 Amid
the picturesque foot hills and mountains of central Vermont, surrounded
by a panorama of surpassing loveliness, lies the modern and model City
of Montpelier, the Capital of the Green Mountain State. It is bordered
by a region of mountains and valleys, of lakes and streams, of sublime
solitudes and Athenian culture, of woodlands and meadows. Its attractiveness
is world renowned, and while scattered to the four winds are its children,
they still remember and pay just homage to their old home on the banks
of the winding Winooski. All about are numerous scenes of storied or unsung
beauty. This then, in brief, is the pen picture of the locality about Montpelier
-- the scene of historic incidents which are briefly noted as a proper
preface to this article.
Montpelier was settled in 1787, by Col. Jacob DAVIS,
an emigrant from Massachusetts. The town was formally organized in 1791,
with a total population of one hundred and thirteen souls, of which but
twenty-seven were legal voters.
In November, 1805, the town, which had grown apace,
by an act of the legislature was made the Capital of the State. The site
chosen for the State House was a part of the Jacob Davis estate, and was
contributed by Thomas DAVIS, a son of Col. DAVIS, the founder. The town
built the house in which the Legislature convened, in October 1808. Its
selection as the State Capital gave a great impetus to the growth and prosperity
of Montpelier. The first Capitol, a somewhat primitive structure built
of wood, was replaced in 1836 by a house of classic architecture, made
of Barre granite. This building was destroyed by fire in 1857, but was
rebuilt in substantially the same style the following year and occupied
for the first time at the legislative session of 1859. The building stands
on an elevated site, in a spacious and terraced area. The entrance to the
grounds and principal approach from State street is noble and commanding.
The gateways, the fence, the grounds, and all their details are in keeping
with the building and assist in giving to it that consideration it should
have as a Capitol of a flourishing State. The ground plan has the form
of a Greek cross. The distinguishing feature of the central building is
a noble portico supported by massive granite columns, some seventy feet
in height. The exceptional beauty of the State House and its grounds is
the subject of remark by strangers visiting Montpelier.
The
town derived additional distinction in 1811 by being made the shire of
Jefferson -- changed in 1814 to Washington county. In 1848, diverse material
and political interests led to a division of the town by act of the Legislature.
Thereafter the town of Montpelier, with an environing area of some 4,000
acres, retaining the old name, and the remainder received the designation
of fast Montpelier.
The
Village of Montpelier was incorporated in 1855. In 1859 a Union School
District was organized. A town, village and school district organization
were maintained till 1895, when all were merged under a city charter.
The
city of Montpelier was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature
passed in 1894. The charter provided for a division of the new municipal
territory into five wards, and the assuming of the liabilities and obligations
of the town, village and union school district by the city of Montpelier.
Provision was made for annual meetings of the legal voters and the election,
or appointment, of certain officers.
The
charter defined the powers and prescribed the duties of the mayor, council
and various officers of the city. The original act of incorporation has
been amended in many particulars during the past seven years. The most
important amendments were made in 1898. Under one act an adjacent
portion of the town of Berlin was annexed February in 1899, to the city
and constituted ward six. Ward six comprises all that portion of the city
west of the Winooski river. Another amendment provided that the mayor
shall receive an annual salary of $300, and each alderman, $150. Under
the amended charter the terms of each of the six alderman were made two
years, one half of the number to be elected in alternate years. This section
took effect at the election of aldermen in wards one, two and three in
1901, and in wards four, five and six at the last election.
The
first election under the new city charter was held March 5, 1895, when
the following officers were chosen: Mayor, George W. WING; aldermen, Ward
1, Charles F. BUSWELL; Ward 2, Theron F. COLTON; Ward 3, William R. WESTON;
Ward 4, John V. BROOKS; Ward 5, George O. STRATTON; city clerk and treasurer,
Timothy R. MERRILL; city sheriff; Charles De F. BANCROFT, first constable,
Thomas J. KEEGAN; second constable, Henry F. HUNT; listers, Fred A. HOWLAND,
Joseph G. BROWN and Frederick P. CARLETON; auditors, Albert W. FERRIN,
Melville E. SMILIE and Levi H. BIXBY; overseer of the poor, E. M. IRISH;
city grand jurors, William A. LORD, John H. SENTER and Frederick
P. CARLETON; school commissioners, J. H. LUCIA, Thomas MARVIN, John H.
SENTER, E. M. GUERNSEY and D. G. KEMP; commissioners of Green Mount cemetery,
James W. Brock, Andrew J. SIBLEY, L. Bart CROSS, Carroll P. PITKIN and
Charles H. HEATON.
The
new city government was formally inaugurated early in March, 1895, upon
the organization of the City Council and the election, or appointment of
the officers provided for by the charter. The following officials were
chosen: judge of city court, Melville E. SMILIE; city attorney, William
A. LORD; chief of police, John L. TUTTLE; superintendent of water works,
Joel FOSTER; superintendent of streets, Clark B. ROBERTS; health officer,
D. G. KEMP, M. D.; city weigher, wood measurer and sealer of weights and
measurer, Denison TAFT; pound keeper, E. L. PUTNEY.
The
above list includes the names of a number of officers and commissioners
elected by the old town, or village, who were continued in office, as their
terms had not expired when the new city government was inaugurated.
In
this connection it is interesting to note that the following city officials
have served continuously since 1895, and are the present incumbents of
their respective offices: Timothy R. MERRILL, city clerk and treasurer;
Charles De F. BANCROFT, city sheriff; M. E. SMILIE, judge of city court;
Clark B. ROBERTS, superintendent of streets, and Joel FOSTER, superintendent
of waterworks. Frederick P. CARLETON, elected city attorney in 1897, has
served continuously since that time and was re-elected in 1902. The auditors
remain the same as in 1895: Albert W. FERRIN, Melville E. SMILIE, and Levi
H. BIXBY. These public servants are capable and efficient officials.
The
single municipal form of government which Montpelier has enjoyed during
the past seven years is a marked improvement in all essential respects
over the triple governments - towns, village and school district -- so
long in existence in the same territory.
To
be continued.
Transcribed
by Karima, 2002
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