Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-14

factory and nail factory that turned
out the old wrought-iron nails used before
cut nails came into favor, were estab-
lished in Calais, but their prosperity and
their history were feeting. II must be re-
membered that a town which had half
dozen Industries employing a few score
men was something of a town III those
early days. so that Calais looked for
ward with confidence to the time when
she would be a thriving city.
A stage route from Montpelier to New
port passed through the town. there was
heavy teaming traffic an large droves of
sheep and herds OF cattle we're driven to
the Boston market through the main
street. All these things combined to make
demard for taverns, and Calais boosted
three Of them-old- shoned, hosptable
places whore New England rum was dis
pensed at threepence the glass and where
the gossip Of travellers supplied the want
of newspapers. OF these three taverns
only the building of one remains-the old
Wheclock tavern-and II is used for a
storehouse.
All these Industries, all these products
OF thrift and booming times have vanish
ed from Calais; they disappeared when a
wave of progress swept over TIE New
England States between the hftics and
seventies of last century. One by one,
year by year. they went under. and were
soon forgotten Railroads sprang into
existence all over the country, they
brought industries and wealth to other
towns and villages and cities but Calais
they passed by. Railroad facilities, con-
centration Of capital and the development
Of large power plants cheapened the cost
of manufacture far below what the cost
of production was in Calais. There could
be out one result. As the markets out
grew the Calais wares and the demard
changed. these little pants that had
played so important part in the early
life Of the town disappeared.
MELANCHOLY MONUMENTS.
Some Of the old buildings remain mel
ancholy monuments of a long dead past.
They are for the most part deserted and
neglected, falling TO slow ruin and decay.
and soon they will go down to the oblivion
to which so many other Calais industries
sank in the short space of a score OF
years. Certain small dams along the
stream remain inact in parts. sad remind
crs OF the times when Calais possessed
saw mills and factories and supplied all
that part Of Vermont and one small work
shop remain. And tho mill, curiosly
enough. Is the oldest of all that nourished
in Calais. dating back to 1872
| But it takes a lot to absolutely wipe A
| New England town or village out of ex-
istence. Fortune may pass it by. hard
times swoop down upon it and carry off
all its boosted possessions. hut the village
still clings to the hope that better day.
will fall, that the clouds will roll by and
that something will happen" to again
! place It In the forward march In fact
the village sits patiently waiting for \
boom" and not one Of such a hamlet s
residents but Is thoroughly convinced that
only trfling impetus is needed to start
the village on an irresistible advance.
| HORSEPOWER IS CNDEVELOpED.
Calais people place their hope for this
impetus in two streams that flow through
the village. These streams are capa bic
of developing hundreds OF Horsepower, but
up to now they have flown practically un-
disturbed by dams. With the increase Of
electric power throughout New England
and it's transmission over long distances
! Calais residents opine that the lack OF
railroad facilities will no longer hamper
them. For electric roads are already pro-
jected that will bring Calais into close
touch with the outer world to which 1t
has of late years been a compa ra tive
stranger. and it is then that the Cala
people expect to see development Of water
power and consequent rise OF industries
| In the old place.
Calais cannot he called an abandoned
town, nor yet town of abandoned farms.
1t is simply fairly prosperous farming
community. whereas II was once the com
mercial and industrial centre for all tina,
section OF Vermont.