USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Shelburne > The history of Shelburne > Part 4
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CHAPTER VII
The Present, and the Future
The present era of Shelburne's history began soon after the Second World War. This period is marked by the coming of the "commuters" - families who derive their income from various firms in Burlington. Immediately after the war, South Burlington and Essex Junction had a great influx of these families, due to housing developments geared to their needs in those communities. Shelburne never experienced this sudden influx of families; rather, they came gradually, but steadily, from about 1950 on.
At first they were dispersed throughout the entire town, but now a great many of them live in clusters: south of the village, on Shelburne Point, and in Shelburne Heights, Pine Haven Shore, and Hullcrest. There are also two trailer parks in town.
There are doctors, lawyers, professors, and a surprising number of architects among them.
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The number of youngsters in town has increased enormously, and three additions have had to be built onto the Central School since the War. The four classrooms which will be made available when the Union High School opens will be needed by the Grade School as well.
During this period there has been an ever-growing interest in the P.T.A., and other organizations active in promoting the welfare of our young people. Ten years ago, both Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts were initiated. The success of the Girl Scouts, and also the junior organiza- tion, the Brownies, is due in large part to the efforts of Mrs. John Stephens, who has served throughout the years as both Troop Leader and Chairman of the Committee. John Clark, Duncan Munro, Win Dur- rell, and now Lee Bronson have been Chairmen of the Boy Scout Com- mittee, and at present the Troop is led by Dick McGrath. The Cub Scouts are active and have a large membership.
The Red Cross Swimming Program is now in its seventh year, and about one hundred youngsters take advantage of this opportunity to learn to swim each summer. Mrs. Rufus Morrow, along with Mrs. John Stephens and Mrs. Clifford Cole, have been especially active in this venture.
The Town Beach is under the care of the Town Recreation Com- mittee, as is the Skating Rink.
The Shelburne Optimists, a branch of an international service club, devoted to providing wholesome recreation for youngsters, was chartered in 1954 with 47 charter members. Its first President was Robert Lull. They make possible many activities including the B-B Rifle Program and the Little League. They provide an attendant at the beach, and the School Board makes a school bus available, so the beach is enjoyed by swarms of young people.
Shelburne is probably one of the smallest towns in the country to have an Optimist Club, but still their membership is as large or larger than many other clubs. They operate on an annual budget of $800-$900, part of which is raised at their annual Bar-B-Que and Bazaar. At present Robert Coleman is president of this organization, and there are fifty-four members.
Another recent undertaking of concerned citizens was the estab- lishment of a Co-operative Kindergarten which has flourished over the past seven years. It manages on a modest tuition, depending on the pro- ceeds from its very popular Annual Pet Show to supplement its budget.
Two 4-H Clubs have also been organized, one for girls and one for boys.
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Another program which benefits both children and adults is the Shelburne Craft School, incorporated in 1945, and directed by J. Lyn- wood Smith, the Rector of Trinity Church. Starting in an abandoned meat-market near the railroad tracks, it has grown to five buildings. Its facilities are used by about four hundred people a year, many of them school children from the village school.
Many adults, both from Shelburne and from surrounding com- munities, take advantage of the courses offered which include wood- working, weaving, painting, enameling, ceramics, and silver-working.
Many former students are putting their Craft School training to practical use: two are contractors; and a number are carpenters; one is a cabinet maker; and many of the girls share their knowledge by teach- ing arts and crafts at summer camps.
The Craft School buildings are used as an A.Y.H. Hostel during July and August.
Shelburne's churches have also flourished during the post-war years.
The Reverend James A. Farrell is currently the minister of the Methodist Church. The church is now involved in a planning program with two parts: First, the improvement of the present facilities; and second, the future construction of new facilities.
At present the church has the largest membership in its long his- tory, with 197 members. An average of 67 youngsters attend the Sun- day School, and an average of 61 attend the Sunday Service. The num- ber worshipping at the Methodist Church this past Easter was 264, more than have ever gathered for Sunday Services before.
