Albert Peter Dussault, 1909-1985: "What a way to live" (Waterford and St. Johnsbury, Vermont)

Albert Dussault, age 7.

[Much appreciation to Andy Dussault of St. Johnsbury, who provided his father's autobiography, with permission to share it here. Please see the related post for a picture that includes Albert at age seven -- we'd appreciate help identifying the other children in the photo.]

 

Autobiography of Albert Peter Dussault

Nov. 26, 1909  -  Jan. 2, 1985

 

            I was born at Cloquet, Minn. on November 26, 1909.  My father, Emile N. Dussault was a millright.  We moved to Waterford, Vermont in August 1914 on the Andrew McKee farm,  above the Lee Farm (near Stiles Pond), as my grandfather (H. Lebrun) bought it.  I attended the Graves School – Lottie Hill was our first teacher - from 1916  until February 14, 1924, then I went to St. Gabriel’s School in St. Johnsbury, Vt.  I graduated  on June 15, 1926.  Before 1926, I worked summers at Moose River Gardens, worked for Sherm McGinnis haying, and at the Carreau farm.  Also, worked for the State of Vermont as water boy with horse & wagon with tank - filling it out of the brook and Lee Farm water tank for a steam shovel.

[The next three photos, provided by Andy Dussault, show Albert and some of his siblings -- there were 15 Dussault children, and their farm was on Fairbanks Mountain, adjoining the Lee Farm. -- BK]

 

            In my young life, while in school - I drove 1, 2 and 4 horse teams and also oxen at Cary Maple.  Chopped wood and all other work in the woods.

            Then came my Walk into Life, June, 1926. Went on top of Hulbert Hill, my 1^st job out of school - pick and shovel.  $3.00 per day for brother Joseph and I as he worked there too.  2^nd job, striking for blacksmith sharpening drill bits for jack hammer   -  rock drilling.  The first trucks I drove were an Aviation and Liberty dump trucks for the state of Vermont. Then came a day the driller let me drive the Nash Quad about ½ mile.  It  drove  from the 4 wheels and it steered from the four wheels, solid rubber tires, in high gear 14 miles per hour.  Also, this was a drilling outfit and included a four wheel trailer on which was a Blacksmith Shop for sharpening rock drills.  In November 1926, this rig went to the sand bar in Grand Isle  to build the Sand Bar Road and bridge.  From this time on I knew I wanted to be a truck driver, and I was for a good many years. 

In November 1926, I hired out to Bertha Lee to care for a barn full of cows and other farm animals.  Then in February 1927, went up on East St. Johnsbury Mountain to drive team for Joe Morin for  one month and lived in the camp atop of mountain. Worked one month for Laperle.   During the winter of 1927, we walked half way to Littleton at 10 to 15 degrees below zero and that night slept in livery stable in Littleton with the teamsters. Next morning, left for Lincoln, NH, on a load of grain, got there between 8 to 9 p.m. that night.   Hired out as tractor  operator,  and left  for the woods the  next  morning at  5 a.m.  operating a Cletrac Tractor for Parker and Young – Lincoln, N.H. for 2 ½ months until spring.  One summer I worked for Swan Construction. (They built the St. Johnsbury Garage on Railroad Street.)

Then came my career for Harry Dolgin  in the spring of 1927 in the junk yard and used auto parts for  two years until 1929.  Driver and learned some mechanic from Charles Kirker at Dolgin’s.

             I worked for Costa on the delivery route for one summer.

            In 1930, worked two months at Fairbanks Scale Works, and for six weeks drove milk truck for Floyd Easter.

            In 1930, Memorial Day night made my first trip to Boston for St. Johnsbury Trucking with Wesley Fairbanks with #11, a K-W Brockway.  Then was given #19, a Model A Ford on  Swift’s Mountain run delivering beef to stores and hotels.  In the winter of 1932, Francis Fisher and I took a load of furniture to Alexandria, Va. We left St. Johnsbury on  Monday, Feb. 14th and returned that Friday night. 

