The Hardwick Gazette 100 Years Ago

Thursday, November 27, 1924

The Hardwick Gazette published an eight-page broadsheet exactly 100 years to the day before this current issue, on a Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. The publisher’s editorial from that issue follows, giving us a taste of life in that era. What follows that are notes, called “Local Lumps” from the various towns then covered by the Gazette, which at that time served as an economic center to a wider area than in our present era.

My search for the location of Chubb’s Crossing failed to turn up any references, other than one to a Chubb bridge in Wolcott. I am interested in hearing from anyone with information about that location.

The editorial follows.

Vermont is a state of tradition.

Thanksgiving means more to her people than to the population of many states and cities in the union, whose fathers were not reared with the full significance of the Pilgrim feast instilled in their hearts and minds.

That is one reason why tomorrow is a day observed in the old Green Mountain State, and why we will eat our turkey, or mayhap a more simple dish, with a true realization of the heritage for which we should so truly give thanks.

by J. E. Appolt, Publisher

LOCAL LUMPS (selected)

HARDWICK — The Hardwick U. V. M. Students are all home from their college for the Thanksgiving vacation.

Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Campbell left Wednesday for the start of their journey south to Florida where they will spend the winter months. They plan to spend Thanksgiving with friends in Richmond, Va.

Mrs. Emma Turk of Bangor, Me. has been a guest of her brother, Charles Hilton, who has been in charge of the steel work of the new iron bridge. Mrs. Turk was very favorably impressed with Hardwick and made many friends while here.

The long-looked-for and welcome rain came with a rush and a suddenness last Saturday night and Sunday morning that caused considerable damage and inconvenience. The electric lighting system in half the village was cut off completely, while the high water in the river took out a part of the temporary footbridge and also all the false or trestle work underneath the new iron bridge and carried the big timbers down into the lake, where they were taken out during the day Sunday. Pedestrians now have to go down town from the upper side of the river across the suspension bridges, at either the sawmill or between the Gazette office and flatiron building.

Hardwick Academy Notes

Principal and Mrs. K. D. Lee are at his home in Leominster, Mass. for Thanksgiving.

A real old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmin’s was enjoyed by the teachers’ club in the Home Economics room recently.

NORTH WOLCOTT – Miss Doris Childs is home for her Thanksgiving vacation.

B. W. Bailey and Julius Leonard were in Morrisville on business one day last week.

Mrs. Lincoln Miller and Mrs. Mary Childs visited Mr. and Mrs Theron Miller in Craftsbury one day last week.

S. A. Bailey has hired out to George Bailey to cut logs.

Miss Ada Fuller is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Fuller, in Stowe, for the Thanksgiving vacation.

School closed Friday for a week’s vacation. The exercises by the pupils were fine. Quite a number of the parents and neighbors and some from out of town were present to enjoy the good time and to share the crackerjacks and lemonade which were on sale, the proceeds of which will go to help pay for the Victrola.

WEST WOODBURY – Mrs. Ai Fisher is on the sick list.

Ruth Powers was called home Wednesday from Morrisville because of the death of her grandmother, Mrs. Emily Powers.

L. F. Benjamin, clerk at the Hardwick Inn, is spending several days at his home here.

NORTH MONTPELIER – Nora Ellis is home from her school in Woodbury for her Thanksgiving recess.

The Goddard students from here are all at home for their Thanksgiving vacation.

School closed Friday for Thanksgiving vacation. With 38 pupils enrolled, the per cent, of attendance was 97.9 and the average attendance was 36 pupils

ADAMANT – John Lane of Plainfield was in the place Saturday, working on the telephone lines.

S. R. Fair recently installed a radio in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Rickard.

Mr. Berryman and Mr. Hammer of Concord, N. H., worked for a few days last week, making repairs in the boiler at the Steele Quarry.

CABOT – The Red Cross held a meeting Friday afternoon in the Red Cross rooms in the Willey Memorial building, which was well attended. The object of the meeting was to do sewing for a needy family and the amount of work accomplished was gratifying.

Dr. R. B. Bolton was in Wolcott Monday, testing cattle.

A largely attended meeting of the Ku Klux Klan was held Friday evening in the Willey Memorial Hall. County organizer Clark was present and gave the address of the evening. Mrs. Eunice Milne of Barre was also present and gave a talk to the ladies, answering questions concerning the ladies’ organization. Quite a large delegation was present from Marshfield and other surrounding towns.

