Aug. 23 is the DuttonsviIIe SchooI Reunion, from 1-5 at the schooI off of Route 131.
The Cavendish Historical Society, in conjunction with the Cavendish Town Elementary School and the Vermont Fiber Arts Society, is pleased to announce a Young Historians program for the Cavendish School in September for grades 3-6. This program is being funded in part by the Wendell M. Smith Foundation.
Meeting at least once a month, the program takes place for approximately a half hour on Wednesdays mid-day. Using the children’s recess time, provides an opportunity for all interested students to participate.
In keeping with the Historical Society’s theme of the 1930’s, the students will learn about the food, fiber arts, and day to day life from this period. They will also help to undercover the towns past, through oral histories and genealogy.
Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the program. People who are interested in volunteering, or want to learn more about the program, should call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Duttonsville School Reunion August 23 1-5 PM
For over a100 years, the Duttonsville School served the town of Cavendish. In addition to its school function, the building was used for town meetings, plays and other activities as the basement contained a stage, kitchen and auditorium.
After the waters receded from the flood of 1927, the school hung over a cliff. Using horses and oxen, the building was moved on rollers several hundred feet back to a safer location. The building still sits on this location.
During the 1950’s, there was a heated campaign to consolidate all of the grade schools in Cavendish and Proctorsville into one school building in Proctorsville. Despite many meetings, votes and defeats, a new school for the Cavendish Township was finally dedicated in 1960. Duttonsville School remained opened for 12 more years, but eventually closed in the early 1970’s.
One of those most opposed to the school merger was Mary Churchill. Interestingly, Mary Churchill’s son, Dan Churchill, purchased the Duttonsville School in the 1980’s and turned the building into his home and business. Even though he has updated it considerably, the integrity of the school remains, right down to the dent in the banister from a student who fell down the stairs.
The Cavendish Historical Society is holding a reunion and open house at the Duttonsville School on August 23 from 1-5 pm. Churchill will be giving tours of the old school house on the half hour. This event is open to all. People are encouraged to bring their photographs and other memorabilia to share. The school is located on the Duttonsville School Road, just off Main Street (Route 131) in Cavendish.
For more information about this event, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail
After the waters receded from the flood of 1927, the school hung over a cliff. Using horses and oxen, the building was moved on rollers several hundred feet back to a safer location. The building still sits on this location.
During the 1950’s, there was a heated campaign to consolidate all of the grade schools in Cavendish and Proctorsville into one school building in Proctorsville. Despite many meetings, votes and defeats, a new school for the Cavendish Township was finally dedicated in 1960. Duttonsville School remained opened for 12 more years, but eventually closed in the early 1970’s.
One of those most opposed to the school merger was Mary Churchill. Interestingly, Mary Churchill’s son, Dan Churchill, purchased the Duttonsville School in the 1980’s and turned the building into his home and business. Even though he has updated it considerably, the integrity of the school remains, right down to the dent in the banister from a student who fell down the stairs.
The Cavendish Historical Society is holding a reunion and open house at the Duttonsville School on August 23 from 1-5 pm. Churchill will be giving tours of the old school house on the half hour. This event is open to all. People are encouraged to bring their photographs and other memorabilia to share. The school is located on the Duttonsville School Road, just off Main Street (Route 131) in Cavendish.
For more information about this event, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail
Friday, July 31, 2009
More information on Phineas Gage
Recently Matthew Lena, who is working with Malcolm Macmillan, one of the leading experts on Phineas Gage, contacted CHS. He has provided us with a number of items relating to the photograph recently found as well as the most updated information on Gage. Below are resources which are either available on-line or at the CHS Museum • http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/psychology/gagepage/PgNews.php
• Article from the Journal of the Hisotry of the Neurosciences, "Face to Face with Phineas Gage."
