Barton, Vermont

The Abenaki and their ancestors had been in this area for 12,000 years. They were part of the large Wabanaki confederacy of related Algonguian-speaking peoples that extended into what is now Canada. In 2011 and 2012 the state of Vermont officially recognized four Abenaki tribes. The Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe has its headquarters in Barton.[6]

Early European traders and colonists were French. Anglo-Americans began to enter the area later in the 18th century. Both groups pushed the Abenaki aside when they wanted the land, and the natives suffered high mortality due to new infectious diseases.

France and England continued their European competition in North America, including in wars of the early 18th century. There was frequent raiding by each group of colonists and their Native American allies between their settlements, leading to a brisk trade in ransomed captives.

The French and Indian War was the North American front of the Seven Years' War later in the century. In the latter warfare, Rogers' Rangers attacked Saint-Francis, Quebec in 1759, but were forced to retreat. They came through this area, splitting their forces before reaching Barton. One group followed the Barton River south to the falls at the outlet of Crystal Lake, where they caught fish to eat. They continued south over the summit into the Passumpsic River Valley.[7]

After the American Revolutionary War and independence, Barton was chartered on October 20, 1789.[8] The land was granted in lieu of pay to 60 Revolutionary War veterans, mainly from Rhode Island. They included Admiral John Paul Jones, General William Barton after whom the town was named, and Ira Allen.[9] Prior to formal chartering, the town had been known as "Providence."[10]

From 1791 to 1793 Timothy Hinman built what is now called the Hinman Settler Road, linking Barton south to Greensboro and north through Brownington to Derby and Canada.[11] The early Anglo-American settlers of Barton found wigwams, in a decayed condition, quite numerous in the vicinity of the outlet of Barton pond. They realized that this had been a favorite camping ground of the Abenaki. They noted that Foosah, an Abenaki, said that he had killed 27 moose, besides large numbers of beaver and otter, near this pond in the winter of 1783–1784.[9]

On June 6, 1810, the body of water known today as Runaway Pond flooded the Barton River Valley, resulting in widespread destruction. Its effects can still be seen today. In 1824, voters decided to fund education for all children, establishing public schools.[5] A private academy started operating in 1852 with 107 students. This was the forerunner of Barton Academy.[5]

Railroad construction reached Barton in 1858.[12] The first train arrived in 1863.[13] As each new railroad terminus was built, the stagecoaches used them as well. The stage ran north from Barton, from what is now the junction of State Road 58 and US 5, to connect with the Hinman Settler Road. It came from Glover and ran up Barton Hill, over what is now Maple Hill Road, and on to what is now the Orleans Country Club; from there it went to Brownington.

Fred Kimball opposed slavery and became an agent on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War, assisting refugee slaves from the South to reach freedom in Vermont or pass into Canada. Some of the refugees wanted to get as far as possible from slave catchers, who became more aggressive as bounties were increased after the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act.[14]

Some 182 men from the town volunteered to fight in the Civil War.[15] By 1863, enthusiasm for the war had waned, and Congress passed legislation to start a draft of soldiers. Individuals were allowed to buy their way out of the draft for $300, a steep sum for many men at the time, or find a substitute, usually paying a bounty of $100. Barton's quota was 14. Of the 14 men originally drafted, seven bought their way out, and six obtained a substitute. One served.[16]

The town had a total of seven granite quarries, which were a mainstay of the economy.[17] Around 1900, a granite quarry was located on the east side of Crystal Lake. Steamboats carried stone by barges across the lake. In winter, barges were slid across on the ice.[17]

In 1907 excavation for the new Barton Academy revealed an Abenaki burying ground. There is no record of what happened to the artifacts that were discovered in the graves.[18]

Increasing steadily, Barton's population reached a peak of 3,506 people in 1920. In 1921, the town put on a large pageant celebrating its 125th anniversary. A professional choreographer and playwright was hired. 300 townspeople performed, and they were watched by 4,500 paying spectators, a record audience for the county at the time. The investment of $1,000 was recouped. The festival area was afterwards known as Pageant Park, which is now owned by the Barton village.[5]

Following the outbreak of World War II, the Portland Pipeline company built a crude oil pipeline to Montreal, Canada from Portland, Maine in 1941. It wanted to avoid the risk of U-Boat attacks that resulted from shipping by sea. In 2005, the portion of the line that passes through Barton town was evaluated and taxed at $2,277,000.[5][19]

The last one-room schools stopped operation in the late 1950s.[5] In 1964, a candlepin bowling alley was opened. Up to ten community leagues used the facility. It closed in 2000 after some legal problems.[20]

In 1967, the school districts found that their high schools, Barton Academy and Orleans High School, were too small to accommodate current needs. They converted them to elementary school use and built a new facility, Lake Region Union High School.

