History of Montpelier, Vermont, USA

Montpelier, Vermont
The capital of the state and shire town of the county of Washington. It lies in N. lat. 44° 17', and W. lon. 72° 36'. It is 182 miles W. from Augusta, Me.; 97 N.N.W. from Concord, N.H.; 160 N.W. by N. from Boston, Mass.; 200 N. by W. from Providence, R.I.; 205 N. from Hartford, Ct.; 148 N.E. from Albany, N.Y.; and 524 miles from Washington. First settled in 1786. Population, 1830, 2,985. Montpelier became the seat of government in 1805, and the shire town of the county, in 1811. It is finely watered by Onion river and by several branches of that stream. These streams afford a good water power, on which are manufacturing establishments of various kinds. The surface of the town is very uneven and hilly, but not mountainous. The soil is very good along the streams, and the highlands produce excellent pasturage. The agricultural products are various and valuable. In 1837 there were between 8,000 and 9,000 sheep in the town.

This township was granted October 21,...

Montpelier is the county town, and capital of the State. The township is watered by the Winooski River, which runs through the south-east corner, and along the southern boundary by the Little North Branch, which crosses the south-west corner, by Kingsbury Branch, which crosses the north-east corner, and by several smaller streams. The mill privileges are both good and numerous.

The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is very warm, is uncommonly fine, and there is scarcely an acre of waste land in Montpelier, the most of it richly, and all of it fairly rewarding the labors of the industrious farmer. The prevailing character of the rocks is slate and lime, sometimes distinct, but more generally combined. Rare minerals have not been found here, unless the sulphurets of iron, copper, and talc, which are common in the slate rocks, be reckoned. Some years ago there was a company formed and a charter obtained, for boring for salt; and, by the aid of machinery, a hole was...

Montpelier, the seat of justice of Washington county, Vermont, and capital of the state, is situated on the Onion river, and on the great railway thoroughfare connecting the Atlantic with the St. Lawrence river, 200 miles N. W. from Boston, and 85 miles S. E. from Montreal. Lat. 44° 17' N., Lon. 76° 36' W. It occupies a central position in the state, and is chiefly remarkable for its active trade and general improved appearance. The state house, fronting on State street, is a magnificent granite structure, which cost upwards of $130,000. It is in the form of a cross, 150 feet in length, and 100 feet deep, including the portico, which consists of six columns, each 6 feet in diameter at the base, and 86 feet high. The building is surmounted by a dome, the apex of which is 100 feet from the ground. The court house and rail road depots are also worthy of notice. Montpelier contains 2 banks, 5 churches, 5 newspaper offices, and about 30 stores. It became the capital of the state in 1805,...

MONTPELIER, Vt., Tuesday, Jan. 6. - 8 P.M.
The Vermont Capitol building is now on fire, with no hope of saving the entire edifice from destruction. The capacious dome is enveloped in flames, and the fire is rapidly spreading to all parts of the building. The origin of the fire is laid to some defect in the heating apparatus.

MONTPELIER, Jan. 23. - Michael Dingley, of Bethel, a fireman on a freight train on the Central Vermont Railway, was killed this morning at Montpelier Junction.

Montpelier, the capital of Vermont and of Washington co., is situated on a plain, on the Winooski or Onion River, at the mouth of its N. branch, about 200 miles N.N.W. of Boston, and 40 miles E.S.E. of Burlington. Lat. 44° 17' N.; lon. 72° 35' W. It is on a branch of the Central Vermont Railroad, and is a terminus of the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad. It is surrounded by a hilly country which is fertile and highly cultivated. The state-house is a handsome granite edifice, with a portico supported by 4 massive Doric columns, and a dome which is 124 feet high. Montpelier contains a court-house, 6 churches, national banks, 2 savings-banks, the Vermont Methodist Seminary, a graded school, the state library of about 14,000 volumes, printing-offices which issue 2 weekly newspapers, and 3 hotels. Here are several flour-mills, tanneries, manufactories of machinery, children's carriages, &c., and marble, and granite-works. This town became the capital of Vermont in 1805. Pop. in 1860,...

Was Ready for Occupancy of Savings Bank and Insurance Company.
(Special to the Messenger.)

Montpelier, March 23. - The new brick and granite block, at the corner of Main and State streets, that has been in process of construction for the past year by the executors of the James R. Langdon estate and which was nearly ready for occupancy, was gutted by fire at an early hour this morning.

The origin of the fire is a mystery but as it started between the floors it is believed to have been caused by electric light wires.
The damage is estimated at $5,000 and it may be considerable more.
The whole interior of the rooms that were to be occupied April 1 by the Montpelier Savings Bank and the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company will have to be rebuilt. The costly furniture and fittings were entirely ruined.

The northern half of the block, which was to have been occupied April 1 by A. D. Farwell, clothier, and the Apollo Club, was only slightly damaged by smoke and steam.

The loss ...

Montpelier, the capital of Vermont and of Washington co., is situated on a plain, on the Winooski (or Onion) River, at the mouth of its N. branch, 40 miles ESE. of Burlington, on the Central Vermont and the Montpelier and Wells River Rs. Lat. 44° 17' N. ; Ion. 72° 35' W. It is surrounded by a hilly country which is fertile and highly cultivated. The city has a number of stately edifices, including the handsome state-house, with a dome 124 feet high, a court-house, the Montpelier Seminary, etc. Its industries are represented by several flour-mills, tanneries, manufactories of wood-working machinery, leather, hardware, etc. and marble- and granite-works. This town became the capital of Vermont in 1805. Pop. in 1860, 2411 ; in 1870, 3023; in 1880, 3210; in 1890, 3617; in 1900, 6266.

Montpelier, Vt., March 3. - Montpelier lost another of its old landmarks Saturday, when the Union House, a hotel at which coach drivers and their patrons stopped while on the way from Montreal to Boston, in state coach days, was destroyed by fire. The damage was $30,000.

State House, March 8.

Amelia Earhart Putnam-evangelist of aviation-added to her converts yesterday.

More than a thousand persons, several hundred of them school children, crowded into the Hall of Representatives, blocked the aisles and all but hung from the ornate chandeliers to see and hear the world's premiere aviatrix when she addressed the Vermont general assembly.

They were the converts-that is, all except a handful who admitted rather shamefacedly they wouldn't ride in an airplane under any circumstances.

Vermont State House:

Start your journey at the heart of Montpelier by exploring the Vermont State House. It's a stunning architectural gem and the only state capitol in the U.S. without a dome.

Hubbard Park:

Take a leisurely stroll or hike through Hubbard Park. The trails offer beautiful views of the town, and in the winter, it transforms into a snowy wonderland.

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks:

Vermont is known for its maple syrup, and you can't miss the opportunity to visit Morse Farm. Learn about the syrup-making process and indulge in some delicious maple treats.

North Branch Vineyards:

If you appreciate a good glass of wine, head to North Branch Vineyards. They offer wine tastings in a picturesque setting, and it's a great spot to relax.

Lost Nation Theater:

Check the schedule for Lost Nation Theater, a local gem that offers a range of performances from classic plays to contemporary works.

Montpelier Farmers Market:

If you're in town on a Saturday,...