125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

January 29, 1885 3 cents a copy/ $1.50 a year

Geo. H Richmond, editor

Northfield slate is booming. One share in the Fisk quarry recently sold for $40,000. There are several good quarries in different parts of the town, and next summer promises to bring

revolution in the slate business. Northfield slate has always taken the first premium when exhibited in any part of the world.

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Last Saturday Sheriff Howe and Constable Wright, armed with a warrant, visited the saloon of Downing & Evans, and after some searching found about three cases of lager and several gallons of other liquor. Monday evening the officers called at Dr. Porter's drug store and found eight casks of liquor. All the liquor has been turned over tot the town agency. The hearing takes place Monday.

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Post Johnson, N. 23, G.A.R., are to have a camp-fire at Randall hall, Northfield Center, Tuesday eve, Feb. 3. There will be speaking and singing of old war songs, interesting incidents related by comrades, etc. The public is cordially invited to come and see us and have a good time. Admission 15 cents.

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

January 25, 1910 3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor Patrick Starr, who holds the only second class license in Northfield, appeared in Montpelier city court, Thursday on a charge of illegally selling liquor to Patrick Coburn and was bound over to appear at the next term of the County court in the sum of $300. Coburn was arrested a week ago on a charge of intoxication and sentenced to a term in the county jail. As this is Coburn's fourth arrest for this offense, he was obliged to make a disclosure, naming Starr as the man from whom he purchased his liquor. A warrant was issued by the court in accordance with the statue and Sherriff Tracy was instructed to arrest Starr. He was taken to Montpelier and waiving examination, was bound over to the county court, as stated above.

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A Washington dispatch announces that the post office department has decided that patrons of rural free delivery routes must, after February 15, stamp all outgoing matter mailed in their mail boxes. The department...has instructed all postmasters at rural delivery offices that it will not be sufficient, after the date named, to put money in the box to pay postage for matter deposited. The department estimates that rural mail carriers were compelled during the past year to fish some 300,000,000 copper cents out of mail boxes, and a good many millions of these were frozen to the bottom of the box, too. The result has been a considerable delay in the collection of mail.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

January 24, 1935

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

A truck, driven by Chauncey Murray, was struck by the northbound milk train, No. 211, on the crossing south of the Central Vermont station in Northfield Saturday forenoon. Two young lads, Harold Cutler, 12, and Harry Young, aged 15, both of Montpelier, were seriously injured. The driver escaped without injury. Dr. E. M. Goyette and Dr. W. H. Hurley were summoned to the scene...the young men were taken to Heaton Hospital in the Kingston and Morse ambulance... accompanied by Dr. Goyette...Mr. Murray was driving a Ford V-8 truck...taking milk and cream to the Northfield Cooperative creamery. The truck was demolished and about 25 feet of the roof of the station platform was taken off by the impact. Editorial: Always a dangerous crossing as the view of drivers is obscured by buildings in both directions, the scene of this accident needs protection at least in the form of a bell signal if repetition of Saturday's experience is to be avoided. In the interests of safety, the railroad should provide some kind of warning to let automobiles know of the approach of trains.

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During the year 1934 there were 66 births registered at the town clerk's office, 31 marriages and 42 deaths.

50 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISERJanuary

28, 1960

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Harold S. Potter of Northfield, a 49-year-old career law enforcement officer who has been a deputy sheriff for 22 years, Friday was appointed sheriff of Washington County. Gov. Robert T. Stafford named Potter, who had been a detective corporal with the state Fire Marshal's office, to succeed John M. Holland, a former Northfield resident, who died last week. He had been sheriff since 1952.

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The first concert utilizing Norwich University's newlyenlarged and re-tuned carillon rang over the Northfield hills last week. The impromptu performance was played by Prof. Arthur L. Bigelow, bellmaster at Princeton University and the man who directed the major rebuilding of the instrument over the past year.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

January 24, 1985 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

Norwich University will create an endowed professorship in the field of engineering in recognition of one of its most distinguished engineering graduates - Major General Grenville Mellen Dodge. Financial support...will come from income from a $950,000 bequest made to the university by Dodge in his will. Dodge died in 1916 but his will reserved the income from his estate until 21 years after the death of his last grandnephew. The remaining Dodge direct descendants will split $1,9 million... Dodge is most widely known as the chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad during the building of the first trans-continental railroad. The line was completed at Promontory Utah on May 10, 1869.

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In an effort to discern what the future of the Center School will be, members of the Northfield Board of School Directors met last Wednesday with members of the Northfield Historical Society at the school. At issue is an article drafted by historical society members for inclusion in the town warning. The society wants the school board to transfer ownership of the Center School, which it now rents at the cost of $1 annually, to the society.