GHS Newsletter GROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY...

NOTICES

The Society wishes to thank allwho donated artifacts for display

at the Peter Paul House.

The Society voted to publishFamily Genealogy Records

collected by Waldo F. Gloverand updated by the members.

See page 9 for progress report.

This is the seventh in a planned seriesof articles on Groton in the twentiethcentury. The seventh decade - thesixties’ - from 1960 through 1969 iswritten by Josephine French. Mainsources are the Town Reports,HighSchool yearbooks, Mr. Glover’sGroton and personal memories.

TWENTIETH CENTURYGroton

The Seventh Decade1960 - 1969

By Josephine French

The 1960's were certainly atime of change in the town ofGroton.

Times were scary. Local CivilDefense Chairman, Philip T.White, reminded us in the 1961Groton Town Report, that"Atomic warfare is a possibilityand personal survival is asimportant to National securityas is military strength. Thereare no facilities for any type ofgroup shelter here, so the

(Continued on page 2)

GROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETYNewsletter

Volume 16 Issue 2 Summer 2003Groton, Vermont 05046

REVIEW OF GROTON, VERMONTIN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

2 GHS Newsletter

OFFICERS

President Richard BrooksVice President Norma HosmerSecretary Diane KreisTreasurer Joan HaskellWeb Site Ediror James Dresser

MEETING SCHEDULE(second Tuesday)

March through November10 AM at the

Peter Paul House, 253 Scott Hwy.

Groton Historical Society NewsletterJ. W. Benzie, EditorP. O. Box 89Groton, VT 05046-0089

Home of the Groton Historical Society built in 1840Open for visitors 2 - 4 pm Sundays in July and August and all day on the

first Saturday in October for Fall Foliage Day in Groton, Vermont.

GHS Newsletter GHS Newsletter Page 11

burden of survival falls to eachhousehold." Families wereencouraged to build fall-out sheltersand stock them with water andcanned food.

Groton High School boys won theState Basketball Championship forClass S schools in 1961-62.

Fifty seven of Groton's youthserved in the Viet Nam Warbetween1964 and 1975 (see page11).

There were 130 births, 119 deaths,and 79 marriages reported in thetown’s vital statistics during thedecade.

There was a poll tax in Grotonduring the 60's.

Total postage spent on mailingTown Reports in 1960 was $3.25.

Property taxes, due Oct. 10th, wereentitled to a 2% discount if paid onor before Aug. 10th.

In 1963, second class licenses foralcoholic beverages becameavailable in Groton, by a vote of 66yes to 56 no.

(Continued from page 1) Groton School

The village school went on asusual - for a few more years. Theboy's basketball team earned theClass S Championship in 1961-62, under Coach EdwardSanderson. Manager wasRaymond Hood, Co-captains,Bruce Darling and RodneyJordan. Other players wereRichard Beck, Richard Daniels,Jr., Gaylord Gandin, Dean Hatch,Peter Lyon, Colin Morrison,Terry Reilly, George Rock andJames White.

In 1963, senior James White, sonof Hazen and Irma White, was aNational Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, one of only 4 in the stateof Vermont.

Superintendent of Schools from1960 to 65 was Ernest Lyon; in1966 Charles Lawrence; and1967 through 69 LlewellynRoberts.

Annual cost per Pupil went from$207.89 in 1964 to $462.00 in1969 for elementary classes, andfrom $471.68 to $698.33 for HighSchool classes. Things werechanging and decisions must bemade.


MILITARY VETERANS DURING VIET NAM WAR5 Aug 1964 - 7 May 1975

Achilles, Bernard Nash SP4 ArmyAldrich, Paul Theron SP4 ArmyAustin, Steven Lewis SP4 ArmyBatchelder, Ernest Randa ArmyBatchelder, Eston Harold PFC ArmyBeauliew, George Andre SP4 ArmyBeck, Richard Angus EM2 NavyBlodgett, Wayne Edward SGT AFBryan, David Michael PVT ArmyCovey, Burton Carroll SP4 ArmyCrown, Stanley Wendell A2c AFDarling, Harold Francis MAJ ArmyDarling, Kenneth Wilbur SP4 ArmyEastman, Dean George SP4 ArmyEmerson, David Paul SP5 ArmyEmerson, George James SP5 ArmyEmerson, Kendall Allen SP4 ArmyEmerson, Philip Roy SP4 ArmyEmerson, Royce Martin SP5 ArmyEmerson, Russell Dean SP4 ArmyFaris, Douglas Charles SRSG NavyFenoff, David Wayne CPL USMCGauthier, Robert John PFC USMCHart, Neil Richard STG2 NavyHart, Richard Arlen PFC ArmyHatch, Donald Larry RMC NavyHeath, Barry Zane SP5 ArmyHill, Nathan Dawson PVT ArmyHood, Raymond Edwin PFC ArmyKinerson, Philip Reginald ETN2 NavyLakin, James Edward PVT ArmyLewis, David Bryan PVT ArmyMarcotte, Chris Robert ETR3 NavyMeehan, Robert Cheste TSGT AFMicklon, Francis Bert SSG ArmyMorgan, John Emerson PVT ArmyMorrison, Colin Wesley AB AFMorse, Harry Phillip TSGT AFRecords, Eugene Raymond SP5 ArmyRecords, Jr., Roy Estes SP4 Army

