46 
HARTLAND NATURE CLUB 
HISTORICAL NOTES 
HARTLAND 
Hartland was settled about 1763 by Timothy Lull on Brit¬ 
ton’s meadow, and like many other towns in the state saw its 
greatest prosperity from 1800 to 1825, when it was classed as 
second in wealth. The population was then 2,503, and in 1920 
was 1,212. In 1880 when Dr. D. F. Rugg was Superintendent 
of Schools the population was 1,604; the number of common 
schools was 15, employing six male and 19 female teachers. The 
entire cost of schools in 1882 was $2,530.20. In 1921 there were 
10 schools employing ten female teachers. There were 181 pupils, 
and the entire cost of schools was $12,811.40. 
GREEN MOUNTAIN PERKINS ACADEMY 
This Universalist school was incorporated by an act of the 
Vermont Legislature November 13, 1848, under the name of the 
Green Mountain Liberal Institute. In 1860 the word Liberal 
was dropped, and in 1870, the present name was adopted in 
honor of the late Gaius Perkins, an ardent supporter of the school. 
Among the incorporators were the Hon. Silas H. Jennison, 
ex-Governor of Vermont; Ami Willard, Esq., and the following 
Universalist ministers: Warren Skinner, Eli Ballou, W. S. Ballou, 
D. M. Read and Samuel C. Loveland. 
The school was supported by tuition receipts and private aid, 
until 1866, when through the efforts of Rev. E. S. Foster and 
Henry W. Walker, Esq., a permanent endowment of ten thousand 
dollars was obtained. 
From the outset the school was successful. One hundred 
twelve students attended the first term, and during the next 
decade scholars came hither from all parts of the Union. The 
greatest number enrolled for a single year was 250, in the year 
ending November 15, 1853, during the principalship of Rev. J. S. 
Lee, who served from 1852 to 1857. 
Among the distinguished men who have attended this school 
are the following: Elmer H. Capron, President of Tufts College; 
