out of the Woodstock station for its final run.
The farewell excursion was a 28-mile round trip to White River with a train made up of the locomotive, three steel passenger cars borrowed from the Boston & Maine railroad, and an old wooden combination car. The train carried about 350 passengers.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
QUECHEE.
OLD H. H. PAINE AT QUECHEE STATION
At the steepest grade near Quechee Gulf, called Shallies Hill, the train was unable to make the incline. Upon investigation the engi- neer discovered that someone had greased the rails. Uncoupling, he made the run light and sanded the rails. He then returned and coupled onto the steel cars and took them to the Junction and then returned for the combination car.
At 2:45 p.m. the last Woodstock train pulled out of White River Junction. The engine bell tolled continuously for the last half mile into Woodstock. Its final run completed, the Woodstock railroad became history.
Delivery -Not So Special
News item, April 12, 1884-"The train from Woodstock was four hours late due to a clay slide. Meanwhile the mail and pas- sengers came in on a hand car."
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
ST. ANTHONY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, SOUTH MAIN STREET ERECTED 1871
ST. ANTHONY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
It is believed that the first Mass offered in White River Junc- tion, Vermont, was celebrated by Rev. John B. Daley in 1847.
In 1869 the Rev. Magloire Pigeon was assigned to the White River Junction parish. A year later he purchased the Mosely prop- erty adjacent to St. Anthony's cemetery on South Main street. In 1871-72 he built the first St. Anthony's church, a rectory, and also a parochial school on this land.
During the pastorate of Rev. James Whitaker, 1884-1892, a new rectory was built and the church enlarged to accommodate the growing Catholic population.
Rev. William Lonergan was transferred to the White River parish from Windsor, Vermont, in May 1894. Fr. Lonergan pur- chased the Tewksbury property on Church street and commenced plans for the erection of a new church for his flock. A subscription list was opened for the new church in September of 1896. The drive was successful and the foundation for the church was nearly completed and the cornerstone was laid on Thanksgiving Day- November 25, 1897.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
AAAA
ST. ANTHONY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-ERECTED 1898
In the cornerstone were placed an appropriate record of the event with copies of the Landmark and Boston papers, and U. S. coins. The silver trowel used by Bishop Beaven of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, on the occasion was presented to the individual making the largest contribution. This award went to the postmaster, Charles A. Fitzpatrick.
The church was dedicated with impressive services on Sunday, October 30, 1898.
Under the recent pastorate of Rev. Edwin T. Buckley, 1956- 1963, the church was completely remodelled inside and out. Recent purchases of the Stone property on Church street, and the Santaw and Sheldon property on North Main street has provided St. An- thony's parish with full ownership of all the property adjacent to the church from the end of North Main street to Church street and along the north side of Church street to the Gates street inter- section.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
GEORGE W. SMITH
SMITH AND SONS, INC.
Purchasing, in 1837, a cracker and confectionery business, which had been started in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1815, by a Mr. Sims, Mr. E. K. Smith began a business which prospered and thrived under continued management by members of the Smith family until its abandonment in 1934. Previous to the purchase, Mr. Smith had conducted a similar business at Bath, New Hampshire, under the name of Sturtevant and Smith.
At the age of 15, Mr. Smith's son, George Williston Smith, en- tered the candy and cracker factory of his father. After thoroughly mastering details of the trade he went on the road with a wagon and four large horses taking orders from various merchants and supplying them with goods which he carried. He continued in this manner until 1871, when his father retired from active manage- ment.
As it was evident that White River Junction, Vermont, would afford a more convenient shipping point for the goods, Mr. Smith removed his business to this place, building a spacious brick build-
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
ing of two stories and basement. The firm was known as E. K. Smith until 1867. From 1867 until 1877 it was called E. K. Smith & Son. When the business was removed to White River Junction, Mr. E. K. Smith retired from active participation in the business but retained his interest until his death in 1877.
Although it is not intended at this time to chronicle the history of the White River Paper Company, of which Mr. Smith was a founder, an interesting sidelight makes it pertinent to mention the names of the founders.
On April 19, 1881, the White River Paper Company was organ- ized with George W. Smith, President; and Alma C. Farman, George W. Smith and S. L. Farman as directors. Their place of business was in the basement of Smith's block.
Subsequent to the announcement of this partnership, an item appeared in "The Landmark", local newspaper, then under the management of A. A. Earle, as follows :
"We are sorry to chronicle the fact that Smith's bakery, with all its contents, together with Cumming's job printing office, was burned Thursday forenoon. P.S. This news may be a little early
-- .
HANOVER N H.
SMITH TEAM IN HANOVER
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
E.K.SMITH&SON
111 BAKERST CONFECTIONERS
FIRST SMITH BUILDING IN WHITE RIVER-1871
but we wish to be ahead with the news. Farman has moved into the basement and as he has been burned out in business three times and his house once, all inside of six years, it is safe to say the bakery "must go" sometime."
Unfortunately this prediction did come true. On February 15, 1884, Smith's bakery did catch fire with damages to the extent of $10,000 to $12,000. The fire was confined to one section by fire doors.
After the fire, a larger three-story building and basement of ninety-foot frontage was added. A fine brick stable and additional buildings were added as occasion demanded.
George W. Smith was active in town affairs and secured the erec- tion of the high school building in 1884 and in 1896 the addition of its exact duplicate. He gave time and money toward the building of the State Fair Grounds and to building the railroad to it.
