WAS THERE EVER A TIME IN OUR HISTORY SIMILAR TO NOW?

Cavendish are making reminder signs.

In view of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is suspending it’s series “Cavendish Women You Should Know” in order to provide stories of how Cavendish has dealt with crisis in the past.

Cavendish has certainly dealt with its fair share of disease over the years. In 1911, activities for the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Cavendish Charter had to be postponed due to a small pox outbreak. This was far from the only time Cavendish dealt with epidemics and pandemics.

Barbara Kingsbury wrote in “Chubb Hill Farm and Cavendish, Vermont,”  The doctors were kept busy with various epidemics. In 1903, there were cases of small pox. In 1906, the Barber family was quarantined for diphtheria and the house fumigated. Dr. George Buxton, Town Health Officer after mid-1906, also posted cases of measles and whooping cough that year. Thirty-four families were quarantined with whooping cough the summer of 1906. In December, William Densmore had scarlet fever and both his home and the Densmore schoolhouse had to be fumigated. The town payed the Health Officer for his time in checking and posting all cases of infectious disease and fumigating, so, some years it was an expensive business. Since whooping cough appeared the same year there had been a case of diphtheria, the town paid for throat cultures to make sure there was no more diphtheria.

Covid-19 epidemic reminds me most of the response mounted after Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Yes, the United States knew what was going on in Europe, but they weren’t prepared, to lose a significant portion of the Naval fleet to Japan’s attack on December 7, 1941. Sound familiar? However, the Americans with their can do spirit, immediately went to work.

Before long there were ships in the ocean, planes in the skies and troops on the ground. Everybody “did their bit.” Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England would later comment, that among his first thoughts after the US declared war, was “We have won the war.” Are other countries thinking similar thoughts now that the Covid-19 pandemic has arrived here?

In Cavendish, Barbara Kingsbury wrote, “Residents of Cavendish listened to the radio news with mounting anxiety and were as aware of the international situation as other ordinary citizens anywhere in America. ….As soon as war was declared, there were classes on how to spot enemy planes, rules for air raid drills and blackouts, a Red Cross War Drive, and an announcement that Springfield machine shops would train women for the work force. Two observation posts for aircraft were set up in Cavendish, one on School Hill above the Duttonsville School house, and one on Field Hill [East Hill, across from Moonlite Meadows farm]. There was one post in Proctorsville. These were manned by volunteers who usually took a two hour shift apiece. ..They had to learn to identify both friendly and enemy airplanes and were to report on everyone one seen.

In early 1942, rationing of several items was instituted. Cavendish people had to sign up their ration coupon books at their local school. It was confusion at first, but people soon learned the system. Sugar, meat, butter, lard and coffee were the main foods rationed. Sugar and butter were not too big a problem for farm families as maple syrup and butter could be made at home. It was more difficult for non-farmers….To several Cavendish women, the rationing of shoes was the worst blow.

Gasoline rationing took effect in May. 350 gas rationing cared were issued to Cavendish motorists. ,,,Tires were in short supply. It was hard for farmers to get new parts for their machinery.

Defense savings stamps were sold to school children and rallies were held to sell war bonds. ..Price controls and rent controls were established in 1942. Drives to collect scrap iron and rubber were held. Amid the meetings of the Farmers’ Clubs, the Sunshine Society, and the Home Demonstration Club, were Red Cross Home Nursing Classes and Civil Defense meetings. …There was excitement and camaraderie in the feeling that all were working together in a crisis. People were sobered, however, when word was received in August, 1942, that Kenneth Hodge was missing in Corregidor.

That can do spirit is very much alive and well in Cavendish. The community is pulling together. People are volunteering to help those who need to remain at home, others are offering classes on-line and everyone is connecting via the Cavendish Vermont Facebook page and the daily briefings on the CavendishConnects blog. Even our children are making artwork to help remind people of the importance of social distancing as well as creating Cavendish Cares bags to help those who are sick.

Unlike WWII, when many women went to work at Gay Brothers Mill, we are now being asked to practice social distancing and to “hunker down.” Schools and colleges are closed with students learning remotely. While some have lost their jobs, others are telecommuting from home. People are just as concerned about food shortages, as recently shoppers to Ludlow were greeted with empty shelves. For some reason, there has been a stock piling of toilet paper, which did not appear to be an issue during the war years.

 Anxiety today is similar. While we’re working to prevent anyone from becoming infected with Covid-19, they were constantly checking the skies for bombers and lived in fear of a telegraph or letter informing them of a loved one being missing, imprisoned or confirmed dead.  

The biggest difference is duration, WWII was years long, while we will most likely be “hunkered down” in terms of weeks or possibly months. When this current crisis passes, and it will, we will be a different community.

After WWII, Gay Brothers Mill, the town’s largest employer, started laying people off and it wasn’t that long before they closed. Many found work “out of town” at General Electric in Ludlow and for the first time, more people were leaving the community daily than any time before in the town’s history.

Interestingly, with the increased number of people telecommuting, we may see the reverse of that with more people working in town.

However it plays out, the outcome of a strong spirited community will remain here in Cavendish.