CAVENDISH IN 1994
In 1994, Barbara Kingsbury added an Epilogue to her book “Chubb Hill Farm and Cavendish VT: A family and town History 1876-1960.” It’s interesting to see that Cavendish, almost 20 years later, continues to deal with the same concerns that were in place back then-declining birth rate, influx of new residents, fewer students, lack of affordable housing, and an increasing retirement population.
The past few years have been challenging as the town not only is dealing with the issues Barbara noted in 1994 but also the Covid-19 pandemic, worker shortages, fewer volunteers and a shift in the work place-many now work from home.
According to the 1990 census, Cavendish had 1,323 residents, but by 1996 the population had risen to 1,428, with approximately 130 students enrolled in the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). The 2020 Census lists 1,392 residents with this year’s CTES enrollment being 75, with a projection of 65 students for Sept. 2023. The dramatic shift in school age residents is in line with the nationally declining birth rate.
Since the 70s, the number of births in Vermont has been on the decline, and today the state has the lowest birth rate in the country. Since the “Great Recession” in 2007, the birth rate nationally has declined by 20% with no evidence that this trend is reversing.
Kingsbury writes about the “gentrification” process that is happening in Cavendish as well as in large cities. “Only fairly well-to-do people can afford to restore a large old home and to maintain it. This means less housing for local people. The price of land has become much higher in the last few decades as Vermont farms have become popular for summer and retirement homes. It is no longer possible to buy an old farm for a low price as several did in the 1930s. Cavendish landowners who are selling land profit from this, but Cavendish young people without high-paying jobs find it hard to afford a house or land in this area.
Attractive homes and beautiful scenery do not mean that life is idyllic in Cavendish. Domestic problems, auto accidents, alcoholism, suicide, vandalism, arson, and theft are found within the town. Violent crimes, particularly murder, are much rarer. Most people feel safer here than they would in a big city.
In general, there are less services offered in Cavendish in 1994 than there were in 1900; there are less opportunities and jobs for young people; and land and housing are more expensive for anyone of moderate income ..
The stability of population numbers over the decades is not due primarily to a natural balance of births and deaths. There are fewer school children than in many previous eras and a great many more retired people. ..
With many new people constantly coming into Cavendish, but no rise in population, there must be many leaving. Most of these are the young people who were born and raised in Cavendish. They go away for further education or looking for a better job. Economic factors are important to them. A few return after their education, but not the majority..
There has always been, since the town was first settled, a great deal of population movement in and out. Each time that there was such migration outward, there were worries of decline and ruin. Each time there was a wave of immigration, there were worries that the outsiders would disrupt the sense of community. Somehow, Cavendish has survived, and with a strong community. Some periods had more movement than others. The 1860s and 1870s were such a time and perhaps the present period is another.
With the holidays just around the corner, Barbara’s book makes a wonderful present for anyone that wants to learn more about Cavendish. It’s available for $25 and $5 shipping by sending a check to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish VT 05142.
RECENT DONATIONS
Brenda’s Jacket: Seven years ago, Brenda Gregory gave a talk to the Cavendish Town Elementary School 6th grade about her experiences in WWII. She started by asking the students what they did after school. Video games, having a snack, visiting a friend, playing sports etc. was the norm for these 21st century kids.
Brenda proceeded to tell them about her childhood in Newton, New Jersey, which she described as being similar to Cavendish. Ten years old when the war began, she’d come home from school and would “do her bit” for the war effort by tending the family’s Victory Garden, babysitting and taking a shift in the town’s “spotter tower.” Among her hobbies. Was collecting patches from the various soldiers she met in town, or through letter writing.
At the end of her presentation, she held up two jackets she had made. On the back was “Brenda” stenciled in black ink with the patches covering back, front and sleeves of each jacket. The kids were in awe.
Known as the “queen” of swimming lessons, which she taught for 50 years, she wore the jackets when she was a life guard. The wear and tear can easily be seen as they have been stitched, repaired and re stitched in various spots.
Brenda died in 2020. This summer, her daughter Kathleen donated the jackets to CHS. We’re in the process of identifying the patches and hope to have both the jackets and the information for each patch on display for the 2023 season. With more than 100 patches to identify, it’s going to be a fun project for the cold snowy days ahead. If you would like to help, please contact CHS.
A very special thank you to the Gregory family for their donation. What a great way to teach future generations about WWII, as well as remember Brenda.
Below Is information on a few of the patches we’ve identified so far.
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army, nicknamed the "Indianhead Division" due to the design of their black badge with a cartoonlike head of a Native American on a white star. The patch was created by the unit’s troops during World War 1. The unit landed on Omaha Beach on D Day plus one, June 7, 1944, and were in Germany in October. In early April 1945, the division occupied Hadamar, liberating a psychiatric clinic that was a major center for the Nazi euthanasia program for the physically and mentally disabled. The unit provided aid for the remaining inmates. They then liberated Leipzig-Schönfield concentration camp, a subcamp of Buchenwald, on April 14, 1945, where they interred the uncovered corpses in graves. On the following day, troops liberated Spergau/Zöschen labor education camp in Zöschen. The division continued into Czechoslovakia in early May, taking the city of Pilsen on VE Day, May 8th. The unit remained in Pilsen until they returned to the US on July 10, 1945 to train for a scheduled invasion of Japan. The division was still in training when victory over Japan was announced on August 14, 1945.
