USA > Vermont > Addison County > Bristol > History of Bristol, Vermont (1762-1980), Third Edition > Part 12
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Noble Dunshee was interested in politics and in 1863 was a member of the Vermont State Legislature. Another interest was in race horses. He owned and drove some fine racers.
Mr. Dunshee and his family lived on West Street for many years. Their house was a Bristol landmark. In 1957, this house was moved back to make way for a Gulf Oil station.
Jeremiah Curtin (1835-1906)
Jeremiah Curtin was a a noted author, translator, and diplomatic in- terpreter. He was born in 1835. There is now an historical museum in Green- field, Wisconsin, where he was raised. In adult life, he married Alma Cardell of Bristol. He went on to travel much of the world and broaden his knowl- edge of other languages. He served as Secretary to Cassius Clay, the Minister to Russia during the mid-1860's, under President Abraham Lincoln's adminis- tration. He was much in demand as a translator and is perhaps best known for his interpretation of Quo Vadis written in Polish by Sienkiewicz. The book was on the best-seller list.
While in this country, Mr. and Mrs. Curtin made their home with her sister, the late Jenny Cardell Norton, wife of Dr. Anson M. Norton of Bristol. Jeremiah Curtin died in 1906. His wife completed and published many of his works and finished his biography entitled Memoirs of Jere- miah Curtin. The last fifteen years of her life, Mrs. Curtin lived in Bristol at 34 Mountain Street with her sister, Jen-
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ny, and her brother, William H. Car- dell, Sr.
Jeremiah Curtin was truly a brother to all of the world. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Bristol, and the inscription on his. original tombstone was written by President Theodore Roosevelt. It read: "He traveled over the whole world, calling all men brothers and learning to speak to them in seventy languages." Some years later, a mausoleum was built and Jeremiah Curtin's remains were transferred to a vault therein and the inscribed marker placed under his coffin. Therefore, it is not where it can be read. Mrs. Alma Curtin died April 14, 1938, and is also buried in Green- wood Cemetery.
The information on Jeremiah Curtin has been somewhat corrected and expanded since the write-up in the 1959 edition of this book. These cor- rections are possible because of factual information supplied by Lura and William H. Cardell, Jr., from the Cur- tin biography, and also material sub- mitted by Jeremiah C. Cardell.
William A. Lawrence (1856-1915)
Mr. Lawrence was born in Monkton, Vermont, on September 21, 1856. Through many years, he was one of the prominent men of this town. He has left the Lawrence name on our library and on the lane beside the library.
Mr. Lawrence attended high school in Vergennes, after which he returned to farming in Starksboro. In 1881, he came to Bristol and began speculating in cattle, horses, and farm products until 1884. That year he em- barked in the carriage business which continued for the following fifteen years. In 1899, he turned his entire at- tention to his stock business, buying horses in carload lots from Iowa and Missouri. He usually kept about seventy-five horses in his Bristol stables. He was known as the most ex- tensive dealer in horses in the Green Mountain State.
For fourteen years, Mr. Lawrence was Sheriff of Addison County. He served as President of the Addison County Agriculture Society, was one
of the Directors of the National Bank of Middlebury, and was a Vice Presi- dent of the Vermont Mutual Fire In- surance Company. While President of the Greenwood Cemetery Association, he was instrumental in getting water piped in and connected to a fountain which he had contributed. It was through his efforts and financial help that the iron fence was built that enclosed the entire cemetery.
In March 1876, Mr. Lawrence was married to Lockie Partch of Hinesburg. She died in December 1889. For his second wife, Mr. Lawrence chose Minnie Morrison Peet of Starksboro whom he married in
and lived in the elegant three-story home at 48 North Street on the corner of Spring Street. William Lawrence died in March 1915 at the age of fifty- eight.
Arthur W. Prince (1876 - 1962)
For more than a score of years, Arthur Watson Prince was the uni- formed coachman hired by the former Bristol Inn to transport guests arriving or leaving from the Bristol Railroad Station on North Street. He was better known to Bristol residents as "Dude."
Dude was born in Bristol in 1876 and was married to the former Alice Edwards of Hinesburg. Dude became a
Arthur (Dude) Prince with the Bristol Inn stagecoach
March 1901. Minnie Lawrence was killed in a Rutland Railroad collision in Vergennes in 1906. Soon after her death, he built the Lawrence Memorial Library in memory of his two wives, Lockie Partch and Minnie Peet. The houses on Lawrence Lane, as well as the house on the south side of the library, were deeded to the library with the rental income from them benefiting the library fund. The large window in The Federated Church was also a memorial gift in the Lawrence name.
