1883.  Fair Haven Era?   The Hazard Slate company was organized the 1st of January with an authorized capital of $80,000, with James Pottle for president and superintendent, and Samuel L. Hazard, secretary and treasurer.  The directors are Samuel L. Hazard, James Pottle, R. T. Ellis, Clark Smith, and S. L. Hazard, jr.  This company owns about nine acres on "Scotch Hill," upon which they have developed a fine quarry, which will supply their mill with an abundance of the very best stock.  The water power and grist mill formerly owned by N. R. Reed, is now the property of the Hazard Slate Co., and they have erected besides the buildings already on the property, a large mill, thoroughly equipped with the best and most modern machinery.  The company is now able to produce 20,000 feet of finished stock per month and they have more orders than they can fill.  This company, though of recent organization, is composed of the most experienced slate manufacturers in the country, thoroughly responsible individually and collectively.     Joe Doran Collection

 

1883.  Fair Haven Era?   Hydeville.  -- I have spent a half day looking over Hydeville, its business and future prospects.  The slate mill of the Dorset Marble Co., under the supervision of James T. Freeman, maintains the high position it has ever held as one of the best conducted marble mills in Vermont.  The demands made upon the mill are greater than the mill is able to supply.  R. Hanger has just started his sawmill.  It appears to be a fine mill constructed after the most approved plan for saw mills.  He has a large stock of logs that will soon be converted into boards and lumber, and will be beneficial to the town.  I then visited Hanger's Slate mill, which is well built, as is everything constructed by Hanger.  He has in operation four planers, seven saws, rubbing ed and jointer.  He is turning out some fine work.  Billings mill was actively at work as of yore turning out the best of work.  Did not visit Mr. Field's mill, as he is an entire stranger to me.  B. F. Graves is busy manufacturing farming utensils, and is succeeding well.  Downs & Delehanty in their marbelizing works, are doing a fine trade, being practical workmen.  They have their eyes on a piece of work until it is finished.  I then visited the store of D. W. Bump.  They were very busy all the time I was there.  New goods were in the back room, but no time to open them.  He will be obliged to employ another clerk.  Bulger brothers were active with a good trade.  Hawkins is getting ready for summer, when he expects a house full of visitors.  Bradshaw was feeling nicely, and says Hydeville is going ahead, even the birds sing sweeter this spring; flowers are brighter; children are happier than of yore.  There are but few old fogies in town and they will be buried before July 1, then look out, the cemetery will be fenced in.  Clifford and Litchfield have purchased the old grist mill which will at once be converted into a slate mill.  Then the town of Castleton will have more slate mills than any town in Vermont.  Clifford & Litchfield are now doing a good business in Cookville.  Mr. Litchfield is interested in a large quarry upon the shore of Lake Superior, in Michigan.  They send their slate north-west to Dakota and Minnesota.  This town is, has been and must be, the centre of manufactured slate in Vermont.     Joe Doran Collection

 

Oct 1883.  Fair Haven Era?   --  A Fairhaven man, a few days since took me to task for some of my statements regarding slate mills and quarries in Castleton.  I have travelled the ground over again and find I was wrong; but the wrong way for Fairhaven, as we beat them now, when I said we would in three years.  Castleton has for slate mills, Billings, Hangers, Fields', Cookville, West Castleton, Castleton Slate Co., and pencil mills, the latter employing some forty-four hands.  In quarries Castleton has E. D. Jones & Co., Snowden Slate Co., M. H. Vale, Blue Slate Co., Bulgers, Billings, Mud pond, Cookville, West Castleton, Cedar Mountain, Pencil mill, Castleton Slate Co., J. J. Jones, J. Robers & Co., Eldridge Harris, Bassetts and John Malone; seventeen quarries.  The first four furnish most of their stock to Fair Haven mills.  While the old Capen quarry is running out, the Hazzard Slate Company are coming to the front with a fine quarry.  While the business in Fair Haven in changing frong, Castleton is becoming the banner town.  The gulf stream is changing; the boy may have too long a tail to his kite.  Being personally so popular, the town insists upon your representing it at the general court does not get to the flint, buttons or pirites of iron out of your slate.   Joe Doran Collection

 

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Rutland Herald, June 15, 1887   Castleton.  Phillipsburg, Montana, boasts a base ball club, eight in number, all the members of which were formerly Castleton boys.  It is made up of four Jones brothers -- Richard, Joe, Will, and Henry -- two Crowleys -- Matt and Arther, John Dawson and Ellis Hughes . . .

 

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