125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

July 16, 1884 3 cents a copy/ $1.50 a year

Geo. H Richmond, editor

The annual Institute of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Washington County will be held at Northfield, Aug. 5 and 6. Mrs. J. L. Perkins, Secretary of the Vermont W.C.T.U., and Mrs. J. K. Barney, National Superintendent of prison and jail work, are expected to be present, and to assist in the exercises... All are cordially invited to be present, and clergymen are especially urged to give us the encouragement of their presence.

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A box designed to contain Temperance Literature has been put in the gentlemen's waiting room at the depot by direction of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The reading matter is free to all who will kindly avail themselves of the opportunity of reading temperance papers, pamphlets and tracts, in the tedious hours while waiting for trains.

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Having been unusually busy for the past few weeks with my farming, and the additional work of building a barn, the readers of the Farmer and News have been spared the perception of any correspondence, but I can't hold in any longer, but must enter my protest against the prevailing custom, which is growing worse and worse each year among the shiftless farmers, of attributing all their poor crops to the weather... There may be exceptions, but they are rare, and as regards the drought we had a wet spring and an abundance of rain until the middle of June, which gave all crops a good start, if the seed were properly planted at the proper time, and the hay crop, I think, will be an average one...In my case I have cut a little more hay and kept a little more stock each year since I commenced farming, and this year is no exception, and I shall do a little better next year if I have my health....The quotation...from one of our Irish farmers in Northfield, is this: "If the land is rich you will get hay, and if it is not you won't, and that is jist all there is about it," and this is just as true as scripture. I consider this everlasting grumbling about the ways of providence a flagrant sin although it is very generally indulged in by professing Christians. A man should put his trust in God in farming, just as much as in any other business. "Seed time and harvest shall not fail." This has proved itself to be true so far in the world's history, and I believe it always will. But the sluggard will neglect to plow in the spring because of the cold or some other flimsy excuse, and shall beg in the harvest and have nothing. Eternal vigilance is the price of all farm crops, but if you have failed in any crop it is your own fault, and nothing else. W. W. Holden

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

July 20, 1909

3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

A year or more ago, when John Harris, who holds down a job in the U. S. Senate, was indulging in a periodical reminder to the Vermont press that it couldn't possibly know anything about the world in general and congressional matters in particular without living right in Washington and therefore better shutup, the News gently called the attention of the modest John to the fact that he ought to be as lenient as possible to the state press as only a few of us could be pages in the Senate. The kindly intended advice of the News was not well received and has been unheeded. As a consequence, one of John's latest reminders to the Vermont press that it is densely ignorant of Washington matters has caused several newspapers to roast the Washington, D. C. gentleman on both sides and then slip him off the frying pan into the fire.

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At the meeting of the Merchants association, Wednesday evening, it was decided to try the experiment of laying the dust by sprinkling some portion at least of the business section of the streets with oil. A committee was appointed to solicit funds for that purpose.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

July 19, 1934

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

The Northfield Woolen Company's mill at Northfield Falls, for more than half a century one of Northfield's principal manufacturing plants, was destroyed by fire Sunday night with a loss estimated at $100,000. Only the brick walls of the four-story structure remained standing three hours after the terrific blaze started its sweep through the building. It is considered doubtful that the company will rebuild the plant. During a terrific thunder and lightning storm, the fire broke out in the picking rooms of the mills, a building about 50 feet long. This room was soon engulfed in flames. The sprinkler system in the adjoining main structure, which was 250 feet long and 100 feet wide, with four stories, kept the flames in check for only a short time, and when the pipes burst flames enveloped the building. It is believed spontaneous combustion started the fire. The mills were soon an inferno of flames, which could be seen as far away as Montpelier... The fire throws 80 people out of work.

50 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

July 16, 1959

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Company E of the Vermont Army National Guard held a training session on Wednesday night. Capt. Arthur Peterson commanded the unit in close order drill in preparation for the parade held in Burlington Sunday. Dr. Edgar Hyde and Dr. Dorothy McManus gave inoculations of smallpox, tetanus and typhoid to several men in the unit. The unit traveled to Burlington Sunday to participate in the mass parade of all Vermont Army National Guard units in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the discovery of Lake Champlain. The parade route led from the University of Vermont campus down Pearl Street to St. Paul Street past the reviewing stand of Governor Stafford and the adjutant generals of the New England states. Then it moved along Main Street and back to U.V.M.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

July 19, 1984 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

Trustees last Tuesday agreed to warn of a Special Village Meeting for July 24, asking voters to authorize the municipality to enter into a contract for the purchase of Canadian hydroelectric power. At the meeting Municipal manager Ed Gadbois told the Board the purchase would replace the power deficit anticipated as a result of the extended shutdown of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear plant. Yankee is to go down for extensive cooling system and pipe repairs next year.

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Modest to good-sized crowds attended the annual Northfield Bazaar, the summertime fund raiser for the Northfield Park and Pool, organized by the Northfield Recreation Committee. An array of rides, booths and eats decorated the bazaar with the exception of last year's dunking cat booth.