USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Hartford > Pictorial history of the town of Hartford, Vermont, 1761-1963 > Part 9
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This business was short-lived, failing in 1897. Several citizens leased the building and started the first "Vermont Baking Com- pany". On March 17, 1899, the firm of George W. Smith & Son
12
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
BAKING COMPANY BUILDING-CORNER BRIDGE ST. AND RAILROAD ROW
bought controlling interest in the bakery and operated it for several months in this location.
Desiring more space for his new business, Mr. Smith transferred the baking company to the building on the corner of Bridge street and Railroad Row which is now occupied by the Interstate Tire Company.
George C. West entered the employ of George W. Smith & Son at the bakery on May 19, 1899, and was soon appointed manager. The business was so successful that Mr. Smith found it necessary to relocate-erecting a brick building on North Main street in 1910 providing much needed additional space for his growing business.
In 1923 Mr. West purchased the bakery business from Mr. Smith's two grandsons, George and Robert Smith.
Mr. West retired in 1945 selling the bakery to Ward Baking Company.
128
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
H
WILDER CLUB AND LIBRARY BUILDING
WILDER CLUB AND LIBRARY
The dedication exercises of the club and library in Wilder were held in the hall of the new building on Wednesday afternoon June 14, 1899.
It was revealed at this time that Mr. Wilder had drawn up the instrument of donation on June 14, 1897, two months before his death. A sum of $30,000 was set aside by Mr. Wilder to provide the village with a suitable building to conduct social gatherings and house a library.
Edward Goss, chairman of the building committee, presented the keys of the building to F. P. Campbell, one of the trustees, who accepted the building and formally declared it open for the purpose designated by the founder.
Among the speakers of the day were Herbert L. Wilder, brother of the donor, who spoke briefly concerning his brother's interest in the village. Ex-Governor Pingree conveyed the gratitude of the Town of Hartford for the generous gift and Miss Louise L. Bartlett of St. Johnsbury, representative of the State Library committee, gave an outline of the purposes and aims of the library program.
129
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
Hugh J. Chisholm of New York, president of the International Paper Company, recent purchaser of the mill, gave his assurances that the International Paper Company shared Mr. Wilder's in- terest in the welfare of the village and would continue the program that Mr. Wilder had promoted for the educational, social, and physical growth of the community. The principal speaker of the day was President William J. Tucker of Dartmouth who spoke of the character of Mr. Wilder and the many benefits the village had acquired through his generosity.
The library originally contained 1000 volumes which were made available to the public on June 20, 1899.
THE JUNCTION FOOTBALL TEAM
An article in "The Landmark" dated September 8, 1899, read as follows :
"The Junction football team that met with good success last year has been re-organized for the coming season. Any team outside of the village that would like to try conclusions with our boys may address the manager, W. F. Starr. D. P. Sullivan is captain of the team and the material throughout is the kind that doesn't easily give way. Players are: Tinkham, Carroll, Perkins, Hodet, Ward, Hebard, L. Ahern, Starr, Hough, Sullivan, LaPorte, Jamason, V. Ahern, Hill, G. Miller, and Cameron."
During the season the team played Dartmouth 2nd team and lost, and scored victories over Thetford Academy and Lebanon.
Indulgence in sports could be approved or disapproved. The fol- lowing article appearing in "The Landmark" under date of De- cember 20, 1895, expresses the attitude of that era :
"We of Hartford are always glad to have the young people enjoy themselves in all ways that are lawful and right, but we do not wish to be known as either a Sabbath-breaking or law-violating community. The young people now have six days for skating with- out seizing upon Sunday for the enjoyment of this pleasure. They should show greater respect for the other day and the good name of the place. They should not be allowed to thus openly violate the law of the state. Among the laws passed at our last legislature is No.
130
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
WHITE RIVER FOOTBALL TEAM, 1899
133-An act in relation to Sabbath-breaking-'A person who be- tween twelve o'clock Saturday night and twelve o'clock the follow- ing Sunday night, exercises any business or employment, except such only as works of necessity and charity, or holds, or resorts to any ball or dance, or exercises any game, sport or play, or resorts to any house of entertainment for amusement or recreation, shall be fined not more than two dollars'.