In addition to the houses on Lawrence Lane, Mr. Lawrence built
favorite person in town. He knew everybody and everybody knew him. A party to celebrate his eightieth birthday was held in Holley Hall on September 24, 1956. More than two hundred peo- ple came to honor him at that time.
After the Bristol Railroad stopped running in 1930 and the Bristol Inn coach was retired, Dude started wind- ing the clock located in the belfry of Holley Hall. He continued this weekly ritual for the next twenty-five years at which time he gave up the task to a younger man. He was often seen doing odd jobs around town.
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Dude is a man fondly remembered in the history of our town by those who were fortunate enough to have known him. On October 10, 1962, Dude died in Bristol at the age of eighty-six. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery beside his wife who had died five months earlier on May 30, 1962.
John (Jack) Guinan (1889-present)
John (Jack) Guinan was born in Bristol on December 21, 1889. His father, George Guinan, played the trumpet professionally and Jack's family moved often so his father could continue his musical career. Jack spent most of his school and working years in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Every few years, however, the family moved back to Bristol. Jack's father directed the Bristol Town Band in the early 1900's when the family was here, and Jack played trombone in the band for several years. George Guinan en- couraged his son's musical talent as well as his fishing ability for which Jack became nationally known.
On June 10, 1919, Jack married Vira Ogden. They lived in Connecticut, and Jack started a thirty-five year career with Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company.
In 1947, Jack joined the National Association of Angling and Casting Clubs (NAACC). He won the first amateur event he ever entered, a dry fly accuracy event. Jack soon entered amateur competitions throughout the country and earned recognition for his expertise. In 1952, he was elected presi- dent of the NAACC, later called the American Casting Association.
Jack turned professional in 1955 when he retired from the insurance business and moved back to Bristol. He launched a new career for himself with Vi working as his assistant. For over ten years, Jack and Vi toured the United States extensively doing clinics and casting exhibitions. Their shows included demonstrations of accuracy and control with both fly rod and bait rod. With Vi's help, Jack performed many trick and fancy casts as well.
Jack also displayed his casting talents in two movies and in several commercials. Many were made on the New Haven River here in Bristol. Jack
JACK QUINAN
John and Vira Guinan with their fly and bait casting equipment - 1957
appeared on many television talk shows as well.
During his fly and bait casting career, Jack was awarded over three hundred trophies and medals. In 1955, Jack won the Eastern U.S. Dry Fly Ac- curacy Championship, the Eastern U.S. All Accuracy Fly Championship, and the Eastern U.S. Professional All Round Casting Championship. He participated in casting exhibitions until the early 1970's.
Vi Guinan died in June 1977. Jack moved to Yuma, Arizona, a year later where he lives presently with his son Everest. Jack often returns to Bristol to spend his summers. At age ninety, Jack is still an avid sports fan.
Merritt P. Allen (1892-1954)
The following article appeared in the September 1954 issue of "Young Wings": "You'll Always Find a Way Out" by Merritt Parmelee Allen.
"I was born and raised here on a farm at Bristol, Vermont, where my family have lived for generations. I took for granted that I would continue that way of life, and I learned how to care for livestock and soils; how to work and how to handle the Yankee
hired man, who is the most indeperi- dent person on earth.
"We took our fun wherever and whenever we found it. We hunted, trapped and played ball in the pasture. Some of the boys wanted to be Presi- dent, but I dreamed only of becoming a big league pitcher or a Hudson Bay Trapper. Without radio and television, we had to use our imagination by reading and re-creating what we read. Fortunately I had access to good books. And there never were and never will be any periodicals to match the Youth's Companion and St. Nichols. In later years, I had the honor of con- tributing to both magazines.
"So it went until at the age of seventeen, while I was in high school I was knocked flat by polio. I came back enough to be on my feet a little but most of the time has been spent in a wheel chair. Every plan I had dreamed of making had to be scrapped and a new set of values built to meet the situation. Formal education was out; self education began and is still very much in progress.
"My thoughts turned to writing. I had to learn to use a whole new set of tools and invent others to meet my needs. So the product was long in tak- ing shape. Slowly a few pieces passed inspection by publishers. Now I have written short stories and serials, radio serials and one act plays, parts of half a dozen anthologies, and more than twenty-eight books for boys, most of them adventure yarns based on Amer- ican history.
