⚲  Open Saturdays 1–3 p.m. · 3216 Main Street, Cabot, Vermont Contact Us
Established for the People of Cabot

Cabot Historical Society

Preserving the history of Cabot, Vermont · Founded 1965

The Cabot Chronicle

August/September 2019 · Issue Record

← From the Cabot Chronicle

The community record for this issue of the Cabot Chronicle, extracted from the original pages. Reprinted with permission from the Cabot Chronicle.

Original issue: Download the August/September 2019 pages (PDF)

Automated extraction, spot-checked. Advertisements, the business directory, and puzzles are omitted; obituaries appear as individual entries.

In This Issue

POLLINATORS

In recent years, concern has been raised regarding the health of our pollinators, which include domesticated honeybees, as well as our native pollinators like bumblebees, wasps, butterflies, and a host of other species including birds and bats. Getting rid of bugs might seem like a good idea, but our pollinators serve a very important function and are critical to our well-being. These bugs help produce the food we eat, and without them, our diets would look very different. Legislative committees have heard in testimony that one in three bites of food is the result of pollination. It is estimated that a startling 40% of the insect population has been lost in recent years, and one theory is that it is due to more prolific use of chemical pesticides. H. 205, which passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by the Governor, is an act that requires regulation of the sale and application of neonicotinoid pesticides in order to protect pollinator populations. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets to register, as a restricted-use pesticide, any neonicotinoid pesticide labeled as approved for outdoor use that is distributed, sold, or offered for sale in the State. Certain products, including treated article seed and pet products, will be exempt from the requirement to register as a restricted-use pesticide. The increased registration fee for a neonicotinoid pesticide will be used to

↑ contents

The Cabot Chronicle Submission

The Chronicle welcomes maximum length is recommended may be edited for clarity and tions for re-submittal. All letters Chronicle represent the opinions opinions of staff. The Cabot Chronicle reserves unsuitable material for our lication unless signed and accompanied consider articles and photographs for publication. The Cabot Chronicle is not responsible for errors Chronicle assume responsibility for claims arising tised on these pages.

~ Cabot Chronicle Mission The Cabot Chronicle is a home-delivered newspaper diverse, and evolving community that provides deserve to know about their community. The Chronicle is as much about building trust reporting, writing, and editing. The CCA will rich, engaging content that encourages readers Chronicle. We will identify the content the community promotes the CCA mission while it sets the tone Through The Cabot Chronicle the CCA will successful and promote the CCA mission to those residing, doing business, and visiting Cabot,

DEADLINE: 15th of the month prior to production

Coordinator: Jeannie Johnson

↑ contents

♦ PEACHHAM

“Kitty” Toll provide educational services, technical assistance, and increased inspection services related to neonicotinoid pesticides and pollinator health. One of the very important goals of H.205 is to educate beekeepers about the negative effects that Varroa mites are having on not only our domestic honeybees, but native pollinators, as well, in terms of the viruses that they spread. Beekeepers will be asked when they register their hives to report a current Varroa mite and pest mitigation plan for each registered hive. The Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is asked to establish a training program that will address the areas of bee health, varroa mite identification and control, identification of common diseases or pests, proper maintenance of hives, State laws regarding beekeeping and pesticide application, and continued educational opportunities. A person who completes the course will be awarded a Vermont Beekeeper Educational Program Certificate. For additional information on any bill or action taken by the House or Senate or standing committee, please visit: www.leg.state.vt.us. These are live pages and are updated regularly. Please contact me directly with your questions and concerns. kittytoll@live.com or ktoll@leg.state.vt.us

↑ contents

Guidelines

letters written with an economy of words. The to be no longer than 400 words. Letters length or returned to the author with suggesand commentary published in The Cabot of the authors and not necessarily the

the right to reject letters that may contain readers. Letters will not be considered for pubby a phone number. We will gladly

in submitted material. Nor does The Cabot in connection with products or services adver-

↑ contents

Statement ~

devoted to telling the stories of a the information people want, need and

and inspiring engagement as it is about devise a cost-effective way of producing to slow down and spend time with The cares about most and that which and tells the story of Cabot. nurture and grow the community to be enhance the quality of community life for VT.

↑ contents

Cabot’s July 4 Celebration

by Lori Augustyniak

While the exact date of its origin in unknown, Cabot’s proud tradition of celebrating Independence Day started more than 50 years ago, and what is known is the incredible amount of work that is required from so many community members to make the event happen. The Cabot July 4 Celebration committee would like to extend thanks to everyone whom made this year’s 4 th of July event a success. First and foremost we would like to thank the active military members and veterans who participated in the presentation of the Colors and the sacrifice you have made for the United States of America, “Land of the Free, because of the brave!” Thank you to the firefighters, police, and EMT’s that stay close to ensure that we have a safe and happy 4 th of July. Thank you to Cabot’s Fire Department and Ambulance Service for coordinating the parade and judging the entries. The parade included the usual array of entries, including the giant puppets, tractors, fire trucks and emergency rigs, and members of the Cabot High School band. The parade entries selected to receive a $50 cash prize were:

↑ contents

Judges Choice.

We are also grateful to the Cabot Ambulance Service for providing first aid services, hosting cooling stations and making the ambulance available for kids to “touch-a-truck.” The rummage sale crew works very long hours to make that part of the event successful, and all profits benefit the Cabot School activity fund. Special thanks to Terri Persons and Lydia Pitkin for leading the effort and helping folks find new homes for unwanted treasures. The BBQ Chicken Dinner received rave reviews this year, and the dinner profits are also donated to the Cabot School activity fund. We are especially grateful to Linda Savoca and Fawn Wells for stepping up to handle all the details and provide a great BBQ! Our entertainers on the common stage included The Outerburgs, featuring musicians Sue & Dana Robinson and David Gailliard. And right after the parade, the Hillside Rounders provided the afternoon music. The Hillside Rounders feature the hometown talents of Jeremy, Rich and Mike Sicely with Luke Auriemmo. Thanks so much to all the musicians – your contribution added so very much to the event. Other activities included our traditional activities and local business par-

bi-monthly and is provided locally

05647 ~ Published by the Cabot Community

express written permission from The Cabot Chronicle is contingent upon publisher’s approval and agreement based upon contents of advertising. Publisher does occupied by individual item in which the error appeared.

