USA > Vermont > Addison County > Bristol > History of Bristol, Vermont (1762-1980), Third Edition > Part 15
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Before a ring was built, the students with horses and ponies met after school at the spot where the pres- ent ring is. The ring was built on Town land at the northeast corner of the recreation field on Liberty Street in the spring of 1956. Members themselves dug the post holes and parents put up the fence. They held their first all- junior horse show May 6, 1956. From that date through 1978, horse shows were held in the spring and fall. About fifty horses from Vermont and New York took part in each horse show. Through the money earned by these shows, the members were able to truck their horses to other shows. For many years, George Peet lent his truck and services as driver.
The club has not been organized formally since the end of 1978, but some casual sharing of horse knowledge continues at Juna Perlee's home on Liberty Street. Juna, herself, can often be seen on the streets of the
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Village even now training horses; and dressed in complete riding habit she always participates in local parades.
Researched by Juna Perlee.
Bristol Softball League
1979 marked the tenth anniversary of the Bristol Softball League. What began as a dream of a handful of dedicated Bristol Recreation Club members in 1967, and became a reality in 1969, has now grown into one of the finest softball leagues and facilities in the State of Vermont. Bristol was named by the Vermont State Softball Commissioner as host for the 1979 State Tournament. This alone is evidence of the quality of the league and the facility.
Probably the one man most responsible for the beginning of soft- ball in Bristol was Jim Bouvier, a long- time Recreation Club member and former town team baseball player. He realized that nationwide, interest was shifting to softball as a community- oriented sport. Former outstanding baseball players are usually also star softball players, but Jim also saw that softball was a game where even the casual athletes, the "one evening a week" type of players, could compete and even improve their skills. Bristol has long been a "baseball town," and softball has filled that void for many enthusiastic fans, ex-baseball players, and eager newcomers.
Once the old baseball diamond was put in shape for softball and the lights installed, the Bristol Softball League was formed. The league handles all of its own business, money matters, and scheduling. A Board of Directors is elected each year to guide the league. Currently, Ron LaRose and Henry Caron are serving as league of- ficers. Also, Ron LaRose worked with Jim Bouvier from the beginning in the organization and planning of the entire program.
At present, the league provides a healthy outlet and competition for nearly two-hundred ball players, and hours of entertainment for countless fans. Two-hundred-fifty games were played during the summer of '79.
Written by Connie LaRose.
Bristol Riding Club - July 1957
Brenda Brown (Lathrop) on Mac, Carole Tudhope on Spunky, Juna Perlee on Regal, Gail Gove (Cournoyer) on Lady, Ruth Tomasi (Andersen) on Ritzi, Marie Burke (Page) on Cimie, Cheryl Hoffnagle (Kennedy) on Velvet, Flora Perlee (Benoit) on Beauty, Peter Tomasi on Lord Jim, Norman Booska on Delight
Colonial Theatre
Although moving pictures were shown occasionally in Holley Hall by an out-of-town exhibitor with portable equipment, the time seemed right for something more permanent. Therefore, in the year of 1915, a building was constructed by George S. Farr and W. H. Cardell on South Street between the then Gaudette Harness Shop building and the driveway in the rear of the Lathrop
Block. Because of the style of the facade, it was appropriately named the "Colonial."
From the time of its completion until the year 1930, silent moving pic- tures were shown on Wednesday and Saturday evenings by George S. Farr, proprietor, admission ten cents and twenty cents. Cardell had sold his in- terest in the business within the first year of its operation. Pianists accom- panying silent pictures 1915-1930 were
Colonial Theatre - showing "Mighty Joe Young" - South Street; present site of Brown-McClay Funeral Homes, Inc.
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Fern Shattuck (Wilson), Mrs. William (Gertrude) Browe, Randall Brown, Olive Smith (Eddy), John Sherwin, and Katherine Cushman.
From 1930-32, sound equipment was installed in Holley Hall and Ernest and John Sherwin showed talking pic- tures there. In 1932, the talking pic- tures were moved to the Colonial. The building was extensively remodeled by the new owners, John and Alma (Farr) Sherwin.
Renovations included a sound- proofed projection booth over an enlarged lobby; new stage and drapes; and acoustically decorated walls and ceiling. The original level floor was in- clined and three-hundred permanent upholstered theatre chairs were in- stalled.
For the next twenty-seven years the new Colonial Theatre, equipped with RCA sound, offered quality fami- ly entertainment with three program changes every week, each playing two days, with an admission price of ten cents for children, twenty cents for students, and forty cents for adults.
