Thursday, April 27, 2017
Wine Tasting to Benefit the Cavendish Historical Society
Thank you to Brook Farm Vineyards for sponsoring this event. Please order early as tickets are limited.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
CHS Briefs April 1, 2017
Please check the Cavendish VT Facebook page for photo albums of
various CHS activities.
WHAT’S NEW
Annual Meeting: CHS’s Annual Meeting was on March 5. It was great to see so many kids
(seven) who came to learn about the “strange” side of Cavendish. One boy stayed
for the business meeting because he said, “I like learning about this.” At the
Annual Meeting, the following was agreed to:
• Rename the Young
Historians Program to the Carmine Guica Young Historians Program (CGYH). Funds
donated in his name will be earmarked specifically to help offset the costs of
the programs at Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES).
• Since the Catholic Church is
no longer able to offer a luncheon after Memorial Day activities, it was
suggested that CHS could work with the respective churches-Cavendish Baptist
when the ceremony is at the High Street Cemetery and Gethsemane Episcopal when
it’s held at Hillcrest- in providing a lunch as a show of respect for our
veterans. See Memorial Day in the Upcoming Activities section for more
information.
• The activities for the
coming year will include: Continued renovations of the Cavendish Stone Church;
Installing the new doors on the Museum; planning for the 100th
anniversary of Solzhenitsyn’s birth in 2018; and to have sufficient fundraising
to offset expenses.
 |
| An Irish knot made |
 |
| Bruce McEnaney talking to the 3rd graders about the Irish in Cavendish. |
School Program: Grades
3, 5 and 6th learned a lot about the Irish in Vermont and Cavendish
as part of CHS’s annual St. Patrick’s Day program. This year, everyone (staff,
students, faculty, visitors) colored a section of a Celtic knot. A wall hanging was created and hangs in the school's hallway. Thank you Becky Plunkard for
jumping in at the last minute and helping.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Solzhenitsyn 100th Anniversary in 2018: CHS is talking to the Russian
Departments at various colleges and universities about collaborating on a year
long series of events pertaining to the 100th birthday of Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn on Dec. 11, 2018. To that end, Dartmouth, University of
Vermont and Middlebury College have expressed interest in working with us.
Some of the activities being discussed include: Governor declaration of 2018 as
the "VT Tribute Year to Solzhenitsyn" (this would be done with the help of UVM’s
Office of Governmental Affairs); series of lectures throughout the state
working with VT Humanities Council, Elder Hostel, Osher Lifelong Lecture Series
etc.; holding a special weekend Elder Hostel event in Cavendish; opening of
CHS’s permanent Solzhenitsyn exhibit at the Cavendish Stone Church.
Stone Church: The
first order of business is to take care of the powder post beetles that were
discovered in the vestibule in January. The exterminator explained
that until we had warmer temperatures the chemicals needed to remove the
beetles wouldn’t be effective. The belfry beams, which are currently housed in
the church, will be installed. Outside painting of doors, shutters etc.
 |
| These were most likely the original doors but for various reasons wooden panels were removed and glass panes installed. |
Museum:
Installation of the new doors, which wintered over inside the Museum. These
will be very similar to the original doors that would have been installed in
1834, so no windows.
Memorial Day: CHS
has been working with Bruce McEnaney, who is both Cavendish’s Assistant Town
Manager and CHS board member, on Memorial Day activities. In order to promote environmental
conservation and reduce the use of plastics, the wreath tossed into the Black River will be made from natural fibers. Planters will be placed in front of each war
memorial and will be filled with red, white and blue annual flowers. The 6th
graders will be making poppies for the day’s event and the Cavendish Baptist
Church has agreed to host the luncheon following the parade and service at the
Cavendish Village Cemetery.
Cemeteries: The 6th
graders will be placing flags on the graves of veterans in all of the town maintained
cemeteries as well as removing winter debris on May 15. This is a daylong
activity and volunteers will be needed. In June, the 6th grade will
be cleaning gravestones.
 |
| A young Carmine Guica. |
Carmine Guica Young Historians: A series of activities are being planned
with the 6th graders including a panel on immigration and interviews
and recording of Cavendish ghost stories with LPC-TV.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you can help with any of the following, please
contact CHS margocaulfield@icloud.com; 802-226-7807 or PO
Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142
 |
| Craig Rankin's Original Plant Sale List |
• Annual Plant Sale, which will be July 2 (Saturday).
Do you have plants you like to contribute? Are their plants you’d like to see
us carry this year? Other suggestions?
• The Museum is in desperate need of a deep cleaning.