Besides the Sunday School, superintended by Mr. William Powers, there are four other organized groups within the church: The Methodist Men, headed by Harry Ward; the Women's Society, headed by Mrs. Albert Choiniere; and the Senior and Junior Methodist Youth Fellow- ships, headed by Leslie Kent and Sheila Taylor, respectively.
Saint Catherine's Church was served by Father William Cain, now Monsignour Cain, from 1934 until 1953 when he was transferred to Barre. He was succeeded by the Reverend Francis McDonough, who has served for the past ten years. At the present time he is on a leave of absence, due to illness, and the Reverend George O. Murtagh has charge of the Parish.
The active Societies in the Parish at the present time are: St. Catherine's Society, The Holy Name Society, The Altar Boy Society, the C.Y.O., the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, the Study Clubs, and the Cemetery Association.
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The Church staged an elaborate celebration at the time of its Golden Jubilee in 1945. A special celebration was sponsored by the Holy Name and St. Catherine's Societies on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Reverend Francis McDonough. Extensive redecorating has also been done the rooms of the Parish House.
The Reverend J. Lynwood Smith is the present Rector of Trinity, the Episcopal Church. He has served here in Shelburne for the past thirty years. At the present time the membership of the church in- cludes 125 families, with seventy Church school pupils.
In 1956 a complete restoration of the Church was undertaken, and in 1962 an Activity Center was built and dedicated. This new building has six classrooms, a large hall, and a new kitchen. The old kitchen was turned into a study for the Rector. The driveways were widened, the parking area enlarged, and the grounds landscaped. At the time of this building's dedication, on Trinity Sunday in June 1962, the Bishop expressed the hope that the new facilities would be used by any groups in the community which could make good use of them. This has proved to be the case. The P.T.A. show, Korny Kapers rehearses there, and the Bi-Centennial Committee has held its weekly meetings there.
Organizations within the Church include the Altar Guild, the Women of Trinity, and a Youth Fellowship. During the summer the Episcopal and Methodist Churches sponsor a Vacation Bible School lasting two weeks.
The number of people in Shelburne employed on farms has de- reased steadily in recent years, in keeping with the state-wide trend. This is due to two factors: First, the declining number of farms, and se- cond, the mechanization on the remaining farms. At present there are twenty-five dairy farms in town.
Orchards, too, have declined in number until now there are only three in Shelburne.
The Rice Lumber Company, which was established in 1939, is the source of employment for several Shelburne families, and many are employed on the Webb Estate. The Shelburne Museum has a size- able year-round staff, and a great many summer employees. The All- ing Industries opened a plant here last year, and some of its employees are residents of Shelburne. There are six motels in town, and as many restaurants. More and more, Shelburne's business establishments are tourist-oriented.
In 1947 Mr. J. Watson Webb and his wife, Electra Havemeyer Webb, combined his interest in architecture and her interest in col- lecting Americana to found the Shelburne Museum which has become
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world famous for its collections and as the final home of the steamer "Ticonderoga." One of their children, J. Watson Webb, Jr., after long experience in film production in Hollywood, has been the Museum's President since the death of his parents in 1960.
WATER DISTRIBUTION
In 1939, at the annual town meeting, the voters of Shelburne autho- rized a special committee to investigate the feasibility of a public water system. The committee recommended the construction of such a system, and the voters approved this recommendation. Mr. Dunbar Bostwick, Mr. Henry Tracy and Father Cain of St. Catherine's Church were the principal planners for a municipal water system. Father Cain continued his active interest in the Water Department until his trans- ferral to Barre in 1953. Mr. Bostwick has not only continued as Water Commissioner but has many times aided the Water Department through gifts of land or operating funds.
The construction of the public water system was completed in December, 1940. The source of public water was an artesian well lo- ed on the school grounds, and which is still a part of the system as an auxiliary source of water. The project also included erection of a 250,000 gallon standpipe which was located south of the Village on Route 7 on land donated by B. C. Marsett.
