100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

August 23, 1910 3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

The worst railroad wreck, considering the number of lives sacrificed, which has taken place in recent years, occurred Sunday morning on the sharp curve between Northfield Falls and West Berlin, when five faithful employees and an unknown lost their lives and several others were more or less injured. Freight Train No. 411 from White River Junction bound north, was expected to stop at Northfield to met Extra 339, which had the right of way to this place and was backing from Montpelier Junction, drawing a caboose, to take the special cars containing Company F of the V.N.G. to Burlington to join the regiment and proceed to Pine Camp, N.Y. The freight from the south did not stop, either because it was not properly signaled or because the signals were not seen, a matter yet to be determined...and proceeded on its way. At the sharp curve below Northfield Falls the two engines came together, both running at a good rate of speed, with a tremendous crash. Evidently the engineer on either train had no warning of the approach of the other until the locomotives were upon each other. As near as can be determined the collision occurred at 8:23. The heavy locomotive and long train drove the lighter one from the north back a considerable distance and badly demolished it.

• G.A. Towle of Somerville, Mass., a stockholder and officer in the Vermont Black Slate company, who has been in Northfield the past few weeks carefully looking over the situation of the company and the conditions of the quarries, now has a number of men at work removing the debris and making preparations to work the quarries. Mr. Towle proposes to give as much of his time as possible to looking after the business, as he thoroughly believes in the future of the slate interest here and in the particularly valuable quality of black slate that can be produced. He expects to employ a good force of men throughout the entire winter in quarrying slate. The company's plant is well equipped with modern machinery and it is expected to turn out a good supply of slate for which there is always a demand beyond market supply.

•

The Enosburg Falls deputy sheriff who was mulcted of $250 by pickpockets on circus day in St. Albans was tempting fate and criminals by carrying such a sum on such a day. Better have left it at home on the bureau.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

August 22, 1935

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

An old resident of Northfield takes issue with E.E. Thompson in his claim that his "Thunderbolt" in 1875 was Northfield's first newspaper. He sites the following from the Randolph Herald: "It should be interesting to know just how many different newspapers having different titles, have ever been published in Randolph and neighboring towns. Every little while a new one pops up. For instance, who ever heard of the Star of Vermont, published, according to the heading, in Northfield and Bethel back in 1855? Safford and Morse were proprietors. Publication office was at the corner of Central Street and the Square, Northfield. It was evidently an exponent of the socalled "Know-nothing, Americafor Americans" political party, and rank against Roman Catholics. This craze had its run, like the more recent A.P.A. and Ku Klux Klan, and faded out.

•

A gala time is to be had in Northfield on Saturday, August 31, when the town turns out to greet Miss Polly Prim in the person of Miss Catherine Connarn, the leading lady in the show "Star of Stars" when her train pulls in at the station on that Saturday. Boy Scouts, Fire Department, all the horse and buggy teams in town and cars will greet her as she comes back to town with her leading man as yet unknown. This play directed by Miss Jean Boudreau is sponsored by the Boy Scouts, under the management of Jason Hart. Several prominent men have offered their services to help make "Star of Stars" a success. Further details can be secured from Miss Boudreau, who is staying at present with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Davis.

50 Years Ago

NEWS AND ADVERTISER

August 25, 1960

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

It's a topsy-turvy state we live in when a Republican tells an audience "It's time for a change." That's what gubernatorial hopeful Luke Crispe said last Saturday to an audience of state employees gathered for their annual barbeque picnic at Vermont's Aggie and Technical Institute in Randolph. But before the shock wore off, Crispe added: "Let's make the change in the primary, not the general election."

•

The Northfield Memorial Park will close Saturday. If the weather is hot and humid, the time of closing will be 8 p.m.; otherwise, the closing time will be 5 p.m. The park has been in operation since June 19. Parents are advised that children should not be permitted to go to the park area after Aug. 27 as the pool will contain water while draining and the park will be unattended.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

August 22, 1985 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

The Trustees of the Brown Public Library recently offered their congratulations to Sue McMartin, who became a Certified Librarian at the Vermont Library Association Conference held at Norwich University this May. Sue has been the librarian at the Brown Public Library since 1981 and has been taking courses toward her certification since then.

•

A meeting to voice opposition to the possible use of Vermont as a site for a nuclear waste repository drew between 900-1,000 residents to the Montpelier High School Gymnasium on Monday night. Coming after a meeting at Wells River at which 2,000 area inhabitants attended to protest the potential use of the Knox Mountain Pluton as the dump site, the Montpelier meeting offered concerned residents a chance to hear from many elected officials...as well as a panel of scientists and citizens who voiced their opposition to the potential Vermont site.