The Cavendish Historical Society Museum will be open this coming Sunday from 2-4 pm. We will have information about the flood of 1927 and are collecting pictures and items from previous floods, including the one from Aug. 28. For more information, margoc@tds.net or 802-226-7807.
The largest flood on record in Vermont caused heavy damage in the Black River Valley, particularly Cavendish. A quarter mile long channel avulsion bypassing the Cavendish Gorge eroded approximately 2 million tons of sediment down to bedrock leaving a channel 150 feed deep and 600 feet wide. Seven houses were washed away and the Duttonsville School ended up protruding over the edge of a high sandbank. Redfield Proctor, former Vermont governor, offered $10,000 to restore the schoolhouse. Olin Gay, Chairman of the School Board, proposed using this gift to move the school to a new location. He also proposed that the town raise an additional $5,000 by taxes to put in an auditorium basement, modernize the heating system and install toilets. The school building was moved on big rollers by oxen and horses 400 feet back to a safer location. It had much better facilities than before the flood. A Vermont Standard School until 1928, thanks to the renovations after the flood, Duttonsville was upgraded to a “Superior School,” a status it retained until closing in 1971.
President Calvin Coolidge telegraphs his cousin, Park Pollard, after the flood, wanting to know what he can do for Cavendish. He sent Herbert Hoover, his Secretary of Commerce, to visit the region and to make recommendations. Two Army engineers came to give technical help about relocating the state road.
Note: Articles from the 1927 Flood, as well as pictures, will be at the Museum on Sunday 2-4 pm.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Museum Closed Today
Given the recent damage to Cavendish from Irene, the Cavendish Historical Society Museum will be closed today. We plan to reopen on Sept. 11. Fortunately, the Museum was not damaged by the flooding.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Cavendish Chronicles II: The Early Years Rescheduled
The play about the early years of Cavendish history has been rescheduled, due to Irene, to Saturday night, September 3 at the Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville. Curtain is 7 pm. This is a free play, but donations are welcome.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Rescheduling Settler's Tour
Due to Irene, the Settler's Tour, planned for Sunday August 28 has been rescheduled to September 25 (Sunday) 2 pm. Meet at the Museum. The Museum will also be closed this Sunday due to weather.
Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Civil War Letters/Play
The play Cavendish Chronicles II: The Early Years will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 7pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville. This is a free play.
The journals and diaries of the Civil War era were often filled with short sentences about daily life. “Hot today. Moving out tomorrow.” It was in the letters that a great deal can be learned about how the soldiers lived and how their families coped with the war. One such example was written to Laura Blood Atherton of Cavendish, by her cousin Marcia Ann (Blood) Marsh of Ware dated March 6, 1863. Marsh writes to Atherton about her brother Henry Sumner Blood who was an assistant surgeon with the 57th Illinois Infantry Regiment.
“You wished to know the particulars. He enlisted into the service in Chicago, Illinois, 57th Regiment, in October. Soon after he was quite sick with a fever. I don’t think he had entirely recovered when he sailed for the field of battle, then living as they did on the boat, and the privations, camping out on the shore, want of suitable food, brought on the dysentery and quick consumption. He wrote to Charles the 24th of February after the battle at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. His Regiment was not in the warmest part of the engagement. He wrote the next day after the battle. He went out on the field and such as sight as met his eyes he never should forget. He could not describe it, he would tell us when he came home, which he thought would be in July, and the war would be over. The poor boy, how little he could see of the future. He said he was scarcely able then to hold up his head, but should keep round as long as he could, then he should go to the hospital and his rank would insure him good treatment. But he added: “Lord have mercy on the poor private-if you are out of the army, keep out. I never what hardships were before, but think I do now.” He went as assistant surgeon. This was the 24th of February and he died the 4th of March. He died at Fort Henry, near Fort Donelson. The young man that had the care of him after he took to his bed said he kept up good courage and was cheerful until the day before he died. He made no complaint. Called for nothing, and apparently suffered buy little. When he was first taken he told the Colonel if anything happened, he wanted his body sent to Ware. That was all he ever said about dying. He wrote that he and others were up with him all night trying to make him comfortable. He was wandering most of the time in the morning he asked to be raised up. He raised home on his arm, that most the last, he died without a struggle. The funeral was the 19th of March. He looked very natural, but very poor. That was a trying time. I thought how would Mother have survived it if her life had been spared, but I felt she was taken from the evil to come. Two weeks ago two young men were brought home. One was shot through the head at Newburn, the same month Henry died. The other died in the hospital last June. They were not seen, so it is all around me. Oh when will this war cease?” “Families of Cavendish” Vol 4 by Linda Welch page 57.
The journals and diaries of the Civil War era were often filled with short sentences about daily life. “Hot today. Moving out tomorrow.” It was in the letters that a great deal can be learned about how the soldiers lived and how their families coped with the war. One such example was written to Laura Blood Atherton of Cavendish, by her cousin Marcia Ann (Blood) Marsh of Ware dated March 6, 1863. Marsh writes to Atherton about her brother Henry Sumner Blood who was an assistant surgeon with the 57th Illinois Infantry Regiment.
