Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05
MONTPELIER'S CENTENNIAL CELI,-
BRAT1ON,

The people of Montpelier. assisted by
citizens from all parts of Vermont yester-
day celebrated the centennial annivcr-
sary of the location of the State capital
in that city. and the event was a crafty
ing success.
1t is worth while at this time to glance
briefly at the different steps in con-
nection with the event which is COM
| memorated at this time. According to
| Thompson's Vermont the act Of the Leg
| slature establishing the seat of govern
ment was passed by the Legislature,
which was then sitting in Danvlle. on
| November 8. 1906. and the selection of an
| earlier date in the year than the date
of November named for the observance
| siderations Of season and convenience.
At that time the Legislature was holding
its session in different parts of the State.
| or as might be said. in the parlance of
the present day, the government was ION
wheels"
| In spite Of the fact that Montpelier had
been chosen as the location of the State
government, the Legislature did not meet
there at once. the session of 1906 being
neld in Middlcbury and that of 1907 being
held in Woodstock. The Legislature met
for the first time in the capital in
October. 1S0S. The act of the Legislature
establishing the capital in Montpele, had
choice of that place as "the permanent
seat of the Legislature for holding all
their sessions Montpelier should give the
land for the capitol and should build the
state House by 1905, and it was also pro-
vided that if Il future Legislature should
cease to hold their sessions in Mont
pclier," tho state should pay to Monp pei
Ter the value of the property.
Montpelier compiled with the terms
ing in his connection to note that the land
on which the capitol was erected cost
5000. while the structure itself repre-
scented an expenditure of from 5000 to
$4,000. The first State house was a large
wooden building, and Thompsons Ver-
mont records the interesting fact that
it was located within five rods of the spot
where "the long sighted Colonel Davis,
more than a dozen years before, had pre-
dicted the public buildings OF the State
would eventually be located. and within
cnt splendid granite State House now
stands"
The structure to which this reference
was made was not the structure now
in existence. but the one erected to re-
place the first State House with seats O!
, wide planks straight backed and uncom-
Portable. which according to Official state
ment was actually "whittled out of use",
the whiting legislators undoubtedly hav-
ing served an apprenticeship in some of
the ancient school houses.
Under these circumstances it became
necessary to provide new State House.
and the Legislature accordingly passed an
act on November S, 1882. the twenty-sev-
enth anniversary of the passage of the
act establishing the seat Of government
in Montpelier. making provision for
Greeting a new State House in Montpe-
Ter on condition that the inhabitants of
Montpelier give good and sufficient Sc
curity" to pay into the treasury OF the
State the sum of $4,000 Montpelier did
more than was demanded. having in addi-
ton purchased the necessaryland for 5000
making a total q $4,000 devoted to the
purposes of State House at that time.
The State capitol erected az "A result OF
these steps was destroyed by Ore on the
evening of January 8. 1857. after haxN
been occupied by the Legislature ~