I drove and worked as mechanic and rigger.  I drove #19 - #25 - #21 - #11 - #13 - #10 Big Steve - #59 better known as Caroline, a wrecker and low bed tractor – then came Big Bertha #200 an Autocar wrecker and #282 an International wrecker.  I also ran the Boston terminal for 6 weeks during the winter of 1935, then drove  #40 - #32 - #65 - #42 ten wheeler, #9 - #7.  I drove Model A Fords, 240 Brockways, Republic, Northways, Garfords,  Libertys, Aviations, Auto Cars, Sterling Diesel  chain drive,  Bulldog Macks chain drive and many more.

Sept. 23, 1937 I got married.  Worked local for 10 months then went back on the road with #65 a new DS 60 International tractor. I drove the first tractor trailer in the northern part all winter during  1935 & 1936.  In the spring of 1939, ran the St. Johnsbury terminal  for 3 months.  Then went to manage the Newport terminal until May 30, 1941.  This is when I left for the machine shops in Conn. We moved to Farmington cutoff in Connecticut in June 1941 and worked at Fuller Brush and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.   In Sept. 1943, the Braults (Gerry & Gemma) and us (Albert, Noella, Andre, Denise, Robert) returned to Vermont.  We lived in a trailer park behind a filling station on Shelburne Road in South Burlington.

   On Nov. 21, 1943, my mother died in Burlington, Vt.  

I worked at Bell Aircraft  as a machinist until the end of World War II. In 1945, opened Dussault’s General Auto Repair until March 1947 at 220 Shelburne Road.  During the spring of 1947, we returned to St. Johnsbury and I did general auto repair until July.

            In July 1947, my father and I started building  our house  on Higgins Hill. (1249 Concord Ave.)  Moved  in on Paul’s first birthday, Dec.17th.  While up there (Higgins Hill)  worked for Warren Motors, then contracted carpenter work until 1-1949.  Then back to St. Johnsbury Trucking again as mechanic, rigger, driving  and moving heavy equipment.

We sold our house, and on October 1^st, 1950, the family and I went to California for 3 years, then came back in September, 1953.

            In California, I worked as carpenter in Chico, on western grain silos installing roofs.   Then went to  Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo  (Jan, 1951), California for 15 months as a heavy machinist in the inside  machine shop.  Then  on June 2, 1952, moved to Cohasset, CA in the Sierra Nevada Range.  (Pop, Andre and Bobby worked for Uncle Walter in the woods for four weeks – he didn’t pay any of us.)  For 3 weeks worked as truck driver and rigger for Butte Creek Rock Co.  Then in Sept. 1952 I went to work for  Chico Wood Products (Sam Fortino) who had a garage in Chico and a  logging operation  and  sawmill in Cohasset, as driver, mechanic and jack of all trades.  Driver in the tall timber of the Great North West and cat skinner – jammer puncher.  Heavy log truck driving  (Federal tractor with a 300 Cummings diesel) during the days and  as a mechanic on logging trucks and dozers, TD 24 International and D8 Catepillars nights and during the winter.  I ran a board saw for one week in the Cohasset mill.

            Then in August, 1953 came back to Vermont.  Left $3.75 per hour wage and back to  St. Johnsbury Trucking for  $1.25  per  hour  as  mechanic,  wrecker driver and heavy equipment moving until  March  9, 1954.   At 7:30 a.m. got both legs broken by a bucket on a 2 yard link belt shovel. (The accident happened behind West’s Garage in Errol, N.H.

    I was in St. Louis Hospital in Berlin N.H.  for  4 weeks . By July 1958 I had had 5 operations – bone graft and skin grafts.  Then I was in the St. Johnsbury Hospital  until July 9, 1954.  My right leg was in a cast for 38 months.   

            I then worked for Brault’s Mobile Homes  hauling ten ft. wide mobile homes from Marlette, Michigan and Nanticoke, Pa.  One from each place a week.  Then in the fall I bought a truck of my own and hauled for Chamberlain of Thomaston, Conn. until the spring of 1959.