Records, Wayne Clifford SGT AFRicker, Lawrence Rupert SP4 ArmyRielly, Terrance Paul SSG ArmyRock, George Butler SGT USMCScott, Donald Arthu TSGT AFSmith, Lewis Earl ETN2 NavySnow, Raymond George BMC NavyTurner, Patrick Richard PVT ArmyVance, Richard Allen SP4 ArmyWebster, Daniel James SN NavyWelch, Michael Ellis AMN AFWernecke, Gunther Bernd PFC ArmyWernecke, Robert Joachim CPT ArmyWilliams, Larry Loren PFC ArmyWilliams, Lester Roy PVT ArmyWilliams, Stanley Haven SP5 ArmyWright, Craig Lloyd SR Navy

Note: The VT legislature extended the dates ofthe Viet Nam War from 1 July 1958 to 15 May1975 which increased the number of veteransin VT by 5,000. The additional number fromGroton is not available to the editor. Theabove names are from the 1986 "Roster ofVermonters who served in the Vietnam War 5Aug. 1964 - 7 May 1975" prepared under thedirection of Donald E. Edwards, AdjutantGeneral, Camp Johnson, Winooski, VT.

1960Annette Beaulieu, Lucille Clark,Priscilla Clark, Kathleen Moulton,Barbara Orr, Marcia Ricker, ArlynRobitzer, Betty Sayers, RobertWernecke.

1961Victoria Beamis, Doreen Kay Beck,Mirla Graham, Dorothy Hatch, JonMain, Sylvia McAllister, SharonMorrison, Norma Murray, KathleenPage, Alton Ricker, Beatrice Smith,Louis Smith, William Vance,Gunther Wernecke.

1962John Clark, Keith Daniels, LeroyGraham, Raymond Hood, Ralph Orr,Cheryl Pierce, Ernest Wilson.

1963Bruce Darling, Ina Darling, SharonFrost, Gaylord Gandin, ArchieGlidden, Gary Goodwin, DeanHatch, Rodney Jordan, Peter Lyon,Susan Main, Roy Records, DorisRicker, Terrence Reilly, JoyceRixford, Linda Sayers, Lois White.

1964Bernard Achilles, Shirley Beamis,Richard Beck, Richard Daniels Jr.,Kenneth Darling, Allen Goodine,*James Gruber, Janice Hart, *GrettaHeath, Lyndol Lyon, ColinMorrison, Laurel Murray, DonaldPage, George Rock, Pamela Smith,Sherry Vance, Clarance Welch,

In the school year 1963-4,Superintendent Lyon reported ona study showing how Grotoncou ld par t ic ipat e in t heconstruction and operation of a 4district school - Groton, Ryegate,Newbury, and Wells River. Theschool would include grades 9-12,at a cost much less than the cost ofthe major improvements needed inthe Groton School.

The State Board of Educationapproved a Revised MinimumStandard for public high schools,effective July 1, 1964. To meetthese new standards, Groton HighSchool would have to buildadditional class rooms and hireadditional teachers.

The voters of Groton, Ryegate,and Wells River approved theformation of a Union SchoolDistrict on Nov. 3, 1964 and theState Board of Educat ionapproved it on Dec. 10, 1964.

There was no "middle ground" inthe debate about upgrading theGroton School to meet Statestandards vs. joining Ryegate andWells River in a Union School.The town was definitely divided.

Constable George H. Ricker noted

(Continued from page 2) at one point, according to the1967 Town Report, that severalballots cast at Town Meetingwere on colored paper. Hereported that such a procedure isillegal with severe penalties. Hecautioned that every votershould feel free to vote theirconscience "and forever after allof us friends".

These were tough years in ourtown.

Principals of Groton HighSchool during the 60's werealways TEACHING Principals.They were Edward Sanderson,Paul Waaramaa, and MerleFitzgerald. High Schoolteachers during the final yearswere: Lee Farwell, Loren Mills,Dorothy Main, Robert Morey,C h a r l e s H a y e s , R u t hMcKirahan, Anita Landa. BarrySmith, Lee Dawley, StoneyHinkle, Jacqualine Cote,Michael McCaffrey, PeterReininger, Linda Waterman.Grammer School teachers were:Doris Simpson, Helen Benzie,Adelaide Lyon, Thelma Donald,Kez iah Welch, DorothyMagoon, Dorothy Main, JeanWebster, Glenn Hutton,Raymond Amnott, Brenda


Page 10 GHS NewsletterGHS Newsletter

Donald Wernecke, James White.

