USA > Vermont > Addison County > Statistical and historical account of the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 2
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PHILIP C. TUCKER, Esq., at our request, has obligingly furnished us the following account of the falls at Vergennes and the works on it. "The falls of Great Otter Creek at Vergennes, are divided by two islands into three separate parts. The width of their head is about three hundred and ten feet. The height of the fall is thirty seven feet. The creek furnishies an ample supply of water through the year. On the westerly shore is an iron foundery, a forge with four fires, and saw mill owned by the Vergennes Iron Company, and carried on by WILLIAM H. WHITE, Esq., There is also a machine shop carried on by Mr. WILLIAM Ross. On the west island, there is a large grist and flouring mill, with five runs of stones, and a plaster mill owned and carried on by Capt. CHARLES W. BRADBURY. On the east island there is one saw mill and a
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MIDDLEBURY FALLS.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
manufactory of hames. The property on this island is owned by Gen. SAMUEL P. STRONG. The hame factory is carried on by WIL- LIAM R. BIXBY, Esq., On the easterly shore, is a large building erected in 1854 for manufacturing purposes, and a saw mill. The · manufacturing building is one hundred and thirty-five feet long, thirty eight wide, and four and a half stories high on the water side, and three and a half stories on the land side. A portion of this building is now used for the manufacture of Sampson's patent scales, a new article lately patented. The saw mill is sixty-four feet long, thirty feet wide, and fitted for a gang of twenty-four saws. These buildings are the property of GREEN, ROBERTS and WILLARD, but the scale business is carried on by a stock company in connec- tion with the patentee."
A large amount of power is also furnished by the tributaries of Otter Creek, which come down from the mountain on the east. The first in order from the south is Leicester River, which issues from Lake Dunmore, runs through Salisbury village, and five or six miles from the lake empties into the creek in Leicester. From the lake to the foot of the falls below the village, about a mile and a half, is a fall of 150 or 200 feet, available for mills, almost the whole distance. The stream, although not large, has some advan- tages peculiar to itself. The water, like that of the lake, from which it issues is very pure, and being furnished by springs under the lake or in its neighborhood, is so warm, that it does not freeze in winter, and obstruct the wheels by ice, as is common in other streams. Besides, when the water is raised by freshets from the mountain, it spreads over the whole surface of the lake, and does not rush in sudden and violent torrents into the stream ; and it can be controlled by a dam and gate at the outlet, so as to let into it only what is needed, reserving the surplus for future necessity. There is now on the stream a saw mill near the outlet. About half a mile further down, on a fall of 15 or 20 feet, are a forge and shingle machine. Less than half a mile below this is a large woollen' fac- tory, with a fall of about 20 feet. At the first fall at the village of about 15 feet, is a large mill pond, on which are a saw mill, trip hammer shop and a woollen factory. Immediately below this,
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
with a fall of 25 or 30 feet is a grist mill, and immediately below the last mentioned, with a fall of 20 feet is a saw mill, and below this at the bottom of the descent, is a fall of seven or eight feet, on which a forge formerly stood, but is not now in operation.
Middlebury River rises in the mountain east of Middlebury, in two branches; the principal of which rises within the limits of Hancock. These unite in Ripton, and the stream descending the west slope of the mountain, empties into the creek near the south line of Middlebury. At the village of East Middlebury, at the foot of the mountain, is a series of falls, which furnish several val- uable sites for mills. On these are now a forge, two saw mills, a grist mill, tannery, two shops with machinery for boring, sawing and turning timber for waggons, a machine for sawing shingles, a sash factory and a factory for sawing and fitting barrel staves for the Boston market. For two or three miles on each branch in Rip- ton, are convenient mill sites nearly the whole distance ; and there are now, on the main branch four saw mills, two shingle machines and a grist mill ; and on the north branch three saw mills.
