Cavendish Historical Society News

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

CHS Summer 2023 Newsletter

This is a special edition of the newsletter. While we want to make note of one of the Cavendish Historical Society’s (CHS) most dedicated members, Gloria Leven, we also want to document the historic activities of the July 2023 floods.

Unfortunately, activities we had planned for the summer, several hikes and more, will have to wait until next season. However, it is safe to hold the Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk on Sept. 12 (Sunday) at 2pm. We will begin at the Museum with the talk. It’s about ¾ of a mile to the accident site, so please wear comfortable shoes.

OUR YOUNG HISTORIANS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

A component of the CHS Young Historians program, Preserve and Serve, has students from Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) providing an array of community services including fall and spring chores for both town gardens as well as for neighbors. In early June, the CTES 6^th grade went to Gloria Leven’s house to rake, prune, plant and prepare for the summer. Gloria was a month shy of her 100^th birthday. She was so pleased she wrote the following note:

Dear Margo & Robin & all wonderful kids and helpers-

What can I say?

Your cheerful, happy giving of your selves to clean up my yard and work together to make my backyard lovely and cared for is beyond my thanks.

The fun of giving is so beautiful!

I have no words to tell you what it means for me to see children happily working and realizing what their giving is such a wonderful learning for them-to be helping others!

All my thanks to all the kids-and to the lovely adults!

Love,

Gloria Leven

Before the students arrived, Gloria wondered how she was so lucky to have people helping her. I assured her that we were returning the favor as for so many years Gloria gave of herself, whether it was for CHS, the school or the library, she has been Cavendish’s #1 volunteer.

A special thanks to Dr. John Rice, who drove the bus with the students to Gloria’s and stayed to help prune, rake and motivate.

JULY 2023 FLOODS

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and we’ve gathered various photographs to do just that. The drone shot by Allen Clark gives a good indication of the flooding of Cavendish village. While Mack Molding was surrounded by water, the mitigation measures taken after Irene helped them reopen within a day of the event, versus the month or more after Irene. However, they didn’t “drain the swamp” before someone decided to go kayaking in the parking lot.

With 98% of Cavendish in the Black River watershed, not only did the River come roaring through the villages, but brooks, streams, and other tributaries of the River caused incredible flooding. And it just wasn’t confined to July 9-10. Flash floods continued for the next several weeks. Roads that were put back together, once again washed out.

While Irene was considered a once in a 100 year flood, these events, thanks to climate change, are more likely to be once every 5-10 years, with potentially shorter intervals.

According to Time Magazine, The extreme flooding unusually occurred as El Nino, a climate phenomenon, has begun. Across the northern U.S. and Canada El Niño typically brings warm, dryer temperatures, while the southern U.S. faces greater precipitation and flooding. A slow-moving storm system stuck between Greenland and Canada and incoming tropical moisture from the south were the main cause of this week’s storms. However, the extreme rainfall is also indicative of greater changes caused by climate change. Flooding will only become more common as the atmosphere becomes warmer, causing the air to hold greater moisture and thus create more precipitation.

A good day for kayaking

Sign by Lily Calabrese

July 9 was preparation day for the town crew, fire departments and shelter team. Sleep wasn’t coming easy, as both fire departments bedded town for the night at their respective stations, and cell phones were constantly beeping with updates. At one point, phones literally screamed, a sound few had ever heard before, as the flood warning was in full alert.

By 6 am, water rescues were underway and the Cavendish Shelter, located at the Cavendish Baptist Church, was in full swing.

Quickly filling up, everyone was welcome including dogs and cats. At one point, it appeared the Church’s parking area was going to flood. Cyrus Gross, all of 15, dug a trench to re direct the water with his father’s tractor.

