Stowe, Lamoille County,
Vermont
STOWE VERMONT is situated in the southern part
of the county, in lat. 44° 28', and long. 4° 20,' bounded northeasterly by
Morristown, southeasterly by Worcester, southwesterly by Waterbury, and
northwesterly by Cambridge and Underhill. The town originally contained an
area of 23,040 acres, chartered by Benning Wentworth, governor of New
Hampshire, June 8, 1763, to Joshua Simmons and sixty-three associates, in
seventy shares. It was named after a town in England, and originally spelled
S-t-o-w, the a having been annexed during the last forty years. In 1848, the
legislature passed an act annexing to its territory the town of Mansfield,
and in 1855, its area was again increased by the annexation of a portion of
the town of Sterling, so that it now has the largest area of any town in the
county.
The surface of Stowe is broken and uneven in many places, yet it contains a
large amount of level country. Upon the west are the Green Mountains, with
Mt. Mansfield, the highest peak in the ranges, containing some of the most
wild and romantic scenery in the State, and upon the east is the Hogback
range, a spur of the former, while between them the country is varied with
hills and dales, though there is little that can be called waste land. Many
of the hills furnish some of the most valuable and profitable farms in town,
and the portions rising still higher and being still more broken, afford the
very best pasture land, which farmers have found to be the best paying part
of their farms. The largest plot of plain, or tableland, in town, and
probably the largest in the county, is on what is called the West Branch of
Waterbury river, about two miles from the village of Stowe. The intervale on
this river and its tributaries is not surpassed in fertility by any in the
State. For grazing purposes, probably there are few towns in the whole State
better adapted , and there is at the same time a sufficiency of land suited
to the purposes of cultivation and tillage to render most of the
considerable farms well balanced in these respects.
The territory is well watered by numerous springs and streams, the principal
water-course being the Waterbury river, which has its source at the
confluence of two streams, the East and the West branches, uniting at the
village of Stowe. The East branch rises in that part of the original town of
Sterling which was annexed to Stowe, and, flowing through one-half the
southern part of Morristown, enters Stowe about midway between the east and
west corners of the original town of Stowe, thence south to its junction
with the East branch. Into it flows a considerable stream, which rises in
the northeastern corner of the town, and upon which is found Moss Glen
Falls. The West branch has its source in the northwestern part of what was
the original town of Mansfield, and flows southeast, entering the original
town of Stowe at a point midway between the northwest and southwest corners,
flowing nearly east to its junction with the East branch. About three and a
half miles south of the village it receives Miller brook, a stream having
its source in the southwestern corner of the original town of Mansfield. On
the east side, the branch also receives a stream called Gold brook, which
has its rise in the southeast corner of the original town of Stowe. Numerous
other streams abound, Bomb of which afford good mill-sites. The timber of
the town is principally hemlock, fir, spruce, beech, birch, and maple,
interspersed occasionally with pine.
The rocks that enter into the geological structure of the town are composed
almost entirely of the talcose schist formation, there being, however, a
small vein of gneiss in the western portion. Among the minerals that have
been discovered are gold, iron, copper, and steatite. None of these
minerals, except gold, has there been any attempt to work. Slight traces of
the precious metal have been found in several locations throughout the
territory, especially on the smaller streams, the most abundant, perhaps, on
what is known as Gold brook. In May, 1857, Capt. A. H. Slayton, who had
previously had considerable experience in the diggings of California, found
some small particles of gold on this brook, upon the farm then owned by
Nathaniel Russell. In the following November he purchased the farm and
commenced digging , but he soon gave up the enterprise, though he found
considerable quantities of the metal, but not enough to pay for the labor
expended. Further search and development may some day, however, be rewarded
with the discovery of considerable deposits of these minerals.
In 1880. Stowe had a population of 1,896, and in 1882, the town was divided
into nineteen school districts and contained nineteen common schools,.
employing four male and twenty-three female teachers, to whom was paid an
aggregate salary of $2,487.47. There were 443 pupils attending common
school, while the entire cost of the schools for the year, ending October
31st, was $2,920.39, with Mrs. M. N. Wilkins, superintendent. To the energy
and unusual ability of Mrs. Wilkins is attributed, in a great degree, the
high grade of proficiency attained by the pupils. She is the wife of Hon.
George Wilkins, and is a lady of rare attainments, a fluent speaker, and has
had considerable experience as a lecturer and educator. The people of Stowe
congratulate themselves in possessing so able and zealous an educator, as is
attested by their three successive and unanimous elections of the lady to
the position.