The 11th Airborne Division (“Arctic Angels”): US Army airborne formation first activated on Feb. 24, 1943. It played a vital role in the successful Knollwood Maneuver, which was organized to determine the viability of large-scale American airborne formations after their utility had been called into question following a disappointing performance during the Allied invasion of Sicily. The division participated in the Liberation of Manila and two companies of divisional paratroopers conducted a raid on the Los Banos Internment camp, liberating two thousand civilians.
Proctor Reel & Shook Company Chair: Thank you to Alma Goodman for the donation of a chair made at the Proctor Reel & Shook Company (PRS). Goodman’s mother worked at the factory, which came to Proctorsville from New Jersey in 1941.
Formerly the site of the Black Bear Mill, the refurbished building, would employ about 50 people. The company made a variety of items, including the large wooden reels for electric or telephone wire. By 1946, they had expanded the business to include furniture. In October of that year, the building was damaged by fire.
Moving to Massachusetts in 1956, some of the displaced employees were able to find work at the General Electric plant in Ludlow. This was a welcome employer for many as GE offered good benefits, including a. pension, and a chance of advancement for skilled workers.
Acousta Phase replaced Proctor Reel and burned in 1982. Today, where the Mill once stood is Svec Park (Proctorsville Green), with Outer Limits Brewery and Murdock’s Restaurant on the Green, occupying the remaining Mill Buildings.
While the CHS Museum has many examples of the cane seat chairs manufactured in Cavendish in the 1860s, this is the first chair from Proctor Reel. Thank you Alma
TURKEYS! TURKEYS! AND MORE TURKEYS!
Cavendish seems to have been invaded by the turkeys this fall. They are everywhere in “gangs” taking over fields, backyards and even the cemetery. The sight of so many turkeys traveling across the road and roasting in trees has spurred discussions of when the “Turkeys walked to Boston.”
While the American West was known for its cattle drives, Vermont was known for walking turkeys to Boston particularly in the first half of the 19th century. Until there were trains and refrigeration, the only realistic way to get the turkeys to the mass market was by foot.
A fall tradition, thousands of turkeys would cover the several hundred miles to Boston by traveling 10 to 12 miles daily. Needless to say, once they arrived, they needed time for the turkeys to feed in order to restore some of the weight they lost on their trip.
How many people accompanied the turkeys depended on the size of the flock. The “drovers” literally drove the turkeys, prodding them along, sprinkling seed and in some cases, a bell would be hung on a dominant turkey, in the hopes that the other turkeys would follow. A wagon, with tents and corn feed, would follow the parade Different farmers had various tricks to help make the journey as short as possible. Some carried the turkeys through covered bridges so they wouldn’t fall asleep as the light faded. Others tarred the turkeys feet to protect them and still others used lanterns to extend the “daylight” so they could walk further in a day. No matter how it was done, it was generally a solid three weeks of walking.
If we think seeing 20 turkeys roosting in the backyard trees is something, can you imagine towns that would have thousands stopping over for a day or two? In Burke VT, they roosted on top of a school, causing the building to collapse under the weight and more than one barn found they were no match for roosting turkeys.
CHS hasn’t found evidence that farmers from Cavendish participated in the “farm to table” walk. If you know more about that, please let us know.
YOUNG HISTORIANS
The 3rd grade visited the Coolidge Homestead and even had a chance to meet President Coolidge and see the dolls made by former Proctorsville resident Alice Bertrand . Once again the 5th grade celebrated Constitution Day and even tried their hand writing the preamble with “quill” pens.
Making their own chalkboards, as well as bread and butter pickles and bricks, the 3rd grate is learning a lot through hands on experience. The Annual Fitton Mill tour was once again a scramble through the woods as the 6th graders learned about the history of the Mill along with what life was like for kids their age.
One of the highlights of the fall was the 4th and 5th grade trip to Castleton University for an archeology immersion program. Activities began with a presentation Roger Long Toe Sheehan, the chief of the Elnu, the southern Abenaki tribe. Divided up in groups, the students had a chance to work along with archeology students in digging up artifacts, screening them and finally cataloguing their findings. They also had a chance to see how different imaging techniques assist archeologists in digging up history.
It’s been a glorious fall in Cavendish. 
View from the Mill St. Bridge in Cavendish Village.
BECOME A MEMBER, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, DONATE
If you have not joined the Cavendish Historical Society, need to renew your membership, and/or would like to be a volunteer, please complete the form below and sending a check, payable to CHS, to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. All contributions are tax deductible.
Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
Phone Number: _____________________ E-Mail: ____________________________
Membership Level
__ Individual Member $10 __ Senior Member 65+ $5 __ Sustaining Member $500
__ Household Member $15 ___ Contributing Member $250
Volunteer
___ I would be interested in serving, as a volunteer .I would be interested in serving on the following committee(s):__ Program Planning __ Fundraising __ Building (Museum)
__Archives _ Budget –– Cemetery __ Carmine Guica Young Historians
Donations are always welcome and can be designated as follows:
__ For general purposes __ Young Historians __Publications
__ Archaeological Activities _ Museum & Archival __ Special Events
__ Rankin Fund __ Williams Fund __ Solzhenitsyn Project
__ Other (please specify) __ Cemetery Restoration __ Preservation Projects
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