125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

December 17, 1884 3 cents a copy/ $1.50 a year

Geo. H Richmond, editor

A new use of the telephone. Last week A. L. Town had a law case with N. C. Lawson before S. B. Fair, justice of the peace at North Calais. The plaintiff employed C. H. Heath and the defendant T. J. Deavitt of Montpelier attorneys. These lawyers, instead of going to Calais and having an all day's justice trial, went to the telephone at the hour set for trial and conducted the proceedings in court twenty miles away so that judgment was rendered, bail entered and an appeal taken to the next term of Washington county court and all done within half an hour. The clients are anxious to see the attorneys' bills in such a trial to ascertain who has the benefit of trying a case in so short a time by telephone, the parties or the lawyers.

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

December 21, 1909

3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

The Vermont Hosiery and Machinery company will close down its mill Thursday and remain closed until January 3. This is to give the employees a chance to visit at their homes and enjoy the holidays. The employees will have a Christmas lunch and social hour at the mill Thursday afternoon.

•

The granite trouble between the granite employers and employee is apparently as far from being settled today as when they began several weeks ago. A proposition was made last week to refer the differences to the national committees of the manufacturers and cutters, but the proposal was promptly voted down Friday by the Northfield branch of the G.C.I.A. The Union claimed that it had generally been the policy of the branches in this section of the country to settle such questions locally. Since this proposition was rejected there has apparently been no attempt between the manufacturers and union to get together on any other basis...The G.R. Bianchi Granite company of Montpelier, broke away from the Manufacturers association and opened its sheds on Tuesday. Of the 75 men formerly employed by Mr. Bianchi more than 60 went to work. The Bianchi company belongs to the Barre Manufacturers association, and this is the first break in the ranks since the lockout was ordered four weeks ago. A committee from the manufacturers' demonstrated with Mr. Bianchi against opening, but without avail. Mr. Bianchi says he has contracts for four large soldiers' monuments and has enough work booked to keep his entire force busy until Memorial day, and that he can buy stock even if the Manufacturer' association closes down on him.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

December 20, 1934

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Local merchants have arranged with Santa Claus to have him visit the local stores Saturday afternoon starting at 2 o'clock so that all the children may have the opportunity to meet him.

•

A display in the Kingston Furniture Store window of wood novelties made by William Lee, Jr., Northfield High School freshman, is attracting much attention. The articles, all colorfully painted, make excellent Christmas gifts.

•

"Chasing Villa," the story behind the Story of Pershing's Expedition into Mexico, in 1916, by Col. Frank Tompkins, appeared this week as a new book from the presses of the Military Service Publishing Co. of Harrisburg, Pa. The first edition carries 2500 copies/

50 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

December 17, 1959

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

An original one-act play was presented by the Pegasus Players last Thursday for the first time in Norwich history and it was received with even more enthusiasm than the professional one-actor put on by the neighboring Vermont College Players. This milestone in Norwich history was chiefly the work of Professor J. R. Brownfield, of the English Department, who wrote and played the leading role in "The Celestial Library."

•

Continued membership in the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools was voted to Norwich University at the association's annual meeting in Boston last week. The affirmative vote, which signifies accreditation of Norwich's curricula, faculty, facilities and educational objectives, followed a report submitted by a visiting committee which inspected the university in October. Norwich has held accreditation by the NEAC&SS for many years.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

December 20, 1984 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

Northfield's Board of Selectmen agreed to hold off on making a decision on the garbage contract problem until its next meeting during last Tuesday's meeting. At issue is a possible increase in the hauler's charge to dump town garbage at John Gross' landfill in Roxbury. Gross had signed a two-year contract with the town, but failed to discuss the charge or an increase at the time. He went back to the selectmen and asked for an increase. Rather than pay Gross an increase, which would reflect in the tax rate, the town has been entertaining quotes from other landfill operators. Central Vermont Landfill and Palisades Landfill have submitted proposals. However, according to local hauler Stuart Austin, hauling garbage out of the area would make his costs go up..."Can they...expect to pay more if you have to haul it to East Montpelier instead of seven miles to John Gross'?" asked selectman Richard Moot. "Definitely," Austin said...Board members agreed they would like to "cost it out" before making a decision.

•

The Northfield Board of School Directors approved a $2,365,410 budget during a special meeting held Dec. 18 at the superintendents office at 21 Maple Ave. The new budget is $188,935 higher than this year's school budget and reflects about an eight percent increase...Tax generated funds are budgeted at $1,072,580, or a 24.8 percent increase over this year's. General state aid is...only about a one percent rise.