Addison County VT Archives History - Businesses .....Businesses Of Middlebury 1891
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INDUSTRIES AND WEALTH OF MIDDLEBURY.

   MIDDLEBURY, the county seat of Addison County, was chartered November 2,
1761. John Everts, Esq., having three towns to survey named the one on the south
Salisbury, and the one on the north New Haven, and the third, from its middle
position, Middlebury. The first land cleared in town was six or seven acres
which John Chipman, from Salisbury, Connecticut, cleared in 1766, but he made no
permanent settlement at that time. In 1773 Benjamin Smalley, of Salisbury, came
with his family and built of logs the first house in town; the same year other
families came. In 1778 the settlers built their first log school house. This
memorable fall there was general destruction of property and capture of
prisoners all along the borders of Lake Champlain, •which caused a complete
desertion of the settlement till after the close of the war. The •settlers
buried in the earth all of their effects that could not be taken in their
flight. In 1783 the former settlers began to return. In 1786 the first bridge
across the creek was built by Daniel Foot, and the village was organized at his
house this same year and the first highways surveyed.

   Samuel Miller, the first lawyer in town and one of the most distinguished
citizens, settled in 1788. In 1792 the county courts were removed to Middlebury,
where they have since been held. In 1793 the first post office was established.
In 1794 the first jail was erected and was built entirely of wood, with
prisoners' cells and dungeon; ^the second of stone at about $4,000 cost, in
1796; the third was built of brick, at about $8,000 cost, in 1845.

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE.

   The first court-house, which was first occupied in 1798, was remodeled in
1814. In 1800 and 1806 the State Legislature held its sessions here. In 1801 the
first number of the first newspaper was published here by Joseph D. Huntington
and John Fitch. The paper was called the Middlebury Mercury.

   The People's Press was published in 1841, and after several changes of
proprietors and name in the intervening years it finally became known as the
Middlebury Register in 1850, and is now published by the Register Company.

   The discovery of marble in this town was made by Eben Judd as early as 1802.
In 1803 he obtained a lease of Appleton Foot to dig marble anywhere on his lot
between »his house and the creek for 999 years. A factory was soon erected, in
which was carried on the first extensive manufactory of marble in the state.
 Middlebury is one of the oldest and handsomest villages in the State. It was
incorporated in 1852 and has a population of 2,993. It has a clayey soil not
easy of tillage, embedded with rich marble quarries.

   Middlebury has been particularly favored in respect of mechanical inventions,
among the most valuable of which is that of the circular saw, the inventor of
which was Mr. Jeremiah Hall. The present method of welding cast steel was
discovered in Middlebury as early as 1800 by three blacksmiths. Sawing marble by
water-power with sand and toothless saws' in gangs was invented about 1801 by
Isaac E. Markham. The first full set of machinery for the manufacture of doors
and window sash by water-power in this or any other country, was invented and
put up in Middlebury.

   ADDISON HOUSE, Opposite Court House and Post Office, Darwin Rider,
Proprietor.—Commandingly located in the most central part of the town, opposite
the court-house and post office, and conducted in an unexceptionable manner in
every particular, as well as being provided with all the luxurious accessories
of the modern hotels, "Addison House" has far more than a merely local fame.
Visitors to the town who are well-informed, and a great proportion of those who
come here periodically, making it their regular place of abode on such occasions
and a large number of the residents making it a frequent house of call. This
popular hotel was founded in the year 1866, and its proprietor, Mr. Darwin
Rider, has had the entire control and personal management of its affairs for the
whole of the time, with the exception of four years which he spent in the south.
Under his able guidance the hotel has been one of the most creditably
representative kind, its high-class accommodation for one hundred guests being
such as to elicit from those who have availed themselves of its hospitality,
unqualified and unvarying eulogy. The whole of its chambers are light and airy,
are sumptuously furnished and kept in the most satisfactory manner, a large
staff of employees being retained for that purpose; and the courteous and
affable proprietor spares no pains in personally looking after the comfort and
convenience of guests in every particular, and in all the minutest details. In
connection with the house is a barber's shop, an elegantly furnished and well
managed billard room, and a first-class livery stable, the latter having
well-drained and ventilated stalls, and being in all respects worthy of the
house. A free bus is run regularly to all trains. Mr. Rider, who is universally
esteemed by all who know him, and their name is legion, is a prominent member of
the Masonic body.

