CHS Briefs April , 2018

Please also check the Cavendish VT Facebook page for photo albums of various CHS activities.

REMEMBERING

It is with sadness that we start the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) news “Briefs” with the reporting of the passing of Joyce Tiemann and Willis A. Spaulding.

Joyce Tiemann grew up on what today is called Brook Rd. From 1973-1986 she was an administrative secretary to the director of nursing at Springfield Hospital, after which she assisted and volunteered at what is now the Cavendish Fletcher Community Library in Proctorsville. Several years ago, Joyce gave CHS permission to serialize her father’s book, Coming toVermont (Cavendish): Memoirs of Philip Tiemann.  All 28 chapters appear on-line along with various aspects of Cavendish history that relates to Tiemann’s chapters. Read Tiemann’s obituary.

Willis A. Spaulding was born in Proctorsville and served aboard a submarine, the U.S.S Spikefish in the Pacific theatre in World War II. With his passing, there are no longer any WWII veterans, whose names appear on the Cavendish War Memorial, alive. Two WWII vets still live in town Jim Hasson and Seymour Leven, both of whom came from other parts of the country. Read Spaulding’s obituary

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING

Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Cavendish Women You Should Know: In honor of March being Women’s History Month, CHS ran a five part series entitled Cavendish Women You Should Know Learn more about these and other amazing women at the links below:

• Overview

• Phyllis Bont

• Ethel Roosevelt Derby

• Yekaternia Svetlova and Natalia Solzhenitsyn

• Maryvan Schaik

Ignat Solzhenitsyn receiving Proclamation

Solzhenitsyn’s 100th Birthday Year: On March 21, CHS and representatives from the town, joined Ignat Solzhenitsyn and his family in Montpelier where Ignat was presented with a proclamation by the Vermont General Assembly commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Russian author, historian, and former Cavendish resident Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn.

Irish Knot made by the students

Carmine Guica Young Historians: St. Patrick's Day is a great way to teach students about the Irish in Vermont. Lunchtime at Cavendish Town Elementary School on March 16 (the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day) included a taste of Ireland-Irish Stew and Soda Bread. Thank you to the Tings and Moonlite Meadows Farm for donating their grass fed beef for the stew. The Soda Bread is a recipe from Brenda Gregory's mom, who was from County Cork, Ireland. Thank you to Penny Trick for volunteering. Check out the photo album of the workshops that took place at the school that day.

Museum & Stone Church: Both buildings seem to have weathered the winter, but we will be doing roof checks first thing this spring. In addition, work will begin as soon as possible to replace the door of the Museum with the doors whose installation was held up at the last minute by the Fire Marshall. We also plan to repair and repaint the stairs and banisters.

 

WHAT’S COMING UP

Carmine Guica Young Historians: Hard to believe that we are already thinking about the end of the school year but there is a lot being planned before summer vacation begins. Events include:

• A 3^rd grade trip to the Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire

• A series of 6^th grade activities relating to Memorial Day-cemetery and grave stone cleaning and flag placement on veterans’ graves as well as making poppies

• Archeology field trip for 6^th grade

• May day activities for 5^th grade, including preparing plants for the CHS annual plant sale

Opening of Solzhenitsyn Exhibit: CHS has been working with the Vermont Historical Society and the Solzhenitsyn family in preparing for a special exhibit at the VHS Museum at 109 State Street Pavilion Building (next to the State House) in Montpelier. The exhibit opens on May 19 and focuses on Solzhenitsyn’s life in Cavendish. Various people from Cavendish will be attending the opening. If you would like to carpool, please call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com

Annual Plant Sale: CHS’s annual plant sale takes place on Saturday June 30. Transplanting starts in mid May.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you can help with any of the following, please contact CHS margocaulfield@icloud.com; 802-226-7807 or PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142

• Do you have plants you would like to donate to the annual plant sale? Do you need help digging them up? We can provide pots, soil and even some manpower.

• Painters, scrappers and repairers: As soon as the weather permits, we need volunteers willing to do some basic carpentry to repair the banisters of the Museum. We will also need painters for the steps and banister.

• CHS is looking for new board members as well as volunteers who can help with various activities.