The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-06-29

Crystal Lake at your feet and the graceful
contours of the solemn mountains on its east
ern shore, one finds drive that is among the
lovliest in all New England. The north end,
which contains by far the more substantial
and ornate business structures-of which the
Seaver, Owen and Bank blocks are typical
and which is the most important COM
mercial section of the village, is reached from
the depot by a two.minute drive down mild
and gradual descent which might be called a
natural terrace overlooking the lovely Barton
River valley. Taken as a whole the village is
most delightfully."- situated, and from the airy
knoll close by the American House where Mr.
Cutler intends building magnificent summer
residence in the near future the view OF the
valley, i'm which a large portion OF the resi-
dences are located, is simply surprising in Its
picturesque effects The streets although not
squarely are attractively laid out and the nu-
merous fine and coZy residences framed by
cultivated lawns and shaded nicely by stately
trees denote the ever commendable New Eng
land pride that exists throughout the village.
The two main streets of the village form the
letter V, and at the point OF intersection Is
situated triangular park where Barton's eX-
celent brass band of Is pieces dispenses
charming music each alternate Saturday night
EARLY HISTORY.
The history of all Vermont towns begins
with the date upon which they were granted
bv royaI authoeity to a number of associates.
The township of Barton, containing 36 square
miles. was granted on Oct. 20, 1871, to VIII
liam Barton and 2S others. The town was di-
yided into lots of 100 acres, and two lots con-
stituted a right In the granting of Barton
five shares were appropriated for public pur-
poses-one for grammar schools, one for COM
mon schools one for colleges, one for the
first settled minister, and one for the support
of the ministry. The first settlement of Bar
ton however. was not commenced until the
spring of 1195. when Asa Kimball erected Il
cabin of logs and poles and began
clearing land and raising grain. A fam
ily by the name of Eddy also lived IN
Barton in the winter of 1875. but left in
spring of 1l96. In the spring of this year the
population began to increase rapidly. or what
would seem rapidly. and institutions which
are necessary to new settlements were
promptly started. VIM Barton built the first
saWmilI in the summer of 1876, and the first
grst mill was erected the year following on
the site where the Peerless factory now stands.
The second sawmill was also erected by Mr.
Kimball i'm 179S. This year the town was or
vapized with Asa kimball as moderator and
Abper Allyn as town clerk and ut that time
there were but Is voters in the town. The
first town meeting was held on the first Tues
,ay in September, 119S. when 20 votes were
east for Isaac Tichenor for governor and ~
votes for Paul Brigham for lieutenant gover-
nor The ratable property in the entire town
in 11gS was AS follows: "1S polls, 26 acres of
improved land. three houses, Is oxen, eight
tbree-year-old steers. 20 cows, nine two-year-
olds. eight horses. one horse two years old,
one yearling colt and two Watches" These
were rated at a total value of 1916. During
the following 12 years the ratable property in
creased TO So. .3S1. 90. Along from 800 TO
1904 business took quite a start-a fulling mill
for dressing cloth was erected in 1913, dry
goods store (which soon discOntinued) was
Started In 1901 by Lemuel Sturtevant, and a
wbjskey still was placed in operation in 1904.
II is interesting to note that ''in 1900 Mrs. l..
Sturtevant made a quilting and invited all
the women in four towns. Barton, Browning
ton. Irasb,lrgh and Glover. They all attend
ed but one two from each town except Bar
ton.- History doesn't furnish any data re-
specting the grand balls of those DAYS.
The first settlers met about all the hardships
incident to early pioneer life. They were
compelled TO go to Lyndon and st. Johnsbury
a trip of 20 to 30 miles. with no road but spot
ted trees. for all their milling and groceries,
and these supplies were brought by one man
employed for the purpose who carried them
on his head and back. Wolves troubled the
sheep in those days and bear and moose were
killed in the forests near by. During the year
1874 the United States customs officers of the
town had series of battles with parties of
smugglers but since no people were Killed
these happenings pass n serious events and
not calamaties.
Something similar to the .Iohnstown flood
happened i'm Barton n early as 1910. On June
6 Of this wear. Glover Pond. since called Run
away Pond. was accidentally LET out of it,
customed place and came rushing down Bar
.on P''-r valley at a great rate taking up trees