46 



GAZETTEER OF VERMONT. 



Part III. 



CASTLETON. 



CASTLETON. 



their present minister is Rev. Josiah 

 Brown. Eacli religious society pos- 

 sesses a parsonage, and each may be 

 reo'arded as in a prosperous condition. 

 There is considerable variety in tlie soil 

 and surface of Castle ton. The rocks are 

 chiefly argillaceous, occasionally travers- 

 ed by veins of quartz, and occasionally 

 alternating with, or enclosing large mass- 

 es of the latter rock ; small quantities of 

 secondary lime stone are found in a few 

 localities. Specimens of o.xide of man- 

 o-anese are found in the vicinity of Bird's 

 mountain, in the southeast part of the 

 town. The rocks are disposed in eleva- 

 ted ridcres in the eastern and northern 

 sections, and arc in some places abrupt 

 and precipitous ; but for most part cover- 

 ed with fertile arable soil. The south 

 west part is a pine plain, in some places 

 intersected by slate rock and ridges of 

 slate gravel. The larger streams are gen- 

 erally bordered by rich alluvial inter- 

 vales, which, in some instances, are broad 

 and extensive. The soil of the plains is 

 sandy and light ; on the hills it is slaty 

 crravel, loam and vegetable mould ; these 

 soils are rendered much more productive 

 by the use of plaster of Paris; that of the 

 intervales is strong and productive, in 

 many places however requiring drainage. 

 The cultivated crops are grass, Indian 

 corn, oats, rye, wheat, b'kwheat, potatoes, 

 &c. The agricultural interest is chiefly 

 vested in sheep, neat cattle, horses, and 

 swine. Lake Bombazine lies principally 

 in Castleton, its northern extremity ex- 

 tendinir a short distance into Hubbardton. 

 It lies in a basin of rocks, which, in some 

 parts, is of great depth ; it is 8 miles 

 long, and its greatest breadth is 2f^ miles; 

 an island containing about 10 acres is sit- 

 uated near the centre of this lake ; being 

 provided with a grove and a cottage, it is 

 a pleasant summer resort for parties of 

 pleasure, and adds much to the beauty of 

 the scenery. The outlet of the lake, at 

 its southern extremity, has sufficient de- 

 clivity and volume of water to propel a 

 large amount of machinery. The ma- 

 chinery at present in operation at this 

 place are one sash factory, one carding 

 machine, one clothier's works, three saw 

 mills, and one grist mill ; here also is a 

 mercantile store and a cluster of dwelling 

 houses, called Mill village. Castleton 

 river, which arises in Pittsford, traverses 

 apart of Rutland, Ira, and Castleton from 

 east to west, where it receives the waters 

 of lake Bombazine. It afterwards unites 

 with Poultney river in Fair Haven, and 

 enters lake Champlain at East bay. This 

 river and its tributary brooks furnish con- 

 siderable water power, which is improv- 



ed in propeling various kinds of machine- 

 ry. Being increased by many abundant 

 springs along its bed, its waters are very 

 pure and cool in summer, and seldom fro- 

 zen in winter. The diseases most com- 

 mon are typhus fever, inflammation of the 

 lungs, croup, consumption, rheumatism, 

 and in the early settlement of the 

 town, intermittent and remittent, and in- 

 flammatory fevers, were common but are 

 now comparatively rare. The most mor- 

 tal diseases have been typhoid pneumonia, 

 malignant typhus and canker rash, 

 which have been epidemic. The most 

 mortal epidemic was of typhoid pneumo- 

 nia, in 1813, of which 63 persons died, 

 who were chiefly adults.* The climate 

 of Castleton is salubrious, with the excep- 

 tion of epidemics. The number of deaths 

 in 1841, was 21, being a fraction above 

 one per cent, of the population. 



Castleton tillage is pleasantly situated 

 on the southern bank of Castleton river, 

 on a level plain, elevated about 30 feet 

 above the stream. Main street extends 

 half a mile in length from east to west. 

 Seminary and Mechanic's streets extend 

 south from Main street ; West street 

 crosses Main nearly at right angles. The 

 number of dwelling houses is 75 ; popula- 

 tion 550. The dwellings are remarkable 

 for a uniform neatness and convenience, 

 being a true index of the equality and 

 moderate competence of the inhabitants. 

 In the village are three houses of worship, 

 a town house, two buildings of the Cas- 

 tleton Medical College, and one of Cas- 

 tleton Seminary. The Congregational 

 and Methodist churches, and college 

 buildings are handsomely located on the 

 north side of Main street. The semina- 

 ry edifice, which is 160 feet in length, 

 40 feet in breadth, and four stories high, 

 is situated on a beautiful elevation at the 

 head of Seminary street.! The Catholic 

 chapel stands on the south side of Main 

 street. In the village are 4 lawyers, 4 

 physicians, 1 printing office, 1 book store, 

 4 mercantile stores, 1 druggist's store, 3 

 public houses, one a temperance house, 

 1 grocery, 1 watchmaker, 9 tailors, 3 

 mantuamakers, 4 shoemakers, 1 hatter, 2 

 saddlers and harness makers, 2 carriage 

 makers, 4 blacksmiths, 2 cabinet and 

 chair makers, 4 joiners and builders, 1 oil 

 mill, 1 grist mill, I furnace and 1 tannery. 

 The Albany, Montreal, Boston and White- 

 hall mail routes intersect in Castleton, ma- 

 king 4 daily mails, and aff"ording easy ac- 



* 'I'liu uiiruml nuinlier ofiJeallis (Vom ISO-i to 1813, 

 inclusive, were as follows : 1804,16; 1805,1.5; 1806, 

 10; 1807) 20; 1808, 15; 1809, 20 ; ISIO, 23; 1811, 

 24 ; 1812, 2o ; 1813, 77. 



t A history of tliis tiouvisliing institution was ex- 

 pected for cur work, but it was not furnished. 



