Clarendon, Vermont, USA (East, West, North) (Chippenhook) (Clarendon Springs)
1849 - Clarendon

Rutland Co. Otter Creek runs through this town from south to north, a little east of the centre, and receives here Mill River and Cold River from the east, which affords numerous sites for Mills and other machinery. Mill River rises in Mount Holly, runs nearly on the line between this town and Wallingford, receiving from the latter the waters of a considerable pond, crosses the south-west comer of Shrewsbury, and falls into Otter Creek near the south part of Clarendon. Cold River rises in Parkerstown. crosses the north-west corner of Shrewsbury, and enters Otter Creek near the j north part of Clarendon. Furnace Brook, called also Little West River, rises from a small pond in the south part of Tinmouth, and runs north, parallel to Otter Creek, through the west part of the town, and falls into Otter Creek near the Centre of Rutland. Near the north line of Clarendon it receives Ira Brook, from Ira. Near Furnace Brook are situated Clarendon Springs.

The east part of the town borders on the Green Mountains, but the principal elevations are the range of hills between Otter Creek and Furnace Brook, and between the latter and Ira Brook, on the west line of the town. The alluvial flats on Otter Creek are from half to a mile wide through the town, and are very productive. The uplands are a gravelly loam. Very good marble is found here, and is wrought to some extent. There are two small villages, one in the eastern and the other in the western part.

Clarendon Springs. These springs are situated in a picturesque and beautiful region, seven miles south-west from Rutland, and have, in their immediate vicinity, good accommodations for 500 visitors. The waters are found to be highly efficacious in affections of the liver, dyspepsia, urinary, and all cutaneous complaints, rheumatism, inveterate sore eyes, and many others, and they promise fair to go on increasing in notoriety and usefulness. These waters differ in their composition from any heretofore known, but resemble most nearly the German Spa water. For their curative properties they are believed to be indebted wholly to the gases they contain.

Clarendon Cave. This cave is situated on the south-easterly side of a mountain in the westerly part of that town. The descent into it is through a passage two and a half feet in diameter and thirty-one feet in length, and which makes an angle of 35 or 40° with the horizon. It then opens into a room twenty feet long, twelve and a half wide, and eighteen or twenty feet high. The floor, sides, and roof of this room are all of solid rock, but very rough and uneven. From the north part of this room is a passage about three feet in diameter and twenty-four feet ill length, but very rough and irregular, which leads to another room twenty feet wide, thirty feet long, and eighteen feet high. This room, being situated much lower than the first, is usually filled with water in the spring of the year, and water stands in the lowest part of it at all seasons.

Boundaries. North by Rutland, east by Shrewsbury, south by Tinmouth and Wallingford, and west by Ira.

First Settlers. The settlement was commenced in 1768, by Elkanah Cook, who was joined the same year by Randal Rice, Benjamin Johns, and others. The first settlers were mostly from Rhode Island, and purchased their lands of Colonel Lideus, who claimed them under a title derived from the Indians. This title was, however, never confirmed by either of the colonial governments, and the diversity of claimants occasioned much litigation, which continued till 1785, when the legislature passed what was called the quieting act. By it the settlers were put in peaceable possession of their land, and the New Hampshire title to the lands not settled was confirmed.

First Ministers. Elder Isaac Beals, of the Baptist order, was the first settled minister. The Congregational Church was gathered here February, 1822, by the Rev. Henry Hunter, who was installed over the same on the 6th of November following, and continued six years.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 1,663 bushels ; Indian com, 10,936 bushels ; potatoes, 44,601 bushels; hay, 5,415 tons ; maple sugar, 24,950 pounds ; wool, 4,980 pounds.

Distances. Fifty-five miles south west from Montpelier, and seven south from Rutland.

The great Southern Railroad, between Boston and Burlington, through this town.

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

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