One of the things we are sometimes accused of is not being critical enough about our own history; that we don’t acknowledge the good old days weren’t always that good, or really that long ago.  Guilty.  It’s hard to capture how challenging life was in the “old days”, or imagine how some might have been eager to escape their lives in Montgomery, whether it was farming, working in the mills or the asbestos mine, or raising a large family.

     This point was driven home recently with the find of a 1915 letter from a Canadian Immigration and Land Agent in Boston to a Montgomery farmer name George Pease.  The 20-year-old Pease had inquired about a Canadian program offering free or subsidized land to anyone willing to move to their western provinces; in some cases they would also help pay for transportation for the whole family.  The Boston-based agent advised Pease to communicate with the Winnipeg, Manitoba Commissioner of Immigration to get the on-the-ground details he needed to make his decision.

     The letter also acknowledged the Canada West program was in flux.  Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated six months earlier and World War I was underway.  There were delays processing applications, and there was some speculation resources to fund the program might need to be redirected to the war effort.  There were also concerns about a draft by Great Britain on both its Canadian subjects and those who immigrated under the program. 

     For whatever reasons George decided not to pursue immigration.  He would marry Frances Comings two months later and move to her family's farm in Berkshire.  According to U.S. draft records he and his wife were living in Berkshire in 1917, but by the 1930 census they were living in California.  George died there in 1968.

     The letter was found in the wall of what we believe was a home George lived in on East Hill, what is now Route 242.  It, and several old newsprint periodicals, were discovered during renovations.   We added them to our collection because they tell a story with insights into early 20th century life in Montgomery.  Our thanks to “Sam” Thompson for reaching out to us with the donation. 

     We invite you to do the same and, as always, appreciate your membership and support.  

                                                                         Thank you, Scott

Sources Include:  The Family Search website, https://www.familysearch.org/; “Selling The Prairie Good Life” by Graham Chandler, 2016 Canada’s History magazine.

    Applications for our annual Dr. Winston Lewis Memorial Scholarship and the Joe and Irene Scott Memorial Scholarship are due May 1st.  All graduating Montgomery seniors going on to future education or training are eligible.   This includes technical training, e.g. CDL, as well as college.  Applications and related information were mailed to Montgomery seniors in January and are also available from our web site at the link above.

     Also found in the wall were several issues of the "Girls' Companion" and "Youth's Companion", periodicals widely subscribed to before the Internet, radio and TV!


     An anonymous donor also sent us two circa 1972 posters advertising Montgomery's "Bright Hollow Village", a development in Avery's Gore...  It was "a magic, ancient village, like nothing you've ever seen before.  Hand built, rough cut stone, turrets and gables set in a lost forest"

 
    A few years back we were contacted by an individual who took his girlfriend on a mystery date there in the Winter.  They enjoyed the sleigh ride to Gepetto's and said it was indeed "magical".  He credits it with her accepting his proposal not long afterwards.  He was hoping to go back there.

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THIS QUARTER IN MONTGOMERY HISTORY

     April 1829:   Rufus Hamilton Quit Claims the land for the Episcopal Church, now known as Pratt Hall.

     May 1958:    Town votes to remain "wet".  98-29 in favor  for beer and wine.  98-54 in favor for liquor. 

    June 1903:  Orleans County Historical Society places stone marker in Hazen's Notch commemorating 1779 Terminus of the Hazen Road.  At least 800 attend the unveiling!

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  We just received word that our own Pat Farmer will be recognized with an LLHSM award of excellence for his longtime support to the MHS as a Man-With-Tools, Treasurer and financial planner, and archival database software developer.  The award will be presented at this year's annual conference in May.


     Pat's long and devoted service is a key reason we are a successful organization and will leave a legacy of excellence.  Congratulations on this well deserved recognition.

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     "Zack Night" at the Inn:  April 19th.  We are working on a small exhibit of our Zack holdings for display at the Inn on April 19th.  Details are still under development.

     LLHSM Annual Conference:  May 9th in Middlebury.  Awards and workshops sponsored by the Vermont Historical Society.

     Memorial Day Commemoration:  We are still trying to arrange this.  TENTATIVELY Sunday, May 25th at noon at the Hill West Cemetery (on West Hill Rd!!)  We will email you updates.

      Farmers Market:  Year eight of our Farmer's Market will begin June 28th and run through October 11th every Saturday from 9:30 to 1:00 pm.  We've adjusted the dates based on input from vendors and customers.  We can always use additional vendors so if you are interested in vending please contact Patty Perl (326-2176) or Elsie Saborowski (326-4558).

     Annual Meeting:   June 29, 2:00 pm at Pratt Hall.  For members and guests.  Champagne and desserts.  Kevin Graffagnino (Ira Allen and Vermontania) guest speaker.

     VT Covered Bridges Week:  Farmers Market August 2nd and 9th.  Help us celebrate Vermont Covered Bridge Week.  A short presentation on the history of Montgomery's covered bridges and why we're the Covered Bridge Town.  Free pamphlets with maps provided.  Vermont Covered Bridge Society booth too.  

     We hope to add other events and plan to host our holiday events as before.