Summer is here and the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is very busy. We’ve been offering a variety of “History Through Craft” activities as part of the new Proctorsville Farmers Market and we’ve had a steady stream of visitors to both the Museum and our programs. The Market is Friday evenings from 4-7 pm at the Proctorsville Green.
While we’ve been enjoying some sunshine, in what has been a rainy spring and early summer, it’s been tinged with sadness as June brought the passing of Sandra Stearns, who was one of the stalwarts of CHS. The author of “Field Hill Farm,” she read her book to many of Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) students over the years. While we will have a remembrance in the Summer Newsletter, people have been asking where they can purchase a copy of her book. It will be available at the Town Wide Tag Sale on July 26 9-2 (CHS will be at the Proctorsville Gazebo), at the Museum (Sundays 2-4) or by ordering from CHS ($15 plus $5 shipping and handling) with checks payable to CHS, PO Box 472 Cavendish VT 05142.
Sandy died on June 16, the same day as Barbara Dickey, who had been a long-time supporter of CHS. Barbara was one of the founders of the Cavendish Community Fund, which has supported a variety of CHS activities, spear headed the barns project for the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA) and even had one of the chairs manufactured in Cavendish reproduced. We will have more about Barbara in the Summer newsletter.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Note that all events are free and open to the public
July 4 (Friday): Happy 4th of July! CHS will be at the Proctorsville Farmer’s Market from 9:30-11:30.
July 26 (Saturday): Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale. CHS will be in the Gazebo on the Proctorsville Green. We will have Sandra Stearns book for sale along with the biography “Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: the Writer Who Changed History,” and Barbara Kingsbury’s History of Cavendish. Stop by to receive a free copy of the Cavendish Cemetery Guide and browse other items we will be giving away
August 10 (Sunday): Dr. Charis Boke will be leading a medicinal plant walk at Greven Field. Meet at the Museum at 2pm. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and bug spray.
Sept: Date to be determined Dr. Boke will be speaking about the history of air pollution, miasma and herbal support for lungs.
Sept 14 (Sunday): Annual Phineas Gage Walk and Talk. Begins at 2 pm at the Museum.
October 11 (Saturday): Tea Blending Workshop with Dr. Boke at 2 pm.
October 12 (Sunday): Last day the Museum is open for the season.
November: Proctorsville Ghost Walk Date and time TBA.
Who was Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole and how does she relate to Friday’s Market? You would know her as Betsy Ross, the supposed maker of the first American flag. Griscom was her maiden name, and she was twice widowed while young, first by John Ross (died 1775) and then Joseph Ashburn (died 1780). She was ultimately married to John Claypoole and had five daughters with him.
There is little historical evidence of who made the first flag. However, there is good documentation that she knew George Washington, having made bed hanging for the Washingtons in 1774.
Coming from a long line of artisans, Betsy Ross ran an upholstering business for about 50 years, turning it over to her daughter when she retired. At the start of the Revolutionary War, she was a young widow just starting out, and would have jumped at a chance of what we’d call a “government contract.” While her shop made many items, they had various contracts for flags.
According to the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, “It was Betsy’s grandson, William Canby, who first told the story in a speech he made to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania back in 1870. Canby and other members of Betsy’s family signed sworn affidavits stating that it was Betsy herself who told them the story of the making of the first flag. According to the oral history, in 1776 three men – none other than George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross, visited Betsy Ross in her upholstery shop. After she escorted them to her parlor where they could meet in private, Washington showed Betsy a sketch of a flag with thirteen red and white stripes and thirteen six-pointed stars.As the story goes, Betsy suggested changing the stars to five points rather than six and with just one snip of her scissors, showed them how to do it. With that, they all agreed to change the design to five-pointed stars.”
As saving time and money were important, adopting a five pointed star would have made sense. As it is, there is growing evidence, that what may be best attributed to Betsy Ross was the five pointed star that was adopted for the American flag.
Stop by the CHS booth at this Friday’s Market on the Proctorsville Green to learn, not only about Betsy Ross, but how to make a five pointed star in one snip and glue it to a tricorn hat.
For more information, read Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla Miller or check out some of the podcasts available on-line,
ON-LINE: The 1952 History of Cavendish by Lois Wheeler.
Donations for CHS can be sent to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. Checks should be payable to the Cavendish Historical Society.
