An Abbreviated History Of Montgomery
Compiled by Bill Branthoover, Montgomery Historical Society

1738: Revolutionary War General Richard Montgomery is born, paving the way for Montgomerys in Vermont and Alabama.

1780: The town of Montgomery is granted by Vermont Legislature.

1793: Captain Joshua Clapp moves from Worcester Co., Mass. to Montgomery. Town's first child, Joel Clapp, is born.

1800: Census shows 34 peqple living in Montgomery.

1802: First town government is elected.

1803: Joshua Clapp becomes first town representative to the Legislature.

1805: Vermont Legislature passes an act incorporating the Boston and Montreal Turnpike Company and laying the groundwork for the Hazen Road.

1810: Census shows 237 residents in town.

1812: The first post office is established in Montgomery.

1820: The population reaches 307.

1804-6: Montgomery raises funds to start a school.

1844: First factory for the manufacture of sap buckets and butter tubs established. Butter tub factories and lumber concerns of all types flourish throughout the second half of the nineteenth century.

1863: The present Longley Bridge (also known as Head Bridge and Harnois Bridge) is built.

1865: School population reaches 426.

1873: Village store becomes Parker Store

1875: Hopkins Bridge is built.

1877: Montgomery has 12 school districts.

1883: Comstock, Hectorville, Hutchins, and Creamery Bridges are built.

1890: Fuller Bridge is built.

1891: A post office is established in Black Falls. It is discontinued 3 years later.

1889: Smith's Spool and Bobbin Mill is destroyed by fire.

1898: A post office is established on Hill West, discontinued in 1901, resurrected in 1901 (about 3 months later) and discontinued again in 1903.

1899: The Hectorville Bridge is moved from the Village to Hectorville.

1900: Town population peaks at 1,876 persons.

1902: Evangelical Advent Church built on Hill West on land donated by Savannah and Joan Jewett.

1905: Four Corners schoolhouse burned.

1910: First telephone line established between St. Onges' and Henry Sylvester's.

1914: Hutchin's Mill struck by lightening and burned to ground.

1920: Town population declines to 1,608 persons.

1922: Flood

1926: A. Martell establishes Center's first (and only, until 1959) filling station (Socony), complete with auto sales and service, hardware, building materials, and farm equipment.

1927: Flood

1940: Town population reaches 1,208.

1947: Two schools -Village and Center- remain.

1950: Former Advent Church (reorganized under Nazarenes) sold for $325.

1953: 25 working dairy farms remain on West Hill / Hill West.

1962: Village School closes.

1970: Census puts town at population of 651.

1971: Montgomery School House, Inc. (toy factory) founded by Dan Woodward; opens in former Village school building

1974: Montgomery Historical Society incorporated.

1975: Eden asbestos mine sold to employees (many of whom are Montgomery residents).

1979: Recreation Center opens.

1982: Flood.

1984: Montgomery Village store burns.

1985: Historical Society's bell tower restored.

1987: Montgomery Business Association (later Town) established.

1991: Seven working dairy farms remain in Montgomery.

1992: Flood.

1997: Flood.

2000:  Census reported at 992.