On July 11, the Cavendish Update reported, So many people have stepped to the plate and are helping in the most unbelievable ways. Our first responders-Cavendish and Proctorsville Fire Departments-are doing an incredible job at rescue and keeping people safe. The shelter crew is keeping people fed and housed. The town office is answering calls and helping to guide help where it’s needed. Most of all thank you to the people of Cavendish for keeping it together and doing what we always do-take care of one another. If you have to have this kind of emergency, there is no better place to be than Cavendish.

Outer Limits

Murdocks

While lots of pictures were being taken during the rain, it wasn’t until the morning after that the extent of the damage could be seen. Fortunately there was no “Cavendish Canyon” and the repairs made after Irene held . However, 131 between Brook Rd and the intersection of 131 and 106 was wrecked and had to be closed. As of Aug. 15, it’s still closed, with no date for re-opening.

Depot St. by Train tracks

Depot Street once again was hard hit. Train tracks were twisted. Debris was everywhere and homes that had been damaged in Irene seemed to have had more damage than from that tropical storm.

House on Depot

Having been through it before, people knew that the first order of business was to drain the basements, clear out the muck and begin mold remediation. However, this turned out to be easier said than done. The constant rains created conditions that were not conducive to drying out. Further, many properties not impacted by Irene, were dealing with flooded basements, damaged driveways and roads along with overflowing culverts. Few in Cavendish were spared one issue or another.

"Irene lasted for about 24 hours. It was raining one day. It was a Sunday afternoon, and then I think it was Monday, we woke up... the sun was shining. And we went out to look at the damage and we were able to get to work immediately, said Gov. Phil Scott. Unfortunately, it started raining on Sunday July 9th and continued throughout July 10th.

HOW CAVENDISH RESPONDED

Store Manager Steve

Once again the people of Cavendish rallied. Not only did the shelter remain open for two weeks, but it’s currently serving as the base for the Mennonite Disaster Relief teams that have come to help restore and rebuild in the Okemo Valley.

Cyrus & Rodney walking Depot St.

In the two weeks the Shelter was open, over 2,000 meals were provided. Unlike Irene, where it was three weeks before power and water were restored, the water system held and power was restored within 21 hours town wide. Consequently, instead of coming to the shelter for meals, many wanted to stay home and work. Meals were delivered to homes, work crews and even the flaggers. As one of the women flaggers on Route 131, when asked if she needed anything, noted. “I’ve got Rodney.”

Originally from Cavendish, Rodney now lives in Tinmouth, VT. He came almost daily for about 10 days delivering breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with drinks and snacks. Some will remember Cara Tyrrel and her daughters pulling their wagon on Depot filled with food and water following Irene. Once again Cara and her daughter Caroline were pulling a new wagon in the Depot Street area.

Store Manager Steve (Steve Jobrack) kept customers happy by helping them shop for the right items they needed for cleaning, as well as food, snacks and other items. However, his buttoning skills left a bit to be desired, as he modeled a shirt someone had donated.

Store in the Pews

Because the Shelter store took up the pews of the Baptist Church, Sunday service was held at the Cavendish Stone Church, just across the street. Abe is definitely a pulpit preacher.

Abe Gross at the Stone Church

Mike helping out

McNamara, as he did after Irene, was lending a hand where ever it was needed. His nickname this time was “Mr. Clean,” as he never left the shelter without loading up his truck with cleaning supplies. His daughter Kelly made the most incredible meals for the shelter - no one will ever forget her amazing breakfast sandwiches. Diane, who is Cavendish’s Town Clerk, was manning the phones while her family was in the kitchen and on the streets.

Since Abe Gross is the pastor of the Cavendish Baptist Church it wasn’t surprising to see his entire family involved in all aspects of running the shelter, be it laundry, meals, cleaning, dog walking, making beds, answering phones, stocking the store, answering questions and more. Cyrus hasn’t slowed down a minute. If he’s not on the tractor, he’s helping to hang dry wall in some of the homes where he tore it out.