STOWE, a post village located near the central part of the town, on
the Waterbury river, contains three churches, (Congregational, Methodist and
Union,) a graded school, the Mt. Mansfield hotel, three dry goods stores, a
drug store, hardware store, three grocery stores, a millinery and fancy
goods store, shoe shop, harness shop, and about six hundred inhabitants. The
village is neatly laid out, beautifully located, and during the summer
months is a favorite resort for summer sojourners, so much so that it has
been called the "Saratoga of Vermont." About half a mile south of the
village, on the main road, is a suburb called the Lower village, which
contains a butter-tub manufactory, tannery, shoe shop, grocery, free
library, hotel, and about two hundred inhabitants.
Manufacturing and Industry in Stowe
The Mt. Mansfield Hotel, located at Stowe village, is a
large and elegant structure, 300 feet long, and four and one-half stories
high, with two wings in the rear, forty-five by ninety feet, and a broad
piazza running nearly the entire length of the front. The hotel has rooms
for 450 guests. They are large, high, light and cheerful, and are furnished
in suits or in private parlors, as may be desired. The spacious dining hall,
forty-five by ninety feet, is on the first floor, and directly over it is a
fine, large hall, for dancing and other entertainments. All the rooms are
finely furnished, lighted with gas, and each floor is supplied with
bath-rooms, and with pure spring water, brought in iron pipes from the
surrounding hills. In addition to this building there is another, a summer
hotel, on the summit of Mansfield mountain, called the Summit House, and
another at Smuggler's Notch, called the Notch House. The hotel was built by
a stock company, organized June 24,11864. In 1869, the property was sold at
auction for $r 10,000.00, the purchasers being a party of five gentlemen,
who built the wings at an additional cost of $50,000.00. The property is now
owned and managed by Mr. E. C. Bailey, who conducts it in a business-like
and desirable manner. The magnificent view afforded from the summit of Mt.
Mansfield, and the romantic scenery of Smuggler's Notch, have already been
mentioned on page 30. One other local attraction is Moss Glen Falls. They
are situated on one of the lower ridges, on the northeastern slope of
Worcester mountain, in a ravine of most singular formation, four miles
distant from the hotel. The source of the stream is a small pond on the
table-land above the bluff, which is about z00 feet in height. The solid
cliff seems to have been cleft asunder, and the perpendicular walls are left
standing in their majesty, down which the water dashes in a spray of
unrivaled beauty. The first view of the falls is attained about fifty feet
up the cliff, on the side nearest the highway.
The Stowe Free Library is kept at the store of George W. Jenney, the
librarian. It contains about 1,500 volumes, which are loaned, free of
charge, to all residents of the town.
Moscow is a hamlet located in the southern part of the town: It received its
name from the following circumstance : In 1839, a school meeting was called
there, when an old circular saw, suspended at the end of a string, was used
in place of a bell, which the people facetiously designated as the "bell of
Moscow;" hence the name.
Mt. Mansfield tannery, located at the Lower village, was erected in 1882,
upon the site of an old tannery which was destroyed by fire November 18,
1881. Mr. Webster, the proprietor, employs ten men, and the tannery has the
capacity for turning out about 70,000 calf skins per annum.
Pike 6 Robinson's butter tub factory and saw-mill, at Stowe, was erected in
1881-'82. The works give employment to ten men, and manufacture 500,000 feet
of lumber and 30,000 butter-tubs per annum.
Eugene K. Seaver's broom-handle manufactory, located at Moscow, manufactures
about 25,000 handles per year. The factory was moved from Stowe village to
its present location in the spring of 1883.
Thomas A. Straw's grist-mill, located at Stowe village, was built by the
Raymond Mill Co., in 1823, and was purchased by the present proprietor in
1860. In 1890, he added a shop, 24 by 60 feet, for dressing lumber and the
manufacture of sash, doors and blinds.
Smith G. Faunce's carriage shop, located at Stowe village, has been occupied
by Mr. Smith about eight years. In the autumn of 1881, he associated with
himself in the business Mr. Francis, and the firm now does a good business
in the manufacture of all kinds of carriages, wagons, and sleighs.
Lemuel B. Smith's saw-mill, on Waterbury river, cuts about 200,000 feet of
lumber per year.
W. H. Anderson's steam shingle-mill, located on road 44, is operated by a
twenty-five horse-power engine, and manufactures 10,000 shingles per day.
James E. Houston's butter-tub and shingle manufactory, located on road 29,
is operated by both steam and water-power, and manufactures about 30,000
tubs and 100,000 shingles per year, employing twelve men.
