The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-07

About two years ago representative
of the WATCHMAN visited East Barre
for the purpose of writing up its BUSH
ness interests. The reporter was then
informed that since 1886 this village
had doubled in population every two
years, taking six houses and saw.mill
as starting-point. In company with
William M. Carnes, who is acknowl-
edged by everyone as the founder of
East Barre, a reporter for this paper
again visited this thriving village last
week, and was somewhat surprised TO
find that the phenomenal growth of the
previous eight years had been fully
maintained during the two years last
passed, with every prospect of its con-
tinuance in the years that are to come.
This rapid growth is in no sense of a
mushroom " character, but is of a
most substantial kind, as the private
houses and public buildings give evil
dence. The cause of this steady growth,
Notwithstanding the depression of hard
times, is not hard to find. Since the
East Barre and Chelsea railroad was
completed to East Barre, thereby allow
ing freight in carload lots to be landed
there at as low figure as at Barre, the
trade from Corinth, Orange, Washing.
ton and Chelsea, that formerly went to
Barre, is now held by East Barre mer.
chants. In heavy freights-coal, flour,
feed and lumber-for people in the
towns mentioned, by purchasing at
East Barre the four miles of heavy
grade between Barre and East Barre is
avoided. OF course the mountains of
fine granite that lie just at their back
doors, in which numerous quarres are
worked to full capacity, is primarily
the cause of the growth and develop
ment of the place. But, unlike the
City of Barre at its feet, East Barre is
not dependent alone upon the granite
industry.
The reporter was met at Barre by
Mr. Carnes, who devoted half day OF
his busy life to affording the newspaper
man every opportunity to see the i'm
prove ments and expansion of the vii
lage since his last visit, two years ago.
Among those noticed were the follow
ing: Cutler & Hutchins, lumber dealers,
have equipped their mill with new
machinery throughout, including pla-
ners, Watchers, etc. Close by is the
grist.mill of E. d. Houghton, where
large business is done in feed, corn and
meal. The water-power granite. cutting
plant of William M. Carnes, adjoining,
gives employment to thirty men. W.
E. Poole, the druggist, is doing thriv.
ing business, as is James Morrison in
his saddlery shop, across the street.
Over Mr.. MOrrison's store is COM
modious club'room, used by stone
cutters and others. j. King, the bar
Der, and Harry Bison, the blacksmith,
have all the work they can do. Lon :"
Page, fat and good natured as of yore
in Barre, is selling groceries; Miss Eva
Hutchinson does thriving millinery
and dress-making business, and Levi
Hyatts livery stable is stocked with up
to-date turnouts. The smile worn by
Landlord Streator at the Riverside
House gave evidence of good patron
age, and at the post-office and general
store of p. H. Marion a similar state of
affairs exists.
From start with two horses, Cutler
Brothers now have fourteen fine ami
mails in their livery stable, and their
teams are seldom idle. DR.. o. II. Per-
kins, who moved from Worcester about
year ago, already has an extensive
drive and a steadily-increasing practice.
Near DR.. Perkins Edward Bacon has
a new house.
The plant of Bianchi Brothers covers
over two acres, and they employ fifty
cutters. They have recently added a
new building, in which is a black
smith shop and seventy-fve horse
power engine, giving them a capacity
TO work one hundred men. The firm
is widely known for its expert statue
cutting. The members of the firm are
practical workmen, give their personal
attention to their business, and, from
a small beginning, have already
amassed handsome property.
just beyond BiancAi Brothers is the
establishment of Grearson Brothers,
who recently came from Williamstown.
They make specially of column
cutting work, for which they are
equipped with the latest modern ma
chinery.
Before his death the late Hamilton
Webster invested largely in real estate
at East Barre and erected large tene-
ment house. In this connection it
might be said that such conservative,
far-seeing men as Levi j. Bolster, E.
l.. Smith and W. G. Nye, have also in.
vested largely in real estate here, and
are building new houses right and left.
With taxes low and the demand for
tenements far exceeding the supply,
such investments at East Barre are
safe and very remunerative. Before
risking anything at Montpelier, where
he has recently moved, r. M. Harvey,
Esq, bought several building lots, on
which he is erecting tenement houses.
One of the pressing needs of East
Barre has been church edifices, and
the handsome new Congregational
church, costing $1,000, will soon be
ready for dedication. The citizens,
irrespective of creed or faith, take
pride in this late addition to the at
fractions of the place, and all have lent
a generous hand in providing the
funds for its erection.
Miss Mary Dow came to East Barre
from Boston last year, and 30 well