October 2021
3rd Quarter Number 68 |
Artifacts
& Fiction The Quarterly Newsletter of the Montgomery Historical Society P.O. Box 47 Montgomery, VT 05471 e-mail pratthall@gmail.com www.montgomeryhistoricalsociety.org Click here for a printer friendly pdf version |
 Union Church (aka Pratt Hall) with New Marker |
| Scott
Perry,Chair/Editor Bill McGroarty,Vice Chair Marijke Dollois,Secretary Pat Farmer,Treasurer The MHS Board meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Pratt Hall in the Summer, Public Safety Building Conference Room or Zoom online in the Winter. Montgomery History Quiz:
a.
Increase by 17% b.
Increase by
6% c.
Decrease by 2% d.
Decrease by 11% a. A Christian temperance vigilantes act? b. A mistaken demolition address? c. A wild stag party? d. A graduation prank gone wrong? |
Chairman's
Message: DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?
COVID-19: A year ago I was saddened to announce the cancellation of all remaining 2020 events sponsored by the Society. This followed cancellation of all previous 2020 programs. As I write this the Delta variant numbers in Vermont continue to climb and break-through cases are substantial. The Montgomery Rec Board has canceled their annual Fall art auction fund raiser and area schools are dealing with positive cases, quarantines and selective remote learning. Montgomery's positive case rate, while low, has increased over the last two weeks. The State's estimate of Montgomery's vaccination rate is between 61 and 70%. The situation is less dire but remains serious. The MHS Board's philosophy from the beginning was to avoid doing anything that might increase the potential for harm and we remain committed to that policy. You'll see below our plans for the remainder of this year, some modified and some canceled outright, again. Who knows what November and December will bring. SOME GOOD NEWS: We hosted a ceremonial unveiling (below) of the four new VT Roadside Historic Markers in September. About 30 people were in attendance including several Jewett family descendants. The two year process involved writing the draft text for the signs (by Board member Jo Anne Bennet), compiling the application and getting Selectboard approval, then shepherding it through the State's review, and arranging for installation (all by Board Member Sue Wilson). Special recognition and thanks to the Town Public Works crew, Mark Brouillette, Mark Guilmette, and Scott Ovitt. Another picture and the State Division for Historic Preservation's press release are below. Scott  |
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MEMBERSHIP DRIVE STILL OPEN
This year's membership drive remains open. Our
numbers have partially rebounded, and new members are up. You
can renew / join online anytime.
THANK
YOU!
 2021 ANNUAL MEETING
We
held our Annual Meeting on a hot August evening in the Belfry
tent. Forty one members and their guests attended.
Society
Chairman, Scott Perry, presented officer reports during the business
meeting before all enjoyed a pasta buffet. Our thanks to the
Belfry.
The state of the Society is strong. Scott outlined several bylaws changes, one to allow the annual meeting any time during the year or to substitute a written report, and also to make clear Zoom and other types of virtual meetings were allowed. A second more significant change allows the Board to deposit or invest Society funds in institutions or instruments other than a bank. The latter change was in response to the Board's desire to create an endowment fund of sorts following a generous gift from the estate of Winston Lewis. The Society has invested funds in the Vermont Community Loan Fund and a Fidelity S&P indexed fund in hopes it will bolster the long term financial security of the Society. It balances risk while hoping for a better return than traditional bank accounts. A copy of the presentation slides or minutes of the meeting are available upon request. BOARD CHANGES Over the Summer both Jo Anne Bennett and Andre Labier resigned from the MHS Board. Both cited increased craziness in the lives they felt kept them from participating as much as they wanted. (Jo Anne has been unable to get to Montgomery for two years!) Both pledged to stay in touch and pitch in however/whenever they could. We cannot thank them enough for their many years of service. We welcomed members Roger Lichti and Mary Garceau to the Board in Late September. They will attend their first meeting in October and we look forward to working with them.  FARMERS
MARKET WRAP UP
September 11 saw the conclusion of the season's Farmers Market. We had fewer vendors than in the past but attendance was still strong and it was wonderful to see and talk to everyone in person again. Thanks to all our vendors and customers and thanks to Sue Wilson and all the volunteers.  TRINKETS
AND TREASURES
Our first lawn sale in three years took place in late August. Our thanks to all of you who donated items to sell, and to Noela McGroarty and Marijke Dollois for organizing the items and helping everything find a good home. It's alway an exhausting but worthwhile effort. ARCHIVAL
COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
After the Heaton House was emptied of T&T sale items we made a concerted effort to set it up as a work site to process archival donations. We hope to settle on guidelines and procedures for managing our growing collection and reinvigorate our data base system. We will provide updates as we get better organized. SANBORN MAPS
Members Steve Hays and Scott Perry, visited the Vermont
Historical Society Library in July to view Sanborn insurance maps of
Montgomery. These were maps the companies used to keep track
of the buildings and infrastructure in towns as part or their
underwriting for fire policies. The photographed
maps are now posted on our web site. MYVERMONT.COM ACCESS TO RESEARCH TOOLS According to an 1896 Issue of the Enosburg Standard, The Enosburg Telephone Company had 45 subscribers and there were 7 instruments in Montgomery Village and 2 in the Center. The Vermont State Archivist has an arrangement so anyone with a myvermont.gov account can access Vermont newspapers, like the Standard, or vital records files on Newspapers.com and Ancestry.com. You can create a free account here. PINT GLASSES FOR SALE Our logo pint glasses look great and benefit a great cause... us. They're available at our online store or by emailing or calling any Board member.