Many have responded in so many different ways. One of my favorites was the Goodman’s setting up their pizza truck in front of their house on Depot St. treating their neighbors and community. The concert series continued, though several of the concerts were held on school grounds. Even the annual Tag Sale happened but was held over two days because of the rain.

As we pass the one month mark of the flood, this recovery is much different than Irene. Property owners and Ludlow have sustained a lot more damage than in 2011. Many thought they’d never see another such event in their life time after Irene. Now there are comments about climate change, hazardous mitigation, buyouts, moving and the concern of what the fall hurricane season will bring. The Black River, as photographed on August 14, continues to flow through our town where we are Vermont Strong, Cavendish Safe.

View from Mill St. Bridge

BECOME A MEMBER, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, DONATE

If you have not joined the Cavendish Historical Society, need to renew your membership, and/or would like to be a volunteer, please complete the form below and sending a check, payable to CHS, to CHS, PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142. All contributions are tax deductible.

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

Phone Number: _____________________ E-Mail: ____________________________

Membership Level

__ Individual Member $10 __ Senior Member 65+ $5 __ Sustaining Member $500

__ Household Member $15 ___ Contributing Member $250

Volunteer

___ I would be interested in serving, as a volunteer .I would be interested in serving on the following committee(s):__ Program Planning __ Fundraising __ Building (Museum)

__Archives _ Budget –– Cemetery __ Carmine Guica Young Historians

Donations are always welcome and can be designated as follows:

__ For general purposes __ Young Historians __Publications

__ Archaeological Activities _ Museum & Archival __ Special Events

__ Rankin Fund __ Williams Fund __ Solzhenitsyn Project

__ Other (please specify) __ Cemetery Restoration __ Preservation Projects

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

CHS Briefs August 2023

As you probably already know, Cavendish was hit hard by flooding in July. It’s not surprising, considering climate change, we now receive 35% more rain than we did in the early 1900s, and most importantly, 98% of Cavendish is within the Black River watershed.

Today’s update will be short, as we’re preparing a special summer edition of the newsletter featuring what’s happened in Cavendish these last three weeks-sort of a keep sake edition.

There are two things we want to make note of:

• Activities we had planned, like the hike to the Proctorsville Quarry, we can’t do now. However, we are able to hold the Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, which begins at 2 pm at the Museum with the talk on Sept 12 (Sunday). It’s about ¾ of a mile to the accident site. Please wear comfortable shoes.

• We will be participating in a Crown Point Road Association event that you are invited to. This is

Coffeen Cemetery

a guided outing in Cavendish, Saturday,12^th. We will visit CPRA markers 24 through 29. Highlights will include a short, uphill hike from marker 29 to the grave of an unknown soldier, a visit to Coffeen Cemetery (marker 29 A) where local historian Margo Caulfield will share some history and another short, uphill hike to the Old Cemetery (marker 27). We will pass period homes and cellar holes and learn some genealogy of early settlers. Meet at the Cavendish Historical Society for a 10:00 am departure. Please carpool where possible as parking is limited along the roads. Sturdy walking shoes, bug spray and water are recommended. FMI: lonnielisai@gmail.com

Saturday, July 1, 2023

CHS Briefs July 2023

The June Brief is also available at the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) blog. If you have questions, would like to volunteer with CHS, or have items for the CHS Cares Closet or Gloria’s Corner please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 29 (Saturday): Town Wide Tag Sale. The CHS) booth will be at the Gazebo on the Proctorsville Green. 9-2 pm

Sept.10 (Sunday): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, 2pm begins at the Museum with the talk. It’s about ¾ of a mile to the accident site. Please wear comfortable shoes.

We are scheduling two hikes-the Proctor Piper trail (see the remnants of the Conservation Corp work from the 1930s) and the Proctorsville Quarry. These will take place in July and August. Information on both will be posted in various locations, including the Cavendish Facebook page and print publication. Please contact us at the numbers above if you have questions.

The Museum is now open on Sundays from 2-4 pm and other times by appointment.

