Stowe Timeline
1700’s
1763 Charter granted by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire to 64 “Proprietors,” none of whom settled in Stowe (June 8, 1763); original area 36 square miles.
1791 Vermont becomes the 14th state.
1794 First settlement; Oliver Luce arrived from Hartland, VT (April 16)
1796 First saw and grist mill built at the falls of the Little River in Mill Village
1797 First town meeting held at house of Lauden Chase
1798 The Old Yard or Center Cemetery established on land donated by the Town Clerk following the drowning of his son; oldest in town
1800’s
1800 First school house erected on land deeded by Oliver Luce in the Upper Village. First established religious group (Methodist); first recorded church service
1811 Steve Wright House built; oldest in Village. First tavern erected in the Center Village; expanded to an inn in 1814.
1817 First school established in what became Stowe Village
1818 Old Town Hall built on the site of the present Stowe Community Church, later moved to its present location; oldest public building in Stowe in continuous public service; now the Vermont Ski Museum. Was a Meeting House for worship.
1832 Stowe-Morrisville Road opened to traffic; Route 100
1833 Green Mountain Inn built as a dwelling; later expanded into a hotel
1838 “e” added to “Stow” in warned Town Meeting
1848 Most of the Town of Mansfield added to Stowe
1849 Rail service established in Waterbury
1855 Part of the Town of Sterling added to Stowe McMahon House (Bashaw home) built; stop on the Underground Railroad
1856 Toll Road built up Mt. Mansfield to the Half-way House ; a saddle horse trail went from there to the summit
1858 Summit House built under the nose of Mt. Mansfield
1860 Planked toll road established between Waterbury Center and Stowe. Road to Smugglers Notch was run up to the Big Spring
1861 District #6 Village School (Stowe High School) constructed
1863 Mount Mansfield Hotel constructed in the Village. It had three and one-half stories, 300 feet long with two rear wings; accommodated 450 guests, with livery for 200 horses; Stowe Community Church built for $12,000; most photographed building in town
1866 Stowe Free Library established
1870 Mt. Mansfield Toll Road completed to the summit
1888 Mt. Mansfield Creamery began operation, first in Lamoille County
1889 Fire destroyed the Mount Mansfield Hotel
1893 Neighborhood school districts consolidated into single town school district
1894 Carriage Road through Smugglers Notch completed
1896 Stowe Village incorporated
1897 Mt. Mansfield Electric Railroad began daily service between Waterbury and Stowe Depot Building constructed
1899 Mansfield Mountain Grange established
1900’s
1900 Stowe High School organized; first graduating class in 1901. Roman Catholic mission established in Stowe; services held in the basement of the Memorial Building beginning 1903
1902 Akeley Memorial Building built, as a soldier’s memorial; it has housed the post office, jail, bank and library
1904 Municipal water system established to serve village
1911 Village of Stowe Electric Light & Power System established. Water mains constructed from Edson Hill springs to Village and Lower Village. Stowe Civic Club established
1913 Skiing introduced by Swedish families living in Stowe
1921 First Winter Carnival held; sponsored by the Stowe Civic Club; ski jump, toboggan slide and skating rink built
1931 Village Charter amended for construction of an electric plant, and service area expansion outside of village
1932 Mt. Mansfield Electric Railroad service discontinued. Cement highway was built through Stowe, Route 100
1933 First ski trails cut as part of Civilian Conservation Corps project
1934 Municipal well developed to supply water system (abandoned in 1994)
1940 First single chair lift constructed on Mt. Mansfield, ushering in modern commercial skiing
1944 Covered Bridge on the West Branch, built in 1848, was rebuilt with no cover “in deference to changing times”
1949 Mt. Mansfield Company established
1954 Stowe Elementary School built; last one room schools closed
1956 Stowe Historical Society founded
1957 Summit House closed and dismantled
1963 Stowe-Morrisville Airport established as first state-owned airport constructed in state
1973 Stowe Middle-Senior High School built on Barrows Road
1974 Jackson Ice Arena completed
1975 Winter Carnival resurrected Stowe Rescue Squad started Contract with Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department for emergency dispatch services
1978 Stowe Village Historic District nominated to National Register
1979 Town Garage constructed
1980 Stowe’s first municipal wastewater treatment plan constructed replacing direct system discharge into the Little River. Fire at Trapp Family Lodge destroyed main building; replaced by current lodge
1981 Former Stowe High School renovated to house the Library Free Library and Helen Day Art Center
1982 Art exhibitions began at the Helen Day Art Center
1984 Stowe Recreation Path opened
1987 Stowe Land Trust founded. Renovation of public safety buildings on Route 100, a $688,000 construction project
1989 Stowe Recreation Path completed to Top Notch Meadow. Elementary school playground built. Village sidewalks replaced
1990 Mayo Farm purchased by the town for conservation, recreation and community-related purposes
1992 Stowe Trolley System established. Stowe Elementary School renovated and wing added to Stowe Middle-Senior High School
1993 Mayo Connector Road constructed
1994 Library building expanded
1995 Wastewater treatment facility and service areas expansions are locally approved
1996 Quiet Path on Mayo Farm is completed
1997 Mayo Connector Road paved Ridgeline and Hillside overlay District is established
1998 Moscow Ball Fields acquired. Copley Woodlands Condominiums opened
1999 Act 250 approval for sewer plant expansion
2000’s
2000 Moscow Stump Dump closed Sunset Hill and Bingham Falls are conserved by Stowe Land Trust. Vermont Ski Museum to the renovated Old Meeting House building
2001 Construction of expanded wastewater treatment plant and sewer and water lines commences
2002 Development Review Board replaces Zoning Board of Adjustment
2003 Historical Preservation Commission is established
2004 Mayo Farm 25 year term easement is established and management plan developed
2006 One percent local options tax on rooms and meals is established
2007 Adams Camp is conserved by Stowe Land Trust
2009 New public safety building is constructed at a cost of $7,200,000
2012 Cady Hill Forest is purchased by Stowe Land Trust and acquired by the Town
2013 Stowe Arena is constructed at a cost of $6,500,000 as a replacement for aging Jackson Arena