A Chronology of Events, Big and Small, in the History of Stowe
Stowe Village c. 1875 |
The following time line has been taken from the current Stowe Town Plan which may be viewed on this website or by calling the Planning Office (802)253-6130. The Stowe Historical Society Museum is located in the Akeley Memorial Buildling. Any questions regarding Stowe's history and Museum hours of operation, may be directed to Museum Director Barbara Baraw at (802)253-8428. Special thanks to the Stowe Historical Society for the use of their photographs on our website. 1763 Charter granted by Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire to 64 “Proprietors,” none of whom settled in Stowe (June 8, 1763); original area 36 square miles. 1791 Vermont becomes the 14th state. 1794 First settlement; Oliver Luce arrived from Hartland, VT (April 16, 1794) 1796 First saw and grist mill built at the falls of the Little River in Mill Village 1797 First town meeting held at house of Lauden Chase 1798 The Old Yard or Center Cemetery established on land donated by the Town Clerk following the drowning of his son; oldest in town 1800 First school house erected on land deeded by Oliver Luce in the Upper Village - First established religious group (Methodist); first recorded church service 1811 Steve Wright House built; oldest in Village - First tavern erected in the Center Village; expanded to an inn in 1814. 1817 First school established in what became Stowe Village 1818 Old Town Hall built by public subscription on the site of the present Stowe Community Church, later moved to its present location; oldest public building in Stowe in continuous public service (now the old fire station and Village Water & Light Office) -First Church built 1832 Stowe-Morrisville Road/Route 100 (LaPorte Rd.) opened to traffic 1833 Green Mountain Inn built (as a dwelling); later expanded into a hotel 1838 “e” added to “Stow” in warned Town Meeting 1840 Most of the Town of Mansfield added to Stowe 1849 Rail service established in Waterbury 1855 Part of the Town of Sterling added to Stowe
-McMahon House (Bashaw home) built; stop on the Underground Railroad 1856 Toll Road up Mt. Mansfield (to the Half-way House) built with private funds; a trail, used by saddle horses went from there to the summit 1858 Summit House built under the nose of Mt. Mansfield 1860 Planked, toll road established between Waterbury Center and Stowe (or 1850?) -Road to Smugglers Notch was run up to the Big Spring 1861 District #6 Village School (Stowe High School) constructed 1863 Mount Mansfield Hotel (the “Big Hotel”) constructed “in the heart of the Green Mountains;” three and one-half stories, 300 feet long with two rear wings; accommodated 450 guests, with livery for 200 horses; noted as the “most pretentious” hotel in Stowe (History, p. 11) -Stowe Community Church built for $12,000; most photographed building in town 1866 Stowe Free Library established 1870 Mt. Mansfield Toll Road completed to the summit (or 1868?) 1888 Mt. Mansfield Creamery began operation (first in Lamoille County) 1889 Fire; destroyed the Mount Mansfield Hotel 1893 Neighborhood school districts consolidated into single town school district 1894 Carriage Road to Smugglers Notch completed 1896 Stowe Village incorporated 1897 Mt. Mansfield Electric Railroad began daily service between Waterbury and Stowe; Depot Building constructed as Stowe terminal; Town bonded for $40,000 toward the cost of building the railroad “...which paid well and was a vital factor in the life of Stowe.” (History, p. 10). Carried passengers and freight. 1899 Mansfield Mountain Grange established
The Summit House 1857-1957 |
1900 Stowe High School organized; first graduating class in 1901 -Roman Catholic mission established in Stowe; services held in the basement of the Memorial Building 1902 Akeley Memorial Building built, as a soldier’s memorial; in the past it housed the post office, a jail, the Union Bank and the Stowe Free Library 1904 Municipal water system established to serve village through the purchase of the Mount Mansfield Hotel system, springs, and the construction of a reservoir on Brush Hill, pipes and hydrants to serve the village area 1909 Dairy Herd Improvement Association formed 1911 Village of Stowe Electric Light & Power System established -Water mains constructed from Edson Hill springs to Village, Lower Village -Stowe