CELEBRATING GLORIA: One of the originals of the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS), Gloria Leven is turning 100 on July 11. As her husband Seymour would describe her, “she’s a lover,” and she certainly showed her love of CHS in many ways.

She was particularly fascinated by clothing of the different eras and could spend hours with the various items donated, holding a fashion show one year and making sure there was a yearly new display. Gloria insisted that specific outreach be offered to schools and a teacher be recruited from the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) to be a board member. Jenn Harper joined the board and through her role with CHS, the Young Historian’s program was launched. One of our first projects was a club for students. Focusing on the 1930s that year, Gloria and her husband came in and demonstrated how to “Lindy.”

Today the Young Historians has grown offering a wide array of programs, field trips, “Preserve and Serve” (community support) and more. We want to add another component in Gloria’s honor.

Gloria not only loves kids, but she's always making something. She's probably taken most of the classes at Fletcher Farm Craft School. Even now, if you visit, you'll find a sewing project on the table in her living room.

The literature is extensive on how art and creating things supports both emotional and physical well-being. Maybe that’s Gloria’s secret to making it to 100. However, she grew up in an era where TV, AI, computers, social media, gaming systems etc. weren’t vying for our attention.

To encourage our students to find the peace and comfort Gloria finds in being a “maker,” we’re creating "Gloria's Corner" for classrooms and the learning center at CTES. When students have a free moment, they can go to the "Corner" and pull out a project to work on.

The items contained will have relevance to history. For example, when the students go to Coolidge, they see the quilt that the former president made when he was a boy-all hand sewn. To that end there would be odds and ends of fabric to make a quilt square. Many of our students were enthralled with the sock knitting machine at the Shaker Village in Enfield, so they'd might like to try their hand at using a “knitting Nancy,” pot holder loom, macrame etc. Some of the students were fascinated by writing the preamble to the Constitution with "quill" pens, so calligraphy sets will be available so they can learn more.

If you are interested in helping with Gloria’s Corner, either through donations of volunteer time, items for the Corner or financial support, please contact us at the numbers above. At the moment, we’re collecting knitting nancies.

CATALOGUING CHS'S FIBER COLLECTION: We are thrilled to announce that Karen “Ren” Antonowicz will start volunteering this week to help CHS better care and catalogue our collection of clothing and quilts. Ren operates “Spirits of Fashion,” to feed her love of historic costumes. We’ve connected her with “Calvin” at the Coolidge Foundation and we hope this fall, when we take CTES students to visit the homestead, “Calvin” will be joined by his wife “Grace,” played by Ren.

THANK YOU CENTURA CHURCHILL: In the style of her dad, Dan, Centura was kind enough to do readings as part of CHS’s Annual Ghost Walk, which because of our never ending rain, became a ghost talk. We’re happy to see that Centura has found a second home in the old Duttonsville School House and is making many renovations, while still keeping her Dad’s business going. The CHS archives are still housed there and can be accessed by contacting us at the numbers above.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Spring Newsletter 2023

PLANT SALE & MUSEUM OPENING

If you receive the Cavendish Historical Society’s (CHS) Monthly Briefs, you already know that a diesel oil spill occurred behind the Museum in April. However, since then, they’ve started clearing out the contaminated soil and have assured us that we can hold the plant sale there Memorial weekend. So the plant sale will be at the Museum, May 26 (Friday) 5:30-7 pm for the early bird special and on Saturday, May 27 from 9-noon.

If you are interested in our special salad buckets ($15) and container tomato plants (cherry, sun gold or Early girl) please order as soon as possible by calling 802-226-7807 or e-mailing margocaulfield@icloud.com. Be specific about the types of tomatoes you would like.

Because we weren’t sure we could use the Museum, we have programs planned at various locations in town for June. Consequently, the Museum opens on Sundays starting June 25^th from 2-4pm. Visits at other times can be arranged by calling or e-mailing.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 26 : Early bird plant sale 5:30-7:00 CHS Museum. Orders for container tomato plants (cherry, early girl, sun gold $10) or salad buckets ($15) must be made ASAP using the contact information above.