1965Roy Achilles, Russell Crown,Mary Daniels, Donna Darling,*Gary Darling, Elaine Downing,Mary Eastman, Patricia Lakin,Myrtie Legare, Jean Lyon, *JohnMorgan, Margaret Morgan,Howard Page, Gordon Peterson,Allen Phelps, Eugene Records,Harvey Ricker, Thelma Ricker,*Stanley Williams.

1966Steven Austin, Wayne Blodgett,Alan (Joe) Dennis, KennethEastman, *Barry Heath, GaryMason, Marguerite Morey, WayneRecords, Joan Ricker, ArlandRobitzer Jr., Barbara Smith.

1967Carrielee Cilley, Sherry Dana,David Daniels, David Darling,Zoa Darling, Stanley Davidson,Ruth Eastman, Stuart Goodwin,Deborah Hamlett, Diana Hood,Paula Lakin, Brenca Page,Doreene Smith, Glenn White.

1968 -1970Students were tutioned to otherschools until Blue MountainUnion School opened in 1970.

GROTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES(*Denotes deceased)

Amnott, Nancy King, SandraWilcox, Sheila Sparks, WilliamAnderson, Madison Boemig,Chr istopher Wellman, andBarbara Davidson.

In 1964, Thelma Donald retiredfrom teaching first and secondgrades. She had taught everychild in Groton to read for morethan 30 years.

The number of High Schoolstudents during the 60's rangedfrom 65 to 70, and the number ofelementary students were between110 and 120 each year.

Groton High School closed inJune 1967 and Groton studentswere tuitioned to surrounding highschools for three years, until BlueMountain Union School opened inthe fall of 1970. Grammer schoolstudents continued at the villageschool until the new Union schoolat Blue Mountain opened. Tuitioncharges for high school studentswere: Woodsville, NH $525;Newbury, VT $550; BradfordAcademy $650; Danville, VT$700; St. Johnsbury Academy andTrade School $725; and SpauldingHigh School in Barre, VT $750.

TOWN OFFICERS

(Continued from page 3)

Work is cont inuing ontranscribing the Groton censusrecords. The 1930, 1920, 1910and 1900 enumerations have beencompleted and are posted on theGroton Historical Society webpage along with the 1790, 1800and 1810 census indexes. The1890 records were destroyed in afire and are not available. As asubstitute, the business directoryof Groton published in 1888 byHamilton Childs in the Caledoniaand Essex Counties Gazateer isalso posted on the web site. The1880 census is currently being

transcribed.Printed copies of the census

enumerations that have beentranscribed are available at theGroton Historical Society forviewing. Printouts of thegenealogy records for familieslisted in the 1790 and 1800censuses are also available.

Families not currently in theGHS files, or not linked to otherbranches of their family areencouraged to submit theirgenealogy records to the Societyto help make the Groton FamilyRecords as complete as


Town Officers during the 1960'swere: Moderator George Rickerand Town Clerk Ida Dennis.Addie Ricker served as TownTreasurer until her death in 1964.Addie Rouhan Ricker workedboth locally and on the state levelfor betterment of schools for 50years. After her death IdaDennis served as Town Treasureras well as Town Clerk.

Selectmen serving in the 60'swere Bert Bailey, Gerald Morse,Orlo Goodwin, Douglas French,Tony Gandin, Andrew Smith,and Raymond Page. Listers wereGeorge Welch, Earl Welch,Herman Clark, P.T. White, FredBraman, Guy Haskell, HarleyEvans, Burnell Vinton, GeraldMorse, Carroll Eastman, HaroldDolson, Robert Wilson, andBruce Whitehill. Auditors wereEmma Graham, Dorothy Main,Raymond Page, Gordon McLam,Marjorie Robitzer, James Benzie,Betty Eastman, Loren Mills,Edwin Burke, David Paye,Harold Dolson, Burnell Vinton,Dolly Gandin, Richard Marceau,Mildred Hart, and Ross McLeod.School Directors were AddieRicker, Nellie White, Darius

(Continued on page5)

FAMILY RECORDS UPDATE

VISIT THE GROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEB SITEhttp://homepages.together.net/~jdresser/GrotonHistSoc.html

Above: Puffer’s Motel opened in 1960.Right: The former Blanchard’s Store burnedin February 1967 when the building wasused by Vermont Tree Forms,manufacturers of Tunbridge Tables. Earlierit was the home of the Farm MachineExchange.

