MHS Newsletter 1026

History Quiz:

1. Montgomery Schoolhouse Toys was established in 1971. Which of these countries have sold their toys on Ebay?

A. Canada
B. United Kingdom
C. Australia
D. All of them

2. You are driving a wagon load of butter tubs from the Hutchins mill to the Train depot in East Berkshire. How many covered bridges will you have to drive through in Montgomery?

A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8

3. Name them and the body of water they span in the order you cross them.

CHAIRMAN'S CORNER: MOMENTUM!

In the January 2026 newsletter I used “The Little Engine That Could” as a metaphor for our Home-For-History project. I think we’ve officially transitioned from the “we think we can” to “we know we can” phase. In August the MHS Board unanimously passed a motion to hire local builder (and neighbor) Michael Carpenter to build our new Home-for-History archive building and exhibit space. We'll start with a weather-tight shell. This phase of the project is estimated to cost just under $190,000.

We met with Michael to layout the foundation and slab. We needed to make sure we met the required setbacks and septic tank clearance, and we are out of the flood zone. The site has been excavated and prepared for concrete work and you are likely to see more progress there as soon as Dig Safe and a final road cut permit from the Town gives us the green light. The slab pour is imminent.

The building shell construction, framing, roof, siding, windows and doors, should begin in late fall. The following phase, rough ins, mechanical systems, and finishes, will follow as our funds allow.

We have been talking about this for over 20 years and are incredibly excited to see it becoming a reality. It’s hard not to get ahead of ourselves. I'm already imagining a grand opening exhibit and celebration.

We want to thank all of you who have been so generous to get us this far and who have sustained us in this quest, while also helping us preserve Pratt Hall and serve the community through our other programs and events. We owe you all a huge debt and are dedicated to making you proud. Scott

September 22, 2026 Home-For-History Project

VERMONT'S 100 COVERED BRIDGES

Last newsletter we reported on an effort by Phill Gatenby to visit and video all 100 of Vermont's covered bridges from south to north. The Jewett brothers' bridges will be the final six and his videos are in the Youtube queue to be posted on the following schedule:

Episode 95 Hutchins Bridge Sunday 11th October

Episode 96 Fuller Bridge Sunday 18th October

Episode 97 Comstock bridge Sunday 25th October

Episode 98 Creamery Bridge Sunday 1st November

Episode 99 Longley Bridge Sunday 8th November

Episode 100 Hopkins Bridge Sunday 15th November

They are hosted on the Okemo Valley Youtube channel. Click on the Videos tab and look for his videos which are listed among others in order from most recent to least recent.

MORE COVERED BRIDGES STUFF

We recently purchased a copy of "Vermont Covered Bridges" by Joseph D. Conwill. It was published in 2004 as part of a series called Images of America. It includes several pictures of Montgomery's bridges we've never seen before including the one below.

This is a shot looking west. The Clapp Bridge, spanning the Trout River, is in the distance in the vicinity of today's Riverwalk Park (right). The photo was taken from inside the Levis Bridge which spans the West Hill Brook. You can see the outline of the Levis Bridge portal on the right side of the photo.

The photo was taken by a ground-breaking bridge historian named Richard Sanders Allen circa 1957 when he published his own book' "Covered Bridges of the Northeast". He was an engineer and photographer and donated most of his covered bridges material to the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges.

HOME FOR HISTORY FUNDRAISING UPDATE

Our Calcutta was canceled because of slow ticket sales. Money was refunded. It just so happens the Sheldon Historical Society has one scheduled for the same day!

We still have our work cut out for us and have several opportunities for helping:

We're raffling a Montgomery History Basket worth over $250. The winner will receive a:
            One Year MHS Membership,
          Montgomery History Paperback,
            Custom Engraved Brick Paver,
            Covered Bridge Town T-Shirt,
            Montgomery Memories Jigsaw Puzzle,
            Set of 4 MHS Pint Glasses,
            Set of 6 MHS Note Cards,
            2027 MHS Calendar & a mystery prize.
Tickets are one for $5 / six for $20. They're available at the Farmers Market or our web site. The drawing will be at the end of the October 17th Farmers Market.

We're following that by raffling a vintage 1985, Made-in-Montgomery, Montgomery Schoolhouse Toy Train for Christmas. It has an engine, five cars and a caboose, and all the hard to find people and cargo. It was purchased off Ebay and donated to the MHS to raise funds (we already have a nice train in our collection). Tickets will be available on our web site beginning October 18th and at the Montgomery Elementary School Craft Sale and Show December 12th. The winning ticket will be pulled at the end of the show.

If you want a sure thing you can purchase a t-shirt, puzzle, or newly available 2027 Calendar. They make great gifts along with our town history, and engraved paver bricks. You could make your own gift basket!!

As usual cash donations and donations of your time and services are greatly appreciated. Please contact us if you have any questions or ideas to help us move the project along. We are a 501.c.3 non-profit organization.

THE CLOCK IS BACK, BABY!!