Many hunters were out Monday looking for deer. Hubert Wheeler was fortunate enough to secure a five-point buck on Southwest Hill.

Miss Hilda Jeffords and Miss Ethel Seguin of Vergennes, both students of Lyndon Institute, are spending the Thanksgiving recess with the former’s parents at the Pine Crest Farm.

LOWER CABOT – Hubert Wheeler was successful in shooting a fine deer early Monday morning.

A Parent-Teachers’s meeting was held at the school house Saturday evening.

NORTH WALDEN – Quite a number of people of the vicinity spent a very enjoyable evening last Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Michaud, the occasion being Mrs. Michaud’s birthday and also the birthday of Miss Iva. The evening was pleasantly spent with games and music and delicious refreshments of sandwiches, cakes and coffee were served.

The Star School will not be in session Friday.

WOLCOTT – The village school is enjoying a week’s vacation for Thanksgiving.

Fire destroyed the farm buildings of L. F. Senesac on East Hill, occupied by Prentiss Woodard and family, Monday morning. Only the livestock was saved. The fire caught from a gasoline engine driving a washing machine. The loss is partially covered by insurance

Miss Irene Bullock leaves soon for Hardwick to pass the winter with her daughter, Mrs. Orlin Ainsworth.

CHUBB’S CROSSING – B. E. Potter, F. P. Eldridge and W. H. Harvey are deer hunting in Eden.

Mrs. Vern Darling is having a vacation from her school work in Wolcott.

CRAFTSBURY – Education week was observed by the pupils of the primary department of the village school. They gave a good exhibition of their musical and rhetorical ability and a fine exhibition of their school work. Remarks were made by Mary Simpson, the Rev. A. E. Schoff and Mary Bailey.

The Good Times Club of the primary room village school, very pleasantly entertained twenty parents and friends with a Thanksgiving program last Thursday, P. M. Miss Florence Schoff, president of the club, in her Puritan costume, made a charming Priscilla. She greeted the guests and took charge of the program. Miss Mary Bailey, Miss Mary Simposon and Rev. Schoff spoke very interestingly to the children. The exhibition of school work was fine and spoke very highly of the pupils’ daily work. Light refreshments were served. A good time was had by all.

NORTH CRAFTSBURY – The C. A. School, which was closed recently on account of the mumps, will reopen December 1st.

The thank-offering meeting was held with Mrs. Peterson, with an unusual attendance.

EAST CALAIS – Clarence Wilbur has gone to Marshfield for deer hunting.

The village school gave an entertainment at the hall last friday night. A play, “The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving,” and speaking and singing were rendered. A good attendance was present. Thirty-two dollars was taken in and twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents was cleared.

Dennis LaDoo of Montpelier was in town Saturday.

Quite a number from Woodbury were in town Friday to attend the school entertainment.

GREENSBORO – Martin Willey, one of the guards at the Windsor prison, visited his cousin, B. M. Willey, the past week.

By the way, speaking of Bert, he has been successful in hunting of late. Friday he brought home four coons and Saturday, he, with George Fowler, killed four more.

The lake has been drawn down very low of late by the electric light company of Hardwick, but the heavy rains of Saturday raised the streams and springs and makes a more cheerful outlook for water for the winter.

The Modern Priscilla Sewing Club met with Phoebe Archembault Saturday afternoon at the home of Irwin Wilson.

GREENSBORO BEND – E. W. Orton and children from Plainfield were in town Friday evening to attend the forfeit supper given by the Greensboro Bend Sunday school to the East Hardwick Federated Sunday school.

Fourteen friends and members of the Leaders Sunday School class called on Gordon Batten Thursday evening, November 13th, it being the young man’s birthday. A social time was enjoyed. Refreshments were served consisting of cakes, wafers, fudge and fruit punch. He received several presents, consisting of stationary, hose, neckties and money.

EAST HARDWICK – At the next regular meeting of Caledonia Grange, December 4th, the following program will be given: Song – Mrs. Blanche Fields, Roll-call – Conundrums, Reading – Marion Thomas, Piano Duet – Mrs. Philomy and Mrs. French, Reading – Mrs. S. A. Philbrook.

Mr. and Mrs. George Lovejoy are spending Thanksgiving with their daughter and family in Plainfield, N.H.

This is printed as it appeared 100 years ago without editing for current spelling or style.