Edgar A. Pixley's butter-tub stave manufactory, located on the "forks,' cuts
about eight cords of staves per day.
George G. Foster's butter-tub manufactory, located on road 24, turns out
about 20,000 butter-tubs per annum.
Orlando S. Turner's saw-mill, located on road 24, was built in 1869, and
manufactures 250,000 feet of lumber per year.
Moss Glen saw-mill, Spalding & Langdon, proprietors, is located at Moss Glen
falls, on road 13. It turns out about 600,000 feet of lumber per year,
giving employment to ten men. Early Settlers of Stowe
The first settlement was made in 1994, by Oliver Luce, from
Hartland, Vt. With an ox-sled and a few articles of furniture Mr. Luce made
his way with his family, consisting of his wife and two children, to what is
called the Hill place, in Waterbury, in March, where, owing to the
impassibility of the roads, he left his family until the 16th of April. He
then brought them on to their new home, a little camp of logs sixteen feet
square, covered and floored with bark. This was situated on what is now Noah
Scribner's meadow, on the west side of the stage road, just north of the
late George Cobb's shop. In this little cabin, containing but one room, Mrs.
Luce did all the cooking and household work for one season. An improvement
was then made by adding a bedroom and pantry, made of bark. Yet, it is said,
such was the desire to hunt and explore in the town that Mr. Luce's family
was not alone a single night during the first year. Mr. Luce made the first
plow and plowed the first furrow in the town, and resided here until the end
of his long life, dying at the age of eighty-four years. The town, in honor
of his memory as a worthy pioneer, placed an historical monument to mark his
last resting place. He was the father of four children, of whom Harry was
the first child born in the town. Two of these children, Ruth and Zemah,
located here. Ruth became Mrs. Benjamin Alger and settled with her husband
upon the farm now owned by their son Oscar, where they resided until their
respective deaths. Their children were Lucy S., Seth L., Oscar, Martha,
Miranda, and Isaac H. Lucy S. became Mrs. Delevan Luce, and resides in
Morristown. Seth L. died while serving in the Union army. Martha, who is now
deceased, became the wife of Enoch J. Cleveland. Miranda is the wife of
Jesse Town, of Stowe village. Isaac H. resides on road 20, and Oscar as
before mentioned. Zemah Lice became Mrs. Allen and located in that part of
the town which was then Mansfield. She had but one child, who died some
years since.
Capt. Clement Moody made the next settlement, it is said the day following
that of Mr. Luce's. Mr. Kimball and Joel Harris commenced settlements soon
after, and Noah Scribner came the year following. In 1798, there were about
twenty families in the town, and in 1803, there were ninety resident
families.
The first proprietors' meeting held in the town was on February 2, 1796, at
the residence of Lowden Case. On the second Monday in March,. 1797, the
first town meeting was warned by William Utley, justice of the peace, to be
held at the house of Lowden Case, for the purpose of organizing the town.
The meeting was held as per warning, when Lowden Case was chosen moderator,
Josiah Hurlbut, town clerk, Joel Harris, and Ebenezer Wakefield, selectmen,
Clement Moody, treasurer, Lowden Case, first constable, David Moody, second
constable, Clement Moody, Joel Harris and Ebenezer Wakefield, listers, Abner
Bickford, first grand juror, Lowden Case, pound-keeper, Oliver Luce, William
Utley, and John Turner, fence viewers, Clement Moody, Amasa Marshall, and
Josiah Dean, surveyors of highways , Amasa Walker, sealer of weights and
measures, John Turner, sealer of leather, and John Bryant, tythingman.
September 4th, the first freemen's meeting was held. The first justice was
William Utley, in 1796. The first representative was Nathan Robinson, in
1801.
For four years after Mr. Luce settled here all the grain was ground at
Waterbury. The first frame house was built by Elias Wilder, on what is now
Robert Scribner's garden. The first brick chimney was built nearly opposite
the present site of D. W. Bennett's corn-barn. The first frame barn was the
one now owned by O. Perkins. The first plow was made by Oliver Luce, and the
first ground plowed was where Robert Scribner now lives. Asa Raymond held
the plow, and Mr. Luce drove the team. The first harrow, furnished with wood
teeth, was also used on this ground. Harry Luce, the first male child, was
born July 3, 1795. The first female born was Sally, daughter of Francis E.