"Skating comes clearly within the compass of the law. We hope never to see again a repetition of last Sabbath on the ice of our village. Great care also should be taken by all employers of labor both in our factories and stores, and by all people in their conduct on their own premises, to keep within the spirit of the law of the commonwealth and maintain the good order and the good name of the place."
Another entertainment item appearing in the local paper on May 17, 1895, gives an account of a delightful evening:
"The phonograph concert at O'Neill's Hall, Thursday evening last, was both entertaining and elevating and highly instructive.
131
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
There was not one insipid or commonplace feature in the entire program. In the vocal solos, duets and trios the very words were clearly distinguishable, and in the various instrumental selec- tions, comprising band pieces, cornet and piccolo solos, peculiar in- tonations of each instrument were marvellously reproduced by this wonder of science. The entertainment, filling a whole evening, afforded a never to be forgotten enjoyment."
GREEN MOUNTAIN STUDIOS, INC.
The imaginary sketch of White River of the future was dis- tributed by the Green Mountain Card Company in the 1920's. Mr. Herbert Miller, the founder of the company, began his working career as a clerk in the store of O. A. Randall in "The Landmark" building. Mr. Miller's father, New England Agent for the Excelsior Carriage Company, purchased land and erected a building in White River Junction. Young Herbert then left Randall's store and went to work for his father. He soon became a salesman. On busi- ness trips he had considerable time on his hands because of train
Station
POSTCARD DISTRIBUTED BY GREEN MOUNTAIN CARD COMPANY
132
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
schedules and he used this spare time selling a sideline of postal cards.
In 1904, discovering that the firm for which he was selling cards was nearly bankrupt and owing him $128.00 in commissions, he called at the firm and secured the $128.00 in cards, investing an additional $335.00 of his own and returned to set up his own busi- ness in his home calling it The Green Mountain Card Company.
Seven years later he resigned from the carriage company to devote his entire time to his business. He purchased the Dartmouth Pennant and Banner Company and added felt and leather goods to his line. He hired a second-floor space in a building on South Main street. A fire in the ground floor damaged most of his goods so he built a building of his own near the corner of Maplewood Terrace and Fairground Road.
On November 21, 1946, a fire totally destroyed the plant. This fire destroyed many priceless momentos of the olden days, including a complete line of cards collected by Mrs. Miller. The business was moved to an adjacent building and resumed operation within a month.
Mr. Miller has retired from active participation in the business which now operates under the name of Green Mountain Studios, Inc.
Mr. Miller's son, Richard, operates an outlet for many of the souvenir items produced by the firm in an attractive store in White River Junction called "Twenty-Five Thousand Gifts."
HARTFORD FIRE
A fire which started from some unknown cause in the factory of the White River Chair Company at Hartford, on Thursday, December 14, 1904, was believed to have been extinguished. How- ever it broke out afresh on Friday, December 15th, and quickly got beyond control of the local fire department.
Help was summoned from neighboring towns and an urgent call for assistance was sent to Concord, New Hampshire. That city immediately sent one of its steamers by special train to aid the local departments in combating the flames. High winds whipped the flames to a raging fury and at times the entire village was threatened. The efforts of the fire department were hampered by the intense cold, the temperature at the time being ten degrees below zero.
133
BUILDINGS NEAR RIVER IN HARTFORD BEFORE FIRE
The fire destroyed the chair factory, the carriage paint shop of Charles L. Bugbee, the store of Madden & Trumbull, grain dealers, a small harness shop, and a tenement house.
The total loss was estimated at $42,000. The loss of the chair factory was a heavy blow to the village as it had furnished employ- ment to over seventy local residents.
RUINS AFTER HARTFORD FIRE
134
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
10c A COPY.
Entered at the White River Junction Post Office 3$ Second Class Matter.
$1.00 THE YEAR.
It is the duty of all Vermont citizens to aid in the maintenance of this thoroughly representative State magazine, thru which the charms and solidity of a new Vermont shall be known to the world.