• A copy of “Phineas Gage-Unravelling the Myth” by Maclcolm Macmillan updates a familiar tale, 160 years after its inception
• Copy of a poster promoting Phineas Gage as “The World’s Wonder.”
The CHS museum is open Sunday’s from 2-4 pm and at other times by request.
If you have old diaries or records dating back to 1848, the year of the injury, please check them for any possible references to Phineas Gage.
FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net
• Article from the Journal of the Hisotry of the Neurosciences, "Face to Face with Phineas Gage."
• A copy of “Phineas Gage-Unravelling the Myth” by Maclcolm Macmillan updates a familiar tale, 160 years after its inception
• Copy of a poster promoting Phineas Gage as “The World’s Wonder.”
The CHS museum is open Sunday’s from 2-4 pm and at other times by request.
If you have old diaries or records dating back to 1848, the year of the injury, please check them for any possible references to Phineas Gage.
FMI: 226-7807 or margoc@tds.net
Monday, July 27, 2009
First Photo of Phineas Gage Discovered
A pair of photograph collectors in Maryland, have uncovered what they believe to be the first and only photograph of Phineas Gage, the railway worker who survived an iron tamping rod passing straight through the front of his brain, following an explosives accident in Cavendish in 1848. Gage’s injuries were well documented and serves as one of the first cases of recorded brain injury. The photograph shows Gage as a scarred, handsome, proud man, smartly dressed, with one eye closed, wielding the tamping iron that made him famous. Jack and Beverly Wilgus originally thought the image was of a whaler, but after posting the picture on Flick-r, they soon learned from experts that this was not the case (it was a tamping rod, not a harpoon, that he was holding), and they followed up on an alternative suggestion that perhaps the image was of Gage. For more information, go to http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2009/07/first-ever-photo-of-phineas-gage-is.html
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Old Home Day July 4
Old Home Events Schedule
Old Home Day will be spread out among three locations in Cavendish, with events occurring as follows on July 4 (Saturday):
8:30 Annual Plant and Museum tours Cavendish Historical Society Museum Green
9:30 Dedication of the Craig and Pat Rankin Bench in front of the Museum
10:00: Cavendish Green opens after the Bench dedication. This area includes a variety of booths, food sales, Chicken BBQ and more
11:00 Games for children and families on the Cavendish Green
Noon-4 pm: Winston Churchill Retrospective opens at the Stone Church
FMI: margoc@tds.net or 226-7807
Old Home Day will be spread out among three locations in Cavendish, with events occurring as follows on July 4 (Saturday):
8:30 Annual Plant and Museum tours Cavendish Historical Society Museum Green
9:30 Dedication of the Craig and Pat Rankin Bench in front of the Museum
10:00: Cavendish Green opens after the Bench dedication. This area includes a variety of booths, food sales, Chicken BBQ and more
11:00 Games for children and families on the Cavendish Green
Noon-4 pm: Winston Churchill Retrospective opens at the Stone Church
FMI: margoc@tds.net or 226-7807
Monday, June 29, 2009
6/29/09 Newspaper Articles about James Fitton
The following newspaper articles relate to James Fitton, the owner of the Fitton Mill.
From the Vermont Tribune, Aug 9, 1880:
"Robert Fitton was taken to Woodstock jail about a week ago. He has
several more law suits on his hands, one for forgery, bail fixed at $2,000,
one for malicious prosecution, brought by Clarence Whelden, one for theft
brought by G.S. Hill charging him with taken over $15,000 of Hill's money"
From the Vermont Journal, Sept. 4, 1880:
"A short time ago Robert Fitton of Cavendish brought suit in the name of
Whittemore, Poit and Company against his father, James Fitton, who returned
from New York, claiming $4000 an old matter of several years standing.
Testimony was taken before Judge Pingry at Walker's Hotel in Cavendish last
week"
According to the article in the paper, "In giving his evidence in the
case, James Fitton testified that Robert Fitton told him, after the burning
of his (Robert's) factory in 1875 that he (Robert) set the building on fire
himself, spreading oil over the floors and elsewhere so it would burn well,
and that the machinery for putting out fires go out of order just in time so
no one could prevent the mill from burning, or words of that import.