↑ contents

Cabot Board of Listers

Thank you to property owners who have welcomed the appraisers and contacted the Listers’ office to provide contact information. Courtney Brown Company are on Tyler Buswell and of Vermont Appraisal the ground conducting inspections, and Tom Vickery has been analyzing sales data and sold properties to update the Cabot land schedule and cost tables. The State-mandated reappraisal began July 1, 2019. Appraisers have already been active in the Joe’s Pond area, doing their best to reach people when they are planning to be at their properties. Joe’s Pond area being seasonal, that was the first area of focus. Next will be other seasonal camps and areas difficult to reach in winter and mud season. Then, it will be road by road, until completed. Cabot has contracted with Vermont Appraisal Company for the reappraisal, and residents will see Tyler Buswell and Courtney Brown driving in their neighborhoods in the coming months as they focus on one roadway at a time. They can be recognized by their Vermont Appraisal Company shirts or badges, and a magnetic sign on the door of Tyler’s blue Volvo station wagon and Courtney’s white Nissan Pathfinder. They will probably be carrying a clipboard with the inspection schedule, a measuring tape, and Lister file folders, and will also very likely be accompanied by a Cabot Lister. Feel free to ask for ID. The team has been well received in the Joe’s Pond area, and we thank the property owners for their hospitality and helpfulness. If you see Tyler and Courtney or their vehicles in your area, you can assume that your address is coming up on the inspection list. If you don’t receive a call to schedule a specific time, it probably means the town office doesn’t have a telephone number to reach you.

us know when you will be on hand to allow an appraiser access to both the inside and outside of your structure. An appraisal of every taxable parcel will occur, so the fullest benefit from our tax Courtney Brown

Tyler Buswell dollars will be gained by letting them do their work fully and accurately. It should take less than an hour. The reappraisal is costing over $70,000, toward which the State provides the Town an annual stipend; we got twelve years out of the previous reappraisal before being ordered by the State to update the inventory. Accurate information now will help us maintain good data into the future, fairly distribute the tax burden, and get the most we can out of this reappraisal investment. Property owners working together with the Listers and appraisers will give us the best data possible. Your assistance is very much appreciated.

↑ contents

Land Based Invasive Plants

Summer is in full swing now with gardens and landscape plants flowering and showing beautiful colors. In our forests and yards, land based invasive plants are also in full bloom. In the case of many invasives, the flowering phase will make invasive plants easier to identify. Anyone interested in learning about invasive plants should visit www.vtinvasives.org website. website, invasive plants are On the separated into land based and aquatic plants. We have many plants and trees here in Cabot that are present on the vtinvasives site. Two of the trees listed as invasive are Norway Maple and White Poplar. Norway Maple was a popular selection for landscaping of yards in the past, and have been removed from many sites in recent years. There are many invasive plants present in Cabot, and others close by not yet in our town. Some of the plants listed on www.vtinvasives.org include Buckthorn, Burning Bush, Bush Honeysuckle, Giant Hogweed, Japanese Barberry, Japanese Knotweed, Wild Chervil, and Wild Parsnip. The Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip plants are of great concern due to the fact the plants are quite hazardous when cut down. Both plants have the potential to burn your skin if handled improperly. Giant Hogweed should be handled only on cloudy days, with a rain suit and rubber gloves for protection, as the sap of Giant Hogweed makes skin sensitive to ultraviolet light. Burning, blisters, and

↑ contents

Landscape Network

Here are some tips to promote pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and more in your yard or neighborhood. If you maintain a pollinator habitat on your property, or have pollinator knowledge to share, please let us know at

 Goldenrods are an important crop for honeybees, for both pollen and nectar. Let a patch of naturally occurring goldenrods thrive on your property to promote pollination.  There are estimated to be at least 265 species of wild bees in Vermont! You can help inventory these bees by joining the VTBees Survey here: val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vtbees.  Stay tuned for Bees and Brews, a recurring informal gathering at the Den of beekeepers and people interested in beekeeping to share experiences. Check Front Porch Forum for dates and details.  If you have a field full of milkweed, mowing strips or patches between July 1 and July 24 can encourage the regrowth of milkweed and allow for greater monarch caterpillar populations. Keeping some mature plants will also leave food for adult monarchs and other pollinators. You can join citizen science efforts to monitor 2019 - Page 3

↑ contents

ARDEN

even blindness can be caused by exposure to the sap. The patch on Elm Street was recently cut before it flowered to prevent reseeding. Wild Parsnip contains a phototoxic sap that can cause burns, blisters and skin discoloration. Please do take the proper precautions (as with Giant Hogweed) before managing Wild Parsnip. Another plant of concern is Japanese Barberry for the habitat it provides. The Japanese Barberry plant provides a low thorny covering, which is ideal habitat for deer mice. Deer Mice carry Deer Ticks and potentially Lyme disease. Japanese Barberry, Buckthorn, and Bush Honeysuckle are all harmful to forest health, as they displace native plants and can take over the under story of the forest. Japanese knotweed is another plant that displaces native plants, creates dense stands, and becomes difficult to eradicate. If you go by the Dog River during midsummer, it is obvious how bad this invasive can become. The banks of the Dog River are choked with Japanese knotweed, making access to the river nearly impossible by midsummer. Wild Chervil is in Marshfield currently, not yet in Cabot, but will make its way here eventually. I suggest taking the time to learn about the invasive plants present in our forests.

↑ contents

Cabot Ambulance

(continued from page 1) On another note, I would like to thank all those who stopped by the Cabot Ambulance or one of our booths at the Fourth of July celebrations, and thank you to all those who supported us by buying Sugar-on-Snow and bottled water, and making donations! On a final note, we would still love to have more volunteers!! The more trained members we have, the more likely we will have enough of them in town and available when there is an emergency! As I have said before, Cabot Ambulance was founded in 1966 by Dr. Caffin and his wife because someone died while waiting for an ambulance from another town! Let’s do everything we can to prevent that from happening again!!

↑ contents

Joseph Silveria Jr.