South Ryegate. Vermont TreeFo r ms, manu fac t u r e r s o fTunbridge Tables, then occupiedthe store until it burned inFebruary 1967. Vermont TreeForms then moved to the factorybuilding west of the village, wherethey built a log house tomerchandise their wares. Thefactory, originally built byHaldane, was used by LuceManufacturing Co. in the 50's tomake "Blue Magic" cannisters andsalt and pepper shakers. It wasthen used for several years byEastern States Farmer's Exchange,changed to Egg Products Divisionof Agway Inc. in 1965. Severalother short-lived enterprisesincluding Groton Glass Inc., usedthe factory before Vermont TreeForms moved in.

D i m i c k ' s G a r a g e ,originally built by Ulric Legare inthe late 30's, was operated manyyears by George Dimick until hisdeath in 1968. Other auto servicestations in Groton included theAtlantic Service Station acrossfrom White's store operated byRichard Daniels 1959-63, LesAvery in 1964-5, Paul Tinkham in1966, and Del Hamlett in 1967.Hart's Garage in West Grotonoperated most of the decade.

Groton Bobbin Co. ownedby Douglas French operated most

James, Robert Wilcox, MadelineDana, Vern Frost, Jr., AllenGandin, Laura page, andLawrence Daniels. UnionSchool Directors were firstelected in 1966. Those whoserved during the '60's were:Mar ilyn Sanville, Ar landRobitzer, Pearl Ricker, HollisJordan, Gerald Darling, GeraldMorse, Herman Clark, AllenGandin, Kenneth Eastman, andRobert Gruber. Library Trusteeswere Nellie Jeffrey, AdelaideLyon, Alice Goodine, VioletRuiter, Theresa Vance, DorisGoodwin, Joyce Frost, ShirleyDarling, and Esther Darling.During the 1960's the selectmenserved as "Overseer of the Poor",Road Commissioner was CliffDarling, Tax Collector and FirstConstable was George Ricker.

BUSINESS

The Groton CommunityClub was active during the1960's. They sponsored the hotlunch program at the localschool. Fanny Dennis, PearlMorrison, Mary Eastman, VestaHaskell and Gertrude Ashfordwere hot lunch workers. Thefinancial need of the hot lunchprogram was the beginning of

(Continued from page 4) what evolved into Fall FoliageDay in Groton. A few youngfathers took on the burden ofraising money for hot lunches in1955 by sponsoring a chicken-pie-supper. This successfuldinner grew into an annualevent, held each year on the firstSaturday in October. Althoughthere is no longer a need to raisefunds for hot lunches, theCommunity Club continues thetradition and sponsors manyprograms for the youth ofGroton. Fall Foliage Day inGroton is a time to visit with oldfriends and welcome back thosewho return to their 'home town'for the day. It is an enjoyabletime for all.

Puffer 's Rest aurantstarted in the mid fiftiescontinued it's growing businessand opened a Motel across thehighway in 1960 to accomadatethe travelling public. Brown'sMeat Market closed in 1962after Mr. Brown's death, andwas opened a few years later asHill's Store. White's Storeoperated by P. T. White wasopen all decade. Blanchard'sStore was the home of HodJames' Farm Machine Exchangefor a number of years, until hemoved the business to

(C0ntinued on page 8)(Continued from page 5)


of the decade, but was closedwhen a number of the mills inMassachussetts moved theiroperations to the southern states.

Other local businessesthat advertised in the HighSchool Yearbooks in the 1960'sincluded Morse Poultry Farm;Frost Appliance Co.; Eastman'sUsed Furniture; Elmer C. FrostContractor; Hosmer Brother'sMemorials; Leslie Page roofer& plumber; Lillian's BeautyShop; Henry's Diner and VarietyStore; Ricker's Insurance Co.;Village Lumber Co.; RockHaven Farm, Andy and PeggySmith, Registered Holsteins;Puffer's Dairy; Robert Gruber,NH - VT Breeding Association;The Lighthouse, Christianliterature, Norma and RufusHosmer; and Smith's GroceryStore.

Baptist Ministers duringthe 60’s were Rev. Guy Kinney1957; Rev. Dean Baker 1965;Rev. James Sparks 1968; andRev. Donald Macomber in 1969.The Methodist Ministers wereRev. Hervey Brown 1959; Rev.Calvin J. Seiferth 1963; Rev.Marian S. Bigelow 1965; andRev. Richard Marceau in 1967.

GHS Newsletter GHS Newsletter

SOME GROTON SCENES IN THE SIXTIES1960 - 1969

The Atlantic Service Stationopened in the late 50’s and operated all

decade by several different parties.

Puffer’s MotelOpened for business in 1960 and operated

all decade across from the Restaurant.

Brown’s Meat MarketClosed after Burt Brown’s death in 1962, andreopened later in the decade as Hill’s Store.

