MAGAZINE
IN THIS ISSUE home renovations proctor's swedish heritage rutland county little league vermont bird fanciers' swap following otter creek rutland's makerspace: the mint
Spring 2020 Volume 13, Issue 3
Spring 2020
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Spring into Rutland County Real Estate
Laurie Mecier-Brochu 802.417.3614
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CONTENTS Editorial
Departments
8 F rom This Side of the Mountain How Do We Know It’s Spring? Cassie Horner
76 S potlight on Business Johnson Marble & Granite A Family Legacy Paul Post
Features
82 T ime Travels The Spark of Joy Susan Orzell-Rantanen and Cassie Horner
12 B uilding Relationships Cassie Horner 28 S easons of Garden Beauties Mary Ellen Shaw
86 A ll About the Arts The MINT Rutland’s Makerspace Sandra Stillman Gartner
38 C arved in Marble Proctor’s Swedish Heritage Dorothy Dahm
92 What’s Happening Susan Orzell-Rantanen
46 R utland County Little League Paul Post 54 C astleton — Early Home of Three Schools Mary Ellen Shaw
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MAGAZINE
64 V ermont Bird Fanciers’ Swap Susan Orzell-Rantanen 68 F ollowing Otter Creek Caleb Kenna
IN THIS ISSUE home renovations proctor's swedish heritage rutland county little league vermont bird fanciers' swap following otter creek
FROM THE COVER Proctor Bridge photo tim sink
rutland's makerspace: the mint
Spring 2020 Volume 13, Issue 3
Spring 2020
SPRING 2220 2020 copy.indd 1
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TREAD LIGHTLY MOST EVERY HOUSE HAS AN ELEMENT QUIRKY ENOUGH TO LEND ITSELF TO STORYTELLING. In our case, an easy pick is the staircase. Narrow and steep, with short treads and high risers, it resembles the staircase in a 17th-century cape at Shelburne Museum. This house, not coincidentally, was my favorite at that site, with its kitchen running the back of the house, dominated by a big stone fireplace. In one corner a set of steep stairs took people to the attic space broken into sleeping areas. With limited space, who’s going to waste it on broad stairs? Functionality is all that is needed to go from one floor to another. At our house, once a fishing camp by the lake, the stairs went originally from the kitchen to the upstairs. They were open and were scarcely more than a slanted arrangement of wood going to a rectangular hole in the ceiling. They creaked when used in a sometimes disturbing way that made you wonder if they were safe. The nice thing was you could sit near the bottom near the window to enjoy a hot morning beverage and contemplate the day. As it turned out, the stairs, built about 1910, were dangerous. Our English shepherd puppy did not like the stairs. He didn’t like the open concept and refused our attempts to coax him up and down. This meant that Tim had to carry Schooner up and down. Schooner was no lightweight, and one day Tim and his armful of Shepherd went through a tread with a mighty crack. Tim dropped the dog who scampered away unharmed. We were in the midst of reno4
vations and the builder thought this story was laugh-outloud funny. He reinforced the stairs until he replaced them with a sturdy enclosed set in a room that was now hall and bathroom. Tim started an immediate course called Stairs 101 that had Schooner making his own way up and down. The new stairs gained their own tales. Little Molly, our sturdy mini-dachshund, could go upstairs but not back down. We discovered this when we came home from work to find her in the bedroom waiting for us to transport her. Our next dachshund, Maxine, was a standard and, being happily stout, could neither go up or down. Tim had his second (and hopefully last) mishap as he hauled her downstairs. He fell hard enough that he cracked a tread but did he drop Maxine? Oh, no, he didn’t! Tim built a tradition of Stairs 101 for other shepherds. Our lively mini-dachshund Izzy, before her ruptured disc injury left her back legs paralyzed, would center herself at the bottom of the stairs, gather up her energy and ascend them efficiently with a soft “thoop” sound repeated ten times. It always made us smile to hear her. The stairs remain a quirky challenge. One way we know we’re older is that we pay more and more attention to ascending and descending. Tim has our standard dachshund Dora to take up and down at least once a day. Gus the shepherd has long legs and thunders on the treads. These stairs are not designed to ever be taken for granted. Cassie Horner and Tim Sink Rutland Magazine
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From This Side of the Mountain
HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S SPRING BY CASSIE HORNER • PHOTOS BY CASSIE HORNER AND TIM SINK
Tim and Steamer enjoy a spring walk in 2015. This was in April, believe it or not!
YEARS AGO, OUR SATELLITE TV DID NOT DELIVER LOCAL STATIONS AS PART OF THE REGULAR PACKAGE SO WE HAD MAJOR NETWORKS FROM THE EAST AND WEST COASTS. Having California TV had the advantage of letting me watch the Kelly Ripa Show at noon while I ate lunch. It also gave us the Los Angeles area chief meteorologist Dallas Raines, a dapper, tanned man who wears beautiful suits and who is an enthusiastic promoter of the glories of California weather. This is not the Vermont meteorologists’ style. In keeping with our perpetual complaints about the weather, they rarely go beyond cautiously optimist as they recite the roller coaster forecasts. Any hope for a snowstorm for skiing, begs an alpine enthusiast news anchor? How about a sunny day or maybe two or three together? If not downright negatory, maybe there is a glimmer of hope. When my husband Tim and I passed through Tennessee, we stopped at a beautiful welcome center in a mountain6
ous area that resembled Vermont. In conversation with the man working at the desk, we heard his enthusiasm for his state. One of the selling points: four equal seasons. The key word here is equal. Vermont does not have equal seasons. Summer, if we’re lucky can claim six to eight weeks. Fall may speak for almost three months, starting in late August and winding down in early November. Winter is the greedy season, let’s face it, laying claim to most of five months from November through March, and sometimes bringing snow in three more: October, April and even May. One year in mid-May we came back from a trip south to find a snowstorm on Bromley that had sidelined a tractor trailer. That brings us to the key question, how do we know it’s spring? A song from elementary school answered the question like this: “there’s girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes and that’s how we know it’s spring.” Clearly, this Rutland Magazine
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song was not written about Vermont. If you could in this modern era even find a girl in a white dress with a blue satin sash, she would be shivering most of the year. March 20 or so is the official start of spring but it is a slow start. The days are longer and the sun warmer but snow should be expected. April gives more cause for hope. Spring flowers pop up in any clear patch of lawn or leaves. Even a spring snow-
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A long winter is a good reason to head south. This orchard is near Charlottesville, Virginia, in May.
Rutland Magazine
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storm doesn’t slow them down much. May surely is spring, and June smiles on us, usually, with spring days that ease us into summer. The answer to my question is that spring is a mystery in Vermont. Filled with expectation after months of winter, the best antidote is to start looking for spring in early March. Park your lawn chair and enjoy the warmer sun and light. Look for forsythia and crocuses. Find your own answers to how do we know it’s spring. above: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville is a beautiful place to get a jump on Vermont spring. below: Back in Vermont, signs of spring are found in quiet things like spring beauties in dried oak leaves.
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Rutland Magazine
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Rutland Magazine
BY CASSIE HORNER • PHOTOS BY DONALD GLENDENNING
Spring 2020
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The construction phase of the gazebo.
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HOMEOWNERS, ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS ARE A KEY COMPONENT IN THE CREATION AND FRUITION OF BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM PROJECT. When it works smoothly, the result is often a repeat performance for other projects. One excellent example of this is the extensive connection between RCWA architects and Glendenning Vermont Country Homes. “Donald Glendenning, like many contractors who work with us, has been working with us a long time,” says Dan Pratt of RCWA. “We look forward to every job together because we know it will come out well as a team effort.” The projects depicted in these pages are a great example of a repeat connection between client, architect and contractor. “Donald is a premier builder who understands the value an architect brings to a project,” says Steve Fenn of RCWA. “A well-designed project not only gives you a better project in the end but saves a client money. We develop a team approach where everyone knows his job and the
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work comes together like a well-oiled machine.” A LITTLE JEWEL A client came to RCWA architects with a question. How could he better enjoy the beautiful views of his property from his house? The architects’ idea was a gazebo where the homeowner could go to relax and take in the scenery. Dan Pratt saw the solution in a deep way, with a design that would enhance the landscape. His question was, what will work to pull the homeowners out of their house with a structure to allow them to appreciate
more of the property? It was a beautiful house with a beautiful view that was not visible from their house. “I visited the property and suggested we create space they can go to year round, cooled in summer and warmed in winter, to have morning coffee. Every day they can walk out undercover from house to gazebo to view the land,” says Pratt. The end result is glass all around an octagonal gazebo attached with a covered walkway connection to the house. It is an independent space, yet is still architecturally and aesthetically part of the dwelling. It offers a nearly
Rutland Magazine
The gazebo gives the owners a 270-degree angle view of the beautiful landscape. photo by dan pratt
A client came to RCWA architects with a question. How could he better enjoy the beautiful views of his property from his house? The architects’ idea was a gazebo where the homeowner could go to relax and take in the scenery.
Spring 2020
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270-degree view, and is an expanded living area that quickly became the owners’ favorite spot in the whole house. “It didn’t take away from the original house but married itself to the original architecture,” Pratt says. The design also included a patio and landscaping that tied the gazebo to the site. Contractor Donald Glendenning of Glendenning Vermont Country Homes has worked with Pratt on many projects. “My company has had 20 years of collaboration with Dan and RCWA,” Glendenning says. “We worked well together on the gazebo
The banquette is a special part of the kitchen project, bringing together the skills of everyone involved. It began with a “napkin sketch” by architect Dan Pratt, and came to life thanks to contractor Donald Glendenning and his team and interior designer Ruxana Oosman. 16
Rutland Magazine
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to take the client’s vision and Dan’s design ability and create a special space that improved on the existing space. As the contractor, we use our experience to give input on the design to achieve functionality within a costeffective budget.”
The gazebo was built during the winter. Its interior is cherry paneled. “From a carpentry point of view, the geometry of an eight-sided building required all of our skills and experience for our team to create the roof and connector to the house,” Glenden-
ning says. “It was a fun and challenging project, the kind our team enjoys.” TIME FOR A KITCHEN RENOVATION When these homeowners were ready for a major kitchen renovation, they
above: The renovated kitchen area is full of light. below left: The original hallway blocked light from reaching the kitchen area. below right: The renovation included demolition of some of the original walls.