"I am telling you this on the chance that it may reach someone who thinks all doors have been slammed in his face. If he will try and keep on try- ing long after common sense tells him to quit, he will find a door that can be opened. He will need help, the indis- pensable help of family and friends, for no one, no matter how tough he thinks he is, can do it alone. Especially will he need the help of someone like Vera Cline, who has been my nurse and partner for many years. She intuitively understands many things I never could figure out. And we find pleasure in work, friends, birds and flowers."
Merritt P. Allen was born July 2, 1892, and died December 26, 1954.
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Among his many books are: The Green Cockade, The Mudhen, The Silver Wolf, The Spirit of the Eagle, Western Star, The Wilderness Way and The Sun Trail.
Dr. David M. Bosworth - 1897-1979
Dr. David M. Bosworth (1897-1979)
Dr. David Marsh Bosworth, one of Bristol's most distinguished citizens, was born in New York City to Rever- end B. Boardman Bosworth and Phoe- be Marsh Bosworth on January 23, 1897. Reverend Bosworth built the Washington Heights Baptist Church in New York City in the 1890's.
Dr. Bosworth was educated in New York City schools. He received his B.A. Degree in 1918 and his Medical Degree in 1921, both Cum Laude, from the University of Ver- mont. He interned at Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington and the Women's and Welfare hospitals in New York City. After his internship, he answered a call to return to his Alma Mater to teach gross anatomy for three years.
Dr. Bosworth then entered a three-year course of study in orthope- dics at New York Orthopedic Hospital. Shortly thereafter he joined the Or- thopedic Staff at St. Luke's Hospital. Dr. Bosworth served on the staff of several other hospitals in the New York area as teacher and surgeon.
He became Chief of Orthopedics at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City and Chief of Staff at Seaview Hospital on Staten Island. Dr. Bos- worth spent a life of service in the
world of orthopedics from 1928 to November 1978, when he performed his last major operation here in Ver- mont.
Dr. Bosworth served for a term as president of the American Orthopedic Association. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical Honor Society. He developed twenty-seven original operative procedures, some of which bear his name.
Dr. Bosworth was presented the Second Order of the Sacred Treasure award in 1968 by Japanese Emperor Hirohito. He was the only foreign re- cipient of this award. It stemmed from Dr. Bosworth's work with the Japa- nese regarding treatment of bone and joint tuberculosis. Dr. Bosworth had a policy of training promising young physicians not only from the United States, but also from thirty-seven other countries. In selecting candidates from abroad, he required that they return to practice in their home countries after completing their training.
In 1974, he received the Distin- guished Service Award of the UVM Medical Alumni Association. In 1978, the UVM College of Medicine dedicat- ed a library in his honor in the Depart-
ment of Orthopedic Surgery. The libra- ry houses Dr. Bosworth's personal li- brary, which he donated to the college.
Dr. Bosworth's wife, Dorothy Drake Lawrence, daughter of C. Ells- worth and Miriam Drake Lawrence was born in Bristol in October 1896. Mrs. Bosworth's father owned a shoe store here. Mrs. Bosworth's mother charmed audiences in Bristol with her fine singing voice. Mrs. Bosworth, herself, studied singing for awhile until she was privileged to participate in her husband's mission of administering to the needs of orthopedic patients. Mrs. Bosworth's grandfather, T. S. Drake, was one of the founders of the Drake, Smith & Company. Her maternal great-grandfather, Captain Solomon Drake, built the First Baptist Church of Bristol. Dr. and Mrs. Bosworth first met in second grade and later at the University of Vermont. They were married September 20, 1921, in the Baptist Church built by her great- grandfather. The Bosworths had one daughter, Lorraine Bosworth Lilley, born March 15, 1928, and three grand- children: Lorraine Ann, Ernest David, and Theodore Bosworth Lilley.
In 1975, they retired to the Bosworth Homestead from New Jer-
The Bosworth Homestead - located on the corner of Park Place and North Street
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sey. This move fulfilled Dr. Bos- worth's dream to sometime return to his grandparents' home where he had spent his happiest summer days during childhood. Dr. Bosworth died in Bris- tol on July 11, 1979. His life was well spent in service to the lame and crip- pled.
