Thank You –Summer Fest: Many thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this year’s Summer Fest, held June 30. Special thanks to Pieter Van Schaik for one again running the much loved plant sale, to Will Hunter for being a stellar auctioneer and for former board member Tim Jefferson, who came all the way from Florida to once again be “site manager.” We couldn’t have run the silent and live auctions without the many donations we received. Thank you to the following for your donations: The Stacia Spaulding; Elizabeth Wolfson; Sandy and Peter Gregg; Bob Naess; Margo Caulfield; Dan Churchill; Marc Miele; Gloria Leven; Cheryl Liener; Singleton’s; DJ’s Restaurant; MacLaomainn’s Scotish Pub; The Castle Hill Spa; Irene Berry; Black River Senior Center; Mike Pember; Hans and Terez Schrag; Winston Churchill; Hunter Leigh Gallery; Aubuchon’s; Wine and Cheese Depot; Fletcher Farm School; Cavendish Snow Fleas; Java Baba; Vermont Wholesome Foods; Old Cavendish Products; Winston Churchill; and to the board members of the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS).
Why Did the Coffeens, Duttons, and Proctors Live so Long? Today’s life expectancy in the United Sates is around 80 years of age. In the late 1700’s it was closer to 35. Yet the founding couples of Cavendish, all managed to equal or exceed 21st century life expectancy, with the one exception of Capt. John Coffeen, who died at 75. His wife Susanna died at 94, while Salmon Dutton was 80, his wife Sarah was 83 and the Proctors were 93, Leonard, and 84 Mary, respectively. With only three hospitals in America by 1791 (Philadelphia, New York City and Williamsburg, VA), there wasn’t a doctor in town until 1787, 18 years after the Coffeens arrived in Cavendish. The women primarily handled health matters, which was probably a good thing as medicine of that era was based on the “four humors” and blood letting was common practice.
In “Healthy Communities Promote Longer Lives: One explanation for Life Expectancy Among Early Settlers,” available on-line, at the CHS blog Margo Caulfield, CHS Coordinator and co-director of Chronic Conditions Information Network compared the life of Cavendish’s first couples with the nine characteristics of those living in Blue Zones, those parts of the world where people live the longest.
“The daily life of the early settlers fit very much in line with those living in Blue zones as their day would have naturally included exercise, a sense of belonging, community and purpose; strong family life; faith and a diet of whole foods.” Today, with all of the benefits of electricity and the potential to work around the clock, we have a difficult time ‘down shifting’ our busy lives. Periods of rest were built into the settlers’ lives due to long winters, honoring the Sabbath, and sufficient light to work for extended periods past dusk. “Even though there is considerable discussion about Obama Health care, one can look to our town history to understand that how we live can increase our life expectancy far more than what our health care system provides.”
Upcoming Events
August 12 (Sunday): 2 pm at the CHS Museum, Phineas Gage, new research/new understanding of his life.
Oct. 20 (Saturday): Hands on History Workshop 10-noon at the Cavendish School in Proctorsville. Learn how the early pioneers of Cavendish prepared for winter.
Phineas Gage: Gage’s accident in 1848 Cavendish- a tamping rod went through his head and he survived-has fascinated scientists and the curious ever since. Recently, researchers have conducted new studies and have concluded that Gage lost 4% of his cerebral cortex and more than 10% of his total white matter. The latter impact most likely explains the change in Gage’s personality after the accident, which his physician Dr. John Harlow described as “an affable 25-year-old to one that was fitful, irreverent and profane.” On Sunday, August 12, CHS will host an afternoon program examining the new research and its impact on our understanding of Gage. This is a free program that will take place at the Museum at 2 pm. Weather permitting, a walking tour to approximate place of Gage’s accident will take place. For more information, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Civil War and WWII Writings: It has been interesting to read the writings from Cavendish enlisted personal who served in the Civil War and WWII. Jesse Adams was born in Cavendish and joined as a private in Co. F, 3rd Reg’t Vermont Volunteers, also known as the Hartford, VT Company. Under 18 years old when he enlisted, his father had to provide written permission. His first experience outside of his hometown, was being sent to Camp Baxter, a union training camp near St. Johnsbury. Ultimately, he died of disease at Camp Griffith, VA at the age of 19. His letters home were kept by his mother and some are available on-line.
