COURT-HOUSES
From the first settlement of Montpelier till 1797 it was a town
in Orange county. It was then transferred to Caledonia county, and continued
in that organization until Jefferson county was formed, December 1, 1811,
with Montpelier the county seat, and such she continues to be. The name
of the county, however, was changed to Washington in 1814. The sessions
of the court were held in the Council Chamber of the State House until
1818, when a wooden building was erected by the county near the State House,
and occupied by the court until 1843. This building is now the residence
of the priest of the Catholic church.
The county erected its second court-house, of brick, on the corner
of State and Elm streets, in 1843, but it was burned during the session
of the court in November of that year. The third court-house, built of
brick near the site of the one burned, was completed in the season of 1844,
was enlarged in 1879, the wood work burned in 1880, and was reconstructed
in its present fine style, in a few months. It is commodious, and warmed
by steam, contains pleasant, spacious rooms for the use of the county clerk
and judge of the Probate Court; also: convenient jury rooms. To enlarge
the grounds and make the site of the court-house what it is, Montpelier
contributed $1,000.
The first jail was presented to the county by Thomas DAVIS, and
was the dwelling house of his father, Jacob DAVIS. The changes necessary
to adapt this house to its new purposes were made by the voluntary subscription
of the people of Montpelier. The present fine brick jail-house and jail
was erected in 1857, and at that date the county fully re-imbursed Mr.
DAVIS for his generous donation.
United States Court-House and Postoffice. -- The foundations of
this building go twelve feet below the surface of the ground, are laid
upon concrete placed upon the river stratum of gravel, and are of brick.
The basement walls are of granite, and the superstructure is to be of random
ashlar Sutherland Falls marble, with polished and carved trimmings. The
principal entrance for the public is to be at the porch tower in the southeast
corner. The entire lower floor, except the stairway to the upper story,
is to be given up to the postoffice. In the second story there is to be
a court-room, with offices for the judge, district attorney, and marshal.
The entire appropriation for the building is $160,000; $15,000 was paid
for the site, and the contract for the superstructure complete, except
the heating apparatus, has been awarded to Clinton SMITH, of Middlebury,
for $92,500. The interior finish is contracted to be of hard pine, but
an effort is being made to have it changed to white oak. The accompanying
cut is an exact representation of the structure when completed, and it
will be the finest looking building in the state.
REVOLUTIONARY
WAR & WAR OF 1812.
The history of Montpelier did not begin until after the close of
the Revolutionary war; consequently as a town it has no record in that
sanguinary struggle; but several of the pioneers of the town were Revolutionary
soldiers. Col. Jacob DAVIS, Ziba WOODWORTH, Eliakim D. PERSONS, Estis HATCH,
Luther KING, Aaron GRISWOLD, and Joseph WOODWORTH were of the number.
In the War of 1812 Vermont, as near as can be ascertained, raised
her quota of 3,000 "detached militia" in less than a month. In 1813 a quota
of four regiments was assigned to the state. The headquarters of two of
these were at Burlington; presumably Montpelier was represented in them.
The loyalty and patriotism of the "Montpelier Boys" was displayed on the
occasion of the invasion of Plattsburgh, in September, 1814. A company,
containing 118 officers and men, was raised at once, officered by Timothy
HUBBARD, captain; Isaac PUTNAM, first lieutenant; Joseph HOWES, second
lieutenant; and Stephen FOSTER, ensign; and were immediately marched to
the seat of war.
WAR
FOR THE UNION
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860; the occupation of Fort
Sumter by Major ANDERSON; and the final attack upon it, which was like
the shock of an earthquake to the Nation, -- all seems but a recent dream.
But it was a fearful dream. Years of blood and carnage followed, and eyes
are still red with weeping over not a few desolated homes. Montpelier saw
the Old Ship of State among the breakers, and her hardy, patriotic sons
hastened on board and did valiant and efficient service in aiding her safety
into port.
The total number of men furnished by Montpelier, who entered the
service, was 365. Ten furnished substitutes; ten paid comutations; 120
served their term of enlistment, or to the close of the war; eighty were
mustered out of the service previous to the close of the war, at the expiration
of their term of service; 14 were discharged for wounds received, and other
disabilities; twenty-one were killed in battle; eleven died of wounds received
in battle; seventeen died of diseases contracted in the service; two died
in rebel prisons; and twelve deserted.
Gazetteer
Of Washington County, Vt. 1783-1899,
Compiled
and Published by Hamilton Child,
Edited
By William Adams.
The Syracuse
Journal Company, Printers and Binders.
Syracuse,
N. Y.; April, 1889.
Pages 345
- 348
Transcribed
by Karima Allison, 2003
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