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Brandon: A Bustling Town By Any Other Name

published in the Rutland Herald; February 23, 2006

By DON WICKMAN, Herald Correspondent

Look for Neshobe on a map of Vermont today and you might be challenged to find it.

Go back to 1780 and it would stand out clearly, for today's Brandon was first charted under the name of Neshobe on Oct. 20, 1761. Besides the name change, one is also hard-pressed to find traces of the 18th-century community. The original settlers, who first arrived in 1772, constructed their houses south of the present village on Hawk Hill.

This site provided some security from tribal raiding parties and featured a location near the Crown Point Military Road. The end of the American Revolution resolved the security issue and people moved northward to take advantage of the water power derived from the Neshobe River's waterfalls.

As for the name change, there is no documented explanation why Neshobe changed to Brandon in 1784.

The origin of Neshobe is linked to Capt. Josiah Powers, the first name that appears on the charter's list of proprietors. Powers hailed from Littleton, Mass., but more specifically, an area called Neshobe. In promoting the settlement, Powers apparently had some influence in the naming.

Brandon's early success and growth from settlement through the 19th century evolved around iron ore. Nearby mines in Forest Dale produced large quantities of the mineral. Townspeople first approved the construction of an iron works in the village in 1787.

However, the operation remained small until the arrival of John Conant. He turned iron into one of Brandon's main industries. First, he acquired most of the water rights on the Neshobe River and then built an iron furnace. At first it failed to function efficiently but once the problems were corrected, it turned out high quality iron.

Much of the molten ore was cast into cook stoves that would soon be known as the "Conant Stove." It bore the distinction of being the first cook stove manufactured in the state and became commonly referred to as the "wonder of the farmer's kitchen." Buoyed by this success, John Conant & Sons expanded into the manufacture of other stove models and kettles. Until 1851, it remained under family leadership.

Sold to the Brandon Iron and Car Wheel Co. that year, the firm continued its success as the enterprise manufactured wheels for the ever-growing inventory of railroad cars in the country. Their product possessed greater strength than their competitors as the wheels underwent slow cooling instead of immersion into water. The company moved to Troy, N.Y., in 1856, but the building did not remain vacant long.

Entering the scene was John Howe. Using the radical patented invention of Francis Strong and Thomas Ross, the Howe Scale Co. manufactured accurate and durable scales of all shapes and sizes for home and industry. The company expanded into making hand trucks and trailers. Between an internal power struggle and lack of easy rail access, the Howe Scale Co. moved to Rutland in 1878.

Over in Forest Dale, businessmen raised an iron furnace in 1810 and 13 years later a larger blast furnace replaced the small operation. The company suffered through a number of economic downturns, eventually closing in 1865.

Today the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation administers the furnace and the grounds containing the cellar holes of associated buildings.

Starting in 1915, Vermont managed the Brandon Training School on the northern edge of town. Caring for and housing Vermont citizens with mental and developmental disabilities, the facility closed in 1993 as mainstreaming replaced older practices. Today, the complex serves a multitude of uses.

Brandon can boast about almost having an American president among its one time residents. Stephen Douglas was born in 1813 in a house that is still preserved. He spent his early years in town before moving westward. Out there, he rose through state and national government. In a well-publicized 1858 U.S. Senate race, the "Little Giant" defeated Abraham Lincoln. Two years later, Lincoln revenged the earlier loss by winning the 1860 race for president.

While Douglas gains much acclaim, Forest Dale's Thomas Davenport is more a footnote in history. This inventor developed and later patented the first electric motor. Unfortunately, Davenport's technology was before its time and though it attracted crowds of onlookers, produced very little income. Davenport boldly declared electricity "must and will triumphantly succeed," but never received proper notice of his invention until a half-century after his death when, electricity was king and machines commonplace.

Brandon's Ebenezer Ormsbee served as Vermont's lieutenant governor from 1880-84 and as governor from 1886-88.

Just last year, Brandon, along with Poultney, gained acknowledgment for efforts at historic preservation. First, the federal government recognized Brandon for its efforts in protecting and celebrating its heritage with the designation as a Preserve America Community.

Then, the Preservation Trust of Vermont awarded its annual preservation award to the town for its "overall revitalization efforts" during the last several years. Executive Director Paul Bruhn praised the "remarkable collection of people ... that was at the heart of this renaissance."

The Brandon Chamber of Commerce carries this enthusiasm with its motto of "Welcome to Brandon, Vermont - Unhurried, Unspoiled, Unforgettable."