Carolyn Van Tassell Quilt Raffle to Benefit the Cavendish Historical Society
A Bargello quilt designed and quilted by Carolyn Van Tassell is being raffled to benefit the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS). Van Tassell, a former teacher of Family & Consumer Science at Springfield High School, has been quilting for 30 years. She teaches workshops throughout the state, including Fletcher Farm. She is owner of Fine Line Machine Quilting. Her quilts were recently exhibited at the CHS Quilt Show 4th of July weekend. The quilt is on display at Six Loose Ladies in Proctorsville. Tickets are $5 a piece or 3 for $10. FMI: margoc@tds.net or 226-7807
More Than Flowers-Caring for Grave Stones
Around Memorial Day, many people leave flowers on the graves of families and friends for the summer season. Unfortunately, a number of the stone markers are showing signs of weathering that could easily be cleaned. Clean water, a soft scrub brush and some elbow grease is all that’s needed to preserve these stones. An additional 10 minutes of time, when leaving flowers, and a little bit of cleaning, can help preserve the stone marker for many generations to come.
While many people pay for “perpetual care,” this is often limited to just caring for the grounds of the cemetery and not necessarily the individual grave. Perpetual care only works if there are continual numbers of people being buried at a cemetery so there is a regular influx of money. This is a growing problem throughout the United States, as more people are opting for alternatives to burial in a cemetery.
To help people care for their family and friend’s memorial markers, the Cavendish Historical Society and the Cavendish Cemetery Commission are offering a workshop on cleaning stones on July 18 (Sunday) from noon to 3 pm at the High Street Cemetery in Cavendish. All materials will be supplied. The focus of this workshop is on newer stones. This workshop is part of the Cavendish Historical Society’s Cemetery Preservation Project, supported in part by a grant from the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA). For more information call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Cavendish Old Home Day is Almost Here
Cavendish Old Home Day gets underway on July 3 (Saturday) with the annual plant sale at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum at 8:30 am. This plant sale was started back in the 1970s by Craig Rankin and continues in his memory. Rankin, a landscaper architect, believed that everyone should be able to afford good healthy plants. These truly are the lowest prices for a hosta short of “free.”
Since the 1940’s is the CHS theme for this year, stop in the Museum, after plant shopping, and see some of the interesting WWII memorabilia members of the community have donated for the season.
The weekend long activities continue at 10 am when the Cavendish Green opens with a number of different vendors, including area artist’s organizations, businesses, food vendors, and churches. There will be a chicken BBQ provided by the Cavendish Fire Department and a lot of activities for kids, among them a “bounce house” provided by the Cavendish Baptist Church.
In keeping with the 1940s theme, the Young Historian’s program of Cavendish Town Elementary School will be hosting a “1940s candy shop.” You can learn a lot of history through candy. Named after the surnames of the company founders Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie, M & M’s were first produced in 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. During WWII, the candies were exclusively sold to the military. They had the distinct advantage of “melting in your mouth and not in your hand.” In 1948, the original cardboard packaging was replaced by the black cellophane packaging many are so familiar with.
Tootsie rolls were another favorite of the military and were standard issue in WWII field rations. This “hard to melt chocolate,” first introduced in 1896 was named for Clara “Tootsie” Hirshfield, the daughter of the manufacturer.
Rounding out the weekend is a Cavendish Quilt show at the Old Stone Church in Cavendish; opening July 3 at noon and going until 4 pm. Quilts featured are those from the Museums collection as well as ones that have been made in Cavendish. If you were in the first grade in 1976, you can see the bicentennial quilt you made that year. There are current quilters, such as Jackie Blanchard, Paulette Martel and Diane McNamara, who will have items in the exhibit as well as examples of community quilts made for weddings and babies. Several of the quilts date back to the 1800s. The Quilt Show can also be seen on July 4 from noon to 4 pm.
One of the highlights this year will be the announcing of the winners of the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA) Cavendish Calendar Photography Contest. You can pre order your calendars at this time.
Since the 1940’s is the CHS theme for this year, stop in the Museum, after plant shopping, and see some of the interesting WWII memorabilia members of the community have donated for the season.
The weekend long activities continue at 10 am when the Cavendish Green opens with a number of different vendors, including area artist’s organizations, businesses, food vendors, and churches. There will be a chicken BBQ provided by the Cavendish Fire Department and a lot of activities for kids, among them a “bounce house” provided by the Cavendish Baptist Church.
In keeping with the 1940s theme, the Young Historian’s program of Cavendish Town Elementary School will be hosting a “1940s candy shop.” You can learn a lot of history through candy. Named after the surnames of the company founders Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie, M & M’s were first produced in 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. During WWII, the candies were exclusively sold to the military. They had the distinct advantage of “melting in your mouth and not in your hand.” In 1948, the original cardboard packaging was replaced by the black cellophane packaging many are so familiar with.
Tootsie rolls were another favorite of the military and were standard issue in WWII field rations. This “hard to melt chocolate,” first introduced in 1896 was named for Clara “Tootsie” Hirshfield, the daughter of the manufacturer.
Rounding out the weekend is a Cavendish Quilt show at the Old Stone Church in Cavendish; opening July 3 at noon and going until 4 pm. Quilts featured are those from the Museums collection as well as ones that have been made in Cavendish. If you were in the first grade in 1976, you can see the bicentennial quilt you made that year. There are current quilters, such as Jackie Blanchard, Paulette Martel and Diane McNamara, who will have items in the exhibit as well as examples of community quilts made for weddings and babies. Several of the quilts date back to the 1800s. The Quilt Show can also be seen on July 4 from noon to 4 pm.
One of the highlights this year will be the announcing of the winners of the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA) Cavendish Calendar Photography Contest. You can pre order your calendars at this time.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
What Can We Pass On?