Total cost of the project was $32,654, which included the cost of the standpipe, the pump and pumphouse and 14,546 feet of pipe of the LaPlatte River to the standpipe, Falls Road from its junction with Route 7 south to just beyond the Catholic Church, Harbor Road approximately 1000 feet, and Marsett Road.
During 1948 the main water line was extended from Shelburne Falls to the Town Cemetery and in 1949 extensive additions to the system were proposed.
In 1950 the town voters approved a $90,000 bond issue to retire the outstanding water bonds, extend the water system and pipe to Lake Champlain for the municipal water supply. Late in the year a 10" in- take pipe 2,576 feet long was floated out into the lake at Meech Cove and was lowered to the bottom. The end of the pipe, with strainer at- tached, is in 30 feet of water. The pump house was constructed on land donated by the Dunbar W. Bostwicks. A chlorinator and pump were in- stalled there.
In 1954 the Route 7 main was extended 657 feet to the Shelburne- South Burlington town line. In 1956 the Route 7 Main was extended to the Shelburne-Charlotte town line.
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During 1957 a 4,800 foot supply line from Route 7 to a pumping station at Shelburne Heights was installed by Austin Realty Corpora- tion and that water system was accepted by the Water Department in 1960.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL METHODS IN SHELBURNE
Fire District #2 was organized in May of 1950 for the purpose of developing a sewage disposal system for Shelburne Village. Residents of the Fire District voted in Shelburne of the same year to construct such a system, and bonded $35,000 for the project. The system was com- pleted and in operation by early fall in 1951.
The disposal plant was designed to serve 60 families, the school building, and the Shelburne Museum. Sewage lines totalling 11,839 feet were laid along Route 7 through the Museum property, Falls Road to Church Street and the Harbor Road to the disposal plant.
In 1953 the main sewer line was extended south along Route 7 for a distance of 475 feet. An additional 7,043 feet of line have been added between 1959 and 1961 at no cost to the Fire District. These lines are located at the southern end of the Village. In 1958 the Fire District bonded an additional $25,000 which was matched by state and federal funds. The purpose of the new bond issue was to revise and expand the sewage disposal plant.
The plant can now serve 860 families and with an extra clarifier could serve 1,720 families.
THE GRANGE IN SHELBURNE
At Shelburne Town Hall, Shelburne, Vermont, November 29, 1947 the first meeting of La Platte Grange No. 552 was called to order by Worthy State Master, Harold J. Arthur in the chair. There were seventeen officers elected and Eustace K. Thomas of Shelburne was the first Master. There were thirty two Charter members present who signed the charter, after State Master Arthur gave a brief outline of the purposes and Functions of the Organization and what the four degrees in the subordinate grange means.
The Grange is the oldest farm organization in America and was organized at Washington, D. C., December 4, 1867. It is non-sectarian and open for any one to join.
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The "Purpose" of this organization is to help all, to cooperate with Church, School, Civic leaders, Clubs and Community to make the homes and town a better and more attractive and healthier place to live. Much of this has been done by La Platte Grange in Shelburne. Much is done in donations to help the Youth in furthering their edu- cation, build character and help them to become good citizens.
Through the years life has taken its toll, people have died, moved away, resigned, and the present membership is 86.
SHELBURNE IN THE FUTURE
Shelburne's 1960 population of 1,805 represented an increase of 440 or 32.3% over the 1950 population. Previously it had taken one hundred and fifty years (from 1800 to 1950) to increase the town's population by the same 440. Projecting population growth into the fu- ture is clearly a hazardous undertaking in view of such a curve of ac- celeration.
It would appear conservative, however, to assume a 1980 Town population of between 2,700 and 5,000, more likely nearer the lower of the two figures. By the turn of the century Shelburne will likely be a small city of from 5,000 to 8,000 persons.