Dear Father: I now take my pen in hand to let you know I get along. I arrived here safe and sound. We had not gone more than five miles before there was a row started by a fellow by the name of Miles, a member of our company. It began in fun in the first place. Miles and Jim Welch got to sparing and Jim gave him the worst of it and he quit and pitched on to Dick Abbott and they were clipping away smartly when the Capt. stepped between them and Miles pitched on to Capt. Tom [Seaver] and there was some smart work for about a minute when the Capt. caught him by the throat and brought him into a seat in a great hurry. ... When Ayers our drill master came up and tried to quiet him, it could not be done. He [Miles] told Ayers to kiss his damned ass, but instead he hit him in the eye and it stilled him for a minute.
Imogene Baxendale, born Imogene Demarius Morse, entered the war for a very different reason than Adams. As she writes in her diary, “I had wanted to serve Armed Forces from the first, but knowing Bob [her husband Robert Baxendale] could never get in, and Mother in failing health, I felt I was needed at home. But after our unexpected break [she and Baxendale divorced] came and I had tried every way I knew to bring us back together, loneliness drove me to it. “
Baxendale became a Red Cross Nurse, Nov 1, 1944 at Headquarters Mass Ave. Boston. She was sent to the Pacific theater in places such as Manilla, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Okazki, and Toyoko. As she writes in her diary, Nov.15-17, 1945-Went through final separation channels and at 6 pm on eve of my 38 birthday I saw last of duty for Uncle Sam and Al & I started for 208 W. Wilson Ave. Bellmore. I arrive home Thanksgiving eve by way of Boston. And Dec. 3 my Terminal Leave was over and I once more became a civilian with some Hard Knocks to show for my experience but something I wouldn’t missed for world.” Her arrival back in Cavendish must have created quite a stir. She writes, Said goodbye to folks Boston & returned to my own little nest in VT hills on Thanksgiving eve. Mother God bless her not knowing what day or what train I was coming on met every train. Erminie Pollard was on same train so took me home so mother didn’t know I had arrived so I put my bags on porch & went up street to meet her. I thought she was going to collapse on me when I walked up to her in dark & took her in my arms.
My next few weeks were spent not far from the fire side or Mother’s sight. My trunks & baggage finally all arrived and Dec 3 my terminal leave was over & I once more became and every day civilian. Never realized has so many friends. The Wallace McNulty Hoyle Legion Post # 4 have all ready made me a member before I returned.
She had a very interesting footnote to the diary, “I suppose anyone reading these pages will notice I have mentioned very little about and of it. Well we have actually done very little of it since leaving the States. As there were nurses to care for wounded & we were sent over to take care of the capagnes which never came to pass because unconditional surrender of the Japs.
So as it turned out we have sight seeing tour at Uncle Sam’s expense. But we were ready and willing. And because we wasn’t called on was beyond our control. So comes to close my Army days C many new friends made, a lot experiences only Army could give & a lot fond memories, but don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t a bed of roses. We have our battle scars to show for it for the rest of our lives.
Baxendale lived to be 84, dying from complications of pneumonia and heart failure at the Springfield Convalescent Center in Springfield, VT on 3 Nov., 1992. Her diary is now at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, along with a transcript of the text completed by Sandra Stearns
Cavendish Historic Timeline 1991-2011: Other portions of the Timeline are in the 2011 and 2012 issues of the Scribbler II, all of which are on-line at the CHS blog.
1991: Bi-Centennial of Vermont Statehood. Cavendish celebrates with a parade. Solzhenitsyn is one of the speakers.
1994: Solzhenitsyn returns to Russia with his wife. Solzhenitsyn addresses Town Meeting and national media once again come to town to capture this event. Mike Wallace, of “Sixty Minutes” is not allowed to use the Cavendish Post Office bathroom, because it is a Federal building.
1995: Sovernet Communications opens in Bellows Falls and offers internet access via “land lines.” The availability of internet service makes it possible for more people to “telecommute” from home.
1996-1998: Proctorsville revitalizing projects undertaken. With matching funds and in-kind matches provided by the Town and the private sector, the Town was able to change the vacant Proctorsville mill site into a handsome, well-designed village green with recreational space. Affordable housing is strategically placed adjacent to the green with the move of the historic Freeman House from next to the Cavendish Pointe Hotel to the Green in 1997.
