Washington

Barre Village is situated nearly in the center of the town. The principal stream running through the village is called Jail Branch, taking its name from a log jail once built on its bank. Coming from the south part of the town is a stream called Stevens’ Branch, and uniting with Jail Branch before it enters the village. On this stream is situated a famous water-privilege called Day’s mills, on which is now a grist and sawmill, an extensive door, sash and blind manufactory; on the same stream there is also Robinson’s sash and blind establishment and granite polishing works, …

History of Barre Village, Vermont Read More »

Smith & Kimball Quarry Paper of E. L. Smith, Dealer in Barre Granite In regard to the statement of the “quarries ” of Barre, I cannot give a very definite one in regard to any but of the one in which I am interested. This one, known as the Smith & Kimball Quarry, is located upon the farm formerly owned by the late Edward J. Parker, consists of nearly 3 acres, and has not been fully developed as yet. It was opened in the summer of 1879, by E. J. Parker, but not worked to any extent until the spring …

History of Granite Manufacturing in Barre, Vermont Read More »

From a very interesting description in the Argus and Patriot, of Nov. 13, 1877, with present statement of the Company, June, 1881. “The foremost industry in Barre to-day (1877) is the manufacture of forks and ice tools. In 1861, two Brookfield men, Herrick and Adams, established themselves at the mill-privilege in the upper part of Barre village; run four fires and one trip-hammer, and turned out from 300 to 600 dozen per year of round-tined hay and manure-forks. Frank Safford and Loren D. Blanchard bought the business in 1864, and Blanchard sold out to Clark Holden. The first year’s business …

Stafford & Holden Manufacturing Co. Read More »

Granite Lodge F. & A. M. was chartered January 11, 1855, to John Twing, Otis Peck, James Hale, Maynard French, Adolphus Thurston, S. W. Davis, Martin Keith and their associates. The first three principal officers installed were Alva Eastman, W. M., Martin Keith, S. W., Webber Tilden, J. W.; and Clark Holden was the first Secretary elected by the Lodge. The organization has been in good working order from the first, and its membership steadily increased with the growth of the place, being now 125. They have a pleasant and commodious lodgeroom in the old Tilden Block. The lodge have …

Early Social Clubs of Barre Vermont Read More »

Barre is situated in the S. E. part of Washington Co., lat, 44° 11′, long. 4° 31′, bounded N. by East Montpelier and Plainfield, E. by Orange, S. by Williamstown and Washington, W. by Berlin, contains 19,900 acres, and was chartered Nov. 6, 1780, to William Williams and 66 others by the name of Wildersburgh, and organized under that name Mar. 11, 1793: Joseph Dwight, first town clerk; Joseph Sherman, Joseph Dwight, Nathan Harrington, selectmen; Jonas Nichols, treasurer; Job Adams, constable; Isaac S. Thompson, Apollos Hale, Elias Cheney listers. The name of the town was soon after changed. At a …

History of Barre Vermont Read More »

Contributed by Mr. Smith It was chartered and organized Jan. 11, 1873, by the removal of the old Chelsea Bank to this place, effected through the influence of Hon. B. W. Bartholomew, of Washington, Vt., and Dr. Braley, of Barre. Dr. N. W. Braley was chosen President of the first board of directors, and William G. Austin, Cashier. Mr. Austin died of typhoid fever in the autumn of the same year, and was succeeded by Chas. A. King till 1877. On the night of the 5th of July, 1875, an attempt was made to burglarize the bank by compelling the …

The National Bank of Barre Vermont Read More »

A son of the Hon. Chapin Keith, late of Barre, was born in Uxbridge, Mass., Apr. 9, 1800, and before he was a year old came with his father’s family to Barre, Vermont. At the age of sixteen, having shown himself a good and industrious scholar in the English branches taught in the common school of his home village, he commenced fitting for college at Randolph Academy, in the spring of 1816. In 1818 he entered Union College, at Schenectady, N. Y., and in 1822, was graduated with a good reputation for scholarship and moral character, then, for a year …

Biography of Calvin Jay Keith Read More »

Lists of people who participated in the early history of Barre, Vermont, and their contribution to it’s history.