May (Saturday): Plant Sale in front of the Museum 9-12.

June 4 (Sunday): Dan Churchill’s Memorial, 2pm at his former home/business 66 Duttonsville School Dr, Cavendish. All are welcome.

June 11 (Sunday): Talk on Peter Tumbo, the Revolutionary War Veteran and former slave who lived in Cavendish and died at 106. 2 pm at the Cavendish Stone Church on Route 131. Park across the street at the Cavendish Baptist Church

June 17 (Saturday): Cavendish Village Ghost Walk, Meet at the old Duttonsville School 66 Duttonsville School Dr, Cavendish, at 8 pm, wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight.

June 28 (Sunday): Museum opens for the season on Sundays from 2-4 pm

July 29 (Saturday): Town Wide Tag Sale. The CHS) booth will be at the Gazebo on the Proctorsville Green.

Sept.10 (Sunday): Annual Phineas Gage Walk & Talk, 2pm begins at the Museum with the talk. It’s about ¾ of a mile to the accident site. Please wear comfortable shoes.

MEMORIAL DAY: REMEMBERING THOSE FROM CAVENDISH WHO GAVE ALL

Memorial Day is when we remember those who died while in service to their country. Started as a Civil War remembrance, James A. Garfield, when he was an Ohio Congressman and a former Civil War Union General, stated at the commemoration of Arlington National Cemetery, We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”

Revolutionary War: Soldiers who died in and around Cavendish, particularly on the Crown Point Road, were buried in the Coffeen and Revolutionary cemeteries and in private graves.

Civil War: More soldiers died of disease during the Civil War than were killed in battle. Intestinal disorders such as diarrhea, typhoid fever, and dysentery were rampant in the camps, along with various types of fevers, measles, chicken pox, mumps, whooping cough, and small pox. Men who left their home towns for the first time were exposed to new diseases that they had no immunities against. A lack of sanitation and close quarters contributed to the spread of disease, and poor food, lack of shelter, and a lack of proper clothing increased their severity. In the field, a common cold could quickly become pneumonia. Army War College.

Of the 173 names appearing on the Cavendish civil war memorial: 14 died in battle/wounds, 1 in prison, 13 while in the service from disease); two were lost at sea; one was drown and one was missing in action.

Died from disease: Jesse Adams; Sylvanus S. Barnard; Thomas W. Demary; Henry C. Fletcher; Nathan Graves; Myron Hicks; Chancellor Paige; Otto Rimley; Michael Shannon; Charles Spaulding; George Taylor; William Webster; Henry P White

Died in Battle or from wounds: Joseph Ashley (Gettysburg); Zaccheus Blood (Winchester); Henry G. Fillebrown (Petersburg); John Quincy French (Wilderness); John L. Hemenway; Horace Needham (Petersburg); Wesley Sheldon (Cedar Creek); John Smith (Petersburg); Nicholas Smith (Spotsylvania); Matthew Stewart; George Wallis; James Webster (Cold Harbor); Luther Graves Lee’s Mills; Merritt White

Lost on steamer “North America” off Cape Hatteras Hial W. Holden and Lowell B. Paine.

Other: George Smith: Drowned in Rio Grande River and Henry Spaulding died in Andersonville Prison; Charles Stockdale Missing in Action Crampton’s Gap

Spanish American War: Six men served with one, Ernest Grout, dying

World War I: Fifty seven men and one woman enlisted. Four men died, George Dixon, Winthrop Hoyle, Truman McNulty and Francis Wallace. Winthrop Hoyle was 16 and died from nephritis in Rhode Island. The American Legion Wallace Mcnulty Holye Post was named in honor of these veterans.

