USA > Vermont > Addison County > Bristol > History of Bristol, Vermont (1762-1980), Third Edition > Part 14
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The Onawa Rebekah Lodge No. 43 originally met in the Odd Fellows meeting hall on the third floor of the Hatch Building on Main Street. After the Odd Fellows surrendered their charter in June 1963, the Rebekahs continued to meet in the Hatch Building for a short time. In September 1963, the group started renting meeting space at the Masonic Temple on Elm Street and continued their charitable work from that location.
Due to the lack of new members and financial concerns, the Rebekahs voted in September 1978 to surrender their charter. The last regular officers at that time were: Noble Grand, Alice Dragon; Past Noble Grand, Florence Brown; Vice Grand, Gladys Sturgeon; Secretary, Mildred Lee; Treasurer, Er- ma Grant; Chaplain, Ebba Nelson; Warden, Gertrude Lathrop; Conduc- tor, Ruth Lathrop; Color Bearer, Helen Sherman; Inside Guardian, Daisy Grant; Right Supporter of the Noble Grand, Viola Morrison; Left Supporter of the Noble Grand, Minnie Roscoe; Right Supporter of the Vice Grand, Helen Smith; Left Supporter of the Vice Grand, Dolores Comstock; and Musician, Lottie Follansbee.
Information researched by Lottie Follansbee.
Order of Eastern Star
Libanus Chapter No. 47 Order of Eastern Star was installed in May of 1901. Currently there are ninety-six members in the Bristol chapter.
Any wife, mother, daughter, or sister of a Master Mason may join this organization, devoted to the principles of brotherly love. The chapter con- tributes annually to the General Grand Chapter of Vermont Eastern Star proj- ects which have been the Heart Fund, Cancer Fund, and Religious Training Scholarship Fund. This chapter also contributes annually to the Eastern Star Home for the Aged in Randolph, Vermont. Eastern Star meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at the Masonic Temple on Elm Street, except during January and February. Current elected officers are: Worthy Matron, Vivian Hutchins; Worthy Patron, Theodore Pilon; Assoc. Matron, Helen Vrooman; Assoc. Patron, Martyn Hutchins; Secretary, Charlotte Nelson; and Treasurer, Bar- bara Stowe.
Written by Charlotte Nelson.
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Rotary Club
The Bristol Vermont Rotary Club, Inc., was organized on March 17, 1951, under the sponsorship of the Middlebury Vermont Rotary Club, with twenty-five charter members. Among them were Gordon Brown, Stan Bryden, and Fred Jackman, who are still active members, and Jim Tomasi who is an Honorary Member of the club. Membership in the club has remained rather stable since its in- ception, between twenty-five and thirty members. Present officers are: Presi- dent, Larry Gile; Vice President, Fred Baser; Secretary, Bill Paine; and Treasurer, Jack Anderson.
While the Bristol Vermont Rotary Club is a local autonomous club, it is part of the world-wide organization of Rotary International which celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in 1979. The Bristol club's goals are closely related to those of Rotary Interna- tional. Those goals are the develop- ment of acquaintance as an opportuni- ty for service; high ethical standards in business and professions; the ideal of service by every Rotarian in his per- sonal, business, and community life; and the advancement of international understanding and peace through the uniting of business and professional men in the ideal of service.
The byword with all Rotarians is "Service above Self." Evidence of this motto on the local level takes shape in many community projects. These proj- ects are usually of a short-term nature which can be completed within a few days up to a year, such as planting of shrubs and trees around Holley Hall or the Bicycle Safety Rodeo. There are
some on-going projects which the Bristol Vermont Rotary Club sponsors on a continuous basis. Among these projects are the maintenance of the Lord's Prayer Rock and the surround- ing area; replacement of shade trees in the Village; high school student scholarships; and international cultural exchanges.
The Bristol Vermont Rotary Club has been of service to the Bristol com- munity for almost thirty years and looks forward to many more years of quietly doing what needs to be done.
