125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

January 15, 1885 3 cents a copy/ $1.50 a year

Geo. H Richmond, editor

The House has adopted the Reagan interstate commerce bill. The principle that this bill aims to establish is the right one. But that the bill as passed is a most mischievous one, the best posted statesmen of both parties generally concede. It places great powers in the hands of the government that may make it the virtual dictator to the great carrying interests of the nation. There is no question but that the government should have the power to make heartless corporations establish capital rights, but this measure is too crude. The bill introduced by Gov. Long of Massachusetts was a far better one.

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Senator Morrill of Vermont has for some months been known to be engaged in the preparation of an elaborate speech against reciprocity treaties. Of this labor the country is today given the benefit. Although not a lawyer by profession or training, Senator Morrill in his opinions upon constitutional questions is entitled to more than common respect and attention. His singular purity in official purpose and his absolute devotion to that which he believes to be right and best for the country which he has served so long and well assures his hearers that in this vigorous and earnest effort he has combined matured thought and strong conviction.

• Last week Monday morning at 10 o'clock Elmer Granger, who was a teacher in the Gilead school (Bethel), fell dead on the floor while correcting a disobedient scholar. Mr. Granger had a valvular disease of the heart and the excitement was too much for the organ and it stopped work, hence the sudden death...He was thoroughly fitted to teach and was doing a work that would be hard to excel in a district school...The sad ending of a life so well spent brings sorrow to the hearts of his friends, and all who knew him as he was, were his friends. Disobedient scholars should learn a lesson here.

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

January 11, 1910

3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

In the United States district court in Montpelier last week, Judge J.L. Martin presiding, 21persons, mostly of Italian nationality were made citizens of the United States. Several from this town were among the number.

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A fire alarm was rung in about eight o'clock Wednesday morning on account of a fire in the chimney of Henry Averill's house on Cross street extension. The fire companies responded but were not obliged to attend on account of the immediate extinguishing of the fire. The cause of the fire was some soot in the chimney in the cellar and if it had happened in the night would probably resulted in a disastrous fire. It warns people to take every precaution, especially during the cold weather, when the fires are forced so hard.

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Miss Cornelia Woodbury is acting as substitute teacher in grade 1, during the absence of her mother, Mrs. Inez Woodbury. Mrs. Woodbury is making satisfactory recovery from her recent surgical operation she underwent.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

January 10, 1935

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Fire completely destroyed the Partlow farm house on Union Brook road at 8:30 Sunday night. Edward, the ten-yearold son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Partlow, was alone with his four small brothers and sisters and was preparing to retire when, on looking out of the window he saw reflections of the fire on the snow. Going to the kitchen, he discovered it a roaring mass of flames. He rescued each of the smaller children. Two of them had become panic stricken and had run upstairs. After carrying them safely out of the burning building the youngster ran in his bare feet one-fourth of a mile to the Legier farmhouse, where he gave the alarm. Northfield fire department responded with a small auxiliary pump and two streams from a nearby brook prevented the loss of three barns and a chicken house...The fire caught around the chimney in the kitchen. The building was partially covered by insurance. A small amount of household goods and just what clothes the family had on were saved. Three hundred bushels of potatoes were lost in the cellar, two 300- pound hogs and winter preserves.

Her cleverness in writing a four-line "jingle" in the national radio contest sponsored by the F. W. Fitch Company of Des Moines, Iowa, has made Miss Dorothy Schwenger of Northfield the winner of an Elgin watch. Her winning verse was as follows: Mary had a little lamb, Joe Penner has a little duck, And I'll have a little wrist watch, If I have a little luck.

50 Years Ago

NEWS AND ADVERTISER

January 14, 1960

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Donald Peach, a 1949 graduate of Northfield High School and a son of the late Prof. and Mrs. Arthur W. Peach, has been engaged to become Northfield's municipal manager on February 8, this paper learned today. One of more than 30 applicants who sought the position vacated a month ago by John Wolfenden, the 29-year-old former Northfield man was hired Saturday following an interview with officials here. His salary will be $6,200 a year.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

January 10, 1985 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

Northfield Jr-Sr. High School has been notified that two of its seniors have been designated Commended Students in the 1985 Merit Program. Daniel H. DiLena, principal, has announced that Grace Tallman and Julie Dalphin placed in the top five percent of over one million participants in the 30th annual competition.

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Miss Christine Hockenbury has been selected by members of the Northfield Junior-Senior High School faculty to the Good Citizen Award, as sponsored by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Christine was selected for having outstanding qualities of Leadership, Dependability, Service and Patriotism.