Joseph M. Silveria Jr., VI, 66, passed away March 2, 2019, at home surrounded by friends and family after a long battle with kidney disease and cancer. Joe was born in Manchester, NH, on October 29, 1952, to Lillian (Annis) and Joseph M. Silveria Sr. He attended Central High School in Manchester, NH, and shortly after joined the United States Marine Corps, serving two tours in Vietnam. Joe was a long time resident of Cabot, VT. He enjoyed watching tv, fishing, camping, and helping with firewood. Joe was predeceased by his parents and one sister, Patricia. Survivors include his wife Judy (Nunn) of Cabot, their son Anthony and wife Allison Joyal Silveria of Plainfield, VT, a “special daughter” Iris Peppin of Manchester, NH, a son from a previous marriage,

↑ contents

Cabot Recycling

by Ben Davis Recycling participation in Cabot and Marshfield remains strong, with over 50% of residents participating in recycling. Behind the scenes, the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District (NEKWMD) continues to pick up tons of recycled materials from the Center every week. District staff loads, trucks, compacts and moves to market the materials we carefully sort into the boxes at the Center. Because our recycled materials are cleaned and separated by the users of the facility (also known as source separation), our materials are relatively uncontaminated and find ready markets. This is in contrast to single sort recycling, where recycled materials are thrown together in one bin and contaminants are difficult to avoid. The NEKWMD, serving 49 member towns in four counties, is also a key player in Vermont’s recycling future, active in both the Vermont Legislature and in regional waste initiatives. Watch for action next Legislative session to update and strengthen Vermont’s recycling laws, such as expansion of the bottle bill. Of special note to Cabot and Marshfield residents is a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event at the Cabot Recycling Center on Saturday, September 28. The event is free to residents of NEKWMD member towns. If you have more than 30 gallons of HHJW, please call the District at 6263532 for special arrangements. What are Household Hazardous Products? They are consumer products that contain ingredients that may be: Toxic- poisonous if eaten, breathed, or absorbed through the skin Corrosive- can burn or destroy living tissue if spilled on skin Reactive- creates fumes, heat, or explosion hazards if mixed with certain materials such as water Explosive- can explode with exposure to heat or pressure Flammable/Ignitable- can easily be set on fire

↑ contents

EMORIALS

Daniel Prevost of FL, six sisters; Kathleen Dupre and Linda Fowler, both of by Cabot Community Theater FL, Cynthia Steves, Florence Kornexl, Denise Reed, and Roxanne Duval, all of Cabot Community Theater has NH, as well as many nieces, nephews, in- started planning for next spring’s show, laws and outlaws. which will be a musical! We try to perArrangements are in the care of the form a mixture of plays and musicals, to des Groseilliers Funeral Home. Private give all sorts of performers a chance to services will be held at the convenience of shine. We are currently deciding on a the family. “May the Valkyries welcome show and finalizing performance dates; you and lead you through Odin's great if you are interesting in performing, battlefield. May they sing your name watch the October Chronicle or Front with love and fury, so that we might hear Porch Forum for audition information! it rise from the depths of Valhalla and We are also looking for a Director, so know that you've taken your rightful if you are interested, or know someone place at the table of kings. For a great who might be, please be in touch with man has fallen: A warrior. A chieftain. A CCT by emailing the producer at father. A friend.” -Norse Prayer to the karen@praxisworks.org or calling 793Fallen. 5617. If someone steps up soon, they Publication of this obituary was unintentionally delayed by The Cabot Chronicle. Our apologies go out to the family. ~ the editor.

To determine if a product in your home is hazardous, check the label for the following words: Danger indicates that the substance is extremely flammable, corrosive, or toxic. Poison means that the substance is highly toxic. Caution/Warning is put on all other hazardous substances that are a somewhat lesser hazard, but are still dangerous if the directions are not followed closely.

The Cabot Recycling Center, located on Sawmill Road in Lower Cabot, is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon only. Trash is collected for a fee. If you are not already using the Recycling Center, stop by to check out what is being collected. More information is available at www.nekwmd.org.

↑ contents

Cabot Town Clerk

Town of Cabot Tax bills were mailed July 23. If you own property and haven’t

or email tcocabot@fairpoint.net to provide would have a great deal of input in selecting the show! This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people of all ages, supported by an experienced Music Director and an organized Producer. Cabot Community Theater has long had a mission of being welcoming, supportive, and inclusive, and we have a great time while producing high-quality, affordable local theater. We like to involve people of all ages and levels of experience so that we all can learn from each other. More than 200 people (so far!) have been involved in our productions, including adults, kids, and teenagers, and we’re thrilled to be supported by this community!

your correct mailing address. It is the responsibility of the property owner to

↑ contents

For Weekly Articles on

provide an accurate mailing address, and the requirement of the town to send the bill to the last known address. Failure to receive a tax bill does not exempt an owner from the legal obligation to pay the tax, nor incurring penalties and late fees for late payment, so it is worth the effort to ensure the town has the correct information. The first installment, which is the municipal portion of the tax bill, will be due on August 29, 2019. The final payment (which is the school portion) will be due November 21, 2019.

↑ contents

Awarded to Faith

Volunteers Judy Dunham and Joyce Woelfle Food Share in Cabot.

by Cynthia Stuart, cstuart@faithinactionvt.org

The Vermont Foodbank awarded Faith in Action, located in Lyndonville and Cabot, VT, a Food-to-Food Shelf mini-grant award to purchase produce directly from local farmers in the area. The grant is part of the Vermont Foodbank Vermonters Feeding Vermonters (VFV) program that supports purchases of high quality fruits and vegetables directly from Vermont growers to share with Vermonters facing hunger. As a Vermont Foodbank network partner, Faith in Action distributed 382,823 pounds of food in 2018, serving 6,557 people in 1,125 households through the monthly food share events, and now at the newly opened food pantry at 101 Main Street in Lyndonville. Faith in Action Program Administrator, Deb Reynolds, stated, “The Farm-toFoodshelf mini-grant will support purchases of locally grown and fresh produce for the many homebound individuals who receive a monthly food delivery from Faith in Action. We are extremely excited to support the health of our community, both nutritionally and economically.”