Because of my role with the Cavendish Historical Society, I’ve been in a unique position to study not only how people responded to the Great Depression in the 1930’s-that was the focus of the Society this past year- but am also collecting stories of how our town is being impacted by the current recession. In compiling the Business Directory for May 2010, I couldn’t help but notice how many small home based businesses are gone. Considering they are the backbone of our economy, that’s a very telling sign.
As co-director of Chronic Conditions Information Network, I spend quite a bit of time helping people deal with their respective health care crisis. The combination of the two roles has made me think a lot about our current situation.
Many are having a rough time. While the economic situation is a major contributing factor, so too is the aging of the “baby boomer” generation. It’s a “perfect storm” for frustration, anger, fear, anxiety and “just what is going to happen next?” You know it’s bad when NH Public Television is continually showing “Living through a Personal Crisis” almost round the clock as part of its current fundraising campaign.
I’ve been looking at things through a 1930’s lens. Interestingly, there was a study released in September 2009 that showed that longevity actually increased during the 1930’s. Why would that be when so many were without jobs and there were few public service agencies compared to today?
While there was no definitive answer, the authors guessed that it was more about the lifestyle of the era: people walked everywhere as they couldn’t afford a car (they got their 30 minutes of exercise every day).; alcohol and cigarettes were a luxury so these health negatives were significantly reduced; people slept in because they didn’t have a job to go to; little money was available for entertainment so people created their own fun; and gardens sprung up in everyone’s back yard, everyone went hunting and fishing, which ultimately resulting in people eating “whole foods” and not relying on “processed” items.
As the depression eased, and people returned to work, life expectancy decreased. Why? Again the authors can only guess. They think it related to the stress of working long hours in a new job.
In Cavendish, people didn’t have a lot to begin with. If you worked in the mills, you had the risk of being laid off, but you could still tend a garden, hunt and fish, which certainly made things a bit easier than if you lived in a city. If all else failed, there were the wild blackberries and raspberries of August. I’ve met more than one Vermonter who refuses to eat them because that constituted a large part of their diet in the 30s.
Life was hardly easy and there was even a “Hooverville,” shanty town, located near the old Fitton Mill area of Cavendish. People did what they could to help each other. Their ideas of renew, reuse and recycle make the best of our green living practices look like beginners. In short, trying to live a 30’s lifestyle today isn’t practical. However, we can learn from them just as future generations will learn from our experiences.
With that in mind, below is my take on thriving during these difficult times thanks to those people from Depression era Cavendish. What are your ideas? The more we collect, the more helpful it maybe to future generations.
1. Turn off the TV and computer and only listen or read the news for about a half hour each day. In the 30’s there was no TV or computer. Most of the folks in our town only had a chance to listen to a little bit of radio in the evening. If you were lucky to have electricity, and not have to hook the radio to a car battery, you could listen to “The Shadow Knows,” and the birth of the Big Band. Keep in mind that our news today has the philosophy of “If it bleeds, it leads.” The more frightening and upsetting the story, the more likely it will make headlines and the various TV programs will devote hours to it. You can make yourself nuts in short order on this stuff.
.2. Cook. Avoid the processed stuff and enjoy what’s appearing at our local farmer’s markets or from your garden. Share your extra with friends, family, and neighbors.
3. Walk or ride a bike. Leave the car at home whenever possible. If you want more exercise you can help the Historical Society with their Cemetery Preservation project by cleaning stones. You’ll get a good workout, learn some interesting history, and help the town at the same time.
4.. Invest in your friends and neighbors and create social opportunities. When I interviewed Sophie Snarski, a fiddler, who graduated from high school in 1933, she said she played three nights a week. There were “kitchen hops,” dances that rotated among the various farmers, plays, movies, and town dances that took place weekly. Because they weren’t competing with TV, Netflicks and various activities in other towns, people turned out for events. When I first asked Sophie about the 30’s, she talked a great deal about the good times they had and how much better the community was connected than today. It was only when I asked specific questions about the depression did she relate how strapped her family was for money. In this difficult era she created positive memories that have lasted her a lifetime.
5. Churches and the Grange played a major role in the lives of people in the 30’s. My take on that is join something. Those that belong to a church, Rotary or any other such group have a built in strong social network. If there is a problem, people know about it and can help. Having a spiritual belief-not necessarily a religion- is very important for most people. It helps to have a bigger picture to support you through the rough spots.
6. Do something enjoyable that engages you. It might be going to Six Loose Ladies on a Thursday night to work on knitting-again that social piece. However, anything that fully engages your mind, and gives your brain a break is going to make things a bit easier. Reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the brain is a real plus.
7. Hang out with people that make you laugh.
8. Less is more. Enjoy what you have and don’t obsess about what you don’t have. It’s not “stuff” that makes life worth living. Make time for the important things-a hot cup of tea with a friend on a cold winter morning; a hike up Hawk’s Mountain with your kids; a pot luck at a neighbors; helping an elderly neighbor with snow removal or putting in their garden; and watching for shooting stars on a warm August night.
9. We’re all connected. The more we obsess about world hunger, free Tibet, the BP oil spill (the 30’s also had the Dust Bowl), the lack of work or any other cause, and ignore the joys in our own community, the more challenging life becomes. The Buddhist concept of a mindfulness meditation on all centennial beings is a wonderful idea. Do it once a day for whatever time frame you can and let it go. If you can afford to send money or go to help, do it. Keep in mind that the more we work to generate joy and happiness in our own lives, the more it spreads among us and beyond.
10. My final point really comes from working for many years in AIDS and with people who are closing out their lives. Warren Buffett probably said it as well as anyone when he was asked to measure success, "When you get to my age, you'll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you. That's the ultimate test of how you've lived your life."
Since I wrote this initial post, I would add one additional point, Be flexible and willing to change. Cavendish had to make a lot of adjustments in the 1930s, not only due to the economy, but also because the town was inudated with men from other parts of the country as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Some of these men stayed, married local women and helped the town grow in new directions.