THE VERMONTER The State Magazine
PORTION OF COVER OF "VERMONTER MAGAZINE"
"The Vermonter", Vol. 1, No. 1, was published by Charles Spooner Forbes in St. Albans, Vermont, in August of 1895. This mazagine, published on a monthly basis, contained articles of in- terest to citizens in all areas of the state and enjoyed a wide cir- culation.
Charles R. Cummings of White River Junction entered into the magazine publishing field when he released the first issue of the "Inter-State Journal and Advertiser" in April of 1900.
In January of 1906 Mr. Cummings purchased "The Vermonter" from Mr. Forbes, uniting the two publications under the name, "The Vermonter and Inter-State Journal". With the publication of the January issue of 1907, Mr. Cummings discontinued the reference to the "Inter-State Journal" and adopted the name "The Vermonter -The State Magazine."
Mr. Cumming's printing establishment occupied office space on the second floor in the Smith & Son block with printing equipment on the third floor. In addition to the magazine the firm was actively engaged in job printing.
As a printer, Mr. Cummings was meticulous and painstaking and his published periodicals were a credit to the printers art.
In 1942 he moved his printing equipment to his home on North Main street where he operated his business until his death on November 25, 1945.
135
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
"The Vermonter" was sold by his estate and only one issue was published after its sale.
The job printing business established by Mr. Cummings is being continued by Mr. Osmer Sheldon. The firm is now known as "The Cummings Printing Company", a name adopted by Mr. Sheldon shortly after the sale of "The Vermonter".
The Vermont Printer's Association was organized in 1955 and Mr. Sheldon was a charter member and became the first vice- president. At the present time he is serving as a member of the Board of Directors.
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION - 1907
At the March town meeting in 1905, David A. Perrin, Chair- man of the Board of School Directors, made report upon the con- gested condition of the high school building in White River Junc- tion and the status of the school building at Hartford village as to the heating and sanitary conditions. A special committee con- sisting of John L. Bacon, Charles D. Hazen, and David A. Perrin
HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL
136
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
HARTFORD VILLAGE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
was constituted to further check into the existing conditions at said school houses and to report at a special town meeting as to the requirements and needs at each school. This was done on July 15th following.
A change in the heating and sanitary conditions was recom- mended for the Hartford school building and four different plans were suggested to relieve the congested condition, and provide addi- tional facilities needed in the high school building. The report was laid upon the table, ordered printed in "The Landmark" and held for action at the annual town meeting in 1906.
At the town meeting the committee was authorized to make further investigation and recommendations. Horace C. Pease was substituted for Charles D. Hazen. At a special town meeting held March 27, 1906, the committee recommended a new four room brick building for Hartford village and the sale of the old school building at the best terms possible; and a new brick high school building on the Point at White River Junction, the same to have four sizeable rooms and to include any additional facilities deemed necessary, such as laboratory, gymnasium, etc.
137
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
WEST HARTFORD SCHOOL
At this meeting the town did not adopt the report of the com- mittee in full but voted "to repair and modernize the Hartford village school and properly furnish it with modern conveniences so as to bring it up to date." The recommendation to build a new high school building at White River Junction was approved.
Various citizens were not satisfied with the action and circularized a petition securing enough signers so that a special town meeting was called on April 14th, 1906.
At this meeting the action taken on the high school was upheld but the action in regard to the schoolhouse in Hartford Village was rescinded and it was voted to appropriate $10,000 to build a new brick schoolhouse. The appropriation was to cover heating, lighting, plumbing and sanitary arrangements. The same commit- tee was chosen to superintend construction of the high school and also the new school building at Hartford.
The contract for both buildings was awarded to Horace H. Tozier of Lynn, Massachusetts.
The committee attempted to sell the Hartford schoolhouse at private sale, the purchaser to remove same from the schoolhouse lot, but the highest offer that could be obtained was $125. This
138
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
was considered too low and accordingly it was advertised and sold at public auction. The price realized was $135. The bell, black- boards, and all desks and seats considered of any value for use elsewhere in town were reserved.