Written by Larry Diette.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is celebrating its one-hundredth anniversary of ser- vice in the United States in 1980. Bristol can be proud of having an ac- tive Local Service Unit here for well past a quarter of a century. This unit serves the five-town area of Bristol, Lincoln, Starksboro, Monkton, and New Haven. A representative from each town serves on the committee.
In early 1980, Bristol service unit members were honored for their many years of service. Leonard Burt, Chair- man, has served the unit for twenty- eight years; Jesse Hanson, Treasurer, and Bernice Codding, Welfare Secretary, have each served twenty-two years; and Rev. Jonathan Bursey has served thirty-six years, including par- ticipation in Bristol as well as in other towns.
The local unit is proud of its many services to the community and aims to help those in need.
Information compiled by Leonard Burt.
The Committee
In early 1973, a group of alumni and students of Mount Abraham Union High School formed The Com- mittee and presented the play "Wuthering Heights" to purchase materials for the high school's library and the drama department. The youthful community-oriented theater group then formed a non-profit organization. The Committee uses the guiding principle that all persons in a production bear responsibility for the finished product equally. The group has produced over twenty productions in the 1973-79 period without an overall director; thus allowing the group to benefit from the ideas of all its members without stifling creative thought, especially of younger or newer participants.
The Committee takes its non- profit status literally, keeping admis- sion prices low as a gift to the com- munity and making theater affordable to families. Proceeds have been donated to charities, local and na- tional, and for each play fund-raising begins anew. Shows presented include Agatha Christie mysteries; Edward Albee offerings; Miracle Plays; dramas including "Our American Cousin" and "Diary of Anne Frank;" and the musicals "Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "Brigadoon," and "Godspell." In ad- dition, in 1976 the group staged a com- mendable Bristol Bicentennial Pageant.
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Outlook Club
On June 19, 1900, eleven women met and organized a club known as the Literary Club. Soon after this, a con- stitution was adopted and the club name was changed to the Outlook Club. Charter members of the club were Mrs. Lillian Corey Boynton, Mrs. Lena Roseman Denio, Mrs. Ellen Beach Eastman, Mrs. Jennie Cardell Norton, Mrs. Joel Page, Miss Rosina Parmelee, Mrs. Carrie Patterson Partch, Mrs. Elizabeth Rider, Mrs. Ruth Norton Roberts, Mrs. Seraph Prime Sneden, Miss Kate I. Stewart, Mrs. Jennie Everest Wilson, and Mrs. Martha Parmelee Young. The first President was Mrs. Elizabeth Rider.
The purpose of the group was and is "to promote general culture, an in- telligent interest in the leading ques- tions of the day - national and inter-
national - and community improve- ment." For several years, the club's ac- tivities were mostly cultural and social, and a regular course of reading was followed. In 1912, the club joined the Vermont Federation of Women's Clubs and broadened and increased its activities. In 1936, the club joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
In the past, there have been several accomplishments of which the club is very proud. In August 1921, the club sponsored a community pageant involving over one-hundred-fifty peo- ple portraying the history of Bristol. The pageant was staged on the grounds of "The Maples," the present home of Miss Vera Cline on Hewitt Road. Another project was the Chautauqua Courses which several residents remember the Outlook Club helped to
sponsor. These week-long courses in- cluded children's programs, adult lec- tures, and musical presentations for all the residents of the area. In 1940, the Outlook Club published its first edition of the History of Bristol, Vermont 1761-1940. A second edition was published in 1959. In 1941, when a Vermont Sesqui-Centennial Celebra- tion (1791-1941) was held in Bristol, the Outlook Club sponsored a pageant- play depicting four episodes of Ver- mont history. In September 1978, a Bristol Historical Buildings Tour was sponsored by the Outlook Club and the Bristol Historical Society. Around the Town Park, the First Baptist Church, the Bosworth Homestead at 1 Park Place, the Tomasi Home at I North Street, and Holley Hall were shown. Also the Maloney Home at 31 Pleasant Street, the Kilbourn Home at 58 North
Outlook Club - 1979
Seated: Renia C. Partridge; Anna Gladding; Lottie Follansbee; Helen Bristol Standing: Kathleen Brooks; Barbara Kennedy; Margaret Shadrick; Frances Drummond; Wilma Brown
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Street, and the Masonic Temple were shown. The hostesses appeared in early 1900's apparel.
