Cavendish Update 8/11/11 News/Calendar/250th

Information can also be posted on the Cavendish VT Facebook Page

This issue of the Cavendish Update is made possible by the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association (CCCA), a non-profit membership organization that is dedicated to the conservation of land and natural resources and to the preservation of historic sites within the context of sustainable economic growth. FMI: PO Box 605, Cavendish VT 05142 or 802-226-7736

The 8/12/11 Cavendish Update Contains
1. Cavendish Related News
2. CHS Summer Newsletter on Line:
3. Furniture Needed for BRGNS Fall Rummage Sale
4. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Susannah Johnson
5. Cavendish Activities 8/11-8/19

1. Cavendish Related News
West Nile Virus Detected in Mosquitoes: On August 5, The Vermont Department of Health announced that West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes collected on July 18 from a trap in Brandon. West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus that is typically spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. No illness in people due to West Nile virus has been confirmed in Vermont since 2003 and no horses have tested positive since 2005. Every summer the state tests dead birds and traps and tests mosquitoes for the virus. The state also helps arrange testing for people or horses with symptoms consistent with the West Nile virus infection. Press Release

Health Dept. Advises of Recall of Ground Turkey: The Health Department is advising Vermonters to pay attention to a recall of 36 million pounds of ground turkey products from Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation that may be contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella bacteria, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). No illnesses associated with this recall have been reported in Vermont . If consumers in Vermont have purchased Cargill turkey products included in the recall, consumers are advised to throw the product away. Press Release

Debt Ceiling Could Cost VT Tens of Millions: Budget analysts in Vermont say the new federal debt ceiling law will likely mean the state will have tens of millions of dollars less to spend on education, health care, law enforcement and transportation programs. But officials say it will be some time before the details will be known. WCAX

Mack Molding Adding Employees Aggressively: Mack Molding Co. is on a hiring binge that underscores the strength of the company’s medical business and its ability to continue to post double-digit sales gains despite the gray clouds that have been hovering over the economy for nearly three years. “We’ve been so fortunate,” said Jeff Somple, president of MackMedical and of the northern operations of Mack Molding “The first recession didn’t impact our medical business and we had very good years in 2009 and 2010. We are less optimistic about the economy than we were four months ago, but we are still going to be growing at 15-20 percent this year, and we’ll be busy for the next two years — all the way through the next [presidential] election cycle.” Plastics News

2. CHS Summer Newsletter on Line
The Cavendish Historical Society’s newsletter, Scribbler II, summer edition is now on-line at the CHS Blog.

3. Furniture Needed for BRGNS Fall Rummage Sale
Black River Good Neighbor Services will be holding a huge Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farm this September 23 – 25, 2011 and is looking for donations of furniture and other house hold items.

To make arrangements for dropping off, or having donated furniture picked up, please call Audrey Bridge at the BRGNS Thrift Shop at 802-228-3663 between the hours of 10am and 4pm, Monday through Saturday. Furniture will be picked up by volunteers at an arranged mutually convenient time.

All proceeds from this sale will go to benefit the needy in the area. Black River Good Neighbor Services is a 501(c) (3) organization that serves the areas of Ludlow, Belmont, Cavendish, Mt. Holly, Proctorsville, and Plymouth. Donations are tax deductible. FMI: www.BRGN.org

4. Cavendish Semiquincentennial: Susannah Johnson
These posts are made possible by the Cavendish Historical Society and are archived at the CHS Blog.

The Cavendish Players production of “Cavendish Chronicles II: The Early Years,” will be held on August 27 and 28, 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville. In keeping with the 250th anniversary of the town, the play covers the time period from the settling of the town through the Civil War. The next few posts will provide history about some of the characters in the play.