In December 1956, with television available and outdoor theatres becom- ing popular, the Colonial closed and the building remained unoccupied until it was sold to Gordon and Wilma Brown in 1961. The building is present- ly part of the Brown-McClay Funeral Homes, Inc.
Written by John S. Sherwin.
Japanese Dance Garden
Harry Jimmo, a long-time resi- dent of Bristol, got the idea of a dance pavilion while watching hardwood floors being laid in a neighbor's house and hearing someone remark that it would make a wonderful floor for dancing.
In the mid-1920's, Jimmo had an open-air pavilion constructed on land he owned at the intersection of West and Liberty Streets. The pavilion was attractively decorated with hanging Japanese lanterns and exposed beams entwined with flowers and greens. Jim- mo named it the Japanese Dance Garden and popular orchestras of the area played music for round and square dancing. The pavilion im-
mediately earned its place in the recrea- tional life of Bristol and gained the reputation of having the best dance floor in the state.
Subsequent owners were the Trudell family and later a Mr. Williams who continued operation of the dance hall and added roller skating. A tap room was built on the east side of the building to encourage year- round patronage. While this was suc- cessful in the summer months, it was quite uncomfortable in the frigid months of winter and was discon- tinued.
In the summer of 1939, Grover C. Langeway purchased the pavilion and under his succesful management the Japanese Dance Garden was re- juvenated. For the next eight and one- half years, Saturday night dances (ad- mission fifty cents and later seventy- five cents) and roller skating on weekdays flourished. During this time, as many as two-hundred-twenty-five pairs of skates were available for rental.
In 1947, Langeway discontinued his operation because of vandalism and the need for additional police supervi- sion. The pavilion remained closed un- til it was sold in 1952 to James and Prudence Tomasi who converted it into a successful hardware business. The building is currently the location of Lyon Hardware and Building Supply owned by Denton Lyon who purchased it in 1977 from the Tomasis.
Written by John S. Sherwin.
Ski Rope Tow
In the fall of 1959, the Rotary Club originated the idea of a small- scale ski area for Bristol. Land just across from the present Mountain Street School on Hogback Mountain was donated by Francis Kilbourn for this purpose. L. Stearns Gay, Jr., President of Rotary at the time, along with John Kennedy and James Tomasi, headed the committee to clear the land and install a seven-hundred-fifty foot rope tow. They were assisted by Stewart Schmidt, a physical education teacher at the high school, his students, and many community-spirited volunteers.
Two trails were laid out. A motor house and tow line posts were installed and a fifteen horsepower motor kept the rope moving. The area was opened during the 1959-60 winter for weekend and holiday skiing and was supervised by an attendant. Operation of the ski area was strictly non-profit. Fees of fif- teen cents for half day and twenty-five cents for full day were charged to cover maintenance of the rope tow equip- ment. The ski area was run by the Rotary Club for three seasons until lack of volunteer help and lack of patronage made it impossible to keep the project going. In the spring of 1962, it was closed permanently. The equipment sat idle for two years; and then in 1964, it was sold to the recrea- tion group in Lincoln to be used on their ski hill. While the Bristol ski area lasted, many local residents learned the technique and fun of skiing.
Swim Teams
In the summer of 1969, David Comegys, the Physical Education Director at Mount Abraham Union High School, started an AAU Age Group (8-18) Competitive Swim Team. He laid the foundation for the future of competitive swimming in this area. He was the spark that trained and developed the best in everyone, as well as holding the team together. He prac- tically singlehandedly ran the program, summer and winter, until he accepted another position in the Ausable, New York, area to develop swimming there.
When Mr. Comegys left, after ap- proximately three years, the winter team was switched to NCAA competi- tion with a varsity and junior varsity program which then swam mostly against New York teams. After ap- proximately two years with NCAA, the winter team was disbanded because cost of travel and changes in New York rules and schedules made it impossible to compete.
The summer team has remained in AAU competition and swims against area teams that have outdoor pools. The 8-18 age group summer program is essentially under Mount Abraham auspices as part of its recreational pro- gram.
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In the fall of 1975, the Addison County AAU Swim Team was formed by interested parents and faculty who were determined to see a swim program continue in the Bristol area year round for all age groups. Rosemary Bryden, Jeannette Diette, and Vivian Weston served as the first directors and James Campbell was and still is treasurer. They received great assistance from various committee chairmen and outstanding parents who supported this undertaking with their time and ef- fort.
Excellent cooperation came from the Union High School #28 School Board, Principal John Connolly, and Mount Abraham Union High School staff members, especially Leonard Blaise, Beverly Mayer, David Royce,
and Peter Straub. