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Vermont Marble Museum

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The Vermont Marble Museum or Vermont Marble Exhibit is a museum commemorating the contributions of Vermont marble and the Vermont Marble Company, located in Proctor, Vermont , United States. The museum is located in a wing of one of the former Vermont Marble Company buildings.

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26-515: The Vermont Marble Company was founded in 1880 by businessman and politician Redfield Proctor , who served as the company's first president. Marble was quarried from several locations in the town of Proctor, then called Sutherland Falls, and the surrounding communities of Rutland , West Rutland and Danby . As railroads arrived in Rutland and Proctor, the Vermont Marble Company became one of

52-596: A United States Senator for Vermont from 1891 to 1908. Redfield Proctor was born on June 1, 1831. a native of Proctorsville , a village named after his family in the town of Cavendish in Windsor County, Vermont . His father, Jabez Proctor, was a farmer, merchant, and prominent local Whig politician. He was raised by his mother, Betsy Parker Proctor (1792–1871), from age 8 after the sudden death of his father. Proctor's first cousins on his mother's side included Isaac F. Redfield and Timothy P. Redfield , both justices of

78-525: A United States Senator, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of George F. Edmunds . As a Senator he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee to Establish a University of the United States from 1891 to 1893, the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (1895–1909), and the Committee on Military Affairs (1905–1907). He remained a Senator for the rest of his life, and was an effective advocate in

104-522: A granite Beaux Arts -style building in Montpelier , just east of the Vermont State House and immediately west of The Pavilion Office Building . The building site was the original site of the first Vermont State Building, a three-story wooden colonial Georgian structure, built in 1808 by Sylvanus Baldwin. The original constitution called for a " Council of Censors " which provided oversight for

130-515: A job as a manager in the Sutherland Falls Marble Company. In 1880, this company merged with another to become the Vermont Marble Company, over which Proctor served as president. Six years later, the area containing the company's marble quarries was split into a separate town called Proctor . During these years, Proctor began his political career. In 1866 he became a selectman of the town of Rutland. In 1867 he represented his town in

156-536: Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Vermont Supreme Court The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont . Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices ;

182-403: The U.S. presidents , The Last Supper , and other works are scattered throughout the museum. An artists' studio allows visitors to watch carving demonstrations and ask questions of local sculptors . The architectural uses of marble are displayed in a small chapel and a modern kitchen and bathroom surfaced in stone. Visitors may also get a balcony view of one of the large 19th-century warehouses of

208-684: The Vermont House of Representatives , serving as chairman of the committee on elections. Again a member of the House in 1868, he served as a member of the committee on ways and means. Elected to the Vermont Senate in 1874, he was chosen president pro tempore . In 1876 Proctor was elected lieutenant governor , and in 1878 was nominated by the Republicans and elected Governor of Vermont. He remained active in state politics after stepping down as governor. He

234-626: The Vermont Supreme Court . After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1851, Proctor returned to Proctorsville, where he became first a businessman, and later a lawyer. He earned his master's degree from Dartmouth College and graduated from Albany Law School in 1859. He married Emily Jane Dutton in 1858, and moved to Boston , Massachusetts two years later. They had five children; Arabella G. Proctor Holden (1859–1905), Fletcher Dutton (1860–1911), Fanny Proctor (1863–1883) Redfield Jr. (1879–1957), and Emily Dutton Proctor (1869–1948). He

260-505: The Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts. The Supreme Court justices are appointed by the Governor of Vermont with confirmation by the Vermont Senate . When a judicial vacancy occurs, the judicial nominating board submits to the governor the names of as many persons as it deems qualified for appointment. All Supreme Court justices come up for retention at

286-629: The Department by reason of his appointment as a Senator from the State of Vermont is a source of great regret to me and to his colleagues in the Cabinet, as I am sure it will be to all those who have had business with the Department while under his charge. In the administration of army affairs some especially good work has been accomplished. The efforts of the Secretary to reduce the percentage of desertions by removing

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312-608: The General Assembly votes by secret ballot, with a majority having to vote against reappointment for a justice to be denied another term. In addition to the retention process, any Vermont judge may be removed at any time in one of two ways: (1) Judges may be impeached by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly and convicted by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, and (2) a Judicial Conduct Board investigates complaints of judicial misconduct or disability and recommends any necessary action to

338-562: The Senate for high tariffs and the gold standard, as well as an influence on the military policies of the McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt administrations. Proctor died in Washington, D.C. , on March 4, 1908. He is interred at South Street Cemetery, Proctor, Vermont . Two of Proctor's children, Fletcher D. Proctor and Redfield Proctor, Jr. , served as Governors of Vermont , as did his grandson Mortimer R. Proctor . His 1867 Rutland residence