As co-director of Chronic Conditions Information Network, I spend quite a bit of time helping people deal with their respective health care crisis. The combination of the two roles has made me think a lot about our current situation.
Many are having a rough time. While the economic situation is a major contributing factor, so too is the aging of the “baby boomer” generation. It’s a “perfect storm” for frustration, anger, fear, anxiety and “just what is going to happen next?” You know it’s bad when NH Public Television is continually showing “Living through a Personal Crisis” almost round the clock as part of its current fundraising campaign.
I’ve been looking at things through a 1930’s lens. Interestingly, there was a study released in September 2009 that showed that longevity actually increased during the 1930’s. Why would that be when so many were without jobs and there were few public service agencies compared to today?
While there was no definitive answer, the authors guessed that it was more about the lifestyle of the era: people walked everywhere as they couldn’t afford a car (they got their 30 minutes of exercise every day).; alcohol and cigarettes were a luxury so these health negatives were significantly reduced; people slept in because they didn’t have a job to go to; little money was available for entertainment so people created their own fun; and gardens sprung up in everyone’s back yard, everyone went hunting and fishing, which ultimately resulting in people eating “whole foods” and not relying on “processed” items.
As the depression eased, and people returned to work, life expectancy decreased. Why? Again the authors can only guess. They think it related to the stress of working long hours in a new job.
In Cavendish, people didn’t have a lot to begin with. If you worked in the mills, you had the risk of being laid off, but you could still tend a garden, hunt and fish, which certainly made things a bit easier than if you lived in a city. If all else failed, there were the wild blackberries and raspberries of August. I’ve met more than one Vermonter who refuses to eat them because that constituted a large part of their diet in the 30s.
Life was hardly easy and there was even a “Hooverville,” shanty town, located near the old Fitton Mill area of Cavendish. People did what they could to help each other. Their ideas of renew, reuse and recycle make the best of our green living practices look like beginners. In short, trying to live a 30’s lifestyle today isn’t practical. However, we can learn from them just as future generations will learn from our experiences.
With that in mind, below is my take on thriving during these difficult times thanks to those people from Depression era Cavendish. What are your ideas? The more we collect, the more helpful it maybe to future generations.
1. Turn off the TV and computer and only listen or read the news for about a half hour each day. In the 30’s there was no TV or computer. Most of the folks in our town only had a chance to listen to a little bit of radio in the evening. If you were lucky to have electricity, and not have to hook the radio to a car battery, you could listen to “The Shadow Knows,” and the birth of the Big Band. Keep in mind that our news today has the philosophy of “If it bleeds, it leads.” The more frightening and upsetting the story, the more likely it will make headlines and the various TV programs will devote hours to it. You can make yourself nuts in short order on this stuff.
.2. Cook. Avoid the processed stuff and enjoy what’s appearing at our local farmer’s markets or from your garden. Share your extra with friends, family, and neighbors.
3. Walk or ride a bike. Leave the car at home whenever possible. If you want more exercise you can help the Historical Society with their Cemetery Preservation project by cleaning stones. You’ll get a good workout, learn some interesting history, and help the town at the same time.
4.. Invest in your friends and neighbors and create social opportunities. When I interviewed Sophie Snarski, a fiddler, who graduated from high school in 1933, she said she played three nights a week. There were “kitchen hops,” dances that rotated among the various farmers, plays, movies, and town dances that took place weekly. Because they weren’t competing with TV, Netflicks and various activities in other towns, people turned out for events. When I first asked Sophie about the 30’s, she talked a great deal about the good times they had and how much better the community was connected than today. It was only when I asked specific questions about the depression did she relate how strapped her family was for money. In this difficult era she created positive memories that have lasted her a lifetime.
5. Churches and the Grange played a major role in the lives of people in the 30’s. My take on that is join something. Those that belong to a church, Rotary or any other such group have a built in strong social network. If there is a problem, people know about it and can help. Having a spiritual belief-not necessarily a religion- is very important for most people. It helps to have a bigger picture to support you through the rough spots.
6. Do something enjoyable that engages you. It might be going to Six Loose Ladies on a Thursday night to work on knitting-again that social piece. However, anything that fully engages your mind, and gives your brain a break is going to make things a bit easier. Reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the brain is a real plus.
7. Hang out with people that make you laugh.
8. Less is more. Enjoy what you have and don’t obsess about what you don’t have. It’s not “stuff” that makes life worth living. Make time for the important things-a hot cup of tea with a friend on a cold winter morning; a hike up Hawk’s Mountain with your kids; a pot luck at a neighbors; helping an elderly neighbor with snow removal or putting in their garden; and watching for shooting stars on a warm August night.
9. We’re all connected. The more we obsess about world hunger, free Tibet, the BP oil spill (the 30’s also had the Dust Bowl), the lack of work or any other cause, and ignore the joys in our own community, the more challenging life becomes. The Buddhist concept of a mindfulness meditation on all centennial beings is a wonderful idea. Do it once a day for whatever time frame you can and let it go. If you can afford to send money or go to help, do it. Keep in mind that the more we work to generate joy and happiness in our own lives, the more it spreads among us and beyond.
10. My final point really comes from working for many years in AIDS and with people who are closing out their lives. Warren Buffett probably said it as well as anyone when he was asked to measure success, "When you get to my age, you'll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you. That's the ultimate test of how you've lived your life."
Since I wrote this initial post, I would add one additional point, Be flexible and willing to change. Cavendish had to make a lot of adjustments in the 1930s, not only due to the economy, but also because the town was inudated with men from other parts of the country as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Some of these men stayed, married local women and helped the town grow in new directions.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Cavendish Historical Society Honoring the 1940s and WWII
The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) Museum opens on Sunday, May 30. As part of its 1940’s exhibit, CHS is inviting the community to share items from this era. All materials will be returned at the end of the season.
