100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

August 2, 1910

3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

Mrs. W. B. Mayo and family returned yesterday from Berlin Pond, where they have been in camp for the past two weeks.

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Extensive improvements hare being made in the Theta Chi house on Central Street. The two dining rooms and bath room are being transformed into one large salon dining hall. The decoration are of green. When completed this will be a much appreciated improvement for the University men who live in the house during the college year.

• The third week of the strike of train yard men on the Grand Trunk and Central Vermont railways has begun with no apparent settlement in sight, although a rumor prevails that some important action looking to the closing up of the troubles may be near. Conferences between the railroad officials and the heads of the Union have been going on in Montreal, which is at least an encouraging sign. There have been a few small outbreaks against law and order on the Grand Trunk, but nothing that could be laid, directly at least, to the strikers...On the Central Vermont there was something of a fracas Friday evening in St. Albans in the quarters near the strikebreakers lodgings. It does not appear certain that it was more than a knock down and drag out among the strikers themselves and a few of the rowdy element.

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Several farmers have now resumed sending milk to Boston and the number of cans loaded onto the milk car on the 8 a.m. local passenger train north each morning make a respectable appearance.

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A press dispatch dated Glouchester, Mass., July 30, says: "George F. Parsons, a granite polisher of West Berlin, Vt., came to town two days ago for a good time. He left a little boy which he had with him at Bay View. Thursday afternoon he was found in the doorway of the court building on Duncan street unable to care for himself. When searched he had $503 in his pockets. He was arraigned charged with drunkenness and his case was continued until further particulars are received."

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

August 1, 1935 5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Construction of cement sidewalks on two sides of Main Street from Slate Avenue to Prospect Street, on the west side of Water Street and on the north side of Vine Street was voted at a special meeting held at Armory Hall Friday night provided funds to pay for the labor can be procured under a federal project. Purchase of the Moriarty Garage for use as a municipal building at a cost of $15,000 was defeated by a vote of 38 to 28. Moderator William C. White left the presiding officer's chair to make an address favoring the purchase of the building. He outlined economies that could be effected, in his opinion, over a period of years if all village departments, including the town clerk's office, were located in one building. Prof. John V. Ford pointed out that there would be a taxation loss through acquisition of the building by the village because it would be taken from the grand list where it is now assessed at $10,000...Charles E. McNamara expressed the opinion that changes needed in the heating system of the garage and in the window arrangements would add excessively to the cost. Levi T. Cross moved that the article for purchase of the building be adopted, and the motion was lost on a ballot of 38 to 28. Prof. C. S. Carleton gave estimates on the cost of sidewalk construction based on engineering surveys he made last week at the request of the village trustees. The total cost, he said, would run in the vicinity of $3800 --- about $1600 on Main Street, $1200 on Vine Street and $1000 on Water Street. John E. Mazuzan made the motion for adoption of the article and it was carried on a voice vote.

50 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

August 4, 1960

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

A glimpse of personal history stretching back 99 years has been uncovered on an ancient blackboard in Norwich University's Dodge Hall. It is the handwritten Civil War record of James Evans, a Welch immigrant who served as the University's beloved "Janitor Jim" for almost a quarter of a century following the War Between the States...Neatly lettered on an old-fashioned painted plaster blackboard, presumably put there by his own hand as a sort of early day "time capsule," the record is a detailed chronology of Evans' eight years of military service, from his enlistment in 1861 to his final discharge in May, 1869. The record shows participation in several crucial Civil War engagements, including the Battle of Shiloh (spelled "Chilo" on the blackboard), and Chickamauga. Evans also listed a succession of military prisons in which he was held for 15 months as a POW. The historic relic came to light as university workmen began remodeling the venerable building.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

August 1, 1985 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

Northfield's own sometime itinerant photographer Jim Wilson will be resurrecting a time honored custom on August 11, when he will take a town portrait of the inhabitants of Northfield in preparation for the town's bicentennial celebration during Labor Day. The photograph will be given to the Northfield Historical Society archives, and residents are requested to come as they would like to be remembered 200 years from now. "People should feel free to bring anything they can carry or lead to have included in the picture," said Wilson; and of course dress is optional. The photograph will be printed in the special bicentennial edition of the Northfield News which will be published on August 29.

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State Agriculture Commissioner Paul Stone said Tuesday in a telephone interview that he hopes to rule by August 19 on the proposed Green Mountain Power Company's application for a permit to spray on their rightof -way between Waitsfield and Northfield substations...granting of an application would allow Green Mountain Power to use Tordon 101 to selectively cut back foliage along the right-ofway which exte4nds along Union Brook Road in Northfield