The committee also proceeded to select a site for the new high school building on the "Point", as per vote of the town. The tri- angular lot lying between Barnes and Lyman streets, owned by Lizzie B. and Louise H. Lyman was finally chosen as the one which would best meet all requirements, and which was available and would come within the amount at the disposal of the committee to expend for such purpose. Three thousand five hundred dollars, a price considered by a majority of the committee, to be liberal, was offered the owners for the land, but they refused to accept the amount and were averse to parting with the land at all. Accordingly, condemnation proceedings were instituted under the statute, and the selectmen, who then had the matter in charge, assessed the damages at $3,000. The owners refused to accept the amount assessed as damages and tendered to them and took an appeal from the selectmen's action to the Windsor County Court. This action caused delay and prevented prosecution of work by the contractor. It was expected that the case would be heard or re- ported on at the December term of court, but, when it was learned that such was not likely to be the case, and that it was not to be pushed to an early determination, the committee decided that it was for the best interest of the town to pay the owners the price asked by them for the said lot-$4,000, (a strip 25 feet wide at the south end and a small triangular lot at the north end being reserved) rather than to be obligated to submit to unavoidable delay and any damage which might result therefrom. A settlement with the owners was then effected.
Both schools were completed and opened in September of 1907. A gymnasium was added to the high school property in 1934.
The Town Report of 1870 listed an interesting report on the average attendance and operating expense of each school district:
No. 16-Abel Howard's-Average attendance, 4; expenses $98.00.
No. 10-Centerville-Attendance, 6; expenses $120.00.
No. 22-Alexander-Attendance, 9; expenses $140.00.
No. 12-Russtown-Attendance, 10; expenses $106.00.
No. 8-Dothan-Attendance, 10; expenses $97.00.
No. 11-Point-Attendance, 11; expenses $99.50.
139
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
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1869 MAP OF TOWNSHIP
No. 21-Major Russ-Attendance, 13; expenses $124.00. No. 4-Birch-Attendance, 14; expenses $113.00.
No. 2-Pine Woods-Attendance, 15; expenses $126.00.
No. 9-Christian Street-Attendance, 18; expenses $198.32. No. 7-Jericho-Attendance, 18; expenses $132.00.
No. 15-Brick School House-Attendance, 20; expenses $155.75. No. 1-Centre-Attendance, 21; expenses $187.00.
No. 5-West Hartford-Attendance, 22; expenses, $168.50.
No. 3-Quechee-Attendance, 28; expenses $510.00.
No. 14-Ballard-Attendance, 25; expenses $138.00.
No. 13-White River Junction-Attendance, 22; expenses $436.32.
No. 17-White River Village-Attendance, 31; expenses $406.00.
Enrollment 1870-297. Several schools had two terms. Total for year 362.
Enrollment September 1962-6 schools-1587 pupils.
Hartford High-327, Hartford Memorial-766, Hartford Gram- mar-152, Quechee Grammar-99, Wilder Grammar-221, Ottauquechee-22.
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140
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
GATES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
LIBRARIES IN WHITE RIVER
Prior to 1900 the village library of White River Junction led a wandering existence. The library was created by the enthusiasm of a few public spirited citizens who invested in shares at $5.00 each raising $150.00 to purchase the initial books and equipment. Books were loaned to members for a fee of $1.00 a year. The choice of books for the library was left almost wholly to the ladies who acted as librarians.
The book cases were first placed, free of charge, in the office of Mr. S. L. Farman in the freight depot. The library was popular from the beginning. The depot burned and the books were removed to a private schoolhouse near the Episcopal Church. Shortly after- wards the library was transferred to an upstairs room in Smith's bakery. Later the books were stored and not used for several years.
It was at this time while the books were still in storage, that the Loyal Club, an organization formed in 1891, offered to assume charge of the library. The books were turned over to the Club by the Library Association.
141
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
The Loyal Club later rented the only available rooms on the first floor of the Junction House Annex in August of 1900, and moved the library there.
At a meeting of the Club held at Mrs. Safford's home, May 1, 1906, Mrs. Wallace announced that Mr. Amos Barnes of Boston would give a lot of ground and erect a library building as a memo- rial to the late George W. Gates and family. The Gates Memorial Library was completed and opened to the public April 2, 1907.
