The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-07

that he was the pioneer in organizing in
1880, the land company for the purchase
of the township which was named Mont
pelier and raised the purchase money;
and that of Joel Frizzel who in 1856 was
a temporary settler on land in the town
ship, to which he had a title. Deeds
count. The man who was the animating
spirit of the land company which had
bought this parcel of Vermont wilder
ness who came here and was a slayer,
beneath whose sturdy strokes the for
est bowed, under whose hands the shades
of the woods were replaced by smiling
fields, around whom an industrious com
munity of settlers gathered and local
government was organized, was Col. ia
cob Davis, and he is justly accounted the
founder of the town. The original Davis
mansion, built of logs, was reared, in
1880. the first frame house. The second
Davis residence, is an interesting relic Of
the citys earliest times. Farley Davis
was always a co-aborer with Col. Jacob
Davis in the settlement of the new town,
in its developments and the organizati
of its affairs. He reared his habtation
on the hills and the house he builded, a
two-story frame structure, and in which
he lived his active life still stands at the
Center, in spite of neglect and dia-
ton an object of interest to the antiquar-
IAN
The town was formally organized in
1871, having then a population of 113 per-
sons, and q legal voters. Artisans, mer-
chants, lawyers and doctors began to
arrive, and when the nineteenth century
dawned Montpelier was compact, fully
equipped and thriving municipality, its
citizenship composed of men of the stur-
diest character and best intelligence, their
wives and mothers, women who We're en-
dowed with feminine grace and every do
mestic virtue. Here was the germ of that
greater community that later became en-
inent in the state in every department of
affairs.
In November, 1905, the young town,
which had grown apace, by act of the
legislature was made the Capital of the
State The site chosen for the State
House was part of the Jacob Davis
estate, and was contributed by Thomas
Davis, son of Col. Davis the founder.
The town built the house. in which the
Legislature convened in October 1905 Its
selection as the State Capital gave a
great impetus to the growth and prosper
ity of Montpelier. The first Capitol, a
somewhat primitive structure built of
wood, was replaced in 1886 by house Of
classic architecture made of Barre gran
lite. The building stands on an elevated
site, in a spacious and terraced area. The
entrance to the grounds and principal
approach from State street Is noble and
commanding. The gateways, the fence
the grounds and all their details are in
Keeping with the building and assist in
giving to it that consideration it should
nave as the Capitol of a hourishng and
independent State. CThompson's Vermont
The ground plan had the form of Greek
cross; the distinguishing feature of the
central building was a noble portco sup
ported by massive granite columns, some
seventy feet in height. This building was
DESTROYED by fire in 1857, rebuilt in sub
stantiaily the same style and occupied
Tor the first time at the legislative ses-
sion of 1859. The exceptional beauty of
the Capitol and its grounds is the subject
or remark by strangers visiting Mont
?eler. The town derived additional dis
tinction in 1911 by being made the shire
or Aforementioned in 1914 to Wash
lngton-county. In 1913, diverse material
and political interests led to a division of
the town by act of the Legislature There
after the village of Montpelier, with an
environing area of some 1000 acres re-
tanned the old name, and the remainder
received the designation of East Mont
peler.
The Village of Montpelier was incor-
porated in 1855. A town and a village or
sanization were maintained till 1894. when
both We're merged under city charter.
fhe city now embraces the full geograph-
zeal limits of the town of Montpelier, as
established by the act of division in 1S4S.
Across the Winooski in the town of Ber-
lin mad grown up another large commu-
nlty. Its interests were intimately iden-
tined with those of Montpelier its peo-
pie were to all intents and purposes Mont
pelier people, They traded here, attend
ed church here. had the benefits of the
City's schools, fire protection, water sup
ply and other institutions. In 1898, after
considerable period of agitation of the
subject, this part of Berlin was annexed
TO Montpelier.
TO give the children the advantages OF
higher school education, Washington
County Grammar School was established
in 1873 This institution has been prac-
ucally merged in the existing public
school system. In 1859 the district schools
were united under the roof of a fine and
spacious school building at the head of
School street This has been several
times enlarged to meet the growing de-
mand for additional school facilities, and
the city has just erected a new and com
modious school building near the old
Union school house to supply the grow
Ing needs of public education The Yer
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