           I started a trailer sales of my own in 1959, (St. Johnsbury Mobile Homes) until I sold to Geo. Secilian April 14, 1972 and he quit in 1974 and I lost  $55,000.00 and he took off.

I even owned a pumper fire truck. Moved to Waterford 6-17-72 and bought and sold tractors, dozers, and bucket loaders  - trucks and cars.  Sold house and moved to a mobile home on North lot.  Then retired.  What a way to live -  ask me.   The worst thing in life is retiring  - for the birds.

            My mother wanted me to go to high school and I told her I wanted to be “a mechanic and truck driver”  and I did, except   7 years in machine shop and 2 years a general “Building Contractor” and Repairs.

            In August 1977 went to Cloquet, Minn.  “flew” out and back to see our Bro. Robert’s (3/9/1911 – 3/25/1912) grave and Margaret Lasor  - went with Clement  -  what a way to travel.

 On August 8^th, 1982 left Derby Line for Cloquet, Minn. at 1:30 p.m. with Bro. Joe.  We returned 8-12-82 at 9:00 p.m. 2301 miles, having Bro. Robert’s  body returned  70 years and 5 months after his death (as they had promised their mother).

 

DRIVING RECORD

Truck Driving 1 ½ to 2 million miles without a chargeable accident.

I loved truck driving and hauling heavy equipment and logging in The Wild West.

The man that let me drive my first truck was – George Sterns – State of Vt. Driver and Mechanic.

Only dumb people retire.

Places we lived until October 1982

#1  -  Oct. 1937   Just married in Beebe Plains, P.Q.  - 39 Maple St.  St. J.

#2  -  Oct. 1938   Upstairs 72 Portland Street Andre’s first home. He was 10 days old.

#3  -  Newport, Vt.  1939  -  Denise born Jan. 14, 1940.  Born at home – Indian Point and                

         Elm Street.

#4  -  Oct. 1940  moved to Winter St. (in Newport)

#5  -  June 1941 moved in a 15 ft. trailer on Farmington Cut-off. Conn.

#6  -  Oct. 8, 1942  Robert was born at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, Conn.

#7  -  While in this spot moved from Schultz 15 ft. to 18 ft. Platt trailer.

#8  -  Then to a 29 ft. Howard trailer.

#9  -  Moved to So. Burlington – Shelburne Road – (Sept. 1943)

#10 – Moved to Fort Ethan Allen housing.

#11 – Moved to Queen City Park where we bought our first home.

          Dec. 17, 1946 - Paul was born in the DesGrosbriand Hospital, Burlington, Vt.

#12 -  Back to St. J. on Portland St.  1947 and built our house on Higgins Hill.

#13 -  Moved to Higgins Hill,  Dec. 7, 1947     -    July 14, 1948  Clement born  St. J.         

          Hospital.

#14 – Sold house to Geo. Hall went to Chico, California at East 17^th St.

#15 – Moved to Vallejo, Cal.  Eugene born August 8, 1951

#16 – 1952 moved to Cohassett, Cal. In 25 ft. trailer & an outbuilding.

#17 – Moved to Nord Ave. Chico, Cal.

#18 – Moved back to Vt. In Aug. 1953 Portland St. upstairs over Mrs. Fales.         

#19 – Moved downstairs in Mrs. Fales  apt.

#20 – Moved to Marion Ave. in back apt.

#21 – Moved in Taylor’s side apt.

#22 -  1961 in Zabarsky’s apt. Corner of Concord Ave. and Lafayette St.

#23 – 1962 moved on Memorial Dr. in Knowlton House until we sold in 1972.

#24 – Moved in New House on Hulbert Hill, Waterford.

#25 – Moved in Mobil Home  14’ x 64’.