In August 1754, the Johnson family, who lived outside of Fort 4 in Charlestown, NH, was kidnapped by members of one of the Abenaki nations. Mrs. Susanna Johnson was nine months pregnant. She wrote the following about her capture, “Here, after being hurried from home with such rapidity, I have leisure to inform the reader respecting our Indian masters. (Susannah, as she writes her memoirs of her captivity, here, speaks to the readers of her account) They were eleven in number; all men of middle age, except one, a youth of sixteen, who, on our journey discovered a very troublesome disposition. According to their practice he who first laid hands on a prisoner considered (the prisoner) his property. My master, who was the one who first took my hand was as clever an Indian as I ever saw. He even evinced, at numberous times a disposition that showed he was by no means void of compassion. The four who took my husband claimed him as their property. My sister, three children, Labaree and Farnsworth had each a master. When the time came for us to prepare to march I almost expired at the thought of leaving my aged parents, brothers, sisters and friends and travel with savages through a dismal forest to unknown regions in the alarming situation in which I then was with three small children. The eldest (child) Sylvanus (Johnson) was but six years old. My sister Miriam (Willard) was fourteen. My husband was barefoot and otherwise thinly clad. His masters had taken his jacket. My two daughters had nothing on but their shifts and I had only the gown handed to me by the savages. In addition to the sufferings which arose from my own deplorable condition I could not but feel for my friend, Labaree. He had left a wife and four small children behind - his situation was extremely unhappy. The Indians pronounced the dreadful word, "munch", (march) and on we must go.

I was put on the horse; Mr. Johnson took one daughter and Mr. Labaree took the other. We went six or eight miles and stopped for the night. The men were made secure by having their legs put in split sticks somewhat like stocks and tied with cords which were tied to limbs of trees too high to be reached. My sister much to her mortification must lie between two Indians with a cord thrown over her and passing under each of them. The little children had blankets and I had one for my own use. The fatigues of day obliged me to sleep for several hours in spite of the horrors which surrounded me. The Indians observed great silence and never spoke but when necessary. My children were much more peaceable than could be imagined. Gloomy fear imposed a deadly silence.

The Indians captured a stray horse, which Mrs. Johnson rode. On the second day of their journey, they encamped in Reading, VT, when Mrs. Johnson went into labor. According to the Indian Stone markers on Rt 106, on the border of Reading and Cavendish, about a mile up the brook from where the stones are now, she delivered the child, Elizabeth Captive Johnson. The stone marker information would suggest that the first white child born in Cavendish would have been Elizabeth “Captive” Johnson.

The day after the child’s birth, they continued traveling northward. Starvation eventually forced the Indians to kill the horse Mrs. Johnson rode and use him for food. Given the choice of being left behind with her baby, Mr. Johnson carried his wife on his shoulders.

Once in Canada, the family was divided between Indian and French families. Mr. And Mrs Johnson were both imprisoned where they developed small pox. It would be four years before the family was reunited. Mr. Johnson’s freedom was short lived as he would die from wounds sustained at Fort Ticonderoga. Susanna Johnson lived to be 80-81 and wrote a book about her experiences “Narrative of the Captivity of Mrs. Johnson Containing A Account of her suffering during Four Years with the Indians and French.” Her diary and story was the basis for Elizabeth George Speare’s 1957 book “Calico Captive.”

Learn more about Susanna Johnson at http://users.rcn.com/smartin.javanet/susanna.htm

5. Cavendish Activities 8/11-8/19
August 12 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org

August 13 (Saturday): Picnic on the Proctorsville Green at 5 pm, celebrating religious freedom in our country. Sponsored by the five churches of Cavendish. This event is part of the Town’s 250th Anniversary celebration. For more information call 226-8199

August 15 (Monday): Coffee with the Chamber, a free continental breakfast at Java Baba’s sponsored by the Okemo Chamber of Commerce. The purpose is to share with each town what the Chamber is doing and receive feedback. FMI: 228-5830

August 16 (Tuesday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10:15-11:45. FMI: Linda at Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center of Windsor County at (802) 885-2083, or Anne Oakes or Andrew Ohotnicky at (802) 228-5236 or Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343

August 18 (Thursday): Bone Builders Class at the Cavendish Baptist-- Class from 10:15-11:45. FMI: Linda at Green Mountain RSVP & Volunteer Center of Windsor County at (802) 885-2083, or Anne Oakes or Andrew Ohotnicky at (802) 228-5236 or Charlotte Snyder (802) 226-7343
• Sit & Knit" at the Six Loose Ladies yarn shop, Pollard Building, Proctorsville Green, 2:00 -9:00 PM. Open to knitters, spinners, crocheters, hookers. Free. FMI: 226-7373
• August Community Luncheon at St. James Church in Proctorsville at 11:30. This month we will serve our super macaroni & cheese with baked ham and a vegetable, tossed salad, hot rolls, and ice cream. Coffee, hot or iced tea or a fruit drink will be available.

August 19 (Friday): Ludlow Farmer’s Market. On the campus of Okemo Mountain School, 53 Main Street, 4-7 pm FMI: www.ludlowfarmersmarket.org