“You wished to know the particulars. He enlisted into the service in Chicago, Illinois, 57th Regiment, in October. Soon after he was quite sick with a fever. I don’t think he had entirely recovered when he sailed for the field of battle, then living as they did on the boat, and the privations, camping out on the shore, want of suitable food, brought on the dysentery and quick consumption. He wrote to Charles the 24th of February after the battle at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. His Regiment was not in the warmest part of the engagement. He wrote the next day after the battle. He went out on the field and such as sight as met his eyes he never should forget. He could not describe it, he would tell us when he came home, which he thought would be in July, and the war would be over. The poor boy, how little he could see of the future. He said he was scarcely able then to hold up his head, but should keep round as long as he could, then he should go to the hospital and his rank would insure him good treatment. But he added: “Lord have mercy on the poor private-if you are out of the army, keep out. I never what hardships were before, but think I do now.” He went as assistant surgeon. This was the 24th of February and he died the 4th of March. He died at Fort Henry, near Fort Donelson. The young man that had the care of him after he took to his bed said he kept up good courage and was cheerful until the day before he died. He made no complaint. Called for nothing, and apparently suffered buy little. When he was first taken he told the Colonel if anything happened, he wanted his body sent to Ware. That was all he ever said about dying. He wrote that he and others were up with him all night trying to make him comfortable. He was wandering most of the time in the morning he asked to be raised up. He raised home on his arm, that most the last, he died without a struggle. The funeral was the 19th of March. He looked very natural, but very poor. That was a trying time. I thought how would Mother have survived it if her life had been spared, but I felt she was taken from the evil to come. Two weeks ago two young men were brought home. One was shot through the head at Newburn, the same month Henry died. The other died in the hospital last June. They were not seen, so it is all around me. Oh when will this war cease?” “Families of Cavendish” Vol 4 by Linda Welch page 57.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Emily Dutton Proctor
On May 26, 1858, Emily Jane Dutton of Cavendish, the granddaughter of Salmon Dutton (the founder of Duttonsville) married Redfield Proctor. This marriage joined the leading families of the two villages and promised to put an end to the former rivalry, which was over a turnpike (Proctor) versus a shunpike (Dutton). As Redfield said of his first son, Fletcher Dutton Proctor, "if the old names and blood had the old inclination left to stir up strife, it would have created a fearful internal commotion." In fact, the merger of these families proved to be a propitious event for Vermont, since three governors and a United States Senator came from this Dutton-Proctor line.
A great deal is known about Redfield Proctor, who was the owner of the Vermont Marble Company, the founder of Proctor, VT, the Secretary of War during the Harrison administration and a US Senator. Much less is known about his wife.
Emily Dutton Proctor was considered a “quiet, but firm character,” raising five children, two of whom died before her own death in 1915 at 80 years of age. She moved to Boston at one point so her daughter could attend a small private school for young girls. When Redfield was in Washington, D. C., she attended balls, teas and dinners at the White House. These were the days of the Gay 90’s and the golden era of American millionaires.
Involved with many charity organizations and benevolent work, among them were the Vermont Tuberculosis Sanatorium and the Preventorium at Pittsford, VT. The Proctors were among the earliest supporters of cancer research at Harvard University. Redfield Proctor was a generous contributor to Booker T. Washington and his work at Tuskegee University, established in 1881 as training school for black teachers.
Emily died in Proctor in February 1915 and is buried there. She left $1,250 in trust, the interest to be used for the Cavendish Baptist Church “towards paying the salary of a minister as long as preaching is kept up regularly.”
In the upcoming Cavendish Chronicles, Martha Mott will play the role of Emily Dutton Proctor.
A great deal is known about Redfield Proctor, who was the owner of the Vermont Marble Company, the founder of Proctor, VT, the Secretary of War during the Harrison administration and a US Senator. Much less is known about his wife.
Emily Dutton Proctor was considered a “quiet, but firm character,” raising five children, two of whom died before her own death in 1915 at 80 years of age. She moved to Boston at one point so her daughter could attend a small private school for young girls. When Redfield was in Washington, D. C., she attended balls, teas and dinners at the White House. These were the days of the Gay 90’s and the golden era of American millionaires.
Involved with many charity organizations and benevolent work, among them were the Vermont Tuberculosis Sanatorium and the Preventorium at Pittsford, VT. The Proctors were among the earliest supporters of cancer research at Harvard University. Redfield Proctor was a generous contributor to Booker T. Washington and his work at Tuskegee University, established in 1881 as training school for black teachers.
Emily died in Proctor in February 1915 and is buried there. She left $1,250 in trust, the interest to be used for the Cavendish Baptist Church “towards paying the salary of a minister as long as preaching is kept up regularly.”
In the upcoming Cavendish Chronicles, Martha Mott will play the role of Emily Dutton Proctor.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
250 Years of Cavendish HIstory
If you haven't had a chance to stop by the Museum this summer, make sure you do and you will see the 250 years of Cavendish History Timeline. The Museum is open from 2-4 pm on Sunday. We will be closing this year in early October.
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