The Bosworth Homestead
Standing prominently on
the north side of the Park in Bristol is the Bosworth Homestead at 1 Park Place. This home, along with the barn and the present Sargent home at 6 Park Place, were the first wood frame buildings in town. The rear wing of the Bosworth house dates back to 1794. Most of the house dates from about 1868. The later additions include the two big front parlors and the upstairs front bed- rooms with the hallways and staircase. The columned front porch was also added later.
The Bosworth Homestead barn was built after 1800. The weathervane now on the barn was formerly on the First Baptist Church of Bristol before that building was remodeled in 1925.
The Reverend David Bosworth came to Bristol about 1868 with his
second wife, Caroline Melissa Board- man Bosworth. They had five children: B. Boardman (later to become Dr. David Bosworth's father), M. Helen, Myra, Grace M., and David R.
The Bosworth family has long been prominent in Bristol and for many years owned the Bristol Manu- facturing Company. Two daughters, Helen and Grace, lent their artistic talents to this home.
Miss Helen Bosworth designed the present fireplace in the living room. This fireplace was built about 1923 on the foundations of the old fireplace "with its stack of chimneys, its ovens, hanging crane, and various utensils used for all cooking and heating of house." Helen also wrote the family history of many of the lovely antiques found in the home.
Miss Grace Bosworth was a very experienced painter. The house is filled with her lovely oil paintings; delicately painted china; and hand-painted murals in the dining room and living room. The former carriage house behind the home was converted into a studio for her use.
Their mother, Madame Caroline Bosworth, born November 1, 1840, designed the unusual garden on the
North Street side of the home. The garden was fashioned into thirteen beds to represent the thirteen original colonies. Of historical interest is the peony bed whose original roots are said to have been brought from China by an ancestor who was a sea captain.
Over the front door of the Bosworth Homestead is the Latin mot- to:
"Animus Valet." Dr. David Bosworth preferred the translation, "The Spirit Conquers," rather than the translation which appeared in the Second Edition of this history. The house stands serene behind its in- teresting white wooden fence.
Dr. Bosworth installed thirty- seven flag staff holders on the house and fence to display his splendid collec- tion of world flags. These flags were raised in honor of the countries of foreign students who had studied under the doctor. The Bosworth Homestead was an elegant addition to the Bristol Historical Buildings Tour held in September 1978. This early home of Bristol will surely provide many more years of pride for the Bosworth family and the residents of Bristol.
Information compiled by Dorothy Bosworth.
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XVII Clubs and Organizations
At present several organizations are active in Bristol. These groups focus on different interests and often benefit the Bristol community through their various service projects.
In the early 1940's, the house at 1 North Street which faces the Village Park from the east was known as the Gaige-Moor Community House. This gracious Federal-style home was built in 1817 by Abram Gaige. It was passed through five generations of the Gaige-Moor-Ives family and then was offered to the Town of Bristol in 1939 as a community house. The only condi- tions were that the Town keep up the insurance and assume the necessary repairs. It was well used by many groups and provided a central meeting place for Bristol activities. After a short time, upkeep costs proved to be too high, and the house reverted back to the Gaige-Moor-Ives family. It was then sold as a private residence to Mr. and Mrs. James Tomasi who have maintained the elegance of this lovely home. This home was shown on the Bristol Historical Buildings Tour in September of 1978.
American Legion
The American Legion Post #19 was organized in 1920 when Dr. Harold L. Williamson called a meeting in the basement of Holley Hall. At that meeting, Bristol Post #19 was organ- ized and Dr. Williamson was elected the first Post Commander. There were fifteen charter members. Francis Kil- bourn, who died in 1979, was the last charter member of Post #19. For a time, very little interest was shown in Legion activities and the charter was surrendered. The Post reorganized about five years later.
The American Legion Auxiliary was also formed, functioned a short time, and then gave up its charter. The Auxiliary reorganized in 1935. In 1952, Post #19 and its Auxiliary formed a corporation called The American Legion Home, Bristol Post #19 Incor-
porated. The present Acting Post Commander is Eldon Chandler and the Auxiliary President is Alice Clapper.
The American Legion met in vari- ous meeting rooms around town until they built the American Legion Home on Recreation Club land that was leased for ninety-nine years. The home was opened in May of 1953. The sign on the roof was painted by Jack Wendel in 1960. A mortgage-burning ceremony was held in February 1965. The original home has been enlarged and the basement finished. The space is used by several groups in town as a meeting place, as well as for Legion functions. An additional building was constructed on the west side of the home to store hospital equipment which is loaned free of charge to local residents.