World War II: 168 men and one woman served with seven men dying during the course of the war. Ted Berg, Harold Davy, Duane Hodge , Kenneth Hodge, Morris Percy, Edward Sherer Jr and H. Allen Spaulding.

WWII was the last war in which a person from Cavendish died in service.

BICENTENNIAL JEEP TOUR 1975: Part 2

This is the second part of the Jeep Tour that we found while doing an inventory and assessment of CHS’s archives this winter. Part 1 is in the winter issue of the newsletter and begins at the Museum and ends at the Twenty Mile Stream Cemetery. We will soon offer a PDF of the entireTour, which you can obtain via the contact information at the beginning of the Newsletter.

Note that the date listed on the various drafts is 1975.

Special thank you to Hollis Quinn and Tim O’Donoghue for helping with the Newton Road area. We particularly liked that Hollis’s father borrowed his jeep for the tour. According to Jennifer Stowell, who went on the tour, Mary Churchill was one of the leaders.

Between the Twenty Mile Stream Cemetery (TMS) and Chapman Road, the following would have been in close proximity to the stream

27. Early Hop Farm—Coopershop & Hop Kiln building 1826

28. Tavern—Samuel Hutchinson 1890

29. Tannery- Zenus Clark 1825 In 1855, the Tannery was on the left hand side of the road, just after Quent Phelan Rd

30. Adams Sawmill and Cider Mill: Right hand side of the road between Quent Phelan Rd and Chapman Rd.

31. Twenty Mile Stream Old Schoolhouse on left ca 1800 On the corner of TMS and Chapman. This was known as the Wigwam. In 1861, during the Civil War, because of the influx of mill workers (they were making the cloth for the Union Army) many of the school houses were replaced. The Wheeler School was built across the street from the Wigwam. Once erected, the Wigwam was torn down.

32. Twenty Mile Stream Schoolhouse 1860 on right: On TMS near Chapman. Known as the Wheeler School. When the Wheeler School was built, Colonel Wheeler deeded the building and an acre or two to the school district. The building and land were to be returned to the farm if the school ceased operation, which it did, in 1954 or 55.

33. Wheeler Farm 1797 on road to Kingdom: Chapman and TMS. Area is also known as the Riford Farm who built the Arts and Crafts “bungalow” across from the farm.

34. Samuel Dix settled across the brook-near here the two CPR [Crown Point Road] routes joined: Across the street from the Bates Mansion

35. Bates Mansion: James Bates built the Mansion on left 1894 (Mad Wives Stable): He was a miller and had a mill above the bridge on the brook.

36. Crown Point Road (CPR) crosses TMS road and crosses brook to encampment. James Hall’s blacksmith shop was located on the CPR Road.

Not mentioned in the 1975 Tour is Meadowbrook Rd: A flagstaff was erected on Meadowbrook, close to the intersection of TMS, which, marks the exact site of the Twenty-mile encampment. The plaque reads, “On the meadow near this spot was located the Twenty Mile Encampment on the line of the British Military Road. Built by order of General Amherst from Fort No.4 (Charlestown NH) to Crown Point and Fort Ticonderoga. Construction begun October 1768 at Lake Champlain by Maj. John Hawks; Eastern part from Connecticut River to Mountains. Built in spring of 1780 by Col.John Goff. This tablet erected 1908 by descendants of the first settlers. Note that the shaft was from the capstone of the Ordway Mill and is etched with-D & Z K. ORDW, the initials of David and Zephania K. Ordway.

37. Smithville: This was a village at one time including a woolen mill, sawmill, grist mill, oil mill, potash, store, fulling mill, blacksmith shops etc. This area was probably named after the Smith family. James Smith came to Cavendish about 1790 and ultimately built a farm on TMS. His son William set up various businesses as did James including woolen goods, starch and farming. The area in and around Newton Rd would have encompassed this village.