 

 

BAPTISMS                                                                                   BIRTHS

Andre baptized in Notre Dame Church, St. J. Vt.                         Born Oct. 24, 1938

Denise baptized in Star of the Sea , Newport, Vt.                         Born Jan. 14, 1940       

Robert baptized in St. Patrick’s Church,  Farmington, Conn.       Born Oct.   8, 1942

Paul baptized in St. Anthony, Burlington, Vt.                               Born Dec. 17, 1946

Clement baptized  in Notre Dame Church, St. J., Vt.                    Born July  14, 1948

Eugene baptized in St. Basil’s, Vallejo, Cal.                                 Born Aug.   8, 1951

 

                          

TIMES AND PLACES IN FLORIDA

1975   -  1976  Kissimmee + (2 weeks Ft. Lauderdale with sis. Jean)

1976   -  1978   stayed home.

1978  -  1979   Pompano Beach

1979  -  1980   DeLand , Fla.

1980  -  1981   Belleview, Fla.

1981  - 1982   Belleview, Fla.

                      

 

 

Edited by Andre Dussault

Typed by Gertrude Dussault

March 2003

                                                      Revised March 9, 2012

                                                    Revised January 21, 2016

 

[For more stories of Waterford, Vermont, history, please do browse the blog here; you can use the "search" box at top left for topics like schools or dams.]

Who Are These Children? A Waterford School Mystery to Solve

 Andy Dussault, who now lives in St. Johnsbury, has set us a mystery to solve. His father Albert Dussault (1909-1985) was about seven years old in the photo shown here of the students at the Graves School, the district school in Waterford closest to where the boy lived with his family. Albert marked himself in the photo -- but who are the other students?

To help a little, here's a class list for the Graves School for 1915-1916. The teacher was Lottie Hill, whose family held farmland around the school.

Eight years later, the 1923-1924 class list shows four Dussault siblings -- as well as children from the Blair, Lamontagne, Maguire, Mulliken, Pierce, Voyer, and Prue families.

Here are two more photographs taken at the Graves School, with thanks to Andy Dusssault.

In a second post today, we feature Albert Dussault's autobiography, packed with details about growing into his work and community in the 20th century.

[To browse this site for more Waterford, Vermont, stories, click here -- and you can look for specific topics, like schools or dams, by typing the topic into the white search box at top left.]

Waterford's Vietnam Veterans: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

Nola Forbes presents the Vietnam veterans of Waterford, Vermont. She writes: "Here is my submission related to archives at my house.  As a DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) member, we have partnered with the Dept of Defense to distribute materials related to the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War.  So I have tried to reach as many Waterford vets as possible in the past few years.  The Commemoration will still be going a few more years."

Click here to watch the short video.

The Travels of "Red" Morrison's Model: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

One of the historians of Waterford, Vermont, was Dr. C. E. Harris, who wrote A Vermont Village to sum up his own recollections and research. The search for a missing "Red" Morrison model led to Dr. Harris's late-in-life residence. Dave Morrison tells the story.

Click here for the short video in which Dave explains.

Who Made These Waterford Models?: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

One of four Morrison models that Waterford treasures.

Dave Morrison's grandfather William John Morrison preserved Waterford, Vermont, history through making models of local structures, and unusual and wonderful form of archiving knowledge and understanding. Dave explains the details of his grandfather's life.

Click here for this short video and discover another time.

The History of Waterford's Covered Bridge: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

Waterford's covered bridge at the foot of Maple Street once linked Lower Waterford to Littleton, New Hampshire.

Although you may think of "archives" as made up of pieces of paper, the Waterford Historical Society's mission to preserve our history and stories also involves listening to and valuing people's memories and research. Dave Morrison explains his grandfather's handmade model of this Vermont town's long-vanished covered bridge.

Click here to watch the short video and savor your own discoveries.

Tools from the Barn at Ray-Don Rag Cow Apple Farm: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

One of the oldest barns standing in Waterford, Vermont, today.

"Archives" usually refers to documents, but history is also maintained through talking about objects. Here Donna Rae Heath of Waterford, Vermont, presents the remaining barn from her family's farm and some of the tools she saved from its years of active use. Notice how "farming" extends also to logging on a Vermont homestead.