Do you have some time to spare to help with this activity? It’s a great way to
learn about what’s in the Museum.
• CHS is looking for new board members as well as
volunteers who can help with various activities.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Do You Know the Henry James Farm?
We've solved the mystery. Turns out the name was William James, for the psychologist and philosopher, and a former Civilian Conservation Camp (CCC) in Sharon VT was renamed accordingly. Turns out this individual was never in Cavendish but rather in Sharon VT.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Annie's Grave/Annual Meeting
As part of Sunday's, March 5, Annual Meeting (3-5 pm at the Cavendish Baptist Church), we will be telling stories that you may have never heard of.
Recently, CHS learned of a song “Annie’s Grave” that was published by Melvin Wright of Proctorsville, VT. The song is typical of the era it was written in -1865
Throughout
his career, he wrote some twenty-five songs— both the words and the music —many
of which were published, copyrighted, and became well known and popular in
their day. Among the most widely known are “Annie’s Grave,” “Meet me Josie at
the Gate,” “Drifting with the Tide,” “Give me the Man who is True to his
Neighbor,” etc. All of his songs had the theme of high morals and
sentimentality. He also wrote church music, some of which he published, and all
of which were used in the Union Choir at Reading, one time or another. George
also sung in this Union Choir, and led the group for many years.
Recently, CHS learned of a song “Annie’s Grave” that was published by Melvin Wright of Proctorsville, VT. The song is typical of the era it was written in -1865
I remember well the time tho’twas many year
ago,
When I wooed and won the love of dear Annie.
Oh, the time went swiftly by like a sweet
gliding Stream
For my young heart was happy, light and free
But that happy time is past and my hair is
turning gray
For that love one I never more shall see
And my heart is sad and lone, as I weep from day to day
Since dear Annie is no longer here with me
Chorus
Oh Annie, dear Annie
Thous art laid where the tall willows wave
And my heart is sad and lonely
Yes my heart is sad and lonely
As I weep o’er dear Annie’s grave.
Twas a bright and sunny morning in the autumn
of the year
When they told me that I’d lost dear Annie.
That her sweet and gentle voice I never more
shall hear
Or her winning smile would beam again on me
In a little green vale where the sweet flowers
bloom
Near the spot where the tall willows wave
They have laid her there in rest and my heart
is sad and lone
As I weep o’er dear Annie’s grave.
Curious about the author and publisher, we
asked CHS genealogist Linda Welch what she might know. It turns out that the
song’s publisher, Melvin Wright lived in Cavendish from at least the 1860’s to
1870’s. His wife Catherine died in 1875 and is buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery
in Proctorsville, along with their child. By 1880, he had remarried and was
living in Saratoga Springs.
Interestingly, Wright served as town agent for
Cavendish in 1868-69. He wrote in his report, "On
coming into office March, 1868, I found the town carrying on three county court
suits. The "Troy case" was carried to a successful termination by the
former agent, though now hanging upon the matter of taxable costs. This town
should receive $300 or more from the same source yet it is unsafe to make any
calculation upon that or any specified amount. The W. B. Davis Road case I
settle by paying the opposing party $8.00, the sum usually charged by an
attorney to get a case "continued." The case Windsor vs. Cavendish, I
have given but little attention as the former agent stated in town meeting that
it was virtually settled and has also assured me that he was making the town no
costs. I did not consider it best to spend any time with it. I have charged the
town for one day on these matters, which included the correspondence with
parties on other smaller matters for the town. —Melvin Wright, Town
Agent."
The
songs author, George M. Clark, lived in Felchville, VT. He was no stranger to
death as his first wife died in childbirth in 1856, having been married for a
little over a year.
In 1860, Clark joined with other musicians and actors
and put a show on the road called the “Broadway Minstrels.” In the spring of
1866, he organized with E. P. Hardy and O. A. Whitmore, a minstrel company that
became widely known in Vermont as “Whitmore & Clark’s Minstrels.” This
company traveled throughout the New England states, New York and the Provinces,
and for twenty-six consecutive years.
Throughout
his career, he wrote some twenty-five songs— both the words and the music —many
of which were published, copyrighted, and became well known and popular in
their day. Among the most widely known are “Annie’s Grave,” “Meet me Josie at
the Gate,” “Drifting with the Tide,” “Give me the Man who is True to his
Neighbor,” etc. All of his songs had the theme of high morals and
sentimentality. He also wrote church music, some of which he published, and all
of which were used in the Union Choir at Reading, one time or another. George
also sung in this Union Choir, and led the group for many years.