1996: Act 60, also known as the Equal Educational Opportunity Act, is signed into law. The Legislature drafted the law in response to a Vermont Supreme Court decision that said Vermont's existing educational funding system was unconstitutional. The court, in Brigham v. State of Vermont, concluded that the state must provide "substantially equal access" to education for all Vermont students, regardless of where they reside. Initially Cavendish is not impacted by the bill but in subsequent years, particularly with the growing resort second home owner community associated with the mountain, residents started to be “taxed” out.
2000: Cavendish population 1,470
2001: LPC-TV is launched. A public access television station for the towns of Ludlow, Plymouth and Cavendish, local school board, select board and town meetings can now be seen on television along with other community events. This is made possible by Comcast. LPC-TV establishes a website www.lpctv.org and is one of the few public access channels that includes the videos of events and meetings, which means people don’t have to be a subscriber to Comcast in order to watch events.
• In response to 9/11-the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New York City and damage to the Pentagon, Cavendish churches hold an ecumenical service. Many knew people that were hurt, and in at least one case, killed.
2002: McLean Quarry proposes to build a quarry at the end of Tierney Road, which would extend onto route 103 (Main Street) between the two villages. Residents, whose property who would be directly impacted by the proposed quarry, form Concerned Cavendish Citizens (CCC). Leaders of this group included Robin Timko, April Hensel, Will Hunter and Suzanne Meaney. When the quarry was finally defeated in 2006, CCC became CCCA (Cavendish Community and Conservation Association). CCCA, in addition to its conservation efforts, started the Cavendish Community Fund, which provides small grants to Cavendish organizations and individuals.
As part of keeping people informed about Quarry matters, Margo Caulfield started an electronic newsletter called “Quarry Update.” As there was limited local news coverage for Cavendish, this e-mail newsletter evolved into the “Cavendish Update,” which provides not only weekly news but also is used in times of emergency.
2003: A Class I tornado, a ferocious storm with heavy rain, lightning and very severe winds, left a path of damage from the Black River all the way to Brook Road in Cavendish. One mobile home was destroyed. Acres of trees were felled, leaving town roads closed until clean up could take place.
• Act 68 is passed amending Act 60, to relieve some of the burden placed on local school districts.
2004: Cavendish Town Elementary School has an extensive renovation and addition.
• Village Center Designation is awarded to the villages of Cavendish and Proctorsville. This designation offers a variety of benefits including tax credits for historic buildings and commercial properties renovating to code and priority consideration for certain types of state grants.
2006: Outdoor classroom constructed at the Cavendish Town Elementary School.
2007: Ancient Roads Committee Formed.
• Old Home Day tradition begun by the Cavendish Historical Society.
2008: The Cavendish Update becomes a blog.
• Partnering with the Rockingham Area Land Trust (RALT), Cavendish develops a variety of affordable housing-townhouses, apartments and senior housing-around the Proctorsville Green.
• Alexander Solzhenitsyn dies in Russia and once again the town is inundated with reporters and television crews. A private town service is held to remember Solzhenitsyn.
2009: New sidewalks and curbs are installed in Proctorsville. The project took nine years from grant application to project completion.
• Water filtration project completed. A bond was passed in 2002, which began the town’s efforts to improve water quality, due to high levels of iron and manganese, as well as replace asbestos pipes and the Proctorsville water tower.
2010: Cavendish population 1,367, a decline of 7% from 2000.
2011: Tropical Storm Irene causes considerable damage, including the loss of several homes and millions of dollars worth of damage to the town’s infrastructure (water, sewer, and power) as well as roads. The flooding waters creates a “canyon” similar to the one in 1927. A shelter is open for 10 days at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. One of its functions is to house the National Guard brought in to help rebuild the roads. In spite of the devastation, Cavendish holds has a four day 250th anniversary celebration in October. While the parade route had to be modified and shortened considerably, many lined Depot Street, an area that sustained heavy damage, and cheered.
