A History of Stowe

by Ellen Lovejoy Hunter c 1916

HISTORY OF STOWE (AS READ AT THE RECEPTION OLD HOME WEEK 15 AUG 1916)

Someone has said that “ happy is the community which has no history”. This may apply to towns as well as countries.  But we suppose the author of the sayings must have had in mind the battles that have been fought in most countries and wars that have brought suffering and desolation.   Those have been recorded as being the most important part of history. 

The history of Stowe will not be noted for battles for those have all been of a domestic character, and have been so deftly concealed that a historian would need the skill of a Sherlock Holmes to be able to describe even one correctly. 

So the history of one of the mist beautiful town in the Commonwealth of Vermont must go down to posterity with no list of battles or even skirmishes, and what quarrels have taken place, were  peacefully settled and generously forgotten. 

Stowe is situated in the south part of Lamoille County about 60 miles from the Canada line. It lies in the valley between the “Hogback” range on the east, and Mansfield Mountain in the west. It originally contained 23,040 acres. But has received additions since from Mansfield and Sterling, which were once separate towns. It belonged first to Chittenden County, later to (Jefferson then) Washington County and when Lamoille County was organized in 1835, it was set in that county.  June 8, 1763 it was chartered, to sixty-four proprietors, by Benning Wentworth Esq. Governor and Commander in chief. The names of the proprietors can be found in the complete History of Stowe in the Public Library. 

The first meeting of the proprietors of this township was held in Salisbury April 24, 1770 at the home of Elias Read. Another meeting was held in Sharon Sept 1st of that year at Jonathan Gillett’s, where they continued to meet from time to time until 1775.  The records of the doings of the proprietors for the 17 or 18 years following are not very clear, and if not much interest, as they did not vary from the details of other towns prior to their settlement. The name of Stowe came from Lord Stow of Stow England. Some of his descendants were among the early settlers but when the name was given has not been learned. In 1794, three years after Vermont was admitted to the Union Oliver Luce formed the idea of discovering a town in the “forest primeval” of Vermont. He carried it out with vigor and determination, two leading traits of the Luce family. He chose the most forbidding time of the year for some reason, like the Captain of the Mayflower. But he “got there” as the Pilgrims did before him, and we have them both to thank and gratefully remember.

Mr. Luce started from Hartland VT with a span of horses and sleigh with his wife and little household furniture. When he got as far as Joshua Hill’s place in Waterbury where he left his team on account of the road being only a bridle path, and transferred part of his load, including his wife, to a hand sled and drew it himself for a distance of about six miles and succeeded in gaining one nights lodging before the next arrival.

Captain Clement Moody, and family moved in the next day. Mr. Luce built the first log house about one mile from the Center Village on a farm that has since been owned by the Scribner family. His son Harry was the first child to be born in Stowe. Mr Luce was the first man to open his house for the entertainment of the traveling public, his sign being a large white ball. Stowe was organized on the second Monday of March 1797. It was voted one cent on the dollar to pay all town charges. At the time there was not 50 rods of rail and no board fence in town, nor a measure or weight or tannery.  

The first Freemen’s Meeting was held in September 1798 15 votes were cast. The town was first represented in the State Legislature, by Nathan Robinson in 1801. The highest vote was 29. He served in that capacity for 13 years. Mr. Robinson was a native of Westminster, VT and came here in 1978. 

He kept a hotel near Oliver Luce’s house on the site of Frank V. Smith’s house. The hotel was built of logs and was supplied with 7 beds, the price per night for lodging was 6 cents, and 12.5 cents for meals rum and brandy were served at 6 cents a drink. Tradition was not to state the size of the drink, however.

At the time there were 23 families in town. It was originally meant to have the village located in this vicinity and would have been ideal location as far as scenery was concerned, but for commercial purpose the village was located nearer the Waterbury River which flows through the Lower Village. The original idea was not given up without a struggle. The people had so much pride in their efforts and the result was the locality was named in derision “Pucker Street”. In Feb. 2, 1796 a proprietors meeting was held for the first time in the township of Stowe, Chittenden Co. at the home of Louden Case.  

Sept. 7, 1802 there were 54 men to the Freeman’s Oath. In 1803 a tax was raised to build the bridge where Herbert Straws’s shop now stands. The tax was payable in wheat and to raise enough money to pay for the stringers and pay for the rum used at the raising, but the vote as to the rum was reconsidered except 2 qts. which was all the town would pay for. In 1817 it was voted that all the town officers do business for nothing.  

The first marriage in town was published at the raising of James Town’s barn on May 1798. The barn was on the farm now owned by George Brush. The contracting parties were Noah Churchill and Polly Marshall both of Stowe. The first death occurred on the same day. A boy 12 years old by the name of Willie Utley was riding on a horse behind his father and while fording a stream after dark slipped off and was (sic) drowned. Willie Utley is buried in the old cemetery. 