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chose RCWA once again. The architect’s same integrative approach between original and new was applied to an extensive kitchen renovation that called for gutting the 30-yearold space to meet the homeowners’ requirements. The end result was a space open to the light and the view, with an upgrade to new technology and modernized countertops, cabinets, appliances and much more. The existing kitchen area was limited by walls that made the space feel darker and smaller. The stairwell let in morning light but a wall between
Glendenninghomes.com 20
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the hall and kitchen blocked it from the kitchen. Pratt’s design called for blowing out that wall to access the natural light. It also created more of an open living plan open to the dining room. The work was done while the homeowners were on vacation. The project proceeded efficiently with a quick demolition to reveal the subfloor and walls. The renovation included some plumbing, electrical work and lighting. “The kitchen came out beautifully,” Pratt says. “It looks like part of the original design of the house but the kitchen feels much larger. There is more room to work. There’s a pantry and a seating area for morning coffee and chatting with the person who is cooking.” Integral to the project, once again, The renovated kitchen achieves the goals of a light and airy space.
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An important part of creating the beautiful project for the client was the involvement of interior designer Ruxana Oosman of Ruxana’s Home Interiors. Hired by the client, she worked closely with the architect and contractor. “The original kitchen was very compartmentalized,” she explains. “The new design was an open concept with kitchen, sitting room, hallway and dining room. The client was working with kitchen designer Bob Fox of LaValleys, but she also needed someone to pick out lighting, colors and other elements for the entire concept. It made sense to help the client articulate their vision and create the overall design scheme. As an interior design business based on service, we focus on our clients’ needs.” She met with the client for an in-depth consultation to review their needs. Oosman asked questions such as how often do you entertain?, How many people do you host? Are you right or left handed? “No family uses a was the collaboration between RCWA and Glendenning Vermont Country Homes. “Dan developed the concept plan,” says Glendenning. “The owner met with me at the house and asked if he should do the project, with the goal of opening up Rutland Magazine
kitchen the same as another one does,” she says. “Our goal is to tailor the space to the client’s needs. The design is secondary to the function of the space.” She coordinated the flooring, and color of the cabinets and countertops with Bob Fox, then designed the rest of the space around those elements with the goal of a light and airy kitchen. “With vintage-inspired cabinetry, muted colors and cabinet pulls, the new kitchen was a transformation,” she says. Currently, Oosman is working on designing two more rooms in the house. Working with Dan Pratt at RCWA and Donald Glendenning of Glendenning Vermont Country Homes was a positive experience. “We worked beautifully together,” she says. “If you start the day knowing how people work and what they need, that allows a job to go smoothly. “As an interior designer, the most important element of any design is trust,” she says. “This project is a perfect example of a client’s trust in the architect, contractor, interior designer and kitchen designer.” the kitchen and dining space.” The kitchen was dark with mahoganycolored wood and burgundy walls, and separated from the rest of the house. “I told him the plan to make the space lighter and more open was exactly what people in the Spring 2020
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housing market are looking for,” he says. “People want open family and kitchen space. “This project was a major transformation of the lower level of a 30-yearold home,” Glendenning observes. “It involved changes to design, function, color and feeling. The project totally achieved the client’s desire.” The redesign started with a major demolition down to the original frame of the building. Even parts of that were altered by adding steel beams to open up structural walls. Plumbing and wiring were also removed. “We had to go backwards to go forwards,” says Glendenning. “The team’s experience got the project from A-Z on a timeline and on budget. Materials were ordered and subs lined up so things happened smoothly. I treat every project as if it were my own house.” The renovation took place while the homeowners were out of town for the winter. The client chose not to see any photos of the ongoing work. He was emailed an update every Friday so he was apprised of the progress but opted to be surprised when he first viewed the completed project. Reflecting on the end result of the kitchen renovation, Glendenning says, “Our team was totally proud of the completed project from the point of view of quality and the achievement of the vision of our client.”
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TULIPS AND DAFFODILS ARE PROBABLY THE FLOWERS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN WE THINK OF SPRING AND THE START OF THE GARDEN SEASON. The fact that there are early, mid- and lateseason varieties of each allows us to enjoy them for quite a few weeks. But once they have gone by a perennial garden can look rather empty. We need something to take their place. Finding plants with a blooming time of late May into early July will keep your garden looking like a garden instead of a bed of mulch!
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Rutland Magazine
SEASONS OF GARDEN BEAUTIES BY MARY ELLEN SHAW PHOTOS BY CASSIE HORNER
muscari (blue grape hyacinth)
Spring 2020
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pulmonaria
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Rutland Magazine
It’s always fun to have perennials that tell a story. Many of mine were given to me by friends and neighbors. When they emerge during the garden season they are wonderful reminders of these people, some of whom have either moved or are no longer living.
Spring 2020
bleeding heart
So what is available to fill in your garden during this “gap period”? Just read below! I love it when I am able to find blue flowers to help fill my garden. A bulb flower called muscari (blue grape hyacinth) is a great choice. When planted in large groups they look spectacular along a garden border where they create a small cascading river of blue. They can also be placed directly in front of the late blooming yellow and white daffodils. Their bright colors provide a nice backdrop that will enhance the blue of the muscari. Another attractive blue bulb flower is Siberian squill. They have unusual bell-shaped flowers that are extremely hardy. Spring Beauty with its porcelain blue color is a good choice. They show off best when planted in masses.
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poppy
A perennial plant called pulmonaria (lungwort) is another excellent option. My gardens have several called Bethlehem Sage. Some of the flowers are pink while others are blue on the same plant. The speckled leaves are an added bonus. The height is about 12”. You will find that they spread quite readily but can be easily controlled. Bleeding hearts offer a texture that adds a nice touch to your garden. They are not the best flowers for a bouquet but when picked will last for a couple of days. Mine have charming pink heart-shaped flowers. Over the years various sizes and hybrids have been developed. This expands the range of flower colors and increases the blooming period. Lady’s mantle, another perennial, isn’t chosen for its color but rather the pleated leaves that make it distinct.
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Their chartreuse flowers are a nice mix with other more colorful blooms in a bouquet. This plant prefers shade and is about 12”-18” in height. Columbine is another plant that does well in shady areas but will also tolerate some sun. There are several bright color choices available such as pink, yellow, blue and even bicolor. Toward the end of the summer when they have gone by you will hear the seeds rattle around in their pods. You can sprinkle them in the areas of your garden where you would like more. But you may choose to remove the seeds permanently before Mother Nature does that for you and drops them wherever she chooses! My favorite perennial to fill in the garden at this time of year is a phlox called blue moon. It’s about 12” tall and has bountiful blossoms which
are actually a violet-blue. They seem to float above the green foliage. The bloom time lasts for a few weeks and provides early-season pollen for hummingbirds and butterflies. If you want a “pop” of color that can be seen from a distance poppies are the way to go especially if you choose the red or orange variety. They love a sunny location. I look forward every year to looking across the street and seeing the poppies in the garden of my neighbor, Maureen White. She and I both know that we can’t have every flower that we like so we enjoy each other’s. If you choose to grow poppies you can sprinkle their seeds in your garden as soon as the ground can be worked. Once the plant is mature watch for the pods to rattle and remove them if you don’t want the seeds to spread throughout your
Rutland Magazine
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dwarf Iris Katherine Hodgkins
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garden. Once in a while it’s fun to buy something you know nothing about but are intrigued by a picture of it in a magazine or catalog. I did that last year when I chose a rock garden iris called Histrioides Katharine Hodgkin. I know…that’s quite a mouthful! It’s a dwarf variety and won’t be visible from a distance but up close it’s so delicate and pretty. The color is pale blue with yellow splotches. It only grows to about 5” but seeing that tiny flower just makes my day. Of course, there are many irises that are 18” – 22” in height that will put on quite a show in this “gap period” when your garden needs one. Dutch iris rosario is on my wish list for next season. It’s a beautiful shade of pink with yellow blotches. Allium is another flower that seems to be lacking in many gardens. They are an especially wise choice because of the varied colors and heights as well as different bloom times. When you can find pink, blue, white and deep red in sizes that range from small to outrageously large, how can you go wrong? If you pick up the aroma of onion as you walk by don’t be surprised. They are part of that family. The deep red variety that I have disappears after blooming so I tend to forget where they were. That makes for some pleasant surprises in June and July when they greet me once again. If you have an especially spacious garden, larger plants like peonies and lupines can help to fill the empty spaces. My lupines came from a lady in the Netherlands who sold seeds from her own garden. Her story intrigued me and I figured “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. So I bought some. That was about 10 years ago and the lupines are beautiful. They take up quite a lot of space but are worth it. Full-grown peonies are quite wide and high. For this reason I placed one at the end of my garden. There Rutland Magazine
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is a history to that plant as it came from the yard of my late aunt, Nora Preseau. Even as a child I loved her peonies so when the house was sold I dug up a few plants and placed them in different locations on our property. It’s always fun to have perennials that tell a story. Many of mine were given to me by friends and neighbors. When they emerge during the garden season they are wonderful reminders of these people, some of whom have either moved or are no longer living. Have fun experimenting with plants to fill your garden from late spring through early summer. When you find one you love, share it with your friends and neighbors. What a great way to always be remembered! Mary Ellen Shaw is a graduate of Trinity College. She is the author of the book, "Kittenhood 101," and is also a freelance writer for several publications. Rutland Magazine
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CARVED IN MARBLE PROCTOR’S SWEDISH HERITAGE
Swedish Viking Society in 1911. Photo courtesy of the Proctor Historical Society
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BY DOROTHY DAHM
Rutland Magazine
TODAY, PROCTOR IS A PEACEFUL HAMLET NESTLED IN VERMONT’S GREEN MOUNTAINS. But in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was a bustling mining town. Immigrants from all over Europe worked in the town’s marble quarries. For a time, Swedes comprised the largest component of Proctor’s immigrant population. Various documents identify Lars Larson as Proctor’s first Swedish resident. Legend has it that Larson met Senator Redfield Proctor, proprietor of the Vermont Marble Company, after landing in New York in the 1870s. Liking Larson’s looks, the Senator offered him a job in the marble quarries. In Proctor, then Sutherland Falls, Larson boarded with the Ormsbee family, who lived where the Proctor Free Library stands today. According to one tale, Larson studied English in night school after toiling in the quarries all day. When some rowdy Irish youths threatened the teacher, the strapping Larson defended him. According to a Scandinavian magazine article, “The plan was frustrated due in large measure to the fearless attitude of the young giant.” The story had its basis in truth: Swedish workers often clashed with their Irish colleagues, who had hitherto been the largest immigrant group in town. In the 1880s and 90s, Swedes poured into Proctor from a settlement in Mineville, New York and from the “old country” to work in the booming marble industry. They were quarry and mill workers,
Spring 2020
stone cutters and hand polishers, and, eventually, engineers, managers, and directors. Other Swedish immigrants were grocers, builders, farmers, and skilled tradesmen. In his Market Street factory, Gust Ljunquist made skis for the Scandinavian communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Single women also immigrated to Proctor. They generally worked as domestic servants or at the Rutland hospital. Many were very young. According to one story, a twelve-yearold girl arrived in Vermont alone. Unable to speak English, she wore a tag on her cloak button with her name and destination. Life was hard for the new arrivals. Often, five families occupied a single house. These were usually company houses owned by the Vermont Marble Company. Already overcrowded families took in boarders and did their tenants’ laundry to pay the debt they had incurred when they immigrated. These groups of houses all had Swedish names, many of which alluded to the residents’ living conditions. For example, Langholemen, a group of long houses, got its name from a Swedish military prison. Herbert Johnson, Sr, writing in 1976, described his father’s experiences. Immigrating to Proctor in 1893, the elder Johnson worked seventy-two hours a week in the quarries. Take-home pay was “invariably traded at the company store.” To make ends meet, most families kept hens. Lucky families raised a pig or kept a cow. Despite these hardships, the set-
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above The Marble Valley Chapter of the Scandinavian Fraternity of America in the 1930s. Photo courtesy of the Proctor Historical Society. below Herbert and Anna Johnson in the early 1920s. Their daughter, Helen Newton, still lives in Proctor. Photo courtesy of Helen Newton.