1967 Senior ClassThe last class to graduate from Groton High School

Standing: Brenda Page, Glenn White, Stanley Davidson, Stuart Goodwin,David Daniels, Paula Lakin.Sitting: Diana Hood, Ruth Eastman, Sherry Dana, Zoa Darling, Carrielee Cilley,Deborah Hamlett, Doreene Smith.

Ida DennisServed as Town Clerk from

1957 to 1993.

1962 State Basketball Champions - Class SStanding: Richard Daniels, Dean Hatch, Coach Edward Sanderson,

Richard Beck, Colin Morrison.Kneeling: Gaylord Gandin, Captain Bruce Darling, Co-Captain Rodney

Jordan, Peter Lyon, missing is George Rock.

South Ryegate. Vermont TreeFo r ms, manu fac t u r e r s o fTunbridge Tables, then occupiedthe store until it burned inFebruary 1967. Vermont TreeForms then moved to the factorybuilding west of the village, wherethey built a log house tomerchandise their wares. Thefactory, originally built byHaldane, was used by LuceManufacturing Co. in the 50's tomake "Blue Magic" cannisters andsalt and pepper shakers. It wasthen used for several years byEastern States Farmer's Exchange,changed to Egg Products Divisionof Agway Inc. in 1965. Severalother short-lived enterprisesincluding Groton Glass Inc., usedthe factory before Vermont TreeForms moved in.

D i m i c k ' s G a r a g e ,originally built by Ulric Legare inthe late 30's, was operated manyyears by George Dimick until hisdeath in 1968. Other auto servicestations in Groton included theAtlantic Service Station acrossfrom White's store operated byRichard Daniels 1959-63, LesAvery in 1964-5, Paul Tinkham in1966, and Del Hamlett in 1967.Hart's Garage in West Grotonoperated most of the decade.

Groton Bobbin Co. ownedby Douglas French operated most

James, Robert Wilcox, MadelineDana, Vern Frost, Jr., AllenGandin, Laura page, andLawrence Daniels. UnionSchool Directors were firstelected in 1966. Those whoserved during the '60's were:Mar ilyn Sanville, Ar landRobitzer, Pearl Ricker, HollisJordan, Gerald Darling, GeraldMorse, Herman Clark, AllenGandin, Kenneth Eastman, andRobert Gruber. Library Trusteeswere Nellie Jeffrey, AdelaideLyon, Alice Goodine, VioletRuiter, Theresa Vance, DorisGoodwin, Joyce Frost, ShirleyDarling, and Esther Darling.During the 1960's the selectmenserved as "Overseer of the Poor",Road Commissioner was CliffDarling, Tax Collector and FirstConstable was George Ricker.

BUSINESS

The Groton CommunityClub was active during the1960's. They sponsored the hotlunch program at the localschool. Fanny Dennis, PearlMorrison, Mary Eastman, VestaHaskell and Gertrude Ashfordwere hot lunch workers. Thefinancial need of the hot lunchprogram was the beginning of

(Continued from page 4) what evolved into Fall FoliageDay in Groton. A few youngfathers took on the burden ofraising money for hot lunches in1955 by sponsoring a chicken-pie-supper. This successfuldinner grew into an annualevent, held each year on the firstSaturday in October. Althoughthere is no longer a need to raisefunds for hot lunches, theCommunity Club continues thetradition and sponsors manyprograms for the youth ofGroton. Fall Foliage Day inGroton is a time to visit with oldfriends and welcome back thosewho return to their 'home town'for the day. It is an enjoyabletime for all.

Puffer 's Rest aurantstarted in the mid fiftiescontinued it's growing businessand opened a Motel across thehighway in 1960 to accomadatethe travelling public. Brown'sMeat Market closed in 1962after Mr. Brown's death, andwas opened a few years later asHill's Store. White's Storeoperated by P. T. White wasopen all decade. Blanchard'sStore was the home of HodJames' Farm Machine Exchangefor a number of years, until hemoved the business to

(C0ntinued on page 8)(Continued from page 5)


of the decade, but was closedwhen a number of the mills inMassachussetts moved theiroperations to the southern states.

Other local businessesthat advertised in the HighSchool Yearbooks in the 1960'sincluded Morse Poultry Farm;Frost Appliance Co.; Eastman'sUsed Furniture; Elmer C. FrostContractor; Hosmer Brother'sMemorials; Leslie Page roofer& plumber; Lillian's BeautyShop; Henry's Diner and VarietyStore; Ricker's Insurance Co.;Village Lumber Co.; RockHaven Farm, Andy and PeggySmith, Registered Holsteins;Puffer's Dairy; Robert Gruber,NH - VT Breeding Association;The Lighthouse, Christianliterature, Norma and RufusHosmer; and Smith's GroceryStore.

