Waterville, Lamoille
County, Vermont
WATERVILLE VERMONT, an irregular outlined town
lying in the northwestern part of the county, in latitude 44 33', and
longitude 4° 11' bounded north by Belvidere, east by Belvidere and Johnson,
south by Cambridge, and west by Bakersfield and Fletcher, in Franklin
county, was chartered by Vermont to James Whitelaw, James Savage, and
William Coit, Oct. 26, 1788, by the name of Coit's Gore, with an area of
10,000 acres. On October z6, 1799, a part of this Gore was annexed to
Bakersfield, and again, November 15, 1824, an act was passed by the
legislature, "forming a new town out of the towns of Bakersfield, Belvidere,
and Coit's Gore, in the county of Franklin, by the name of " Waterville," as
follows:
WHEREAS, It appears to this assembly that it is inconvenient for the
inhabitants of the southeast corner 0f Bakersfield, and that part of
Belvidere called the "Leg,' to attend town meetings, and transact town
business in their respective towns, and that Coit's Gore ought to be
incorporated and form a part of a new town, etc."
Then follows the boundary lines of the new town, as at present established,
and the signatures of the proper officials.
The surface of the town is varied, a large portion being rugged and
mountainous. The soil is generally sandy and much better adapted to dairying
than grain raising, though good crops of corn, rye, potatoes, and oats, are
easily raised. Wheat is not so successfully cultivated. The timber is that
common to most Green mountain districts, mostly birch, maple and spruce,
interspersed with hemlock and elm. Large quantities of an excellent quality
of sugar is made each season from the maple. Formerly, considerable
attention was given to the cultivation of the, apple. Extensive orchards
were planted, and many hundreds of barrels of cider were manufactured, but
of late years, this branch of farming has been more and more neglected, and
many of the original trees have been cut down. Fletcher mountain lies in the
western part of the town, while Round mountain, rising to an altitude of
3,500 feet, is in the eastern part. To the south and east are located hills
of lesser altitude. The principal stream is the North branch of the Lamoille
river, a stream that in its course through this town is characterized by a
series of falls and rapids, which, if utilized, would render the town noted
in whatever branch of industry they were directed, but as it is, but a small
part of this natural water-power is used. Numerous brooks and streams of
minor importance spring from the mountain and hill sides throughout the
territory.
Waterville abounds in beautiful scenery and extensive views, not the least
prominent of which may be mentioned the Green Mountain spring, a mineral
spring located on road 18. About twenty-five years ago Osgood McFarland
erected an hotel here. In 1894, Samuel Miller leased the property, and
finally, during the following year, purchased it. Since that time Mr. Miller
has instituted many improvements, rendering this spot a delightful and
healthful resort for summer tourists. He has accommodations for about
thirty-five guests.
Geologically, the town consists of two large beds of gneiss and talcose
schist. In the western part are found one or two small beds of serpentine
and clay slate. Upon the farm of Orrin A. Thomas there is an excellent
freestone or talc quarry, which was opened 'as early as 1820. The stone is
valuable for manufacture into fire-bricks, foot-stones, fire arches, etc.,
as it possesses the peculiar quality of imperviousness to damage by heat.
In 1880, Waterville had a population of 547, and in 1882, was divided into
six school districts and contained six common schools, employing one male
and twelve female teachers, to whom was paid an aggregate salary of $540.85.
There were 152 pupils attending common school, while the entire cost of the
schools for the year, ending October 31st, was $608.21, with Mark Stevens,
superintendent.
WATERVILLE, a post village, is beautifully located in the southern
part of the town, on the Branch, where a natural waterfall affords
opportunities for unlimited mill power. The village contains two churches
(Methodist and Universalist), three stores, a rake factory, saw-mill, a tin
shop, a sheep-skin legging and belt-lace manufactory, and about fifty
dwellings. Manufacturing and Industry in Waterville
Daniel Dingwall's saw, shingle, and grist-mill, located on
road 13, was purchased by the present proprietor in 1882. Mr. Dingwall has
had much experience in the lumber business, and controls the timber on
several thousand acres of land. He intends shortly to extend the capacity of
his mill so that he will be able to cut upwards of a million feet of lumber
per annum.
Kelley & Son's sheep-skin leggings and belt-lace manufactory, located at the
village, was established in 1881. Their superior methods of tanning, and the
excellent quality of their goods, has rendered their wares already quite
noted.
George W. Mann's knife factory, located at the village, was established by
him in 1871. He employs from 'three to six hands, and turns out about 1,500
dozen knives per year.
Lucius Hayes's feed and saw-mill, located on road 13, was built about the
year 1842, by Amos Fassett, and purchased by the present proprietor in 1868.
He manufactures about 25,000 feet of lumber and grinds 3,000 bushels of
grain per year.
About the year 1800, Mr. Rice built a saw-mill on Stony brook, in the
eastern part of the town. Soon after a blacksmith shop was erected nearby,
and also several dwellings. The site on which these buildings were erected
presented a very desirable location for a village, and it is probable that
the intentions of the early proprietors of this section were to build up a
large and thrifty place of business. But, however sanguine might have been
their expectations, it is certain they have never been realized. The mills
and the shops have all long since been among the things of the past.
The first town meeting was petitioned for by Sylvanus Eaton, Joseph Rowell,
Ezra Sherman, and Jesse C. Holmes, November 29, 1824, and was duly warned by
Moses Fisk, justice of the peace, the following day. The meeting was held in
the school-house near the mills, December 13, 1824, with Sylvanus Eaton,
moderator. The following list of officers was elected Moses Fisk, town clerk
, Jesse C. Holmes, Antipas Fletcher, and Luther Poland, selectmen , Sylvanus
Eaton, constable , Stephen Leach, grand juror , and William Wilbur, tithing
man. The first justice of the peace was Thomas Page, appointed in 1803. The
first representative, Luther Poland, in 1828. The first child born in the
town was Ira Church, August 16, 1789.
During the late civil war Waterville furnished ninety-one enlisted men as
her mite towards preserving our country's unity.
Congregational and Methodist societies were formed in the town about the
year 1820. In 1839, the two societies united their funds, and built the
union meeting-house, which still does service. Previous to this the people
had been obliged to meet for worship in barns and private dwellings. The
town now has a Congregational, Universalist, and Methodist society, the
latter being the most popular, with Rev. G. L. Story, pastor.
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