USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > The history of Jericho, Vermont > Part 22
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In 1909 the school increased in numbers and Miss Mary Moran was employed as assistant. As graduation time ap- proached but one pupil was ready, Bert E. Bliss, but by reason of his scholarly attainments and enthusiastic spirit he was a whole class. He had planned to enter U. V. M. in the fall, but he was smitten with pneumonia and died two weeks before the day set for his graduation. He was a rare spirit and his sud- den death was a shock to the school and the whole community. No public exercises were held at the close of school.
In 1910 there was but one pupil to graduate, Miss Carrie Rogers. In 1911 Miss Tucker and Miss Moran were succeeded by Miss Harriet Spooner of New Hampshire and Miss Catharine Henley of Richmond. There was a graduating class of three : Mary M. Lynch, Mae E. Eldridge and Wentworth Bicknell.
By this time the townspeople had come to regard the high school as a success and as an institution which had come to stay.
In 1912 Mr. Edwin T. Maloney, a graduate of Middlebury College, became principal, Miss Henley continuing as assistant. The graduating class consisted of six: Clara P. Barnum, Irene Bolger, Doris R. Brown, Helen M. Chapin, Lulu R. Pratt and Pauline Smith. Superintendent L. E. Prior said, "The prosper- ity and growth of the high school continues. During the year 35 pupils were enrolled. The addition of the physical laboratory cabinet to the equipment of the high school has been of great value."
In 1913 a class of four was graduated, viz .: Helen Cash- more, Carl Moulton, Paul and George Casey.
In 1914 the enrollment reached 42 and a class of eight re- ceived their diplomas : Constance R. Jordan, Mildred M. Chapin, Juna M. Walston, Loretta Barrett, Coletta Barrett, Chester Wal- ton, Herbert Nattress, Edward Varney.
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Of the 18 graduates of the last three classes, six are now in college. Another member, Constance R. Jordan, would have entered, but she died a few months after graduation.
In 1915 the graduating class numbered nine, the largest to date. They were: Gretchen E. Allen, Ina V. Irish, Fannie F. McGinnis, Gladys E. Tomlinson, Raymond C. Bicknell, Robert E. Casey, Arthur W. Irish, Arthur G. Pratt and Wilhelm R. Schillhammer. U. V. M. awarded scholarships to Ina Irish and Robert Casey for excellence at the final examination. The en- rollment at the opening of the fall term of 1915 was 30.
Mr. Maloney remains principal of the school and Miss Katherine Dewey of Royalton is assistant. Principal Maloney has been successful in having the high school placed upon the trial list of schools approved by the New England College En- trance Certificate Board, which means that a certificate from our school admits without examination to any New England college represented on this board. This certificate does not admit to Harvard, Yale and some others, but does open to 16 colleges and thus places the school upon an equality with some larger schools in the state.
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PART SIXTH.
VILLAGE AND BUSINESS INTERESTS OF THE TOWN ; PAST AND PRESENT. JERICHO CENTER.
By Eugene B. Jordan.
As tourists and visitors drive through the village of Jericho Center, or tarry for a time to visit friends, it is almost universally remarked by them, "This certainly is one of the prettiest country villages I have ever seen ;" and, as one notes the beautiful park, the shaded streets, the well kept lawns, the plain, but symmetrical and trim brick church with its white spire, a landmark for miles around, together with the general tidiness of the business and residential property of the village, it would seem that the en- thusiastic compliments of the visitors are not misplaced or unde- served.
At the time of the settlement of the town, its geographical center was found to be in what is now the pasture on the "Bishop hill farm" so-called, now owned by Brown Brothers; and a settlement of six families was made at that place, with the inten- tion of locating the main village of the town there; but, owing to its inaccessibility, some of the settlers strongly objected to its location at that place, and Lewis Chapin, (the first town clerk), who owned the land in this vicinity, offered to give four acres for the village "green" or "common," on condition that the village and church should be located here. His offer was accepted, and shortly after the church, the store and other buildings were erected, and the village of Jericho Center established on its present site.
