There will soon be more Waterford stories on the blog site. Meanwhile, here's the 1957 Town Report, as a reminder of when the town's district schools gave way to education for all in one building. At a time of challenges to education funding (again!), it's good to recall how significant this change was for our community.
With permission from St. Johnsbury Academy's alumni magazine, The Hilltopper (spring 2025), here is Lily Cahoon of Waterford and her self-designed equine program. (Click on each image for clear reading.)
(This obituary with photo was published in the Caledonian-Record today, April 18, 2025.)
Vivian Mae Davis, 95, of Waterford, Vt., passed away at her home on April 16, 2025. Vivian was born Nov. 22, 1929, to Benjamin Daniels and Helen (Morton) Daniels at the family farm located in Waterford, Vt. She attended local schools, graduating from St. Johnsbury Academy with the Class of 1948. After Russell B. Davis’s return from service in WWII they married on Sept. 25, 1948. The couple shared nearly 50 years of marriage until Russell’s death in 1997.
In her younger years Vivian loved horseback riding, traveling, and was well-known in the community as the ‘Tupperware Lady.’ Vivian was more well-known as a home maker and caregiver, raising her children along with having helped raise other children of extended family members, friends of the family and her grandchildren.
Survivors include her sons: Thomas Davis and wife Sol of the Philippines and Glen Davis and wife Jo-Ann of Plano, Texas; her daughters: Kathleen Goslant of Waterford, Susan Davis of Roundup, Mont., and Amy Derby and husband Kendall of Fossil, Ore.; seven grandchildren: Matthew Davis, Jennifer Davis, Kathryn Davis, Meghan Garcia (John), Christopher Goslant, Estan Davis (Diana), and Stacey Davis (Ethan Bechtel); 13 great-grandchildren: Marah, Killian, Finn, Trever, Wyatt, Waylon, Avery, Jack, Sylvester, Keith, Hunter, Madeline, and Elle; and many nieces and nephews.
Vivian was predeceased by her husband: Russell Davis; two sons: Stephen and Baby Paul Davis; brother: Glen Daniels; sisters: Lucille Farr and Marjory Canning; and a great granddaughter: Mikayla.
A Memorial Service officiated by Diane Raymond will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, 1 p.m. at North Danville Baptist Church, 4243 Bruce Badger Memorial Hwy, Danville, Vt. Burial will be in the summer at Passumpsic Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to Caledonia Home Health and Hospice, 161 Sherman Dr., St Johnsbury, VT 05819 or North Danville Baptist Church, 4243 Bruce Badger Memorial Hwy, Danville, VT 05828.
Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com. The family is being assisted by Guibord-Pearsons & Sayles Funeral Home.
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The earliest history of Waterford is under its original name, which was Littleton (Vt.). According to the Vermont State Archives & Records Administration (VSARA), "Littleton was created by a Vermont charter in 1780. The town name changed to Waterford in 1797."
VSARA offers through its website a selection of "lotting plans" of Vermont's earliest years, as investors and potential settlers divided up land that had been by custom held by the Abenakis. (There was no agreement from the tribe for this, so the lands today are called "unceded" -- that is, never actually "given up.")
This map of the town's lots shows many familiar names. When I (BK) find a good explanation of the "divisions" referred to, I will add it to this post. Meanwhile, here is the fascinating map!
For comparison, here is the 1875 Beers Atlas map of the town (can be purchased today from www.old-maps.com):
