Today In Brattleboro History

Historic events for Jan 13

1819 McGee Ordained

Ordination of Jonathan McGee; the first performed here. Rev. McGee becomes pastor of Church on the Common.

1899 Y.M.C.A. To Vote On Closing

At an adjourned meeting of the directors of the Young Men’s Christian association on Saturday evening last it was voted after full discussion to recommend to the association that the rooms be closed and its affairs wound up unless the public contribute financial aid sufficient to do the work which ought to be done during the coming year. A meeting will be called Monday evening, January 24, to decide the question.

1899 Post Office Increase Business Again

Each succeeding year shows an increase in the business of the Brattleboro post office. The receipts for the year 1898 were the largest in the history of the office, and by another year they will undoubtedly reach the $20,000 mark. The salary of the office will then be increased slightly.

1899 Ninety-Three Births in 1898

The doctors’ returns to the town clerk show that during the year 1898 there were 93 births and 116 deaths in Brattleboro. There were also 64 marriages.

1899 Electric Hosiery Company Getting Started

The machines and equipments for the Electric Hosiery company have nearly all been put in place, and the sample goods are now being turned out. About 15 hands will be employed at first but this number will no doubt be increased in a very short time.

1893 Funeral For Sam, The Estey’s Dog

A funeral was held for Sam, the big mastiff which has long held the post of defender in Gen. Estey’s family, with services at the grave, over which friends and neighbors each recited an original verse as a last tribute to the old dog’s memory.

1893 Centre Church Sunday School Signs Temperance Pledge

A pledge to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors for the year 1893 is being largely signed by members of the Centre Church Sunday school.

1893 Frost & White Cutting ice For Private Residences

The Frost & White company have finished cutting ice on their ponds and supplies are now being secured for private houses.

1893 Water Main Frozen

The water in the six-inch main running from West Brattleboro to the Crowell reservoir is frozen. Water was running Sunday but stopped Monday. An effort will be made to thaw out the main. The situation is serious, and there would be great danger in case of a severe fire.

1893 Unconfined Joy Expected At Annual Military Ball

Joy will be unconfined Tuesday evening, when the annual military ball will be given at town hall. This ball is looked forward to as a feature of the social winter life of Brattleboro, and preparations are being made to more than maintain the high reputation of the past.

1888 Admirable Hungarian Gypsy Quartet, and Bobolink Impression

The concert given Wednesday evening by the Kanya Geza’s Hungarian Gypsy Quartet was one of great merit. The music was of the highest order, and its execution spirited and in every way admirable. Miss Florence’s recitations were evidently well appreciated, her imitation of the bobolink being especially good.

1888 Heavy Railroad Freight Business

Railroad freight business is remarkably heavy for the season. It is with great difficulty that the Brattleboro yard is kept clear and in working order.

1888 Use The Surplus For A Government Building

Brattleboro needs and would like a government building, as Mr. Childs suggests, and there is no good reason why a fraction of the troublesome “surplus” should not be planted here.

1882 Telephone System Approaches 100 Subscribers

The Vermont Asylum, E.G. Frost, and Gen. W.W. Lynde at his office in Crosby block, are subscribers to the telephone exchange since Jan 1st. As soon as the subscribers number 100 the company will put in a night operator, and it will then be a very simple matter to utilize the telephone system for fire alarm purposes.

1882 Snow Order Placed With Weather Clerk

More beautiful snow this morning. We will take six to ten inches of it this time, if you please, Mr. Weather Clerk, and have it lie still.

1882 Fuller Named President of Brattleboro Sewing Machine Company

Col. L.K. Fuller has been elected president of the Brattleboro Sewing Machine Company.

1871 Praying For Snow

The middle of January approaches, and still no sleighing. Heartily as our farmers and merchants are praying for snow, perhaps the worst sufferers are the landlords of our village - all three of our hotels having had their supply of water cut off by the freezing of the aqueducts. The frost is said to have penetrated our streets to a depth of about two feet.

1871 287 Baptists Attend Sunday School

Two hundred and eighty-seven members were present at the Baptist Sunday school on the first day of the year. We doubt whether a greater number were ever present at an ordinary session of any school in Brattleboro.

1871 New Whetstone Bridge For Estey Workers

A foot bridge is being built over the Whetstone brook some distance below the Birge street bridge, for the accommodation of Estey’s workmen.

1865 Help Hines Keep Path Open

Wanted. A few travelers are wanted on the new street from Chase to High street, running under the hill, and built by Isaac Hines, to keep a path open.

1865 Farmers Get Good Prices For Wood

The farmers are bringing into this village “lots” of good wood, and are getting good prices for it.

1843 Small Connecticut River Bridge Washed Away

The small Bridge across a branch of the Connecticut River, over which the travel passed which enters our Village from the East, was carried off by the freshet on Tuesday of this week. The ice damming up against the large bridge, forced the water and ice through this eastern branch in such quantities and with such force, as to undermine and tear away the western abutment of this small bridge.