USA > Vermont > Washington County > Waterbury > Waterbury, Vermont, chartered June 7, 1763 : bicentennial celebration, 1763-1963, Sunday, June 30th to Saturday, July 6th inclusive > Part 3
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To add to the general well being of pa- tients, a beauty parlor and barber shops were established in 1950. A full time dental hy- gienist was added to the staff in 1936, an x-ray technician in 1951 and a laboratory technician in 1947. A chiropodist began weekly visits in 1958. A special diet kitchen began operating in 1952.
Improvement in the physical plant began in 1948 with the construction of Stanley Hall for women employees. In 1949 the medical, surgical building was completed. There fol- lowed Ladd Hall and a maintenance shop in 1951, the Dale building in 1953, Osgood in 1954, also in 1954 a sewage disposal plant was put into operation and there was a modernization of the electrical system. A new general dining hall and a badly needed new auditorium were completed in 1962. Quite properly and de- servedly, the new auditorium was dedicated in 1963, the Rupert A. Chittick Auditorium, a fitting tribute to a man with courage and vision, and whose life and work are dedicated to the welfare of the unfortunate.
The present resident staff is as follows: R. A. Chittick, M.D., superintendent; D. F. Ryder, executive officer; George Brooks, M.D., assistant superintendent; J. F. P. Forest, M.D., chief of men's service, Maurice Caron, M.D., chief of women's service, Karl Treial, M.D., John Stark, M.D., John Murphy, M.D., Charles L. Ravaris, M.D. and Robert W. Hugel, M.D., Burton Emerson, M.D., Thomas L. Phillips, M.D., serve as physicians.
Department Heads are as follows: Mr. Robert Lagor, head psychiatric social worker; Mr. Donald Eldred, M.A., chief psychologist; Mrs. Vera Hanks, R.N., director of nursing service. Miss Alice Robinson, R.N., director of nursing education; Mrs. Helen Irish, house- keeper; Mr. Charles Haskins, chef; Mr. Harold Whalley, maintenance, and Mr. Herbert Hunt, farm superintendent.
WATERBURY SCHOOLS * PAST AND PRESENT 1763 - 1963
Waterbury was organized into a town by the election of town officers March 31, 1790. The first school taught in Waterbury was a private one, taught by the diminutive daugh- ters of Reuben Wells, who were sometimes mistaken for children by strangers.
Education was not overlooked. At a March meeting in 1803, it was voted "to raise two cents on the dollar on the grand list of 1800, for the support of schools, payable in good wheat at six shillings per bushel, rye at four and Indian corn at three shillings per bushel." Also "that the sum of money received for the support of schools be apportioned on the scholars from four to eighteen years old."
The first schoolhouse was built at a very early date and stood where the railroad crosses Stowe Street, and in this house nearly all the meetings of the village were held.
The first meeting house in Waterbury was erected by the Society of the Congregational Church in 1824. In 1898 the basement of this same church was used to house the third and fourth grades of Waterbury school while the new school was being built.
About the year 1872 the main or village district had a graded school for the support of which a fifty cent tax on the dollar of the grand list was voted. This school was the first to be housed comfortably. This school was suc- cessfully conducted by an efficient board of
trustees. They felt it compared favorably with any graded school in the state but the superin- tendent, Doctor George Washburn, thought there was still quite a deficiency in grading which might be improved.
In 1876-77 Waterbury was divided into seventeen school districts; nineteen schools of forty-nine terms were supported in sixteen districts. The number of weeks of school were thirty-three. The majority of the teachers were young women. Dr. Washburn, a rather strict disciplinarian, highly praised the ability of the young teachers to maintain order with pupils nearly their own age.
The school districts were Waterbury Street, Remington district, Kneeland district, Blush Hill, Waterbury Center, a district near the mouth of Cotton Brook, Loomis Hill, Gregg Hill, Warren district, on Waterbury River, Ricker Mountain, Colbyville, a district on the plank road near Stowe line, Woodward Hill, Perry Hill and Buzell district. District seven- teen was above Waterbury Street on the Winooski River. District eighteen was Cotton Brook.
The school year was divided into winter and summer sessions, the winter term begin- ning about December 4th and ending February 23rd. The summer sessions were usually from May 1st thru July 21st or May 15th thru August 4th.