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tlers found joy. On Saturday nights in the 1880s and 90s, the young and single gathered in the woods near Pleasant Avenue. On a wooden platform, they performed Swedish folk dances to accordion music. Because many settlers had the same last names, their fellow Swedes often gave them elaborate nicknames. A Mr. Johnson who lived in the woods was Johnson in the Woods. Pet Peterson, who kept a few cows, was Pet in the Barn, while a shoemaker was known as Swanson the Shoemaker. As the Swedish community grew, so did its desire for a spiritual home. At first, traveling ministers preached in the town hall. Then, in 1889, the Swedish Free Church of Proctor, later called the Swedish Evangelical Mission, was built on Terrace Hill.
The next year, Proctor’s Swedish Lutherans got their church. After laboring in the marble quarries, Lutheran men spent their evenings clearing a spot for the church on Gibbs Hill. Work was completed on St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on Thanksgiving Day, 1890. The two churches became the Swedish community’s center. Even in the early twentieth century, Swedes feared their children would lose their connection to Swedish culture. For several summers, the churches jointly held a morning summer school for six weeks. Children studied religion and some Swedish. The social event of the year was the Sunday school picnic, when Swedish families gathered on the West End of Eden Avenue. The churches retained close ties with their
Rutland Magazine
sister churches, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Rutland and the Swedish Congregational Church in Center Rutland, as these communities also boasted large Swedish populations. As years passed, the settlers prospered. In the early twentieth century, many built single-family homes, settling in and around Pleasant Street. This enclave was called the Garden of Eden because it felt like paradise after the company houses. The Swedish community formed charitable and fraternal organizations. In the early twentieth century, the Scandinavian Fraternity of America, Swedish Viking Society, Swedish Order of Foresters, and the Swedish Aid Society had chapters in Proctor. Many Swedes met their spouses in the Luther League, a social organization for young Lutherans. Writing in 1996, Alof Carlson recalled the League hiring a large sleigh, called a barge, which was pulled by two draft horses and held about 20 people. In 1921, 14-year-old Carlson attended a box social in West Rutland. For these events, young women prepared boxes of delicacies, which young men would bid on. Young Alof won a box prepared by a 20-year-old woman. “Imagine her dismay to share her box with a 14-year-old boy,” he wrote. Later, Carlson represented Proctor, Pittsford, and Sherburne in the Vermont State Legislature. As time passed, the settlers’ descendants stopped speaking Swedish. By 1948, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church conducted all services in English. Still, some Swedish traditions persisted. Helen Newton, 97, and Carolyn Miglorie, 90, remember rising early on Christmas Day to
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above The Peterson family in 1905 or 1906. Back row: Anna Anderson Peterson, Agnes Christina Peterson, Ada Katarina Peterson, August Sigfrid Peterson. Front Row: Axel Sigfrid Peterson, Anna Victoria Peterson. Photo courtesy of the Proctor Historical Society. below John and Anna Dahlin immigrated to Proctor in 1915. John worked as a hand polisher for the Vermont
attend Julotta, the early morning service. During Julotta, children sang in Swedish. “We thought nothing of going to church at five in the morning,” Newton recalls with a chuckle. Miglorie remembers walking to church in the snow. “Nothing kept us home,” she adds. Both Newton and Miglorie enjoyed Swedish dishes during the holidays. Körv, a stuffed sausage, was good, but a lot of work. Miglorie’s mother and grandmother baked buns with cardamom, while Newton liked Ludfisk, a whitefish. Younger members of Proctor’s Swedish community cherish their heritage. Debbie Dewey attends St.
Marble Company, and they raised nine children in the community. Photo courtesy of Kathie Cesarski. 42
Rutland Magazine
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Paul’s, where five generations of her family have worshipped. Still, she misses the older generation. “My aunt, Mary Johnson, could identify everyone in the old photos and knew all the cooking techniques,” Dewey says. “We have the recipes for Swedish meatballs, buns, and cookies, but you need more than the right ingredients. You need to see how to chop the meat or knead the dough.” Still, Proctor’s Swedish past lives on – in names engraved on marble, in St. Paul’s Church, and in the hearts of residents who remember Swedish treats, feasts, and words. Dorothy A. Dahm's work has appeared in regional and national publications, including The Writer and Catster. She lives in Hubbardton, Vermont. Rutland Magazine
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David Franzoni, of the Our House Lil Legends, beats the play at first base during a summer evening at the MSJ field.
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Rutland Magazine
Emma Cosgrove, of the Our House Lil Legends, takes her turn at bat during a summer evening at the MSJ field.
WHILE BIG LEAGUERS HEAD TO WARM, SUNNY FLORIDA AND ARIZONA FOR SPRING TRAINING, AREA YOUTHS SHARPEN THEIR BASEBALL SKILLS INDOORS AT LOCAL GYMS IN PREPARATION FOR ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON OF RUTLAND COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE ACTION.
BY PAUL POST PHOTOS BY CHRIS WIDEAWAKE OF PHOTOTEC
Spring 2020
Now in its fourth year, the program has already grown to more than 150 boys and girls in three age groups — Tee Ball (4-6), Coach Pitch (6-8) in which coaches pitch to players, and a seven-team Majors Division (9-12). Everyone likes to win, but the real goal is instilling a love for the game, making friends, which might last a lifetime, and importing valuable lessons such as teamwork and fair play. “It’s not just about who hits the home run,” said Brian Olsen, a league board member, umpire and former coach. “We really try to teach that everybody is an integral component of the team. It takes nine guys on the field to make it work. This league is big on that. But if I had to sum up Rutland County Little League in one word, it’s family.” 47
Spring is the time to get back outside and see what's new! In March, you'll want to dress in green and join in on the Shiver Me Shamrocks fun run and walk on St. Patrick's Day weekend. In April, get tickets for the Spring Sip + Shop, a fun tasting and shopping event happening at various downtown businesses. And in May, don't miss the return of the outdoor farmers market in Depot Park for fresh produce and plants for your garden.
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Rutland Magazine
Visit DowntownRUTLANd.com Park the car and go for a walk around downtown to tour the murals and sculptures that adorn our historic streets. If you haven't visited Center Street Marketplace Park, now's a perfect time. While you're out, please support your local shops, restaurants and other businesses that make up the heart of the Rutland community. To keep up to date on events, new businesses and ways to support downtown Rutland, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter and find us on social media.
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Jack Olsen, of the McCullough Bros. Inc. Hawks, attempts to tag out Owen Cosgrove of the Our House Lil Legends, at home plate during a summer evening at the MSJ field.