James Fitton also swears in the same deposition that the books showing
how Robert's affair stood previous to his going bankruptcy the first time
were burned by Robert himself. This was before the pretended loss of $14,000
in Montreal, which our readers remember. The Fitton's, father and son settled.
The insurance company that sustained the losses felt he Vermont Tribune,
May 15, 1891:
"For several weeks past the erratic and versatile Robert Fitton has been
in the retirement and quiet of the Woodstock jail, been preparing his libel
case vs the Tribune. Having brought matters to that satisfactory pitch in
which his bodily presence was demanded to bring matter to a focus, he longed
for 'Green Fields and Pastures New', The ordinary means of egress being
denied him, so on Friday sawed off the bars of the windows and took out a
section of the inner grating making an opening 9 by 17 inches, and he also
cut the outer grating, so that in 15 minutes more, it would have given him
ample time and opportunity to personally attend to our case. Sheriff Taylor
who for sometime been cognizant of his movements, but who did not want to
prematurely discourage him stepped in at the juncture and the perspiration
rolled from Valiant Robert in copious showers. Sheriff Taylor found a saw for
cutting iron in his cell in prime condition, but Robert, had an acute attack
of knowing nothing and denied all knowledge of the hole and the saw, but an
obdurate court refused to believe his story, and he was held in $1,500 bonds
for attempting to break jail and now languishes in a cell where such miracles
will be less likely to occur. The various chapter in this 'Jail Bird's' life
which appear from time to time in the Tribune makes mighty interesting
reading and add new testimony for the famous suit against the paper."
From the Vermont Tribune, June 18, 1891:
"State vs Robert Fitton, this case has excited a wide spread of
interest, and was attended by a large audience. The charge was perjury, at
the December term of Court of 1886. On trial the case of Fitton and wife vs
Clarence Whelden to recover damage for the careless burning of a Tin Shop in
Proctorsville. On that trial Mr. Fitton presented in evidence an affidavit
signed by Whelden referring to this burning in which he knew of no cause for
the fire "Except it was caused by my own carelessness". It was claimed that
the clause was written after the affidavit had been signed and sworn to by
Mr. Whelden, and this was shown by the ink being paler, the writing cramped
and not corresponding with the remainder of writing. The respondent did not
testify, there was a large evidence given as to his conduct since that trial
as indicating his guilt such as fleeing the country, changing his name,
disguising the affidavit from the custody of the Clerk in whose hands it had
been placed by order of the court and trying to suppress evidence. The jury
promptly returned a verdict of Guilty."
Robert Fitton was sentenced on June 17, 1891 to 10 years hard labor in
the State prison for perjury and two years in the same institution for an
attempt to break jail. The Governor granted him a release in 1897.
When he died in 1902, the Bennington Reformer said of him: "Robert
Fitton, at one time one of the leading and most influential citizens of
Windsor County and afterward descending to be perhaps Vermont's most famous
crook and swindler, died recently in New York."
From the Vermont Tribune, Aug 9, 1880:
"Robert Fitton was taken to Woodstock jail about a week ago. He has
several more law suits on his hands, one for forgery, bail fixed at $2,000,
one for malicious prosecution, brought by Clarence Whelden, one for theft
brought by G.S. Hill charging him with taken over $15,000 of Hill's money"
From the Vermont Journal, Sept. 4, 1880:
"A short time ago Robert Fitton of Cavendish brought suit in the name of
Whittemore, Poit and Company against his father, James Fitton, who returned
from New York, claiming $4000 an old matter of several years standing.