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In 1876-77 District seventeen had not had a school for ten years. In 1876 there were thirty- one children under twenty years of age, eighteen between the ages of five and twenty. Eight whose ages ranged from five to thirteen years had never been to school, six had never learned to read.
In 1880 Waterbury had a population of 2,297 and in 1888 the town had sixteen common school districts and one graded school dis- trict, embracing the village. There were schools maintained in all of them which were taught by one male and twenty-four female teachers, at a weekly salary of $21.75 for the male and $5.18 for female teachers. The entire number of scholars who attended school was 455, of whom 54 attended private schools.
Each district raised its own taxes, elected its own school committee, and operated in- dependently.
The whole income for all school purposes was $4,563.87, the entire amount of which was expended.
The graded school was taught by one male and three female teachers. There were thirty- six scholars in the high school, nine of whom studied French and German. The school was taught thirty-six weeks and had four grades. The first class graduated in 1887 and consisted of three young women, Eva Burleigh, Eva Evans and Jessie Hooker. A. W. Armstrong was the superintendent.
Green Mountain Seminary at Waterbury Center was incorporated November 25, 1862 by an act of the General Assembly of the state. This was due largely to the efforts of the Free Will Baptist Society. Lyndon Center was the first place considered but Waterbury Center was the final decision.
In order to erect this institution a sum of $15,000 had to be pledged by the citizens by April 1, 1868. The Waterbury Center citizens could raise $15,000 and the Corporation voted to raise $20,000. The graded school stood on the lot they chose, so this building was moved to the rear of the Methodist Church. Construc- tion of the new building began in the middle of the year in 1868 and the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies.
The Green Mountain Seminary was autho- rized to confer degrees which were usually conferred by the best colleges, academies and seminaries. There were English and Clas- sical courses offered, as was also a college preparatory course. A Teacher's course of two years was offered for those who planned on entering the teaching profession.
Female students boarded at Waterbury Center homes for $2.00 per week, boys roomed and boarded at the Seminary for fifty cents.
Mr. C. A. Mooers was the first principal with a faculty of three women and one man. Financially the seminary was not too success- ful, and about 1877 a large loan was obtained from the National Life Insurance Co. Because of debt this company was forced to acquire the property. In 1878 the school was deeded to Miss Elizabeth Colley, principal, under whose direction it did very well.
In 1881 through the efforts of Dr. R. M. Minard the Minard Commercial course was added. Many future business men of Water- bury gained their start at this school. In 1894 Miss Colley offered to transfer the property, both Lodge and Seminary, to the Corporate body. This was done and a new corporation formed in 1895.
As time went on, community high schools eliminated the need for a private seminary. However, instruction continued under Miss Colley until February 1906, when the institu- tion closed its doors permanently. The build- ings were then used by Miss Colley for board- ing some former students, when the property went into the hands of the Town of Waterbury.
Since 1913 the building known formerly as the Green Mountain Seminary, has been used as a graded school. On alternate years Town meetings are held there.
In Waterbury Village, supplementing the graded school which was located at the rear of the Congregational Church, primary grades were taught in a small house located in the rear of the present Modern Pharmacy.
At the March meeting in 1898 a resolution offered by William P. Dillingham authorized the. school directors to purchase a site and erect a building there-on in the village of Waterbury, at an expense not to exceed $20,000 and to sell the old building and site.
The old building standing near the Dilling- ham homestead on Main Street, was moved away by its purchaser, James Hattie, to a loca- tion on Elm Street, in the autumn of 1900. This building is now the Odd Fellows Hall.
That year the third and fourth grades were taught in the basement of the Congregational Meeting House.
The new school building at that time was considered out-standing in beauty and effi- ciency. There were four large rooms on the first floor, exclusive of the large entrance hall. Upstairs there were two large class rooms, a teacher's room and a large auditorium where graduation exercises, basketball, school plays and dances were held.
The basement at that time seemed well furnished in all particulars and was well taken care of by a janitor.
The faculty consisted of a High School Principal, Mr. Roscoe and an assistant, Miss
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Julia Moody. There were four grade teachers, the Primary, Fourth and Fifth, Six and Seventh, and Eighth and Ninth Grades.