↑ contents

Coordinator

You’ve read the Cabot Chronicle articles, and seen the flyers and brochures around town. Maybe you saw the banner in the 4 th of July parade. Perhaps you even checked out the website, www.cabotmentoring.org , or used the “Free Local Events” lists posted monthly on Front Porch Forum and Facebook. But you’re still thinking, “ well, I don’t know…I don’t think I’m mentor material… what do I have to offer, anyway? “ I’m here to tell you that you have a LOT to offer, because all adults have a wealth of life experiences…heck, you didn’t get to this age without a lot of hard work and challenges! Things you take for granted could be really helpful to a young person just getting started. What was school like for you? What was your first job, and why did you finally quit? Was your first date a disaster? Do you have challenging relationships in your

↑ contents

in Action

prepare for a Faith in Action

The Vermont Foodbank Vermonters Feeding Vermonters program is entering its second year with the plan to purchase about 288,000 pounds of fresh produce directly from local farmers during the 2019 growing season. The goal is that the VFV program leads to improved health for Vermonters facing hunger, security for farmers, a stronger Vermont economy, and a reduced environmental footprint. Faith in Action is a Vermont Foodbank network partner that distributes food, along with providing a drop-in center, socialization opportunities, healthy living and eating programs, and community support in the form of transporta-

↑ contents

be a mentor?

family? What mistakes did you make as a teen? How did you decide on a career? What did you like to do as a child, and what do you do with your free time now? What are you proud of in your life? What matters to you? While a lot of mentoring time is spent on fun activities, like knitting, biking, cooking, woodworking, going to concerts, and so on, a really important part of mentoring is the sharing of life experiences…listening to your mentee, hearing what they have to say, and sharing stories about yourself and your personal journey through life. If you would like more information on becoming a mentor, please contact me at cabotmentoring@gmail.com. I’d be happy to talk with you about the program, and what is it like to be a mentor. YOU have a lot to offer. I guarantee it.

↑ contents

Cabot Girl Scouting

by Cecelia Gulka hope to take a trip or two in the fall. Registration for the 2019-20 Girl Scout Brownie Girl Scout troop 30791 had a Year will take place the beginning of great year under the leadership of Becky October. All girls are welcome to join. Wigg and Dori Reil. They are planning For more information about Girl Scoutsome summer outdoor activities and ing visit: http://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/.

↑ contents

Reprinted with permission from News and Citizen

Lamoille Union High School science teacher Chris Tormey (fourth from left, bearded), with students at a field trip this week in Cape Cod. Tormey retires this month after 32 years of teaching. Chris Tormey, a Lamoille Union High School science teacher, remembers that a student once brought a beaver tail to class. What happened to the rest of the beaver is lost to the annals of time, but the tail stuck around a while. Tormey, who retires this month after 32 years of teaching, brought an appreciation for all things dirty, earthy, organic. He thinks those kinds of things resonate a lot with rural students, too. Especially in his early days teaching, many students arriving at school had already been up since before dawn doing farm chores. “They might not talk much in class when the discussion’s about philosophy or fiction, but get them talking about manure, or legumes, and suddenly they’re the star of the classroom,” Tormey said last week.

He thinks some rural students who might not have been turned on by English or history or art classes have a natural affinity for science. It’s also why the Green Mountain Technology and Career Center, attached to the high school, is so successful in this part of the state. Tormey sees many of his freshman and sophomore science students head over there for more hands-on vocational training. Lamoille Union has had a vocational center nearly since the beginning of its half-century existence, but the tech center has really blossomed in the 21st century. Students leave there with skills, professional contacts, and often a highpaying job or an apprenticeship lined up after graduation. Vermont has one of the nation’s highest high school graduation rates, but has a low rate of high school grads going on to higher education. Teachers worry about those people in the middle. “I think the most challenging part of our high school demographic is the kids who are in between, who have not gone to the tech center, but they may or may not go to college,” Tormey said.

↑ contents

Years

Chris Tormey

He attended Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington and “eventually” went to college at UVM, after striking a deal with his parents that he’d take a few years off from school. Thus, he was a little older than most first-year teachers, at 32. He was working on a dairy farm in East Montpelier, pulling in about $10,000 the hard way, living in a cabin and driving to the farm. He and wife Mary Ann had two young children, taxes were eating up a good chunk of his farming wages, and the couple didn’t have health insurance. The wages and, more importantly, the benefits Lamoille was willing to pay brought Tormey into his teaching career in September 1986. “So, when I showed up at Lamoille, and the starting salary was 14 grand, and they gave me like three grand for health, I was like, ‘Are you kidding? This is like the gravy train.’” Getting into teaching late and retiring now makes sense to Tormey. He referred to the “rule of 90,” which suggests that if you add the number of years of service in a profession to your current age, and it exceeds 90, it might be time to move on. He’s 64 years old, which means he’s been teaching exactly half of his life. Take teachers who start at 22, 23 years old and go until their mid-60s, and they’re closing in on half a century in the classroom. “I think that’s the downside of the retirement system,” he said.

↑ contents

Policy and progress

In the classroom, Tormey teaches about how things work, often crawling or swimming underfoot. This week, he chaperoned a trip to Cape Cod, where students got their hands wet and dirty looking for bivalves and other ocean critters. In his other educational role, he works to make his town school work. He’s been on the Cabot School Board for well over a decade, and its chairman for much of that time. He thinks both roles have fed off each other harmoniously, for the most part. Tormey brings a layered sense of educational policy wonkiness to his role as a teacher. And wearing his teacher hat has allowed him to be a champion for classroom educators while dealing with the ever-changing politics and policies of educational bureaucracy. Tormey said the “stand and deliver model” of teaching has being phased out in favor of a choose-your-own-way method. He said one thing that keeps teachers awake at night is the sense that “I failed to get the kids to show some enthusiasm.” Teachers also need to do something to pump themselves up, lest they get grouchy from day after day and year after year of teaching more or less the same things to different students. For Tormey, the day begins on his commute from Cabot to Hyde Park. He likes to get about halfway, park the car, and do a power cycle with his bike up a hill in Hardwick.

↑ contents

Cabot School Board Chair

It's official, as of July 1, Cabot is now part of the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union. The Cabot School district looks forward to settling into our now greater community of seven schools. Please visit the Cabot School Website:cabot school.org, for updates, links to agendas and minutes, and all of the contact information for our administration and board members. Starting in September, the Board will meet the second and fourth Monday of the month, 6:00 p.m., in the Cabot School Library. Hopefully, many were able to attend Cabot's 2019 High School graduation ceremony. Students had asked their former teacher and mentor, Darrin Dezotelle, to give the graduation address. Then, a surprise to almost everyone, senior spotlights were given by beloved counselor, Claire Greene, who had just flown back (literally hours before) from her time teaching in China. Current staff were also part of the evening; performing a song, reading poetry and giving out scholarships. Peter Ackermann was awarded this year's Community Service Award. We wish him well with all his future endeavors! And much luck to the class of 2019! seemed impossible downright routine. Tormey is retiring at a time when bioengineering is still in its relative infancy and when scientists are able to photograph a black hole. But in an age of anti-vaccination advocacy, climate change denial and flatEarth theories, being a science teacher can be difficult. He said he’s had discussions with students over the years about faith and science, and said there’s room for both. Still, you have to do your homework if you’re going to pass his class. He said he remembers a boy from Johnson who told him he understood the evolutionary theory, but didn’t believe it, and his faith didn’t allow him to. Tormey gets it, saying people survive certain deadly ailments all the time, and perhaps it’s because they have faith, and “there are powers that are very strong.” “Science is different, because it’s an understanding based on what you can prove, and what’s factual and what you can experiment with,” he said. “So, when somebody brings it up, I say, ‘I don’t have any issue with religion, or faith or the power of it. But when you’re in a class, it’s based on demonstrable things we’ve learned about the universe.” His AP Biology class this year had a conversation about measles, for instance, and the idea of herd immunity. He showed the class a tape of a kid in California who was undergoing chemotherapy, saying he wouldn’t go to school because kids there had measles, and he might die. “I think bringing in things like that is disarming for some kids because they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re talking about real world