The continuing growth of Shelburne is tied to general population growth in the nation and continuation of the growth pattern of Greater Burlington. Shelburne serves as a pleasant and convenient location for homes of people employed in the commercial and industrial or educa- tional complex of Burlington and can be expected to continue adding citizens so long as new homes are needed in the area and attractive building sites are available in the town. Inasmuch as the land which could be practically used and serviced residentially would permit a population of 32,000 within the town, it is clear that area development and job opportunities will be the principal determinant of Shelburne's continuing growth.
The appearance of the town must change markedly in the next twenty to forty years as a consequence of an almost certain doubling and likely tripling of population. Where at present the residential areas consist of three or four major islands widely separated from each other, Shelburne after 1980 will more and more resemble the typical suburban community of fairly continuous residential development, one "development" area blending smoothly into the next. The nature of Vermont living, augmented by Town minimum-lot requirements, will have amintained an atmosphere of open-ness despite the increased concentration of population.
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One of the most marked changes will likely be the appearance of the "village area" which will begin to take on the appearance of a commercial center. Shelburne's population in the past has been too small to attract any but basic commercial activities such as food and gasoline and residents have been attracted towards Burlington and large shops and shopping centers for most goods and services. A town reaching toward a population of 5,000 will begin to attract and support, however, a steadily widening group of shops and service establishments. One result of both increased commercialization and population growth will likely be a growing towards one another and eventual fusion of Shelburne Village and Shelburne Falls.
Shelburne roads, already an asset to a growing town, will have undergone some substantial changes in size and pattern in meeting the needs of the period before 1980. Most significantly, Route 7, now a principal north-south town artery, will have been replaced as a state highway by a limited access road which will effectively by-pass the entire town. Route 7 will become more a local road, and as a con- sequence the east-west road developed to connect old Route 7 with the new by-pass will become a new area of sizeable development and com- mercial activity.
Shelburne by and after 1980 will be less a "bedroom community" than it is in 1963. Although farms will no doubt continue to give way to residences, both industry and recreation will be rising influences in the towns economic orientation.
The general trend to wider travel and increased leisure time must have an effect on a town with miles of lake-shore. Shelburne will cer- tainly increase the number of travel and recreation-oriented establish- ments such as motels, restaurants and the like and may well also be the site of one or more major parks and perhaps a number of privately developed lake-front hotel-boatel establishments of considerable size.
Industrial employment represents but a fraction of Shelburne's local economy in 1963 and will most likely change considerably in the next twenty years. A national pattern of industrial diversification of plant facilities has already had an influence on the Burlington area. This pattern is likely to continue, with rural plant locations increasing in attractiveness and hence Shelburne should become the location of more and more light manufacturing industry.
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Acknowledgments
The compilers of this brief history of Shelburne wish to cite the following books which were used extensively:
1. The Vermont Historical Gazetteer, edited and published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1868.
2. History of Vermont, by Zadock Thompson.
3. History of Chittenden County, Vermont, edited by W. S. Rann, Published in 1886.
4. Gazetteer and Business Directory of Chittenden County, Vermont, for 1882-1883, compiled and published by Hamilton Child.
5. The Official Records of the Town of Shelburne.
In addition, we borrowed the method used by the compilers of the early gazettes, and spoke with many "old-timers" each of whom con- tributed much useful material. We also asked various townspeople to write up organizations in which they are active. Among these were Mr. Stanton Muzzy, for the Volunteer Fire Department; and Mr. Richard Snelling, a member of our town's Planning Committee, for the projec- tion of Shelburne's future. The three churches submitted their recent histories.
Mrs. Mae Eldred helped us make good use of the official town records, and Mrs. Ralph Marsett gave us a great deal of help in her capacity as librarian at the Pierson Library. The Shelburne Museum made its library available to us, and Dr. Thomas Bassett of the Wilbur Library at the University of Vermont helped us also.
Mention should be made also of the wealth of material gathered over the years by such interested citizens as the late Mrs. Fred Roberts and the late Mrs. Charles Shearer. It was Mrs. Roberts' interest in our town history that led to her arranging a Federal grant to have our early records typed up. If it had not been for this, we would very likely still be deciphering those worn and faded documents, and this history would never have been ready for our Bi-Centennial Celebration!
