Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-07-28

Among the historical books of the late
| Gen. Herbert b. Titus, was a gazetteer
| of the state of Vermont, containing a
| brief general view of the state, historical
and typographical description of all the
counties, towns, rivers, &c, together with
a map and several other engravings, by
| Paddock Thompson, A. B." This work
was published at Montpelier in 1924 by e.
p Walton and the author In the gazet-
teer is the following article on "Brattle-
| borough" signed IS. c."
marlborough, a post town in the
southeastern part of Windham county, is
| in lat. 40 So and long. a. 81. 1t is the
| principal town in the county and is
bounded north by Dummerston, east by
the Connecticut river, which separates 1t
from Chesterfield, N. H., south by Vernon
and Guilford and west by Marlborough.
| The town was chartered December 26,
1853, and contains about "a square miles.
1t is about 100 miles south from Mont
pelier, 30 east from Bennington, as west
| from Boston, so from Albany and 800
from Washington. The town derives it's
name from colonel Brattle of Mas. one
of the principal proprietors The first
| civilized establishment in Vermont was
made in the southeast corner of this town
in 1924, and was called Fort Drummer"
| Henry and Samuel Wells, John Arms,
Nathan Willard and John and Thomas
| Sergeant were among the first settlers of
the town. They emigrated from Massa-
chusetts, except the two latter who were
born at Fort Dummer. Col. John Sargent
was the first known white person born
in the state of Vermont.
The time the town was organized Is not
ascertained. 1t appears, however, that
Doct. Wells was the first town clerk Col
Samuel Wells was the first representative
from the county of Cumberland, under the
then province of New York. AS the tran
sactions during the celebrated controversy
with New York were somewhat similar
in several Of the old towns in this vicinity,
the reader is referred to the account Of
Guilford as a specimen. The Congrega-
tionalists are the most numerous de-
nomination of Christians. Their first
minister was the Rev. Abner REEVE from
Long Island, N. Y. He was settled by
covenant in 1910. and preached about %
years, when by his own consent he was
succeeded by Rev. William Wells, from
Great Britain, whose salary was yearly
granted by the town. He preached about
20 years and was succeeded by the Rev.
Caleb Burge, who continued about five
years and was dismissed by mutual con-
sent The town is at present divided into
parishes, East and West in each of which
are village, meeting and clergy
man of the Congregational order The
Rev. Jonathan MCGEE is pastor of the
East parish, and was ordained Jan. 13,
1919. The Rev. Jedediah L. Stark is the
successor Of Mr.. Burge, in the West
phElSi, anu was JdiludTg Got
1922. There are few Episcopalians
Baptists, Methodists, Quakers and Uni
versalists. There are about 30 persons in
town who are upwards Of so years Of
age. The epidemic, which prevailed in
Vermont during the late war, proved
mortal in many cases here. The prac-
Using physicians are Lemuel and John L.
Dickerman, Russell Fitch and Artemus
Robbins.
This town has had it's full share Of able
and distinguished men. Among those,
who have been eminent for their learning
and their public services may be reckoned
the venerable and Rev. William Wells. the
Hon. Chief Justices, Samuel Knight and
Royal Tyler, and their honors, Micha
Townshend, John Noyes and James Elliot.
There is an academy in the west village
now in successful operation under the
direction of a board of trustees and the
tuition of Mr.. Jareb Smith, Preceptor.
The area Of the academy is Sc by 40 feet,
and the upper story is improved as a
townhouse. 1t was Incorporated for the
first time on the 4th of November, 1901,
and again October %, 1921. A little west
| Of the centre Of the town are two noun
tains by the names of THE Great" and
THE Little Round Mountain" There are
some other eminences, but none of much
note. The mountains are accessible and
most of the land capable of cultivation.
The soil is similar to that of the towns
in general along the Connecticut river,
comprehending interval sandy, loamy and
hard soils, with such timber as is natural
ly adapted to them. The principal streams
are West river and milestone brook.
The former runs but short distance in
the town, entering it from Dummerston
q and falling into the Connecticut river
q near the northeast corner.
. milestone brook rises in Marlborough
b and runs through marlborough very near
the centre. This affords natural water
privileges, which are already occupied by
a great variety of mills and other ma
chinery. Connecticut river forms the
eastern boundry for about six miles. 1t
= runs in several places with a strong cur
. rent, denominated 1.-THE swift water" by
' the boatmen.
Z The river is crossed, at the lower part
of the east village, by a handsome bridge,
Q built in 1904, and connecting this town
= with Hinsdale, N. H. A few rods above
= the bridge is the general landing place
for merchandise, the amount OF which,
= brought into town by boats and other con-
= veyances. by the enterprising merchants
Of the village alone, during the year end
ing March /, 1924, was $96,963. OF this
sum, the merchants Of the east village
owned $79963; the remaining SIT, be-
longed to those of the west village.
There are few minerals worthy OF
Q notice. Actynolite is found here in stea-
tite. 1t is in very perfect capillary crys-
tails, which are grouped together in diff
| IerenI IOTfnS ana sometimes raQlcateQ.
Argillaceous slate is very abundant and
is quarred to a considerable extent. Mica
| is found of a rose red colour with schorl
in quartz, an abundance of schorl in
beautiful crystals, and also the red oxyde
of titanum.
There are two considerable villages one
standing at the mouth of milestone
brook, called tie East Village, and the
other near the centre of the town, called
the West Village. The east village is a
, place of much business, and is said to be
{ the richest village of it's size in New
England. Paper is manufactured here, in
Holbrook's paper MILL to the amount of
10 or 10000 dollars, and in his printing
and bookbinding establishment business
is done the amount of from 20 to 25, 900
dollars annually. At the distilery of
Francis Goodhue 5000 bushels of rye are
distilled, and at his cotton factory IS, 900
pounds of wool is manufactured yearly.
" Stephen Greenleaf, the first merchant in
the west village, was from Boston, and
opened the first store in I'LL. At the tin
factory Of Willard and Dickinson ware
has been manufactured the past year to
the amount of $4,000. At the distillery
of Phineas Steward, in the west village,
about 1900 barrels of cider have been dis
: titled, and more than 700 barrels at the
) distillery of Levi Goodenough, within
eight months, At the factory of Edward
} Woodman 5000 yards of cloth have been
dressed, and $4,000 pounds OF wool carded