A curious postcard

From the Danny Clemons collection is a most unusual Chester postcard. I have never seen this card before. There is some history written on the reverse: “Original photo was taken by Fred Leland in 1907. Chester Depot, Vermont Kids are … Continued

Buffalo Soldiers in Chester

I have three postcards of cavalry troops coming through Chester in the early 1900s. While the troopers appear to be Black, I wasn’t positive. Of the three postcards, only one has any identification. It is identified as the 10th U.S. … Continued

My friend Danny

My friend Danny Clemons has joined his ancestors. He graduated Chester High School with my brother Brian in 1962. I knew Danny in those days, but it was only in the last 15 or so years that we became close. … Continued

Happy Birthday

The following story is from my latest book “Stories of Us.” It was written by Jack Bittner. “Stories of Us” is available at The Framery of Vermont and Stone House Antiques Center.   Happy Birthday Each year on our little … Continued

1819 Vermont laws

I have a number of early 1800s Vermont law books. These are flimsy paperbacks of laws passed by the Vermont General Assembly by year. The history below is from the year 1819. I love these old ephemeral records. I can … Continued

Stone walls

I was recently asked what I knew about stone walls, and why so many stone walls are in the woods. It was in the early 1800s when Merino sheep were first imported from Spain to Weathersfield, Vt. Merino sheep were … Continued

Goin’ to town

The first photo with this article was taken in Bellows Falls.   The Bellows Falls photo This is a mounted photo with black mount. Dating photos can be determined by the color of the mount. As decades passed, colors of … Continued

Rattlesnakes

Below is from Zadock Thompson’s 1842 “History of Vermont.” At the end I will add my two cents.   “THE BANDED RATTLE SNAKE “History. – This is the only poisonous reptile known to exist in Vermont; and although Rattle Snakes … Continued

Some Chester basketball history

The photo with this article is the 1920-1921 Chester High School basketball team. The boys are identified on the reverse. I won’t list their names, as several are incorrectly identified. As an example, Ray Pollard graduated in 1914, as did … Continued

Old news

I was going through stuff and found a Black River Gazette newspaper, published in Ludlow on Friday, Oct. 27, 1871. The front page is national news with some local news. The last page is news from area towns.   Chester … Continued

Back To Top