Olsen and his wife, Heather, coached the McCullough Brothers Hawks team, which their twin 12-year-old sons, Jack and Greg, played for before aging out of the program last year. Their daughter, Gabby, 14, had also played and stayed on as team scorekeeper. “Family is very important to me and I loved that we could spend the time together just having fun,” Heather said. “Kids grow up fast and this was a great way to do something we could all be part of. The experience was unforgettable.” “I really enjoyed watching the kiddos learn not only baseball skills, but 50
things about themselves,” she said. “It’s amazing to see how a child can grow in a supportive, fun environment. In my own children I saw confidence blossom as well as conceptual understanding of being part of something bigger than one’s self, as well as what it means to be responsible to your team and teammates.” Jack said he’ll never forget hitting his first home run and having a chance to play in Little League’s worldwide tournament. Greg’s biggest thrill, as a pitcher, was striking out his first batter along with getting his first hit and round-tripper. Of course, both boys enjoyed having their
entire family on hand to watch them play. Gabby added, “My favorite thing about Little League is how people from different backgrounds can connect and have fun no matter the outcome of a game. I liked being able to be myself without anyone judging.” The league was started by former President Tom Jacques, who has since moved to Florida, along with founding officers Treasurer Gary Arnold, Vice President Brent Gile, and Secretary Joel Lefrancois. The current president is Paul Lasky, who, with his wife, Daisy, helped get the ball rolling. “Rutland County Little League was Rutland Magazine
Teigen Gurney, of the TCB Law Bulldogs, slides into home plate as Hagen McDermott, of the Our House Lil Legends, attempts to make the play at home.
chartered to revive excitement for baseball among the youth of Rutland County,” Paul Lasky said. “We strive to continuously improve our program, which will in turn offer better training to improve players’ skills. We put great importance on the development of sportsmanship, community and integrity by emphasizing that ‘We are a league first, a team second and an individual last’. “Sports keep kids active, healthy, develop character and help keep them out of trouble,” he said. “We just happen to think this sport is the best way to accomplish this. We love baseball!” For the first three years, all players Spring 2020
entered a draft and were assigned to a team, regardless of where they live. So a second baseman from Pittsford might turn a double play with a shortstop from Poultney. “It’s a fun environment,” said Chris Cosgrove, who coaches his son Owen’s team. “It puts them in connection with kids they might never meet otherwise. It makes it easier for them to make friends if they meet up again in high school, like ‘Remember me? We played Little League together!’” This policy is still in place, but in an effort to encourage greater participation the league hopes to allow some town-based teams this year. Lasky
explained that it’s somewhat difficult for a player from Proctor, for example, to attend practices in Rutland. If Proctor had its own team, more kids might sign up and they’d all get more practice and playing time. “We want to make it really easy for kids to have the opportunity to play baseball if they want to,” he said. “That’s what we’re all about.” Mike Robilotto, who runs the Tee Ball and Coach Pitch programs, played and coached at the college level. “Little League starts the groundwork for being a baseball player and learning what it’s like to be part of a team,” he said. “We want to build 51
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skills so kids are more prepared to play baseball when they get to middle school and high school.” The City of Rutland Recreation Department also has a youth baseball program, which has given countless kids opportunities to play baseball for many years. However, play is limited to the local area. Rutland County Little League is part of Little League International based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. So league All-Stars may advance to District 2 tournament play against Burlington and Brattleboro with a chance to reach the Little World Series. “You’re giving them that dream and opportunity,” Cosgrove said. “It gives them something to strive for.” Vermont has four districts. Each district winner goes to the state tournament and competes for the state title. The champion advances to regionals in Bristol, Connecticut to play for the New England title and this winner goes to Williamsport to represent New England in the Little League World Series. “Last season, our 11-year-old team won the first District 2 tournament Rutland Magazine
Members of the Our House Lil Legends celebrate a home run at the St. Joseph’s College field in Rutland.
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game against Brattleboro, which was a big accomplishment in only our second year of tourney play against established leagues,” Lasky said. “This year we expect our players to do even better. Although All-Star play is an exciting part of our league, it’s not a driving force. Our focus is on our regular season and the development of all players. Tournament play is an added benefit to being a part of Rutland County Little League.” Players may register for Little League at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Rutland on Saturday, March 14 only or online anytime at Rutlandcountylittleleague.com. Eligibility is determined by a player’s age as of August 31 of the current season. There is a $40 fee and financial assistance is available, if needed.
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school news
Castleton School c. 1908
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Rutland Magazine
CASTLETON
EARLY HOME OF RUTLAND COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHOOL CASTLETON NORMAL SCHOOL CASTLETON MEDICAL ACADEMY BY MARY ELLEN SHAW PHOTOS COURTESY OF CALVIN COOLIDGE LIBRARY AT CASTLETON UNIVERSITY
c. 1900
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above Class photo from the 1880s. below Class of 1933 Castleton Normal School. 56
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED A PETITION BACK IN 1787 FOR THE RUTLAND COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN CASTLETON, SOME MIGHT SAY THAT THE FOUNDATION WAS LAID FOR FUTURE HIGHER EDUCATION. The school was built on one acre of land that had been deeded by Samuel Moulton. The locals referred to it as the “gambrel-roof school house”. Over time it was also referred to as Castleton Academy and Castleton Seminary. This building was destroyed by fire around 1800 and a larger building replaced it. The term “grammar school” had a different meaning back then. The courses offered were similar to the “college prep” classes of later years. Rutland Magazine
The Rutland County Grammar School merged with the Castleton Normal School in 1867. For nine years after the merger both schools were under one roof and were led by one person. The town of Castleton took on a different educational role when it became home to a medical school from 1818 until 1862. Let’s take a look at these schools of higher education beginning with the normal school. CASTLETON NORMAL SCHOOL In August of 1867 the Rutland County Grammar School accepted an invitation from the State Board of Education to become a normal school. This
above Normal school class of 1891 taken in July. below 1958 Winter Carnival, Ski Boot Banquet. King Ed and Queen Lena. Vermont Teachers College
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above: The Old Seminary building was home to Castleton students in the 1830s. It burned down on January 3, 1924. Woodruff stands there now.
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Rutland Magazine
term comes from the French “école normal” which means a school to educate teachers. The first session opened on January 2, 1869 with only four students. Instruction was in an old medical building that had been used by Castleton Medical College, which closed in 1962. The most prosperous years of the Normal School were from 1881-1897 when Abel Leavenworth was principal. In May of 1881 he purchased the real estate and personal property held by the corporation of the Rutland County Grammar School. In August he became principal and remained until May of 1897 when his health declined. His son, Philip, became principal upon his father’s resignation. The school property was purchased by the State of Vermont in 1912, putting it under direct public control. A new dormitory was added in 1927. Its ground breaking was very unusual as a basket of earth from the
site, along with a shovel, were taken to Philip Leavenworth’s bedside. From there he put the shovel into the dirt and transferred it to a glass jar. Back to the site it went! He died just a few months later. The building was dedicated on September 28, 1928 under the name of Leavenworth Hall. The Normal School was a two-year school until 1933. After a short period of being a three-year school it transitioned to four years in 1936. It was then authorized to confer Bachelor of Education degrees. What was is like to be a student at the Normal School student back in the 1930s? One of the activities you could take part in was working on The Birdseye, a monthly newspaper published by the students. The papers are currently available for all to read on the Castleton University website under Archives. If you were interested in theater you could take part in a play titled The
Princess Married the Page. The school held an annual winter carnival and there were basketball games to attend. Graduation back then had one feature that is very different from what colleges have today. A formal dance was part of the festive occasion and you would have danced to music by Happy Marek’s Orchestra. Although Castleton Normal School changed its name in 1947 it continued to educate teachers under the name of Castleton Teachers’ College. In 1962 the school became Castleton State College and in 2015 the name changed yet again to Castleton University. Although specializing in educating doctors and teachers for many years the university now offers 75 programs of study in liberal arts and sciences and several graduate programs. This small town certainly has played a tremendous role in education and is still
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going strong. CASTLETON MEDICAL ACADEMY The “Articles of Agreement” created by Dr. Selah Gridley, Dr. Theodore Woodward and Dr. John L C Cazier in 1818 were the beginning of a medical school in Castleton. It was to be known as “Castleton Medical Academy”. Gridley and Woodward purchased a wooden building that had been used as a law office and store from Rollin Mallary. It was on Main Street next to the Post Office, near the Rutland 60
County Grammar School. They used their own collection of books for the medical library. They also served as the instructors. Back “in the day” you could be licensed to practice medicine by studying under a doctor. You did not have to attend a medical college. Both Dr. Gridley and Dr. Woodward had more applications from men who wanted to study under them than they could accept. This was most likely a driving factor to open a medical college. In the first few years the medical Rutland Magazine
college was not authorized to grant degrees. This resulted in an affiliation with Middlebury College where trustees voted on the students’ degrees. The first graduating class from Castleton Medical Academy in 1820 had only two students, Dan Pond and Franklin Shaw. They received their degrees in Middlebury. On December 2, 1823 the first group of students received their degrees at Castleton. It didn’t take long to realize that the existing medical building was too small. Construction of a new building began in May 1821. The site was about 1,000 feet west of the old building on the north side of Main Street. It was on a ½-acre plot of Dr. Woodward’s land. The land was not deeded to the corporation until 17 years later after a law suit accomplished it. The old medical college building was attached to the east side of the new building as a wing. On October 28, 1822 the trustees of Castleton Medical Academy voted to change the name to Vermont Academy of Medicine. It was hoped that the state’s name would attract more prospective students than a town name. The ability to obtain bodies for dissection was difficult. So in 1824 three students robbed a grave in Poultney. Charges were dismissed for lack of evidence but college trustees adopted a rule that forbade taking bodies from a graveyard. The economic depression of 1837 contributed to a declining enrollment. This caused debt which prohibited repairs needed in the medical building as well as teaching apparatus. Classes were suspended for two years from March 1838 until March 1840. Dr. Joseph Perkins is credited with reestablishing the college. The problem of finding bodies for dissection surfaced again in 1840 and the solution was quite creative. Bodies were shipped on the canal to Whitehall from the Albany and Troy area. They were in large barrels Spring 2020
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Castleton in the 1950s.
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marked “pork”. A wagon took them to a grocer in Castleton who was a trustee of the medical school. What did it cost to attend medical school back then? Back in 1823 there is mention of professors being paid $1,000. Half of the tuition had to be paid in currency and the rest could be a “note”. Each professor was required to accept his share of student “notes” and had to collect them himself. Where did medical students get to practice their skills on patients? There was a clinic for walk-in patients and beginning in 1846 a local house served as a hospital for three years. By 1857 the University of Vermont
had enlarged its medical school and strengthened its faculty. This was a predominant factor in a decreased enrollment at Castleton. The medical college closed in 1862 and two years later Carlos Smith Sherman, a trustee of the college, purchased the land and the medical college building. It was next to his residence and he wanted the land for his garden. Smith had the building moved next to the seminary building, a distance of about 1,000 feet. The interior of the building was remodeled in 1867 and was used as a teaching space for the normal school classes. Rutland Magazine
2020 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TM TRUCK OF THE YEAR
Primary Sources: (1) Proceeds of the Vermont Historical Society 1936, (2) The First Medical College in Vermont by Frederick Clayton Waite, (3) Castleton University website Thank you to Dr. Jeffrey Freeman, professor emeritus at Castleton University, for his assistance in deciphering the role of the Castleton Grammar School.