The new exhibit includes items from various people who served during WWII. There is a list of Cavendish residents who served in the war. This list is more extensive than the one that appears on the War Memorial outside of the Museum, as it reflects members of the community who moved here after the war. We are trying to compile as much information as possible about these individuals. If you are visiting the Museum, please don’t hesitate to fill in information you might have. This summer’s exhibit will be expanding with each week, so visit often and share your knowledge. Future generations will benefit.
If you have relevant items you would like to display at the Museum, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
The new exhibit includes items from various people who served during WWII. There is a list of Cavendish residents who served in the war. This list is more extensive than the one that appears on the War Memorial outside of the Museum, as it reflects members of the community who moved here after the war. We are trying to compile as much information as possible about these individuals. If you are visiting the Museum, please don’t hesitate to fill in information you might have. This summer’s exhibit will be expanding with each week, so visit often and share your knowledge. Future generations will benefit.
If you have relevant items you would like to display at the Museum, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Upcoming Events: Gage Walking Tour/Grave Marker Cleaning Day
The Cavendish Historical Society is sponsoring the following events in May:
May 23 (Sunday): To mark the 150th anniversary of Phineas Gage's death, CHS is holding a walking tour of sites relating to his accident. Meet at the Museum, Main Street Cavendish, at 2 pm. The tour will take about two hours and will visit the accident site where Gage had the tamping rod go through his head; and the locations of the home and surgery of Dr. Harlow; the boarding house where Gage was taken and the carpentar's shop, which built the coffin that he ended up not needing. Please read more about Gage in the previous post to this blog. If you would like copies of the walking tour guide, you can pick them up at the Cavendish Town Office or the Cavendish Library. You can obtain an PDF copy by e-mailing margoc@tds.net and writing "directions for Phinease Gage tour" in the subject heading.
May 29 (Saturday): Cemetery Grave Marker Cleaning Day. 9 am at Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville (see article below)
May 30 (Sunday): The Museum opens for the season. The Museum is open from 2-4 pm.
For more information about any of these events, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Grave Marker Cleaning Day in Proctorsville
In keeping with Memorial Day, many people will be going to local cemeteries to lay flowers on graves. There are many gravestones that have no one to remember them and are left to weather the best they can. Many of our oldest markers show signs of aging and disrepair. In an effort to preserve our history, and to honor those who have gone before us, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) will be holding its first annual Cemetery Grave Marker Cleaning Day on May 29 (Saturday) from 9-noon at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville.
While CHS will have volunteers on hand to teach the proper way to clean the gravestones, the following simple tips can be followed by anyone interested in cleaning a gravestone.
- Do no harm. Don’t do anything that will remove or damage the original surface of the stone.
- Start from the bottom up and work up, as this avoids streaking.
- Keep the stone very wet.
- Use a soft brush (nylon or natural)-do not use wire brushes. Brush in a random circular motion. Clean with fresh water as you go. Test a small patch at the bottom of the stone to make sure you wont damage the stone.
- For lichen-soak with water and scrape with a wooden or plastic scraper (no metal)
- Lots and lots of water. Hoses are fine, but no power washing.
- NO BLEACH Stones are composed of minerals and salts. Adding bleach or other corrosive solvents may make the stone look white, but will shorten the life of the marker considerably. You can get a lot done with just water. If you want to use a cleaner, use a non-ionic one.
- If you are cleaning a modern stone, check with the company for cleaning instructions.
CHS’s “Monument Cleaning” handout is available at the Cavendish Library, the Cavendish Historical Society Museum in Cavendish, and at the Cavendish Town Office. Copies will be distributed on May 29. While CHS will have sprayers and brushes on site, it’s recommended that you bring a clean brush. For more information, please call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
May 23 (Sunday): To mark the 150th anniversary of Phineas Gage's death, CHS is holding a walking tour of sites relating to his accident. Meet at the Museum, Main Street Cavendish, at 2 pm. The tour will take about two hours and will visit the accident site where Gage had the tamping rod go through his head; and the locations of the home and surgery of Dr. Harlow; the boarding house where Gage was taken and the carpentar's shop, which built the coffin that he ended up not needing. Please read more about Gage in the previous post to this blog. If you would like copies of the walking tour guide, you can pick them up at the Cavendish Town Office or the Cavendish Library. You can obtain an PDF copy by e-mailing margoc@tds.net and writing "directions for Phinease Gage tour" in the subject heading.
May 29 (Saturday): Cemetery Grave Marker Cleaning Day. 9 am at Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville (see article below)
May 30 (Sunday): The Museum opens for the season. The Museum is open from 2-4 pm.
For more information about any of these events, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Grave Marker Cleaning Day in Proctorsville
In keeping with Memorial Day, many people will be going to local cemeteries to lay flowers on graves. There are many gravestones that have no one to remember them and are left to weather the best they can. Many of our oldest markers show signs of aging and disrepair. In an effort to preserve our history, and to honor those who have gone before us, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) will be holding its first annual Cemetery Grave Marker Cleaning Day on May 29 (Saturday) from 9-noon at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville.
While CHS will have volunteers on hand to teach the proper way to clean the gravestones, the following simple tips can be followed by anyone interested in cleaning a gravestone.
- Do no harm. Don’t do anything that will remove or damage the original surface of the stone.
- Start from the bottom up and work up, as this avoids streaking.
- Keep the stone very wet.
- Use a soft brush (nylon or natural)-do not use wire brushes. Brush in a random circular motion. Clean with fresh water as you go. Test a small patch at the bottom of the stone to make sure you wont damage the stone.
- For lichen-soak with water and scrape with a wooden or plastic scraper (no metal)
- Lots and lots of water. Hoses are fine, but no power washing.