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EVENTS FOR REMAINDER OF 2021... THIS IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING
December
11th MES CRAFT SALE: The Society will have a booth at this
year's show, if the school is allowed to have it.
December 18th HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: We're planning to have horse drawn wagon rides and the Hall will be open for warming but no activities (face painting, crafts, etc) will take place inside. Santa may not be able to make an indoor appearance, if at all. December 19th CANDLES AND CAROLS: This event will likely be canceled. A packed house of people singing is probably still unwise. We will continue to follow developments and make adjustments to our plans as practical.  HISTORIC SITE MARKERS PRESS RELEASE
Montpelier,
Vt. - The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation is pleased to
announce the installation of four new Roadside Historic Sites Markers
in Montgomery. The new markers document the history of Montgomery as
the “covered bridge capital of Vermont” and the 1970s
community-sponsored preservation of Pratt Hall. Markers such as these
allow places to come alive, sharing the history of our Brave Little
State to Vermonters and her many visitors.
Vermont’s distinctive green and gold markers have just been placed at the Longley Covered Bridge (1863/2017), Comstock Covered Bridge (1883), and Fuller Covered Bridge (1890/2000). Each bridge is an illustration of the Town lattice truss, one of the most significant American timber truss types of the 19th century. Patented in 1820 by architect Ithiel Town, the truss system consists of a rectangular timber frame connected by sawn planks arranged in the form of a lattice and fastened together with trunnels (or wooden pegs). Savanard and Sheldon Jewett, local lumbermen and farmers, constructed the nine covered bridges that historically connected Montgomery. The Hemlock timbers used to build these bridges were milled at the family lumber mill in West Hill. Restoration efforts, largely needed because of flooding, follow the principle of design preservation using stronger Town lattice trusses and salvageable materials. A fourth marker was placed to commemorate Pratt Hall, constructed in 1835 as the Episcopal Union Church. It was the first religious edifice built in Montgomery and consecrated by John Henry Hopkins, the first Episcopal Bishop of Vermont. Originally designed as a traditional meeting house, extensive renovations in the 1870s added Gothic Revival features including stained-glass windows and bell tower. Deconsecrated in 1974, the building was sold by the Diocese to the Montgomery Historical Society, formed intentionally to save the building from demolition. It was renamed Pratt Hall in 1977 and has since served as a centerpiece for community events and gatherings. The Vermont Roadside Historic Site Marker program was established in 1947 by the Vermont Legislature. The first markers were installed in 1949, the initial being for Joseph Smith, Mount Independence, and Hubbardton Battlefield. These 3-foot signs of cast aluminum are crammed with 765 characters that outline the stories of Vermont’s heritage, commemorating her people and important events. This is one of the state’s smallest programs and has one of the farthest reaches with 295 markers in production or placed throughout Vermont. A Roadside Historic Site Marker is located outside Vermont, gracing a roadside in Middletown, Virginia, to honor Vermonter’s efforts at the battle of Cedar Creek during the Civil War. The Roadside Marker Program is administered by the Division for Historic Preservation. https://accd.vermont.gov/historic-preservation/roadside-markers  BRICKS AND MORE BRICKS Men With
Tools installed 7 more engraved paver bricks in August. There
are now about 290 bricks installed. We already have orders
for three more. If you're interested please call Pat Farmer
or email us.
LLHSM
This year's meeting of the League of Local
Historical Societies and Museums will be October 30th in Montpelier.
Registration is $10 for VHS members and $25 for non -members.
Click here for details.
HISTORY QUIZ
ANSWERS
1. c. According the the Census Bureau
Montgomery's population decreased about 1.5%
2. c. Young men from St. Albans, Sheldon, and Swanton broke into a unoccupied home on Amidon Rd. during a wild stag party. Half were minors. Windows and furniture were destroyed and clapboards stripped for a bonfire. Made the papers in Boston! Source: St Albans Daily Messenger. THIS QUARTER IN MONTGOMERY HISTORY
October: 1958 Immunization Clinic held at Center
School.
Tetanus, Smallpox, and Polio available but Polio only for
ages 40
and younger.
November: 1898 Post office at four corners on West Hill opened. December: 1959 Carinthia Inn opened. Now The Inn. |
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