Baptist Ministers duringthe 60’s were Rev. Guy Kinney1957; Rev. Dean Baker 1965;Rev. James Sparks 1968; andRev. Donald Macomber in 1969.The Methodist Ministers wereRev. Hervey Brown 1959; Rev.Calvin J. Seiferth 1963; Rev.Marian S. Bigelow 1965; andRev. Richard Marceau in 1967.

Amnott, Nancy King, SandraWilcox, Sheila Sparks, WilliamAnderson, Madison Boemig,Chr istopher Wellman, andBarbara Davidson.

In 1964, Thelma Donald retiredfrom teaching first and secondgrades. She had taught everychild in Groton to read for morethan 30 years.

The number of High Schoolstudents during the 60's rangedfrom 65 to 70, and the number ofelementary students were between110 and 120 each year.

Groton High School closed inJune 1967 and Groton studentswere tuitioned to surrounding highschools for three years, until BlueMountain Union School opened inthe fall of 1970. Grammer schoolstudents continued at the villageschool until the new Union schoolat Blue Mountain opened. Tuitioncharges for high school studentswere: Woodsville, NH $525;Newbury, VT $550; BradfordAcademy $650; Danville, VT$700; St. Johnsbury Academy andTrade School $725; and SpauldingHigh School in Barre, VT $750.

TOWN OFFICERS

(Continued from page 3)

Work is cont inuing ontranscribing the Groton censusrecords. The 1930, 1920, 1910and 1900 enumerations have beencompleted and are posted on theGroton Historical Society webpage along with the 1790, 1800and 1810 census indexes. The1890 records were destroyed in afire and are not available. As asubstitute, the business directoryof Groton published in 1888 byHamilton Childs in the Caledoniaand Essex Counties Gazateer isalso posted on the web site. The1880 census is currently being

transcribed.Printed copies of the census

enumerations that have beentranscribed are available at theGroton Historical Society forviewing. Printouts of thegenealogy records for familieslisted in the 1790 and 1800censuses are also available.

Families not currently in theGHS files, or not linked to otherbranches of their family areencouraged to submit theirgenealogy records to the Societyto help make the Groton FamilyRecords as complete as


Town Officers during the 1960'swere: Moderator George Rickerand Town Clerk Ida Dennis.Addie Ricker served as TownTreasurer until her death in 1964.Addie Rouhan Ricker workedboth locally and on the state levelfor betterment of schools for 50years. After her death IdaDennis served as Town Treasureras well as Town Clerk.

Selectmen serving in the 60'swere Bert Bailey, Gerald Morse,Orlo Goodwin, Douglas French,Tony Gandin, Andrew Smith,and Raymond Page. Listers wereGeorge Welch, Earl Welch,Herman Clark, P.T. White, FredBraman, Guy Haskell, HarleyEvans, Burnell Vinton, GeraldMorse, Carroll Eastman, HaroldDolson, Robert Wilson, andBruce Whitehill. Auditors wereEmma Graham, Dorothy Main,Raymond Page, Gordon McLam,Marjorie Robitzer, James Benzie,Betty Eastman, Loren Mills,Edwin Burke, David Paye,Harold Dolson, Burnell Vinton,Dolly Gandin, Richard Marceau,Mildred Hart, and Ross McLeod.School Directors were AddieRicker, Nellie White, Darius

(Continued on page5)

FAMILY RECORDS UPDATE

VISIT THE GROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEB SITEhttp://homepages.together.net/~jdresser/GrotonHistSoc.html

Above: Puffer’s Motel opened in 1960.Right: The former Blanchard’s Store burnedin February 1967 when the building wasused by Vermont Tree Forms,manufacturers of Tunbridge Tables. Earlierit was the home of the Farm MachineExchange.

1960Annette Beaulieu, Lucille Clark,Priscilla Clark, Kathleen Moulton,Barbara Orr, Marcia Ricker, ArlynRobitzer, Betty Sayers, RobertWernecke.

1961Victoria Beamis, Doreen Kay Beck,Mirla Graham, Dorothy Hatch, JonMain, Sylvia McAllister, SharonMorrison, Norma Murray, KathleenPage, Alton Ricker, Beatrice Smith,Louis Smith, William Vance,Gunther Wernecke.

1962John Clark, Keith Daniels, LeroyGraham, Raymond Hood, Ralph Orr,Cheryl Pierce, Ernest Wilson.

1963Bruce Darling, Ina Darling, SharonFrost, Gaylord Gandin, ArchieGlidden, Gary Goodwin, DeanHatch, Rodney Jordan, Peter Lyon,Susan Main, Roy Records, DorisRicker, Terrence Reilly, JoyceRixford, Linda Sayers, Lois White.