- NO BLEACH Stones are composed of minerals and salts. Adding bleach or other corrosive solvents may make the stone look white, but will shorten the life of the marker considerably. You can get a lot done with just water. If you want to use a cleaner, use a non-ionic one.
- If you are cleaning a modern stone, check with the company for cleaning instructions.
CHS’s “Monument Cleaning” handout is available at the Cavendish Library, the Cavendish Historical Society Museum in Cavendish, and at the Cavendish Town Office. Copies will be distributed on May 29. While CHS will have sprayers and brushes on site, it’s recommended that you bring a clean brush. For more information, please call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Newsletter: Spring 2010
150th Anniversary of Phineas Gage’s Death
Horrible Accident: As Phineas P. Gage, a foreman on the railroad in Cavendish, was yesterday engaged in tamping -for a blast, the powder exploded, carrying an iron instrument through his head an inch and a fourth in circumference, and three feet and eight inches in length, which he was using at the time. The iron centered on the side of his face, shattering the upper jaw and passing back of the left eye and out at the top of the head.
The most singular circumstance connected with this melancholy affair is that he was alive at two o’clock this afternoon, and in full possession of his reason, and free from pain. Ludlow Vt. Free Soil Union Sept. 14, 1848
On September 13, 1848 Phineas Gage, a foreman, was working with his crew excavating rocks in preparing the bed for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad in Cavendish. An accidental explosion of a charge he had set blew his tamping iron through his head. It entered under the left cheekbone and exited through the top of the head. The rod, covered with brains and blood, was found approximately 30 yards from the site of the accident.
Sitting on the back of an ox cart, Gage was brought back to the boarding house he was staying in on Main Street in Cavendish. Dr. John Harlow treated his wounds, along with Dr. Edward H. Williams. The large wound at the top of his head was closed with adhesive straps and a wet compress covered the opening. No surgery was involved.
Within days of the accident, an infection developed and Gage lapsed into a semi comatose state. Fearing that he was about to die, a local carpenter prepared a coffin for him. Two weeks after the accident, Harlow released 8 fluid ounces of pus from an abscess under Gage’s scalp. By January 1, 1849 (approximately 4 months) Gage was functional.
It is remarkable that Gage survived this accident, let alone lived for almost 12 more years. Fortunately Dr. Harlow and Dr. Henry J. Bigelow, a professor of surgery at Harvard University, tracked Gage as much possible, thereby documenting one of the first cases of traumatic brain injury in medical science.
It was the first understanding that parts of the brain have different functions and effects on personality. With this knowledge, the first brain tumor removal operation became possible in 1885. After studying what had happened to Gage, the operating physician concluded that lesions or tumors located in the frontal lobes of the brain didn't affect the brain's ability to take in sense information. Nor did they have an impact on physical movements or speech. However, such localized lesions or tumors did produce highly characteristic and unusual personality changes like Gage's. In 1894, that same surgeon removed a tumor from a patient's left frontal lobe. The patient had complained his thinking was becoming increasingly slow and dull. Seeing the similarities between this patient's mental faculties and Gage's, the doctor successfully removed the tumor that lay, just as he expected, in the left frontal lobes of the brain.
According to Gage’s family and friends, his behavior was significantly altered by the accident. In 1868, Harlow wrote in the “Bulletin of the Massachusetts Medical Society” His contractors, who regarded him as the most efficient and capable foreman in their employ previous to his injury, considered the change in his mind so marked that they could not give him his place again. He is fitful, irreverent, indulging at times in the grossest profanity (which was not previously his custom), manifesting but little deference for his fellows, impatient of restraint of advice when it conflicts with his desires, at times pertinaciously obstinent, yet capricious and vacillating, devising many plans of future operation, which are no sooner arranged than they are abandoned in turn for others appearing more feasible. In this regard, his mind was radically changed, so decidedly that his friends and acquaintances said he was “no longer Gage.”
Not able to work as a foreman, Gage held a variety of jobs. He worked in the livery stable at what is now known as the Hanover Inn in New Hampshire. He drove coaches and cared for horses in Valparaiso, Chile. Around 1859, after his health began to fail he went to San Francisco to live with his mother. While there, he worked on a farm in Santa Clara County. In February 1860, he began to have epileptic seizures and ultimately died May 21, 1860.
Rumors circulated that Gage appeared at Barnum’s American Museum in New York. It would take another Cavendish doctor, Dr. Gene Bont, more than 150 years later to find proof that Gage did in fact exhibit himself as a curiosity. Bont found a poster advertising Gage as “The World’s Wonder.” For 12 1•2 Cents, “to be had at the door,” you could see Phineas Gage at Rumford Hall where he will exhibit to them, in his own person, one of the greatest wonders of the world! Nothing less than a man who has had a huge iron bar, which he will exhibit, forced through his head from chin to crown; has had, in fact his brains blown out!”
One of the least talked about people connected with the Gage accident is Dr. Williams. He was an engineer, who went to medical school when ill health kept him from working outside. Since he did not have a busy medical practice, Williams spent considerable time in various forms of engineering. In fact, he knew Gage prior to his accident. He was the first doctor on the scene but would have differed to Dr. Harlow as he was a surgeon. Not long after the incident, Williams returned to engineering full time and started the oldest engineering society in the United States, Tau Beta Pi.
In honor of the 150th anniversary of Gage’s death, The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) has developed a Phineas Gage Walking Tour, which highlights the approximate area Gage was injured, the homes of Drs. Harlow and Williams, and the locations of the boarding house and the carpenter who had prepared the coffin.