Mr. Roscoe left in 1905 and was succeeded by Mr. Hosmer as Principal and Miss Leet as Assistant. The graduating class of 1905 con- sisted of five members, one of whom was Robert Duffus, now a well known author.
The graduating class of 1906 consisted of twelve members and the class of 1907 of ten, nine girls and one boy. The splendid re- sults of the class of 1911 in college entrance examinations, won for Waterbury High School, the approval of the New England College En- trance Board.
In 1912 another large building was added and in 1936, a third, which includes a very large auditorium, an efficient Home Economics department and well equipped mechanical arts and wood-working class rooms.
In 1914 a commercial course was added, and successfully instituted. In 1915 an agri- cultural course was started.
In 1907 the entire enrollment of Waterbury High School was forty, in 1914, seventy pupils.
In 1907 Mr. Hosmer resigned and Frederick Reimherr took his place. He resigned in 1918 and was succeeded by Mr. Hart who in turn was succeeded by Marcus Gorham. On his resignation in 1927, Mr. Dascomb Rowe came to Waterbury as High School Principal and mathematics instructor. He very successfully administered both departments until 1961
when he resigned the principal-ship but con- tinued as math teacher.
Meanwhile the attendance had increased by leaps and bounds. The consolidation of some district schools into the Waterbury school, with the resulting increase of students, the addition of new courses and the need for more class rooms has created a situation where a new school building is badly needed. From the seventy students and six teachers in 1907, the high school has expanded to 379 stu- dents and 18 teachers, in addition to Mr. Whalen the superintendent, and Mr. Jay the principal.
The total number of students recorded in the Town report of 1962, including High and Elementary schools and Center school is 761. The number of teachers totals thirty. Water- bury Center has four teachers.
Waterbury High School has an outstanding record in athletics including basketball, base- ball and soccer. It also has skiing and driver's training classes. It has the services of a school nurse, a hot lunch program and a very active P. T. A. organization.
The school has an excellent music depart- ment under the direction of Mr. Roy Kelly. The school has been at the top of the list many times when it has taken part in competitive plays.
All in all, the Town of Waterbury has come a long way in the realm of education since the little private school of two hundred years ago.
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WATERBURY'S LIBRARIES
Waterbury's library history traces its beginnings to the Colby brothers, who in 1856, organized a lyceum which created a demand for reading, result- ing in the organization of an association and the purchase of 500 books.
Rev. Charles Sheldon, pastor of the Congre- gational Church, started a reading club for young people in 1887. In 1888 a corporation formed the Waterbury Public Library Association with stock at $1000, divided in $1 shares. Rev. Sheldon's name heads the list of the first four subscribers, the others being G. W. Randall, C. C. Warren and Dr. Henry Janes. The sale of stock completed, the first meeting of the association was held on June 22, 1888 when the following trustees were elected: W. P. Dilling- ham, C. E. Richardson, L. H. Elliott, Mr. Sheldon, Mrs. Henry Janes, Mrs. Mary Atherton and Mrs. W. P. Dillingham. The books of the Waterbury Library Association were received in return for stock in the new association and became part of the new li- brary's collection, In all the catalogue of 1888 lists 996 books, besides about 20 reference books. The rules state that "the library will be open every Saturday afternoon from two to six." Shareholders were required to pay their annual tax of 50c before the annual meeting in July of each year. Rooms were procured of Deacon L. P. Mussey at $3.50 a month and the library formally opened Nov. 24, 1888. Miss Etta Straw was librarian at a salary of $30 a year, payable monthly. Miss Straw resigned and Miss Nina Bruce was appointed to take her place. Later Miss Jessie Straw and Mrs. George Ladd served as librarians. In 1904 it was voted to lend books to the Town of Waterbury if the town would vote to main- tain a Free Public Library, but this article was passed over at Town meeting. In March of 1905 at a regular town meeting held in Waterbury Center, it was voted to have a public library for the town "under the state law which gives $100 state aid to any town so voting." The following board of trustees were elected: G. E. Moody, L. C. Moody, W. E. Mar- shall, Miss Julia Parker, Mrs. Henry Janes. $100 was appropriated to maintain the library. On July 24 it was voted to arrange for a library for the town "the Library Association not seeing fit to make any ar- rangements with the town." The Town board voted to accept the offer of the Library Association to allow the books of the Town Library to be placed in their room and to pay the Association librarian $1 a month in addition to her regular salary to care for the town books. Books bought during the summer and those purchased by the state were placed in a book case and the Warbury Town Library began circulating its books, the town voting 3% on the grand list in 1906 for its support. That summer ar- rangements were made for a branch library at the Center, transportation of books to be made via the electric R.R., and the library to be in the Water- bury Ctr. post office. No mention is made of a li- brarian. In 1907 the Town board voted to pay an additional $12 a year to the librarian for caring for the Town Library but in October of that year, "on the representation of the librarian that nearly all the work of caring for and issuing books was ex-
