125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

September 10, 1884 3 cents a copy/ $1.50 a year

Geo. H Richmond, editor

Last Wednesday evening the temporary organization for a musical association, made at the close of the Reslie Convention, was made permanent...Meetings of the "Northfield Choral Union" will be held each Monday evening at Howe's Hall. The time before intermission will be devoted to rudimentary work for the benefit of beginners and those wishing to learn reading by note, the time, transposition, etc. After intermission more difficult music will be used, such as glees, anthems, Cantatas, etc. The object of N.C.U. is mutual improvement and advancement in musical taste and ability....The Charter Members of the Union number thirty, and many other names have been sent in for membership, a fact that is very encouraging to all interested.

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Dan Guild attended the New England fair at Manchester last week and purchased of W. T. Merryfield of Worcester, Mass., four heifers and a bull. Mr. Merryfield has been for 25 years an extensive importer and breeder of the finest specimens of Jersey stock in this country and the parents of these cattle that Mr. Guild has bought were imported direct from the Island so there can be no doubt as to the purity of blood. They are all registered in the Massachusetts herd book and it is expected will be a little finer than anything we have seen in these parts.

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

September 14, 1909

3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

The new Pearl theater on East street, built especially for Frank J. Dutton, is so nearly completed that he is able to announce its opening to the public next Monday when a matinee and evening entertainment of high class moving pictures will be given. As an extra attraction Mr. Holmes of Concord, N.H., a trap drummer, has been secured. The building, which is situated west and adjoining the Mayo block on East street, contains an auditorium to accommodate about 200 people, has an inclined floor which will make every seat desirable, is properly ventilated and in fact is of the most modern design throughout. The basement will be used for a first class bowling room with an entrance from East street. Two bowling alleys of the most approved patterns will be installed.

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The World's Fair at Tunbridge, Sept. 28, 29 and 30 bids fair to be the greatest success in its history. Besides the regular exhibits and races, special attractions have been secured including Boston's favorite, Ethel Goodwin, the clever dancer, Mons. Forbs the wire wonder, Merrill, the eccentric contortionist, and Prof. Haines' trained dogs. The Chelsea coronet band will furnish music.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

September 13, 1934

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

"Li' Abner" appearing in the Boston Daily Globe is the work of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred G. Caplin of New York and is of interest to Northfield residents, as Mrs. Caplin, before her marriage was Catherine Cameron, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin J. Cameron, former residents of Northfield, now of Amesbury, Mass. She was born in Northfield Nov. 21, 1909, and after graduating from the Designer's Art School in Boston in 1931, she had been doing educational illustrating for a Boston publishing house until a year ago, when she and her husband went to New York, he having previously done what is called "ghosting" on several of the most popular comic strips in the country. A few months ago they conceived the idea of a hillbilly mountaineer wrestler and sold it immediately to United Features, Inc. Already it is appearing in at least ten news papers, (including) the Chicago Daily News. Mr. Cameron will be remembered in Northfield as having been in charge of the printing department of the Northfield Publishing Company.

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CCC Doings at the Fair Grounds - ...Tony Raphanella chased Captain gates up Mount Mansfield last Sunday. Result Tony can't take a step without a stifled groan. Captain is okay though! - Wonder if the Cadets will have any effect on the number of dates the "Boys" have been getting. - Tommy Sheehan gets letters postmarked "Norfield". Who is she Tommy? - Warren York and "Bucky" Lee came out in fifth place at the Rutland Fair in the wood chopping contest...After hovering between failure and success until everyone was nearly driven frantic, the garden is giving a harvest beyond the highest expectations of the gardeners. Most of us coming from the city had our first opportunity to watch the actions of Vermont soil on an insignificant little seed.

50 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

September 10, 1959

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

A Northfield dog trainer, John Diego, won high honors at the licensed field trials of the American Kennel Club conducted Sunday by the Vermont Beagle Club in Hardwick. His Diego's Sounder won first place in the 13-inch combined derby class in competition with 17 entries from northeastern states and parts of Canada.

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(We) hinted last week that Vermont's senior U.S. Senator George D. Aiken might deliver a short address on why Vermont will remain Republican at the annual meeting of the Greater Vermont Association. The day after you read the column, the news broke that Aiken had "regretfully declined" due to a hectic schedule...Could the real reason for Aiken's declining be because of disagreement with the controlling faction of the GOP on such matters as right-to-work legislation?

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

September 13, 1984

25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

Jennie Lafley is upset at all those youngsters out there who won't come to the Northfield Senior Center on Depot Square. "They don't want to admit they are a senior," she said. Mrs. Lafley has been involved with the center since its inception 16 years ago. So have her sisters, Marion Koering, Gladys Jennett, and Florence Rivers. "We've always been the workers," she said.

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Norwich University plans to eliminate its $1.5 million indebtedness for dormitories on the Northfield and Montpelier campuses in order to pave the way for "the renovation and refurbishing of the University" according to Norwich President W. Russell Todd.