Click on this short video here.

More Local Waterford Vermont History from Donna Heath: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

This photo's importance came from the truck way in the background!

Even though Donna Rae Heath created her family farm notebook to capture the history of the farm, there's a lot more to discover from her images and stories. School trips, logging, fun!

Check out this short video and enjoy two minutes of details and insight.

Donna Heath's Family Farm Notebook: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

Photo of Donna Rae Heath's parents, in her farm notebook.

Donna Rae Heath created a notebook of photos and documents that show her family's farm, where she grew up and still resides. This is a great example of a "family archive," which can be put together easily to save and treasure history and memories.

Click here to watch this short video and enjoy stories of Waterford, Vermont, from Donna. (Video by Helen Chantal Pike.)

Waterford's Winston Pote Image in the Town Office: A Vermont Archives Month Presentation

Dave Morrison and the Winston Pote photo of Lower Waterford.

When you visit the town office in Waterford, Vermont, you enter from Maple Street. You are standing in a hallway that has doors to the town office and the post office, and a stairway up to the library. Dave Morrison, filmed in this video, describes the wall-size image of Lower Waterford mounted in the hallway, created from a photo by Winston Pote.

Click here to watch this short video and enjoy learning about this Connecticut River Valley town.

Waterford Archive Videos: Helen Pike Demonstrates the Waterford Vermont Archives

left to right: Harley Pike, Helen Pike, Robert Pike.

The Waterford Historical Society helps preserve local history through its archives. Here, Helen Chantal Pike explains how this works, and shares a treasure from her own family's past. Her father, Robert E. Pike, wrote Tall Trees and Tough Men and Spiked Boots, and other books that document and celebrate Vermont and New England history.

To watch Helen present the WHS archives, click on this short video.

Waterford Archive Videos to Mark Vermont Archives Month

It's getting a bit chilly to meet outside in person, so our October meeting for Waterford Historical Society is a virtual version. Do you have an item in your family "archives" that you'd like to show and talk briefly about? Here's how to do it:

Beth Kanell says:

I used Zoom to make mine -- and here's how. You need Zoom on your device (computer or phone). Line up your item(s) that you want to talk about. Open Zoom and click on "New Meeting." Then click on "Record" and start talking! Try to end within 3 minutes, and press "Leave Meeting." The program will close the meeting and "convert" your meeting into an MP4 file, which is a movie file. Then you send that to me.

Another simple way: Use your cellphone to record yourself (by taking a photo with the Video option), and send me the recording.

Even simpler: Tag one of us to do this for you.

Here's my short video: https://youtu.be/r0ITM6hEfcg

 

June, Rhubarb, and Local History

Just because we're standing six feet apart and wearing masks (hello, historic pandemic months) doesn't mean we stop treasuring local history! June is the month when the Waterford Historical Society hosts an annual Rhubarb Festival, which includes many culinary delights made with the humble and sturdy New England "pie plant." We can still celebrate rhubarb online, and hope to share pie with you later.

An aspect of rhubarb that delights family history buffs is the way a clump of it may persist from one generation to the next. Find some next to a stone foundation, and you may savor the same plant where someone harvested the pink and green stems a century ago, or longer. Check out a recipe, and it may be one your grandmother or grandfather used.

Roberta Smith supports the WHS as board member and treasurer. Among her pleasures are rug hooking and baking. Here she shares a recipe for rhubarb muffins that are sturdy and not too sweet, good for breakfast or afternoon teatime. Thanks, Roberta!

RHUBARB OATMEAL MUFFINS 

Preheat oven to 325’

In a small bowl, whisk together:

 

1 cup milk 
1 tsp vinegar 
1 tsp vanilla 
1/2 cup oil 
1 egg 

In a large bowl, combine:

2 1/2 cups flour 
1 1/4 cups brown sugar 
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp salt

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ingredients and mix until evenly combined.

Fold in 2 cups chopped rhubarb.

 

Bake muffins for 25 minutes.