Cavendish Historical Society Board
- Dan Churchill
- Jen Harper
- Gloria Leven
- Marc Miele
- Bruce McEnaney
- Joseph Pasquerello
- Mike Pember
- Gail Woods
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+ $ ___ 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 __ Hands on History
__ Other (please specify) __ Cemetery Restoration
Thank You –Summer Fest
Many thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this year’s Summer Fest, held June 30. Special thanks to Pieter Van Schaik for one again running the much loved plant sale, to Will Hunter for being a stellar auctioneer and for former board member Tim Jefferson, who came all the way from Florida to once again be “site manager.” We couldn’t have run the silent and live auctions without the many donations we received. Thank you to the following for your donations: The Stacia Spaulding; Elizabeth Wolfson; Sandy and Peter Gregg; Bob Naess; Margo Caulfield; Dan Churchill; Marc Miele; Gloria Leven; Cheryl Liener; Singleton’s; DJ’s Restaurant; MacLaomainn’s Scotish Pub; The Castle Hill Spa; Irene Berry; Black River Senior Center; Mike Pember; Hans and Terez Schrag; Winston Churchill; Hunter Leigh Gallery; Aubuchon’s; Wine and Cheese Depot; Fletcher Farm School; Cavendish Snow Fleas; Java Baba; Vermont Wholesome Foods; Old Cavendish Products; Winston Churchill; and to the board members of the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS).
Why Did the Coffeens, Duttons, and Proctors Live so Long?
Today’s life expectancy in the United Sates is around 80 years of age. In the late 1700’s it was closer to 35. Yet the founding couples of Cavendish, all managed to equal or exceed 21st century life expectancy, with the one exception of Capt. John Coffeen, who died at 75. His wife Susanna died at 94, while Salmon Dutton was 80, his wife Sarah was 83 and the Proctors were 93, Leonard, and 84 Mary, respectively. With only three hospitals in America by 1791 (Philadelphia, New York City and Williamsburg, VA), there wasn’t a doctor in town until 1787, 18 years after the Coffeens arrived in Cavendish. The women primarily handled health matters, which was probably a good thing as medicine of that era was based on the “four humors” and blood letting was common practice.
In “Healthy Communities Promote Longer Lives: One explanation for Life Expectancy Among Early Settlers,” available on-line, at the CHS blog (address above) Margo Caulfield, CHS Coordinator and co-director of Chronic Conditions Information Network compared the life of Cavendish’s first couples with the nine characteristics of those living in Blue Zones www.bluezones.com, those parts of the world where people live the longest.
“The daily life of the early settlers fit very much in line with those living in Blue zones as their day would have naturally included exercise, a sense of belonging, community and purpose; strong family life; faith and a diet of whole foods.” Today, with all of the benefits of electricity and the potential to work around the clock, we have a difficult time ‘down shifting’ our busy lives. Periods of rest were built into the settlers’ lives due to long winters, honoring the Sabbath, and sufficient light to work for extended periods past dusk. “Even though there is considerable discussion about Obama Health care, one can look to our town history to understand that how we live can increase our life expectancy far more than what our health care system provides.”
Upcoming Events
August 12 (Sunday): 2 pm at the CHS
Museum, Phineas Gage, new research/new understanding of his life.
Oct. 20 (Saturday): Hands on History Workshop 10-noon at the Cavendish School in Proctorsville. Learn how the early pioneers of Cavendish prepared for winter.
Phineas Gage
Gage’s accident in 1848 Cavendish- a tamping rod went through his head and he survived-has fascinated scientists and the curious ever since. Recently, researchers have conducted new studies and have concluded that Gage lost 4% of his cerebral cortex and more than 10% of his total white matter. The latter impact most likely explains the change in Gage’s personality after the accident, which his physician Dr. John Harlow described as “an affable 25-year-old to one that was fitful, irreverent and profane.” On Sunday, August 12, CHS will host an afternoon program examining the new research and its impact on our understanding of Gage. This is a free program that will take place at the Museum at 2 pm. Weather permitting, a walking tour to approximate place of Gage’s accident will take place. For more information, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margoc@tds.net
Civil War and WWII Writings
It has been interesting to read the writings from Cavendish enlisted personal who served in the Civil War and WWII. Jesse Adams was born in Cavendish and joined as a private in Co. F, 3rd Reg’t Vermont Volunteers, also known as the Hartford, VT Company. Under 18 years old when he enlisted, his father had to provide written permission. His first experience outside of his hometown, was being sent to Camp Baxter, a union training camp near St. Johnsbury. Ultimately, he died of disease at Camp Griffith, VA at the age of 19. His letters home were kept by his mother and some are available on-line at http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/3/obits.php?input=33
Dear Father: I now take my pen in hand to let you know I get along. I arrived here safe and sound. We had not gone more than five miles before there was a row started by a fellow by the name of Miles, a member of our company. It began in fun in the first place. Miles and Jim Welch got to sparing and Jim gave him the worst of it and he quit and pitched on to Dick Abbott and they were clipping away smartly when the Capt. stepped between them and Miles pitched on to Capt. Tom [Seaver] and there was some smart work for about a minute when the Capt. caught him by the throat and brought him into a seat in a great hurry. ... When Ayers our drill master came up and tried to quiet him, it could not be done. He [Miles] told Ayers to kiss his damned ass, but instead he hit him in the eye and it stilled him for a minute.