Testimony was taken before Judge Pingry at Walker's Hotel in Cavendish last
week"
According to the article in the paper, "In giving his evidence in the
case, James Fitton testified that Robert Fitton told him, after the burning
of his (Robert's) factory in 1875 that he (Robert) set the building on fire
himself, spreading oil over the floors and elsewhere so it would burn well,
and that the machinery for putting out fires go out of order just in time so
no one could prevent the mill from burning, or words of that import.
James Fitton also swears in the same deposition that the books showing
how Robert's affair stood previous to his going bankruptcy the first time
were burned by Robert himself. This was before the pretended loss of $14,000
in Montreal, which our readers remember. The Fitton's, father and son settled.
The insurance company that sustained the losses felt he Vermont Tribune,
May 15, 1891:
"For several weeks past the erratic and versatile Robert Fitton has been
in the retirement and quiet of the Woodstock jail, been preparing his libel
case vs the Tribune. Having brought matters to that satisfactory pitch in
which his bodily presence was demanded to bring matter to a focus, he longed
for 'Green Fields and Pastures New', The ordinary means of egress being
denied him, so on Friday sawed off the bars of the windows and took out a
section of the inner grating making an opening 9 by 17 inches, and he also
cut the outer grating, so that in 15 minutes more, it would have given him
ample time and opportunity to personally attend to our case. Sheriff Taylor
who for sometime been cognizant of his movements, but who did not want to
prematurely discourage him stepped in at the juncture and the perspiration
rolled from Valiant Robert in copious showers. Sheriff Taylor found a saw for
cutting iron in his cell in prime condition, but Robert, had an acute attack
of knowing nothing and denied all knowledge of the hole and the saw, but an
obdurate court refused to believe his story, and he was held in $1,500 bonds
for attempting to break jail and now languishes in a cell where such miracles
will be less likely to occur. The various chapter in this 'Jail Bird's' life
which appear from time to time in the Tribune makes mighty interesting
reading and add new testimony for the famous suit against the paper."
From the Vermont Tribune, June 18, 1891:
"State vs Robert Fitton, this case has excited a wide spread of
interest, and was attended by a large audience. The charge was perjury, at
the December term of Court of 1886. On trial the case of Fitton and wife vs
Clarence Whelden to recover damage for the careless burning of a Tin Shop in
Proctorsville. On that trial Mr. Fitton presented in evidence an affidavit
signed by Whelden referring to this burning in which he knew of no cause for
the fire "Except it was caused by my own carelessness". It was claimed that
the clause was written after the affidavit had been signed and sworn to by
Mr. Whelden, and this was shown by the ink being paler, the writing cramped
and not corresponding with the remainder of writing. The respondent did not
testify, there was a large evidence given as to his conduct since that trial
as indicating his guilt such as fleeing the country, changing his name,
disguising the affidavit from the custody of the Clerk in whose hands it had
been placed by order of the court and trying to suppress evidence. The jury
promptly returned a verdict of Guilty."
Robert Fitton was sentenced on June 17, 1891 to 10 years hard labor in
the State prison for perjury and two years in the same institution for an
attempt to break jail. The Governor granted him a release in 1897.
When he died in 1902, the Bennington Reformer said of him: "Robert
Fitton, at one time one of the leading and most influential citizens of
Windsor County and afterward descending to be perhaps Vermont's most famous
crook and swindler, died recently in New York."
Saturday, June 27, 2009
1930's Program at the Museum on July 12
1930's Revisited
The Cavendish HIstorical Society will be hosting a car show, exhibit and program on sustainable living tips from the 1930's on July 12. To get yourself in the mood, as if the current economic situation wasn't a reminder, check out http://newsfrom1930.blogspot.com/ which catalogues the news from that era. Very interesting reading.
The Cavendish HIstorical Society will be hosting a car show, exhibit and program on sustainable living tips from the 1930's on July 12. To get yourself in the mood, as if the current economic situation wasn't a reminder, check out http://newsfrom1930.blogspot.com/ which catalogues the news from that era. Very interesting reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)