History of Barre, Vermont, USA

1791 - Population of Barre, Vermont - 76

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward, Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1849

1800 - Population of Barre, Vermont - 919

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward, Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1849

1810 - Population of Barre, Vermont - 1,669

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward, Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1849

1820 - Population of Barre, Vermont - 1,955

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

1824 - Barre
BARRE, a post town in the southeast part of Washington county, lies in lat. 44° 11′ and long 4° 27′, and contains 31 square miles, or 19,900 acres. It is bounded north by Montpelier and Plainfield, east by Orange, south by Williamstown and west by Berlin, and lies about 50 miles northwesterly from Windsor. This township was granted Nov. 6, 1780, to William Williams and his associates, and chartered by the name of Wildersburgh. It retained this name till the year 1793, when it was altered, by act of the Legislature, to that of Barre. In 1788, Samuel Rogers and John Goldsborough, one from Bradford, the other from Hartland, Vt. with their families, moved into this town and began converting the wilderness into farms. The next year a number of other families came in, and from this time the town settled rapidly by emigrants from Worcester county, Mass. and from New Hampshire and Connecticut. The town was organized, March 11, 1793, and Josehp Dwight was first town clerk. It was first... Read MORE...

1830 - Population of Barre, Vermont - 2,012

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward, Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1849

1839 - Barre
Barre, Vermont
A pleasant and flourishing town in Washington county, six miles S. of Montpelier, and 48 N. by W. of Windsor. This is considered one of the best farming towns in the state. Large quatities of pot and pearl ashes, beef, pork, butter, and cheese, are annually taken from this place to Boston market. About 7,000 sheep are kept here. It is well watered by Stevens' and Jail, branches of Onion river, which afford good mill privileges. Inexhaustible quantites of granite are found here, of the excellent quality with which the capitol at Montpelier is built. This is a great thoroughfare for travellers, particularly for large teams from the north to Boston, by the Gulf road. A large number of these noted six and eight horse teams are owned here. Barre was first settled in 1788. Present population, about 2,500.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1840 - Population of Barre, Vermont - 2,126

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

1849 Barre
Washington Co. Barre is a pleasant and flourishing town. It is considered one of the best farming towns in the State. Large quantities of pot and pearl ashes, beef, pork, butter, and cheese, are annually taken from this place to Boston market. It is well watered by Stevens' and Jail branches of Winose River, which afford good mill privileges. Inexhaustible quantities of granite are found here, of the excellent quality with which the capitol at Montpelier is built.

Boundaries. North by Montpelier and Plainfield, east by Orange, south by Williamstown, and west by Berlin.

First Settlers. This township was granted November 6, 1780, to William Williams and his associates, and chartered by the name of Wildersburgh. This name being unpopular with the inhabitants of the town, in the year I 1793, a town meeting was called, to be holden at the house of Calvin Smith, for the purpose of agreeing on some other name, to be presented to the legislature for their sanction and approval. The... Read MORE...

1854 - Barre
Barre, a post-township of Washing ton county, Vermont, 6 miles S. by E. from Montpelier, is well watered by two branches of the Onion river, which affords good mill privileges. The soil is perhaps the best in the state. The township contains a quarry of superior granite, from which the stone used in building the state house was taken. Population, 1835.
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.

1889 - A DAY IN BARRE. Swanton Business Men Visit that Booming Town.
A number of business men from Swanton, mostly members of the local board of trade, took an outing yesterday for the puropse of sizing up the only town in Vermont that ever really boomed in true Western style. The returned home at night loaded with specimens of granite and pretty well satisfied that there are no flies on the granite town and nary a deserted farm in that vicinity. Through the courtesy of the Central road the party had a special train out of Swanton at 6.15, connecting with the regular at St. Albans. In the party was E. P. Adams, president of the board of trade, R. O. Sturtevant, H. F. Martin, B. B. Blake, 2nd, C. E. Hall, C. R. Hogle, J. P. Jewett, Dr. Leach, Henry Samson, G. w. Squier, O. S. Rixford and T. M. Tobin.

Arring at Barre the visitors were met by J. W. Connell,a gent for the Central, and F. W. Stnyan, acting superintendent of the Barre railroad. Under the guidance of these gentlemen the party visited the various cutting sheds, and saw granint in course of... Read MORE...

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.

BARRE, Vt., Nov. 27. - Residents of this city were startled this noon by a rumbling sound, which at first appeared to be the sound of a moving train, but proved to be an earthquake. Buildings shook, dishes rattled, and doors flew open. Reports indicate that the shock was felt in many parts of... Read MORE...

1895 - Barre
Barre, a post-village of Washington co, Vt., in Barre township, on the Barre Branch of the Central Vermont Railroad, 5 or 6 miles S.E. of Montpelier, and on a branch of the Winooski River. It contains 3 churches, a national bank, the Barre Academy, a school called Goddard Seminary, and an iron-foundry. Barre township has a quarry of good granite, and manufactures of forks, ploughs, woollen goods, ice-tools, sash, &c. Pop. 1882.
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

1895 - Flood
BARRE, Vt., April 14. - For the past thirty-six hours it has been raining steadily. The river had lowered much from Tuesday's freshet, but early this morning it began to overflow its banks. By noon nearly every granite shed was surrounded by a small lake. In nearly every basement on the riverside on Main Street the water is from 1 to 3 feet deep, and much stock has been damaged. Steam pumps are kept at work throwing water from the cellars.