Imogene Baxendale, born Imogene Demarius Morse, entered the war for a very different reason than Adams. As she writes in her diary, “I had wanted to serve Armed Forces from the first, but knowing Bob [her husband Robert Baxendale] could never get in, and Mother in failing health, I felt I was needed at home. But after our unexpected break [she and Baxendale divorced] came and I had tried every way I knew to bring us back together, loneliness drove me to it. “
Baxendale became a Red Cross Nurse, Nov 1, 1944 at Headquarters Mass Ave. Boston. She was sent to the Pacific theater in places such as Manilla, Okinawa, Nagasaki, Okazki, and Toyoko. As she writes in her diary, Nov.15-17, 1945-Went through final separation channels and at 6 pm on eve of my 38 birthday I saw last of duty for Uncle Sam and Al & I started for 208 W. Wilson Ave. Bellmore. I arrive home Thanksgiving eve by way of Boston. And Dec. 3 my Terminal Leave was over and I once more became a civilian with some Hard Knocks to show for my experience but something I wouldn’t missed for world.” Her arrival back in Cavendish must have created quite a stir. She writes, Said goodbye to folks Boston & returned to my own little nest in VT hills on Thanksgiving eve. Mother God bless her not knowing what day or what train I was coming on met every train. Erminie Pollard was on same train so took me home so mother didn’t know I had arrived so I put my bags on porch & went up street to meet her. I thought she was going to collapse on me when I walked up to her in dark & took her in my arms.
My next few weeks were spent not far from the fire side or Mother’s sight. My trunks & baggage finally all arrived and Dec 3 my terminal leave was over & I once more became and every day civilian. Never realized has so many friends. The Wallace McNulty Hoyle Legion Post # 4 have all ready made me a member before I returned.
She had a very interesting footnote to the diary, “I suppose anyone reading these pages will notice I have mentioned very little about and of it. Well we have actually done very little of it since leaving the States. As there were nurses to care for wounded & we were sent over to take care of the capagnes which never came to pass because unconditional surrender of the Japs.
So as it turned out we have sight seeing tour at Uncle Sam’s expense. But we were ready and willing. And because we wasn’t called on was beyond our control. So comes to close my Army days C many new friends made, a lot experiences only Army could give & a lot fond memories, but don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t a bed of roses. We have our battle scars to show for it for the rest of our lives.
Baxendale lived to be 84, dying from complications of pneumonia and heart failure at the Springfield Convalescent Center in Springfield, VT on 3 Nov., 1992. Her diary is now at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, along with a transcript of the text completed by Sandra Stearns
Cavendish Historic Timeline 1991-2011
Other portions of the Timeline are in the 2011 and 2012 issues of the Scribbler II, all of which are on-line at the CHS blog (see above for address).
1991: Bi-Centennial of Vermont Statehood. Cavendish celebrates with a parade. Solzhenitsyn is one of the speakers.
1994: Solzhenitsyn returns to Russia with his wife. Solzhenitsyn addresses Town Meeting and national media once again come to town to capture this event. Mike Wallace, of “Sixty Minutes” is not allowed to use the Cavendish Post Office bathroom, because it is a Federal building.
1995: Sovernet Communications opens in Bellows Falls and offers internet access via “land lines.” The availability of internet service makes it possible for more people to “telecommute” from home.
1996-1998: Proctorsville revitalizing projects undertaken. With matching funds and in-kind matches provided by the Town and the private sector, the Town was able to change the vacant Proctorsville mill site into a handsome, well-designed village green with recreational space. Affordable housing is strategically placed adjacent to the green with the move of the historic Freeman House from next to the Cavendish Pointe Hotel to the Green in 1997.
