Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-12-05

and Mr.. Hale repeats the statement in
MS excellent historical sketch Of Chel-
sea. But am convinced that this date
must have been typographical error
to commence with, that the last two
figures We're accidentally transposed
and that the true date is 1901. One of my
reasons for this opinion is the follow
ing record which | find in the county
clerks Office
''Be it known and remembered that
we, the undersigned, by virtue of the
powers vested in us by an act of the
legislature Of Vermont entitled ian act
relating to the court house in Chelsea
in the county of Orange passed the
10th day Of October, A. d., 1901, hav-
ING carefully examined the said court
house in Chelsea, do find the same is
not only convenient but elegant and
erected on more eligible ground than
that originally designated by the com
mittee appointed for that purpose, and
do therefore accept the same and here
by direct the clerk of the county of Or
ange to execute a deeds as in the aforesd.
act directed. Certified under our hands
this fourth day Of Sept, in the year Of
our Lord Christ, one thousand eight
hundred and two"
",JoNA. ROBINSON
"ROYALL TYLER"
"STEPHEN JACOB
Judges of S. Court
Another fact showing that 1901 is
probably the correct date is, that at the
March meeting of 1900 the town voted
to receive proposals for building Il
court house; and it fnrtherappears that
the proposal Of Oliver Tory to build it
for 81, 935 was accepted. DR.. Nathan
&. Hale is of the opinion that the court
house was built at an earlier date than
1910, and is quite positive that it was
standing when his father came to town
in 1906. So | think that the date ofthe
building of the second court house may
be considered as proved to be 1901, by
that measure of proof so often dwelt
upon by its occupants-''proof beyond
a reasonable doubt"
This court house was two stories in
height in front, and had Il four-sided
roof which came to Il point in the cen
WI vi NOUlb Z tOlllN w l'pllit ht'
it not been for the belfry perched upon
it. The front part of the building con-
tanned vestibule and room in the
southwest corner used as the clerks
office. Over these was gallery, reached
by stairs from the vestibule, overlook
inc the court room, which was on the
ground floor, but which occupied all
the remaining space in the building.
There were tables in the middle of the
room for the lawyers, and the seats
rose on three sides, in tiers, like an
The judges desk was
ut the east end of the room, and back |
of it was a large window with an oval
top, with a smaller window on either
side In the summer of 1871, becoming
inadequate for the needs of the county, |
the building was sold to Lewis Skinner
for $50. Mr. Skinner tore it down and |
sold or used the lumber. the house now
occupied by +. NJ. Smith being built Of
some of the material.
The third court house (the present |
one) was erected in 1917, and the base
ment was constructed rs a town hall, |
the town having appropriated $1,000
toward that purpose 1t was built in Il
manner and is good for many
years to come. 1t was thoroughly re-
paired and somewhat remodeled in
1879 and again in 1891. The occasion
of the repairing done in 1879 deserves
special notice. The building had be-
come somewhat ont ofrepair and was
too small to accommodate the court,
and there was considerable talk OF re-
moving the county seat to some town
that would build Il new court house.
1t is needless to say that such propo-
stion was not favorably regarded by
Chelsea people. The assistant judges
ut this time were Stephen b. Darling Of
Vershire and James p. Cleveland, Jr.,
Of Braintree, and they were friendly to
Chelsea. But there was no money
with which to repair the building, and
no authority to raise any. Elihu Hyde
was the president of the bank, and the
)ank officials agreed to advance the
llnds upon the individual responsible
" of the judges. So the money was
the repairs made and the
seat probably saved to Chelsea.
About So, 800 were laid out, the repairs
including an addition to the east end
If the building, the construction Of a /
rault and the retllrnishing OF the !
'ooms. When this work was finished
We had as pleasant and convenient Il
,ourt room as could be desired.
In 1891 the town sold its interest ;
n the building to the county for {
$500, the county paying 5000 and ;
he citizens 5000, and the part of the 5
easement formerly used as the town
all was divided into rooms for the use q
# the court. A commodious fireproof i
,ault was added to the clerks office at S
his time and other repairs made, cost
no i'm all about $4,000.
The same bell used in the second
curt house hangs in the belfry of the
resent structure. 1t is an ''old-timer'
nd have been told that it came from
monastery in Spain. 1t bears this in
ERUPTION, however: 'Byfield Parish in
h., county of Essay TIA (which would