↑ contents

Selectboard Chair

 Tax bills have gone out; both municipal and homestead education tax rates are lower than last year.  Paving will begin September, including the Willey Building parking lot and Route 215 from West Hill Pond Road to near the school. Manhole covers and shutoff risers will be raised to make them level with the road.  Four lights are installed so far and all will be operational mid-August around the Willey Building parking lot. Setups are in place for future electric vehicle charging stations.

↑ contents

Superintendent

Change is afoot in Caledonia Central Supervisory Union (CCSU), and I am writing the first of what will be many newsletters to the greater CCSU community. As of July 1, CCSU is comprised of seven schools – Waterford, Barnet, Walden, Danville, Peacham, Cabot, and Twinfield Union – plus the administrators and staff who run the central office operations in Danville. Cabot and Twinfield Union were formerly members of the Washington Northeast Supervisory Union but were reassigned to CCSU to form a larger and more efficient governing structure. I come to this assignment serving CCSU and its member schools as the former Special Services Director, and most recently, Superintendent of Washington Northeast, but I have other connections here that are helpful to me as I assume the larger responsibilities for seven schools. I live in Danville; I was a Special Education teacher at Waterford for eight years before moving into administration at Washington Northeast; I worked with Danville Principal Dave Schilling for three years when he was at Cabot; I know Walden Principal Liz Benoit from when she was Principal at Lunenburg-Gilman; and three of my seasoned team from Washington Northeast have made this journey with me - Christina Kimball (Business Manager), Robin Miller (Finance/AP), and Monica Morrissey (Curriculum). These connections help me feel that I have “come home” to Danville. The rest of the team here in the central office is a mix of new and seasoned staff, all of whom have been welcoming and supportive as we transitioned here, every one of whom is focused on meeting the needs of the students and staff in our seven schools. I plan to write when I have news to share – some will be brief, others, longer – depending on what is going on here and what moves me at the moment. I will get into some background information on me, but first I want to lay out for you the set of guideposts I have established for myself in this community outreach forum. First and foremost, we are an educational community so I will be writing about issues affecting the seven schools in CCSU. My view of the schools is from a different perspective than the view at the school level, so much of what I write about will be focused on State educational policy, finance, and governance issues that impact the way that we operate our schools. Another way to say this is that you will continue to hear news of the day-to-day activities of the individual schools through their ongoing community outreach efforts. I hope you find the topics I will be writing about interesting, and useful to you in understanding the macro issues that affect education in the area and Statewide. But, I promise to say everything I need to say about these important matters in a way that is accessible and with as little jargon as I can manage. In addition, I intend to put a public face on the work we do at the central office, and from time to time I will be highlighting the important work of my

↑ contents

Union

staff so you will understand what they do and why it is important that they are here to do it. I encourage readers to contact me directly if you have a general topic or curiosity question that you think I can answer (but read the next paragraph!) and if it looks like it may have broad appeal I will try to respond in an upcoming edition. One thing I will not be doing in my newsletter is writing about or responding to specific incidents involving individual children, and I will not be addressing matters that are the responsibility of the school Principal to resolve. If something is going on that affects the work we do in several or all of the schools, I may use this forum for a broader outreach and if I do you will know why when I do it.

↑ contents

A little about me

I am a native Vermonter (Barre) and I have lived in Vermont my entire life except for my years in the Navy. I came to education late in life, having worked as a business and technology analyst and consultant for several years before I caught the “education bug.” My first job in education was working at Williamstown Middle/High School as a 1:1 paraprofessional with a disaffected high school junior who was on the verge of dropping out of school. He graduated and went on to Community College, and I realized that I finally knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I spent two and a half years at Williamstown, during which time I earned a teaching license with a 7-12 English endorsement. I left Williamstown in search of a teaching position, and landed at the former King George School in Sutton, VT, working with and teaching writing to disaffected high school students. While at King George, I went back to school to get a special education endorsement through the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative. I left King George for public school in 2007, and spent the next eight years at Waterford Elementary teaching Special Education. During my eight years at Waterford, I finished my Master’s degree in Special Education at Johnson State, earned a CAG certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Antioch College of New England, and completed post-grad work to earn my administrator endorsements as a Special Ser-

↑ contents

August/September

vice Director, Principal, and Consulting Teacher. I left Waterford in 2015 to join Washington Northeast as Special Services Director, and two years later my Superintendent retired and I took over as Superintendent. And now I am here. There was a time in the past when I described myself as an accomplished landscape photographer, but I have difficulty finding the time these days to roam the back roads of Vermont in search of the next great image. Sigh! My wife Cathy and I live in North Danville. Cathy is an accomplished multi -media artist working with wool felting, reed and ash baskets, oil and watercolor paints, and anything else she puts her eye and heart into. Cathy and I have cared for a progression of rescue dogs over the years; our most recent rescue, Fenway, is pictured at the top of this newsletter. Fenway came to us from a rescue organization in Houston, Texas, where he was most certainly not named