George W. Gates, who, with his family, was thus honored by Mr. Barnes, originally resided in West Hartford but moved to White River in 1866. He was one of the Town's leading men of affairs and organized measures which aided greatly in the develop- ment of the village. He was born in Quebec in 1824.
He came to White River as superintendent of construction and repairs of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He entered into many civic projects and was foremost in the organization of the First National Bank.
He died in Hartford in November of 1887.
MILLER AUTOMOBILE COMPANY
When Garfield Miller pedalled his bicycle the five miles to school each day from North Hartland to White River Junction, no doubt he often dreamed of a swifter, cleaner, more comfortable means of transportation. Travelling over the dirt road with the fenderless bicycle of that era he arrived at his destination covered with dust and his friends and classmates soon were calling him "Dusty" Miller, a name which has stood by him to the present day.
After school, young Dusty helped his father around the carriage shop his father operated upstairs over a dance hall in North Hart- land. He later helped his father move his goods to White River Junction when he set up business as agent for the Excelsior Car- riage Company in the location now occupied by the Shepard Cor- poration.
Early in the century the Excelsior Carriage Company stocked a few of the new "horseless carriages" along with their regular line of fine horse-drawn carriages, harnesses, fur robes, and blankets. These horseless carriages fascinated young Dusty. When, in 1907, the Excelsior Carriage Company announced that they would no longer stock the new automobiles as there was no future in it,
142
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
LERAUTOMOBILE CO.
......
MILLER AUTOMOBILE COMPANY WITH CARS ON DISPLAY
young Mr. Miller was disappointed. He contacted an agent of the Cadillac Company and signed his father's name to a contract for fifty Cadillacs to be taken within a year.
"My father was pretty sore," Mr. Miller recalls, but they man- aged to get the money together to pay for the cars and "Dusty" managed to sell them. These early cars were shipped cash on de- livery and the dealers had to have the money ready when the cars arrived.
In 1912 Mr. Miller received the largest shipment of cars ever to be seen in this area. These were the first cars to have electric starters.
When the Hotel Coolidge burned in 1925, the intense heat broke several windows in Mr. Miller's garage. Many of the cars were moved from the garage to a safer place on the street. When they were later picked up the motors had frozen and some of the radia- tors were cracked.
Mr. Miller is still actively engaged in his automobile business. He has watched the automobile business grow from its very be- ginning, having furnished transportation to his many customers since 1908.
143
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
A COOLING DRINK ON A HOT DAY
PUBLIC WATERING TROUGH
The following article appeared in "The Landmark" on Octo- ber 27, 1899 :
"It has been suggested that one of the needs of the village is a public watering trough on Main street. Now that we have a water system introduced why cannot such a convenience be provided. Persons driving to the Junction on business or pleasure find no opportunity to water their horses in the business district unless they put up their team at the Livery Stable. Will not the Village Improvement Society or the Loyal Club take up the matter?"
On August 6, 1907, Miss Helen W. Smith gave the Loyal Club a handsome public drinking fountain in memory of her brother, George W. Smith. This fountain with ornate metal decorative posts stood for many years opposite the entrance to the Hartford Savings Bank-now the Inter-State Trust Company.
With the passing of the horse and buggy era the need for the fountain no longer existed and it was removed and placed on the lower river road leading from Hartford to Quechee in 1945. The Smith Memorial Fountain is still in use in 1963.
144
An
Hiftorical Pageant
saturday afternoon
onday evening
Thelday afternoon July 4 th ata o'clock
Tueidau evening July 4 th alsodock
Drelented near the Ivillage of Whiteriver Junction
-
In Celebration of the Onehund Ired fiftieth Anniverfary of the Chartering of the Towne
HARTFORD VERMONT IT6F- -1911
HISTORY OF HARTFORD
BRITISH REGULARS AND COLONIAL VOLUNTEERS
HISTORICAL PAGEANT OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH OF HARTFORD, VT. GIVEN BY THE TOWN Program of Scenes
I. The Wilderness-Indian Camp-Indian Hunt Dance
II. French Soldiers and Indian Braves on their way to Deerfield -Return with Deerfield Captives-Parting of Stephen Williams from his Father.
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