New Haven River rises in the northeast part of Ripton, and runs northwesterly through Lincoln, Bristol and New Haven, and emp- ties into Otter Creek at Brooksville, in the southeast corner of New Haven. In its course it receives several streams, on all of which are mills or forges ; one in Lincoln, called Downing Brook, which rises in the northeast part of Starksborough, one in Bristol, called Baldwin Creek, and another in the south part of Bristol, called O'Brian Brook. On this stream and its tributaries, are now in Bris- tol, seven saw mills, two grist mills, one trip hammer, one sash and door factory, one chair factory, one carding and clothing factory and two forges. In Lincoln, there are six saw mills, one shingle and one clapboard machine, and two forges. At East Mills in New Haven, are a grist mill, saw mill and woollen factory. At the lower falls at Brooksville, is a very extensive axe factory, established and owned by BROOKS BROTHERS, which, from time to time, from small beginnings, has been greatly enlarged by its enterprising proprie- tors. On the same falls is a saw mill. Along the whole line of this river, is a large amount of water power yet unemployed.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
To these streams may be added Little Otter Creek, which has considerable water power and a number of mills in Ferrisburgh ; and Lewis Creek, which rises in Starksborough, and after running a considerable distance, through Hinesburgh and Charlotte in Chit- tenden County, returns into this County in Ferrisburgh. On this latter stream in Starksborough, are a saw mill, grist mill, carding machine, works for dressing cloth and a furnace, which is employed principally for casting plough shares. In Ferrisburgh also, there are several mills. Both these streams empty into Lake Champlain near each other in Ferrisburgh.
The Brook Trout is the most common and nearly the only fish found in the streams, which come down from the mountains and hills. In the early settlement they were found in great abundance, often weighing two or three pounds. But being a favorite fish for the table, great havoc has been made of them by the fishermen, and the number and size have greatly diminished. It is rare to take one weighing half a ponnd, and they are generally much smaller. In Lake Dunmore, the source of Leicester River, at an early day, were found large quantities of Lake Trout. The water being pure and clear, like that of Lake George, the fish were of the same qual- ity and size. They were frequently caught weighing fifteen or twenty pounds, and it has been said sometimes twenty-five pounds. It has been said also, that formerly some trout were found in Otter Creek. But we are not aware that they have been found for many years past: The principal fish found, until lately, in this Creek or Lemon Fair, are bull-heads, suckers, rock-bass and eels. The fol- lowing communication from our friend, Dr. RUSSELL, will give some idea of the fish, which now prevail in both these streams.
" HON SAMUEL SWIFT-Sir :- Agreeable to your request, I herewith communi- cate the facts, connected with the introduction of Pickerel into Otter Creek: In the erring of 1319, Hon. DANIEL CHIPMAN and others, induced the formation of com- mittees in the towns of Middlebury, Salisbury, Leicester and Whiting, to visit Lake Champlain to procure fish for the purpose of putting them into Otter Creek. The arrangement was successfully carried out ; and at that time large quantities of the different varieties of fish usually taken in Lake Champlain were placed in Otter Creck. From the diary of our deceased townsman, EBEN W. Junp and cfliers, I learn, that the committee for Middlebury, consisting of JAMES SAFTENLY, HARVEY
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
WILLSON, DANIEL L. POTTER, GEORGE CHIPMAY and CHAUNCEY W. FULLER, on the 12th of May visited Lake Champlain, and fished with seines at Chimney Point. The party camped out the night of the 13th, and did not reach Middlebury, on their return, until the middle of the next night. The fish taken were transported in water, which was frequently changed on the passage. They were placed in Ot- ter Creek above Middlebury Falls, the same night. Of the many varieties, brought from the lake, all have disappeared, except the Pickerel. They have greatly in- creased, both in size and quantity. Some weighing over twenty weight,-notwith- standing, the large quantity annually taken from the creek. They are found through the creek, the whole length, from Sutherland's Falls to the Vergennes Falls, and the whole length of Lemon Fair. They are as much improved in quality as in size. It is said that those taken above the Great Falls at Vergennes, are greatly superior in quality to those taken below, which come up from the lake.
Too much praise cannot be rendered those far seeing and disinterested men, who exerted themselves so successfully for our benefit, and placed within the reach of every resident of the valley of Otter Creek and Lemon Fair, a luxury not to be exceeded from any other water. Respectfully your friend,
W. P. RUSSEL."
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY. .
CHAPTER II.
COUNTY SEATS-COUNTY BUILDINGS-COURTS-CHANGES OF THE JUDICIARY.
