Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-02-23
Randolph in 1912.

Zadock Thompson in his Gazateer of
Vermont gives a pen picture OF handoiph
SO years ago that is interesting in COM
parison with the changes that time has
wrought While no upheavals OF nature
have disturbed the features OF the land
seape, the size, relative Importance and
general appearance OF the then little settle
ments have altered materially. Could a
citizen OF 1912 be aroused from Kip Van
Wrinkle sleep and sit down in our own
attractive village, he could be pardoned
some slight amazement. The brick blocks
would look to him like sky-serapers, the
electric lights would be dazzling even at
this period of low water, the telephone
service would be a wonder, the Dhono-
graphs IN almost every house all going at
once would either strike him speeches.
or move him 10 profanity according to his
disposition, and the laundering freight
trains. the humming mills and what we
now deplore as the mild hustle OF business
life would probably keep him awake
o'nights.
'sThis township" says Thompson, sis
watered by the second and third branches
OF the White river, the former running
through the eastern, and the latter
through the western, part OF the town
shin and these streams with their tribu-
taries afford a number OF advantageous
situations for mills The timber IS prin-
cipally maple, beech and birch with some
hemlock and spruce. The surface OF the
township is considerably elevated, but is
less broken than that of the towns gener-
ally in this vicinity. The soil is productive,
and the farming interests extensive.
s'There are here three pleasant villages,
one in the center, one in the eastern, and
another in the western part. The Center
village is very beautifully situated on
elevated ground and contains two hand
some meeting houses, an academy school
house, postofiice, two attorneys Offices,
two stores, tavern and number OF nne
dwelling houses. The Hon. Dudley Chase,
many years speaker Of the House OF Rep
resentatives, afterwards judge of the
supreme court and subsequently senator
in Congress. resides here.
Randolph academy, or Orange County
Grammar school, was established here
November S, 1906, and the building
erected in 1907. This institution is well
furnished with apparatus, and the
literary society connected with It has
library OF 300 volumes for the use and
benefit OF the scholars. This academy
has been for the most part deservedly
popular. Its preceptors follow William
Nutting. 1s07-l3 ID. Buck, 1S13-1i; Rufus
Nutting, 1sl4-ls George Bush, lsls-i9;
Samuel A. Worcester, 1sl9-2O; Joseph
SAWYER, 1S20-21: Rufus Nutting, 1S21-2S;
Clement Long, lS2S-31; John Fairchild,
1881 30; T.. G.. Brainard, 1925; Samuel
A. Benton, 1858; Azariah Hyde, ls3o-4l (;
Edward Cleveland. 1871.
"Randolph East village, situated on
the second branch of the White river, is
compactly built and place OF con-
siderable business. Ii contains meeting
house built in 1899 and owned principally
by the Universalists, three stores, tavern,
a postoffice, an attorneys office and mills
OF various kinds. The lnfirmary and
Insane hospital of DIR Jehiel Smith is in
this village.
Randolph West village contains a
meeting house, two stores, tavern,
postofiice, an attorneys office, mills and
other machinery. The meeting house is
occupied principally by the Congregs-
tionalists and Christians, the minister OF
the former being Rev. John Ninton, and
OF the latter Rev. Mr.. Marsh.
"There are in town four attorneys, seven
physicians, p school districts with school
houses. one oil, five grist- and nine saw
mills, eight stores, four taverns, five
tanneries, two furnaces, two starch fac
tories, clothiers' works, carding machines,
etc. The statistics of 1910 give Horses,
$50; cattle, 2,233; sheep, 1872; swine,
2 62O; wheat, 5,525 bushels; barley, 1Oi
oats, 2.1O5; rye, 3.406; buckwheat, Isl;
Indian corn, 1s.499; potatoes, li2.59S;
hay, 1891 tons; sugar. 1860 pounds;
wool, 4,0,7S2 The population was 2,67s."