After a herculean effort by our chief Quasimodo and able assistants, the clock at Pratt Hall is now running smoothly again. It seems the shaft, or chase, the weight moves in had distorted just enough to stop the weight, or the building had settled, or both. We modified the chase so the weight could hang freely and voila it kept on ticking.

Unfortunately the weight could now rotate and it hit a beam when we wound it so we had to add a roller to keep the weight in position. This solved the problem (of our own making) and we are now good to go. Kevin Scheffler is our primary clock winder and went above and beyond the call of duty over the last year and a half, troubleshooting the problem which frequently required trips up the 65 feet of stairs and ladders. Thanks Kevin!

MEMBERSHIP 2026 SO FAR...

Our reminder letters went out in August. We've met our monetary goal but would still like to see more members. Anyone can join or renew via our web site page if you prefer it over mail. Click Membership.

THANK YOU!

COVERED BRIDGES 250TH ANNIVERSARY FLAGS

The Vermont Covered Bridge Society provided the Town with five 250th anniversary flags, poles and mounts, and they were installed by the MHS with the blessing of the Selectboard in July. We offered to take the the flags and poles down after Veterans' Day and store them for next year, the 250th Anniversary of the Vermont Republic. Otherwise the brackets and poles can be used for regular U.S. flags or others.

NEW ACCESSIONS

Members of the Potvin clan visited us recently at the Farmers Market. They shared stories of life growing up in Montgomery including climbing St. Bart's to wind the clock, and watching the Village store burn down. They also donated some photos of the schools, village scenes, and relatives. The Society has some of Joseph Potvin's diaries. They were quoted in the Town History and now we have a picture of him too!

Joseph Potvin

Kathleen Grubb Baily, a Jewett descendant, helped us with information on the Jewett family in 2014 and recently reached out to us again with copies of wills and probate records for Sheldon, Savanard, Giles and Bramon Jewett. Now we know who got Savanard's record collection and phonograph, Ida Pudvah!!

Kathleen is the Great-Granddaughter of Bramon. Census records confirmed that Sheldon and his new wife, Joanne, took in six of his younger brothers and sisters when his parents died on 1863.

Thank you all! If you have items you think might help tell Montgomery's story please send us an email.

EVENTS AND PROGRAMS REMAINING IN 2026

Oct 4: Kevin Graffagnino. 2:00pm. “Conseulo Northrup Bailey: A Vermont Pathfinder” at Pratt Hall. Co-sponsored with the Friends of the Library. Come and learn about a Franklin County native and trailblazer for women in public service in Vermont and nationwide.

Oct 17: Year nine of our Farmer's Market wraps up.

Oct 17: Winslow/Panagakos Wedding

Oct 29: Young Writers presentations and pizza party (Friends of Library)

Dec 12: MES Craft Show. Christmas Train raffle ticket pulled.

Dec 19: Holiday Happiness (tentative)

No Candles and Carols again this year :(

NEW MONTGOMERY MEMORIES PUZZLE

We sold out of Puzzle #1 (the Village) and are now selling #2, a 500-piece, 12 X 18, inch jigsaw puzzle of a circa 1910 view of the Center's Main Street. It's custom made by vermontpuzzle.com in Waterbury. Special orders are available.

BRICKS-R-US

We are getting another order of brick pavers ready to go. We will need to get your order soon to be included in this shipment. Installation will probably be in the Spring but possibly in November if we receive the order in time and the weather cooperates like it did last year.

THIS QUARTER IN MONTGOMERY AREA HISTORY

October: 1864 - St. Albans Raid

November: 1901 - St. Isidore's bell consecrated

December: 1959 - Hubert and Caroline Daberer open the Carinthia Inn

HISTORY QUIZ ANSWERS

1. Montgomery Schoolhouse Toys was established in 1971. Which of these countries have sold their toys on Ebay?
A. Canada
B. United Kingdom
C. Australia
D. All of them and more

2. You are driving a wagon load of butter tubs from the Hutchins mill to the Train depot in East Berkshire. How many covered bridges will you have to drive through in Montgomery?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6*
D. 8

3. Name them in the order of crossing and the body of water they span/spanned.

Hutchins (South Branch of the Trout River),
Highway, Trout River,
Gutter*, Gutter or Gutter Brook,
Comstock, Trout River,
Levis, West Hill Brook,
Clapp, Trout River

* The Bridge over the Gutter or Gutter Brook was removed at some unknown time.

PRATT HALL PAINTING

We are beginning steps to paint the top two sections of the tower again, including the clock faces, and the standing seam roof of the building. We are looking for volunteers to write a grant or two and hope to paint next year, or the year after. Interested?

2026 MHS Business Partners so far…
Breezy Acres Farm, Community National Bank, Crafty Lil' Gift Shop,
David Howe Memorial Library, Hull Insurance Agency Inc,
Lucky Dog Maple, Lutz's Automotive, St. Onge Construction, Sunset Motor Inn, The Inn

Thanks for your support! Not a member... why not join us?