38 



GAZETTEER OF VERJVIONT. 



Part III. 



BURLINC.TOM. 



BURLINGTOW. 



Calvinistic society, April 10, and the Rev. 

 Samuel Clark over the Unitarian society, 

 April ]!', 1^10. In the beginning of 1822, 

 Mr. Haskel was dismissed from his pas- 

 toral charge to accept the presidency of 

 the University of Vermont, and on the 

 23d of Augnst of this year the Rev. Wil- 

 lard Preston was installed over the Cal- 

 vinistic church and society. In July, 

 1825, he resigned his charge to succeed 

 Mr. Haskel as president of the Universi- 

 ty, and on the 3d of May, 1826, the Rev. 

 Reuben Smith was installed over this 

 church and society. Mr. Smith was suc- 

 ceeded by the Rev. J. K. Converse, the 

 present minister, who was ordained Aug. 

 y, 1832. This society erected the first 

 meeting house in town, which was dedi- 

 cated in December, 1812. This house, 

 which was of wood, was consumed b}' fire 

 June 23, 1839, but another has arisen 

 from its ashes, which was dedicated on 

 the 14th of April, L-42. 



This fine building, which is of brick, 

 was constructed from the designs and un- 

 der the superintendence of Mr. Henry 

 Searle, of Burlington, at an expense of 

 about $;2(),000. Its dimensions are 92 by 

 61 feet. The front is a hexastyle Ionic 

 portico, with columns from the temple 

 •on the Ilissus, surmounted by a square 

 base, from which arises a cupola taken 

 from the choragic monument of Lysicra- 

 tes, fully wrought out, with the omission 

 of the panels and iripods. The interior 

 is in a rich and chaste style of finish, with 

 panelled ceiling, Corinthian columns and 

 pilasters, and a narrow gallery upon three 

 sides resting u'jjon columns from the Tovv- 

 v>r of the Winds. It is warmed by hot air 

 furnaces, acd the whole edifice is among 



the most tasteful and commodious house* 

 of worsliip in New England. 



The Unitarian house of worship was 

 erected in 1816. It is one of the largest 

 meeting houses in the state, is built of 

 brick with a lofty steeple, and, together 

 with the organ, clock and bell, cost about 

 $23,000. Mr. Clark, who was settled 

 over this society in 1810, resigned his 

 charge on the 18th of February, 1822, on 

 account of ill health, and was succeeded 

 by the Rev. George G. Ingersoll, the 

 present pastor, who was ordained on the 

 30th of May, following. This society is 

 large and wealthy. The Methodist society 

 was organized as early as 1820, and inl832 

 they erected a neat brick chapel. They 

 are supplied by local preachers, who are 

 stationed for two years at a time. Rev. S. 

 D. Brown is their present minister. The 

 Baptist church was organized in 1834, the 

 Baptists here previously belonging to 

 the church in Williston. This church 

 and society have a small chapel in tiie 

 eastern part of the village, and are under 

 the pastoral care of Rev. Hiram SaflTord. 

 They are about erecting a new and ele- 

 gant house of worship, in a central part 

 of the villajre. The Episcopal church was 

 organized in April 1831, by the name of 

 St. Paul's Church. In the summer of 

 this year the Rev. George T. Chapman, 

 D. D. was employed by this society, and 

 in the fall tlie}'^ commenced the erection 

 of a church which was completed and 

 consecrated the next j'ear. This building, 

 which is of stone, is of the Gothic order of 

 architecture, and the interior is neatly 

 finished. Including its excellent organ 

 and bell, it cost about $9,000. Dr. Chap- 

 man resigned the rectorship in Sept. 1832, 

 and in November following, was succeed- 

 ed by the Rt. Rev. John H. Hopkins, 

 bishop of the Diocese, who is the present 

 rector. Confirmations in this church 

 since 1832, 206 — present communicants, 

 131. For an account of the Roman Cath- 

 olic church in this town, the reader is re- 

 ferred to part second, page 202. The 

 greater part of the surface of this town- 

 sliip is considerably elevated above the 

 lake, but the soil in general is not of the 

 best quality. Tlie variety of soil is, how- 

 ever, very considerable. Below the low- 

 er falls on Winooski river, is an extensive 

 tract of intervale, which is not surpassed 

 in beauty and fertility by any in the conn- 

 try. The up-land in the northeastern 

 part was originally timbered with pine, 

 and the soil is sandy and light. In the 

 southern part the timber is mostly hard 

 wood, and the soil clay and loam. The 

 soil of the declivity, occupied by the vil- 

 lage, is compact and firm, and very suita^ 