On
March 3, 1876: “Geo. M. Clark and his
company gave an entertainment at Eagle Hall Tuesday evening last, consisting of
vocal and instrumental music of a great variety. Hank and George were both
there. If anyone wants to enjoy an evening entertainment, go and see and hear
them, and if you are not satisfied that your 25 cents were well expended, we
are of the opinion that to please you is a very difficult task. As usual when
George comes here, the hall is full, and everyone, young and old, had a good
time, ‘laughed and grew fat.’
Clark
died June 5, 5 June 1885 (age 47) in
Felchville. From his obituary: “The
news of the death of George M. Clark, the well-known and popular showman, was
announced on Friday afternoon of last week, and took many of our citizens by
surprise as it was not known by many that he was not in his usual health until
informed of his demise. His funeral was attended on Sunday at the Baptist
church, which was used because of its superior seating capacity, by Rev. F. S. Rice
of Springfield, assisted by Revs. Luther Rice of Watertown, NY, A. Heald and W.
E. Douglas of Felchville, Masonic Lodges from Cavendish, Springfield,
Woodstock, Windsor, and Claremont, to the number of 160 members, were present,
together with the G. A. R. posts from Windsor and Ludlow and the Good Templars
Lodge of Felchville.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Murdock Returns to Proctorsville
Unfortunately, Murdock’s death in 1916, brought an abrupt end to the mill,
as it revealed the shoddy practices of the second in command.
The mill operated during WWII and changed hands several times, becoming the
Bear Woolen Mill. However, by 1938, this mill had fallen on hard times and
Proctorsville village purchased the building. Various businesses operated out
of it, with the last one being Acousti Phase. A fire destroyed the property in
1982.
However, out of the ashes come great things, and thus, under the direction
of the town manager at the time, Rich Svec, the Proctorsville Green was born,
along with the revitalization of Proctorsville Village. Directly across from
the Green’s gazebo is now the home of Murdock’s Pub in what was once an
original Mill building.
As with so many things with the Cavendish Historical Society, there is a
twist.
After talking with Etienne Ting, the owner of Murdock’s, CHS thought this was
a good time to educate the town about its mill history. As the summer exhibit
was being mounted, who walks into the Museum but the descendants of H.T.
Murdock, donating both the original keys to the Mill along with portraits of
him! With them was Linda Welch, CHS’s genealogist, who provided the family’s
history. Talk about dumb struck. You
couldn’t script something like this.
Note that the timeline of the Cavendish/Proctorsville Mills is being
serialized in the Scribbler II, the CHS newsletter.
Murdock’s on the Green opened on February 17, 2017 to the cheers of many in Cavendish
who have wanted a local place to escape to for a few hours, grab a quick bite
and catch up with friends. Currently open from 4-10 pm, Murdock’s is offering
craft beers, fine wines and the all-important comfort food.
The owner is Etienne Ting, who with his wife Pang, owns Moonlite Meadows
Farms in Cavendish. So yes, this is a farm to table pub.
When we told Murdock’s descendants about the new “Murdock’s” they were pleased
to know that their family once again “lives” in Proctorsville. We agree that
H.T. would be thrilled to see how his old mill building continues to serve the
people of Cavendish.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Scribbler II Winter 2016
ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the
Cavendish Historical Society will be March 5 (Sunday) from 3-5 pm. We will once
again be returning to the Cavendish Baptist Church, which hosted so many meetings
for CHS over the years. After a significant renovation, the downstairs parish
hall is now handicap accessible.
While this edition of the newsletter
contains the President’s Letter, the budget is still being worked on and will
be made available at the meeting. In addition to the business agenda, there
will be a special program Cavendish Believe It or Not! -see the article
below. In addition to the review of
CHS’s finances, the business agenda will include:
•
How to honor Carmine Guica-Suggestions to date have included: restoration
project; renaming Young Historians to the Carmine Guica Young Historians
Program; scholarship fund; fund to help local kids research aspects of
Cavendish history
•
The 100th Birthday of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and how we would like to recognize
that
• The
renovation of the Stone Church
CAVENDISH “BELIEVE IT OR NOT!”
 |
| Alexis St. Marten |
When ever something unique, strange, funny or unusual
happens in town, board member Bruce McEnaney’s comment is “it’s going in the
book.” When Bruce has time to write this book remains to be seen, but in the
interim, we’ve borrowed the title “Cavendish: Believe it or Not!” to be the
theme for the Annual Meeting program.
