Barre Village, Vermont

Barre Village is situated nearly in the centre 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 saw-mill, an extensive door, sash and blind manufactory; on the same stream there is also Robinson's sash arid blind establishment and granite polishing works, and on the same stream before it enters Jail Branch is located Moorcroft Flannel Factory. The first water occupied on Jail Branch is by the Stafford & Holden Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manufacturing all kinds of hay and manure forks, potato diggers, etc., and in addition to the water power they have a 30 or 40 horse-power engine. Next on the stream are the mills and furnace of Smith, Whitcomb & Cook. These are the works formerly owned by Joshua Twing, once a celebrated mill builder.

There is one principal street running through the village, called Main street, and near the upper end of the village called South Main street; Bridge street crossing the Branch and connecting with Brooklyn street; also with Hoboken. Elm Street leaves Main near the National Bank, and runs north; Merchant Street is another fine street running north; Seminary Street also runs north, and passes the Goddard Seminary. Depot Square and its surroundings is also very pleasant. The street leading from the village by Barre Academy is a very gentle rise, leading to the Cemetery. Barre Cemetery justly deserves, and has the reputation of being one of the best in the State. It is partly surrounded by a very beautiful cedar hedge, and has two fountains, furnished by water from the neighboring hills, which add very much to its beauty. Many fine monuments of goodly variety have been put up, the grounds tastefully laid out, and, taking it all in all, we are happy to compare it with any in the State.

The streets of Barre are well lined with shade trees, which add very much to its attractions. There are 18 stores in town, and our post-office has been made a salaried office, and does a very fair business. The town has a well regulated library, of several hundred volumes, which are considerably read, but the newspapers probably take nine-tenths of all the time devoted to reading. Geo. P. Boyce is our librarian.

"Barre Agricultural Library. First officers, J. S. Spaulding, pres.; S. E. Bigelow, vice-pres.; C. Carpenter, sec.; Stillman Wood, treasurer and librarian." Among the things that were: sold out. Barre has a Job Printing Establishment run by Prentiss C. Dodge, and a newspaper. The first newspaper printed in town was "The Barre Times." It was a monthly sheet, issued during the year 1871, spicy, of a literary character, and published by Stillman Wood, Esq.

"The Barre Herald," established in 1879, by E. N. Hyzer, was published about 9 months.

"The Barre Enterprise," was commenced in 1880. The first number was issued December 11th of the past year. It was conducted till April, 1881, by Mr. Lewis P. Thayer, of Randolph, when W. F. Scott, its present editor and proprietor, came into possession of the publication and issued his first number of the paper, April 16, 1881.

Manufactures

Fire Company of sixty stalwart young men, with a first class hand engine, that took the first prize at a trial made in Burlington a few years since.

Barre has a Lodge of Good Templars in successful operation, which promises to be of great benefit to the people.

Barre Cornet Band, well organized, is under the present leadership of Dr. Clarence B. Putnam. This Band was organized several years before the late war, and was at that time one of the best in the State. Early in the war they volunteered to go as a Band, were accepted, and served during the war.

They did not all return. Some were left to occupy a grave in the Southern States. G. B. Putnam, who resigned the office of Postmaster to go and serve his country, now rests in an unknown grave. He was the father of the present leader of the Band.

Those who belonged to, and went as members, were H. Warner French, leader; A. B. Fisher, P. Parker Page, Geo. Beckley, Albert Wood, James Averill, John W. Averill, Geo. Blanchard, Wm. Clark, G. B. Putnam, Wm. Olds. With some few exceptions, the Band has been in practice ever since the war, and some of the veterans still occupy prominent places in the same.

Barre Boys in the West. Barre has furnished its full share of young men who have gone west to earn a living, and build up the land of their adoption. Among the more successful we might mention Henry Wood, son of Stillman Wood, Esq., a merchant. He has traveled in Europe a year; is the owner of real estate in Chicago which yields a goodly income, and of a handsome cottage on Scituate Beach, in Massachusetts, a summer residence. The firm of Keith Brothers, sons of Martin Keith, in Chicago, are also Barre boys, carry on a wholesale trade in the millinery line, are among wealthy and leading firms in Chicago. Clark Upton, late Mayor of Waukegan, Illinois, was a Barre boy, and a lawyer of more than common ability. Five sons of Micah French are in the West, working to lay up a fortune. It is said to be much easier to get up a large party of intelligent Barre boys in Chicago than in Barre itself at the present time.

Longevity Names of some of the older people who have died in Town

The above list might be greatly extended if time now permitted. June 27, 1881.

Names of people now living in town whose ages are 80 years and upwards, so far as we can learn:

Barre Vermont | Vermont AHGP

Source: The History of Washington County, Vermont Historical Gazetteer, Collated and published by, Abby Maria Hemenway, Montpelier, Vermont, 1882.