↑ contents

Episode 5

The snow had covered everything in camp, and packing the canoes for another adventurous day on the Nahanni River was difficult. Woody slowly put on his wet frozen paddling clothes and warmed himself in front of the fire. He was perplexed by his frozen neoprene boots. They are hard enough to put on when they are wet, but with them frozen stiff, he can’t even begin to get his feet into them. The pot of water sitting on the fire in front of him provided the solution. He poured some hot water into the boots and they quickly became pliable and he was able to wiggle his feet into them, with the added bonus that they were warm. Now that problem was solved, and the canoes packed, he was ready with the rest of the group to set off down the river. The day was warming slowly, but there was still a chill in the air. Though Woody was warm now, the effort of paddling had eased the coldness of his wet clothes. But now they entered a section of swift current where the river was a bit shallow and they had to paddle hard to stay in the main channel. Woody, with Murray in the stern of the canoe, were tired from their ordeal in Figure-8 rapids and had trouble avoiding the shallows. They soon found themselves sliding onto the gravel of the river bottom. Without the strength they had days prior, they had to step out of the canoe and pull it to deeper water. Woody’s feet had still been warm from the hot water he poured into his boots, but no more. After a few more hours paddling down the swift river, they approached the last rapid on the river, named Laferties Riffle. They were able to come ashore just above the rapids and walk down an alluvial fan beside the rapids and scout out the best path. Woody’s confidence had been shaken by his experience in Figure-8 rapids, and he listened carefully to the guides describe how to navigate the rapids. It would be the last on the river, and he wanted to get through it unscathed. The rapids were just a series of standing waves, much less intense than anything they had been through already, and Woody was beginning to feel more re2019 - Page 7

Fenway (nor, thankfully, was he named Astro!). A little hint to tell you where my sports heart lies.

↑ contents

In closing

I look forward to hearing from you with your questions and ideas for future newsletters. Send them to ccsu_newsletter@ccsuvt.net. Future Topics I am thinking about: Why do we have a Central Office? What is our role? How do school budgets work? Where does the Supervisory Union get its money? Mark Tucker is Superintendent for Caledonia Central Supervisory Union in Vermont. Caledonia Central SU is comprised of five Districts operating seven schools - Cabot School, Twinfield Union School, Danville School, Peacham School, and the Caledonia Cooperative District which operated the Walden, Waterford and Barnet schools.

↑ contents

Woodchuck

laxed. The guides would be first and everyone was able to watch them as they went bounding over the waves and through the rapids without any difficulty. Soon it would be time for Woody and Murray to take their turn. Woody secured himself in the bow of the canoe and made sure he could easily release himself from his spray skirt. He did not want to repeat the experience of sitting upside down in the canoe. They set off into the river and soon were slamming into the waves in the rapids. The easiest path was straight down the middle, which was also where the waves were their highest. Woody knew how to handle the waves pouring over the front of the canoe and slamming into his chest, and he was feeling more confident with each stroke. Suddenly, the canoe began to turn unexpectedly as it reached the top of a wave. Murray was yelling “draw,” but the front of the canoe was suspended in the air, and Woody couldn’t reach the water when he tried to pull the front of the canoe back around to face down river. In an instant, they were facing the wrong way, the canoe had swung a full 180. At this point, they both were frantically trying to turn the canoe around, when it suddenly spun on the top of the next wave. Once again facing downstream, they paddled ahead and bounced through the last waves with smiles of relief on their faces. Just below the rapids were a set of thermal pools, and the group gathered for a well-deserved rest. From this point on, the river was flat all the way to its end at the junction with the Liard River. It was still chilly, so the group just opted to soak their feet in the natural thermal pools which lined the side of the river. They all sat around talking about the adventure and laughed about how Woody and Murray demonstrated they could paddle backwards through rapids. Woody contemplated his next great adventure as the guides talked about other rivers in the Canadian Arctic, and others talked about places they had been across the U.S. and Canada. Woody longed for his quiet farm back in Vermont. Another adventure would be in his future, but he wanted to see the green pastures of home before he and his prized hen, Gertrude, decided where he would explore next.

↑ contents

The Hemp Tightrope

Acres of hemp grown by Jimmy and Sarah Ackermann. Photos by Amanda Legare.

by Amanda Legare Thousands of hemp plants will be harvested in Cabot this fall from four different locations, using different agricultural methods. Jimmy and Sara Ackermann, currently dairy farmers in Hardwick, are growing 25 acres of hemp on Route 215 south in Cabot. He is leasing from his grandmother, Betty Ackermann. Morgan and Jennifer Churchill are raising three and one-half acres of hemp at their dairy farm on Churchill Road. Quint and Sarah Welters are growing “between 1.5 and 2 acres” of hemp plants. Some of these are growing on the Welters’ family land on Danville Hill. They have “partnered up” with the Churchills for part of the growing and drying operation. “Our approach to growing hemp is Sarah Welters with hemp plant from last more of a craft,” Quint Welters said. “We year. are hands on, very intimate. We are gardeners more than farmers.” This is the second year of growing hemp for the Welters. "We have learned so much since last year,” Sarah Welters added. “Not just about growing and drying hemp plants for oil extraction, but also about its healing properties. The couple has already developed their own CBD extract product which is for sale at the Gallery on Main St. in Cabot. They also have their own web site - www.quintessentialvt.com. While the Welters are growing a relatively small number of plants on a cover crop with gravity-fed irrigation, the Churchills have planted 3.5 acres of hemp on plastic. They purchased a mulch layer and planted the hemp by hand using an ice auger. A 60-foot shop is being constructed where the plants will be dried on cables. His brother Matt is also growing 300 plants at his home. Jimmy and Sara Ackerman bought a substantial amount of equipment for their 25-acre commitment to hemp. They needed a bed former and mulch layer and a transplanter. Irrigation pipes are laid under the plastic. As with most large scale farming efforts, there have been equipment breakdowns, plant health issues and pests. “This has been an emotional rollercoaster,” Ackermann said. “I probably underestimated the work. I’m not afraid to work, but this has been wild.” “As the hemp industry grows, there will be more and more laws and regulations,” Ackermann predicts. While the future of growing hemp is up in the air, more and more growers are jumping on board. Last year there were 461 registered growers of hemp in the state of Vermont. This year there are 821. The difference between marijuana and hemp used to be based on their characteristics; now it’s a legal definition: hemp has 0.3 percent THC or less, marijuana has 0.3 percent or more. Growers want to make sure their hemp tests at 0.3 for THC or less. Otherwise, their crop will be destroyed. At the same time, if they are growing for the CBD (a molecule within hemp), they want to produce the highest yield of CBD while keeping the THC at an acceptable level.