The act incorporating the County in 1785, established the towns of " Addison and Colchester to be half shires," " for the time being," and directed " that the times and places for holding County Courts, or Courts of Common Pleas annually, be as follows, viz., at Addi- son aforesaid, the first Tuesday of March, and at Colchester the second Tuesday of November, and that the Supreme Court be held on the second Tuesday of August, alternately at Addison and Col- chester." The Governor and Council were authorized " to appoint County Officers and commissionate them for the time being." The Judges of the County Court, appointed under this provision "for the time being," were JOHN STRONG of Addison, Chief Judge, and GAMALIEL PAINTER of Middlebury, and IRA ALLEN of Colchester, side or Assistant Judges, and NOAH CHITTENDEN Sheriff.
The first term of the Court was held at Addison, on the first Tuesday of March 1786. An act passed in February 1781, had provided that the freemen should elect four Assistant Judges of the County Court; and before the next term of the Court, the freemen of the County had elected WILLIAM BRUSH, HILAND HALL, SAM- VEL LANE and ABEL THOMPSON, Assistant Judges, and the Court was held by them " at Captain THOMAS BUTTERFIELD'S in Colches- ter," on the second Tuesday of November 1786. The March term 1787 was held according to the act at Addison; and the County of Chittenden, which included Colchester, being established before No- vember, that term was also held at Addison. The Judges chosen by the freemen in 1786, held the court in 1787; and since that time, only two Assistant Judges have been appointed. Until the alteration of the constitution, in 1850, these with other County Offi-
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
cers were appointed by the Legislature. The Court continued to be held at Addison until the September term 1792. At their October session in 1791, the Legislature passed an act removing the Court to Middlebury, but providing that it should not take effect until " April next," and of course the March term 1792 was held at Addison. Since that time the Courts have been uniformly held at Middlebury.
There were no County buildings in Addison, and the Court held its sessions at the houses of BENJAMIN PAINE at Chimney Point, of ZADOCK EVEREST, Esq., of JONAH CASE, and of his widow after his decease, all on the shore of Lake Champlain. The Courts were also held for some time at public houses in Middlebury ; in the years 1792 and 1793 at the public house of JOHN DEMING, which stood on the ground now occupied by the Congregational Church; and afterwards until the Court House was completed, at the public house of SAMUEL MATTOCKS. The first Court House was com- menced in Middlebury in 1796, but was not occupied by the Court until 1798. It was built by subscription of the citizens of Middle -. bury and vicinity. The jail had been previously built.
Hon. GAMALIEL PAINTER, who owned a large tract of land on the east side of Middlebury Falls, on the second day of May 1791, and previous tothe removal of the Courts to that place executed to " JOHN WILLARD, BENJAMIN GORTON and JABEZ ROGERS, together with all the rest of the inhabitants of the County of Addison, and to their successors forever," a quit claim deed of the following tract of land in Middlebury, " viz., beginning at the southeast corner of a half acre lot of land, that he the said GAMALIEL sold to SAMUEL MILLER, Esq., and is the same lot where the said MILLER now liveth ; thence south 30 minutes cast, eight chains and ten links to a stake standing on the east side of a road; thence east one chain and six links to a stake ; thence north 30 minutes west eight chains and ten links to the south line of MILLER's lot ; thence west one chain and six links to the bounds begun at," "for the only expressed purpose and use of a Common never to be divided, or put to any other use.22 This tract is in the form of a parallelogram, about four and a quarter rods wide, extending from the house lot owned
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
by the late EDWARD D. BARBER, Esq., in front of Mr. WARNER'S lot and the Addison House, to the house lot owned by the late Rt- FUS WAINWRIGHT, and now occupied by his widow.
On the 22d of May 1794, Judge PAINTER executed another deed to " JABEZ ROGERS, JOSEPH COOK and ELEAZER CLAGHORN, to- gether with all other inhabitants of the County of Addison," of a tract of land in Middlebury, " bounded as follows, beginning at a heap of stones at the southwest corner of an acre lot of land, which said PAINTER formerly sold to SIMEON DUDLEY ; thence running south, 30 minutes east, on the east line of a certain piece of land said PAINTER formerly gave to the people of said County, three chains and seventy-eight links to a stake; thence east 30 minutes north three chains and seventy-three links to a stake ; thence north 30 minutes west three chains and seventy-eight links to a stake, standing in the south line of said DUDLEY's lot ; thence a straight line to the bounds begun at, containing one acre and sixty-five rods," "for the express use and purpose of erecting a court house and jail thereon, and as a common, never to be divided or put to any other usc." This lot lies east of, and adjoining, the lot first men- tioned ; and on this lot the court house and jail were erected. The DUDLEY lot, which forms the northern boundary, is that on which SAMUEL MATTOCES built his public house, and on which the Ad- dison House now stands ; and it is understood that in erecting the present house, it was extended south several feet beyond the limits of the lot, on the land of the County.