   W. H. SHELDON, Druggist and Grocer.—A prominent house engaged in the drug,
grocery and provision trade is that of Mr. W. H. Sheldon. The business was
established in 1843 by Harmon A. Sheldon, and in 1871 Messrs. Sheldon, Goodnough
& Lovett succeeded to the business, the present proprietor succeeding to the
control in 1886. A full line of drugs and medicines are kept constantly on hand,
and none realize more fully than Mr. Sheldon the responsibility resting upon him
when engaged in filling prescriptions. | For this purpose he is supplied with
the best and purest drugs the market affords. He also carries an immense stock
and has a large trade in groceries and provisions. Here may be found at all
times the finest coffees, teas, spices, flour and hermetically sealed goods in
glass and tin, foreign and American delicacies and everything that pertains to
the staple and fancy grocery trade. The goods of this establishment are highly
esteemed by the community for their freshness, absolute purity and low prices,
while customers have the satisfaction of knowing that nothing inferior or
adulterated will be sold them. He also keeps a large and fine stock of boots,
shoes and rubbers, which are obtained at our best manufactories and sold at
small profit. Four courteous and obliging clerks are employed. Mr. Sheldon also
owns a gristmill furnished with abundant water-power and three run of stone. It
has the capacity of grinding four hundred bushels per day. A large and
flourishing business is done at the mill. Mr. Sheldon is a native of Middlebury,
Vt., and is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is universally respected for his
honorable usiness methods.

   FRANK A. BOND, Gents', Boys' and Children's Fine Clothing and
Furnishings.—One of the most popular and succcessful business enterprises in
this city is that conducted by the above enterprising house. The establishment
is popularly known as "Pine Hall," and was originally founded in 1868 by
Langworthy & Bond. In 1873, Mr. Langworthy retired, leaving Mr. Bond in sole
possession. In 1881 the house became F. A. Bond & Bro., and in 1886 assumed its
former style. The premises are of a very spacious and complete character, and
are in dimensions 35 x 100 feet. There is always carried in stock at this
establishment one of the largest, most compete and varied assortments of gents',
boys', and children's fine clothing and furnishings, such as underwear, shirts,
neckwear, hosiery, etc., as can be found in this entire section. The house
employs a corps of experienced and skillful help, and the goods displayed and
carried in stock are always the newest in design and most fashionable in style
on the market. Great care is exercised in selecting this stock, Mr. Bond making
a careful and special study of the popular demands required in this community.
Mr. Bond is a native of Brandon, Vt., an honored member of the K. of H. He is
very highly esteemed here, and is also a member of the firm of Bond Bros.

   PIERCE HOUSE, J. Higgins, Proprietor.—The Pierce House now so well known
throughout the state, is located on Court Street, and its pleasant situation and
beautiful surroundings are not by any means the least of the house's
attractions. Entering, one finds the predilection formed for the establishment
from its outward appearance fully warranted in actual fact. Every apartment
throughout the house is spacious, airy, and well decorated and appointed, the
furniture, being of a handsome description, and the attention received at the
hands of the many attendants, of the most courteous and obliging nature. The
convenience of guests is studied in every particular; and from the bedroom,
right through to the smoking and reading rooms, an air of home comfort reigns
and here, be it said, that for its cuisine and table, the Pierce House has no
superior in the state of Vermont. That the public, traveling to this
neighborhood, appreciate Mr. Higgins' best endeavors, is amply testified by the
hotel register. An excellent livery stable is maintained in connection with the
establishment, and stylish turnouts may be procured of various kinds,
accompanied in each case by smart and careful drivers in neat and attractive
liveries. Mr. Higgins was formerly proprietor of the Addison House, and is a
hotel man of many years' experience.

   L. D. ELDRIDGE, Insurance Agent.—Few men in Middlebury have led more active
or more useful lives than has fallen to the lot of Mr. L. D. Eldridge, who has
one of the busiest places in the town. Mr. Eldridge was born in New York but has
always lived in Vermont, and has for many years been a practicing attorney in
Middle-bury, and for many years has been prominent in the politics of the state.
He has been a justice of the peace nearly twenty years. He was a member of the
state senate in 1876 and in 1888 represented his town in the lower House. He is
treasurer and one of the trustees of Middlebury College, and is regarded as one
of the town's foremost and progressive citizens. Since 1864 he has been
identified with Insurance matters, and his is one of the leading agencies here.
He gives his principal attention to fire insurance, but has always been more or
less concerned in the other lines. He represents some of the leading and
wealthiest insurance corporations in the world, companies noted for the prompt
and satisfactory manner in which they adjust all losses. The companies
represented are the following: The AEtna, of Hartford; Springfield Fire and
Marine; Insurance Company of North America; Imperial, of London; and Lancashire,
of Liverpool; Liberty, of New York, and Vermont Mutual. Mr. Eldridge does a most
extensive business, and has built up a heavy permanent patronage through this
section for the companies he represents.

