Celebrating Proctorsville

Submitted by Margo Caulfield

The Cavendish Historical Society is pleased to announce that this fall, we will be focusing on Proctorsville, Vermont.

In 1782, Capt. Leonard Proctor, a Revolutionary War veteran, moved his family to Vermont. With his two sons (Jabez and John) he built a “shunpike” to the village of Gassetts in nearby Chester to avoid paying the tolls of the Green Mountain Turnpike. Salmon Dutton, who came to Cavendish around the same time, had helped to build the Green Mountain Turnpike, which ran from Bellows Falls to Rutland, bringing Boston coaches north up the Duttonsville Gulf to the village and then west along the present RT 131 through Proctorsville. The “shunpike” being toll free resulted in North bound traffic from Boston coming directly to Proctorsville and bypassing Duttonsville. Because of the road, the Dutton and Proctor families, as well as the villages of Duttonsville (today know as Cavendish) and Proctorsville, feuded for 75 years. 

The marriage of Redfield Proctor and Emily Dutton in 1858 joined the leading families of the two villages and promised to put an end to the former rivalry. As Redfield said of his first son, Fletcher Dutton Proctor, "if the old names and blood had the old inclination left to stir up strife, it would have created a fearful internal commotion." In fact, the merger of these families proved to be a propitious event for Vermont, since three governors and a United States Senator came from this Dutton-Proctor line.

In February 20, 1907, Proctorsville formally gave notice to the Town of Cavendish that it wished to be incorporated. Today Proctorsville is a village within the township of Cavendish.

On September 12, there will be a walking tour of Proctorsville, starting at 1 pm in front of the Proctorsville War Memorial. Learn about an Inn with a ghost, the hotels that once graced Depot Street, see the homes that were built by the founder of Proctorsville, Capt. Leon Proctor, and much more. There are 16 stops on the tour. Copies of the tour, available on the 12th, will also be at the Cavendish Library, starting September 14. Be advised that there are some hills, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. 

For the month of October, there will be a pictorial display of Proctorsville in the Cavendish Library. 

On October 10, the annual cemetery tour will take place at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Proctorsville at 2 pm. There will be a second guided Proctorsville Walking Tour that day starting at 1 pm at the War Memorial, which will include the Cemetery tour. Carmine Guica, one of CHS’s genealogists, will have information about who is buried in this Cemetery. If you don’t know the story of “Fire Bug Fitton,” Carmine will tell you about it when you visit the family grave plot.

BRGNS Fall Rummage Sale

Ludlow Water Project - WEEK OF AUGUST 30, 2010

Construction on the Village Water Project during the week of August 30, 2010 is tentatively scheduled on the following roads:

•Sidewalk construction on Depot Street (Smith St. to High St.)
•Sidewalk construction on Pond Street
•Route 100 South – hitching services (Jewell Brook Bridge to Brooks Road)
•Andover Street Sewer construction
•Paving & clean up in various locations

Travelers using these corridors should be aware that there will be one-lane traffic and delays are to be expected.

Entertainment for the whole family at the Springfield Community Market

Submitted by Kelly Stettner
 
Vermont entertainer Tom Sabo brings hands-on fun and great tunes to the shoppers and vendors at the Springfield Community Market on Saturday September 4th. Stop in to the Chittenden Bank parking lot at 6 Main Street in downtown Springfield between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to listen to Tom's family-friendly guitar music, bring your own guitar and learn some basic playing techniques, enjoy his lively storytelling, and ask about Tom's upcoming space-oriented after school program -- it's out of this world!
 
10:00 Classical Guitar Good Morning songs
10:30-11:15 Learn how to play the guitar using chords: E, A, B7. BYO guitar & have fun!
11:15 singing & stories
12:00-12:30 Tom (NASA Educator 2010 Program certified) talks about the upcoming After School Program incorporating NASA Space & Rocketry programs
12:30 Closing songs & music
 
For more information about the Market, log onto www.springfieldcommunitymarket.orgor contact Market Manager Cindy Phillips at (802) 885-3328.

