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History of Middlebury, Vermont, USA
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Middlebury, Addison, Vermont, USA
Middlebury, town (township), seat of Addison county, west-central Vermont, U.S. The area was chartered in 1761, along with Salisbury and New Haven, and named for its location midway between the other two. Settled in 1773 by Benjamin Smalley, it was temporarily abandoned (1778–83) because of Tory and Indian attacks. Middlebury College (noted for its summer Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference) was chartered in 1800, and the Congregational Church in the town was built in 1806–09. Vermont’s marble-quarrying industry began there in 1803, and light manufacturing (food processing, plastics, and clothing) has succeeded it. Skiing and summer tourism are economically important. The famous Morgan horses are bred at a nearby farm managed by the University of Vermont. Area 39 square miles (101 square km). Pop. (2000) 8,183; (2010) 6,588.
britannica.com
There is MUCH more to discover about Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Read on!
- Middlebury was chartered by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth on November 2, 1761. The name "Middlebury" came from its location between the towns of Salisbury and New Haven.
wikipedia.org - It was awarded to John Evarts and 62 others. The French and Indian Wars ended in 1763; the first settlers arrived in 1766. John Chipman was the first to clear his land, Lot Seven.
wikipedia.org - During the Revolutionary War, much of the town was burned in Carleton's Raid on November 6, 1778. After the war concluded in 1783, settlers returned to rebuild homes, clear forests and establish farms. The principal crops were grains and hay.
wikipedia.org - Middlebury College, one of the United States' elite liberal arts colleges, was founded in 1800.
wikipedia.org - 1814 - School for higher education of women was established by Emma Willard at Middlebury in 1814.
Emma Willard moved from Connecticut to Middlebury to head a women's school in 1807. Unhappy with the curriculum, she opened her own school to teach women topics such as math, geography, and science. When the state of Vermont refused to support her endeavor she moved the school to Troy, New York....Read MORE... 
1816 - Middlebury, Vermont, May 8. GREAT FIRE!
At 2 o'clock on Sunday morning last, the inhabitants of this Village were called to witness the most destructive fire with which we were ever visited. - It commenced in the kitchen of Mr. Campbell's Hotel, lately occupied, and still owned by Mr. Heart, and spread, with astonishing rapidity to the...Read MORE...- 1819 - Strange Lightning Strike
Middlebury, Vermont, Aug. 4.
On Monday the 25th ult. about 2 o'clock, P. M. the house of Mr. John Hunt, in Shoreham, was struck by lightning, and the chimney and the upper part of the house considerably injured. The flash struck a young lady, who was in the upper part of the house, and ran down...Read MORE... - 1823 - Alexander Twilight first African American to earn college degree in US at Middlebury
www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/ state-history-timeline/ vermont.html - Around 1830, Middlebury was the second-largest town in Vermont.
wikipedia.org - 1839 - Middlebury
Middlebury, Vermont
Addison county. Chief town. This is a large and flourishing town on both sides of Otter creek, 31 miles S.W. from Montpelier and 33 S.S.E. from Burlington. The fathers of this town were Col. John Chipman and the Hon. Gamaliel Painter, who came here and settled in 1773. The...Read MORE... - 1849 Middlebury
This is a large and flourishing town on both sides of Otter Creek. The surface of the town is generally level. Chipman's Hill, 439 feet above Otter Creek, is the highest elevation... At the falls on Otter Creek, the site of the flourishing village, are extensive manufacturing establishments; and...Read MORE... - The Rutland & Burlington Railroad first arrived on September 1, 1849.
wikipedia.org - 1852 - Fire at Middlebury, Vt.
MIDDLEBURY, Saturday, Feb. 21. - This morning, a fire broke out in the building occupied by James M. Slade & Co., dry goods dealers, and in the upper stories by Barber & Bushnell and Lindsay & Beckwith, lawyers, and also by the Register of Deeds and Probate. The stock of Messrs. Slade, and the...Read MORE... 
Addison House
Since its opening on April 16, 1827, the inn has changed its name twice (Vermont House 1827 – 52; Addison House 1852 – 1927; Middlebury Inn 1927 – present), been Victorianized and un-Victorianized (1851, 1865, 1897, 1927), and grown considerably...
midddigital.middlebury.edu
Postcard- 1854 - Middlebury
Middlebury, a beautiful post-village and seat of justice of Addison county, Vermont, is situated on both sides of Otter creek, at the falls, and on the Rutland and Burlington railroad, 35 miles S. S. E. from Burlington. It contains, besides the county buildings, 6 or 6 churches, a bank, and 2...Read MORE... - 1868 - Five thousand dollars insurance was paid last week by a Hartford Company on a single sheep, which died in Middlebury, Vermont.
genealogybank.com
Cincinnati Daily Gazette
Cincinnati, Ohio
November 5, 1868 - 1875 - HEAVY LOSSES.
