Montpelier memories
Toolbox
Published: October 7, 2005
Many memories about the state capital are likely to be recalled and swapped by residents and former residents at the Bicentennial Celebration this weekend, put on by the city of Montpelier, Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the Vermont Historical Society. The weekend's bevy of events also affords lots of chances to mingle and chat, including while dining at the Taste of Vermont event.
Below are some memories compiled by Times Argus reporter Sky Barsch.
"In the late 60s, I was a student at St. Michael's Elementary School. Our seventh-grade class was assigned a project concerning Vermont history and a friend and I decided to see if we could interview then Gov. Deane Davis about his childhood memories. One day after school we walked over to the newly renovated Pavilion Hotel state office building and went to the governor's office. The receptionist seemed completely unfazed at two 12-year-olds' request for an appointment and scheduled us a 60-minute slot the following week. On the day, my
friend and I turned up with an unwieldy old reel-to-reel tape recorder and we were led in to meet Gov. Davis. I'll never forget the graciousness with which we were met and the enthusiasm the governor radiated as he told us story after story about his boyhood.
"Sadly, the tape recording is long lost and I can't recall much of what was said, but I often think back to that day and what it meant to me. I went into the meeting awestruck by the magnificence of the governor's office as well as intimidated in meeting the man himself. However, in the course of an hour he put us so completely at our ease that we left feeling as though we'd made a new life-long friend. Notwithstanding our age — or lack of a vote — we were met as fellow Vermonters with as much right to the governor's time as the next constituent. I can't imagine this having happened in Sacramento, Albany or Austin and I think that it reflects the great gift of Montpelier's status in being the smallest state capital in the United States."
"In 1970, the federal government sponsored a touring Apollo 11 exhibit which was on display in each state capital. An eighteen-wheeler came to town towing a mobile museum displaying an Apollo space capsule, space suits, moon rocks, etc… The exhibit parked on State Street in front the capital and stayed for a week or so. .. To this day I always think of the Apollo 11 exhibit whenever I see a picture of the Statehouse."
— John O'Brien, 47, who now lives in London and works as a portfolio manager for an investment company.
"I went out to dinner. But it was mostly out to dinner with friends. You know, back then, there wasn't that much activity in Montpelier. Now you're loaded with restaurants. We more often went out to somebody's home. But if you stop and think of it, today everybody goes out to dinner."
– Lola Aiken, wife of the late Governor and Senator George Aiken, on what she did on her return trips to her hometown from Washington.
"The Pavilion Hotel (now a replica which houses the governor's office and the Vermont Historical Society Museum) was very active, and as a matter of fact, whenever Legislature was in session, it was filled with the legislators. It had an excellent reputation…. It was really quite interesting to see the evolution of Montpelier, namely the effect of the change in the economy from a rural milk generating economy to largely… I think it was just actually the change from a dairy community to a recreational community centered largely on skiing. Now, when I was a kid, when we had snow, we had to shovel and we'd shovel the driveway, which was a real chore and our particular house had a mansard roof. It was a three-story house with a flat roof, which it never should have been, but it was. We'd shovel it all in one pile and jump off the roof, into the snow, and that was the reward. It was an ideal time to live. Kids couldn't have had a better time to live."
– Fred C. Gleason, 90, who was raised in Montpelier and now lives in Missouri, where he says life is the way it used to be in Montpelier. "People have time to be nice. They are not rushed and there are many, many grain elevators in the area."
"I remember no male teachers, only male administrators. It's so different today – many male teachers, many female administrators. There was no helping teachers. Classes were often as large as 35 pupils. No special teachers except physical education and music. Teachers dressed carefully – no slacks, no jeans. It took some time for some of us to appear in slacks, some never did. Early male teachers wore ties and jackets.
"There were no married teachers. We were addressed "Miss" or "Mr." including maintenance men and bus drivers. Members of the school board were greatly respected, sometimes feared by the teachers. They seldom visited the schools. They seemed quite critical at times, finding fault with behavior which today would not be considered as wrong.
"Sometimes a negotiating team was set up, made up of representatives from each school to discuss salaries, insurance, schedule for the year. At one time there was much discussion on the difference paid men teachers and women teachers. Equal pay and benefits took some time to be accepted.
— Thelma Oakes, 92, Montpelier school teacher from 1943-1976.
For a schedule of weekend events, log on to www.Timesargus.com
Schedule of events
The weekend events, scheduled for today through Sunday, are underwritten by National Life of Vermont.
The Vermont Historical Society's exhibit, "Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories," is a 5,000-square foot exhibit, telling the story of Vermont's people from 1600 to the present. Using Vermont's motto, "Freedom and Unity," as its thematic cornerstone, the exhibition shows visitors how Vermonters have always balanced individual freedoms and community. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
The Taste of Vermont on Friday will feature about 15 different restaurants and food producers, including Creative Trends out of Burlington and Montpelier's Susan's Kitchen. Creative Trends will make maple walnut apple crisp, and Susan's Kitchen will provide jambalaya, according to event coordinator Becky Soulia. Little India restaurant has donated vegetarian fritters too. Vouchers are $2.50 apiece, and can be redeemed for a sampling at each station. "It's going to be a fun night and an entire great weekend," Soulia said.
Friday, Oct. 7
4:45 p.m. Opening ceremonies 5-7 p.m. "Taste of Vermont" featuring music from Synergy on the State House Lawn 7-9 p.m. Lecture on the capitals of Vermont by State Curator David Schutz at the Kellogg Hubbard Library (kickoff to Bicentennial Celebration lecture series at the library)
Saturday, Oct. 8
10 a.m. Parade.
10 a.m. — 6:30 p.m. Vendors on State Street
11 a.m. Musical Chairs on State Street, sponsored by the Montpelier Downtown Community Association
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fall Foliage 5-0/50 raffle, sponsored by Central Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Department of Health
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Artisan exhibiters on the State House lawn
3 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Concerts on the State House lawn
7 p.m. Fireworks
Sunday, Oct. 9
1 – 2:30 p.m. Concert by the St. Johnsbury Municipal Band
2:30 p.m. Closing ceremonies
All events except Taste of Vermont are free to the public.
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