Copies of the tour guide are available at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, the Cavendish Town Office and the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville. In addition, on May 23 (Sunday), CHS will conduct a walking tour. The tour will begin at the Museum, Main Street Cavendish, at 2 pm. For more information, please call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Hawks Mountain Cannon
There are many stories that have been told over the years about a cannon from the French and Indian War period that was abandoned, buried or lost on Hawks Mountain near the Baltimore Cavendish line. This spring, CHS has been collecting information about the cannon, and has already sponsored one hike to have a better sense if there might be any truth to this local legend. Bruce McEnaney, CHS board member and archivist, started off very skeptical. In fact, at the beginning of the recent hike he said that if the cannon turns up, he will don nothing but a Speedo bathing suit and stroll through Cavendish on January 10. Now that’s a challenge we just couldn’t pass up. If anyone has information about the cannon, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Restoration of Cavendish Cemetery Markers: Volunteers Needed
During the summer months, many people come to Cavendish to research their ancestors. Seeing the grave of a great grandparent can be a very moving experience. It can also provide new information, such as what middle initial might have stood for, or the exact date of a birth. Some people, by walking through a plot, have learned of family members they never knew about.
Grave markers also offer important clues to a town’s history. It is easy to track outbreaks of epidemics, the sentiments of a particular area, who served in what wars and a lot more.
Cavendish has cemeteries with very old grave markers, including the Revolutionary War and before. While our Cemetery Commission does an excellent job with marginal funds, a number of stones are in need of care. In order to restore them, so they can be read by future generations, as well as honor those who went before us, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is launching a community wide Marker Cleaning Day the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.
We are working with the Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) and the Cavendish Cemetery Commission to clean and repair the grave markers in the seven Cavendish cemeteries. The students at the Cavendish Town Elementary School are also going to be involved in helping with this project.
CHS is seeking volunteers who would like to assist in the various aspects of restoration. Volunteers will be taught and equipped to clean markers. In return we will ask them to be responsible for cleaning certain areas and to help train others.
If interested in being part of this project, please contact Margo Caulfield at 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net Your donations can now be used to help with the grave marker project. Just select Cemetery Project on the donation sheet.
Cavendish Historical Society Board
Dan Churchill
Jen Harper
Cheryl Leiner
Gloria Leven
Bruce McEnaney
Mike Pember
Gail Woods
Upcoming Events
Please be advised that events are subject to change, so please call ahead. You can also check the CHS Blog www.cavendishhistoricalsocietynews.blogspot.com for up to date information. The Museum opens for the season on Sunday, May 30 from 2-4 pm. Other times by appointment.
May 23 (Sunday): Phineas Gage Walking Tour. Meet at the Museum on Main Street at 2 pm.
May 29 (Saturday): Grave Marker Cleaning Day, 9-12, Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville
May 30 (Sunday): Museum opens for the season. 2-4 pm, Main Street Cavendish.
July 3 (Saturday): Old Home Day . Quilt Show at the Stone Church
July 4 (Sunday): Quilt Show continues at the Stone Church
August 22 (Sunday): Duttonsville Reunion BBQ: We need volunteers to help organize this event. If you are interested, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807
September: Walking Tour of Proctorsville
October 10: Annual Cemetery Tour
October 17: Annual Meeting and Polish Heritage Dinner
November 27: Holiday Fair
Cavendish Quilt Show
As part of Old Home Day weekend, July 3-4, CHS is hosting a “Cavendish Quilt Show” as the annual art show in the Stone Church. CHS is seeking quilts, of any era, that have been made and/or used in Cavendish. We welcome all types and styles of quilts. The show will be mounted on July 2 and does not require the owner/quilter be present during the show. We do want a brief description of the quilt, who made it and other relevant information. If you have a quilt(s) you would like to display, please contact margoc@tds.net or call 226-7807.
Cavendish Business Directory
In the 1869 Beers Atlas, there were 53 businesses listed in the “Town of Cavendish Business Directory,” which included Proctorsville. In the April 2010 edition, compiled by CHS, there are 127 businesses. In both, home-based business, or self-employed, was the norm. However, in 1869, there were 21 farms versus the two listed in the most recent edition. Jobs such as tanners, carriage maker, blacksmith, wheelwright do not appear on our current list. The woolen industry, with four related businesses, is still present today in the form of Six Loose Ladies, fiber shop in Ludlow and several fiber artists. Interestingly, no artists appeared in the 1869 version, but Cavendish boosts a growing number of them.
Copies of the 2010 Cavendish Business Directory are available at the Town Office, Cavendish Library, CHS and by e-mailing margoc@tds.net for a PDF version.
Horrible Accident: As Phineas P. Gage, a foreman on the railroad in Cavendish, was yesterday engaged in tamping -for a blast, the powder exploded, carrying an iron instrument through his head an inch and a fourth in circumference, and three feet and eight inches in length, which he was using at the time. The iron centered on the side of his face, shattering the upper jaw and passing back of the left eye and out at the top of the head.
The most singular circumstance connected with this melancholy affair is that he was alive at two o’clock this afternoon, and in full possession of his reason, and free from pain. Ludlow Vt. Free Soil Union Sept. 14, 1848
On September 13, 1848 Phineas Gage, a foreman, was working with his crew excavating rocks in preparing the bed for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad in Cavendish. An accidental explosion of a charge he had set blew his tamping iron through his head. It entered under the left cheekbone and exited through the top of the head. The rod, covered with brains and blood, was found approximately 30 yards from the site of the accident.
Sitting on the back of an ox cart, Gage was brought back to the boarding house he was staying in on Main Street in Cavendish. Dr. John Harlow treated his wounds, along with Dr. Edward H. Williams. The large wound at the top of his head was closed with adhesive straps and a wet compress covered the opening. No surgery was involved.
Within days of the accident, an infection developed and Gage lapsed into a semi comatose state. Fearing that he was about to die, a local carpenter prepared a coffin for him. Two weeks after the accident, Harlow released 8 fluid ounces of pus from an abscess under Gage’s scalp. By January 1, 1849 (approximately 4 months) Gage was functional.