A note from Beth's kitchen: 350 degrees worked well for me. But then again, I am always changing recipes a bit, to fit my own Vermont lifestyle! Here are some more rhubarb recipes that we've enjoyed at the Rhubarb Festival in past years.

Vermont Women and the Right to Vote: A Personal History

[Postcard issued in a campaign by the National Woman Suffrage Association, circa 1915]

This account comes from Donna Rae Heath of Waterford, a member of the Vermont Suffrage Centennial Alliance. She would have presented a talk in March of this year for the Waterford Historical Society, but with the coronavirus precautions in place, she's sharing it here, instead. Thank you, Donna!

A Short History of Suffrage

By Donna Rae Heath

I became a voter when I turned 21.  I took the Freeman’s Oath from Earle Whittemore in the kitchen of the restaurant that the Whittemores owned on Route 18 in Waterford.  Later, I had to take the Freeman’s Oath again in the 1970s when I went to register to vote in Montpelier.  I had moved back to Vermont from Boston.  Even though I had moved back to Vermont, the election officials insisted I take the Oath again. 

Community is one of my favorite words.  My interest in my community of Waterford goes back to my elementary school days when I joined my parents at the Town Meeting.  I watched my mother mark on the Warning of the Town Report the results of the various articles.  She wrote who was elected Selectman, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and the appropriations and the budget. I still have those reports. 

My mother has always had the right to vote.   She was eight years old in 1920 when Suffrage was passed by Congress.  [Editors' addition: Because the Suffrage Amendment reached ratification only nine weeks before the Presidential election of 1920, there was enormous pressure to get women registered to vote, resulting in about one-third of eligible women casting their vote in 1920, when Warren Harding was elected president, with Calvin Coolidge as vice-president, stepping in as President when Harding died in office in 1923.] Women have been allowed to vote in national elections in 31 of 58 Presidential elections.  Calvin Coolidge’s election [to continue as President] in 1924 was the first Presidential election in which women were seen as significant to the vote.  They could not vote for Teddy Roosevelt, but they could vote for Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Edna Beard of Orange, Vermont, was the first woman elected Representative in the Vermont Legislature in 1920, and she won the Orange County Senate seat in 1922.

There are many significant years in the history of woman’s Suffrage.  One hundred years is not a long time that women have had the right to vote.  Look at these significant dates in the history of women in their Vermont community:  1900, women were allowed to be town clerks, library trustees, and Superintendent of Schools; 1917, women who pay taxes were allowed to vote in municipal elections; 1942, women were allowed to serve on juries; 1964, the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women was established; and in 1988, the United States Congress passed the Women’s Business Ownership Act, which allowed women business owners to obtain loans in their own name.  That was only 32 years ago.

Women’s issues go back to the early years of the country.  The Temperance Movement began in 1826 when the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was formed.  By 1869, two organizations were promoting voting rights for women: The National Woman Suffrage Association fought at the national level through Congress, while the American Woman Suffrage Association worked for Suffrage through the states. 

Locally, the Vermont Woman’s Suffrage Association (VWSA) was formed in St. Johnsbury in 1883–1884. Nationally known activists like Lucy Stone, editor of the Woman’s Journal, and Julia Ward Howe, President of the Massachusetts Suffrage Association, attended the meeting.  Laura Moore of Barnet was elected Secretary and documented the VWSA’s work in very thorough minutes. She served as Secretary from 1883 until her death in 1902.  The minutes are available for viewing at the University of Vermont website. 

Moore wrote about the fight to give Vermont women the right to vote in municipal elections.  It was a petition drive throughout the state during 1883–1884.  Volunteers, men and women, spread across the state and obtained 3,278 signatures.  Some of the towns returning petitions were:  Barnet with 187 signatures; Barton, 164; Burke, 110; Concord, 277; Danville, 6; Hardwick, 89; Lyndon, 68; Peacham 61; St. Johnsbury, 258; Ryegate, 9; and Sheffield, 26.  Waterford was not listed in Moore’s report.  The right to vote in municipal elections was not passed by the Vermont Legislature until 1917, and that right was allowed only for tax-paying women.

