The Portland daily press., 1878-02-04
Letter from Vermont.
Montpelier and its surroundings-A
Sketch of its Early History--Its Prog
ress and Its Present Condition.
MONTPELIER, VI, Feb. l, 1878,

| MONTPELIER, VI, Feb l, 1878,
To the Editor of the Press:
Perhaps some of your readers may not con-
| slider uninteresting letter from an ex-Portland
boy now residing at. Montpelier, containing a
rambling description of the place and slight
sketch of its history.
With the completion of that long contem-
plated thoroughfare, the Portland s. Ogdens-
burg railroad, Maine and Vermont are now
closely connected; and that the connection is
beneficial at least to one State is evident from
the liberal advertising patronage bestowed
upon our local papers by Portland business
firms. In coming here from Portland the trav-
eler finds open to his choice three routes start
| ing primarily in all over the Portland & Og-
densburg. FIRST, he may get off at FAbyau' :,
| take the White Mountain Branch of the Bos-
ton, Concord & Montreal railroad, and from
thence here by the Wells River railroad; or he
may continue on from Fabyan's to the Wing
Road Junction, as did, wait fifteen or twenty
minutes on an open platform ION cold day
this pleasure is greatly enhanced), and there
take the White Mountain Branch,-the rest of
the way as by the first route; or he may pro-
ceed still further on the Portland s. Ogdens-
burg to st. Johnsbury, and there take the Pas
sumpsic railroad to Wells River, and so on.
Starting from Boston one can come through
direct by the Vermont Central railroad.
Montpelier is beautiful place, as think all
who have ever visited it in May or October will
acknowledge. To the artist its picturesque situ-
alton in the valley of the Winooski, amidst the
clustering confuences of its chief tributaries,
the close proximity of the mountains, the
oerd naonteS of Champlain, whilst in the dis
tance, towering like giant above the lesser
hills, may be seen CamePs Hump, the rocky
gorges down which the brooklets leap and foam,
all combine to form q scene which he aches to
transfer to canvas To the calculating eye of
| the farmer the rich meadows bordering the
| river for miles speak of heavy crops of hay aud
| grain. To the physician the very thought of
settling among people encompassed, as we
are, by clear, bracing, healthful atmosphere,
at an altitude of $40 feet above the sea level,
and where the death rate is scarcely one per
cent, must certainly be depressing. While to
the cosmopolitan, the man of the world, the
well laid out streets bordered by noble trees,
the substantial and even elegant public build
ings, hotels and blocks of stores, betoken pros
perity, comfort and an intelligent and well-to-
do class of inhabitants
Early In 1877 the first permanent settlement
was made by Jacob Davis, colonel in the
Revolutionary army, who in company with his
hiredman and his cousin, Pearly Davis with
one horse among them, emigrated from
his native home in Charlton, Worcester
county, Mass. Others followed him, and
in 1871 town government was organized.
Colonel Davis built the first frame house.
and brought here the first wheel carriage ever
seen in this vicinity, great task in those days
when roads were new and rough. In 1871, also
the settlement bad the pleasure of receiving a
royal visitor iu the person Of Prince Edward, a
son OF George III. who on his passage from
Montreal to Boston, remained over night, with
his suite at Colonel Davis's. Foil of the no.
tion that the Americans, especially on the bor-
der settlements of the North, were little better
than ssvages, he at first was keenly apprehen-
sive of personal danger from assassination or
poison And to guard against the former he
had brought along with him a band of fifteen
or twenty armed retainers, while, to insure
his safety from the latter, he had provided sew
eral tdSters who must examine, taste and eat
portion of every meal prepared for
him before he would venture to touch it him
self. he was so far reassured, however the
next morning by long talk with the Colonel,
who greatly enlightened him respecting the
moral sense and intelligence of our people, that
he consented to dismiss the greater part Of his
armed retainers to return to Montreal
and he then resumed his journey in much
better spirits His next stop was at Judge
Paine's at Williamstown, for his dinner.
Here he seemed disposed to become
quite. jocose. Among other of his
witty efforts, he said to Mrs. Paine, 'I suppose
madam, that you here never read anything but
your Bible and Psalm Book?''
80, yes, we do promptly replied Mrs. Paine,
we are all quite familiar with the writings of
one Peter Pindar."
Those who have read Pinlar's satires on the
character and capacity of the then royal family
will well appreciate the keen ness of the lady's
retort
Another rich little incident Is related of his
journey through Vermont which occurred at
the house of a shoemaker on the road, where
for some purpose he had made short call. In
his progress through the State, the Prince had
by degrees become so much like himself at
home, that he rudely stepped up and
by way of soothing her evident resent
ment, 20, never mind it-you can now
tell your people that you have had the honor of
being kissed by British Prince" 90 never
mind" exclaimed the incensed husband as he
uuceremoniously sent the royal puppy from the
house by kick in the rear, 80, never mind,
sir; you can now go home and tell your people
you have had the honor Of being kicked out of
doors by en- American cobbler."
The new town thrived apace, and Ia 1905,
with population of about 1000, it was made
the capital of the State. The first State build
ing was of wood. In 1886 this gave way to q
fine stone structure which stood until 1857,
when it was accidentally destroyed by fire. In
1859 was erected of native granite, the present
substantial and commodious edifice, which Is
regarded one of the finest buildings In New
England. On the portico, surrounded by an
iron railing, stands a colossal marble statue of
Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga. Within
everything is in excellent taste, yet marked
with certain rugged planness typical of that
class Of men who form the majority ofour Leg
islatures-the farmers
With present population of about 1000,
Montpelier supports, and has supported for the
last twenty years, no less than four papers.
Those now surviving ara the Vermont Watch
man and State Journal, Argus and Patriot,
Green Mountain freeman aud Vermont Chron-
icle, the last-nsmed being religious (Congre-
gationaD journal
We have also welEbuilt capacious school
house, of the academical grade, with daily
attendance of more than 400 pupils Our
churches deserve more than the passing word
am sble to give them. There are six, the
finest being the Bethany (Congsegational)
which is really magnificent structure. and one
which I should hardly expect to find outside
of large city. 1t Is of blue limestone and
built after the style of an English cathedral,
though of much smaller Dimensions Then
there is Christ Church (EpiscopaD of rough
white granite, and beautifully finished off In
side with rich, dark woods. The Catholics,
also, have here a church, the st. Augustine,
and a school. The others are the Trinity,
(Methodist) Church of the Messiah, (Unitarian)
and the Baptist Church, all Of which are we'll
fair