Orwell, Vermont, USA
1849 - Orwell

Addison Co. Some of the land in this township is broken and hilly ; the remaining part is very level, handsome land, and produces abundant crops of all kinds of grain.

The principal streams are East Creek, which rises in Benson and falls into Lake Champlain, on the north side of Mount Independence, and Lemonfair River, which here consists of two branches, running parallel with each other, along the eastern border, and uniting near the north line of the town. On these streams are several mill privileges, which are good during a part of the year. The waters, where the land is clayey, are slightly impregnated with Epsom salts, or the sulphate of magnesia. There is a spring on the lake shore, about 100 rods south from the north-west corner, the waters of which are strongly impregnated ; and from these salts have been manufactured in considerable quantities. In the compact limestone in this town are shells of various kinds. In the compact limestone on Mount Independence, flint is found. Specimens of blende, or the snlphuret of zinc, have also been found.

The width of the lake between Mt Independence and Ticonderoga is about eighty rods. A mile further south, at a place called Sholes Landing, it is only forty rods wide. The average width of the lake against Orwell is about one mile, and the widest place two miles. May 1-3, 1820, a piece of land in the town, of more than five acres area, sunk about forty feet, and slid into the lake. The impulse made upon the water was so great, as to raise the lake three feet at the opposite shore, a mile and a half distant. The ground was partly covered with small trees, some of which moved off erect, while others were thrown down. A part of Benson was annexed to Orwell in 1847.

In common with most of the towns on Lake Champlain, the scenery in Orwell and its vicinity is truly delightful.

Boundaries. North by Shoreham, east by Sudbury and a part of Whiting, south by Benson, and west by Lake Champlain, being, opposite to Ticonderoga, N. Y.

First Settlers. The first permanent settlement was made in 1783, by Amos Spafford, Shadrach Hathaway, Eber Murray, Ephraim and William Fisher, and John Charter, upon Mount Independence.

First Minister. Elder E. Phelps was settled over the Baptist Church, about the year 1789.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 3,702 bushels ; Indian corn, 6.456 bushels ; potatoes, 16,960 bushels; hay, 7,053 tons ; maple sugar, 5,525 pounds ; wool, 77,485 pounds.

Distances. Twenty miles north-west from Rutland, and forty-seven southwest from Montpelier.


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

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