A different petition that came from Waterford probably closer to 1920 asked the Vermont Legislature to ratify the “Federal Suffrage Amendment.” The signatures had Waterford and St. Johnsbury addresses, and there was no date on the petitions. Many of the signatures were written in the same handwriting ,with a note at the bottom that they were taken over the telephone.

The amount of information on Suffrage in books, magazines, libraries and archives is immense. Celebrations for the 100th anniversary of Suffrage are being planned by the Vermont Suffrage Centennial Alliance (VSCA), a committee of about 25 women who represent several organizations.  Sue Racanelli of the League of Women Voters chairs the committee.  On August 22, 2020, a parade of people, floats, and bands will march down Main and State Streets in Montpelier to the State Capitol lawn.  There will be speeches, exhibitor booths, games, food, and music.  Other events include a traveling exhibit on woman’s Suffrage that will go to schools, a traveling play, and programs in various towns.  Check out the VSCA website at vtsuffrage2020.org for details on programs, how to volunteer, and the status of all activities that may be impacted by the coronavirus. 

[Donna Rae Heath is vice-president of the board for the Waterford Historical Society.]

Farewell, Eric Charlton, Former Innkeeper, Rabbit Hill Inn

The Waterford Historical Society offers its condolences to Beryl Charlton and the many other family members and friends mourning the March 10 death of Eric Charlton. Beryl and Eric together owned and managed the Rabbit Hill Inn in Waterford for a wonderfully long and joyful time, 1980-1987. They also gave the community the gift of their presence at the Rabbit Hill Reunion in 2018; you can view the video here.

View the full obituary here.

Other notes here on the Rabbit Hill Inn and its history: click here.

The inn's own description of its history: click here.

March 25 Meeting: CANCELED for Community Health Concerns

Sorry to cancel the in-person gathering. BUT: Material from this presentation will be posted online soon -- keep an eye out!

What does a woman's right to vote mean in Vermont? Rural farm historian Donna Rae Heath reflects on how this right developed over the past century, and what it means to her today.

Bruce Brink and His Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides, 1985, Waterford

This Caledonian-Record newspaper article from February 2, 1985, by Patricia Viles (married to Perry; see White Birch Farm owners of the past), speaks for itself in terms of the joy of Waterford's winter activities of the past. (Missing words for the bottom of second column: are open, by design. A clos-) The clipped-out article was found during the January 2020 archives work session.

Moving the Hen House, for the Sake of the Shadow Lake Road

During January's Waterford Historical Society archives work, this remarkable document emerged from donated materials. "Town Road #19" is today called Shadow Lake Road; Glenn and Eva Powers are the parents of Willard Powers and Geneva Powers Wright; and the rest is up to you to read!

Interested in more about the Powers family? Here is a family tree showing early settlers and recent descendants, including the connection to Waterford's beloved and influential 20th-century historian Eugenia Powers:

Powers Family Tree

Michael Powers (1727 Ireland-1807) New London CT

mar. Hannah Fox (1728-1793 New London CT)

|

Joseph Powers 1760 (CT)-1832 (Lunenburg VT) mar. Susan Barker (1770-1850)

|

*Stephen Brunswick Powers (1798-1860, Lunenb.) mar. Almira Johnson

**Russell Powers (1807 b. Lunenb. VT – 1885, Lunenb.) mar. Louise Chase Powers (1816-1892)

+3 more siblings

**Russell Powers (1807 CT – 18855, Lunenb.) mar. Louise Chase Powers (1816-1892)

|

Frank Russell Powers (1848-1936, b. Lunenb. VT) mar. (Concord VT) Sarah Ella Gilbert

|

Glenn Gilbert Powers (1895-1982) mar. Eva Belle Page (1896-1977)

|

Geneva Ella Powers (1919-2018) mar. (1 March 1938) Gilbert Augustus Wright

Theresa Powers (1921-1983) mar. Merton Roberts (1920-2003)