The court house was built on the brow of the hill five or six rods north of, and nearly in a line with, the house occupied by Mrs. WAINWRIGHT. The jail house had been previously built of wood on the same line, and within a rod or two of the south line of the DUDLEY lot. It contained a tenement for the family of the jailor, 23 well as a dungeon and other rooms for prisoners. This jail was built by a " tax of two pence on the pound " on the list of tho County for the year 1793, granted by the Legislature in November 1792, and payable into the County Treasury by the first day of December 1794." " ELEAZER CLAGHORN, GAMALIEL PAINTER, SAMUEL MILLER, JABEZ ROGERS, JOSEPH COOK, SAMUEL JEWETT 4
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
and ELIJAH FOOT were appointed a committee to receive and lay out the money."
The legislature at that time being in the practice of removing their annual sessions from one principal town to another, the court house was built with reference to their use. One high room arched overhead, with long windows, and seats rising towards the rear, and a gallery over the entrance at the west end, constituted the whole interior of the building. The General Assembly held its session in it in the years 1800 and 1806. The inhabitants of the town having contributed towards its erection, it was used also as a town room. And until the completion of the new church, in 1809, it was occu- pied by the Congregational Society as a place of worship, and for all meetings of the society. There being no other suitable room in the village, it was used for public meetings of every character.
By the arrangement of the roads in the vicinity and the busi- ness, which centered there, these buildings were left in an exposed condition, without enclosures, and the whole grounds around them became a thoroughfare for teams and other modes of travel. The jail, especially, came to be regarded as too unsafe and uncomfort- able for the purpose for which it was designed. Accordingly, in November 1809, the legislature passed an act assessing a tax of one cent on a dollar on the lists of the several towns in the County (except the city of Vergennes, which maintained a Jail of its own) for the purpose of erecting a jail in Middlebury, to be paid into the treasury of the County, by the first day of February 1811, and authorized the Judges of the County Court to appoint an agent to superintend the erection. They appointed Hon. DANIEL CHIPMAN, who proceeded to procure a suitable lot for its site, and in Decem- ber 1810, received a deed from ARTEMAS NIXON, of a vacant lot on the corner made by the road leading east from the Court House, and another leading thenee north. On this he erected a jail house of stone, at a cost of about four thousand dollars. After the com- pletion of this building, the oll jail house was sold to Capt. Jos- TUS Foor, and by him was removed to the lot east of the hotel, repaired, fitted up and occupied by his family for a dwelling house. It is now owned by CALVIN HILL, Esq.
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
In 1814 the Court House, in its exposed condition, came to be regarded as a nuisance, rather than an ornament, and was removed to the place where it now stands. On the first of January, 1816, and after the Court House was removed, Judge PAINTER deeded to the County a tract of land, " being that piece or parcel of land, on which the Court House now stands in Middlebury, together with a free and open passage on the whole front of the same to the Center Turnpike road, so called, with a passage around the said Court House on the north, cast and south sides of the same, for the pur- pose of repairing or fitting up the said House, or for the erection of a new Court House on the premises at all times," " for the express purpose of erecting, keeping and having a Court House for the County of Addison aforesaid, on the said premises, where the same is now erected, so long as the premises shall be used for the purpose aforesaid, and no longer," with a quit claim of the right to erect buildings on the neighboring lands within certain distances. The width of the " free passage around " the House was fixed by a deed from the Corporation of Middlebury College, who received the land by will from Judge PAINTER to R. and J. WAINWRIGHT, at one rod.