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Kitchen to Table
VERMONT POULTRY FANCIERS' SWAP A BIRD (OR TWO) IN THE HAND
BY SUSAN ORZELL-RANTANEN PHOTO BY TIM SINK
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A CACOPHONY OF FOWL LANGUAGE GREETS THE VISITOR TO THE VERMONT BIRD FANCIERS SWAP, HELD IN LATE APRIL IN THE PARKING LOT AT TRACTOR SUPPLY ON ROUTE 7 SOUTH IN RUTLAND. Chicks peeping, hens clucking and roosters crowing form an incidental temporary flock. Poultry enthusiasts are looking to buy, sell, or trade fertile eggs, young birds or breeding adults. Onlookers and passersby, especially those who like agriculture, are just drawn to the fun. And fun it is, although the members of the Vermont Bird Fanciers Club chime in to say education is the real purpose of their association. Displaying his birds on the tailgate of his pickup truck is Art Usher of Tinmouth, one of the founding members of the Vermont Bird Fanciers Club organized back in 2000 to provide, he explains, education and camaraderie for people who enjoy raising poultry. He looks at the crowd spilling out of the spacious parking lot and proclaims it a “good showing.” The Club has grown to about 180 dues-paying members and hosts seven poultry swaps from spring through autumn each year. Club members are positioned expectantly behind cages upon cages Spring 2020
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of avian livestock or striding around purposefully looking for birds to add to their flock, in the form of eggs to incubate, barely feathered-out pullets to raise, or purebred roosters to sire the next generation. Visitors wander in to look at the birds and chat with the owners, who have brought breeds ranging from the unusual, such as Appenzeller Spitzhaubens, to the common, such as Rhode Island Reds. The club members are eager to talk about their birds and answer any questions about their hobby. The current president, Jeff Fortin of Hinesburg, underlines that the education of adults and children about poultry forms the mission statement of the group. Along with daily care and handling, there are aspects that beginners don't always consider, such as the humane butchering of meat birds at the end of the growing season. The legal handling of predators such as weasels and coyotes in accordance with Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department laws is another important topic in dealing with home flocks. Fortin's own long experience with chickens is evident as he manages to tenderly hold three pullets in two hands. The current Vice President, Faith Hunt of White River Junction, speaks enthusiastically of the Club's active youth program. A poultry judge at the Orleans County Fair in Barton, Hunt coaches everyone from begin-
ners (surprised to learn that hens don't need roosters to produce eggs) to experts (showing their birds at fairs and competitions). “We want future farmers,” she emphasizes. “Any child at least five years old can sign up, with parental approval, for six free chicks.” Hands-on husbandry discourages children from thinking that eggs originate in coolers at the local supermarket, she adds. Wayne Marcelle of New Haven, one of 15 board members guiding the club, agrees “Youth are our future. Whatever breed they want is fine, but we encourage them to get heavy production breeds.” These include Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons and Barred Plymouth Rocks, representatives of which fill cages lining the pavement. In addition to many breeds of chickens, Marcelle himself offers pigeons, ducks and geese. Swap days, which run from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., are also a chance to tend to organizational business. A meeting held at 1:00 allows every member a voice and a vote in the direction of the Club. Another event at the busy swap is the silent auction, held at the end of the meet and a great relief to swappers whose birds to sell or trade are still around at the end of the day. “Anything you don't want to go home with you can be put in the auction,” explains Hunt. This is particularly important to the owners of small flocks with limited space.
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Darryl Kuehne of Benson, an employee of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, sits at a makeshift medical lab with an outraged rooster on his lap. The protesting bird is one of the 80 or more that he has handled in about two hours in what is a free service from the State. He is after a drop of blood which he will test, on the spot, for both typhoid and influenza. Without a clean bill of health, no bird over 20 weeks of age can be sold. The geese, ducks, and pigeons occupying cages on the grounds...it is, after all, a swap meet for those who fancy birds of all types...are exempt. A visitor with a discerning ear may hear the bleat of a goat or the grunt of a pig amid the cackling. This goes hand-in-glove with the Club's stated mission of helping to support a healthy agricultural economy. Poultry, which are agreeable to handle, easy to care for and require little space, can be an entry-level experience to the gratifying experience of raising livestock in a society increasingly concerned about pure food. Tractor Supply, which sells agricultural products of all sorts, including food and equipment for raising poultry, enjoys a symbiotic relationship with such swaps. Club members and other poultry enthusiasts drawn to the meet swell the number of regular store customers queuing up at the check-out. Both parties strive toward the goal of a strong agricultural presence in the state, which, if my readership will forgive the awful pun, is something to crow about. Susan Orzell-Rantanen has worked as an editor and freelance writer in the Rutland area for the past 31 years. A seventh generation Vermonter, she holds degrees in animal husbandry and journalism. She lives in Rutland with her husband, a badly spoiled dog and an opinionated cat. Rutland Magazine
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stepping into nature
Otter Creek forms a serpentine shape near its source in Mount Tabor, Vermont.
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FOLLOWING OTTER CREEK PHOTO ESSAY BY CALEB KENNA
A canoeist paddles the Brandon Swamp next to Otter Creek in Brandon, Vermont.
OTTER CREEK IS THE LONGEST RIVER WITHIN VERMONT, FLOWING NORTH 112 MILES FROM PERU TO FERRISBURGH. Otter Creek played a crucial role in Vermont’s history and settlement with the river acting as a source of settlement, travel, farming and industry. The river runs through Rutland and Middlebury, winding its way through the Champlain Valley and empties out into Lake Champlain at Fort Cassin Point. Otter Creek provides essential ecological, habitat, and floodplain functions and is also a large source of phosSpring 2020
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OTTER CREEK — ST CALEB KENNA
Canoeing on Otter Creek and the Brandon Swamp in Brandon, Vermont. 70
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TART TO FINISH
Otter Creek and Route 73, Brandon, Vermont.
phorus pollution in Lake Champlain. Otter Creek is one of Vermont’s most important rivers. Zapata Courage, a District Wetlands Ecologist with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, says, “The Otter Creek wetland complex is not only the largest wetland in Vermont, but it is also the largest in New England. It provides all ten functions and values that Vermont has identified as being important to protect, including recreation, open space, and habitat. Otter Creek’s wetland community types support many rare, threatened, or endangered species. It also serves as a critical wildlife corridor between the Adirondack Mountains into the Green Mountains. Its location along the Otter Creek River is critical in its ability to provide flood and storm water storage. This directly correlates with how the wetland Spring 2020
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A vehicle travels Pearl Street during spring flooding along Otter Creek in Brandon, Vermont.
Otter Creek flowis through Vergennes, Vermont.
Otter Creek, Mount Tabor, Vermont.
An egret explores the Brandon Swamp, full from overflow from Otter Creek. 72
provides the filtering of sediments, pollutants, and excessive nutrients to help protect the water quality of Otter Creek and downstream Lake Champlain.� I have lived near Otter Creek for much of my life and am continually drawn to its meandering path as a photographer. The falls at Middlebury provide endless scenic possibilities in Addison County’s shire town. Rutland Magazine
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I have been photographing Otter Creek for years and have come to realize that it is a great subject in and of itself. While driving through Mount Tabor one late summer day, I stop along Brooklyn Road and launch my drone, looking for a good photo of Otter Creek. I am thrilled to see a beautiful serpentine pattern of the river looking south over Mount TaSpring 2020
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Drone photo of Otter Creek in winter in Brandon, Vermont.
Otter Creek flows into Lake Champlain at Fort Cassin Point in Ferrisburgh, Vermont. 74
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bor. I feel like an explorer. The drone has allowed me to discover a new hidden landscape. A few days later, I return here with my canoe. I park on Brooklyn Road and carry my yellow Mad River Royalex canoe into the shallow and narrow waters of the creek. I haul my canoe up over a beaver dam and paddle into a strong southerly wind, searching for that s-shaped section of the river I had photographed with the drone. Balancing in the canoe, I launch my drone into the sky and find a good angle for photographs showing my canoe and the river landscape. After paddling a short distance, my battery level indicator starts beeping and I realize I have no place to land, as I am surrounded by water and marshy reeds. I maneuver the drone down towards me in the gusty wind and press the return-to-home button, but the drone wants to go back to where I launched. I grab onto the machine as it struggles to evade my grasp. I overpower it and safely land the drone. Note to self: always have a good landing spot. One of my favorite places to paddle Otter Creek is in the Brandon Swamp during spring flooding. Paddling amidst the dead trees and listening to birdsong, I feel like I’m in a wilderness far from civilization. One fall day, I find the end of Otter Creek in Ferrisburgh at Fort Cassin Point where it forms a graceful curve. I launch my drone in a light breeze and make a few pictures under blue skies. From south to north, Otter Creek offers a meandering journey of Vermont’s history, environment and scenic beauty. Caleb Kenna is a freelance photographer and certified drone pilot based in Brandon, Vermont. More of his work can be seen at www.calebkenna.com.
