The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-03-16

ritury within radius of twenty miles SUI
rounding the beauti ul village Of Brandon
perbaps the richest In historical associations
And this early history is deeply interesting
not more because Of its relation to the vilIag
Of Brandon than because Of Its eff ct upo
the thep future development of Vermont
New England, or the United States. Vernon
Is not only the grandly picturesque garde
spot OF New England, or of the continent
but Its page OF the ceuntry's history IL one
which the eye of every American cit'ze
iQyes to dwell, and the story of the Gree
Mountain Boys and the struggles, trials an
hardships of the early wars and settlement
Is one that will now grow old:
The dellgh tfuly situated village OF Brand0
Ia located In the extreme northern portion
Rutland county on the Rutland Branch OF tn
Central Vermont railroad. II Is In about tn
center OF the town of Brandon, one Of tn
nost picturesque towns OF the state. 1t wa
chartered several years previous e. the pres
ent centary--on October 20. 176l.-and TO
tWenty-three years subsequent to that DAT
was known as Neshobe. The name Brandon
which 1t received by an act of the Legislature
on October 90 1854, IL supposed to he cor.
ruotion OF "Burst-town," which was derived
from the fact of the town having at one time
been visited by the Indians, who massacred
some of the Inhabitants and burned their
dwellings. At the time If the first settlement
Of Bran don, which occurred In October 1772,
Eve years previous to the framing OF tue
states constitution at WindsOr-there seems
to have been nine other towns 10 Rutland
county In which settlements had been made.
At is said that the first white man who ever
spent winter In Brandon was simple man
by the name of Amos Cutler, who came from
Hampton, Conn. In the fall of 1172 be made
acIearing and built a small cabin which he
occupied alone du ing the following winter.
Another old settler who Is fondlv remember
ed because of his connection with the town
OF Brandon and the upbuiIding of the village
Is Mr.. John Conant. In 1920 he erected the
6rst furnace il the village, the first blast of
which was made In October of that year.
This enterprise, which was for many years
known as "Conant's Furnace" was the start.
ing point of the continuous growth and pros
perity of the village 10 years following. 1t Is
said that che was very active 10 all public
measures for the improvement of the place,
and where money was required bis zeal was
prominently exhibited In his liberal contrtbu.
tons" He was Brandon's first postmaster
after ti1e Office was moved to the village. and
was one Of the electors when VIM. 81. Harri-
ris0n was chosen president. But the
Brandon Of To-day
Is far IN advance OF the Brandon OF even
decade ago. According to the census of 1890
its population Il $3.50 and it has experienced
. rapid growth Ia wealth within the past ten
years. New business blocks and residences that
would do credit to cities have rapidly sprung |
up. The new Brisgs block and the Hotel Bran
don block are especially worthy Of notice as
being modern models of architecture. and al
though there are yet many old business build
ings they are substantial and the village
throa shout bears the stamp of tue highest
tide of prosperity. In point of business It Is
rather commercial than manufacturing
center. 1t IA surrounded by . very rich Agrt-t
cultural country. denseiy populated with the
beat class OF people on earth andlin COM i
merciai sense the prospects OF M village In
New England are brighter than those of Bran.
don, The village Is naturally well situated |
and aas water power In abundance furnished
by the Nrsh0be River but perhaps the great
est mark Of natures mun'ficence is the prac-
tiGaily iaeXhaustIble marble deposits In the
immediate vicinity. The several quarries
that are in operation here, and which, too,
have been opened IN the past few years are
among the most valuable 10 the state prOdu-
cling variety of the best and most beautiful
qualities. Other minerals are also found here
ong the hills such Manganese. kaolin, paint
pigments, etc.
A Singular Freak
In the geological formation of the town. and
one which Is visited every season by hun.
areds of summer tourists, Is the ''froZen
we'll, ~ Ia which fee Is found during the entire
sHna mer season. This well was Dug In 1858.
and after sinking TO depth of 20 feet the
workmen discovered frozen earth consisting
81 course gravel, pebbles and slumps of clear
lee from the size Of an egg to that of twelve.
po1nd cannon ball" The frOz sn stratum il
shout IL feet thick. The well is In the OUT
,Rirts of the village.
Brandon As Home.
If there Is one village in Vermont more de.
jrsble than another as permanent or tenn.
,orary home It is the village of Brandon. Dur
Dg the epring, summer and autumn months
t "a the most beautiful village In the state. It's
'r0ad. regularly laid, and handsomely shaded
treets have no equal outside the larger cities
II New ENGLAND. Park street, with Its double
ows OF stately eims and naples shading to
reflection both its broad anu level surface
lower and foliage beds, Is paradise within I
Lse}f. while the several other beautifully !
baded avenues and drives and the two lovely
itlage parks with their splashing fountains .
clip testify to the taste ana culture o. IT. peo- Z
ie. Nesting IN the beautiful valley OF the 2
esh ODE river, whose waters supply the I
over OF the rod and the boatman plenty of '
pportunities for sport, the village Is almost c
IrrouBded 10y range of the Green Noun !
aims, whose noble peaks and foreet-covered q
Ides are the choicest work of natures art. c
hose who have ever spent season In the r
ur0uudtngs of Brandon can thoroughly ap- a
reciate these beautiful lines from the poet Q
ryant. y
Oh, IoveIicst there the spring days come,
9Th blossoms. and birds. and Wild bees hum;
ne Covers Of gu INNER are fairest there.
nd freshest the breath Of the summer air.
nd sweetest the golden autumn day n
aleoce and sunshine gliues away" Il
Lske Bunmore with It's varied and mingled m
eDes of beauty, grandeur and sublimify, q,
nd celebrated IN the story Of the Green ~
fountain Boys. Is only few miles away. 1t G,
,yers an area of 400 acres, and its extreme n
ng!h Ia abou. i've miles, while its greatest IN
idth Is over a mile. Ii 4 800 feet above the "
vel of the sea. and with fits curving and ir. OF
.gulsr shores and peaceful crystal pure wa. In
"a spread at the base of solemnly towering b
lie IA said 10 surpsss In pleasing and grand .,
'ects any OF the favorite resorts OF the Al. OF
oodacks. 10
With Lake Ddnmore. the Bridal Veil. the pe
oxen we'll, the ocher mines, the marble II
ssrries, Otter Greek and Ne>hobe River, "a
"a almost innumerable pictures que pleasure ce
ives. II fs hardly to be wondered ct that st
randon has become the popular summer re- te
ft Of these regions. Asa place OF perms. 70
dement's as any village OF It's population 10 n
e state. Its tIy
Educational Facilities de
erstion ana the school IL conducted 10 70
amer 10 attain tie highest success. Itis ln'
charge OF the most able and conscientious pc
stracfors. and the courses OF study provid- irs
are Of the highest order. There are I've 'n'
arches, Baptist. CongrfC stional, Episcopal, rri
tbodist and Roman Catholic. each possess. D
creattsb lie houses OF worship. 10 flourish &c
!, condition. Brspdca is village OF home 81
zics, ne At sud elegant homes and q village =
hone. & also . village o. churche-, school,, We
3ieties. libraries sBd every line Of human e'
ysooement. Toe spirit Of imprOvsm nj hs- ~
D. psce with tue growth Of Brandon AMI il ~
.rssss eye-v pubNc convenience Of mod n