1996: Act 60, also known as the Equal Educational Opportunity Act, is signed into law. The Legislature drafted the law in response to a Vermont Supreme Court decision that said Vermont's existing educational funding system was unconstitutional. The court, in Brigham v. State of Vermont, concluded that the state must provide "substantially equal access" to education for all Vermont students, regardless of where they reside. Initially Cavendish is not impacted by the bill but in subsequent years, particularly with the growing resort second home owner community associated with the mountain, residents started to be “taxed” out.
2000: Cavendish population 1,470
2001: LPC-TV is launched. A public access television station for the towns of Ludlow, Plymouth and Cavendish, local school board, select board and town meetings can now be seen on television along with other community events. This is made possible by Comcast. LPC-TV establishes a website www.lpctv.org and is one of the few public access channels that includes the videos of events and meetings, which means people don’t have to be a subscriber to Comcast in order to watch events.
• In response to 9/11-the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in New York City and damage to the Pentagon, Cavendish churches hold an ecumenical service. Many knew people that were hurt, and in at least one case, killed.
2002: McLean Quarry proposes to build a quarry at the end of Tierney Road, which would extend onto route 103 (Main Street) between the two villages. Residents, whose property who would be directly impacted by the proposed quarry, form Concerned Cavendish Citizens (CCC). Leaders of this group included Robin Timko, April Hensel, Will Hunter and Suzanne Meaney. When the quarry was finally defeated in 2006, CCC became CCCA (Cavendish Community and Conservation Association). CCCA, in addition to its conservation efforts, started the Cavendish Community Fund, which provides small grants to Cavendish organizations and individuals.
As part of keeping people informed about Quarry matters, Margo Caulfield started an electronic newsletter called “Quarry Update.” As there was limited local news coverage for Cavendish, this e-mail newsletter evolved into the “Cavendish Update,” which provides not only weekly news but also is used in times of emergency.
2003: A Class I tornado, a ferocious storm with heavy rain, lightning and very severe winds, left a path of damage from the Black River all the way to Brook Road in Cavendish. One mobile home was destroyed. Acres of trees were felled, leaving town roads closed until clean up could take place.
• Act 68 is passed amending Act 60, to relieve some of the burden placed on local school districts.
2004: Cavendish Town Elementary School has an extensive renovation and addition.
• Village Center Designation is awarded to the villages of Cavendish and Proctorsville. This designation offers a variety of benefits including tax credits for historic buildings and commercial properties renovating to code and priority consideration for certain types of state grants.
2006: Outdoor classroom constructed at the Cavendish Town Elementary School.
2007: Ancient Roads Committee Formed.
- Old Home Day tradition begun by the Cavendish Historical Society.
2008: The Cavendish Update becomes a blog at www.cavendishvt.blogspot.com
• Partnering with the Rockingham Area Land Trust (RALT), Cavendish develops a variety of affordable housing-townhouses, apartments and senior housing-around the Proctorsville Green.
• Alexander Solzhenitsyn dies in Russia and once again the town is inundated with reporters and television crews. A private town service is held to remember Solzhenitsyn.
2009: New sidewalks and curbs are installed in Proctorsville. The project took nine years from grant application to project completion.
• Water filtration project completed. A bond was passed in 2002, which began the town’s efforts to improve water quality, due to high levels of iron and manganese, as well as replace asbestos pipes and the Proctorsville water tower.
2010: Cavendish population 1,367, a decline of 7% from 2000.
2011: Tropical Storm Irene causes considerable damage, including the loss of several homes and millions of dollars worth of damage to the town’s infrastructure (water, sewer, and power) as well as roads. The flooding waters creates a “canyon” similar to the one in 1927. A shelter is open for 10 days at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. One of its functions is to house the National Guard brought in to help rebuild the roads. In spite of the devastation, Cavendish holds has a four day 250th anniversary celebration in October. While the parade route had to be modified and shortened considerably, many lined Depot Street, an area that sustained heavy damage, and cheered.
Cavendish Historical Society Board
Dan Churchill
Jen Harper
Gloria Leven
Marc Miele
Bruce McEnaney
Joseph Pasquerello
Mike Pember
Gail Woods
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+ $ ___ 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 __ Hands on History
__ Other (please specify) __ Cemetery Restoration