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Donna Wilkins Photography
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spotlight on business
JOHNSON MARBLE & GRANITE
A FA M I LY L E G A C Y ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY PAUL POST
HERB JOHNSON III, LIKE HIS PROCTOR-BASED BUSINESS, IS A REFLECTION OF THE EXQUISITE VERMONT NATURAL PRODUCTS HE SPECIALIZES IN. Johnson Marble & Granite has weathered all kinds of challenges, but keeps delivering high-quality, customized service that sets it apart in the increasingly competitive home building and improvement industry. The firm was founded by Johnson’s father, Herb Jr., and occupies a more than century-old building that was once part of the adjacent Vermont Marble Company, which 76
closed in 1992. Work is done in much the same way as it was decades ago, with attention to detail and customer care. “There are no computerized machines here,” Johnson said. “My saw is probably an 80-year-old saw, but it works as good as any saw you can buy today. It’s nice to know you’re making something people enjoy. They’re looking at it every day. We have a little part in that, to make their house what they want.” The bulk of work is kitchen countertops, primarily for owners of new and remodeled second homes in towns surRutland Magazine
below Water sprays off the rear of a high-powered saw as it cuts a piece of marble to the desired length. right Herb Johnson III puts finishing touches on a monument.
rounding Green Mountain State ski resorts such as Killington and Stratton Mountain. But Johnson Marble & Granite also handles a variety of smaller projects such as monuments, sculpture bases and park benches. At its peak, about 15 years ago, the firm had nearly a dozen full- and part-time workers. It was at this time, following the terrorist attacks Spring 2020
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above Employee Mark Loso prepares to put a piece of marble on a high-powered saw so it can be cut to the desired size. below Mark Loso handles all types of equipment, including a polishing machine.
of September 11, 2001, that many metropolitan New York residents moved north and bought homes and property throughout Vermont and upstate New York. “The economy was great for those six or seven years, which is the best we ever did,” Johnson said. “I could have had 20 guys working here if I wanted to. I could have put another shift on, which I’m glad I didn’t.” Business fell off considerably when 78
the Great Recession of 2008-09 hit. But unlike many small firms, Johnson Marble & Granite survived and came out stronger in the long run. “A lot of companies around Vermont closed because they had 30 guys and expensive machinery they couldn’t make payments on,” Johnson said. “We had no bills, we weathered the storm and slowly started picking back up again. Now it’s great. We’re busy all the time. I could use more workers, but I’m
going to stay like this. At my age, I’m happy where we are. We take on just what we know we can handle. It’s easy to control quality.” Proctor native Mark Loso, who’s been with the firm since 1983, is now Johnson’s sole employee. “It’s just two of us here so we both do a little bit of everything,” Loso said. “I just enjoy the fact that I’m working with my hands, with a natural product, making something nice for people’s Rutland Magazine
above Herb Johnson III handles a large clamp attached to an overhead crane that's used to move heavy marble slabs into place so they can be made into products such as kitchen countertops. below Herb Johnson III, left, and Mark Loso, right, are standing on either side of a large slab of Makrana marble, the same kind used to build the Taj Mahal.
homes that they’re going to enjoy for years to come. It’s the kind of work I like to do. It’s physical. When I go home I sleep well at night. It’s just my cup of tea. I couldn’t sit in an office or a delivery truck all day.” Johnson also relies heavily on a network of builders, which generates much of his business. In addition, subcontractors Tom Mullan and Chris Stephenson install finished marble and slate products, respectively. Spring 2020
The manufacturing process starts with templates of the piece of stone that’s going to be used. These show exactly what needs to be done. “Then we put a 10-foot by 6-foot slab on the table and Mark cuts it to whatever shape that template is,” Johnson said. “A slab weighs about 1,000 pounds.” Dark green and highly durable Verde Antique, White Danby and Champlain Black are the most popular types of marble with consumers. Johnson
sources these products directly from area quarries or distributors. However, he also works with soapstone and slate, from Fair Havenbased Camara Slate Products Inc. Frank and Ettie Spezzano, of Brandon, purchased new marble countertops from Johnson several years ago. “We replaced old Formica,” Frank Spezzano said. “I think it’s beautiful. It really enhances the kitchen. It’s a very pleasant design and it 79
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matches the slate floor. Herb really did a good job when we worked with him to make the change. We’re very pleased.” Johnson realizes that marble is somewhat of a luxury item, so business is only as good as the economy at any given time. “I think the economy right now is doing good and it shows,” he said. “People are spending a little bit more. They don’t need countertops. When they’re buying them that means there’s a little extra money.” His favorite part of the job is making and building relationships, with customers and builders, some that he’s worked with for 20 or 30 years. “So you get to meet people,” Johnson said. “We’re always doing something different. It’s not the same old thing every day. Every kitchen, every bathroom — they might look the same — but everyone’s different. That kind of makes it nice. It’s not like doing a 20-by-20 piece, hundreds
of them, all day long, over and over again. Everything we do is basically custom. “Sometimes I get called out if there’s a problem, luckily not very often,” he said. “If a customer calls and says there’s a problem, we’ll fix it. We stand by our product. I think people appreciate that. We care about customers.” Deep down, the most rewarding aspect of his career is simply knowing that he’s keeping a family legacy alive that began with his great-grandfather, who came from Sweden to work at Vermont Marble Company. He and hundreds of other European immigrants helped make it the world’s largest U.S.-based corporation at one time. Johnson’s grandfather, Herb Sr., was the company’s chief marble expert for 54 years and his father, Herb Jr., worked there as well. In 1981, Herb Jr. and Ollie Danforth started up their own business named Marble Gifts, Inc. At first they made rolling pins, bookends, lazy Susans and lamps, hundreds and hundreds of them. When Herb Jr. retired, Herb III and his wife Lisa bought the business from his father and renamed it Johnson Marble & Granite. At this point, the focus was no longer the novelty
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RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | HISTORICAL | INDUSTRIAL | MUNICIPAL P.O. Box 6150 Rutland, Vermont, 05702 • 802.747.7010 • Fax 802.747.7027 • WEB: VMSGC.com
Thank you and congratulations to Johnson Marble and Granite. You provide a superior product and excellent service.
Serving Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York Since 1992 80
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U
and maple balsamic dressing..From our taps to your table. business although the company still
1st
fabricates some bookends and bases. y, fudge andJr.other treats in Vermont. PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING Herb did the Verdemade Antique, curved reception desk at Rutland ReResidential & Commercial (dips, jams, more) gionalsauces, Medicaland Center, and eventually Licensed • Fully Insured countertops became popular. Repairs, Remodeling & New Construction Initially, & Gran-art, HoneyLites Boilers & Furnaces Repaired & Replaced owls, blown glass,Johnson SKIDA, Marble sun catchers, Central Air Conditioning ite was located near the present-day Walmart store in Rutland. Johnson Craig Billings - Owner helped his father move equipment Pittsford, VT eatshirts, hat, and mugs u1stphc@yahoo.com Cell 802-342-0286 when space became available in Proctor, after Vermont Marble Company closed, and eventually he took over. “We’re a small custom shop,” he said. “It’s going to cost a little bit strator more, 23.1.1,but SVG Export Plug-In --> we can control quality ="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" better because there’s only two of w3.org/1999/xlink" y="0px" us, and the guyx="0px" on the road. Bigger height="356.36px" viewBox="0 567.04 356.36" companies have six or seven 0 crews d:new 0on0the 567.04 356.36;" road. The communication gets rve"> broken down. With us, we all know each other, we’re a tight group. I think our work speaks for itself.”
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Paul Post is a former reporter for The Saratogian newspaper Saratoga 0 (hours subject to changeinseasonally) Springs, N.Y., where his work was recognized in many state and nationwide contests. He also does extensive freelance writing for a variety of sports, business, regional and agricultural publications and he has written three books.
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TIME TRAVELS
THE SPARK OF JOY BY SUSAN ORZELL-RANTANEN AND CASSIE HORNER PHOTOS BY TIM SINK AND CASSIE HORNER
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ORGANIZER AND BUSINESSWOMAN MARIE CONDO, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN FOR TEACHING PACK RATS TO PAINLESSLY BECOME CLUTTER-FREE, INTRODUCED THE WORLD TO THE JAPANESE CONCEPT OF TOKIMEKU, WHICH IS LOOSELY TRANSLATED TO “SPARK JOY”. It is nothing less than an insight into the acquisitory and sentimental human mind that provides a loophole allowing people to keep an object that, in the opinion of others, has no right to occupy space in a home. When something sparks joy, it is as if a current of electricity leaps between the inanimate object and the human soul. When something sparks joy, that is enough reason to keep it whatever its condition or current relevance and no other explanation is needed. While this concept is newly articulated, this unlikely communication between person and thing is hardly novel. As women of a certain age, with myriad interests and experiences, Cassie and I have naturally amassed a hodgepodge of possessions we call precious and other people dismiss as needless. Here is a sampling.
Spring 2020
GIRLHOOD SADDLE In May of 1974 I bought a buckskin Connemara pony and her bridle and saddle for $350. The pony is long gone but I still have that saddle: worn, outdated and unsafe for real use. And here's the clincher. I don't keep it in the barn but in my office on a saddle rack built into a wall stud for the purpose. I still hope to devise some sort of rope support hanging from the ceiling rafter where I can suspend the old saddle and sit on it while I watch old reruns of Mr. Ed. (For you youngsters out there, Mr. Ed was a 1960s show about a talking horse.) FAMILY NEST BOXES I belong to the second generation in the history of the civilized world that doesn't keep hens as a matter of necessity. I do keep hens and inherited a henhouse box built by a family member at the turn of the 20th century. There are four nests obviously meant for much smaller chickens than are common today. It sits proudly atop a newer box, containing three much larger, modern nests, which the hens understandably prefer to use. Obvi-
ously, they have no appreciation of family antiques, but I do. Should the day come when I can no longer keep chickens, I will scrub it down and use it as a bookshelf in the house. CARTOON OF PARENTS In March of 1977 my parents, Keith and Marion Dunham of St. Albans, visited the city of New Orleans with a party of friends. Here, they came across one of the many Bourbon Street artists standing in front of an easel and offering to draw on-the-spot caricatures. This quick, casual 11” x 17” sketch in pastels utterly captures the essence and personalities of this man and woman, far better than any expensive studio portrait ever did. My mother's mint-green eyes regard me from her perspective on the wall, just as if she stood there herself. An actual photograph would probably be preferred by their descendants long after I am gone, but for me, this likeness from an improbable source... sparks joy.
