Springfield, VT: "Cradle of Invention" and "Precision Valley"

by Susan Samsonow

Located in southeastern VT, close to where the Black River joins the Connecticut River, Springfield is the largest town in Windsor County with a population of just under 10,000. At the junction of State Routes 5, 11 and 106 and just off Interstate 91, the town covers 47 square miles. Springfield was originally chartered in 1761 with a land grant from Governor Wentworth of NH to a group of speculators from MA. Original land grantees were not permitted to cut down white or pine trees without a special license, to do so would mean being fined, put in jail or forfeit their land grant, as these trees were all reserved for the Royal Navy of England. The land was rechartered in 1772 by the governor of NY (the King of England changed ownership of the territory from NH to NY, much to the dismay of the double tax-paying colonists).

The Abenaki Indians had a settlement in northwest Springfield when the first settlers arrived. It is believed that the first white man, (accompanied by Caughnawaga Indians), entered the area of Springfield in April 1730, on an expedition commissioned by the governor of MA. The first white settlers in what was to become Springfield was in the spring of 1752, when John Nott and his wife Ruth, from CT, paddled their canoe up the Connecticut River to the mouth of the Black River to make their "pitch" (new home). The next group of pioneers came from across the Connecticut River, at Fort #4 in Charlestown NH, to a spot farther up the Black River called Sartwell Hill in 1753. Both "settlements" were actually squatters, as they had no money to pay for the land but hoped they would receive it in trade for their labors.

In 1759, some 200 rangers, by order of General Jeffrey Amherst (commander of all British soldiers in North America) and under the command of Captain John Stark, began clearing out the 85 mile Crown Point Road, needed to transport militia and supplies to the fights against the Indians. Originally called the "Indian Road", it began at the fort in Crown Point, NY and ended at Fort #4 in Charlestown, NH, establishing the connection between Massachusetts and Lake Champlain.

With the construction of a ferry by Nott in 1759 from Fort #4 across the Connecticut River to VT, the completion of the Crown Point Road in 1760 and the ending of the French and Indian Wars in 1763, families quickly began to move up from MA and CT, settling along the Crown Point Road and the Connecticut River.

The first village, and second settlement, in Springfield township was Eureka, which became the center for the business and social affairs of the township for 20 years, including town meetings, the school, church services, stores, taverns and the areas only doctors and lawyer. VT's first schoolhouse was built in 1785 in Eureka and was used until 1900, with many of it's students going on to graduate from Dartmouth College.




Around 1790, people began to leave Eureka to settle nearer the Black River. Machine tool companies and manufacturers located along the banks, where the river drops 110 feet, taking advantage of it's water power to drive their mills. As settlers relocated to the area called "The Commons", shops and buildings including the meetinghouse were built, enticing more families to move into what would become the town of Springfield. "The Commons" is now a quiet family neighborhood including a children's playground. By 1791, Springfield was the second largest town in the state. The town developed as buildings were constructed for a gear shaper plant, sawmills and gristmills, harness and saddle shops, a drug store, the trolley car barn, churches, banks, the Lovejoy Tool Company, the library and a dry goods and general merchandise store. Many immigrants arrived to work in the mills and added to the ethnic and cultural heritage of the town.

Above photo: Indians used to travel long distances to Comtu, meaning "great noise", Falls. (under the bridge). The brick pillared building on the hill is the Miller Art Center.

Named "Precision Valley", Springfield continued its machine tool design and manufacturing reputation during the war years in both the defense and automotive industries. It since has diversified to the electronics, computer plastics, wood, and food production industries. Business opportunities can be found with the Precision Valley Development Corporation and the Industrial Park in North Springfield only a mile from Hartness Airport.

Springfield Shopping Plaza

Numerous camping, summer recreation, hiking and picnic areas can be found at the Springfield Tree Farm Campground, Ascutney State Park, Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Green Mountain National Forest Park, Camp Lewis at Bryant Recreation Area and Crown Point Campground in nearby Perkinsville. In addition, fishing for trout and bass plus boating can be enjoyed at North Springfield Lake (90 acres), Stoughton Pond (48 acres) and the Black and Williams Rivers, tributaries of the Connecticut River. Overlooking North Springfield Lake is the Springweather Nature Area, a four seasons, 70 acre parcel with trails for hiking, snowmobiles and cross-country skiers. Avid hikers can also trek on the Crown Point Road, much like the American Indians did. Hartness Park is an 85 acre, town owned, public park with walking trails along old roads and picnic areas. There is a portion in the park where one can see evidence of the 1938 hurricane that destroyed most of the larger trees. The Crown Point Country Club's challenging 18-hole course offers state and regional tournaments, including the Men's New England Amateur Tournament. Cross-country skiers can use the course as ungroomed trails during the winter season. Springfield's recreational parks include the Hartness, the Riverside (a 10 acre park with swimming pool), the Common (ice skating rink), and Freedom Park (tennis courts) in addition to the local school parks. Some 30 alpine ski slopes are conveniently located while snowmobilers have access to the well maintained network of VT Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) trails throughout the area.
The municipal building, built in 1857, contains the police department and town offices.

