History of Strafford, Vermont, USA

Strafford, Vermont
Orange county. This town is watered by a branch of Ompomponoosuc river, and lies 30 miles S.S.E. from Montpelier, 30 N. from Windsor, and 11 S.S.E. from Chelsea. Population, 1830, 1,935.

The surface of the town is rough, but the soil is productive. It feeds a large number of sheep. The manufacturing interests of Strafford are quite extensive.

"In this township is an extensive bed of the sulphuret of iron, from which immense quantities of copperas are manufactured. The ore is situated on the east side of an elevation, and the bed is about half a mile in length, and from two to three rods in width. Its depth has not been ascertained. A company was incorporated by the name of the 'Vermont Mineral Factory Company,' in October, 1809, which immediately commenced the manufacture of copperas at this place [the "Elizabeth Mine"]. In 1822, 180 tons of copperas were manufactured here, and in 1823, 158 tons; since that time the manufacture has increased. The ore is...

Orange Co. Strafford contains two pleasant villages. The surface is uneven, but the soil is generally good. It is watered by a principal branch of Ompomponoosuc River, which affords several good mill privileges, on which are erected a number of mills and other machinery.

In the north-easterly part is a pond covering about 100 acres, called Podunk Pond, which is a place of considerable resort for amusement and angling.

In the south-east comer of Strafford is an extensive bed of the sulphuret of iron, from which immense quantities of copperas are manufactured.

Strafford Copperas Works. This establishment was formerly styled the Vermont Mineral Factory Company, but is now called the Vermont Copperas Company; the owners, residing chiefly in Boston, having united this with a mine they own in Shrewsbury. It is situated in the extreme southeastern comer of the town, on the east side of a hill, which contains an inexhaustible ridge of the ore, or, technically, sulphuret of iron. This ...