Presently the Outlook Club's em- phasis is on community projects such as this third edition of the History of Bristol, Vermont which is basically a twenty-year update of the 1959 edition. The club participates in Red Cross blood drawings, nursing home pro- jects, and organizes the filling of the flower boxes for the beautification of Main Street. Donations have been made to the Girl Scouts, the Halloween
Committee, the Reading is Fundamen- tal program, Girls State scholarships, Campbell Soup Label Drive, the Lawrence Memorial Library book col- lection, and other community projects.
In 1980, the club was incorporated and is now known as Outlook Club of Bristol, Vermont. There are now thirty-four members. The 1979-80 of- ficers are: Mrs. Edwin A. Hilbert, Jr., President; Ms. Dorothy Lyon, First Vice President; Mrs. Bonnie Gridley, Second Vice President; Mrs. Lucy Pellegrini, Corresponding Secretary;
Mrs. Myron Frenzel, Recording Secretary; and Mrs. Claire Lathrop, Treasurer. Several members have par- ticipated in the club for thirty years or more: Mrs. Lawrence Bristol, Mrs. Warren Brooks, Mrs. Gordon Brown, Mrs. Harold Follansbee, Mrs. Howard Gladding, Mrs. Henry Gurley, and Mrs. John Kennedy. The club meets the first Wednesday of each month September through June at club members' homes. Club membership is open to all women who are concerned with service to the Bristol community.
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Outlook Club - 1979
Seated on floor: Marcia Dominick; Sandra Connolly; Lorraine Tucker: Sheila Smith Seated: Helen Smith; Ruth Lathrop; Myra Stetson; Dori Lyon; Debi Paterson; Fay-Bond Hinrichs; Judith Hilbert; Lillian Lambertson
Standing: Jane Campbell; June Olson; Prudence Tomasi; Joan Frenzel; Barbara Maloney; Marion Jette; Anita Cirillo; Bonnie Gridley
(members missing from group photographs - Beth Butler; Lorraine Emmons; Evangelyn Johnson; Lucy Pellegrini)
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XVIII Recreation and Entertainment
Baseball
Town Baseball
Baseball formed an integral part of the recreational life of Bristol after the close of the Civil War. During the 1870's, nine players known as the Mountaineers played thrilling games. For seven years they were undefeated and won the state championship one year by defeating the Rustlers, a team of picked players from clubs through- out Vermont. In the 1890's, a semi- professional team called the Bristols, rocketed to fame under the manage- ment of Hoyt Landon.
In the late 1920's, the town base- ball team was still making a name for itself playing other league teams. Dur- ing the years 1933 and 1934, probably the best town team ever to play was keeping the townspeople cheering. Ralph Shadrick was the manager of this team.
During the war years, 1942 to 1945, the town team stopped playing because so many men were away defending their country. By the end of 1945, however, baseball started up again on a small scale as the men finished up their service duty. Between 1946 and 1955, probably the best base- ball years in recent history were en- joyed in Bristol. Players during this time include: Carl (Buzzy) Aldrich, Jr., James Bouvier, Laurence (Toot) Bouvier, Esdrus (Peanut) Filion, Bill Gray, Rob Hasseltine, Charles Lafley, Ken Lafley, Claire Lathrop, Leonard (Rosie) Levarn, Sam Mckinnon, Ridley Norton, Frank Palmer, Graham Palmer, Leonard (Flip) Roscoe, Jack Selden, Warner Shadrick, Pete Shedrick, John Tyler, and Ken Wain- wright. By the late 1950's, the pen- dulum had swung again and baseball in Bristol came to an end as the young
KRISTO
LEGION
10.
