History of Middlebury, Vermont, USA

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.

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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.

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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.

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Middlebury College, one of the United States' elite liberal arts colleges, was founded in 1800.

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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. vermonthistory.org
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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 body of the house, on the one hand, and the outhouses and barns on the other, until the whole presented one entire sheet of flame. The wind blowing fresh from the southeast, very soon communicated the flames to the adjoining dwelling house of Samuel Mattocks, Esq. from which they extended to the large building containing the store of Messrs. Hagar & Ripley, the office of B. Parks, Esq. the printing office of Timothy C. Strong, the goldsmith's shop of Edward Eells, together with a tailor's and a shoemaker's shop, and a spacious lodge room; extending back, at the same time to two barns belonging to Mr. Mattocks, and one of Mrs. Miller.

It is a fact, disgraceful to our village, that after... 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 to her feet; and in its course, melted a string of gold beads which she had around her neck, burst her stockings and shoe, and set the lining of her shoe on fire. She was taken up perfectly senseless, in which situation she remained about ten hours, before she recovered. A Mrs. Cook, who was on a visit at the house, and who was standing near the door, with an infant in her arms, and another small child by her side, who was also knocked down, but was not materially injured - the children escaped unhurt.
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Berks and Schuylkill Journal
Pennsylvania
August 14, 1819

1823 - Alexander Twilight first African American to earn college degree in US at Middlebury

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Read more about Alexander Lucius TWILIGHT

Around 1830, Middlebury was the second-largest town in Vermont.

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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 settlement advanced but slowly until after the revolutionary war; it then began to increase and is now one of the most important towns in the state. In 1791 it became the shire town of the county, and in 1800 Middlebury college was founded. The surface of the town is generally level. Chipman's hill, 439 feet above Otter creek, is the highest elevation. The soil is fertile and productive, and furnishes large quantities of wool, beef, pork, butter and cheese. The town is admirably watered by Otter creek and Middlebury river. At the falls on Otter creek, the site of a flourishing village, are extensive manufacturing establishments; and large quantities of white and variegated marble, with which the ... Read MORE...

1849 Middlebury
Addison Co. Chief town. 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.

The soil is fertile and productive, and furnishes large quantities of wool, beef, pork, butter, and cheese. The town is admirably watered by Otter Creek and Middlebury River At the falls on Otter Creek, the site of the flourishing village, are extensive manufacturing establishments; and large quantities of white and variegated marble, with which the town abounds, are sawed and polished for various uses and transported to market. Middlebury is a very beautiful town, and the mart of a large inland trade.

Nearly on the line between this township and Salisbury, is a bed of the sulphuret of iron, connected with the carbonate of lime. It is thought to exist in large quantities and has a powerful effect upon the magnetic needle.

Middlebury is a delightful place of residence, and... Read MORE...

The Rutland & Burlington Railroad first arrived on September 1, 1849.

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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 books and papers of the other tenants, were all destroyed. Loss not known. Building insured for $3,500.
The New York Times
New York, New York
February 23, 1852

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 newspaper offices. A white and variegated marble of the finest quality, obtained from a quarry near the village, is wrought and exported in large quantities. Middlebury is one of the most important manufacturing towns in the state, and is the seat of Middlebury College, founded in 1800. The principal edifice is of stone, 106 feet by 40, and four stories high. Population of the township, 3517.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1868 - Five thousand dollars insurance was paid last week by a Hartford Company on a single sheep, which died in Middlebury, Vermont.

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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, insurance $82,000.
Sedalia Daily Democrat
Sedalia, Missouri
September 12, 1875

1892 - American Morgan Horse register published in Middlebury in 1892, establishing first American breed of horses.

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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 severe earthquake shock shook the buildings throughout the city at 11:53 o'clock this forenoon. The duration of the shock was about fifteen seconds. It was accompanied by a low rumbling noise. Telegrams and telephone messages from surrounding towns report the shock as having occurred simultaneously throughout Western Vermont. Eastern New-York, and most of the Providence of Quebec and a part of Ontario...

MIDDLEBURY, Vt., Nov. 27. - Quite a strong earthquake shock was felt here at 11:50 o'clock this forenoon, making dishes rattle and throwing down stovepipes...
The New York Times
New York, New York
November 28, 1893

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 instructors, about 50 students, and a library of 12,500 volumes. Middlebury contains 4 churches, a national bank, 2 newspaper offices, a foundry, and 2 flour mills, and has manufactures of cotton, wool, sash, blinds, &c. Here is a quarry of fine white or variegated marble. Pop. in 1890, 1762; of the township, 2793.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

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. Middlebury has a foundry, flour-mills, manufactures of sash, blinds, lime, wood-pulp, lumber, etc., and marble-works. Pop. in 1900, 1897; of the town, 3045.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Middlebury:
Middlebury College: Start your visit with a tour of Middlebury College, a prestigious liberal arts institution founded in 1800. The campus is known for its beautiful architecture, including the iconic Old Chapel, and hosts various cultural events and lectures.

Shelburne Museum: Although not in Middlebury, the Shelburne Museum is just a short drive away and well worth the visit. This unique museum showcases American history through a collection of 39 historic buildings and a vast array of art and artifacts.

Vermont Folklife Center: Learn about the rich cultural heritage of Vermont at the Vermont Folklife Center. They have exhibitions, workshops, and events that celebrate the state's traditions and diverse communities.

Vermont Soap Factory: If you're interested in eco-friendly products, take a tour of the Vermont Soap Factory. They produce organic and natural soaps and cleaning products. You might even get to see the soap-making process in action.

Vermont Coffee Company:... Read MORE...