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The Court House having so high a room for the sessions of the Courts, having been much racked by the removal, and being other- wise out of repair, was found to be not only inconvenient, but so cold that it could not be kept comfortable in the cold weather in winter, when most of the Courts were held; and for that reason the Supreme Court held its sessions, for several winters, at the public houses. The County Court therefore, in the year 1829, ordered SAMUEL SWIFT the Clerk, and SEYMOUR SELLICK the Sheriff, to divide the building into two stories. The Agents accomplished this purpose during that season, finishing the upper story for the ses- sions of the Courts, with one room adjoining for a consultation room, and three rooms below for Jury rooms and other uses, in the style in which it still remains. When finished, the Court Room was said to be the best room for the purpose in the State. The expense of the alteration was $1250,11. The town of Middlebury paid toward this expense $250, in consideration that they were to have the use of the large room in the lower story for a town room, and a sub-
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
scription was made by the citizens to the amount of $113,50. The balance was paid from the funds of the County, received for licen- ses, without any tax, and a large share was advanced by the clerk in anticipation of future receipts.
In the year 1844 the belfry and roof were found to need repair, and other parts of the exterior were regarded nearly as offensive, on account of its style, as the interior had been; and the court or- dered the clerk to make the requisite repairs and alterations. This was accomplished the same season at an expense of $822,70, of which the town paid $137. The balance was paid from the County funds, as in the case of former alterations. By means of these al- terations nothing remains of the first Court House but the frame.
In the meantime the stone jail built in 1811 was found, like the old one, unsafe and entirely uncomfortable and oppressive' to pris- oners confined in it, and not in accordance with the philanthropic views, which prevailed; and it had been many times indicted by the grand jury. The legislature, in October 1844 therefore granted a tax of six cents on a dollar of the lists of the several towns in the County except the city of Vergennes, for the purpose of erecting a new jail, provided the inhabitants of Middlebury would, before the first day of February 1845, procure conveyed to the County of Ad- dison a suitable piece of land. to the acceptance of SILAS H. JENI- SON, HARVEY MUNSILL and SILAS POND, and appointed SAMUEL SWIFT and AUSTIN JOHNSON Agents, to superintend the erection. The lot now occupied for that purpose was purchased and paid for by the citizens of Middlebury, and accepted by the above mentioned commissioners. The agents believing that, as the population and business of the County should increase, and a more speedy commu- nication by rail roads should be opened, the number of criminals would increase ; and desiring to erect a prison, which would be ad- equate to such an emergency. and not require to be soon replaced, adopted a plan larger than present circumstances required. They accordingly erected a large brick building, the front of which was designed for the residence of the Sheriff's family, with an office for the sheriff. Through this room is the only communication with the prison from the outside. The prison is in the rear of the build-
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HISTORY OF ADDISON COUNTY.
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ing, in which are twelve cells for securing each prisoner by himself in the night, six in the lower and six in the upper range, with a large, well lighted and ventilated room in front of them, for the occupation of the prisoners in the day time. The prisoners in this room are, at all times, subject to inspection, by means of a grated opening, from the rooms occupied by the family. By the same means the least disturbance or noise, by night as well as by day, may be heard. The expense of the cells was much larger than was anticipated. The iron work alone cost about $1500 ; and slabs of strong stone were purchased and hauled from Brandon, for the floors, caps and sides of the cells, from six to eight inches thick, and of the size of the length, width and height of the cells. When the legislature as- sembled in October 1846, the tax had been expended, the agents were largely in debt and the jail not completed. Application was therefore made for a further tax. The representatives from the County, to whom the application is by law referred, consented to another tax of five cents on a dollar,-wholly inadequate for the purpose,-on condition that the town or village or citizens of Mid- dlebury would give a bond to the satisfaction of the judges of the County Court, to secure the payment of all the debts, and the com- pletion of the Jail, and by the act, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT was ap- pointed an additional agent. To him the other agents committed the whole management of the business. A subscription was raised among the citizens, the debts were paid and the prison completed, but the plan was not carried out to its full extent. The whole ex- pense was about $8000. After the completion of this building, the old stone jail house was sold to Mr. OLIVER WELLINGTON, who, after great alterations and at great expense, has since occupied it as a dwelling house.
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From the year 1787 to the year 1825, the County Court consis- ted of a chief judge, and two assistant judges, appointed expressly to those offices, and was independent of the Supreme Court. In November 1824, the Legislature passed an act reorganizing the Supreme and County Courts, and providing, that the Supreme Court should consist of a chief judge, and three assistant judges, and that the County Court, "from and after the third Thursday of Oc-
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