Russell Frank Powers (1924-2009) mar. Patricia Wallace (1926-)

Willard Bates Powers (b. 1925) mar. 1 (19 Dec 1946) Lina Elizabeth Bullock (1927-1986) [Lina Bullock’s parents: Frank Bullock, Lola Kirkpatrick];

                                                mar. 2 (4 Aug 1990) Gwendolyn Janice Sidell

Ellen Pearl Powers (1931-2003) mar. Donald Wark (1928-2011)

[Russell and Patricia’s children: Lois Eileen Powers 1950-1950, Daniel Glenn Powers 1953-2007; also Ronald, Kevin, Judith, Sandra, Sharon]

[Donald Wark’s parents: James Joseph Ira Wark 1906-1982, mar. Elizabeth Schubert (of German descent) 1907-1998]

[Glenn’s brother Roy F. Powers mar. Luvia M. Powers]

*Stephen Brunswick Powers (1798-1860, Lunenb.) mar. Almira Johnson

|

Timothy Powers (1827-) mar. 1 Electa Balch (1837) [mar. 2 at age 60 Lizzie D. Hurlbutt]

|

Ernest William Powers (1874-1960) mar. Stella Rebekah Church (1873-1959)

|

Eulalie Powers (1912-1999)

Eugenia Powers (1913-1985)

Lower Waterford School, 1909: Families of the Village

What could you donate to the Waterford Historical Society that would help describe Waterford a century ago -- or today? This item was found during the January 2020 archives work session (click on the photo to see it clearly):

Bullock, Dodge, Goss, Hale, Hemingway,  Morrison, Ross, Smith, Wright -- most of these are still names you may come across in Lower Waterford families today. This is a colorful "souvenir" of the summer term that ended July 1, 1909, a good reminder that school terms were far different when they needed to allow for agriculture.

Waterford Images from the Archives: 1

Top to bottom:

Ivy, John, and Erin Bean, January 2, 1941.

John Bean with snowplow in Waterford, 1938.

Ervin Bean, Nina Watson, Ivy Bean, John Fitchett, Wesley Fitchett.

Vida Watson.

Top to bottom:

Ervin (2), Ivy (1), John (3) Bean, Nina Watson, Vida Watson with cake, Steve and Wesley Fitchett.

Woods School 1939 or 1940, June: Franconia Notch, N.H., last day of school outing. Front: Audrie Powers, Thelma and Wayne Wright, Les Young, Ellen Powers. Back: Clara Morrison (teacher), Alice and Rolla (Jr.) Wright, Russell and Willard Powers.

Sunday School at Lower Waterford, June 1936, the Beye House (now part of Rabbit Hill Inn) in background.

The Wood Farm. Originally Leon Johnson's uncle had it built. Later Colby, Fitchett, and Earles. Ed Roberts, Ells Wright, Merle Milliken.

Clara Morrison.

Waterford residents at Valley View Farm, Upper Waterford (originally called Highland View Farm): left to right, Leo Williams, Velma's husband XXX Peabody, Leo's wife Bertha, XXX Williams, Louise (?) Williams, Velma's little girl, ?.

Vacation Bible School at Lower Waterford, about 1948.

Annie, Mildred, and Mary Morrison, 1953.

Eva (Page) and Glenn G. Powers, 50th wedding anniversary, March 11, 1969.

Three photos at Davies Memorial Library, Lower Waterford, May 1, 1996: Top, Dorothy (Pease) Morrison entering on her 85th birthday (at left Richard Hurley). Center: Cynthia (Powers) Davis at the refreshment table; far left, Frank and Pauline Hubbard of St Johnsbury, Sandy B. Crepault turning to talk to ?, and Russell Powers standing in background. Bottom: George Bullock presenting plaque to Dorothy Morrison, honoring her faithful services to the Town of Waterford (far right Yolanda Bates, far left Charlotte Blodgett, back right Joanne Jurentkuff town clerk).