Civic Club established 1913 Skiing first introduced by Swedish families living in Stowe 1921 First Winter Carnival held; sponsored by the Stowe Civic Club; ski jump, toboggan slide and skating rink built; brought over 2,000 participants and spectators (discontinued during WWII) 1925 Commercial milk production noted 1930 Exporting of milk to out-of-state markets began 1931 Village Charter amended for construction of an electric plant, and service area expansion outside of village 1932 Mt. Mansfield Electric Railroad service discontinued. -Cement highway built by state through Stowe (Route 100) 1933 First ski trails cut (CCC project) 1934 Municipal well developed to supply water system (abandoned in 1994) 1940 First single chair lift constructed, ushering in commercial skiing 1944 Covered Bridge on the West Branch (built in 1848) was rebuilt with no cover “in deference to changing modes of transportation” 1949 Mt. Mansfield Company established (or 1951?) 1952 West Branch Meeting House converted to ski lodge; the Rocky River Lodge is the oldest still in operation (as of 1983) 1954 Stowe Elementary School built; last one room schools closed 1956 Stowe Historical Society founded 1957 Summit House closed (and has since been torn down)
1897 Mt. Mansfield Electric Railroad - daily service between Waterbury & Stowe |
1963 Stowe-Morrisville Airport established (first state-owned airport constructed in state) 1973 Stowe Middle-Senior High School Built on Barrows Road 1974 Jackson Ice Arena completed; used year-round 1975 Winter Carnival resurrected -Stowe Rescue Squad started Contract with Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department for emergency dispatch services 1978 Stowe Village Historic District
nominated to National Register 1979 Town Garage constructed (mechanic’s bay to be completed in 1999) 1980 Stowe’s first municipal wastewater treatment plan came on line, serving primarily the Village (formerly direct system discharge into the Little River) -Fire at Trapp Family Lodge destroyed main building; replaced by current lodge 1981 former Stowe High School renovated to house the Helen Day Library and Art Center 1982 Fire District #1 established (Mountain Rd.) -Art exhibitions began at the Helen Day Art Center 1984 Stowe Recreation Path opened
Moscow General Store & Post Office c. 1900 |
1987 Stowe Land Trust founded -Renovation of public safety buildings (Fire/Rescue, Police) on Route 100 ($688,000 construction project -Fire District #2 established (purchase of Goldbrook systems) 1989 Wastewater allocation ordinance adopted -Recycling program initiated (became mandatory in 1994) -Stowe Recreation Path completed to Top Notch Meadow -Elementary school playground built -Core Village sidewalks replaced 1990 Mayo Farm purchased by the town for conservation, recreation and community-related purposes; includes a 35 acre special events field 1992 Stowe Trolley System established -Recycling building constructed -Stowe Elementary School renovated and expanded Wing added to Stowe Middle-Senior High School 1993 Second municipal well (Village Green Well) purchased for use during peak demand -Fire District #4 established (Glenbook area of Mansfield View properties) -Mayo Connector Road constructed 1994 Library building expanded 1995 Voter approval for expansion of wastewater treatment facility, service areas (now in permitting) -New municipal well developed at Edson Hill -Fire District #3 established (Sylvan Park Loop), system overhaul in 1997 1996 Quiet Path completed 1997 Sewer line extended to Sylvan Park area of Lower Village -Mayo Connector Road paved 1998 Sewer line extended up Mountain Road to Cottage Club Road -Phase I of water system expansion approved by voters, to be completed in 1999 -Moscow Ball Fields acquired -Copley Woodlands Condominiums opened 1999 Phase I of water system to Edson Hill Rd complete -Act 250 approval for sewer plant expansion 2000 Revised Health & Sanitation Ordinance adopted -Animal Control Ordinance adopted -Moscow Stump Dump closed -Voters at Town Meeting approve $300,000 towards purchase of Bingham's Falls by Stowe Land Trust; $150,000 in repairs to Village Water & Light Building 2001 Simmons Brook culvert construction complete -Construction begins on $15 million dollar expansion of wastewater treatment plant and Mountain Road sewer line -Phase 3 of waterline from Edson Hill Road to