Shumlin Still Ahead; Racine Calls for recount.

Based on unofficial results tallied by the Secretary of States office, Peter Shumlin has a 197 vote lead over Doug Racine. Racine filed paper today asking for a recount. The certified election numbers are expected to be released early this week by the Secretary of State office.

BRGNS Gigantic Fall Rummage Sale

Submitted by Christine Fuller

What:    Gigantic Fall Rummage Sale by Black River Good Neighbor Services

Where:   Fletcher Farm
    611 Route 103
    Ludlow, VT

When:    Friday October 1 through Sunday October 3, 2010

Time:     10am until 4pm

Description:    From sinks to minks, winter clothing for the family, furniture, house wares, accessories, sports equipment and baked goods sold.

NOTE:   ALL proceeds go to help our neighbors in need in Ludlow, Cavendish, Mt. Holly, Proctorsville & Plymouth.

Cost:     no admittance charge

Shumlin Wins Democratic Primary

With all 260 precincts now reported, it appears that Peter Shumlin has won the Democratic Party's nomination for Governor in one of the closests races on record.  The final tally was:

Susan Bartlett-D - 3773 - 5%
Matt Dunne-D - 15034 - 21%
Deb Markowitz-D - 17499 - 24%
Doug Racine-D - 17993 - 25%
Peter Shumlin-D - 18183 - 25%

In all, 100,952 ballots were cast in an election that some of the pundits predicted would only draw a vote of 40,000.  Of these ballots, 72,482 were Democratic ballots, 28,150 represented the Republican Party, and 320 were for the Progressives.

Dunne, Markowitz Win Ludlow Votes

While they appear to be running third and fourth statewide in an extremely close election, Deb Markowitz and Matt Dunne drew the highests votes for the Democratic nomination for Governor in Ludlow.  According to Town Clerk Ulla Cook, the gubernatorial race in Ludlow resulted in the following votes:

Democratic Governor:

Markowitz - 75
Dunne - 75
Shumlin - 38
Racine - 37
Bartlett - 11

Patrick Leahy overwhelmed his primary opponent, Dan Freilich, by a 201 to 27 vote.

Cook indicated that 325 registered voters cast ballots.  Of this number, 241 selected the Democratic ballot while 84 opted for the Republican.  There were no votes cast for the Progressive Party candidates.

Rose Completes Summer Work at BRAM

Submitted by Georgia Brehm

Newton Rose, a junior at Black River High School, began volunteering at the Black River Academy Museum during the summer of 2007 and has continued serving the museum every summer since.  He, however, was a familiar face to the museum staff even before he began his internship.  Work constantly varies and ranges from research to letter stuffing.  In the past Newton has assisted conservators in the conservation of a local theater curtain; helped research and prepare museum publications; and lead sections of a historic walking tour through Ludlow.  Newton is involved in other various activities at school and in the Ludlow community.  These include participation in Vermont History Day where he has won the Vermont History Award two consecutive years by the Vermont Historical Society.  As Newton prepares to return to school, he hopes to return to the Black River Academy Museum next summer to continue his work.

TWO MORE HOLES-IN-ONE AT OVGC

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

C. Edward Gordon, III, of Ludlow, Vt., and Ross McKeon, of Westport, Conn., recently made holes-in-one at Okemo Valley Golf Club.

Gordon, an OVGC member, aced the sixth hole from the green tee on Aug. 18. He made the memorable 167-yard shot using his five-iron.  Fellow club members Liz Spaulding, Judy Zilvitis and Richard Killian were in attendance for the achievement. 

On Aug. 19, McKeon aced the 17th hole from the white tee. He made the 151-yard shot using his six-iron. Bob Jones, Terry Corrigan and John Corrigan witnessed the amazing feat.

Gordon and McKeon will have their names engraved on a hole-in-one plaque hanging inside the Okemo Valley Golf Club clubhouse to honor the fortunate few who have had the exhilarating experience of making a hole-in-one at OVGC. The course has recorded 18 aces this season.