Thursday, April 27, 2017

Waterford's Poets and Poems

Wednesday evening April 26, 2017, the Waterford Historical Society gathered with many guests at the Lower Waterford Congregational Church, to celebrate National Poetry Month through the words of local writers. What a great event!


WHS Pres. Donna Heath as master of ceremonies.


Patirica Powers
Teagan and Joe Healy reading together.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Alex M. Williams, Photographer with Roots in Waterford




Alex M. Williams is one of the names in the Memorial Garden at the Lower Waterford Congregational Church. A gifted photographer, Alex died at age 52 in Burlington, Vermont, in 2014; his parents, Dr. Russell and Lois Williams, live in the White Village.

Because there is no online site showing Alex's work, his parents graciously allowed these framed items to be photographed. Their detail is elegant and astonishing, and something to bear in mind as we enter the season of lilies in our Vermont gardens.

After attending New England College and the University of Vermont, Alex lived in London, England, and then in Boston for a time, during a seminal period for the Boston rock music scene. Alex shot live music, did album covers and band photos. Early "Mission of Burma" promotional photos are credited to Alex. Then in New York City, Alex assisted at photo studios, freelanced with print publications such as DETAILS, and photographed artwork for such artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente, and Julian Schnabel.

In Vermont, he worked with photographer Didier Delmas and at Photogarden on College Street and Jager Di Paolo Kemp Design of Burlington. Samples of his work, especially in Vermont, would be welcome, to add to this brief note.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Farewell to Waterford's Friend, Robert Heath Goss


Waterford Historical Society board member Lynn Troy provides a rolled-up panoramic photo of the construction of the Comerford Dam to genealogist Bob Goss (center), who offered to have the photo professionally enhanced to show more details. At right is another WHS board member at the time, Charles McMahon. Photo taken at the Davies Memorial Library by Helen C. Pike.
 The Waterford Historical Society lost a good friend and researcher last month with the death of genealogist Bob (Robert Heath) Goss on March 20, 2017. Bob's retirement choices led him into genealogy and into preserving the records of cemeteries across Vermont. In particular, he took the records compiled for Waterford's cemeteries years ago by Eugenia (Genie) Powers, and updated them, adding more details and descriptions. His awareness of the town's past added to our discussions of place names like "Copenhagen" (near today's Waterford Springs), as well as changes that came from reshaping the Connecticut River with two major dams.
About three years ago, Bob Goss discovered that Waterford resident Lynn Troy had a stunning panoramic photograph of the construction of the Comerford Dam, which changed so much in Waterford during 1930-1931.  Lynn recalls, “Bob had the panorama picture of the Comerford Dam (which I had received from a friend and [in the photo here] am giving him rolled up) touched up by a professional photographer.  He then returned the much improved finished picture to me and I had it framed.  The final product is a gift to WHS from both of us.  It is in the library now waiting for a discussion with [library director] Jen as to where to hang it.” Lynn adds, “He was a delight to work with and I enjoyed knowing him for the brief time I did.”
Bob was born in Barnet, Vermont, in 1934. His parents were Dean Abbott Goss (1901-1957) and Della Maud (Heath) Goss. His mother's family does not appear to be connected to today's Waterford Heaths. However, his father's family goes back for generations to the years when Waterford was settled by nonindigenous people: Levi Goss, one of the first to settle here, was Bob's great-great-great-grandfather; subsequent generations were Locke, Francis, Charles, and Bob's father, Dean.
Almost any search of Waterford's cemetery records will turn up Bob's work for generations to come. His attentive documenting of our history and his clear joy in preserving it ensure that we will remember both his work, and his generous spirit.