Danville, Vermont, USA (West Danville)
1849 Danville

Caledonia Co. The eastern part of this township is elevated about 200 and the western about 800 feet above Connecticut River. The soil is free from stone, is easily cultivated, and is perhaps equal, in richness and adaptation to agriculture, to any in the State. It is watered by numerous streams of pure water, which arise in the higher lands of Wheelock, Walden, and Cabot. Joe's Pond lies mostly in the western part of the township and covers about 1000 acres. It discharges its waters into the Passumpsic by Merritt's River or Joe's Brook. At its outlet a large never failing sheet of water falls over a limestone ledge, seventy-five feet in twelve rods. In the north part of the town are Sleeper's River and tlie Branch. Large quantities of butter, pork and wool, are here produced for market. This is the shire town.

Danville village is very pleasantly situated nearly in the centre of the township, on elevated land, and in the midst of a beautiful farming country. The public buildings are, a Congregational, a Methodist, and a Baptist Meeting-house, a Court House and Jail, and an Academy, all in a neat and modest style. The village encloses an open square of several acres. The academy was incorporated in 1840, and named Philips Academy, in honor of Paul D. Philips, who endowed it with $4,000. The building was erected by the inhabitants and cost $4,000.

Boundaries. North by Wheelock, north-east by St. Johnsbury, south-east by Barnet, south by Peacham, west by Walden, Goshen, and a part of Cabot.

First Settlers. In 1785, or '6, the settlement was commenced by about fifty emigrants from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, who entered on the lands as "squatters." In October, 1786, the legislature granted the township, as above stated, reserving to the settlers the lands on which they had located, not exceeding 320 acres each. In the following winter forty families more joined the settlement, and for two or three years the settlement was so rapid that, in 1789, the number of families was estimated to be 200. The consequence of such an influx, was an extreme scarcity, and much suffering for the want of provisions.

First Minister. A Congregational Church was organized in 1792, and the Rev. John Fitch was its pastor from 1793 to 1816.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 6,355 bushels ; Indian corn, 5,883 bushels ; potatoes, 160,662 bushels; hay, 8,311 tons ; maple sugar, 62,467 pounds ; wool, 26,834 pounds.

Distances. Thirty miles north-east from Montpelier. The Boston and Montreal Railroad passes in this vicinity.


A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

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