The side tracks of the Central and Wells River Railroads are submerged, and engines are hauling cars from the water. The Jail branch overflowed the Green Mountain Trotting Park. Several dwellings are surrounded by water, and a swift current is running through the Granite River. Large carloads of granite have been put on the bridge of the Barre Railroad to prevent the structure being carried down stream. The oldest inhabitants say that the water is high to-night than it has been since the great flood of 1869, and it is now raining hard.
The New York Times
New York, New York
April 15, 1895

1900 - BARRE BARBER SHOP BLOWS UP. Explosion of a Hot Water Heater Wrecks a Building and Knocks Man Senseless.
(Special to the Messenger.)
BARRE, Feb. 26. - A hot water heater exploded this morning in the barber shop of William Miers on Main street, blowing out the front of the shop and sending several pieces of the heater through the walls into the adjoining stores.

Fred Beckman, one of the three barbers in the shop at the time, was knocked senseless and at noon had not recovered consciousness. He was hurt about the head but it is not yet known how seriously.
St. Albans Daily Messenger
St. Albans, Vermont
February 26, 1900

1902 - THE FLOOR SAGGED. Barre Quarrymen Organize a Weighty Organization.
Barre, March 10. - A mass meeting of the granite quarrymen was held in the town hall of Barre town, Saturday evening for the purpose of organizing a quarrymen's union, the object being to demand a day of eight hours with nine hours' pay.

The officers elected were, president, G. M. McLeod; vice-president, Albert Davis; financial secretary, Norman G. McDonald; recording secretary, Andrew J. Welch; treasurer, Joseph Clark.

There was an attendance of 600 and during the progress of the meeting the floor sank several feet, making a loud report. Several men jumped fromt he windows but no one was injured.
St Albans Messenger
St Albans, Vermont
March 13, 1902

1903 - BIG FIRE IN BARRE, VT.
Two Business Blocks Destroyed and the Loss Is Nearly $100,000.

BARRE, VT., Feb. 21. - A fire in the business section of this city on the Main Street early to-day destroyed nearly $100,000 worth of property. It started in the basement of the new Currier Block, and the tenants on the third floor of the building barely escaped. With the thermometer standing at 16 degrees below zero and the water freezing on the firemen and even to the burning building, the department was prevented from doing effective work.

As the flames spread it was decided to call on Montpelier for assistance, and by the aid given by the men from that city the flames were kept from going beyond the Currier Block, which was of brick, and the adjoining Sheplee Block of wood. These buildings were destroyed. All losses are partly covered by insurance.
The New York Times
New York, New York
February 22, 1903

1906 - Barre Library
The city of Barre is showing a commendable anxiety that her new library building should be built of granite. The name Barre granite is known the world over to construct such a building of any other material would seem out of place in Barre. There is little hope of the taxpayers doing anything by means of an extra levy and now the architect is shaving the plans.
Argus and Patriot
Montpelier, Vermont
May 9, 1906

1909 - First Boy Scout Club was organized in Barre in 1909 by William F. Milne, a Scottish immigrant.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ vermont.html

1912 - Engine Falls from Bridge, One Dead.
BARRE, Vt., June 15. - A Central Vermont Railroad engine, running light, toppled over as it was crossing a bridge this afternoon, landing bottom up in the street, fifteen feet below. BENJAMIN WILLIAMS, aged 21, of Montpelier, fireman of the engine, was so badly scalded that he died to-night at a local hospital; JAMES SMITH, 28, a brakeman, had his back broken and is not expected to recover, and Joseph Derry, the engineer, received scalp wounds.
The New York Times
New York, New York
June 16, 1912

1916
Barre, a banking city of Washington co., Vt., on the Central Vermont and other railroads, 6 miles SE. of Montpelier, and on a branch of the Winooski River. It has the Goddard Seminary and manufactures of foundry-products, stone-cutters' tools, etc. Pop. in 1900, 8448. Barre town ship (town), which formerly included Barre, has some of the largest granite-quarries in the United States. Pop. in 1900, 3346.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Barre:
Rock of Ages Granite Quarry:

Start your visit with a trip to the Rock of Ages Quarry. It's one of the world's largest deep-hole dimension granite quarries. You can take guided tours to see the impressive granite formations and learn about the quarrying process.

Vermont History Center:

Dive into the history of Vermont at the Vermont History Center. It's a great place to learn about the state's past, with exhibits and artifacts that showcase the cultural heritage of Vermont.

Thunder Road SpeedBowl:

If you're a fan of racing, Thunder Road SpeedBowl is the place to be. Catch some high-octane racing action at this renowned quarter-mile oval track.

Barre Opera House:

Check out a performance at the Barre Opera House. This historic venue hosts concerts, plays, and other live performances. It's a beautifully restored building with a lot of character.

Studio Place Arts:

For art enthusiasts, Studio Place Arts is a must-visit. This community-based visual arts center... Read MORE...