The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-11-18

these days there was a stage from
Danville, and Barton, st. Johnsbury,
Chester, and Topsham, and Mahlon
Cottrills horses were said to be OF
the best seen in this section. In 1853,
Mr. Cottrill sold to Col Levi Bout
we'll, prince of landlords, widely
known, who ran the hosiery for
twelve years and rented until 1874,
when the building was torn down. :
Col Boutwell, was of caustic fiery
temperament and is described as sit
ting in the barroom before the huge
piled fireplace when a guest entered
and asked after his health. "Oh, !
manage to keep tolerably even-tem-
pered," he replied, readily, mad as the
devil all the time" On another occas-
ion as the witty Colonel removed his
headgear from a somewhat sparsely
adorned Uranium, a well-meaning
youth of fiery hair entered and re-
marked upon the badness of the
! landlord. Col. Boutwell, saw imperti-
nence in that remark and snorted.
Sir" he said, when l left Heaven
they gave me the choice of wearing
red hair or none and | chose none.
| Told 'em they could keep their red
hair for young popinjays and fools"
The youngster subsidized.
The last proprietors of the old hotel
under lease, were Aldrich and Colby
and, just before the building was de-
molished, farewell party was given
and attended by the elect of the town
and State.
Agitation was at reverish heat, at
this time, as before and since, COLI
corning the removal of the State
hotel torn down, Montpelier citizens
realized that they must have an up
to-date hostelry to strengthen their
hold upon the seat of Vermont's gov
eminent and, accordingly, when
Theron o. Bailey decided to build the
present Pavilion, the citizens sub
scribed the sum of $4,000 which was
to be considered by him as a gift to
be applied to the completion of a
modern hotel. The first guests were
received on the 22d of January, 1876.
The building was by no means COM
pleted but, at the earnest solicitation
of two or three men, they were re-
ceived within its doors. At this time,
the clerk was Andrew ]. Sibley one
of Montpelier's most prominent citi-
zens today, and the kitchen force
comprised cook and one table girl
while today the kitchen force in
cludes several cooks and plentiful
supply of mattresses and chamber
girls. The architect was MI.
Roapes, of Boston, the supervisor of
building, A. B. Fisher, and the mason
ry was in charge of George w. Rid
ley, then a resident of the town. The
hotel was formally opened on the 22d
of February, 1876, when a sumptuous
banquet was served to a large gath
ering of the distinguished men and
women of the State.
The management of the hotel pass
ed from the T. o. Bailey estate and
Charles w. Bailey estate to a Mr.
Dunton who was succeeded by Jesse
S. viles. Mr. Viles added story to
the building, installed an elevator,
numberless bath rooms, and other i'm
provements which brought the house
up to the requirements of the best
taverns of the section. Mr.. Viles
sold to the present owner, Il. j.
Heaphy, of Brattleboro, who is as
popular and pleasing a landlord as
his predecessors. The Pavilion today
is five-story building of brick, and
of imposing yet simple front. 1t
boasts of 100 rooms, a garage to take
care of the automobile trade, and 9TH
err properties planned for the comfort
and convenience of guests. Since the
establishment of the automobile. its
rooms have always had occupants al
though, the fixing of court terms in
this city and the rapid commercial
growth of the village gave it plenty
of profitable employment without ca
tering especially, to the tourist trade.
Its registers bear the names of many
of the great men of the State, and the
nation. Here Gen. Phil Sheridan
stopped and here, Stephen A. Douglas
and his wife, said to be one of the
handsomest women of her times, were
; entertained, Douglas was, by the way
Vermonter, by birth Here came
: William j. Bryan, and scores of 9th
ers, some of Presidential fame, Others
of prestige in the United States Sen
ate, in Congress or In other paths OF
craftsmanship. But, the hostelry feels
most pride in its distinguished guest
whose visit 1t considered of enough
worth to commemorate on bronze
tablet just at one side of the entrance
that is, the visit of Marquis de Lafay-
cite, hero of two countries, and known
to many peoples, who came to Mont
! ,olto. I,,no 90 IQ06 Tho fahlaf WAS