Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-25
NIiddIebury and ITS Manufactures.
HOW THEY WERE STARTED.

MiddIebury and ITS Manufactures.
HOW THEY WERE STARTED.
There are periods in the history of all
villages of size when very much depends
upon energetic business men, and partieu-
larly upon holders of real estate, relative
to their future growth and prosperity. a
competent, active, discerning business man
will do more III such case to build up a
village, fill it with stores, mechanics with
their families, rearing mills employing
water power where such is afforded, and
giving a lively air to all kinds of business
than fifty moderate, slow and easy good
lazy fellows, who like Mica wber are
always hanging around the street corner
"waiting for something to turn up sup
posing as we should judge, that all i'm
provements went on all fouls, and with
out any aid. to complete success. Some
times spendid water power is left uuim-
proved from the 'dog in the mangel
policy" while prompt vigorous action
with good judgment, would give an i'm
petus to all kinds of business in the i'm
provement of water privileges thai
would cause great advance in value tC
all property, build up village, filling il
with intelligent mechanics, who with
thrift and foresight would bring from
abroad large amount of money to be
consumed in the purchase of stock, the
employment of men, the erection of dwell
ings, and indeed for all purposes that &c
to make happy, intelligent, prosperous
community. This train of thought has
been suggested to my mind es |, have
looked over the past in the history Of, our
village, as connected with improvements
as rugseetea- Many years ago a COM
pany was formed in our village-25 years
since-for the purpose of, manufacturing
wooden goods, and for a. time was quite
successful in the business.
Soon however the stock began to de.
cline in value, and the mill with all the
adjacent property owned by the company
began to show signs of decay, and the
stockholders lost all interest apparently
in the enterprise. Gradually the stock
was absorbed by a few, who would not
improve the property, nor cell out to any
one who would buy at fair price: The
consequence was that things came to 6
stand still and almost dead. The stock
was worth but little, and the tendency
was that it would be soon worthless. Al
this juncture of affairs a new man in the
person of Mr. Oliver Severance appeared
upon the field. He commenced to buy
I'D the stock, and when be had obtained
insjority of shares, change was seor
apparent. Ground that had lain useless
for very many years was laid cut in lots
put into the market and sold. Mr.. Sever
ance first himself erected two fine stores
which were soon rented to Messrs Case &
Rider, E. d. Merriger and J. S. Barker i
Co. Next large building was put NJ
by Mr.. Severance, which WAS rented by
Msssrs Swiney & Burrows in which to
mar ufacture doors, &c, for market, in
which they are doing a very extensive
business, employing large number OF
hands. The old wooden mill formally oc.
cupied by A. Rutherford, was sold tt
Messrs Tickuor & Goo lricb, who pro-
ceeded to remodel it into gri,t mill OF
the first clast.
Next came the destruction If the old
stone wooden mill, and the erection on the
site of paper mill by q company OF
active business men, who are doing q
splendid business, employing good mum
erection of foundry rented to Messrs
Martin & Lang worthy who are quite sue
cessful in supplying dem ,nds upon them
for their wares. Soon another plan was
put into operation. Lots were sold to E
R. Clay and G. d. L me, who proceeded to
put up three stores of good dimensions
and full finish, and they are occupied by
E. R. Clay, j. E. Negus,and Earl s. Clay.
Lastly company has been formed to oc
cupy the stone building in the hollow TO,
the purpose of manufacturing wooden,
for the home and foreign market; aud 6
new stone house is to be put up to aeco
modate this new comp my. These are the
results of the enterprise and business tact
coupled with indomitable energy and
perseverance of one man, and that mar is
OLIVER SEVERANCE who has been the
main moving power in all these improve.
ments. Through his instrumentalfity and
persistent efforts yearly 800, 1000 of prop
erty has been added to our village, and
all of it productive and tending to build
up the place in wealth and prosperity.
am led to ask myself, what untold advan.
tage would have been secured to our vii
lage, if 80 years ago these improvements
had been inaugurated and carried forward
to the point they now pres mt themselves
Other lots have been sold that will ere
long, we trust, be built upon, thus still
increasing the aggregate amount of real
estate property among rs that would
never have been realized but for the eff.
ferts of Mr.. Severance. In all this I saw
Mr.. Severance has not only benefited
himself, as he ought certainly to do, but
he has benefited our village and sur
rounding community in the permanent
location of capital in our midst that is ia
be constantly remunerative to all parties