Story, October 14, 1796. The first wedding was that of Noah Churchill and
Polly Marshall, May 29, 1798. They were married by William Utley, justice of
the peace. According to the custom the impending wedding was published, or
cried off, at the raising of James Town's barn, by Josiah Hurlbut, town
clerk, who, standing on one of the plates of the barn, proclaimed: "Here ye
! Hear ye! marriage is intended between Noah Churchill and Polly Marshall.
God save the people!" The first death, that of a young son of Luke. J. Town,
also occurred on this day.
The first brick house was built by Joseph Benson, and the first bricks were
manufactured by Andrew Luce, on Z. W. Bennett's farm. Maj. Perkins owned the
first sleigh and the first buffalo robe. This sleigh is now the property of
Andrew Luce, of Morristown, who values it highly as a relic. The first wagon
was owned by a Mr. Nichols. Daniel Lathrop was the first tanner and
shoemaker. Philip Moody was the first person to bring a newspaper into the
town, the Weekly Wanderer, published at Randolph. The first postoffice was
established in 1817, with R. Camp, postmaster. The first tavern was kept by
Oliver Luce, a short distance from where he first settled. Cooking stoves
were first introduced about the year 1820. Maj. Perkins purchased the first
one, by exchanging a yoke of oxen for it. The first merchants were Levi
Crooks, Amasa Marshall, John Crosby,. Elias Bingham, Bugby & Edgerton,
Riverius Camp & Caldwell, and Col. Asahel Raymond. The first school was
taught by Thomas B. Downer, in his dwelling, some of his scholars walking a
distance of three miles or more. The first schoolhouse, a log structure, was
burned in 1803.
It was common among the early settlers for females to work in the field,
planting and harvesting. Two of the daughters of the late Nathan Robinson,
Martha and Asenath, at one time took quite a job of pulling flax for Oliver
Luce. Martha became the wife of Elias Bingham, and Asenath was married to
Caleb Marshall.
The following is a list of the officers and privates who volunteered from
Stowe during the war of 1812: Nehemiah Perkins, captain, Lewis Patterson,
lieutenant , Jonathan Straw, ensign, Nathan Robinson, sergeant-major,
Riverius Camp, quartermaster, John McAllister, Uriah Wilkins, Joseph
Bennett, Elias Bingham, Aaron Wilkins, Nathan Holmes, Joseph Dake, Daniel
Robinson, Ivory Luce, Paul Sanborn, Jonathan Luce, William Kellogg, Joseph
Benson, Chester Luce, Joseph Marshall, Samuel R. Smith, Peter C. Lovejoy, S.
Rand, Hugh McCutchin, Nathaniel Russell, Ira Cady, Stephen Russell, Andrew
Kimball, Isaac Patterson, Warner Luce, William Moody, John B. Harris,
Sylvester Wells, Amos Pain, Dexter Parker, Ephraim Ham, Russell Cory, Reuben
Wells, Stephen Kellogg, Andrew Luce, Orra Marshall, Orange Luce, Samuel
Fuller, and Levi Austin, privates: During the late civil war Stowe furnished
187 enlisted men, twelve of whom were killed, four died of wounds,
twenty-two of disease, one in
Andersonville,
and one committed suicide from derangement owing to disease. The amount
expended by the town for bounties and expenses was about $28,000.00, being
equal to $13.50 to each man, woman and child in town, according to the
census of 1860, and about 500 per cent of the grand list of the town in
1865.
The First Congregational church
The First Congregational church of Stowe, located at Stowe village, was
organized November 21, 1818, by a council of whom Nathaniel Rawson was
moderator, with six members, viz.: Joseph Savage, Daniel B. Dutton, Abner
Fuller, Rachel Dutton, Lorania Dutton, and Esther Savage. The first settled
pastor was Rolden A. Watkins, in 1826, who retained the pastorate until
1830. Since that time, up to February 1, 1883, when the present minister,
Rev. Wilbert L. Anderson was installed, there were but four pastors
installed, covering a period of thirty-eight years. The remaining portions
of the time it was supplied with various ministers as acting pastors. The
church building, a wood structure, was built in 1839, and enlarged and
repaired in 1864, so that it is now a comfortable structure, capable of
accommodating 300 persons, and valued, including parsonage, at $3,500.00.
The society has seventy-eight members.
The Methodist church
The Methodist church, located at Stowe village, was organized by Lorenzo
Dow, about the year 1800. The church building was erected in 1840, and
enlarged and repaired in 1866. Rev. F. W. Lewis is the present pastor of the
society.
The Union church
The Union church, located about two and one-half miles from the central part
of the town, on the Mansfield mountain road, was built in 1836, and is still
used by all denominations. It will seat 225 persons, and cost $1,187.00.
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