1964Bernard Achilles, Shirley Beamis,Richard Beck, Richard Daniels Jr.,Kenneth Darling, Allen Goodine,*James Gruber, Janice Hart, *GrettaHeath, Lyndol Lyon, ColinMorrison, Laurel Murray, DonaldPage, George Rock, Pamela Smith,Sherry Vance, Clarance Welch,

In the school year 1963-4,Superintendent Lyon reported ona study showing how Grotoncou ld par t ic ipat e in t heconstruction and operation of a 4district school - Groton, Ryegate,Newbury, and Wells River. Theschool would include grades 9-12,at a cost much less than the cost ofthe major improvements needed inthe Groton School.

The State Board of Educationapproved a Revised MinimumStandard for public high schools,effective July 1, 1964. To meetthese new standards, Groton HighSchool would have to buildadditional class rooms and hireadditional teachers.

The voters of Groton, Ryegate,and Wells River approved theformation of a Union SchoolDistrict on Nov. 3, 1964 and theState Board of Educat ionapproved it on Dec. 10, 1964.

There was no "middle ground" inthe debate about upgrading theGroton School to meet Statestandards vs. joining Ryegate andWells River in a Union School.The town was definitely divided.

Constable George H. Ricker noted

(Continued from page 2) at one point, according to the1967 Town Report, that severalballots cast at Town Meetingwere on colored paper. Hereported that such a procedure isillegal with severe penalties. Hecautioned that every votershould feel free to vote theirconscience "and forever after allof us friends".

These were tough years in ourtown.

Principals of Groton HighSchool during the 60's werealways TEACHING Principals.They were Edward Sanderson,Paul Waaramaa, and MerleFitzgerald. High Schoolteachers during the final yearswere: Lee Farwell, Loren Mills,Dorothy Main, Robert Morey,C h a r l e s H a y e s , R u t hMcKirahan, Anita Landa. BarrySmith, Lee Dawley, StoneyHinkle, Jacqualine Cote,Michael McCaffrey, PeterReininger, Linda Waterman.Grammer School teachers were:Doris Simpson, Helen Benzie,Adelaide Lyon, Thelma Donald,Kez iah Welch, DorothyMagoon, Dorothy Main, JeanWebster, Glenn Hutton,Raymond Amnott, Brenda



Donald Wernecke, James White.

1965Roy Achilles, Russell Crown,Mary Daniels, Donna Darling,*Gary Darling, Elaine Downing,Mary Eastman, Patricia Lakin,Myrtie Legare, Jean Lyon, *JohnMorgan, Margaret Morgan,Howard Page, Gordon Peterson,Allen Phelps, Eugene Records,Harvey Ricker, Thelma Ricker,*Stanley Williams.

1966Steven Austin, Wayne Blodgett,Alan (Joe) Dennis, KennethEastman, *Barry Heath, GaryMason, Marguerite Morey, WayneRecords, Joan Ricker, ArlandRobitzer Jr., Barbara Smith.

1967Carrielee Cilley, Sherry Dana,David Daniels, David Darling,Zoa Darling, Stanley Davidson,Ruth Eastman, Stuart Goodwin,Deborah Hamlett, Diana Hood,Paula Lakin, Brenca Page,Doreene Smith, Glenn White.

1968 -1970Students were tutioned to otherschools until Blue MountainUnion School opened in 1970.

GROTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES(*Denotes deceased)

GHS Newsletter GHS Newsletter

burden of survival falls to eachhousehold." Families wereencouraged to build fall-out sheltersand stock them with water andcanned food.

Groton High School boys won theState Basketball Championship forClass S schools in 1961-62.

Fifty seven of Groton's youthserved in the Viet Nam Warbetween1964 and 1975 (see page11).

There were 130 births, 119 deaths,and 79 marriages reported in thetown’s vital statistics during thedecade.

There was a poll tax in Grotonduring the 60's.

Total postage spent on mailingTown Reports in 1960 was $3.25.

Property taxes, due Oct. 10th, wereentitled to a 2% discount if paid onor before Aug. 10th.

In 1963, second class licenses foralcoholic beverages becameavailable in Groton, by a vote of 66yes to 56 no.

(Continued from page 1) Groton School

The village school went on asusual - for a few more years. Theboy's basketball team earned theClass S Championship in 1961-62, under Coach EdwardSanderson. Manager wasRaymond Hood, Co-captains,Bruce Darling and RodneyJordan. Other players wereRichard Beck, Richard Daniels,Jr., Gaylord Gandin, Dean Hatch,Peter Lyon, Colin Morrison,Terry Reilly, George Rock andJames White.

In 1963, senior James White, sonof Hazen and Irma White, was aNational Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, one of only 4 in the stateof Vermont.

Superintendent of Schools from1960 to 65 was Ernest Lyon; in1966 Charles Lawrence; and1967 through 69 LlewellynRoberts.

Annual cost per Pupil went from$207.89 in 1964 to $462.00 in1969 for elementary classes, andfrom $471.68 to $698.33 for HighSchool classes. Things werechanging and decisions must bemade.