It is remarkable that Gage survived this accident, let alone lived for almost 12 more years. Fortunately Dr. Harlow and Dr. Henry J. Bigelow, a professor of surgery at Harvard University, tracked Gage as much possible, thereby documenting one of the first cases of traumatic brain injury in medical science.
It was the first understanding that parts of the brain have different functions and effects on personality. With this knowledge, the first brain tumor removal operation became possible in 1885. After studying what had happened to Gage, the operating physician concluded that lesions or tumors located in the frontal lobes of the brain didn't affect the brain's ability to take in sense information. Nor did they have an impact on physical movements or speech. However, such localized lesions or tumors did produce highly characteristic and unusual personality changes like Gage's. In 1894, that same surgeon removed a tumor from a patient's left frontal lobe. The patient had complained his thinking was becoming increasingly slow and dull. Seeing the similarities between this patient's mental faculties and Gage's, the doctor successfully removed the tumor that lay, just as he expected, in the left frontal lobes of the brain.
According to Gage’s family and friends, his behavior was significantly altered by the accident. In 1868, Harlow wrote in the “Bulletin of the Massachusetts Medical Society” His contractors, who regarded him as the most efficient and capable foreman in their employ previous to his injury, considered the change in his mind so marked that they could not give him his place again. He is fitful, irreverent, indulging at times in the grossest profanity (which was not previously his custom), manifesting but little deference for his fellows, impatient of restraint of advice when it conflicts with his desires, at times pertinaciously obstinent, yet capricious and vacillating, devising many plans of future operation, which are no sooner arranged than they are abandoned in turn for others appearing more feasible. In this regard, his mind was radically changed, so decidedly that his friends and acquaintances said he was “no longer Gage.”
Not able to work as a foreman, Gage held a variety of jobs. He worked in the livery stable at what is now known as the Hanover Inn in New Hampshire. He drove coaches and cared for horses in Valparaiso, Chile. Around 1859, after his health began to fail he went to San Francisco to live with his mother. While there, he worked on a farm in Santa Clara County. In February 1860, he began to have epileptic seizures and ultimately died May 21, 1860.
Rumors circulated that Gage appeared at Barnum’s American Museum in New York. It would take another Cavendish doctor, Dr. Gene Bont, more than 150 years later to find proof that Gage did in fact exhibit himself as a curiosity. Bont found a poster advertising Gage as “The World’s Wonder.” For 12 1•2 Cents, “to be had at the door,” you could see Phineas Gage at Rumford Hall where he will exhibit to them, in his own person, one of the greatest wonders of the world! Nothing less than a man who has had a huge iron bar, which he will exhibit, forced through his head from chin to crown; has had, in fact his brains blown out!”
One of the least talked about people connected with the Gage accident is Dr. Williams. He was an engineer, who went to medical school when ill health kept him from working outside. Since he did not have a busy medical practice, Williams spent considerable time in various forms of engineering. In fact, he knew Gage prior to his accident. He was the first doctor on the scene but would have differed to Dr. Harlow as he was a surgeon. Not long after the incident, Williams returned to engineering full time and started the oldest engineering society in the United States, Tau Beta Pi.
In honor of the 150th anniversary of Gage’s death, The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) has developed a Phineas Gage Walking Tour, which highlights the approximate area Gage was injured, the homes of Drs. Harlow and Williams, and the locations of the boarding house and the carpenter who had prepared the coffin.
Copies of the tour guide are available at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, the Cavendish Town Office and the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville. In addition, on May 23 (Sunday), CHS will conduct a walking tour. The tour will begin at the Museum, Main Street Cavendish, at 2 pm. For more information, please call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Hawks Mountain Cannon
There are many stories that have been told over the years about a cannon from the French and Indian War period that was abandoned, buried or lost on Hawks Mountain near the Baltimore Cavendish line. This spring, CHS has been collecting information about the cannon, and has already sponsored one hike to have a better sense if there might be any truth to this local legend. Bruce McEnaney, CHS board member and archivist, started off very skeptical. In fact, at the beginning of the recent hike he said that if the cannon turns up, he will don nothing but a Speedo bathing suit and stroll through Cavendish on January 10. Now that’s a challenge we just couldn’t pass up. If anyone has information about the cannon, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807.
Restoration of Cavendish Cemetery Markers: Volunteers Needed
During the summer months, many people come to Cavendish to research their ancestors. Seeing the grave of a great grandparent can be a very moving experience. It can also provide new information, such as what middle initial might have stood for, or the exact date of a birth. Some people, by walking through a plot, have learned of family members they never knew about.
Grave markers also offer important clues to a town’s history. It is easy to track outbreaks of epidemics, the sentiments of a particular area, who served in what wars and a lot more.
Cavendish has cemeteries with very old grave markers, including the Revolutionary War and before. While our Cemetery Commission does an excellent job with marginal funds, a number of stones are in need of care. In order to restore them, so they can be read by future generations, as well as honor those who went before us, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) is launching a community wide Marker Cleaning Day the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.
We are working with the Vermont Old Cemetery Association (VOCA) and the Cavendish Cemetery Commission to clean and repair the grave markers in the seven Cavendish cemeteries. The students at the Cavendish Town Elementary School are also going to be involved in helping with this project.
CHS is seeking volunteers who would like to assist in the various aspects of restoration. Volunteers will be taught and equipped to clean markers. In return we will ask them to be responsible for cleaning certain areas and to help train others.
If interested in being part of this project, please contact Margo Caulfield at 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net Your donations can now be used to help with the grave marker project. Just select Cemetery Project on the donation sheet.
Cavendish Historical Society Board
Dan Churchill
Jen Harper
Cheryl Leiner
Gloria Leven
Bruce McEnaney
Mike Pember
Gail Woods
Upcoming Events
Please be advised that events are subject to change, so please call ahead. You can also check the CHS Blog www.cavendishhistoricalsocietynews.blogspot.com for up to date information. The Museum opens for the season on Sunday, May 30 from 2-4 pm. Other times by appointment.