38. Newton Rd to right joins up Weeks Road. Harmony Hall homestead stood on the corner (left). It was built before 1800 by James Smith who was known as an “Industrial tycoon.” The directions also note There was an early saw and gristmill on a brook on the right above Mrs. Newton’s. Mrs. Edward Newton’s residence built about 1800 probably by James Smith. The property has been significantly modified and would have once stood at 41 Newton Rd.

Newton Rd at one time, connected to Weeks Rd, which was a direct route to the S. Reading Rd. There is no longer a Weeks Road, instead Newton Rd dead ends. The 1975 directions state, “Turn left on Weeks Road—then go thru the Churchill’s Parker lot. Capt. Joshua Parker settled on this lot before 1780 close to the Military Rd. His son, Joshua Jr. settled on the next lot. Capt. Joshua moved over near him. Capt. Joshua led Westford, Mass troops in the battle of Bunker Hill It’s no longer possible to access the S. Reading Road in this direction.

In order to access the last two stops on the 1975 tour, turn around and head south on TMS to Heald Rd. Turn left. Stay on Heald until it intersects with the S. Reading Rd. Turn left onto the S. Reading Rd.

39. Coffeen Cemetery & Homestead: The cemetery is located at 817 S. Reading Rd.-left hand side; the second home Coffeen built is on the right. It was used as a tavern and was built on the Military Road in 1775

40. Baldwin’s/Mrs. Derby’s House: Continue on the S. Reading Rd. To the left at the top of the hill was where Isaac Baldwin, son of Thomas settled in 1782. It is now owned by a daughter of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt. Note: The property is now owned by Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s descendants. Terrific views can be seen from there.

FLORENCE EDDY

Some will have known Mrs. Eddy from her time as school nurse. However, many more remember the picture of Florence hanging on the wall and peering over her daughter-in-law’s shoulder when Doris Eddy was the school nurse at Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). Doris sent the following piece about her mother-in-law and has donated the picture that hung in the nurse’s office at CTES. It will now be part of the Museum’s “People of Cavendish Corner.”

Mrs Eddy was the school nurse from 1948-1966 for the entire district which included Proctorsville, Cavendish , Baltimore, Chester, Andover, Peru, Londonderry, and Landgrove schools. In many of the towns there was more than one school to visit, so she covered 12 schools at one time before the little one room school houses were consolidated into the bigger schools Many of these one room school houses were on dirt roads which were almost impassable in winter and mud season. Mrs. Eddy was one of the first school nurses in the state of Vermont. In the early years she also attended to the sick in her own community as what would be called visiting nurses today. She had a close professional association with Dr.Holmes in Ludlow and cared for many of his patients in the Proctorsville and Cavendish. When anyone needed her, she was always available for them.

It was her responsibility to administer all the vaccines which included smallpox. The polio epidemic was during her time and remember well lining up to receive the vaccine. All eye and ear screenings were done by her for every grade. Imagine she had to carry the eye and hearing machine to every school. Also, cod liver pills were given if parents signed a permission slip. Cod liver capsules were to give the children along with vitamin A and D. There were always endless cases of head lice. If there was an emergency in one of the schools she was called from that school to go to whatever school she was needed. She had endless energy and certainly was a one nurse show.

Her dress was always a crisp white uniform, nurses hat , white seamed stockings and white square heeled shoes. There was always a bright colored handkerchief carefully placed in her breast pocket with her nursing pin attached to it.

Mrs Eddy grew up in Proctorsville, graduated from Ludlow Academy and Mary Fletcher School of Nursing. Came back to Proctorsville and married Herbert Eddy Sr. The had one son Herbert Eddy Jr. She was member of Gethsemane church where she was a devoted parishioner. Two challis were given in her memory. Her grandfather Richardson was a civil war veteran from eastern Tennessee( Union ) and is buried in Cavendish Cemetery.

Mrs Eddy set the standard for the future school nurses that followed her with dedication, caring and professionalism. It is always important to remember those who came before us as they provided valuable service in the past to their communities.