In 1978, uniforms to be used for military funerals, parades, and other Legion activities were purchased for members of the firing squad and color guard. Auxiliary hats were purchased for the women at this time.
The chief aims of the American Legion are to promote Americanism and to continue involvement in com- munity projects. Both groups have made numerous donations to scholar- ships, Porter Hospital, Bristol Rescue Squad, Bristol Fire Department, Bris- tol Historical Society, as well as other worthwhile causes. They sponsor students at both Boys and Girls State. They have assisted with projects at the Veterans' Hospital, Helen Porter Nursing Home, Little League, and Pre- school Clinics. Books, flags, and playground equipment have been given to the local schools. Starting in 1955 and continuing for several years, the American Legion and the Recreation Club co-sponsored the Bristol Country A-Fair. Currently, the Recreation Club alone is in charge of this event.
On Memorial Day, Post #19 organizes a service at the Village Park. The color guard and firing squad pro- ceed to the local cemeteries alternating each year between Greenwood Ceme-
tery and Mount Saint Joseph Ceme- tery, for brief services there.
The observance of Memorial Day in Bristol began in 1889. A Bristol post of the Grand Army of the Republic was formed and named the W. C. Dun- ton Post. A chapter of another Civil War organization was formed in Bris- tol sometime during the 1890's called the N. F. Dunshee Camp Sons of Vet- erans. The group was named after Col- onel N. F. Dunshee because of his splendid record as a Civil War soldier. This group met regularly for several years.
In recognition of early veterans, in 1928 the Woman's Relief Corps, af- filiated with the Grand Army of the Republic, placed a bronze tablet on a marker in the Park in memory of the Bristol soldiers who participated in the Civil War. That tablet reads: "In grateful recognition of the patriotic devotion and loyal service of our Ver- mont soldiers 1861-1865. Honor to whom honor is due. This tablet is erected by the Woman's Relief Corps of Bristol, Vermont. 1928." The American Legion Post #19 placed another bronze tablet on a large rock in the Park listing the Bristol men who served in World War I. Post #19 erected an Honor Roll of World War II veterans, both men and women, in front of Holley Hall. This Honor Roll board was destroyed by a hurricane a few years later. In 1966, the Bristol Veterans' Memorial Park, as described in this book under Interesting Spots, was dedicated to the veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict.
Military History
The first militia company in Bristol was organized June 7, 1791. It was the 10th Company, 2nd Regiment, 6th Brigade Vermont Infantry. Cyprian Eastman was Captain and Benjamin Clapp was Lieutenant. Another company, the Light Infantry, was organized June 1, 1808, with Cap- tain John Kilbourn and Lieutenant Jehiel Saxton. The infantry uniforms
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consisted of scarlet coats with white and buff facings, white pants with black half-gaiters, white vests, black stockings, and citizens round hats with a brass piece in front. These companies did their full share in helping to en- force the Embargo Act of 1808. Sixty- six men from Bristol took part in the Battle of Plattsburg.
Records of the Grand Army of the Republic were burned in the 1924 Main Street fire, so their list of Civil War veterans was destroyed. At the end of this book, however, is a list of these veterans obtained from H. P. Smith's History of Addison County and from gravestones in Greenwood Cemetery.
Also at the end of this book are lists of the known Spanish-American War veterans, World War I veterans, World War 11 veterans, Korean Con- flict veterans, and Vietnam Era veterans.
Information reseached by Christine Levarn.
Boy Scouts
Information regarding Boy Scouts in Bristol prior to 1960 is very sketchy. About 1960, John Brown and Bill Grant provided leadership for a Cub Scout program for eight to eleven year olds and Scouting remained active for about five years with the help of Helen Brown, Marie Dion, Lelah Estey, Ruth Lathrop, Charlotte Nelson, and others. Following this period, there was a decline until Ronald Williamson became acting Cub Master in 1968. From 1972 to 1975, Michael Liberty led the Cub Scouts. 1976 was an inac- tive year and then in 1977 Warner Pierce took over. The next year Michael Liberty again led the Cub Scouts and was assisted by Brian Haney, Jim Hines, Patricia Liberty, Rachel Lossmen, Barbara Prime, and several others. Today Cub Scouting continues with Brian Haney as Cub Master. There are fifty registered Cub Scouts.
Boy Scouts for the older boys was reorganized by Merrill Masse in 1970. Presently Robert Blodgett is Scout Master for twelve registered Boy Scouts.
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