In the early part of the town's history, Jericho Center was the educational center for a large surrounding country; the Jericho Academy for many years being the principal educational institution in this part of the county, and often having an attend- ance of over a hundred students. An interesting account of this old academy will be found in Part 5, Chapter 7, of this book. 18
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Thirty years ago, the present beautiful park at this village was a rough, unkept country "green," without a tree or shrub ; many of the houses were run down, unpainted and unattractive; and one of the first "village improvements" was when a new resident appealed to the selectmen of the town to compel one of the tenant farmers living in the village, to keep his pigs at home, instead of allowing them to run at large on the "green" and in the neighbors' dooryards. The present beautiful park was ploughed, seeded, laid out and trees planted, by a largely attended "bee" of the farmers and others in 1885 under the direction of the following named committee, appointed for that purpose, viz .: -Dea. I. C. Stone, Dr. F. H. Cilley, F. S. Ransom, Gaius Pease and H. W. Jordan ; and the lovely park of today well attests the thoroughness of workers and committee. As will be seen by the above, this community has always been noted for its public spirit, and its neighborhood co-operation.
The business interests of Jericho Center have never been, and never could be very extensive, because of its location. Being situated on a hill, there was no possibility of obtaining water power for manufacturing ; and for the same reason, the railroads were built on each side of the village, following the valleys; and without railroads or water power, there was little chance for ex- tensive business.
In the early days of the town's history, when each town was largely a world unto itself, producing almost entirely all the commodities it consumed, there were several small industries located in, or near the Center.
Their histories are interesting, though somewhat obscure. There follows as complete an account of the same, as the authors have been able to secure from the older residents, and the town records.
In 1823, Eben Lee deeded to Edward T. and Thomas J. Hutchings a piece of land on Lee River, (at that time called "Little river"), near the present residence of Hiram H. Wilder, with the privilege of building a dam, and flooding sufficient land back of the same to make a mill pond; and shortly after, a woolen mill was built by the purchasers on this spot. In 1836, the mill was owned by Nathaniel T. Stiles, who enlarged it, and fully equipped the same with all necessary machinery to make
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woolen cloth, including carding, spinning, weaving, fulling and finishing machines; and for forty years or more, a considerable business was done by successive owners of this mill; among such owners at different times being Truman Galusha, Hosea Spauld- ing, Horatio B. and Edgar A. Barney and others. In 1856 this property was sold to the late Lyman Stimson and three others ; and later, Mr. Stimson converted the mill into a wagon manu- factory and wheelwright shop where wagons were made and re- paired and a good business done in this line. This business also finally declined and was given up. Near the village, on the west side of the highway between the present residences of F. M. Hoskins and S. M. Packard was located a tannery, where the cowhides from the farms of the community were tanned, and converted into good substantial leather; from which the village cobbler made cowhide boots for the men and boys, and stout and durable shoes for the women and girls. And proud was the boy, and happy the day when he became possessor of a pair of these boots with red tops and copper toes. This tanyard was established by Reuben Rockwood about 1830-1835, and was operated until the early '60s under successive owners, among whom were Augustus W. Dow, Silas Ransom and Hoyt Cham- bers ; and by the way, the village cobbler above referred to was, for many years, Robert Gibson, whose residence and shop were just west of the Lee River bridge near the residence of H. H. Wilder. At a later date, Marshall Harvey, who lived in the house now occupied by Geo. E. Cunningham at the "Center," was the village cobbler. Mr. Harvey was a very eccentric character ; one of his peculiarities being, that, although he made boots and shoes for others, he persisted in going barefoot himself every summer.
South of the village, in the valley near the present residence of John Fitzsimonds, on land now owned by Edwin S. Ransom, a brickyard and kiln was established about 1835, by the same man who founded the tannery above referred to, viz. :- Reuben Rock- wood. This industry continued for a few years only ; and it is said that the brick for the Congregational Church, the residence now occupied by E. B. Jordan and other buildings in this vicinity were made at this brickyard.
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In the eastern part of the town, along Mill Brook, (called in the early days "Governor's Brook," because Governor Chittenden owned much of the land bordering thereon), were several differ- ent mills.
On the farm owned by Charles Nealy stood a small grist mill, doing the grinding of the corn and other grains produced in the community ; and on the opposite side of the brook was a small saw mill which continued in operation many years. These mills were probably built by Jonas Marsh, in 1840-1850; and were later owned by L. Austin, Wm. Nealy and others.