On February 14, 2016, the temperature dropped to −20 °F (−29 °C). The high for the day was −18 °F (−28 °C). There had been insufficient snow to insulate homes against the cold, and a life-threatening emergency developed after electric power failed. It was off for 12 hours, jeopardizing the lives of many residents, particularly the elderly, among those who depended on electrical fired furnaces. Exterior electrical generators could not be started due to the cold. Plumbing froze and burst in many houses.[21]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.9 square miles (116.3 km²), of which 43.7 square miles (113.1 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) (2.81%) is water. Barton averages 931 feet (284 m) above sea level (ASL).

The principal rock is calciferous mica schist. About two miles (3 km) from the Irasburg line, and parallel with it, there is a narrow vein of hornblende schist the whole length of the town. In the eastern corner, covering an area of several square miles, the rocks are a mixture of granite, syenite, and protogine.[22] Iron has been found in small quantities, and some traces of gold.[9]

The highest peak in Barton is Barton Mountain – 2,235 feet (681 m) ASL. May Hill is 2,007 feet (612 m) high.

Rivers include the Barton, and Willoughby; Hogtrough Brook, Lord Brook, Annis Brook, May Pond Brook, Willoughby Brook, and Roaring Brook. Each spring, the migrating rainbow trout swim up the Willoughby River to spawn in Lake Willoughby.

Crystal Lake State Park is located in Barton.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,780 people, 1,153 households, and 748 families residing in the town. The population density was 63.7/sq mi(24.6/km²). There were 1,438 housing units at an average density of 32.9 per square mile (12.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.37% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.

There were 1,153 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. Of all households, 30.4% were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

• The Chronicle – published weekly in Barton
• The Orleans County Monitor was published here from January 8, 1872 to 1953 as a weekly newspaper.[5][35]

Barton has two libraries, one in Barton village, and one in Orleans. Barton village contains three areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Orleans County Fair has been held in the town nearly every August since 1867.[36] It was first held at the site later developed as the Orleans Country Club. It moved to the Barton Fairgrounds, separately owned, in 1868. The fourteenth fair was held in 1903, suggesting skipped years.[37] One year Lowell Thomas, a noted explorer, was the master of ceremonies.[38] In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt campaigned for President here.[39]

For many years, the fair featured harness racing, which was popular in New England. In 2009, a state record for the mile was broken at 1:56.2.[40]

Edward Hoagland wrote an essay, "Americana, etc.", a paean to the Fair of 1969.[41] His praise of girlie shows aroused an uproar among some residents, and resulted in these being shut down as part of the attractions.[42]

The fair continues in the 21st century. In 2011, a Guinness World Record was set when 301 Cadillacs were in the same parade on the opening day of the Fair; they far surpassed the 103 needed to beat the prior record. The Cadillac developer was born in Barton.[43] In 2013, the paid attendance was 18,000.[44]

• Frederick W. Baldwin, practiced law with William Grout; president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate (1900)[5]
• Colonel William Barton, Revolutionary War officer, founder of the town
• Susan Dunklee, biathlete, raised in Barton[45]
• Mary Baker Eddy resided with student after the death of her husband in 1882[46]
• Lee E. Emerson, 69th governor of Vermont
• Josiah Grout, 46th governor of Vermont
• William W. Grout, US congressman 1881–1883
• Emory A. Hebard, Vermont State Treasurer (1977–1989)[5]
• Henry M. Leland, engineer and automotive entrepreneur, created both the Cadillac and Lincoln brands
• Orrin Wiley Locke, state senator from Orleans County[47]
• Willard W. Miles, associate judge on the Vermont Supreme Court[48]
• Major General Francis W. Nye, commander of the Defense Atomic Support Agency, Sandia
• Henry Alexander Stafford, professional baseball player for the New York Giants[49]
• Frank D. Thompson, Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court[50]

• List of towns in Vermont
• Conversion of St. Paul Church (Vermont)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barton, Vermont.

• Barton Chronicle – local newspaper
• Orleans County Fair
• Listing of Barton soldiers who were in the Civil War
• Local history from the Orleans County Historical Society