We’ve finally confirmed our Dec. 17th event, which I hope you can attend. A special thank you to Dave Gallagher and Ana who have once again provided the holiday lighting at the Museum. It brings a much needed sparkle to our winter nights. We also want to thank them for doing repairs to the Cavendish Cupboard, next to the Museum steps, that is stocked with books and other goodies.
MAKING MERRY- A CHRISTMAS CAROL OPEN STUDIO: “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, was written as a social commentary on the deplorable conditions for England’s poor, He selected this format as being far more appealing than a tract, which many would have ignored. Cash strapped from his American tour, Dickens thought this was a good way to raise money for his growing family, and besides it was the right time of year for a good ghost story.
Dickens didn’t make much money from the sale of his book-the binding was very expensive-but he left the world a richer place, with an endearing yearly tradition. Given the events of the last five months, following the July floods, his messages of charity and hope are quite appropriate.
In keeping with the spirit of this famous tale, the Cavendish Historical Society is hosting a Dickens’ Christmas Carol Open Studio on December 17, Sunday, at the former Crows Corner Bakery, 73 Depot St. in Proctorsville from 3-5:30. It will feature a variety of workshops, including wreath and ornament making, and hot chocolate tasting.
This event is free and open to the public. It’s been made possible from a grant from the Cavendish Community Fund and with the support of the new owners of Crow’s. For more information, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com
AVAILABE ON LINE: The fall newsletter is online. We've included another excerpt from Sandra Stearns' book about growing up in Cavendish as well as Genevieve Koziol-Moore's history of the Polish families of Cavendish.
HOLIDAY GIFTS WITH A CAVENDISH THEME: Sandra's book "Cavendish Hillside Farm 1939 to 1957" is perfect for kids and adults as is "Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who Changed History." Both are $15 plus $5 for shipping and handling.
If you are looking for a good history of Cavendish, Barbara Kingsbury's "Chubb Hill Farm and Cavendish, Vermont" is a unique history as she tells it not only using town records and reports, but also the diaries of her husband's family. The cost is $25 plus $5 for shipping and handling.
Checks can be made payable to CHS and sent to PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. You can also call 802-226-7807 or e mail margocaulfield@icloud.com for pick up in town.
PLANNING FOR SUMMER: We’re looking to do a special exhibit at the museum this summer-Made in Cavendish. Over the years there have been any number of items made in Cavendish. If you have an item you’d like to donate or share, please contact us at the numbers above.
ANNUAL APPEAL
Dear Friend:
Just when we thought this would be the summer we could return to business as usual, as the threat of COVID has been considerably reduced, along comes the July floods, leaving a trail of destruction that’s worse than 2011’s tropical storm Irene. Once again our community has shown the resilience we have come to expect. The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) documented and shared a lot of the July event in the Summer Newsletter, which is on-line at the CHS blog.
One of the most important things a historical society can do is leave an honest record of what we have experienced and how we dealt with it. As we noted in 2011, our community will flood again. Just as the reports from the 1927 flood propelled us to move forward with our town’s 250th anniversary celebration following Irene, we expected future generations would need our documentation of Irene. We just hadn’t counted on it being so soon, yet we’ve needed and used the archives from Irene and all previous such events.
Programs had to be changed or scraped, but we’re moving through it. We are thrilled with our Young Historians who have risen to the challenge of helping out and we love our dynamic community that has shown up daily for the last four months.
This year saw the death of the CHS president Dan Churchill and we now have a shortage of board members. While we always need funds, this appeal isn’t just about money but rather a multitude of ways you can support the work CHS does. You can play an integral part by
• Becoming a board member
• Donating to the annual appeal campaign (see attached form), specifying how you want your contribution to be used.
• Renewing your annual membership.
• Volunteering to help with our various programs. We are currently in need of volunteers to help with the archives.
• Sharing your flood stories (use the addresses above to send to CHS)
This is your historical society so don’t hesitate to contact us about your interests as well as how you can help us continue our work.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season, and a safe and happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Margo Caulfield, Director
