Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-09-11
BFadf0rd az Il Has and as IL liz.

houses north Of Prichard's store
within what ia called Bradford Vii.
lage. The only other buildings
were the Academy and Masonic
Hall. There were ut that time some
twenty dwellings in the South part
OF the village; also two fulling
mills, one saw mill, one grist mill,
one paper mill, one store sc. Now
the North part has some so dwell.
ings, and the South part 70 or more
Two churches have been built in
the North part and Town Hall in
the South part; besides several
stores and other buildings. Quite
u change, although the change has
been slow. Some attempt ut man.
ufacturing, in the early history of
the town, was made by Capt. TrOt.
ter. A cotton factory was put in
operation on the lower falls on the
South side, and brewery or dis
tilery erected at the foot of the hill
back of the Trotter House, but
nothing was dohe with them after
the decease Of Capt. TrOtter. Mr..
Low come to this town previous to
1924, and soon after became inter.
ested in the paper business, and
there is 70 doubt but that his efforts
to build up that branch of business
did much to stimulate enterprise
and give new impetus to business
of various kinds. At a later peri.
cd Mr.. Strickland started the foun-
dry business, which was an impOr-
tant addition to the manufa ctur-
ing business of Bradford, furnish
ing at that time employment to 20
or more hands. And if some one
had started the WOODEN manufac.
turing here as was contemplated
ut one time and so made use of more
of the water power. Bradford would
no doubt have made more rapid
progress in various ways, as well
as in an increase of population.
But unfortunately this was not
done, and now is there not danger
that Bradford, instead of increasing
her manufactures, is in IA way to
lose a portion of what she has had.
Mr.. Low, after long, active life,
has been called from his labors
here, and the paper business is
standing still. Mr.. Strickland, l
understand, is about to retire from
the furnace business. Will that
branch of business also he stopped ?
But few towns are as favored with
such an excellent water.power as
Bradford ; and would it not he
great oversight in the people here
to allow it to run to waste, without
contributing to the prosperity and
growth of the place. 1t would
seem that what is needed to make
bradford one of the most thriving
villages in Eastern Vermont is to
make use of this fine water-p power
to the fullest extent. This will
give employment to the laboring
men here and bring iu others and
is this not the true way to build up
your village, and I'll! your schools
your churches and eventually your
treasury. There must he men en-
gagged in business that will scatter
the money, or there will be little
for others to catch and hoard up.
Labor will build up village or a
town, give it a chance. An idle
will not DO it.
The active business men of Brad
ford of forty years ago are gone
and others have taken their places.
Bradford Village is to pro-
yress slowly, but surely, in the flu
ture as it has in the past, depends
much on her preeent business men.
! might allude to the financial af-
airs of the town and other organ
cations here, and show what they
we're and what they are now; but /
orbear.
Is it not time for all those inter-
'sted iu the prosperity of the place
% look about them and see where
he present course of things is lead
ng? PLURlBUs UNUM.
WEST FAIRLEE. Last Saturday,
IS MIR. l.. Il. SpauldIng and wife
we're returning from visit by the
way of Union Village, their horse I,
'ecame frightened by some object
n the wall, and which, running
he wagon off the side of the road,
itching the occupants QUE, and |
hrOwing them down steep incline
or some distance. Mr.. Spaulding :.