364-684: The Supreme Court. Members of the Judiciary of Vermont must retire at the age of 90. The current chief justice is Paul L. Reiber . Reiber was appointed Associate Justice in October 2003 by Gov. Jim Douglas and then sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Court on December 17, 2004. The Vermont Supreme Court has overall administrative control of the court system and makes administrative and procedural rules for all courts. The Vermont Supreme Court meets in

390-507: The Vermont Marble Company, and historical photographs of VMC workers quarrying, carving, and shipping Vermont marble are displayed throughout the exhibit. Several geologic exhibits, including an artificial cave and a preserved triceratops skeleton are also on display. A display contains large slabs of decorative stone, including the local Danby white and deep green verde antique. This display also includes local granites and imported marbles. Numerous sculptures, including busts of nearly all

416-402: The Vermont Marble Company, now used by OMYA. A nearby quarry (now defunct), located about a quarter mile from the museum itself, has recently been added to the exhibit. The grounds around the exhibit hold large chunks of quarried, unfinished marble. The Preservation Trust of Vermont acquired the Vermont Marble Company in 2014. Also, the town of Proctor has many sidewalks made of marble, and

442-636: The War Department, Proctor made a mark with his managerial skill and reforming zeal, with which he modernized the Army and improved the living conditions of enlisted soldiers. From President Harrison State of the Union Address, Dec 1892: The report of the Secretary of War exhibits the results of an intelligent, progressive, and businesslike administration of a Department which has been too much regarded as one of mere routine. The separation of Secretary Proctor from

468-479: The causes that promoted it have been so successful as to enable him to report for the last year a lower percentage of desertion than has been before reached in the history of the Army. The resulting money saving is considerable, but the improvement in the morale of the enlisted men is the most valuable incident of the reforms which have brought about this result. Proctor left the War Department in November 1891 to become

494-661: The court and its membership. The Council was abolished in 1870. Prominent individuals who have served as Chief Justice include Governor and United States Senator Moses Robinson ; Senator Nathaniel Chipman ; Governor and Senator Isaac Tichenor ; Governor and Senator Jonathan Robinson ; playwright Royall Tyler ; Governor Richard Skinner ; Senator Dudley Chase ; Governor Cornelius P. Van Ness ; Senator Samuel Prentiss ; Governor Charles K. Williams ; Governor Stephen Royce ; Congressman Luke P. Poland ; Congressman Homer Royce ; Senator Jonathan Ross ; and U.S. District Court Judge Franklin S. Billings Jr. Olin M. Jeffords ,

520-496: The high school and Catholic church are both faced in local stone. Most of the buildings of the former Vermont Marble Company still stand, and many are constructed of Vermont marble. Redfield Proctor Redfield Proctor (June 1, 1831 – March 4, 1908) was a U.S. politician of the Republican Party . He served as the 37th governor of Vermont from 1878 to 1880, as Secretary of War from 1889 to 1891, and as

546-840: The largest producers of marble in the world. It provided marble for the construction of such notable icons as the USS Arizona Memorial , the West Virginia State Capitol , the Oregon State Capitol , the United States Supreme Court Building , the Arlington National Cemetery , and Yale University 's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library to name a few. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was also created there. The surrounding town

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572-616: The same time every six years. The next retention date is March 31, 2029. The Joint Committee on Judicial Retention reviews a justice's performance during the previous term and recommends to the Vermont General Assembly whether the justice should be retained. The committee consists of four House members appointed by the Speaker of the House and four Senate members appointed by the Committee on Committees. After open debate and discussion,

598-762: Was delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention in 1884, and also in 1888. In the latter year he was chairman of the Vermont delegation, and seconded the presidential nomination of Benjamin Harrison . In 1888, he was again elected to the Vermont House. Following the 1888 presidential election, the Vermont legislature unanimously recommended him for a cabinet position, and in March 1889, President Benjamin Harrison chose Proctor to be his Secretary of War . At

624-549: Was initiated into Delta Upsilon fraternity as an honorary member by the Middlebury College Chapter. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Proctor returned to Vermont and enlisted in the 3rd Vermont Infantry , was commissioned as lieutenant and quartermaster, and repaired to the front. In July of the same year he was appointed on the staff of General William F. ("Baldy") Smith , and in October

650-399: Was named after Redfield Proctor and became a company town . The buildings and quarries of the Vermont Marble Company are now owned by OMYA , a supplier of industrial minerals. The exhibit offers self-guided tours focusing on the company's history, the geology of marble and other local stones, and the uses of marble in art, architecture, and industry. A short video narrates the history of

676-801: Was promoted and transferred to the 5th Vermont Infantry , of which he was commissioned major. With this regiment he served nearly a year in the neighborhood of Washington and on the Peninsula . In October 1862, Major Proctor was promoted to colonel of the 15th Vermont Infantry , and participated in the Gettysburg Campaign , but was stationed in the rear and did not participate in the battle. After being mustered out of military service in 1863, Proctor initially returned to practicing law, this time in Rutland, Vermont . He entered into law partnership with Wheelock G. Veazey . In 1869, he entered business again, taking

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