The first mail route through Stowe was established in 1816. It extended from Waterbury to Johnson. Mr. Brigham brought the first mail. Prior to this Philip Moody went to Montpelier for newspapers and Waterbury for letters. The first path to Waterbury was followed by market trees. The first Postmaster was Riverius Camp. The Post Office was established in 1816. The postage rate in 1825 on a letter of one sheet of paper sent not over 30 miles was 6 cents. Over 30 to 80 miles 10 Cents 80-150 miles 12.5 cents 150-400 miles  18.75 cents Over 400 miles 25 cents. If two sheets of paper were used double rates were charges, triple sheets triple rates and so on.  

The first school taught in the town was opened in the first settlement and taught by Thomas B. Downer, in his own dwelling house. Some of scholars walked the distance of 3 miles or more. Later a log school hose was built, which later burnt down and was not rebuilt until 1803. The first school taught in the village was opened by Dr. Joseph Robinson in the summer of 1817. The room was fitted up in a barn. 

In the year 1818 the first meetinghouse was erected. Col. Ashal Raymond gave the site to the town provided that each religious denomination in town should have the use of it by turns. This privilege was enjoyed for many years. The building was afterwards used for a town house and no other has ever been built. It first stood where the Unity Church now stands. When used as a church it was never warmed in the winter. Possibly the religions fervor in these days was sufficient to keep the people comfortable.  

The Congregational Church was built in 1839, the Methodist in 1841 and Unity church in 1860-61 the West Branch church about 1839. 

The first horse wagon was brought into town by Mr. Nichols in 1810. The first one made in town was by James Williams in 1816 and ironed by Peter C Lovejoy. It was sold to James Town for $60.00 Major Perkins purchased the first cook stove about 1820. He exchanged a yoke of oxen for it.

In 1811 Samuel Dutton built a tavern on the site of the Mt. Mansfield Hotel which was burned October 4, 1889. He lived in it 3 years. Then he sold it to Nathaniel Butts who opened it as a hotel in 1814. At this time there were only four buildings near. Col. Asahel Raymond (obtained) it in 1817 and kept a public house until his death in 1849.

The Mansfield Hotel was commenced in the fall of 1863 and dedicated June 24, 1864. N. P. Keeler was the first landlord. It burned in 1889. In 1868 a road was begun from the Half Way House to the Summit and finished in June 1870. The first driver over the road was Henry C. Philips. The cost of the road was about $25,000. The older residents will remember the old plank road, which was built about 1850 from Stowe to Waterbury. Toll was collected at two houses some distance apart, the gates bring raised after the toll was paid.  

A military company was formed in Stowe in 1803 and disbanded in 1843. In the War of 1812, 40 men were from Stowe and during the Civil War the home was faith fully and honorably represented in many fierce contests on the battle field by soldiers in 15 different regiments,  2 companies of sharp shooters, and one battery.  208 men in all, enlisted here but all were not residents or natives. 

The one hundredth anniversary of Stowe was celebrated in a most fitting manner in 1894. The affair was given great praise by everyone who was fortunate enough to be here. In 1903 the splendid Memorial Building was dedicate. It is worthy monument to the giver and added greatly to the beauty of the village. The electric road was built about 18 years ago and is highly appreciated. With fine schools, electric lights, pure water and good sewerage and roads, Stowe is surely an up to date town.  

In 1798 there were about 20 families here, in 1803 there were more than 90 families. In 1835 the population was 1570, in 1900-1926 and at the last census 1991 inhabitants. It will be of interest that the oldest house built in the village still stands, and is occupied at present by Mr. Tillman Wright. It has been changed some, but parrot of the original still stands. It is not necessary to mention in detail the many “ beauty spots” in and around Stowe, and the additions to nature that been supplied by the ingenuity of man, namely, lovely Lake Mansfield, like a crystal gem dropped into its emerald setting and the ribbon like trail, winding over and around the Green Range, from Massachusetts line on its way to Canada.

Nature’s gifts like Bingham’s and Moss Glen Falls and Smugglers Notch, we are all familiar with. The panoramic view from different places in town is grand. We see Jay Peak to the north, Worcester Mountain to the east, Camel’s Hump to the south, and most impressive of all Mansfield’s great stone face resting along the west faced by the Madonna’s profile. In the early morning there is the beautiful misty light slowly turning to turquoise color, and our wonderful sunsets rival even the alpine scenery it has been said. 

It is a good place to be born in, to live in, and for our friends to come to Old Home Week, and lastly when our bodies are tired, it is a good place to be stowed away to rest.  

God Bless the dear old town of Stowe.  

Ellen Lovejoy Hunter