Topnotch complete -Completion of new water treatment plant on Cape Cod Road Notes: By 1800 most of the land in Stowe had been sold; population 316. The town grew rapidly over the next 50 years. By 1855 Stowe, with the addition of land from the Towns of Mansfield and Sterling, had become the largest town (in area) in the state. Currently 44,808 acres (72.2 square miles).. Stowe was originally part of Chittenden County; later it became part of Washington County, and finally Lamoille County. Stowe’s population congregated in five distinct locations: the original Upper or North Village, the Center or Middle Village (present village), the Mill Village directly downstream, the Lower Village, and Smith’s Falls (Moscow). “Lumber and agriculture have been the essential industries of Stowe over most of its history. In particular, dairy farming has been the principal way in which the cleared land has been used.” The first cash crop was potash, leached from the wood ashes of the hardwood cut and burned in the clearing of land. Potash was used in making soap, tanning leather, and for many other purposes. Embargoed by the British during the War of 1812, resulting in a thriving contraband trade across the border--it is believed that the name “Smugglers Notch” may have originated from this and other contraband trade. Butter was an early cash commodity; later bulk milk was produced primarily for the Boston market. “At the present time, 1983, very few farms are operated in their original capacity, many having been sold for resort development and vacation homes. There are now 6 working farms, 2 sheep farms, one commercial maple sugar orchard, and one pig farm...”(History, p.5) Water power at Mill Village and Moscow supported early manufacturing, including saw and grist mills, butter tub factories, sash and blind mills, starch and axe factories, furniture and woodworking shops, carding mills and tannery, and a foundry. Stowe at one time had 19 school districts and 19 one-room school houses. At one time there were 10 covered bridges in Stowe (built in the 1840s and 1850s); now there is but one bridge left over Gold Brook in Stowe Hollow. “Floods destroyed the majority, but several of the finest yielded to the automobile and modern progress.” (History, p.9) Over 160 historic buildings and sites have been identified by the state; the majority are in the Village. Most village buildings were constructed between 1810 and 1910. Essentially a farming community at first, Stowe became a tourist destination (“a famous summer resort”) after the Civil War, due to the exceptional beauty and scenery, and cool climate. “The summer tourist trade was an important part of the business life of Stowe until the First World War. “The summer tourist season has been increasing for the past several years, as well as the always heavy influx of travelers, during the fall foliage season during September and October. Except for mud season about April when the frost thaws in the dirt roads making them virtually impassable, Stowe is very nearly a year ‘round resort community.” (History, p.12)
“From such simple beginnings [CCC], arising out of extreme local and economic need [the Depression], the present position of Stowe, as the Ski Capital of the East, originated. The growth and major development of winter sports in Stowe over the last 25 years is a substantial history of its own.” (History, p. 14).
Sunset Rock is a favorite look-out and photographic spot; slate, used locally was quarried here. C.E. & F.O. Burt Company (one of the oldest woodworking plants in Stowe) and the George F. Adams Company, which makes a line of wood products, both located in Moscow, are still operating [as of 1983]. There are again four churches in Stowe: Community Church (Village), Grace Baptist Church (Moscow), St. John’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church (Mountain Rd., in former school house), and the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (Route 108) Sources: A Walking Tour of the Stowe Historic District. Stowe Historical Society, April 1992.
A Brief History of Stowe, Vermont. Stowe Historical Society, March 1983.
Stowe Now and in the Future (Town Plan), as amended through November 1998 Stowe Town Plan, Adopted December 2003
Main Street c. 1870 - Bentley Bldg. on right, livery and Meeting House on left
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