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United States Vermont  Rutland  Castleton

Brief History
Unlike so many other Vermont towns in the central and southern part of the state, New Hampshire Gov. Benning Wentworth did not charter this town. Instead, the Republic of Vermont issued the charter, making it the oldest Vermont chartered town in Rutland County. That historic date was Oct. 27, 1779.

The origin of the name Fair Haven remains a mystery. Since some of the original grantees hailed from Massachusetts, where a Fair Haven exists, that is one possible theory. Another makes more sense — that the beauty of the region was synonymous with the word "fair," and therefore Fair Haven. Up until 1861, the town was written as one word, just as it occurred in the charter. For some unknown reason after 1861, it switched to the two-word format used today.

At its formation, Fair Haven included the presented community of West Haven within its boundaries. The Legislature split Fair Haven in 1792, but regarding membership in the Vermont House, it would "be but one town with respect to representation." This policy lasted until 1823.

Like so many other Rutland County communities, Fair Haven can trace much of its wealth to stone — specifically slate. Part of Vermont's slate belt runs through the town and it has been successfully quarried since 1839. Alonson Allen and Caleb Ranney excavated the first slate on Scotch Hill north of town.

By the late 19th century, 21 slate companies operated in Fair Haven. Six firms still run today. .

Between 1903 and 1924, a trolley connected Fair Haven and Rutland. It proved so successful that in 1910, the trolley company extended the line to Poultney.

Though slate proved a major industry, the United Shirt and Collar Co. served as a mainstay in the town for almost 50 years. Started in 1900, the firm, located along the Castleton River, produced Lion Brand Shirts and employed as many as 600 workers.

Downtown Fair Haven remains an architectural jewel. A number of fires have destroyed portion of the business district, but it still retains much of its character of the 19th and 20th centuries.1

Vital Records
FamilySearch Historical Records Collection has Vermont birth, death, and marriage records online.

Probate Records
The probate district for Castleton is Fair Haven, while the court district is Rutland.

City Directories
The Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.) has one of the largest collections of city directories in the country. Their collection is in microfiche, microfilm, and books, but there is no online inventory of their holdings except for microfilm. See their guide online.

Other holdings:

FamilySearch Library Catalog

New England Genealogical Historical Society ($)

Cemeteries
The following is a list of cemeteries in present-day Castleton. For location of cemeteries, see Cemteries of Vermont, Rutland County, website at this link.


 * Carvers Falss Cemetery
 * Cedar Grove Cemetery
 * Old Fair Haven Cemetery
 * Old North Half Cemetery
 * Our Lady of Seven Dollors Cemtery
 * Saint Marys Cemetery

Churches
1. First Congregational Church   2 N Park Pl    Fair Haven, Vermont 05743    (802) 265-8864

2. First Baptist Church   32 West St,    Fair Haven, Vermont 05743    (802) 265-8879

3. United Church of Benson   2793 Stage Rd    Fair Haven, Vermont 05743     (802) 537-2455

4. Our Lady-Seven Dolors Church   10 Washington St    Fair Haven, Vermont 05743    (802) 265-3135

Town Records
Town Clerk Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005, can be found on FamilySerach (browse only images) at this link.

The Family History Library has microfilm of original records in the Castleton Town Hall for the years 1767-1861.

Town of Fair Haven 3 North Park Place Fair Haven, Vermont (802) 265-3010 Fair Haven Town website

Newspapers
Rutland Herald online at this link.

Libraries and Historical Societies
Castleton Free Library 638 Main St. P.O. Box 296 Castleton, VT 05735 Phone: 802-468-5574 Email: castletonfreelibrary@gmail.com Website link

Fair Haven Historical Society Website