Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-07-03
Letter from Springfield.


SPRINGFIELD, VI, June %, 1878
Messrs Editors Perhaps you would like to
know something about this lively little place,
which is said to have more life than any other
town Of its size for miles around 1t is the oasis
in the great desert Of towns made dull by hard
times To be sure, it is sometimes sobered down
by contagious fit OF the blues, but it soon
brightens up again, for 1t is spirited little place
and ,Cin live though fire and water have done
their best to kill it. Perhaps you remember how,
in the great flood a few years ago, Springfield
lost so much property. 1t was great damage to
her business life, but she kept her head above the
water, and has withstood several large fires
since. Last Tuesday night "hard times - came
to US in earnest. Just before seven o'clock in the
evening the Waterman in the Vermont Novelty
Works discovered fire in one OF the shops lie
gave the alarm, but the fire spread SO rapidly that
in a few moments the whole building and the one
next to it were in flames In short time both
were beyond hope of extinguishing But little
WAS saved from either building Another mo-
ment and the machine shop was afire, then fol-
lowed its saw-mi lighthouse, barn, office, lumber
sheds and other small buildings. Then almost
before we thought it in danger a tenement house
near was burned and three families were home
less in the street. The heat was so intense as to
cause men TO faint, and the engine was forced to
leave the burning buildings and fall back to those
near by some Of which were already smoking
At length all the forces were brought TO bear
upon the woUlen mill, which was now afire, for If
the fire could not be stopped at this point, hope
would be gone for all the buildings above, and
Springfield would never again be the cheerful,
brisky little place Of the past. Dispatches for
help were sent TO Charlestown and Chester six or
eight miles distance. The streets were filled with
people old and young, all sorts Of burdens in their
arms, all excitedly trying to save everything at
the same time. One could but laugh to see how
little some of them knew what they were about,
yet would declare they were perfectly calm. One
woman anxious to save something seized leg
from the stove, carried itqute distance from the
house and deposited it in the middle of the road,
and hurried back to something else as valuable.
young man close behind picked the leg up and
carried it back to the stove The houses on Main
street for long distance caught ON the roofs, but
we're extinguished and closely watched by the
owners.
In one house that caught only woman and
her daughters were there. The mother held the
ladder and one Of the girls went upon the roof
aud put the fire out instead OF calling men from
places where they were needed more, 1t was nm
awfilly grand sight to stand up on the hill and
look down into the burning valley below. II
might remind one OF the regions internal, II 1t Is
agreeable to ones conscience to think of such
place, About nine O'Clock help came from
Charlestown and the fire became manageable.
During the fire wild rumors were aioat among
the excited crowd, of a man killed and children
lost in the fire. but with little truth TO them; the
man reported killed had only tainted. The many
accidents were nothing more serious than bstered
hands and faces, cuts and bruises. The cause Of
fire is unknown, some attributing it to spontane-
Gus combustion others TO the overheating OF one
OF the turning lathes.
The loss OF the Vermont Novelty Works is esti-
mated at $4,000 The insurance is about s35, 900.
Whitmore Dillon lose on damage 10 building
and machinery $4,000 we'll insured The Yer
mont Novelty Works employed over one hundred
men, many having only their daily earnings to
depend upon. The yearly pay roll was about
$4,000 They talk very favorably OF rebuilding,
but in case they do not so valuable location will
soon be used by some one Inducements have
been offered the company to locate in other towns
Brandon offers buildings, machinery and rent
free for ten years. and exemption from taxation
for FIVE years. Bellows Falls also makes an offer,
terms unknown.
There are great many more items Of interest
which might be written, had not already taken
up too much time. When you hear from us again
] hope we will have some encouraging things to
tell yon about this place
Springfield Is very consistent in some respects,
Until a few weeks ago she has supported five beer
shops, but is toopoor to have a steam engine The
beer shops are shut up now, and perhaps we will
have a new engine before the other half OF our
village Is burned down. Yours truly, JAZZ