Much credit is due Betty Loiselle for cover design. The pictures used as illustrations came from many sources, and a great many more than were used were offered by many interested townspeople. We also had offers of help with the typing.
In short, it would not have been possible to compile the history without the cooperation of countless fellow citizens· who have contri- buted to this undertaking. We thank each and every one of them.
Marie Harding Charlotte Tracy
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TOWN REPRESENTATIVES
1787 Caleb Smith
1877
J. B. Bartlett
1789
W. C. Harrington
1879
Edgar Nash
1795
Timothy Holabird
1881
David Smith
1798
Sturgess Morehouse
1883
J. V. S. Maeck
1800
Benjamin Harrington
1885
B. F. Van Vliet
1802
Joshua Isham
1887
George Roberts
1804
Benjamin Harrington
1889
M. Quinlan
1805
Jedediah Boynton
1891
Norris Miller
1806
Timothy Holabird
1893
Newell Clifford
1808
Joshua Isham
1895
Henry W. Tracy
1809
Frederick Maeck
1897
W. Seward Webb
1814
Joshua Morgan
1901
Benjamin Harrington
1816
Ziba Pierson
1903
William J. Sheridan
1818
Burgess Hall
1905
G. F. Peet
1820
Levi Comstock
1907
L. C. Ray
1823
Garrad Burritt
1909
E. F. Gebhardt
1825
Burgess Hall
1911
Henry Harrington
1827
Levi Comstock
1913
Walter Palmer
1828
Hyman Holabird
1915
B. C. Marsett
1830
Heman Barstow
1917
Walter Webster
1832
Heman Barstow
1919
Michael Thompson
1833
John Tabor
1921
J. Watson Webb
1835
Horace Saxton
1923
Carl Fletcher
1837
Samuel Fletcher
1925
Harris Maeck
1839
Elhanan Spear
1927
Clarence Morgan
1841
Robert White
1929
Lester Bettinger
1843
Ira Andrews
1931
Thomas Thompson
1845
William Harmon
1933
Lester Thompson
1847
Elijah Root
1935
Blanche Harrington
1849
Henry Morse
1937
Allan F. Bacon
1851
Elijah Root
1939
Allan F. Bacon
1853
Lyman Hall
1941
B. C. Marsett
1855
George Saxton
1943
B. C. Marsett
1857
Pierpont Smith
1945
Frank O'Brien
1859
Guy Tracy
1947
Eustace Thomas
1861
C. P. Williams
1949
Frank O'Brien
1863
Frederick Fletcher
1951
Frank O'Brien
1865
John Barstow
1953
Frank O'Brien
1867
Robert J. White
1955
Derick Webb
1869
Walter Weed
1957
Derick Webb
1871
Lee Tracy
1959 Richard Snelling
1873 E. S. Rowley
1961
Eustace Thomas
1875
H. N. Newell
1963
Eustave Thomas
1811
Joshua Isham
1899
W. Seward Webb
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POSTMASTERS
Oran Isham Cyrus McLaughler Garrad Burritt Henry Morse
George B. Isham
Agnes Gribbin
Cassius P. Williams
Mary Gribbin
George B. Isham
John Collamer
C. W. Adams
Belle Neary Catherine Neary
Belle Neary
Edward Sevee
Honor Roll
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS BURIED IN SHELBURNE
Allen, Abijah
Averill, Robert
Barstow, Sgt. W. Ebenezer
Nash, Asahel
Blin, Asa
Pierson, Moses
Blin, Bela
Pierson, Uzal
Blin, Johnathan
Pierson, Ziba
Blin, William
Rowley, Aaron
Burritt, Capt. Israel
Saxton, Frederick
Callendar, John
Seymour, Nathan
Comstock, Capt. Daniel
Spear, Richard
Comstock, Levi Harrington, Benjamin
Spear, Richard
White, Nathaniel
WAR OF 1812
Allen, Abijah Averill, Robert
Barron, Daniel Barron, John Blinn, Chester Blinn, William Burritt, Garrad
Burritt, Reuben Comstock, Levi Hall, Burgess Holabird, Hyman Holabird, Timothy Hosford, John
Mrs. A. M. Lowry Benjamin Maxham Mrs. A. M. Lowry
H. W. Tracy
C. H. Harrington J. J. Simmonds Benjamin Maxham
Maeck, Dr. Frederick
Mills, Samuel
Hough, Capt. D. Judson, Leman Keeler, Salmon H Kennedy, Samuel Peters, Samuel Pinno, John Rowley, Aaron Spear, Charles Taylor, Alvah Thayer, Eli Webster, Ephiam Wilcox, Noah
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CIVIL WAR
Adams, Charles Allen, Oliver Andrus, Charles Averil, George Bacon, Ugal
Babcock, James Barber, Rufus
McGuire, James McGuire, Patrick
Barstow, John
Mckenzie, Austin
Basford, Barney
McKenzie, Michael
Basford, Fred
Moore, Thomas
Blinn, Henry H.
