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Waterbury History
Since its charter in 1763, Waterbury's history has been
chronicled, celebrated, and remembered. The Waterbury Historical
Society maintains the community's historical archives and
has published books and materials about Waterbury, its many
notable residents, significant events, architectural structures
and rich community. See the Waterbury Historical Society's
web site for more information about the organization. Click
here to see Historical tours of Waterbury you can take
on foot or by bike. Read on for a brief history of Waterbury.
Historical Introduction to Waterbury
Before the arrival of the explorers and white settlers,
Native Americans passed through and settled in parts of what
is now Waterbury. The area's abundant supply of water, timber
and soil provided ample food and shelter, which eventually
attracted other settlers as well. In 1763, King George III
of England granted a charter through Governor Benning Wentworth
of New Hampshire for land in the Winooski River Valley. The
subjects, mostly from Waterbury, Connecticut, received the
charter and named the new township after their hometown. And
in 1783, James Marsh became the first permanent settler.
Waterbury's early industries, located primarily along the
Little River, Thatcher Brook, and Alder Brook, included lumber,
baskets, children's carriages, leather products, starch,
alcohol, and scythe handles. Agriculture was also a major
industry. The early, self sufficient farms yielded gradually
to commercial agriculture, which was characterized by the
rise and fall of the "sheep mania" during the period
1830-1870 and the flowering of the dairy industry thereafter.
In 1849, the Central Vermont Railroad came to Waterbury.
With it came economic growth and tourism. The railroad also
contributed to the relocation of the center of local activity
from Waterbury Center to Waterbury Village. The Village area
continued to attract businesses and housing. By 1880, the
population of Waterbury was over 2,200. Finally in 1882,
the Village of Waterbury was incorporated. Although the Village
has operated with its own government since then, the Town
and Village work cooperatively in many areas.
Like many Vermont municipalities, Waterbury was hit hard
by the 1927 flood. Several residents were killed and many
buildings were damaged or destroyed. Waterbury, Connecticut
residents sent $10,000 to help the Waterbury Public Library
Association replace all of the books that were lost. In 1955,
Waterbury residents sent $5,000 to Waterbury, Connecticut
to help them rebuild a field house, which was destroyed in
a fire. Following the flood's devastation, the Little River
Dam was built in 1938 as a flood control project by the Army
Corps of Engineers. The resulting Waterbury Reservoir was
formed and became a resource for public recreation.
The Waterbury portion of Interstate 89 was opened in 1960,
relieving traffic on Route 2, which runs through Waterbury
Village. I-89 increased accessibility for Vermonters and
out of state residents for business and recreation.
Waterbury Village has annexed land from Waterbury Town several
times in recent years. Colbyville village, approximately
47 acres, was annexed by Waterbury Village in 1981. In 1984,
the Village annexed approximately 11 acres of land along
Route 100 in order to extend Village water and sewer lines
to a light industrial site. In 1989, the Village annexed
about 32 acres off of Town Highway 15 to extend sewer to
a potential residential development.
Waterbury Today
Waterbury's pattern of development is generally typical of compact settlements
surrounded by rural, less densely populated countryside. There are three
distinct settlement areas: Waterbury Village, Colbyville, and Waterbury Center,
which are characterized by concentrated residential development and mixed
neighborhood commercial establishments and services. See planning and community
information or maps for more detail.
Waterbury Village
Waterbury Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as
a historic district and contains an impressive collection of historically
and architecturally distinctive structures. Many of Waterbury's civic and
institutional resources are located here, including the municipal offices,
the elementary school, the post office, several churches, the Village Police
Station, a public library and museum, the fire station, and several recreation
facilities. It is also home to over 1,700 Waterbury residents.
Colbyville
The settlement of Colbyville includes the area from the foot of Blush Hill
northward on Route 100, beyond the Thatcher Brook Inn, to Ben & Jerry's
Homemade, Inc. It currently contains a mixture of uses, including residential,
commercial and manufacturing. The northern most part of the area lies outside
of the Village and is not served by municipal water and sewer.
The area was first settled in 1788 and has historically
supported commercial and industrial activity. Two falls (the
upper and the lower) in the Thatcher Brook provided power
for several mill and manufacturing operations through the
1800's. Historical records suggest that the Colby mills were
probably the first large mills in Waterbury. At the current
site of the Mobil Station stood a schoolhouse. In the late
forties, the Colby Mansion was the Colby Private Hospital
for the elderly; it is now renovated and used an office building.
Waterbury Center
Off of Route 100, the Waterbury
Center Common is one of Waterbury's earliest settlements. Here you'll find
the Waterbury Grange, a post office, a general store, a fire department,
recreation areas, and a residential neighborhood. Nearby is the Green Mountain
Seminary, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Waterbury Center is also characterized by a concentration
of mixed uses along Route 100. In the midst of what appears
to be tight, mixed-use, residential settlement is Cold Hollow
Cider Mill, one of Vermont's major tourist attractions. It
stands adjacent to the Waterbury Center Community Church,
which is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
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