1STOL LEOA
LEGI
ARISTOL
Baseball:
Bristol Town Team - 1951 - won sixteen straight victories including playoffs Front row: Charles Tyler, scorekeeper; Warner Shadrick; Peanut Filion; Pete Shedrick; James Bouvier; Hap Smith; Frank Lengyel; Robert Palmer, bat boy
Back row: Claire Lathrop; Jack Leonard; Flip Roscoe; William Gray; Harvey Farr; Sonny Trombley
men pursued other forms of recrea- tion.
There have been five baseball fields in Bristol over the years. The first field, used by the Mountaineers, was our Village Park which at that time was used chiefly as grazing ground. The second ball field, where the Bristols played, was Riverside Park on the south side of the New Haven River across from the Basin. This area was often flooded by the river and is now overgrown with trees. The third field was a plot of land behind the old Bristol Inn. The fourth diamond was laid out on an area of land known as Stewart pasture land or "the plains" which was the site of the former airport and where presently the union high school sits. This field was used in the early 1920's. The fifth and current field for baseball and softball is the Recrea- tion Club field which was first used in 1924.
Bristol has always been known as a "good baseball town." This reflects on the excellent teams the town pro- duced with purely local talent. Often their competiton hired players from several towns to compete. Being a "good baseball town" also reflects on the spectator support they received and the sponsor support when uniforms or equipment were needed. Rutherford (Hap) Smith, who served as a bat boy in the late 1920's, as a player and manager through the mid-fifties, is quoted as saying the town team "was not afraid to take on the best." They played everyone and anyone and brought honor to the baseball town of Bristol.
High School Baseball
In the spring of 1919 or 1920, a memorable baseball game was played between Bristol High School and Rich- mond High School. The game was played on the Stewart pasture land mentioned earlier. The field was very rough and the bases were burlap bags filled with stones. Rivalry between the
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teams was very intense as they were so evenly matched.
Ramie C. Martin, a local business- man, was the umpire. John L. Selden, principal of Bristol High School, was the local coach; and Jack Berry, a former semi-professional ball player was the Richmond coach. The line-up of the Bristol team included Hilton Bicknell, Ralph Blodgett, Earl Devoid, Erwin Hasseltine, Harley Holcomb, Wayne Holcomb, George Hathorne, Clifford Kent, and Lee Landon. Harley (Red) Holcomb was the Bristol pitcher.
Team member Lee Landon has written up how the game progressed. "The game started after school classes. There were very few in attendance, ex- cept for students and a few Village peo- ple. At the end of nine innings of play, the score was tied two to two. As the game continued and word got around the Village, a much larger crowd of people gathered. No score was made after the ninth inning. At the end of seventeen innings, the game was called because of darkness." The Richmond pitcher and Harley Holcomb pitched the entire seventeen innings. Sam Mckinnon adds that the two were pitching "as good as when they had started!" Once again the baseball fans of Bristol were treated to an unforget- table game.
Information compiled from the History of Bristol, Vermont, First and Second Editions, Leland Landon, Christine Levarn, Sam McKin- non, and R. W. Smith.
Bowling
Bowling in Bristol dates back to approximately 1925 when bowling was available on the second floor of the so- called Estey Building. This is the pre- sent location of the Bristol Trading Post. Candle pins were used at this bowling alley.
In the 1930's and early 1940's, duckpin bowling was available in the basement of the Hatch Block on Main Street.
In 1947, Anthony Thomas con- structed the building which stands at the far end of the present Grand Union parking lot where The Village Gate is located. In 1955, Mr. Thomas built
and ran six duckpin lanes on the bot- tom floor of the building. There was a restaurant upstairs run by his wife, Madine Thomas. Duckpins were en- joyed there for ten years under Mr. Thomas' ownership.
