Woodstock March 19, 1857

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Dear Sir,

This morning, on a review of our yesterday's work and in consequence of what we were informed relative to the dip of the rock at the east end of the State House, Judge Porter, Doctor Powers and myself concluded that it was best to limit the extension of the wings to twelve and a half feet. I proposed to send a message to you and wait your answer before instructing the architects so to prepare the plans, but the gentlemen thought it was not material, inasmuch as the subject will come under consideration and be determined at our next meeting and the plans may be corrected if we see fit.

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The plans will be drawn with the extension of 12½ feet

Yours respectfullyNorman Williams

Hon George P Marsh

References in this letter:

John Porter, (1798-1886), of Hartford, Vermont, was State Senator for the years 1842 and 1843, a probate judge for the district of Hartford for the years of 1850-1886, as well as serving as a commission to oversee the reconstruction of the State House in Montpelier.

Dr. Thomas E. Powers, (1808-1876), of Woodstock, Vermont, was appointed by Governor Fletcher to be the Superintendent of Construction of the 1858-1860 project, to build a new State House in Montpelier to rebuild the structure burned in 1857. He and the architect, Thomas W. Silloway, were soon at loggerheads over their roles in the project. Powers became State Senator in 1861.

Norman Williams, (1791-1868) was a State Senator in 1854 and 1855 before he was named by Governor Fletcher, to the committee which oversaw the construction of the new State House in Montpelier, to replace the building destroyed by fire in 1857.