Happy New Year
I can well recall 65 New Years in my life. But what was it like 65 years ago? I can only address this question based on my own experiences. Some years, our neighbors, John and Florence Pierce came to our … Continued
Ron Patch
Schist & Giggles
Of my many interests, Mother Nature ranks at the top. Ever since I was a kid I’ve always picked up bird nests or feathers I found. I have a few feathers I’ve kept, along with a few bird nests. The … Continued
The V-plow
The recent snowstorm got me thinking about snowstorms of years past and how we got around in those days. The photo with this article typifies how back roads were maintained. The Brookside Milk truck has stopped coming up East Hill … Continued
Chester Boot Company
Here is some history of the old Jiffy Mart site in Chester. The earliest business I’m aware of that existed here was the Chester Boot Company. I don’t know much about this business other than it appears on the 1869 … Continued
The Christmas tree
My earliest memory of Christmas is 1955. I was four years old. I have just hazy visions of that day. We always had a tree, although by today’s standard they weren’t much. Today balsam trees are widely available, but in … Continued
Chester railroad history
Below is some Chester Depot railroad history. Robert “Bob” Adams wrote this history for me in 2005. Bob had retired from the Rutland Railroad. He was about to meet Nelson Blount. These two men, with others, including Gov. Tom Salmon, … Continued
Who put the jam in Ed’s boots?
CHESTER, Vt. – Most readers will be aware of high school yearbooks. Yearbooks have not always been around. Here I shed light on what existed before yearbooks. This history would apply to most New England towns. Autograph albums The earliest … Continued
Crown Point Road trip
Last week, Lonnie Lisai and I went exploring some of the 1760 Crown Point Road in Cavendish. Lonnie is now on the board of the Crown Point Road Association. Lonnie wanted to show me the site where, in 1760, a … Continued
The Toll Bridge
The Cheshire Toll Bridge is the iron bridge that connects Springfield and Charlestown. In 1804, the Cheshire Bridge Corporation was granted a charter to build a bridge at this location. This wooden bridge was completed in 1806. A second covered … Continued
Ron Patch: a Chester boy
CHESTER, Vt. – As he settled into his chair, he told me. “I’m not a writer,” he said. “I’m a storyteller. I make that distinction.” If you were to see him walking around Chester, you might not recognize him. The … Continued