MILITARY VETERANS DURING VIET NAM WAR5 Aug 1964 - 7 May 1975

Achilles, Bernard Nash SP4 ArmyAldrich, Paul Theron SP4 ArmyAustin, Steven Lewis SP4 ArmyBatchelder, Ernest Randa ArmyBatchelder, Eston Harold PFC ArmyBeauliew, George Andre SP4 ArmyBeck, Richard Angus EM2 NavyBlodgett, Wayne Edward SGT AFBryan, David Michael PVT ArmyCovey, Burton Carroll SP4 ArmyCrown, Stanley Wendell A2c AFDarling, Harold Francis MAJ ArmyDarling, Kenneth Wilbur SP4 ArmyEastman, Dean George SP4 ArmyEmerson, David Paul SP5 ArmyEmerson, George James SP5 ArmyEmerson, Kendall Allen SP4 ArmyEmerson, Philip Roy SP4 ArmyEmerson, Royce Martin SP5 ArmyEmerson, Russell Dean SP4 ArmyFaris, Douglas Charles SRSG NavyFenoff, David Wayne CPL USMCGauthier, Robert John PFC USMCHart, Neil Richard STG2 NavyHart, Richard Arlen PFC ArmyHatch, Donald Larry RMC NavyHeath, Barry Zane SP5 ArmyHill, Nathan Dawson PVT ArmyHood, Raymond Edwin PFC ArmyKinerson, Philip Reginald ETN2 NavyLakin, James Edward PVT ArmyLewis, David Bryan PVT ArmyMarcotte, Chris Robert ETR3 NavyMeehan, Robert Cheste TSGT AFMicklon, Francis Bert SSG ArmyMorgan, John Emerson PVT ArmyMorrison, Colin Wesley AB AFMorse, Harry Phillip TSGT AFRecords, Eugene Raymond SP5 ArmyRecords, Jr., Roy Estes SP4 Army

Records, Wayne Clifford SGT AFRicker, Lawrence Rupert SP4 ArmyRielly, Terrance Paul SSG ArmyRock, George Butler SGT USMCScott, Donald Arthu TSGT AFSmith, Lewis Earl ETN2 NavySnow, Raymond George BMC NavyTurner, Patrick Richard PVT ArmyVance, Richard Allen SP4 ArmyWebster, Daniel James SN NavyWelch, Michael Ellis AMN AFWernecke, Gunther Bernd PFC ArmyWernecke, Robert Joachim CPT ArmyWilliams, Larry Loren PFC ArmyWilliams, Lester Roy PVT ArmyWilliams, Stanley Haven SP5 ArmyWright, Craig Lloyd SR Navy

Note: The VT legislature extended the dates ofthe Viet Nam War from 1 July 1958 to 15 May1975 which increased the number of veteransin VT by 5,000. The additional number fromGroton is not available to the editor. Theabove names are from the 1986 "Roster ofVermonters who served in the Vietnam War 5Aug. 1964 - 7 May 1975" prepared under thedirection of Donald E. Edwards, AdjutantGeneral, Camp Johnson, Winooski, VT.

NOTICES

The Society wishes to thank allwho donated artifacts for display

at the Peter Paul House.

The Society voted to publishFamily Genealogy Records

collected by Waldo F. Gloverand updated by the members.

See page 9 for progress report.

This is the seventh in a planned seriesof articles on Groton in the twentiethcentury. The seventh decade - thesixties’ - from 1960 through 1969 iswritten by Josephine French. Mainsources are the Town Reports,HighSchool yearbooks, Mr. Glover’sGroton and personal memories.

TWENTIETH CENTURYGroton

The Seventh Decade1960 - 1969

By Josephine French

The 1960's were certainly atime of change in the town ofGroton.

Times were scary. Local CivilDefense Chairman, Philip T.White, reminded us in the 1961Groton Town Report, that"Atomic warfare is a possibilityand personal survival is asimportant to National securityas is military strength. Thereare no facilities for any type ofgroup shelter here, so the


GROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETYNewsletter

Volume 16 Issue 2 Summer 2003Groton, Vermont 05046

REVIEW OF GROTON, VERMONTIN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

GHS Newsletter

OFFICERS

President Richard BrooksVice President Norma HosmerSecretary Diane KreisTreasurer Joan HaskellWeb Site Ediror James Dresser

MEETING SCHEDULE(second Tuesday)

March through November10 AM at the

Peter Paul House, 253 Scott Hwy.

Groton Historical Society NewsletterJ. W. Benzie, EditorP. O. Box 89Groton, VT 05046-0089

Home of the Groton Historical Society built in 1840Open for visitors 2 - 4 pm Sundays in July and August and all day on the

first Saturday in October for Fall Foliage Day in Groton, Vermont.

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