pended on the Town Library it was voted to assume the payment of the librarian's salary in full at $5 a month." Notwithstanding this the librarian (Miss Julia Parker) resigned in November as librarian of both Town Library and Library Association and Mrs. A. H. Smith succeeded her. During all this time the. Public Library organization had been supported by the dues of its members, donations, funds raised by lectures, entertainments, ice cream sales and solici- ting. For a time W. P. Dillingham gave the free use of a room over the Bank. In 1908 it was voted by both associations that free use of all books contained in the library be given to all legal residents of the town, provided the town furnish and maintain a suitable room for such books. The library thus became a free circulating library. A room was rented in the Ho- bart Block (now the "Modern Pharmacy") in which to keep the books. The library seem to have continued at that location until 1916 when the Public Library Association moved into its present quarters and the Town Library voted to remove all their books to the Center, procure a room and hire a librarian. This change resulted from a series of bequests to the Public Library Association. In 1906, at the death of Mrs. Henrietta Fales, the library received a sum of $15,000 in memory of her husband, Dr. Horace Fales, a beloved physician of Waterbury from 1848-1882. The income from this fund was designated to be used for the purchase of books and periodicals, a certain amount of it going to the Town Library, and it is so used to the present time. In 1918 the library also became the beneficiary of the will of Mark C. Canerdy in the amount of $10,023, the interest being used towards running expenses. In 1915 Dr. Henry Janes, a trustee of the library association during all of its early years, died and bequeathed the library all his real estate in Waterbury "in pursuance of a long cherished desire to aid such Association in its educational work, and as a tribute to the memory of my wife, Frances B. (Hall) Janes, whose earnest interest in the maintenance of the Library and whose efforts to make it an educational influence in the community ceased only when she departed this life." It is noteworthy that Mrs. Janes served on both library boards.
The annual report of the trustees in 1916, as they moved into their new quarters, states: "The building is arranged with ample book room, reading room for adults and children, an historical room with many articles of great historical value, a trustees' room and an auditorium. There is also a very convenient tenement for the family of a care- taker." Mrs. A. H. Smith, librarian for 10 years, assisted in the move to the new building and con- tinued as librarian until Miss Bertha Joslyn's first 3 year term as librarian. The position was then filled by Miss Bernice Price, Mrs. Georgiana Bul- lock, Miss Pauline Moody, Miss Verma Warren (Littlefield) and Miss Joslyn whose second term lasted for 16 years. At her resignation in 1953 the present librarian, Mrs. Ralph Post, took over the work.
No further records of Town Library board meet- ings occur until 1920 when they met "at the library
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at the Center," presumably in the present library room in Seminary Hall. S. C. Wheeler was elected chairman and F. A. Colsan, Sec'y. The librarian's salary was set at $2.50 a week and $50 was voted for new books. Mrs. Grace Towne seems to have been the librarian. In 1922 the Board talked over the changing of the books between the Waterbury Li- brary and the Center. New names appear on the Board of Commissioners: Mr. Bryan and W. B. Clark. In 1924 C. C. Moody became Sec'y. Library hours were gradually increased. In 1925 it was voted to accept the books donated by Miss Elizabeth Colley, some of which are still on the shelves of the Town Library. Mrs. Dora Woods was librarian for several years, until her death. In 1930 the name of Mrs. W. F. Hill first appears on the book committee. She was librarian for many years.
bury Public Library, badly damaging the building and ruining every book with the exception of two atlases. The loss was estimated at $15,000 besides property damage. Waterbury, Conn., gave $10,122 to its "daughter" town, of which $8000 was used to repair the library property. (In 1955 Waterbury, Vermont, was able to reciprocate in part with a check for $5,611.45 after the disastrous Connecticut flood.) Books were given by the Johnnycake Trail collection, the Brookline, Mass., Library, Harvard & Brown Universities, Houghton Mifflin, Jordan Marsh, Mrs. F. O. Smalley of Washington, D.C., the Mass. Library Club of Somerville, Mrs. Fletcher D. Proc- tor, and many local people and Vermont friends. $300 came from the library relief fund granted by the Carnegie Corporation through the Free Public Library Commission.