There are many Cavendish
stories that people don’t know about. Yes, Phineas Gage’s and his famous
accident ushered in the age of brain research. However, another medical
curiosity lived here for at least 10 years. Alexis St. Martin revolutionized
the understanding of gastroenterology with his permanent hole in his gut. A bit
gory, and definitely strange, but oh so fascinating.
 |
| Penguin Ski Hill |
With the snows of February, its fun to remember that
at one time Cavendish had both a top notch bobsled run and its very own skihill. As part of February’s Black History Month, we have once again revisited
the amazing story how an African slave, Peter Tumber (Tumbo) became free, moved
to Cavendish and died here in 1832 at the age of 106. We’ve learned a lot in
the past year that adds even more understanding to the Tumber’s story we
published this time last year. Then there is Clarence Adams. Just who is buried
in his grave? Turns out he visited with a friend in Montreal after his supposed
death and was spotted in Nova Scotia and still later in Florida.
In the last few days we
learned that a “zombie” movie was partially filmed in the Proctor Cemetery in
Proctorsville. We’re trying to obtain a copy of this short film to screen at
the meeting. If you have other tales you’d like to share, we’d love to hear
them.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Cavendish Historical
Society (CHS) “Preserving Cavendish Heritage” committee has made incredible
strides this year. The Civil War Memorial was cleaned, lights replaced and
decorated for the holidays for the first time in many years. The Cavendish
Stone Church’s belfry is undergoing a replacement of beams, resetting of the
bell and making it possible to once again ring it. Rounding out the activities
is the replacement of the doors to the CHS Museum. A dedicated team of
volunteers, headed by master craftsman Dave Stern, spent the summer and fall
restoring doors from the same era as the building. Both the door installation
and the exterior work on the Stone Church Belfry will take place in the
spring. Also on the 2017 preservation
“to do list” is the extension of a stonewall in the new portion of the Twenty
Mile Stream Cemetery.
In June, CHS published Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who
Changed History, a biography for students in grades 4-7. However, many
adults are purchasing the book and the reviews have been positive. I got the book yesterday and it is so beautiful. I am really impressed with
the layout, the photos, the prose and the way the inside covers feature
Solzhenitsyn's writing, in his own hand. It makes you feel like you are getting
a glimpse into his private diary.
 |
| 4th graders with archeologist, chaperones and volunteers. Every student found something. |
The CHS Young Historians
program at Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) continues as a way to teach
town history as well as encourage stewardship. New this year was the 5th
graders joining the 6th graders in RiverSweep. Through the “Pick
Your Own Blueberries,” sponsored by Bruce and Betty McEnaney, we were able to
take the 6th graders to Sturbridge Village once again. While cemetery
cleaning has primarily focused on Hillcrest or Proctor Cemeteries, this spring,
the students placed flags on veterans’ graves and cleaned up debris in six of
the seven town cemeteries.
CHS volunteers are working on the South Champlain Historical Ecology
Project, an archeological dig over 12,000 years old. As a result, CTES 4th
graders were able to visit the site and participate in the dig. One of the
archeologists visited the 5th grade to discuss Mayan Ball Courts. In
the spring, we hope to offer more archeological experiences to other grades.
People come from around the world to visit the Museum. Because Cavendish
history has such international appeal, CHS maintains a very strong web presence
(see URLs above) including various Facebook pages, websites and even posting
lots of historical photos and history to the Cavendish VT Facebook page. Use of
these Internet resources is rapidly growing with thousands using the sites
every week, if not daily.
CHS relies heavily on
contributions from individual donors as well as the town. Whenever possible we
use in-kind donations and volunteers to meet our mission. While we’d normally
list the names of all those who make CHS possible, this year we want to
acknowledge the incredible contribution of Carmine Guica who died, at the age
of 95, in November..
A founding member of CHS, Carmine was also President for a number of years.
He has been an invaluable source of information, researching any request made
of him. Thank you Carmine for making such a difference to our community.
VISITORS TO THE SOLZHENITSYN
EXHIBIT WRITE
In October we had a group of
Chinese dissidents who came to visit the Solzhenitsyn exhibit. We loved what
they wrote in the guest book. Special thanks to Pang Ting and Sze Pang for the
translations.
Because we share
Solzhenitsyn’s trials and ideals, because like him we are living as exiles, we
are the true bearer of Solzhenitsyn’s mantel. Yi Zheng writer
The Chinese have an honorific
title, we add the word ‘old’ in front of a person’s name to express our
respect. I call Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn ‘Old Sol.’
Od Sol belongs not only to
Russia, he belongs to China. He belongs to all suffering humanity seeking
redemption.
The town of Cavendish Vermont
is very fortunate to be the one to have given refuge to and welcomed the great
writer old Sol.
Today the seven of us have
made the pilgrimage to the sacred ground where Old Sol lived and was inspired.
