125 Years Ago

The Northfield News

September 9, 1885 3 cents a copy/ $1.50 a year

Geo. H Richmond, editor

It is announced that the President's order directing the removal of cattle from Indian lands is to be resisted in the courts with Gen. Butler, himself the owner of a ranch, as counsel. There are 500,000 head of cattle on these lands. Following this Ben is liable to place an attachment upon the earth.

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The Boston papers say that the church of Rev. Mr. Downs, who has been made notorious by a ministerial scandal and who confesses to very great indiscretion in his conduct and relations with the wife of another man, is thronged every Sunday; and that the weekly prayer meetings conducted by him are more largely attended than any others in Boston. Downs has had the cheek to preach on the scandal, and to crack jokes about it in the pulpit. That persons claiming to be decent and respectable can allow themselves to swell his congregation and contribute to his self conceit and encourage him in his conduct, is a sad commentary upon human nature.

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A man in Nebraska says that he has a microscope which not only enables him to gaze upon the microbes of the air but has also shown him the soul. Each man's soul has the same form and appearance as his body. How homely some men will be through eternity!

100 Years Ago

The Northfield News

September 6, 1910 3 cents a copy/$1.25 year

Fred N. Whitney, editor

Dr. John A. Mead was elected governor today by a plurality of 14,000, according to the Associated Press canvass, this being the smallest with one exception since 1870 and a drop of 12,000 from two years ago.

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Russell S. Page has been nominated for representative by the republicans of Hyde Park and will no doubt be elected. Think of how the young man will have to endure being pointed out as "Senator Page's son." He will probably have to stand that sort of thing for some time, but if The News is not greatly mistaken in the young man, eventually he will be spoken of as "a chip off the old block." This will be complimentary enough to fully compensate for any previous annoyances.

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Captain Frank Tompkins of the 11th U.S. Cavalry, detailed by the war department as professor of military science and tactics at Norwich University, Northfield, as successor to Capt. Leslie A. I. Chapman, 2nd Cavalry, U.S.A., comes of an old army family, his grandfather and father being West Point men who have served with distinction in the Mexican War, the Indian wars and the Civil War. He is a natural heir to the mounted branch of the service, his father, Gen. C.H. Tompkins, retired, being a cavalryman of note in the early years of the Civil war, having won a medal of honor for defeating with but one troop of cavalry an entire regiment of Confederate infantry and his grandfather having commanded a light battery during the Mexican war. Gen. Tompkins for sometime in 1862, commanded the 1st Vermont cavalry.

75 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

September 5, 1935

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Chief of Police Knapp arrested Stephen Kouchoulakis of Lowell, Mass., a member of the local C.C.C., at the request of Massachusetts police officers who charge the youth with participation in a hold-up in Lynn, Mass, last spring. He and three others, it was alleged, robbed an elderly man of $200 after knocking him unconscious. The victim has since died.

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The theme for the sermon (at the Methodist church) next Sunday morning will be "The Glory of All Honorable Toil." Mrs. Elmer, soloist, and the Girls' Choir will sing. The repairs and improvements on Methodist property are nearly completed, and it is expected that in the next few days the church will be cleaned for winter use.

50 Years Ago NEWS AND ADVERTISER

September 8, 1960

5 cents a copy, $2 a year

John E. Mazuzan, editor

Tickets for the Celtics-Lakers professional basketball game at Norwich University Saturday night, Oct. 1, now are available at the Norwich treasurer's office, Athletic Director Joseph Garrity announced today.

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To better serve its patrons, the Northfield Coal Company has installed two-way radios on its fuel oil delivery trucks.

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A way to penalize "blind guessing" on multiple-choice tests and at the same time reward partial knowledge of subject matter was described at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Chicago Monday by Dr. Clarence F. Willey, head of the department of psychology and education at Norwich University.

25 Years Ago

NORTHFIELD NEWS

September 5, 1985 25 cents a copy, $2 a year

Erik Nelson, editor

From the opening ceremonies and first night concert by the New Yankee Rhythm Kings to the final chorus of the Air Force Band of New England, the Northfield Bicentennial Labor Day Observances offered a wide range of entertainment for thousands of people who traveled to Northfield to help celebrate the town's 200th birthday...Despite the contrariness of the weather which plagued the opening night concert, kept Saturday cold and cloudy and threatened to dampen the parade, the Northfield Common was alive with music, magic, and munchies for 3 full days of celebration. As one sixyear old was heard to say, "This is the best time of my life...except for Christmas.

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The recent proliferation of Assistant Town Clerks was ended when Town Clerk Laurence Robinson removed Assistant Town Clerk Shirley Sharron from office on his return from active duty in the National Guard, Thursday Aug. 29. The following day Robinson accepted the resignation of Assistant Town Clerk Rick Smith and removed Diane LeFebvre from the rolls as an Assistant Town Clerk.