When the First National Bank of White River was begun on February 6, 1886, on the second floor of the Smith block, Mr. George W. Smith became its first president. The bank was organ- ized with the following officers: George W. Smith, President, George W. Gates, Vice-President-George W. Smith, George W.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
Smilnk Son.
SMITH & SON BUILDING-ERECTED 1884
Gates, George W. Barnes, Edward Morris and Wyman Pettee, Directors.
In 1899, Mr. Smith purchased the Vermont Baking Company and established this business near the underpass in the building presently occupied by the Inter-State Tire Recapping Company. This building had been built by Mr. Smith in 1890 to lease as a steam laundry. When he bought the bakery the laundry was moved to West Lebanon, New Hampshire. The bakery business prospered and in 1910 a new building was built for this purpose on the site now occupied by the Ward Baking Company. This business was operated under the Smith ownership until 1923.
George Smith's son, Robert E. Smith, joined the firm and was taken into partnership by Mr. Smith on April 15, 1892. The name of the firm was then changed to George W. Smith and Son.
At the time of George W. Smith's death in 1905, his son Robert Everett Smith, took over the management of the business. Robert Smith, during his lifetime, was also president of the First National Bank. Mr. Smith operated the cracker and candy business with the addition of the Vermont Baking Company until his death in 1917.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
When Mr. Smith died, the ownership of the business came into the hands of his two sons, George W. and Robert W. Smith.
At the time of their father's death, both of Mr. Smith's sons were serving in the Armed Forces in World War I. The business was incorporated under the name of Smith & Sons, Inc. and active management of the business rested largely in the hands of Asa B. Hebard, an uncle, covering the period 1917-1919.
Upon his discharge from the service, George Smith assumed sole management of the business until the graduation of his brother, Robert, from Williams College in 1921, at which time both brothers operated the business together.
In 1923 they sold the Vermont Baking Company portion of the business to George C. West, its manager.
The candy and cracker business ceased operations on Decem- ber 31, 1934, largely due to lessening demands for the company's products. The building was razed in 1942.
Mr. Robert W. Smith is currently the representative of the Ver- mont Mutual Life Insurance Company and resides in Brandon, Vermont.
Mr. George W. Smith is the senior partner in the firm of Smith, Batchelder, Smith, Rugg & Darling, Certified Public Accountants. He is also president of the First National Bank in White River Junction, and director of the Interstate Trust Company. As presi- dent of the First National Bank he is following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather.
Westward Ho!
"Business men and capitalists are agitat- ing the question of extending the Woodstock railroad directly west to Rutland, a distance of 20 miles. That was the original intention when the road was surveyed from this place to Woodstock. The region from Woodstock to Rutland is particularly rich in soapstone and a whole mountain of solid granite exists between Stockbridge and Bethel. It is re- ported that the matter will be pushed through the coming Spring."-The Land- mark, February 28, 1890.
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The Quechte Times.
Volume MDCCCLXXI ..
The Queshier
Copied from the first edition of "The Quechee Times" dated De- cember 11, 1872 :
"We feel sure that all will agree with us in saying that for a village of our small size, we can boast of more enterprise than can be found in any other known place. At the present time of writing we are successfully running two of the largest manufacturies in the country, three variety stores, all doing a good business, one grocery, two millinery stores, one carriage shop, one harness and trunk shop, one livery stable, one tannery, two blacksmith shops, one cider mill, one ornamental cabinet maker, one barber, three shoemakers, six laundries, four machinists, one meat market, one watchmaker, three mantua makers, two newspapers, "The Times" and "Quechee Star", one unrivalled cornet band, one physician and surgeon, one local editor, two school teachers, one museum of curiosities, said to be the largest and most valuable collection in the State, the best graded school house in the country, the newest and prettiest church in Vermont, a very able lyceum corps, a distinguished theatre troupe, one large and well guarded hall, carefully preserved for ornament, one 1812 soldier, one truthful and charitable sewing society, one Gulf, becoming almost as celebrated as Niagara, the largest collection of tax-paying dogs to be found in any town or city in New England.
Who can beat us ?"
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, GATES STREET
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Information concerning the early history of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in White River Junction was obtained from a year book published in 1930 during the pastorate of Rev. Vernon A. Weaver.
The first services of the Episcopal Church held in White River Junction were conducted by the Rev. J. W. McIlraine, rector of St. James in Woodstock, in 1862 and 1863. These services were occasional until 1868.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church was organized in 1868. The first rector of this church was Rev. James Houghton of Hanover, New Hampshire. The church was built in 1874. The first clergyman to officiate at the new church was the Rev. Thomas J. Taylor of Wind- sor, Vermont. This service was held on December 6 of that year.
The first resident clergyman was the Rev. A. B. Flanders who served from 1882 to 1889.
The church was consecrated at special services conducted by Rev. Arthur C. A. Hall, D.D., Bishop of Vermont, on Sunday, November 18, 1894.
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HISTORY OF HARTFORD
Funds were raised and a rectory was added to the church prop- erty in 1909. In 1924 Rev. Lyman Rollins took charge of the church and under his direction the interior of the church was remodelled and improved.
On October 31, 1962, Robert and Florence Sawyer deeded to the Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Episcopal Church a parcel of land on Taft's Flat. Plans are being developed for a new church and parish house on this land. Construction is expected to begin during the fall of 1963.
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