Rivalry between the two villages edit
There has often been rivalry between the two town villages of Barton and Orleans.
Advantage Barton edit
- Early on, Barton had a quality education system with Barton Academy.[1] Orleans struggled to match this.
- The town clerk's office was located in Barton, not Orleans[2]
- Barton had the Orleans County Monitor published there 1872-1953.[3].[4] The Chronicle is now published there. No successful newpaper was ever published in Orleans
- Barton has tended to have the edge in number of restaurants. Orleans has had few. Orleans does have a nationally known fast food restaurant, one of four in the county
- Barton has a Baptist church
- Barton has a major new car franchise[5]
- While Orleans has salmon fishing in the spring. Barton has Crystal Lake all summer.
- Wary for historic reasons (Runaway Pond) of constructing buildings in low spots, Barton has been less susceptible to flooding in years past.
- Barton has a Catholic school. A fulltime CAtholic pastor resides there. Neither are in Orleans
Tied edit
- Both have fire stations
- With national "Rural Electrical Programs" 40 years in the future, both villages recognized the need for power. Orleans easily harnessed the Barton (?) in 1895. Barton had to go clear to West Charleston for it's electricity. But Barton serves many more customers.
- When Barton built an Opera House/Memorial Building, Orleans built one too. Barton built colonial revival style in 1931.[6]
- Both have sewage and water
- Both have pharmacies
- Both have grocers[7]
- Both have Catholic and United churches
- Both have Masonic Lodges[8]
- Both were on the railroad line
- Both were contenders for the new county seat when it was switched from Irasburg. Both lost!
- Each has it's own exit on the turnpike
- Both had hotels. All have burnt
- Orleans has had a nice golf course for a long time. Barton had to contend with wandering cattle for much of it's life. This changed with the construction of a new Barton club which competes well with Orleans.
Advantage Orleans edit
- Despite the many industries that have located in Barton, the last remaining one in town is Ethan Allen, located in Orleans.
- While both have libraries, Orleans is funded by a trust. Barton is dependent on grants from the town, state and fundraisers
- While each village has contended for population leader in the county which has changed. Orleans now has a clear lead.
- Orleans has a service club. Barton has none
Footnotes edit
- ^ http://www.vermonter.com/nek/barton4.asp
- ^ http://www.nekchamber.com/pages/491/Town_Clerks.htm
- ^ http://users.rootsweb.com/~vtorlean/orl_news.htm
- ^ Young, Darlene (1998). A history of Barton Vermont. Crystal Lake Falls Historical Association.
- ^ http://www.automotive.com/ford/21/vermont/orleans/index.html
- ^ http://www.ptvermont.org/newsletter/5June01.htm
- ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+grocery+orleans+vermont&btnG=Search
- ^ http://www.vtfreemasons.org/lodges/barton.htm