The February Brief is also available at the Cavendish Historical Society blog. If you have questions, would like to volunteer with CHS, or have items for the CHS Cares Closet please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.
2023 has started off on a sad note as we report the passing of Dan Churchill, CHS President and Treasurer on January 18th.
REMEMBERING DAN CHURCHILL: Born and raised in Proctorsville, at the age of 14 Dan became a “teenage pharmacist.” He worked for the Pollard’s store, until 1964, coming home on weekends from college to fill and compound prescriptions. While he would have liked to make pharmacy his career, the family finances were such that he focused on his second love, electricity.
He remembered vividly when, as a young child, his house was wired. He found it fascinating and followed the technician from room to room. This ultimately resulted in his working for General Radio for four years while studying at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which led to his being an engineer at RCA for 25 years.
In 1970, he started Commercial Radio Company to provide specialized expertise companies, universities, and individuals in need of service for radio transmitters and other apparatuses. Purchasing the old Duttonsville School in Cavendish, he refurbished the building to be his home and business.
Upon returning to Cavendish, Dan became very involved in a variety of civic duties, including being a member of the Cavendish Select Board, Planning Commission, Board of Civil Authorities, as well as the town’s representative on the boards of the Black River Senior Center and the area Agency on Aging. He was one of the founding members of CHS, as well as a member of the Masons.
Among Dan’s interests was dowsing and spiritual healing. He attended classes at Lily Dale and was a member of the American Society of Dowsers. Dan often did readings for community members as well as around the state.
A man with many talents and interests, one person described Dan as “one of a kind eccentric genius and very kind.”
A memorial is being planned for Sunday, June 4, 2 pm at his home/business in Cavendish. The family requests donations be made to the Cavendish Historical Society, PO Box 472, Cavendish VT 05142.
Our condolences to his daughter Centura, his brother Winston and to his nephews, their children and to his many friends.
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Cavendish has a strong abolitionist history. The Rev. Skinner, who was responsible for the Cavendish Stone Universalist Church, was a leader as were many others in town. Below are links that you may find interesting.
• Peter Tumbo/Tumber: Revolutionary War Veteran, Abolitionist & Former Slave: Dying in 1832 at the age of 106 (we doubt the age), Peter Tumbo lived in Cavendish for almost 40 years. We believe the name Tumbo reflects where he came from in W. Africa versus what his actual name was. It’s a fascinating piece of our history, which we are still working on.
• Safe at Last in Cavendish: Includes information on John Brown, Rev Skinner and the abolitionist movement in town. It’s a story based on an oral history, that ended up leading us to a far more interesting aspect of town history.
• A letter regarding John Brown’s stay in Proctorsville
INTERESTED IN ARCHIVAL WORK? We’ve been working in our archives since the start of the new year and discovering all sorts of new aspects of town history, some of which will be in the upcoming winter newsletter. If you like detective work, you’ll appreciate time spent sorting through files and new donations. It’s very interesting work and you’ll learn a lot. Interested? Contact us at 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com
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