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WHEN I CONSIDERED WHAT THREE OBJECTS SPARK JOY IN MY HEART, THE FIRST WAS AN IMMEDIATE CHOICE. I love little objects and this one dates back over 50 years. I spent a lot of time at my aunt and uncle’s house in Woodstock as a kid. Her mother, Gramma Wells, was a tiny lady with a bright spirit and a warm demeanor. She lived a few houses up the hill from her daughter in a pretty gambrel named Burnside Cottage in homage to her husband’s Scottish lineage. When she reached the point where she couldn’t live alone, plans were made for her to move to her daughter’s house. Preparing for that move must have meant making some thoughtful decisions about what to take and what to leave behind. One day when I was visiting her in her cottage, she told me I could pick out something for my own. I remember my strong attraction to a little gold metal box topped with a bright faux sapphire. I loved that box and, later, when I was given a desk by
another elderly friend who was moving, kept the box where I could see it. That gift was back in the 1960s, and, still, when I think of it and hold it in my hand, I think of Gramma Wells and that special day. The second object I keep close is a gift from my husband, Tim. He often, to my delight, brings me home little things. This one is a sturdy pewter house with a brick chimney and tiled roof and a tiny door and lots of windows, including two for the attic. The house is square, and hollow, yet heavy enough to weigh down papers in a breeze when I write outside. It fits perfectly in my hand, too,and is very satisfying to hold. Magically, at least for a bookworm like me, neat lettering marches around the base of the house, starting to the right of the little front door. It says, “A house without books is like a room without windows.” I couldn’t say it better. The third object could have been many things but, with Tim’s help, I chose the porcelain figurine that Rutland Magazine
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always brings to mind my mother and father. The detailed elements of the piece feature a little boat on a wavy green water. The man wears a porkpie hat, a green jacket and khaki pants. He sits in the stern and holds a fishing line made of metal that arcs out over and into the water. The woman wears a similar hat and a pink dress with a white collar. She is barefoot and rests one arm on the tackle box next to her on the seat. There is a landing net leaning against the side of the boat and, behind her, a rope attached to an anchor. I don’t know if this was a gift to my parents or something one of them bought, but it is so appropriate that it is easy to imagine the two figures are them. My parents loved to fish on the lake. A photo of them from the 1950s shows them in a small rowboat, dressed for the November chill, making the fishing season last as long as possible. I can’t help but smile when I see them so closely reproduced in porcelain. Spring 2020
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a l l a b o u t the arts THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO DECADES, THE IDEA OF SHARING COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE HAS COME TO THE FOREFRONT IN THE USA AND ACROSS THE WORLD. At 112 Quality Lane in Rutland, is The MINT, Rutland’s Makerspace housed in an 8,000-square foot building. It’s filled with large and small tools that the average person couldn’t afford on their own or have space for at home. Karen McCalla serves as executive director of The MINT and said, “More than just a shared workspace, The MINT is a community of people helping each other by sharing their knowledge and experience with other members. Without any building at all, this connection would still exist and thrive. It’s at the center of what we provide.” The MINT stands for Make Innovate Network and Tinker. Around five years ago, Rick Gile and his son Pete of Two Bad Cats, maker of farming implements, approached REDC (Rutland Economic Development Corporation) about creating a makerspace in Rutland, similar to the one in Burlington called the Generator. Pete helped to organize the first Maker Fair, which was open to the public. The father and son wanted to make sure there was enough interest to go forward and for the first couple of years a gathering was held in downtown Rutland. The current building, which is supported in part by REDC with a reduced rent scale and The MINT members membership fees, provides extraordinary opportunities for makers of many genres. The equipment is a combination of used and purchased, and along with the space, is available to be used by individuals, families, businesses and associates who purchase memberships. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. An adult must sign off for anyone 16 to 18 years old. After 18 years old, people are on their own. All members will receive instruction prior to use of equipment. Jim Byrne, who manages the metal shop, has trained around 20 people at The MINT. “It’s rewarding to pass on my skills to others. I have also worked with middle school students. One bright young man wasn’t comfortable in a traditional class room setting. However, he was in his element at The MINT and created a beautiful chair,” Byrne said. Another student, 86
Rutland Magazine
THE MINT RUTLAND’S MAKERSPACE BY SANDRA STILLMAN GARTNER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE MINT
Participants take part in projects on Manufacturing Night at The MINT. The event was co-produced by REDC.
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Lucas Hough on the lathe, led by Patty Thomas (background left) and Lauren Olewnik (background right).
Hannah, at CCV (Community College of Vermont) is completing her art credit at The MINT. She offered, “It’s a great place to focus on school projects. I love being at The MINT and feel at home working on my stained glass. It’s a great space and I can relax here.” Both a metal worker and an artist, Byrne’s goal for the metal shop is to
help Rutland become a happy place to reside, earn a living and make friends. “Right now, hope is in short supply in our country and throughout the world,” he said. “Being able to make things in a supportive atmosphere is both creative and optimistic.” His daytime job is making farm tools for Two Bad Cats, run by the Giles.
creating a sustainable vermont reliably powering Vermont for more than 60 years velco.com 88
Rick Gile said, “We at Two Bad Cats are only using a small portion of The MINT resources, where Jim and Matt (Couture) do our metal working. This space has allowed us to grow our business. There are so many opportunities for individuals and small businesses at the makerspace. The diversity is wonderful.” The MINT is in partnership with the 77Art’s summer residency program. Tom Lichtman, who owns Sidekick Trading Card Publishing, uses The MINT for part of his business. Lichtman has also donated equipment to the collaborative and is an enthusiastic supporter and spokesperson for the collaborative. He said, “The artists in the residency who come to use the space are usually from an urban area. They are amazed when they walk into our 8,000-square-foot space. In a larger city, the cost of owning or housRutland Magazine
left to right: Sue Brewster, Erica Wallstom, and Mandy Mason take part in Manufacturing Night at The MINT.
Spring 2020
ing industrial-size equipment would be difficult to develop and expensive to run.” The equipment available to the members in the Woodshop includes bandsaws, a table saw, a 4’ x 8’ CNC router, grinders, sanders and drill presses. The Metal Shop features a Bridgeport, ironworker, bandsaw, metal lathe, welding station and plasma cutter. The MINT also has a laser cutter and engraver, and 3D printers. The facility also has an electronic lab and a jewelry lab. Currently, there are smaller spaces available for jewelry making and stained-glass projects. Members and local experts are also available to teach classes on a large range of subjects. An important part of The MINT’s mission is to encourage new businesses. The OnRamp is The MINT’s Entrepreneurship Development program. “Members of the OnRamp cohort have access to business experts from across the Rutland community, and will go from idea to complete
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Martin Schreiner demonstrates a series of steps to create his finished product.
business in one year,” McCalla said. One of the new businesses is Preferred Restrooms, a family-owned business. Tim and Beth Hewitt saw the need for portable luxury restrooms instead of outhouses or portapotties at outdoor events. An engineer and problem solver, he designed clean, comfortable restroom trailers that can be delivered on-site and also have ADA accessibility as well. Some other members that have used the space to develop businesses include Darian Fagan who is creating an adaptive bathing brush for people who need extra help, and Jen Cohen of Calypso Connections, a company that builds teamwork through participatory music making. The MINT members also include hobbyists, DIY enthusiasts,
educators, students, entrepreneurs, non-profit and for-profit companies. REDC is joined by others in the community as sponsors. This includes Green Mountain Power, VELCO (Vermont Electric Power Company), Casella Construction, Castleton University, and BROC (Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council). Members explain that The MINT works a lot like a gym, but it provides a space for “making” muscles. Barb Begin, who is a new member of The MINT, always wanted to learn woodworking. She said, “My dad used to be a woodworker and now my daughter joins me every Sunday. The two of us belong to a women’s woodworking club.” McCalla said, “Our future goal is to be able to hire a paid staff. It’s hard
to do it all with a volunteer base. It would be great to eventually double our space to 15,000 square feet and offer more programs for area schools.” To learn more about The MINT, take a tour or become a member, please contact them at: www.facebook.com/ rutlandmakers/ , info@rutlandMINT. org or call (802) 772-7087. A former editorial assistant at Glamour Magazine, Sandra Stillman Gartner's articles have been published in such periodicals as Lady's Circle and Yankee. She is a published poet and screenplay writer, and is one of three producing directors of Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre and performs on stage, television and in film.
left to right: Shannon Sinon, Mandy Mason, Brenda Rivers, Deb Slawinski, Erica Zimmer and Erica Wallstrom show off their creations on Manufacturing Night. 90
Rutland Magazine
She was a hardscrabble New England farmer. She went from poverty to property. Along the way she had 5 husbands, including an arsonist.