↑ contents

Music Schedule at

8/3 - Joel Cage, 7-9 pm 8/8 - Billy Ruegger, 7-9 pm 8/10 - Anniversary Music festival, 3-10 pm 8/17 - Jeanne & Jim, 7-9 pm 8/24 - Allison Rogers, 7-9 pm 8/31 - Kimberly Townsend, 7-9 pm 9/7 - Tough Old Bird, 7-9 pm 9/12 - Kyra Gordon, 7-9 pm 9/14 - Spencer Lewis & The New Old Vermonters, 7-9 pm 9/21 - Shugarmakers, 7-9 pm 9/28 - Burds Brothers, 7-9 pm

↑ contents

About Abby Hall Grubbs,

as told to Jeanne Johnson

Sometime between September 23October 4, a contestant on the Jeopardy! Game show will have a Cabot connection. “America’s Favorite Quiz Show ®” airs Mondays through Fridays at 7:00 p.m. on NBC. Taping August 6-7 in Los Angeles, Abigail Hall Grubbs will be one of the three contestants. Abby is the granddaughter of Marvie and Carlton Domey on Route 215, daughter of Robyn Domey Hall and Stuart Hall. She lives in the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina with her husband, Ben Grubbs, and works at Duke University. It all started with an online test in April--it was 50 questions and 15 seconds is allowed per question to answer. Then, she was invited to an audition in Washington, D.C., in mid-June. At the audition, she had two more 50-question tests, then a mock game with short interviews.

↑ contents

Connections

at first audition 2016 in Charleston, SC.

She got the call in July to appear on the show. Approximately 100,000 people take the online test per year, about 3,000 are selected to audition, and 400 people appear on the show. She still can't believe she made it! To prepare, she’s been making flashcards, taking a tip from Jeopardy James and reading children's books (they put information in a more digestible format!), and uses the website J-Archive to review past games. She religiously watches Jeopardy! every night and practices the buzzer with a clicky pen. She says she’s always loved reading and learning, and about five years ago she and husband Ben started watching Jeopardy! every night, when she realized she might have a chance to compete. Abby had another audition in Charleston, S.C. in 2016, but didn't end up getting called that time. We hear it's pretty normal for people to audition more than once before being selected.

↑ contents

Welcome Brittany Butler

by Jeanne Johnson

The Selectboard has chosen Brittany Butler as Zoning Administrator. She is hired for ten hours per week, with office hours 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, and by appointment. Brittany is also a Cabot Lister on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the office shared between the Listers and the Zoning Administrator. So, drop-in assistance is available if she is in the office. However, it’s a good idea to phone ahead to ensure her availability, since the Listers are deeply involved in a townwide reappraisal, and spend a great deal of time arranging inspection appointments and being on the road with the appraisers. The Zoning Administrator phone num-

VERMONT'S NORTHEAST KINGDOM

ANUAL FAL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL

↑ contents

Tuesday, October 1 - CABOT

Cabot has got everything you've come to expect and more – delicious home-cooked food, beautiful vistas, interesting tours & presentations, first-rate entertainment, a gallery of work by local artisans and The Den, exclusively featuring Vermont craft beer. Check in at the Willey Building from 9:00 a.m. until Noon, to sign up for tours, make lunch and supper reservations, and learn about all the day's events. Corn chowder and chili lunch at the Cabot Church from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Turkey supper at the Cabot Church, seatings at 5:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. For meal reservations, call Rose Bothfeld,

For a detailed description of the day, visit CabotVermont.org or call

↑ contents

Library Director

Many thanks to all the Cabot youth and their very supportive parents who participated in Cabot Public Library’s Summer Reading Program – A Universe of Stories. There was a lot of reading going on with 73 youth participating and 19 of them taking the 1,000 page challenge. In fact, there were some super readers this summer who, at last count, had read 14,000 pages! Programs this summer included David Rosanne and the Zookeepers rocking the house down with songs from their latest album “Book of Zoo,” which is available to borrow in the library. Modern Times Theater kept the audience of all ages entertained with their puppets in space program. Jennifer Barlow and her two sons set up a series of rockets for folks to experiment with. A black rat snake, rabbit, snapping turtle and a live barred owl were some of the animals Michael Clough showed us from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum. There was a video recreation of the Apollo 11 moon landing to celebrate NASA’s 50 th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon. Katie Trautz led a fun family sing -a-long with her fiddle, guitar and voice. Special thanks to the Friends of the Library – Sandy Atkins, Mary Lou DeLacy, Janet Westervelt, and Beth Wade for an enormous amount of work sorting and organizing countless boxes of books for the annual July 4 th library book sale. It brought in a record amount of $1,364, thanks to Cabot readers who purchased the books and generously donated to the library. Many thanks to everyone who helped carry the boxes from the library to the lawn outside.

↑ contents

Ages

Wednesday, August 7 at 6:45 p.m.Space Cowboy Sing-a-long: Harness your horse or spaceship and come on down for some vittles, yarns and songs. Friday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. – Zookeepers: Spend a summer evening with David Rosane and the Zookeepers to fill your heart and soul with meaningful melodies and mirth.

↑ contents

Jaquith Library Summer Concert

Series Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Come on down to the Old Schoolhouse Common gazebo for eight free summer concerts! Enjoy great food from local food vendors, the bake & book sale by the Friends of the Jaquith and bid on fantastic items in the Silent Auction. August 1 Kava Express plays a mix of eclectic and danceable rock and soul classics, from Stevie Wonder to Little Feat to Prince & U2. They feature catchy melodies, inspired improvisations and infec10

↑ contents

F ALL N EWS

Our new program, Read to Me, was launched in July. This program provides free books to every child in Cabot for the first three years of life. Thanks to the family and many friends of Mary Tebbetts, the first year of the program will be funded from their donations to the library, in Mary’s memory. Please consider sponsoring a child for a year with a $30 donation. Special thanks to Billie O’Connor – for her excellence in service as student representative to the Library Board of Trustees, and for her many hours as Student Intern to the library this past summer. She completed many projects, in addition to cleaning and updating all the library’s computers – we are so grateful, Billie! Thanks so much to Bill Wheeler of the Willey Building Committee for installing a new baby changing table in the Willey Building public restroom. Preschool Story Hour starts up again in September on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. with Beth Wade reading and Mary Lou DeLacy providing music. Contra dances start up again on the second Saturday of the month September through May. Meditation with Daria Babbitt will be the third Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Community Book Group meets the third Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m. –stay tuned for book titles. Check out our website at www.cabotlibrary.com for the latest info on upcoming programs. Email cabotli-

If we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you! And lastly, much gratitude to the Library Trustees for their time and dedication to the library: Linda Gabrielson, Jeannie McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert and Beth Wade.

tious grooves. Music that is fit for all ages! Jeff Guerin (keys and vocals), Ryan Case (bass), Pat Lambdin (guitar), Seamus Hannon (drums) and Chris Steller (percussion and vocals). Food vendor: Woodbelly Pizza. August 8 Bella and the Notables presents to you jazz standards with a modern twist. Featuring vocalist Isabella Sances, the group consists of Peter Lind (Harmonica), Thaya Zalewski (Clarinet/Tenor Sax), Preston Murphy (Guitar), Bruno John (Bass) and Eamon Callahan (Drums). Come out for a fun night of high energy music! Food vendor: Vermont Foodie Stand. August 15 Big Hat No Cattle plays old and new songs with a vintage western vibe. Danceable and fun, western swing is a rich melting pot of styles, including swing-era jazz, honky-tonk country, frontier fiddle tunes, cowboy songs, and more. The band is: Kevin Macneil Brown tar), Michael (vocals, Ricciarelli steel guitar, (Vocals, gui-

guitar, fiddle, mandolin), David Blythe (bass, vocals), Danny McHugh (drums). Food vendor: Papagyros.