The building was then sold by Mr. Thomas to a man from out of state; bought back by Mr. Thomas; resold to Ralph Mable; bought back again by Mr. Thomas; and then in 1974, Christopher and Louise Acker bought the building.
In February of 1974, the Ackers opened "Bristol Lanes" for duckpin bowling. By the fall, they were running league bowling every night on six alleys. Teen bowling was available Saturday mornings and after school. The only other duckpin bowling lanes in Vermont were in Burlington. Most unique for today was that the lanes did not feature automatic pinsetters, but both boys and girls set up the pins manually.
There was also a game room at Bristol Lanes. There were three pool tables, a shuffleboard court, and two ping-pong tables. The Ackers spon- sored a Ping-Pong Tournament in 1975. Danny Dion, Mike Ladue, Ross Vaughn, and Bruce Siter played doubles ping-pong for forty-eight straight hours breaking the Guinness record. Unfortunately, others had broken the record and played longer, so the Bristol foursome did not get their names published.
In June 1978, the Ackers sold the bowling alley building to Nicholas Liberio. It is owned by him currently, but the alleys are not being used. Bowl- ing has been a sport enjoyed by Bristol residents for many years.
Bristol Country Club
Interest in a golf course in Bristol was felt by residents here as well as tourists writing for recreation informa- tion. In 1929, a small group of people organized for the purpose of securing a golf course and club house. In July 1929, the Bristol Country Club was in- corporated with Dr. G. F. Edmunds as President. In May 1929, the Verne Hurlburt farm at the intersection of North Street and Burpee Road was
purchased for the sum of $6,500. Original stockholders included Clem- ent C. Smith, Wiley F. Danforth, Lau- rence E. McShane, John A. Kilbourn, and Clement A. Burnham. In the spring of 1930, a nine-hole golf course was opened to the public. The club house was formally opened October 1, 1930.
For approximately a decade, the country club proved to be an important asset to the Bristol community. Ernest W. Holmes provided much leadership at the country club by handling the greens fees, keeping the financial records, and supervising many golf tournaments. In 1941, men's member- ship fees were fifteen dollars.
In the early years, the course's twenty-five acres were maintained by groundskeeper William LaBombard. The other one-hundred-thirty-four acres were used as a woodlot, pasture land, and hay acreage. In 1931, Roger Lattrell was hired as an additional groundskeeper. To mow the extensive acreage, a Model T car was made over into a tractor that pulled three mowers with a breadth of nine feet. The iron wheels of the tractor ran off the hubs of the Model T.
Around 1933, the golf course experienced a very dry summer. Groundskeeper Roger Lattrell, with the help of Carl Smith, laid pipe for a watering system. The pipe ran from a clear spring located on the property to all nine greens and to the club house. Water was pumped by a windmill, later by a gasoline pump, and eventually by an electric pump. There was a thou- sand gallon surplus water tank.
By the early forties, the country club was experiencing financial dif- ficulties due to the cost of maintaining the course and house. The Bristol Country Club was closed in the fall of 1941. Wiley Danforth held the mort- gage on the property.
In October 1944, Felix Cousino purchased the entire parcel of land for his family residence and for farming. In August 1955, he sold most of the acreage to his son, Paul Cousino, but retained the house and two acres. In November 1968, Paul and Alice Cousino sold to Abraham and Margaret Mierop who are currently
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farming the land. In September 1977, Felix Cousino sold the house and two acres to Ralph and Beverly Boss, who own it presently.
Bristol Recreation Club
The Bristol Recreation Club, Inc., was organized in June of 1922 by thir- ty-six members. Initiated by Arthur Gove, the original group raised $750 to purchase approximately thirteen acres of land known today as the Recreation Field. The Club's Articles of Associa- tion state its purposes as "establishing, equipping, and maintaining in the Town of Bristol, a recreation park or playground for the entertainment, amusement, education, and training for the people of Bristol."