Rutland, Vt., Sept. 11. - A fire in the Middlebury Paper Company's mill at Middlebury, Vt., destroyed last night the paper mill buildings, of the Middlebury Manufacturing Co., and 29 business houses, two halls, six dwelling houses with the highway bridge.
Total loss estimated at $100,000,...Read MORE... - 1892 - American Morgan Horse register published in Middlebury in 1892, establishing first American breed of horses.
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ vermont.html - 1893 - SHAKEN BY AN EARTHQUAKE
MILD SENSATION IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY REGION.
Considerable Alarm Felt in Montreal, Particularly in the Narrow Streets - Buildings Tremble and the Inmates Flee in Fright - Residents of Malone Greatly Excited - Reached Over Into New-Hampshire and Massachusetts.
BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 27.- A...Read MORE... - 1894 - KILLED BY EXPLOSIONS. Man in Vermont Has His Head Blown Off - Several Maimed.
MIDDLEBURY, Vt., July 4. - Perley Smith, son of Daniel Smith of Ripton, had his head blown off by a bursting cannon last night. He stood seventy feet away with a crowd. The others escaped injury. Smith was sixteen years old.
The New York Times
New York, New York
July 5, 1894 - 1895 - Middlebury
Middlebury, a handsome post-village, capital of Addison co., Vt., in Middlebury township on Otter Creek and on the Central Vermont Railroad, 35 miles S. of Burlington, and 33 miles N.N.W. of Rutland. It is the seat of Middlebury College (Congregational), which was organized about 1800 and has 9...Read MORE... 
Graded School
Postcard
Catholic Church, Middlebury, Vermont
Postcard- 1906
Middlebury, a banking post-village, capital of Addison co., Vt., in Middlebury township (town), on Otter Creek and on the Rutland R., 35 miles S. of Burlington. It is the seat of Middlebury College (Congregational), which was organized aobut 1800, and of the Sheldon Art Museum and Library....Read MORE... 
Battell Block, 1906
Postcard
Congregational Church
Postcard
Town Hall
Postcard
Main Street, Middlebury, Vt.
Postcard
Gymnasium, Middlebury College
Postcard
Railroad Bridge
Postcard
Soldiers Monument
Postcard
Middlebury Inn
Postcard
Merchants Row & Main Street
Postcard
Morgan Horse Farm
Postcard
Upper Campus, Middlebury College
Postcard
Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College
Postcard
Main Street and Congregational Church
Postcard
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
, been Victorianized and un-Victorianized (1851, 1865, 1897, 1927), and grown considerably...
midddigital.middlebury.edu)
Addison House
Since its opening on April 16, 1827, the inn has changed its name twice (Vermont House 1827 – 52; Addison House 1852 – 1927; Middlebury Inn 1927 – present), been Victorianized and un-Victorianized (1851, 1865, 1897, 1927), and grown considerably...
midddigital.middlebury.edu
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Catholic Church, Middlebury, Vermont
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Graded School
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Battell Block, 1906
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Congregational Church
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Town Hall
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Main Street, Middlebury, Vt.
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Gymnasium, Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Railroad Bridge
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Soldiers Monument
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Middlebury Inn
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Merchants Row & Main Street
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Morgan Horse Farm
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Upper Campus, Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Hepburn Hall, Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Postcard
Main Street and Congregational Church
History, News and Stories of Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Add History/News/Story-
Middlebury was chartered by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth on November 2, 1761. The name "Middlebury" came from its location between the towns of Salisbury and New Haven.
wikipedia.org
-
It was awarded to John Evarts and 62 others. The French and Indian Wars ended in 1763; the first settlers arrived in 1766. John Chipman was the first to clear his land, Lot Seven.
wikipedia.org
-
During the Revolutionary War, much of the town was burned in Carleton's Raid on November 6, 1778. After the war concluded in 1783, settlers returned to rebuild homes, clear forests and establish farms. The principal crops were grains and hay.
wikipedia.org
-
Middlebury College, one of the United States' elite liberal arts colleges, was founded in 1800.
wikipedia.org
-
1814 - School for higher education of women was established by Emma Willard at Middlebury in 1814.
Emma Willard moved from Connecticut to Middlebury to head a women's school in 1807. Unhappy with the curriculum, she opened her own school to teach women topics such as math, geography, and science. When the state of Vermont refused to support her endeavor she moved the school to Troy, New York.... Read MORE...
