125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

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

Geo. H Richmond, editor

The prospects of Republican success grow brighter as the new administration grows older. The people are coming to see that the best interest of the country can only be carried on by the party that took the reigns of government in a time of National anxiety and saved it from what then seemed ultimate ruin. Everywhere the Republicans are becoming united and the best of feeling prevails generally in the party. Independents and St. John's men see that they have made a mistake and will be ready to stand by the true old Republican party.

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The commissioners to locate a government building at Montpelier have selected a site on State street, now occupied by the property of Joseph Poland as the Watchman printing office, the residence of Mrs. Joseph Gould and a portion of the property owned by Washington county and the late C.W. Willard. The price aggregates $15,000

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

July 12, 1910

3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

Coy Eslinger, the ex-soldier, who stole a horse and wagon in New York state, came to Burlington and flourished for a short time, and finally wound up as the assailant of a young girl in Richmond, who was recently arrested in Duxbury, where he was working on a farm, and landed in the Chittenden county jail, was taken into court yesterday. Eslinger was charged with attempted criminal assault upon a girl...and waived examination. Later he returned to court and pleaded guilty...He was...sentenced to not less than four or more than six and a half years in the State prison in Windsor.

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Although a strike vote is being taken this week on the Grand Trunk railway lines in Canada by 4,500 conductors and trainmen there appears to be little likelihood of a strike on the Central Vermont railway, which is controlled by the Grand Trunk...The vote being taken among the Central Vermont employees this week is not a strike vote so far as can be learned but is to see whether a compromise shall be accepted or the standard increase demanded.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

July11, 1935

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Although nearly 100 years old, William W. Holden, Northfield's last surviving Civil War veteran, last week, as assistant adjutant general and assistant quartermaster general of the Vermont Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an eightpage printed report of the proceedings of the annual convention of the department held last month at Burlington. Mr. Holden prepared all the copy for the report in his own hand-writing, and it proved to be far more legible than that often submitted to printers.

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Mrs. William W. Holden, who has been in failing health for the past three years, passed away at her home about noon Thursday. Death was due to general decline in health on account of her advanced age, and her last days were spent without great suffering. The deceased, whose maiden name was Theodora L. Smith, was born in Orange, Jan. 20, 1849...she was educated in Barre academy and Newbury seminary and for some time was a very successful teacher...She served six years as school director of the Northfield Town schools...The deceased was united in marriage with William W. Holden in Coventry on Nov. 15, 1870, and they came directly to South Northfield to live and their entire life has been spent in this town. To this union were born three children, Mrs. Lizzie Plastridge, who has made her home with her parents for the past three years and devoted her entire time to the care and comfort of her mother during her declining years, Minnie Welch, wife of Dr. G.N. Welch, and Ira Holden who lived on an adjoining farm...In the passing of Mrs. Holden, Northfield has lost a loyal friend whose memory will be cherished and whose life work will be long remembered.

50 Years Ago

NEWS AND ADVERTISER

July 14, 1960

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

A new business will open in Northfield next week. Vernon C. D. Pinkham announced today that he is installing a self-service laundry on East Street in the quarters formerly occupied by the office of the Northfield Coal Company. To be known as the Northfield Launderette, the new enterprise will be equipped with ten Speed Queen automatic washers that load from the top and four Hoyt gas-heated dries, each with a capacity of about 50 pounds. Mr. Pinkham, proprietor of the Northfield Launderette, is a member of the faculty at Norwich University.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

July 11, 1985 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

The Mill Hill access road to Interstate 89 should be under construction within the next few weeks, according to the state Transportation Agency...Northfield residents have waited ten years for the state to approve construction of a road linking route 12 with the Interstate and area residents' days of negotiating the twisting and turning road should be over by next fall when the access road is completed. Route 64 was recognized by the state as being inadequate and unsafe to handle the traffic which comes off the Interstate at exit 5. Steep grades, sharp turns and poor drainage were all cited as reasons for improving the important link between the communities of Northfield and Roxbury and I-89...the state Transpiration Agency argued the necessity for improving the road...the Environmental Conservation Agency opposed the construction, citing a negative impact on Robinson Brook and conflict with a winter deer yard. A lengthy debate ensued between the two agencies which caused a long delay in the start of the project, and it was only after the Transportation Agency offered to pay the Environmental Agency an unspecified amount of money to manage a wildlife and forestry improvement program... that approval for the project was given. In a decision handed down by the Environmental Board, it was stated that reconstruction of the road provided public safety aspects that outweighed the loss of the deer habitat.

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Boaters and anglers are being asked to give loons a wide birth. Common loons are either still incubating their eggs or attending new-born young and are very sensitive to any disturbance... In 1984 only eight pairs of nesting loons were discovered in Vermont, and loons were added to the state Endangered Species List.