We are honored by this privilege. Wang Kang Scholar
He has left
His voice still echoes
throughout the valleys
Faintly across the centuries
Faintly from the ends of the
earth Yi Ping
poet
Cavendish’s Woolen Mills Timeline: Part II
Part
I of the Cavendish Woolen Mills timeline appeared in the Scribbler II Summer
2016. This issue covers the turbulence period of 1933-1937.
1933: The workers at Gay Brothers
(Cavendish) walked out on a strike followed by the millworkers in Proctorsville
and Ludlow. The workers were afraid that their mill owners were not going to
follow the code provided for in the National Recovery Act (NRA). Leon Gay
assured the workers he was going to sign this agreement and immediately
announced a 10% wage increase and a 40 hour week. The other mill owners
followed suit.
1934: In September, there was a
general strike of textile workers throughout much of Vermont. Ludlow and
Cavendish had not yet joined. Some Ludlow mill workers only made 10¢ an hour
for their work, and although they worked 60 hours a week, they couldn’t feed
their families. Wages were higher in the Cavendish mills. The National Recovery
Act set 35¢ an hour as minimum wage. Many workers were ready to join the United
Textile Workers Union and fight for better pay. The Black Bear employees asked
for a union representative to come down and organize them as they wanted to
join the strike. Louis Guilmet, union
organizer, and about a hundred other union men left Winooski at night to come
to the support of their fellow workers in Proctorsville. Management was
prepared and met the visitors with state troopers. Ninety workers were deputized
and told to bring clubs. “Attempts to
force the closing of Black Bear Mill failed Tuesday, September 11) for the
third time in three days when “flying squadrons,” approximately 300 men from
idle mills in Burlington, Winooski, and Claremont were met at the entrance of
the village by armed deputies and ordered to return to their homes.
(Vermont Tribune). The state trooper would not allow the Winooski men to come
near the mill and Guilmet was advised by the County Sheriff to withdraw.
Guilmet and his party did so and there was no violence.
Some
Gay Brothers workers met Louis Guilmet before he left town and asked him to
meet with them about forming a union. To avoid problems, 27 men met with
Guilmet at a farm in Plymouth a week after the Black Bear incident and
officially organized as Local No. 162, Textile Workers Union of America. Their
leaders advised them that it was not an opportune time to join the general
strike. On September 29, 150 mill workers met in the Cavendish Town Hall to
hear a speech by Guilment, who told them they had the right to unionize under
the National Recovery Act.
1935: A public meeting was held at
the Cavendish Town Hall to protest the firing of a weaver by Gay Brothers. They
voted to strike, production was stopped and a committee, accompanied by
Guilment, called on the Gays. The surprise ending to this incident is that the
Gays did not call out the state troopers but listened to the complaints and
worked out a compromise satisfactory to both sides. The weaver, who had more
than one serious violation of company policy, was given a six week lay-off and
then re-instated. With no written agreement, the Gays had recognized and to a
degree that the union was now part of the Mill. Among mill owners of the time,
this was an unusual stance.
• The
Wagner Act was passed in July 1935, which reaffirmed the rights of labor to
join unions and choose their own representative for collective bargaining.
1936: In March, 150 workers of the
Black Bear Woolen Mill (Proctorsville) did not report to work. Later that day,
14 of the union leaders were fired. The union had been trying to see the owner
to negotiate a wage increase. The owner, Gordon Brown, had two other mills in
New Hampshire, which also went on strike at the same time. Later in March, it
was reported that the mill officials had agreed to confer with the union. They
evidentially changed their minds as on March 26, the strikers reported that the
main issue was no longer wages but full
recognition of the union. Instead of talking with the union, the officials now
posted a notice of dismissing all employees who were out “on holiday.” By now
180 men, almost the entire work force had joined the striking group. They were
paid .35¢ an hour, which gave them $14 for a 40 hour week. Other local mills
were paying $16 a week. The workers returned to work on April 2 when the mill
officials agreed to talk with the union leaders. Gordon Brown died and his sons
took over the running of the Black Bear Mill.
1937: In November, the Black River
Mill closed leaving 200 workers without jobs. Lack of orders and modern
equipment were given as reasons for the closing. Although there were rumors
that the mill would reopen, it never did.
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 __ Hands on History
Donations are always welcome and can be designated as
follows:
__ For
general purposes __ Educational Programs __Publications
__
Archeological Activities _ Museum & Archival __ Special Events
__
Rankin Fund __
Williams Fund __ Solzhenitsyn Project
__
Other (please specify) __ Cemetery Restoration __ Preservation Projects
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