Road To Victory
A novel By Cassie Horner
Lucy E.—Road To Victory Available in Rutland At The Bookmobile (802) 342-1477
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WHAT'S HAPPENING
BY SUSAN ORZELL-RANTANEN
RUTLAND COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET As spring arrives the Rutland County Farmers’ Market will set up in the outdoor venue of Depot Park in the heart of downtown. The outdoor season traditionally begins the Saturday before Mother's Day; in 2020 moving day for the market falls on May 9. The market will continue in this location until the last Saturday in October, which this year falls of October 31. The hours are 92
from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. All of the products are sold by the people that produce them Shop for everything from produce to specialty and prepared foods to baked goods to cheeses. Plants are also available. This direct communication between consumers and producers is crucial to the ever-growing localvore movement throughout the Rutland area and the state of Vermont. For
more information visit rcfmvt.org. THE VERMONT FARMERS MARKET The Vermont Farmers Market traditionally resumes for the warm-weather months on the Saturday following Mother's Day; in 2020 the market reopens on May 9. The operating hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Along with agricultural and food products this market features hand-produced crafts and health/ Rutland Magazine
HOLLY NEAR CONCERT Four local groups are collaborating to bring folk music icon Holly Near to Bennington. Climate Advocates Bennington-350VT, Bennington College, Queer Connect, and the Vermont Arts Exchange have come together to sponsor the concert, being held on March 21 at 7 pm in Bennington College’s Greenwall Auditorium. This Night with Holly Near will help fund Climate Advocates Bennington’s re-forestation initiative. Because trees remove a great amount of carbon from the atmosphere in a short amount of time, we are joining a world-wide effort to plant 2 billion trees. Folks who know of Holly’s remarkable life may want to claim the special opportunity to “meet and greet” Holly personally before the concert. This can be arranged by purchasing a sponsorship ticket for $50, which includes admission to the concert. Regular concert tickets are $25 ($30 at the door). Generous tickets are $35.Tickets for students and limited income are $15. All tickets are available online at climateadvocatesbennington-350.org or at 350vt.nationbuilder.com/ hollynear. (Any payment over the general admission price of $25 is a tax-deductible donation to 350VT and Climate Advocates Bennington.) Holly Near has worked in and sung for many of the major social movements of the last 50 years, including the anti-war, women’s rights, anti-nuclear, gay rights, racial justice, and immigrant rights photo cassie horner
movements. She has performed with a wide variety of artists – from Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie and Ronnie Gilbert to Chris Williamson and Mercedes Sosa. At this event, Near will be accompanied by Jan Martinelli and Tory Trullio. The evening will include food and drink for sale before the concert and at the intermission. People from across New England and the beauty items. Visit vermontfarmersmarket.org or call (802) 342-4727 for more information about hours of operation. FAIR HAVEN FARMERS MARKET The Fair Haven Farmers Market sets up on Thursday, from June through October in the centrally located Fair Haven Park. The hours are from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Spring 2020
Capital District will be coming together for an evening of beautiful music and collective inspiration. One of the most powerful singer/ songwriters of our time, Holly Near’s life-long commitment to justice and song builds community and brings joy to the soul. Greenwall auditorium is an accessible facility; please call 845342-5224 for specific accommodations. For more information about Climate Advocates Bennington-350VT or about our re-forestation initiative, go to climateadvocatesbennington350.org or visit us on Facebook. 93
PARAMOUNT THEATRE SPRING VENUE The 2020 season, the start of a new decade, marks the 107th anniversary of downtown Rutland's Paramount Theatre, which started welcoming audiences in 1913 as the Playhouse. Located at 30 Center Street in downtown, this venerable brick building is the venue for a variety of celebrated musical and theatrical acts again this spring. For more information about the line-up, ticket prices and availability of seating call (802) 775-0903 for visit ParamountVT.org. RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY SPRING BOOK SALES During the spring of 2020, the Rutland Free Library at 10 Court Street is the site of several book sales in the basement of the building. The sales are organized by the Friends of the
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Rutland Library and the proceeds help support the library's collections and activities. The March sale is held on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The April sale is held on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4. The May sale is scheduled for Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2. The times of all of the sales are consistently set for from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information call (802) 773-1860 or visit www.rutlandfree.org. MARCH MAPLE LEAF QUILTERS FESTIVAL OF QUILTS The Maple Leaf Quilters present their 30th Festival of Quilts on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 at the former College of St. Joseph at 71 Clement Road in Rutland. Along with a spectacular exhibit of quilts is the
Guild Challenge Exhibit, the theme of which this year is “A Focus on Symmetry”. Other exhibits include an antique quilt exhibit, a basket auction and a consignment boutique. The event is the primary fundraiser for the Rutland-based club, which has a membership of about 100 enthusiasts. Admission. APRIL LADIES' NIGHT OUT WOMEN'S CHORUS Rutland County’s Women’s chorus, Ladies’ Night Out, has concerts coming up this spring on April 18 and 19 in Rutland and Middlebury. The program, “Earth As Our Home” is an Earth Day centered program full of music to celebrate this planet upon which we all live. Including “I Will Be Earth” from “6 Songs for Women’s Voices” by Gwyneth Walker, “Girls
Rutland Magazine
in a Garden” on text by Robert Frost, from Randall Thompson’s “Frostiana,” and two songs by Stephen Paulus, “America” and “The Road Home,” the program will be just what you need to get a spring attitude after what will surely be a long winter! “The Elm Tree,” “The Ash Grove,” and “Linden Lea” are all centered on our love of trees and the forests that are their homes. We’ll sing about “The Nightingale” in a Madrigal by Thomas Weelkes, “Sheep May Safely Graze” by JS Bach, and finish up with “What a Wonderful World.” Concerts are on Saturday April 18 at Good Shepherd Church on 1 Hillside Rd in Rutland at 7:30 pm, and on Sunday April 19 at Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society at 2 Duane Ct. Middlebury at 2:30 pm. Marci Wheeler is accompanying on piano, and Glendon Ingalls will accompany the choir on Bass Viol. Lucy Tenenbaum is director and conductor. A free will offering is requested, and both venues are handicap accessible. THE CHAMPLAIN PHILHARMONIC The Champlain Philharmonic, conducted by Matt LaRocca, presents its Spring Concert Series on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury and Sunday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland. This community orchestra always delights audiences with crowd-pleasing classical programs at reasonable ticket prices. For details about the spring series visit their website at www. champlainphilharmonic.org. MAY THE VERMONT CRAFT COUNCIL'S SPRING OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND On the weekend of Saturday, May 23
and Sunday, May 24, the Vermont Craft Council presents Open Studio Weekend for the spring of 2020. Artists and craftspeople, from the Canadian to the Massachusetts border, welcome visitors to their studios for a look behind the state's important creative economy. The Council, a nonprofit organization, launched the first tour 27 years ago and describes the event as “a celebration of the visual arts”. Workplaces, some open to the public only during the spring and fall Open Studio Weekends, highlight the work of jewelers, glassblowers, weavers and fabric artists, quilters, furniture makers, blacksmiths, sculptors, painters and woodworkers, among others. Some art galleries complement the event by hosting lectures and special exhibits. Travelers may follow the Vermont Open Studio Guide published by the Council and available statewide at tourist information centers, galleries and participating studios. For more information visit www.vermontcrafts.com. THE RUTLAND GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE The Rutland Garden Club annual plant sale, a fundraiser for the active organization, is slated for Saturday, May 16 from 9:00 a.m. until all of the plants are sold. It is held at the corner of Center and Main Streets in Rutland, in front of the Hull Maynard Hersey Insurance Agency at 105 Center Street. A wide variety of assorted perennials and hosts appropriate for Zone 4 planting are on hand. The Club earmarks the profits for the maintenance of 20 public gardens throughout the city. For more information call Margery Salmon at (802) 492-3315.
VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3• SPRING 2020 Published by Mad Dog Ink, L.L.C. www.rutlandmagazineonline.com PO Box 264 Woodstock Vermont 05091 802-672-2411 Publishers: Cassie Horner and Tim Sink Editor: Cassie Horner e-mail: rutlandmag@vermontel.net Advertising: Tim Sink e-mail: rutlandmagads@vermontel.net Layout: Jenny Buono e-mail: jenny.buono@gmail.com Rutland Magazine is a quarterly publication of Mad Dog Ink L.L.C. Both Rutland Magazine and Mad Dog Ink L.L.C. are registered trade marks. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. Rutland Magazine and Mad Dog Ink L.L.C. assume no liability for any unsolicited material including but not limited to: manuscripts, photographs, artwork or historical documents.
OUR APOLOGIES TO RON LEWIS, PRESIDENT OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN ASTRONOMERS, FOR INCORRECTLY LISTING HIM AS RON WHITE IN THE WINTER 2019 ISSUE.
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Poultney Maplefest 2020 Celebration Spring calls for a spring tonic, and nothing helps more than getting out in the community to enjoy the all-day festivities of the Poultney Maplefest 2020. On Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd, the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the expanded 2020 event beginning at 8 am with the entire town as the venue. Local sugarhouses are open for tours on both Saturday and Sunday, part of the statewide Maple Open House Weekend, where the treats on hand include maple fried dough, sugar on snow, maple sugar candy, and spun maple gold. Activities include a 5-K fun run, a pancake breakfast, free horsedrawn wagon rides, special merchant sales, maple story time, videos of the sugaring process, an Historical Society exhibit and cookie decorating, a Craft and Food Fair, a tree-tapping ceremony, crowning of the Maple Prince and Princess (chosen through a previous art contest), and a maple supper. The 5-K Fun Run is traditionally one of the first of the season and is organized by the Chamber and other organizations. Preregistrations is available at runsignup.com, at http://www.poultneyareachamber.com/ or at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21st at the back of Poultney High School. The run starts at 10:00 a.m. Walks, hikes and bike rides are organized by Slate Valley Destinations throughout the day. A Pancake breakfast with real maple syrup topping is hosted by the United Methodist Church at their church building on Main Street from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Maplefest Bag Sales start at 8:00 a.m. at Williams Hardware and at the Original Vermont Store. Get 25-percent off any non-sale items you can fit into the recyclable bags! Other merchants also have sales and discounts.
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An official Maplefest Tree Tapping Ceremony is held at 10:00 a. .m, with Citizen of the Year Mary Lee Harris and a special guest doing the honors. The Maple Prince and Princess will be on hand for their official coronation; winners will be chosen in advance through an art contest, judged by the Poultney Artist Guild. Free Horse-drawn wagon rides through downtown Poultney start at 10:00 a.m. and are sponsored by the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce and the Poultney Downtown Revitalization committee. Headquarters is at the Debonis, Wright and Carris Building (formerly the bank), with other stops around town. A Maplefest Craft Fair at Poultney High School is held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, sponsored by the Poultney Chamber headed by Trish Peschl of Bixby’s Fuel. Lunch and refreshments are available. Maple Fried Dough will be available outside! The Poultney Historical Society plans maple cookie decorating and a special exhibit at The Meeting House on Bentley Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A video showing the maple sugaring process will run continuously, and experienced maple sugar producers will be on hand with stories about the “old days”. Maple Story Time at the Poultney Public Library at 11:00 a.m. includes songs, crafts, and a special maple snack. Poultney’s own Maple Sugar Bear will be circulating through the town. Have your picture taken with Sugar Bear! A Maplefest dinner is planned at the Young at Heart Senior Center, which is handicapped accessible. Dinner includes maple glazed ham, maple mashed sweet potatoes, vegetables, beverages, and a choice of desserts including maple bread pudding. Dinner will be served buffet style from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Call (802) 287-9200 for more information. Maps to sugarhouses and event schedules will be available online at www.poultneyareachamber.com/, and at the Chamber booth at the Craft and Food Fair at Poultney High School. For more information visit www.poultneyareachamber.com/ call 802-287-2010, or email poultneyvtchamber@gmail.com.
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