In 1923, work was begun on the field under the direction of V. I. Pat- node, chairman of the Grounds Com- mittee, to make a baseball diamond and lay out two tennis courts. R. C. Martin, Ralph Shadrick, B. W. Estey, and Ford Thomas are among the charter members of the club who deserve credit for the progress. In 1924, the baseball diamond and two tennis courts were completed and the Recreation Club baseball team was formed. In 1925, the first July Fourth celebration was held at the field. Water was piped to the field and electricity supplied in 1935. Under the direction of Clarence Lathrop, the first grand- stand was built. This original grand- stand was destroyed by high wind and replaced by the present one.
During the 1940's, activities at the field became almost non-existent be- cause so many young men were away in the service. However, through the ef- forts of Ralph Shadrick and others, a small group of club members persisted.
During 1950-55, Foster Whit- comb organized Little League and Babe Ruth League activities. In 1954, the first annual Bristol Country A-Fair was sponsored jointly by the Recrea- tion Club and Bristol Post #19 American Legion. In 1968, night lighting of the field was added. By 1969, the Bristol Softball League was formed. In 1979, the Club successfully hosted the twenty-two team Vermont State Class "A" Softball Tournament.
Improvements to the field in 1978 include two new fenced tennis courts and a lighted skating rink completed as a cooperative effort of the Town and the Recreation Club. In 1979, a new event called the Bristolthon was jointly sponsored by the Recreation Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and Mt. Abraham Boosters. This was a foot race which attracted a field of over one-hundred runners from many states and was a great success. Plans are to try to make this an annual event.
The Club is maintained by membership dues and donations from the Town and Village. The Club belongs to the people of Bristol and depends on many generous volunteers to keep the many activities going. The current officers of the Recreation Club are: President, David Rochefort; Vice President, Leonard Burt; Secretary, Marion Jette; Treasurer, Merry Vuley; Trustees: Rick Smith, Charles Tyler, and Lawson Hammond.
Bristol Country A-Fair
The first fair was held July 3-5, 1954, with competitive games, mid- way, ball games, band performances, and fireworks. It was sponsored by the Bristol Recreation Club and American Legion Post #19. Leonard Burt and William Hier chaired the first event.
The event received its official title in 1957 when the idea of Mrs. Faire Ed- wards was chosen. She suggested the name Bristol Country A-Fair, stating that many people had affairs "so let's be different and have an A-Fair."
Over the years, many things were added to the A-Fair. Among them were a parade with floats, horribles, marching units, and varied entertain- ment.
In 1978, Leonard Burt served his twenty-fifth year as A-Fair coor- dinator. He was honored with well- deserved thanks from the Recreation Club, the Town, and the Rotary Club. The chairmen and co-chairmen over the years include William Hier, George Corkins, George Smith, Ronald LaRose, and most recently David Rochefort. Robert D'Avignon, with the assistance of his family and friends, built the bingo hall and concession shack. For fifteen years, Ralph Heath
ran the concession rides. Presently the fair is sponsored solely by the Recrea- tion Club. In 1980, the Bristol Country A-Fair, always held over the Fourth of July week, will celebrate its twenty- seventh year.
Information partially compiled by Leonard Burt.
Bristol Riding Club
The Bristol Riding Club was organized January 7, 1955, under the leadership of Mrs. Juna Perlee with sixteen members. Several parents of children with horses at that time in- cluding Gordon Brown, Edward Burke, William Cardell, Roland Devino, Howard Gladding, Warren LeBoeuf, and James Tomasi helped with the formation of the club. The club was a part of 4-H for about twelve years. The goal of the Riding Club was to develop responsibility through horsemanship. Members learned about horse care and horse training and demonstrated their skills in horse shows, trail rides, and parades. Six members were honored by riding in the Eastern States 4-H Ex- position in Massachusetts. Many former members have gone on to teach riding skills.
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