   CLINTON SMITH, Contractor and Builder, Manufacturer and Dealer in Building
and House Finishing Material, Office and Mill, First Door on Mill Street.—No
trade in city or country is of greater importance than that of the carpenter and
builder, and in this line the house of Mr. Clinton Smith takes front rank and
has developed a trade of great magnitude. The premises occupied comprise a
two-story building, 40 x 100 feet in dimensions, supplied with abundant water
power. Fifteen hands are employed in the mill, and all kinds of house finishing
and building material is here manufactured. As a contractor and builder, Mr.
Smith has no superior in the state and some of the finest private residences and
public buildings in the state have been built under his direction, among which
may be mentioned the Court House and Town Hall at Bellows Falls, Town Hall at
Middlebury, and Vermont Academy at Saxon's River, the new government building at
Montpelier, Trinity Church at Watertown, N. Y., the State Asylum at Waterbury,
Vt., a church at West Rutland and a church at New Haven, Vt., Columbus Smith's
residence at West Salisbury, Vt., and many other private residences. He employs
from 125 to 200 hands, and he is prepared to estimate upon and contract for
every description of carpenters' and builders' work and all work under Mr.
Smith's superintendence is performed in the most complete and thorough manner.
To those contemplating the erection of stores, fiats, office buildings or
private residences, churches, halls or schools, we would recommend to secure
estimates from Mr. Smith and examine his elaborate plans and finished work
before contracting elsewhere. Mr. Smith is a native of Middlebury, Vt.

   MILTON A. BROOKS, Fire Insurance, Court Street.—Mr. Milton A. Brooks
represents some of the stanchest fire insurance companies in the world. Mr.
Brooks is prepared to promptly place the largest risks, distributing the same in
the most judicious and satisfactory manner, quoting the lowest rates of premium,
and guaranteeing a speedy and liberal adjustment of all losses. Mr. Brooks
controls the insurance of important lines of business and residential property,
stocks of merchandise and personal effects in and around Middlebury, and is
justly popular with all classes of property holders, and the general business
and social community.

   REGISTER. CO., Publishers of the Middlebury Register, and Book and Job
Printers, Mill Street.—Editing and controlling that valuable paper the
"Middlebury Register," the Register Co. is one that is known and very highly
regarded not alone in Middlebury but over a considerable section of the state of
Vermont, its well ordered printing office being one to which trades in a large
stretch of territory regularly look for the providing of their commercial
printing, as well as for the periodical budget of news which is there published.
This honored concern is one of the oldest of its kind in Vermont, it having been
founded in 1836, and the proprietorship now vests in Mr. Joseph Battell and Mr.
E. H. Thorp, the former a gentleman who has very long been identified with its
interests, and whose fame in that connection is accentuated, amongst horsemen at
any rate, by his well-known fondness for the equine race, and his rare knowledge
of the great breeding stables, and the most noted pedigrees, information that
will shortly be embodied in a register he is now preparing. His partner, who is
a young man of marked business aptitude and great administrative talent, and who
is taking a most active part in the conduct of the affairs of the house, has
under his control eight employees in the printing office, which is equipped in
the most perfect manner, its large assortment of well-selected fonts of type
being supplemented by all necessary machinery, presses and requisites for the
trade, thus enabling the firm to accomplish every kind of general, society, and
commercial printing, as well as book work, in the most creditable manner, with
great promptness, and at really reasonable prices. Mr. Battell, who is the
proprietor of the "Bread Loaf Jim" Ripton, is a native of Vermont, as is also
Mr. Thorp, and hoth are gentlemen highly popular with their fellow residents.

   CHAPMAN & COMPANY, Clothing, Merchant Tailors, Etc.—This enterprise was
established by Messrs. Chapman & Hyde, under the present firm style in 1884, and
they have very deservedly enjoyed a continuously prosperous career to date. The
premises occupied comprise a spacious and commodious ground floor on Main
Street, having a frontage and depth of 30 x 80 feet, giving ample accommodation
for the manipulation and display of the exceptionally fine line of goods
carried, and the general advantageous prosecution of the business. The stock
carried embraces a full line of imported and domestic cloths, tweeds,
cassimeres, etc., in all the latest and most fashionable designs and patterns,
fine ready-made clothing for gents', youths' and boys' wear; hats, caps, gents'
furnishing goods, hosiery, underwear, neckwear, gloves, umbrellas, and the
general complement of the well-appointed emporium of this type. A prominent
specialty is made of custom clothing to order, and all garments coming from this
establishment may be invariably relied upon in point of fit, style, finish and
material. Mr. Chapman was born in Vermont, and is a prominent member of the
Masonic order, his partner. Mr. Hyde, hailing from New York, and being similarly
identified with the order of Knights Templar. The business is carried on a
strictly cash basis, Messrs. Chapman & Company being ardent believers in the
theory of "small profits and quick returns."


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

INDUSTRIES AND WEALTH OF THE PRINCIPAL POINTS IN VERMONT,
BEING
BURLINGTON, WINOOSKI, RUTLAND, WEST RUTLAND, BRANDON, FAIR HAVEN, POULTNEY,
CASTLETON, ST. ALBANS, SWANTON, ENOSBURG FALLS, BRATTLEBORO, BELLOWS FALLS,
MONTPELIER, BARRE, WATERBURY, ST. JOHNSBURY, LYNDONVILLE, LYNDON, HARDWICK,
BENNINGTON, SPRINGFIELD, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VERGENNES, MIDDLEBURY, NORTHFIELD
AND MORRISVILLE.

1891.

PUBLISHED BY
AMERICAN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING CO.,
(ELEVATORS.)
Nos. 149 AND 151 CHURCH STREET, NEW YORK.

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