Springfield, Vermont 1897 Troller Cars – First Run 1844 Town Clock Erected 1890 Electric Lights on Main Street 1852 Steamboats – Conn. River From Hartford, Ct. to Wells River, Vt through locks at Bellows Falls, Vt. 1834 First Newspaper- “Record the Times” 1878 First “Springfield Reporter” which was the “Times Reporter” 1974 “Eagle Times” and “Springfield Recorder” 1785 First School House, built in Eureka (Oldest in state) 1899 First Automobile 1792 First Census, enumerated 1097 people 1796 First “Falls Bridge” Present distance from bridge to river is 100 feet 1920 Government System of Town Manager adopted. 1889 Abnabrown Hotel opened 1752 First White Settler, John Norr, settled with Abenagui Indians, tolerated by them because his wife was a “half-breed” 1804 Chesire Bridge (“Toll Bridge”) 1st built as a covered bridge; later a toll bridge 1781 Masonic Lodge, 1st in VT, Charter from Grave Lodge, MA, 11/10/1781 1806 Gould’s Mills, originally Morris’ Mills, later Parker’s Mills 1804 Main Highway, from ‘Chesire Bridge’ to North Springfield, surveyed 1817 First Post Office 1818 First Library 1764 First Town meeting, held in Eureka District 1761 First Charter, by King George