Morehouse, George C.
Bragg, Charles
Nash, Edgar Nash, Guy F.
Collamer, George
Cooney, Thomas
Paranto, Edward
Curtis, Abram Derby, William
Pierce, John
Dimmick, John
Pippin, Timothy
Dimmick, William
Quinlan, Michael
Douglass, Enos
Ralph, Thomas
Edwards, William
Riley, Joseph
Fargo, Ransom
Rogers, Robert W.
Farrell, James
Sears, Andrew
Farrell, John
Snay, Paul
Greeno, John
Stone, James
Hall, Alexander
Sutton, John M.
Hall, Edwin R.
Tatro, Joseph
Harmon, Argalus
Taylor, George
Hennessa, Philip
Taylor, William
Holabird, Oliver
Tilley, Sidney
Holabird, William
Tracy, William
Isham, Gilbert
Tyler, Vernon
e, Patrick
Ward, Lewis
Wilson, Thomas
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Barstow, Lt. Frederick Maeck White, Walter J.
WORLD WAR I
Ash, Bernard A. Bacon, William H.
Fredette, Roland E.
Barrett, Frederick W.
Fresne, Roy G. Goodsell, Van Dyke
Braman, Earl W.
Gosselin, Frederick G. Hamilton, John P.
Busier, Edward A. Collette, Louis N.
Hollinsworth, Ernest H.
Howells, Allen L.
Hopkins, Harry H.
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°Dubie, George Dubie, Robert Dubuc, Ralph E.
Finnessey, John J.
Barrett, John R.
Lepage, Lewis Lessor, Batiste
Lyman, Isaac Macha, Mitchell Marks, Lorenzo McCombre, Frank McGrath, Edward
Parrida, William
Hopkins, William V. Hunter, Francis Ingerson, Jay D. Ingerson, William T. Irish, Leo P. Irons, Robert G. Kinney, Lancelot Lane, William P.
Lefebvre, Harry E.
Maeck, John H.
Marsett, Harold W.
Merchant, Henry P.
Mitchell, Dr. W. Hayes
Monniere, Lawrence
Morrissette, Prosper J.
Noonan, Edward P.
Noonan, James
Noonan, Joseph W.
North, Westley W.
Ockert, Alfred W.
Parker, Donald
Parker, Vernon
Poirier, Leon P.
Raymond, C. A. Ready, Harold W. Sheridan, William J., Jr. Thorpe, Howard H. Washburn, John Webb, J. Watson Webb, Vanderbilt
·Killed in action NAVY Lavilette, Frederick E. Lefebvre, Tuffield F.
Menard, Thomas E.
rker, William J.
Thorpe, Harold I.
Thorpe, Roy E.
Webb, William Seward, Jr. AVIATION Lemerise, Edger J. Marsett, Ralph E. Mitchell, Thomas J.
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