Nearer the village on the same stream near the bridge on the highway leading to the present home of Wm. C. Field, a shop was built by Zanthy Reed in 1820, called a "Clothier's Shop," which was later enlarged and owned successively by John Lyman, Daniel Lyman, H. E. Woodford, R. M. Clapp and others, and finally by Augustus S. Wood. In 1845 this factory, then under the ownership of H. E. Woodford, was converted into a starch factory, where the farmers of the town used to sell their potatoes at 10 cents per bushel, to be converted into starch. Later, under the ownership of R. M. Clapp and J. T. Clapp, the plant was again changed, and made into a "Rake Factory" where wood hay rakes and other implements were made. The last owner of this property was A. S. Wood, who for many years manufactured small wooden ware at this stand until in 1891 he dismantled the mill, selling the real estate to W. C. Field, and moving the machinery, &c., to the "Field Mill" at the "Corners" village, where the business was continued, and is now being operated by W. E. Buxton & Co.
In addition to these industries there were two or three saw mills and shingle mills in the east part of the town, viz .:- A saw mill on Lee River near the present residence of John Roakes, which was operated for many years by Edgar A. Barney, and later by J. E. Burrows & Son, and a small shingle mill at West Bolton, within the limits of this town, which was last operated by W. C. Guyette.
It will be a surprise to most readers of this volume to know that Jericho had, among its early industries, a distillery ; but such is the fact. This distillery was situated on Mill Brook, near the
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starch factory above referred to, and was operated for some time by John Porter about 1820-'30.
About 1874 a Farmers' Co-operative Association was formed by the farmers of this part of the town, for the purpose of manu- facturing cheese, and a large and well equipped factory was built on Mill Brook near the present home of Mrs. Gilbert Para- dee. For many years under the efficient management of Henry Borrowdale, Nathan Benham, Edwin Humphrey, Jesse Gloyd and others this association did a large and profitable business ; until the advent of creameries in the '90s, for making butter seemed to furnish a more profitable outlet for the milk, and cheese making at this plant was abandoned.
These various industries have all ceased operation. Not one of these buildings is standing. Where once wheels hummed and men worked at machines to supply local demands, nothing re- mains but green grass and decaying dams.
This industrial decline was wholly caused by the evolution of the manufacturing industries from the small, local mills, em- ploying a few "hands," supplying the needs of a neighborhood, to the centralized, complicated factories making goods for a nation.
In 1904 efforts were made by the late T. L. Bostwick, to re- vive the manufacturing industry of the community ; he having conceived a project to take the old Universalist Church at this village, which had been in complete disuse for many years, and convert the same into a factory to make wood toys, wash boards, &c. He obtained possession and ownership of the property from the Universalist State Convention, and in company first, with Mr. James Donnelly of Vergennes, and later, with Messrs. Alfred Goodell and E. H. Enos of Salem, Mass., he bought and installed a gasolene engine, machinery, &c., and began the manufacture of the above mentioned goods. For two years or more, they did a considerable business, employing several men, and selling their product to several large firms in New York City.
Later the partners withdrew, and Mr. Bostwick continued the business alone until 1910, when he sold all his property to Mr. E. H. Smith, who continued the business two years longer, and then dismantled the factory, sold the machinery to various parties, and sold the building to the Ladies' Aid Society of the Congrega-
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tional Church for a village and community hall; giving them a favorable opportunity, and a very low price for such a purpose.
The mercantile business at the Center from the first settle- ment of the town, has been largely done by one store, which store has been doing a continuous business at the same stand for over a century. We refer to the store now, and for the past thirty-one years conducted under the name of Jordan Brothers ; by H. W. Jordan and E. B. Jordan until the death of the senior partner in 1911, and since then, by the junior partner.
This business was established by Pliny Blackman over one hundred years ago; and was afterwards conducted by Frederick Fletcher, Erastus Field, Henry C. Blackman, Blackman & Lane, E. H. Lane, Lane & Pierce, E. H. Lane & Son and Jordan Bros. in the order named; Judge Lane conducting the business either alone, or with others, the longest period (about thirty-five years) and Jordan Brothers being next in length of consecutive business.
