Manchester: Our Place in American History

Manchester: Our Place in American History. . , Chartered in 1761, Manchester through its strategic location, businesses and people, has played important, and at times, pivotal role in American history., The Marsh Tavern , The original tavern, built in 1769 by William Marsh, was the beginning of The Equinox Resort and Spa. During the American Revolution, Marsh, who became a Tory, abandoned the tavern in 1777. The Council of Safety, Vermont's first form of government, met for the first time, in the tavern and seized the property under a plan submitted by Ira Allen. It was the first instance of seizing and selling property of the enemies of American independence., Burr and Burton Academy , Originally named Burr Seminary when incorporated by the state of Vermont in 1829, Burr and Burton Academy was among the first secondary schools in the state to admit young women in 1849. It has served as the local high school for Manchester and several surrounding towns since 1905., The American Civil War , A group of young men from Manchester formed the Equinox Guards in 1861. On June 29, 1862, the Guards, which numbered 57 men, went into action at the Battle of Savage's Station Virginia. within minutes, only seven Guards remained standing. Among the casualties were seven members of the Cummings family, believed to be the greatest loss of any family during the Civil War., Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home , Hildene, a magnificent 412 acre estate, completed in 1905 by Robert Todd Lincoln, the only son of President Abraham and Mary Lincoln to live to adulthood. This historic site was home to three generations of Lincoln descendents for a period spanning 70 years. Manchester is the final resting place for three of the President's descendants. Hildene is open daily., The Orvis Family , Two sons of Levi Orvis, a merchant and dealer in marble, were instrumental in developing tourism in Manchester. Franklin owned the Equinox House, Equinox Junior and Taconic House, the forerunners of the Equinox Resort and Spa. His brother, Charles, founded the Orvis Company in 1856 to make fishing tackle. The business evolved into a leader in the outdoor recreation industry. It is the oldest mail-order retailer in the country., American Revolution , Thousands of militia came through and camped in Manchester including Ethan Allen's 1775 expedition to capture Ft. Ticonderoga, for America's First Victory. Later Gen. John Stark's New Hampshire troops and Vermont's Col. Seth Warner's regiment camped here prior to their victory at the Battle of Bennington., Mount Equinox , Tallest of the Taconic Mountains at 3,850 feet, it dominates our town's western border., Factory Point Town Green , This green area was the site of several different manufacturing facilities from the late 1700s to the early 1900s., The Long Trail , The Long Trail: Vermont's "footpath in the wilderness" passes through Manchester to the east. The 273 mile route is America's oldest long-distance hiking trail.