Read more about Emma HART
1816 - Middlebury, Vermont, May 8. GREAT FIRE!
At 2 o'clock on Sunday morning last, the inhabitants of this Village were called to witness the most destructive fire with which we were ever visited. - It commenced in the kitchen of Mr. Campbell's Hotel, lately occupied, and still owned by Mr. Heart, and spread, with astonishing rapidity to the... Read MORE...
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1819 - Strange Lightning Strike
Middlebury, Vermont, Aug. 4.
On Monday the 25th ult. about 2 o'clock, P. M. the house of Mr. John Hunt, in Shoreham, was struck by lightning, and the chimney and the upper part of the house considerably injured. The flash struck a young lady, who was in the upper part of the house, and ran down... Read MORE...
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1823 - Alexander Twilight first African American to earn college degree in US at Middlebury
www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/ state-history-timeline/ vermont.html
Read more about Alexander Lucius TWILIGHT
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Around 1830, Middlebury was the second-largest town in Vermont.
wikipedia.org
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1839 - Middlebury
Middlebury, Vermont
Addison county. Chief town. This is a large and flourishing town on both sides of Otter creek, 31 miles S.W. from Montpelier and 33 S.S.E. from Burlington. The fathers of this town were Col. John Chipman and the Hon. Gamaliel Painter, who came here and settled in 1773. The... Read MORE...
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1849 Middlebury
This is a large and flourishing town on both sides of Otter Creek. The surface of the town is generally level. Chipman's Hill, 439 feet above Otter Creek, is the highest elevation... At the falls on Otter Creek, the site of the flourishing village, are extensive manufacturing establishments; and... Read MORE...
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The Rutland & Burlington Railroad first arrived on September 1, 1849.
wikipedia.org
-
1852 - Fire at Middlebury, Vt.
MIDDLEBURY, Saturday, Feb. 21. - This morning, a fire broke out in the building occupied by James M. Slade & Co., dry goods dealers, and in the upper stories by Barber & Bushnell and Lindsay & Beckwith, lawyers, and also by the Register of Deeds and Probate. The stock of Messrs. Slade, and the... Read MORE...
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1854 - Middlebury
Middlebury, a beautiful post-village and seat of justice of Addison county, Vermont, is situated on both sides of Otter creek, at the falls, and on the Rutland and Burlington railroad, 35 miles S. S. E. from Burlington. It contains, besides the county buildings, 6 or 6 churches, a bank, and 2... Read MORE...
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1868 - Five thousand dollars insurance was paid last week by a Hartford Company on a single sheep, which died in Middlebury, Vermont.
genealogybank.com
Cincinnati Daily Gazette
Cincinnati, Ohio
November 5, 1868
-
1875 - HEAVY LOSSES.
Rutland, Vt., Sept. 11. - A fire in the Middlebury Paper Company's mill at Middlebury, Vt., destroyed last night the paper mill buildings, of the Middlebury Manufacturing Co., and 29 business houses, two halls, six dwelling houses with the highway bridge.
Total loss estimated at $100,000,... Read MORE...
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1892 - American Morgan Horse register published in Middlebury in 1892, establishing first American breed of horses.
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ vermont.html
-
1893 - SHAKEN BY AN EARTHQUAKE
MILD SENSATION IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY REGION.
Considerable Alarm Felt in Montreal, Particularly in the Narrow Streets - Buildings Tremble and the Inmates Flee in Fright - Residents of Malone Greatly Excited - Reached Over Into New-Hampshire and Massachusetts.
BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 27.- A... Read MORE...
-
1894 - KILLED BY EXPLOSIONS. Man in Vermont Has His Head Blown Off - Several Maimed.
MIDDLEBURY, Vt., July 4. - Perley Smith, son of Daniel Smith of Ripton, had his head blown off by a bursting cannon last night. He stood seventy feet away with a crowd. The others escaped injury. Smith was sixteen years old.
The New York Times
New York, New York
July 5, 1894
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1895 - Middlebury
Middlebury, a handsome post-village, capital of Addison co., Vt., in Middlebury township on Otter Creek and on the Central Vermont Railroad, 35 miles S. of Burlington, and 33 miles N.N.W. of Rutland. It is the seat of Middlebury College (Congregational), which was organized about 1800 and has 9... Read MORE...
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1906
Middlebury, a banking post-village, capital of Addison co., Vt., in Middlebury township (town), on Otter Creek and on the Rutland R., 35 miles S. of Burlington. It is the seat of Middlebury College (Congregational), which was organized aobut 1800, and of the Sheldon Art Museum and Library.... Read MORE...
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Middlebury, Vermont, USA Genealogy
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