The first business done was largely in the few staple groceries of the time: tea, molasses, spices, etc., and "rum ;" Jamaica rum, Holland gin and other like products being a large part of the stock in trade.
Mr. Pliny Blackman used to "go to market" once a year, and made several trips to Montreal, hauling his "barter," (wool, grain, etc.), to Winooski Falls. Building a raft below the falls and load- ing his "barter" thereon, he would make the journey by raft and sail down the river to the lake, down the lake and the St. John's River to Montreal; there exchanging his "barter" for currency, and buying what little merchandise he needed, he would return by trail and road to his home. The business of those days was almost entirely "barter"; the farmers exchanging at "the store" their wool, grain, eggs, dairy products, etc., for what few articles they needed and did not themselves produce. For many years Judge Lane was one of the most prominent and influential men in town; and several other proprietors of this store have been closely identified with the business and public interests of the town.
Because of the lack of industries and public utilities, the vil- lage has always been small, and the demand for mercantile estab- lishments limited, and only one store doing business much of the
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time. At times, however, there have been two stores, and even three, doing business at the same time.
About 1850, a branch of the New England Protection Union, a co-operative organization of farmers and others, for co-oper- ative mercantile business, etc., was organized in town, known as "Division No. 116, N. E. P. U.," and a small store was started in the shop building now standing on the farm owned by L. W. Eldredge. In 1853, the Union, with John T. Clapp, John Cham- bers and Orley Thompson as directors, bought a house on the south side of the common at the Center, then owned by Horace A. Dixon, and converted it into a store building, and moved the business to that stand. In 1857, James Bent, W. R. Macomber and Nathan Benham as directors, sold the property to John Smith, and a new organization, known as the "Jericho Stock Company," an entirely local organization, was formed to take over the busi- ness with John Smith as President.
Later, the business became a private venture, and was run successively by James Morse, Osman Stimson, Cyrus C. Lane,. and finally by W. T. Lee and T. J. Haskins, under whose owner- ship the goods were sold out, and the building sold to Edmund Martin in 1875.
In 1890 Barton W. York, who had been for a year previous clerk for Jordan Bros., started a small grocery store and order route, occupying first the little shop building on the Mary Lyman premises, and later, moving into the little building just back of the old academy building, at that time owned by T. L. Bostwick. On the death of Mr. York in 1894, the goods and business were sold to M. C. Whitney, who conducted the business until 1895, when Messrs. F. A. Fuller and E. T. Scott purchased the same, continuing until 1898, when Mr. Scott withdrew from the part- nership and Mr. Fuller went on with the business individually until 1899, when he also retired, closing out the goods to Jordan Bros. The following year, Messrs. A. K. Morse and F. G. Pease started a similar store at the same stand and have con- tinued the business until the present time.
In 1902 T. L. Bostwick established a grocery and shoe store in the front part of the large building he had erected in 1898; operating the same in connection with his painting and cabinet making business until 1905, when, desiring to enter the manu-
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facturing business heretofore referred to, he closed out the goods to Jordan Bros.
In 1914 F. D. McGinnis bought the Bostwick building above referred to, put in a stock of goods, opened up for business and is now conducting the same. In addition to the mercantile in- terests at the Center, there are other industries common to our country villages, viz. :- The Borden Condensed Milk Co. of New York have a milk receiving and cooling station at this village, where the milk from the dairies of the community is received, cooled and then transported to the central plant at Richmond. They also have a small feed store house in connection with the station, from which they supply dairy feeds, etc., to their patrons and others.
F. M. Hoskins is the present "village blacksmith," having had a long line of predecessors at the same stand. Dr. M. O. Eddy is the present village physician, having located here in 1911 ; succeeding Dr. H. D. Hopkins, Dr. A. S. C. Hill, Dr. F. H. Cilley, Dr. A. B. Somers, Dr. F. F. Hovey and Dr. Jamin Hamil- ton, and others who were here for short periods of time. Two of the above named physicians, Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Hovey, were located here for long terms of service; Dr. Hamilton prac- ticing for about 25 years, and Dr. Hovey for over twenty years. Dr. Somers became later a noted physician of Lincoln, Neb., and is still practicing in that city.