Following her resignation in 1946 Mrs. Belle Cooley served as librarian until her removal from town when Mrs. Elmer Hoffman assumed the posi- tion. Miss Ethel Colby was Treasurer after the death of Mr. Clark, and Herbert Sleeper was Secre- tary for many years, Mrs. Sleeper serving for a long time on the book committee. Many others worked faithfully as trustees or book committee members. Under Mrs. Hoffman the books were catalogued and many improvements have been made in the library. There are now 3195 volumes in the Town Library collection and the circulation last year was 9368 or an average of 55 a day. The Town appropriation has been increased to $700. The library is now open three afternoons and two evenings a week during the school year and for shorter periods in the sum- mer.
The flood of 1927 wrought havoc at the Water-
The Public Library now has on its shelves 11,240 books and the circulation last year was 25,294, a daily average of over 104, all time high for the last sixteen years. Story hours for the younger children and a summer reading program have gained many new juvenile borrowers. The town has been gen- erous in its support, appropriating $2500 for the past several years. The present board of trustees are: Alton G. Wheeler, Pres., Ernest Brisbin, Vice Presi- dent, Stanley Chase, Sec'y-Treas., Charles J. Adams, Edward Griffiths, Robert Luce, and Dan Ryder. The library is open every week-day except Thursday from 1-5 and 7-9 p.m. The auditorium and smaller museum room have been used as club rooms by the local women's clubs, a kitchen having been installed for the convenience of such groups. The Waterbury Historical Society holds its meetings there and is adding to the historical collection.
BANK OF WATERBURY
The Bank of Waterbury was chartered by an act of General Assembly of the State of Vermont, December 5, 1853, and opened for business on April 18, 1854, in a wing of the Washington House, which stood on the site of the Shopping Center, previously the site of the Waterbury Inn. When fire leveled the earlier hotel in 1858, the Bank established itself in a wooden frame building on approximately the location of its present modern quarters. In 1887 a brick building replaced the wooden structure and is still part of the present bank building which was remodeled in 1958.
Leander Hutchins was elected as the first President in 1854 and retired in favor of Paul Dillingham in 1874, during which period the bank changed its State status for a National Charter in 1865 as the Waterbury National Bank. Paul Dillingham retired in 1890 when his son, William P. Dillingham, succeeded him. In 1911 the bank once again reverted to a State Charter to broaden its services, taking the name of Waterbury Savings Bank & Trust Com- pany with renovated quarters and the instal- lation of its present security vault. Charles C. Graves was elected as President in 1923 and passed away in 1941 at which time Ber- trand R. Demeritt was appointed to the office and served until his death in 1943. William E. Collins was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Demeritt.
Elected to the presidency in 1944, Mr. Collins died in office in 1959. During his term a
complete remodeling and addition to the bank building was completed and the original name of Bank of Waterbury once again became the official title.
Ralph S. Meaker has served as President since the death of William E. Collins.
The following have served as administra- tive officers during the life of the Bank:
J. H. Stowell, Cashier 1854-1856
Benjamin H. Dewey, Cashier 1856-1865
James K. Fullerton, Cashier 1865-1870 Curtis Wells, Cashier 1870-1883
Charles Wells, Cashier
1883-1901
Willis B. Clark, Cashier 1901-1911
Willis B. Clark, Treasurer 1911-1938
Ernest E. Joslyn, Treasurer
1938-1950
Stanley R. Chase, Treasurer
1950-
Present Board of Directors:
Ernest R. Brisbin (elected 1936)
Waterbury
Harry F. Harvey (elected 1938)
Ralph S. Meaker (elected 1941)
Roy W. Demeritt (elected 1944)
Duxbury Waterbury Waterbury
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