↑ contents

Happy Staff, Volunteers

& Seniors at TVSC On July 17, Twin Valley Seniors were the fortunate recipients of the wonderful annual picnic that Maple Hill Community Farm students and staff prepare for the center meal time. It started out as a rainy morning, but by the time the staff and students arrived at the center, bearing a pop up canopy, large grill and lots of food, the sun was shining. AmeriCorps member Sadie Lang and all her helpers came bringing lots of nice tomatoes, lettuce, onions, rolls, potato chips, cucum-

↑ contents

C ENTER

ber-yogurt salad ,lemonade and, of course, a variety of homemade cookies. Others followed from the staff, bringing hamburgers and hotdogs, which smelled wonderful cooking on the grill. For the past few years, the staff and students have gone above and beyond, making the event so special for the seniors, who so very much appreciate and enjoy the time together. I know it is pushing time right by us, but we cannot wait for another feast on the wonderful local food that is mostly all raised on the farm. From the bottom of our hearts, a very huge “Thank you “.

↑ contents

A special note from one of your

neighbors: Dear TVSC, Thank you so much for bone building. It has helped me so much. I am more fit and I feel healthier. Please keep up offering such great classes. Sincerely Susan Please note that TVSC does not charge for our Healthy Living Classes such as Bone Builders and Tai Chi. TVSC also does not have annual fees. We are here to help you stay healthy with good nutritional meals and healthy exercise classes. You are invited to sit in on any class to help you understand the movements and weights.

↑ contents

Unseen Details From

Cabot Fourth of July parade included a military color guard, trucks and emergency equipment, community members sharing their interests and award-winning floats. See article on page two. Color guard at the Cabot Independence Day Parade. Local bikers at the Cabot Independence Day Parade. Aaron Celly’s award winning float at the Cabot Independence Day Parade.

↑ contents

Fourth of July parade float trophy winners:

Historic - Aaron Celley Rock Farm Engine Agricultural - Cabot Greenhouse & Nursery Patriotic - American Legion Gateway Riders Cheesiest - Cabot Creamery Cooperative Judges Choice - Mount Sinai Calliope by Roz Daniels

Walking into Harry’s Hardware Store over the years, I have always been visually overwhelmed by all the things-folksmight-need. But when I began this year’s search for the minimal geometric shapes I love to photograph, I realized that Harry’s held a wealth of singular details. And with windows on three

↑ contents

The History of Cabot Village

Gathered and reported by Brittany Butler. From the Cabot Town Clerk vault and The History of Cabot (red book). Did you know that the center of Cabot wasn’t always where it is today? Or that the Cabot Common used to be a frog pond? A lot has changed over the years, and the same goes for the Cabot Village Store. The site where the Village Store stands has not always been the home of a store. Thomas Lyford (one of the first residents of Cabot) owned all the land in the village. In 1789, the first saw mill in Cabot was where the post office resides now, and I would imagine that the site of the store was used for this operation in some manner. Sometime between 1806 and 1808, John W. Dana bought the land from Thomas Lyford and sold lots and essentially created the village and central hub of Cabot, which still remains today. In 1817, the site was home to a distillery. I’m unsure of who owned it, but at this time, there were over a dozen distilleries in Cabot. In the early 1820’s, Marcus O. Fisher purchased the site and added onto the building. He ran a tannery and used part of the building for currying and a shoe shop. In 1825, Fisher built a larger building and there was able to “grind the bark between two stones using horsepower. One-half cord could be ground a day.” ( Hemenway’s Gazetteer ). In 1840, the grinding stone became obsolete, as horse power gave way to water power, and the grinding stone was put on display in town as a town relic. The tannery business ended after more than forty years, and the site was purchased by a stock company in 1868, which built the Union Block. The Union Block (Main Street) was constructed in 1868 and consisted of

↑ contents

Harry’s Hardware

sides of the store, the light moved throughout the day, illuminating different treasures every hour. These Quartets are my effort to create order out of what seemed a visual onslaught for so many years. My hope is that these images will encourage the viewer to notice the unseen details all around us.

↑ contents

Store Site

twenty-six shares of stock owned by people from Cabot as well as from as far away as California. The following year in 1869, Sprague and Putnam Store opened for business on the first floor. During the years that the stock company owned the premises, the store had several different names: Sprague and Wells; Wells and Rogers; Wells, Boyles and Rogers and Rogers and Currier. During this time, the store housed the post office, town clerk, and later a telegraph service on the first floor, a residential apartment on the second and in 1902 until 1935, the Masonic Lodge was housed on the third floor. On March 28, 1935, the handsome building that had dominated the center of Cabot burned to the ground, taking four other neighboring buildings with it. After the fire, Bowman J. Rogers began buying all the Union Building stock. On April 20, 1935, Bowman sold all his holdings to his son, Earle J. Rogers. The present building was built in 1936 By Earle J. Rogers. The dip in the floor by the deli is from the post office, most likely where the postmaster stood, and the sign “E. J. Rogers” hangs in the store today after being found while cleaning out another building in town. In 1952, the Estate of Earl Jackson Rogers was conveyed to Edward and Ruth Rogers. Until 1956, the store was known as Rogers Store . On April 3, 1970, Allen and Madeleine Hayes acquired the store and it became known as Hayes Store ; they owned it for five years. Most recently, the store has been owned by Sandra and Larry Thibault in 1991 and then by their son Larry Thibault II, until Bobby and Stephany Searles acquired the store in 2006. Cabot is very fortunate to have a Village store still in operation providing much needed services for our wonderful little community.

↑ contents

← From the Cabot Chronicle