Mr. F. G. Pease has been the undertaker at this part of the town for some years ; doing service not only in this town, but the surrounding towns as well.
Mr. F. S. Ransom has been, for fifteen years or more, the contractor and builder for this vicinity, employing a considerable force of carpenters and laborers in his extensive building and re- pairing operations throughout this section.
Mr. I. R. Ballard is now, and has been for several years, the painter and paper hanger for the community, employing part of the time one or two men.
It will thus be seen that the varied wants of the community are well provided for.
In addition to the business interests of the community, it always had, and still maintains those religious, educational and social interests that mean so much to any village.
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The Congregational Church at the Center is one of the oldest church organizations in Chittenden County, having celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1891; and maintaining a continuous work for nearly 125 years. We would refer you to the chapter on churches, elsewhere in this volume, for a record of the history and work of this church.
The schools at the Center include all grades from primary, to. college preparatory ; the town high school being located at this village. These schools have, for the past twenty years especially, been doing good work, and have maintained a high record of efficiency and scholarship. We refer you to a sketch of the high school, and of the other town schools elsewhere in this volume, for interesting facts concerning them.
A Grange was organized in 1909, with its meetings held in this village, and has kept up its work to the present time, with success and growth.
During the past thirty years, the following new buildings have been erected in this village, viz .:- The schoolhouse, parson- age, Jordan Brothers' store, the T. L. Bostwick block, and the residences of A. B. Puffer, A. C. Hoskins, F. S. Ransom, and Dr. Eddy. And the following residences have been so completely re- paired and improved, as to almost pass for new buildings, viz .: residences of G. C. and C. C. Bicknell, Geo. E. Cunningham, Jordan Bros., Mrs. J. W. Hart and Miss Warner ; besides very considerable repairs and improvements on almost every other building in the village.
It will thus be seen that, though the village is small and some- what isolated, it affords many attractions for residence, and has a stimulating history ; and that it has performed, and no doubt will continue to perform well its functions as a benefit to the material and higher interests of the town.
JERICHO VILLAGE.
By L. F. Wilbur.
Jericho Village is pleasantly situated on Brown's River, which winds its way nearly westward at this place, and is on the western side of the town near the line between Jericho and Essex.
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Being on the thoroughfare from Burlington to Lamoille County and the northeastern part of the state, and possessing excellent water power, the village grew rapidly in its early days. Saw mills, grist mills, carding works and woolen mills were erected, utilizing this water power. Stores, shops, a tavern and a distillery were erected. Merchants, mechanics, millers, lawyers and physi- cians found a place for their activities.
MERCHANTS .- Old inhabitants say that one John Fassette was at an early day engaged in the mercantile business in the village, but the writer has been unable to ascertain how long he carried it on. A short time previous to 1824 William A. Prentiss and Thomas M. Taylor had a store on the north side of Main Street just below the Barney Tavern. This firm, and later Prentiss alone, continued the business till 1832, when it was sold to Frederick Fletcher, who became the owner of the store building now occupied by E. B. Williams. Till 1843 Fletcher did a thriving business, and largely on credit. The credit method was a matter of necessity, as the farmers had little money. to pay down for goods and made a practice of settling twice a year, in October with cattle and in January with grain. These were times when merchants kept on hand rum and molasses to please their customers and make large profits.
George B. Oakes before 1845 was keeping a store in a part of his house now occupied by Mrs. W. W. Ring. Bliss and Oakes carried on the same line of business awhile on the east side of the highway east of the Barney Tavern in a house burned in 1906. In 1845 George B. Oakes bought the Fletcher store. Oakes and George H. Peck formed a partnership, and were suc- ceeded by Oakes alone, in 1852 by L. J. Bliss and Co., in 1855 by a union store carried on by Spaulding and Blodgett till 1857, and two years more by George B. Oakes and James Morse. Then the union business was closed out, and there followed Orson H. Shaw till about 1864, A. B. Remington till 1869, George H. Hill till 1871, L. P. Carleton till 1874, Vespasian Leach till 1882, Frederick Simonds till about 1890. Since then E. B. Williams has dealt in general merchandise in this so-called Fletcher store.
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