One of Springfield's best known citizens was James Hartness, who served as Governor of VT from 1921-23, in addition to being a leading amateur astronomer, VT's first licensed pilot and the designer and builder of the Turret Equatorial Telescope in 1910, one of the first tracking telescopes in America. The Telescope remains in working condition on the front lawn of Hartness House, a rambling home built in 1904 on 32 acres.

The facility now is used for dining, lodging, weddings and meetings and is home to the Historic Observatory. As Springfield's most famous inventor, Mr. Hartness held 120 different patents including ones for lathes, sundails, telescopes and a safety razor. He was also involved with the Mt. Palomar Observatory, which was completed in 1948. The Museum for the Springfield Telescope Makers, located near Hartness House, contains a historic collection of telescopes, sketches and paintings.

Known as the "Cradle of Invention" for 150 years, Springfield was known for many inventions including guitar and violin cases, sandpaper, hay cutters, doll carriages, jointed wooden dolls, a wire device for holding boiled eggs, the common clothespin, breech-loading gun, steam shovel, corn planter, sheepshearing machine, the mop wringer, gear grinding and shaping machines and other machine tools that were sold within the US and internationally.

The Springfield Art and Historical Society, exhibiting pewter, pottery, paintings, costumes, dolls, carriages and historical pieces of the area, is open from April to November. Musical, dance and stage productions are provided throughout the year by the Springfield Community Band (outdoor summer concerts), Southeast Council on the Arts, VT Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Community Chorus, the high school concert band and chorus, Springfield Community Players (the state's longest continuing amateur theater group) plus several additional private groups.

Springfield Hospital, opened in 1913, has received 2 major renovations and services 16 communities in VT and NH. Services include a 24 hour full emergency department, family centered childbirth center, specialty services and therapy plus HealthWORKS, an occupational health program. Associated with the Health Center at Bellows Falls it also provides family medical services, an Urgent Care Center, physical therapy and inpatient psychiatric care at The Windham Center.

Kindergarden to fifth graders attend the Elm Hill, East School, Park Street or Union Street Schools. These small neighborhood schools feature a strong foundation in the three "basic R's". The Riverside Middle School provides academic programs for grades 6-8. High school students attend Springfield High School which also provides vocational courses in the Technical Center. Innovative programs include Senior Demonstration Project, Family and Consumer Sciences and Career Pathways. There also is job shadowing and a Career Exploration Day as part of a School-to-Work program. The Technical Center at Springfield provides day, afternoon and evening courses for adults as well as high school students, teaching "employability skills" beneficial to the region's economic development. The Southern VT Education Center, sponsored by Castleton, Community College of VT, Johnson State, Lyndon State and VT Technical Colleges provides adults with career and employment related education. The Center is also one of 12 sites in the state involved with the Vermont Interactive Television (VIT), the statewide interactive videoconferencing system.

"Springfield on the Move", coordinated by Marjorie Weeks, is an organization to revitalize, redevelop and improve the downtown. Some of the proposals from a 1995 "master plan" include a downtown performing arts park (goal to have construction begin in 1999), riverwalks and bike paths, a welcome area, revamping downtown intersections and streetscape/landscape improvements. Current projects include examining the expansion/relocation needs of the post office, a planning grant for specific downtown areas and a 9-week advertising workshop series for local businesses. Many stores have already relocated back to the downtown area including a cafe, a bookstore, a clothing store and the state offices. The Main Street is already listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Springfield's business owners, community leaders, local government and residents are coming together to enhance the downtown and surrounding areas as an attractive, desirable and economical destination for it's residents and visitors alike.

Special thanks to the Springfield Art & Historical Society and Frederick W. Richardson for providing the historical information.

Copyright 1998 Picket Fence Preview