Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-04-25
NEWS IN TOWNS ABOUT.
SILVER LAKE.

, The listers and assessors are through
with their work with the exception of
hearing appeals, if any are made. They
were Obliged to canvass the town on foot
and are entitled to much credit The
present board, having had considerable
experience, seems to give general salts
faction.
The town clerk has received from
Secretary Forbes of the Vermont Old
Home association printed circulars for the
seectmen to call meeting of public
spirited citizens to form an organization
for the celebration August II, is and 10,
and inviting all former residents to visit
| their native town at that time. The dates
are well chosen for Barnard, as without
doubt snow win be gone and we can
celebrate on bare ground with the back
roads passable.
Our Boston correspondent thinks G. III.
Cleayland entirely off his base when he
makes the Thomas Freeman farm 1850 feet
above the sea level. But comparing it
with other measurements, we think Mr..
Cleayland nearly correct. White River
Junction, 357; Dewey's at Quechee, 502;
Taftsville, 624; Elm street bridge, Wood
stock, 667; Billings residence, Woodstock,
$50; Mt. Tom, north peak, 1857; Silver
Lake, Barnard, 100; Bethel, 800. We
always knew our water could easily run
all over Bethel but never thought the |
descent so sharp. Great Scotti IL Silver 1
Lake should burst its bounds, rushing /
down this declivity, falling one hundred |
feet TO the mile, strewing its path with /
cells, suckers and pickerel, the fate would |
be as bad as that of Sodom of old.
The general assembly of 1903 in Vermont
passed an act granting 100 acres of land in
Barnard to Jesse Williams, Judge of
probate for the district of Hartford, to
hold in trust for Mercy Stebbins to occupy
and improve during her lifetime, giving
her power to deed the land to any of her
children, the deed to take effect at her
decease, and in case she made no deed the
property to descend to heirs like any other.
For what reason this was done seems to be
a mystery. Mercy Stebbins was the wife
of Benjamin Stebbins, who once owned
Silver Lake so called and all the land
where Barnard village now stands. His
house stood on the site of John Jewetts
residence. Mercy Stebbins' hundred acre
lot is the Davis farm near the village and
included what it now the central cemetery {
which she sold to the town in 1906.
SILVER LAKE.
The water in this lake has reached above
high water mark. Never has there been I
so much water pent up between these hills
as there is at present and it causes some ,
uneasiness to the inhabitants below :
More than 100 acres of deep water located
100 feet above sea level, with a fall Of 900
thickly settled with prosperous farmers .
living along the banks OF the outlet would
naturally create alarm among the timid. 1
But past experience and history of a
hundred years must teach us all that the
bridge and dam are safe and sound, and d
that two feet higher can be kept il \
necessary, although the owners will use
their efforts to prevent further rise. \
In 1850, Benjamin Stebbins bought OF +
Lot Whitcomb two original lots OF land
in which was included this lake, soon 4,
after known as Stebbins' pond In 1896, Il
Stebbns sold to Joseph Bowman a piece y
Of this land below the outlet with the
privilege of building a dam across the Il
neck as high as he chose and flow as much "
Of said Stebbins' land as he saw fit; also
to get timber, stone and gravel anywhere r
on his land to build and repair this dam \
forever. Bowman sold to Bennett, Damon
4 English, who formed a company and
since passed through many different hands u
zach receiving the same privileges as
granted from Benjamin Stebbins to Joseph to
Bowman. as
The first dam built was a cheap con- b
truction OF logs and dirt, about six rods
Ibove the present one. At that time the a
own had a wooden bridge for travel "
below the dam. About 1906, an agreement nc
vas made between the mill company and
own to build together dam which
hould also answer for a road. Two solid -
tone walls, forty feet apart, filled and ad
'acked firmly with clay and dirt between, W
made piece of work that has stood for
learly hundred years, with some repairs Ga
nd increase of height A fiat wooden We
queduct at the bottom carried the water pr
Trough to the mill. ar
After the property passed to J. f. Stafford ti'
e wanted more water. So the bridge or re
am was made higher and new round 80
queduct, larger than the old, was placed II
n position, with a gate that easily NJ
ontrolled the water. =.
At two different times before this high d
iater has caused a good deal of fright
he first time was in 1917 or S when long co
eavy rain coupled with the melting snow
rought the water into the road. An
prom twenty feet wide was made of plank
nd boards TO carry some of the water
yer the top and the waste gate was raised ,
D its full head. For nearly two days there da
as busy work in holding the water back
Tut the storm ceased and the waste gate | m
rev the tide down and quiet was restored,
antilles returned to their homes, laughing 80,
their fright. Vel
The next serious alarm was in 1877. Ii
as then that the people for miles below W
gned petition to Windsor county court
)r protection to their lives and property Try
1dge Barrett, a member Of the supreme !
ourt then officiating in Windsor county 20.
nd pursuant of an act approved by the !,
gislature Of Vermont in November, 1876,
Dpointed three engineers to examine the W.
remises and report. This was done.
on. Noah B. Stafford OF Hartford, Hon. tie
osea Doten of Pomfret and Hon. 5. $. Z
thompson of Lyndonville, were the bel
,mmission who made the report from
hich Judge Barrett issued this order, viz -. .
stone sluice four feet wide and two feet 'u
gh in the clear, with the bridge graded /
teen inches above the coping, to the me
,ceptance Of Noah B. Stafford, chairman I
the committee; il was also ordered that ~.
le waste gate should be so constructed as AZ,
be worked easily. The work was done
I'd accepted by the engineer, to the y
Of the petitioners. pal
Time went on and two winters the frost iar
acked the cement, changing the stone J
Dor so that the water run down through dol
TO the dirt beneath, thus endangering We
le whole bridge to such an extent that !
r protection the owners stopped the r
ulce. No provision was made in the ma
der TO keep il in repair. only that the :