May 23 (Sunday): Phineas Gage Walking Tour. Meet at the Museum on Main Street at 2 pm.
May 29 (Saturday): Grave Marker Cleaning Day, 9-12, Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville
May 30 (Sunday): Museum opens for the season. 2-4 pm, Main Street Cavendish.
July 3 (Saturday): Old Home Day . Quilt Show at the Stone Church
July 4 (Sunday): Quilt Show continues at the Stone Church
August 22 (Sunday): Duttonsville Reunion BBQ: We need volunteers to help organize this event. If you are interested, please e-mail margoc@tds.net or call 802-226-7807
September: Walking Tour of Proctorsville
October 10: Annual Cemetery Tour
October 17: Annual Meeting and Polish Heritage Dinner
November 27: Holiday Fair
Cavendish Quilt Show
As part of Old Home Day weekend, July 3-4, CHS is hosting a “Cavendish Quilt Show” as the annual art show in the Stone Church. CHS is seeking quilts, of any era, that have been made and/or used in Cavendish. We welcome all types and styles of quilts. The show will be mounted on July 2 and does not require the owner/quilter be present during the show. We do want a brief description of the quilt, who made it and other relevant information. If you have a quilt(s) you would like to display, please contact margoc@tds.net or call 226-7807.
Cavendish Business Directory
In the 1869 Beers Atlas, there were 53 businesses listed in the “Town of Cavendish Business Directory,” which included Proctorsville. In the April 2010 edition, compiled by CHS, there are 127 businesses. In both, home-based business, or self-employed, was the norm. However, in 1869, there were 21 farms versus the two listed in the most recent edition. Jobs such as tanners, carriage maker, blacksmith, wheelwright do not appear on our current list. The woolen industry, with four related businesses, is still present today in the form of Six Loose Ladies, fiber shop in Ludlow and several fiber artists. Interestingly, no artists appeared in the 1869 version, but Cavendish boosts a growing number of them.
Copies of the 2010 Cavendish Business Directory are available at the Town Office, Cavendish Library, CHS and by e-mailing margoc@tds.net for a PDF version.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Young Historians: Easter and 1939
During the 1930’s, children dyed eggs. Many kids in Cavendish would have used homemade dyes. Eggs would be placed in a pot with red onionskins and boiled. They would also use red cabbage leaves, spinach leaves, as well as strong brewed coffee. There were egg dye kits, similar to the PAAS dyes of today, some featured Mickey Mouse.
Because jellybeans looked like bird eggs, they were added to Easter baskets in the 1930s. We will be making paper baskets for your jellybeans. If you want the directions for the basket, go to http://www.giddygreetings.com/2010/02/easy-paper-basket.html
Our History Timeline is now up to 1939. On Easter Sunday of that year, the African American singer Marian Anderson wasn’t allowed to sing at Constitution Hall. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) owned the Hall. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady, quit the DAR in protest. She supported the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in an Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial. You can see a video of her singing “My Country Tis of Thee” that day. The concert was attended by 75,000 people and was listened to by millions via the radio.
Other events in 1939 included:
• The movie of the year was “The Wizard of Oz.” Also very popular that year were “Gone with the Wind” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
• Popular songs included: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow;” “Tuxedo Junction,” Three Little Fishes and “I Got Rhythm.”
• “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck is published. This book tells the story of an “Oakie” family who leaves the “dust bowl” and heads to California.
• German troops are marching in to European countries, including Poland. London, England prepares for war. London children are sent to the country.
• The New York World’s Fair begins and includes the first exhibition of television
• The first regular transatlantic passenger air service begins when PanAm flies 22 passengers from New York to Portugal.
• “Yearling” by Marjorie Rawlins wins the Pulitzer Prize.
• Nylon stockings are sold for the first time in the United States.
• The World Series is won by the New York Yankees. Lou Gehrig makes his famous speech, letting his fans know that he is sick. As a result, the disease ALS is more commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
• In October, President Roosevelt closes all US ports to submarines.
• The NFL championship is won by the Green Bay Packers.
Because jellybeans looked like bird eggs, they were added to Easter baskets in the 1930s. We will be making paper baskets for your jellybeans. If you want the directions for the basket, go to http://www.giddygreetings.com/2010/02/easy-paper-basket.html
Our History Timeline is now up to 1939. On Easter Sunday of that year, the African American singer Marian Anderson wasn’t allowed to sing at Constitution Hall. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) owned the Hall. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady, quit the DAR in protest. She supported the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in an Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial. You can see a video of her singing “My Country Tis of Thee” that day. The concert was attended by 75,000 people and was listened to by millions via the radio.
Other events in 1939 included:
• The movie of the year was “The Wizard of Oz.” Also very popular that year were “Gone with the Wind” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
• Popular songs included: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow;” “Tuxedo Junction,” Three Little Fishes and “I Got Rhythm.”
• “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck is published. This book tells the story of an “Oakie” family who leaves the “dust bowl” and heads to California.
• German troops are marching in to European countries, including Poland. London, England prepares for war. London children are sent to the country.
• The New York World’s Fair begins and includes the first exhibition of television
• The first regular transatlantic passenger air service begins when PanAm flies 22 passengers from New York to Portugal.
• “Yearling” by Marjorie Rawlins wins the Pulitzer Prize.
• Nylon stockings are sold for the first time in the United States.
• The World Series is won by the New York Yankees. Lou Gehrig makes his famous speech, letting his fans know that he is sick. As a result, the disease ALS is more commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
• In October, President Roosevelt closes all US ports to submarines.
• The NFL championship is won by the Green Bay Packers.
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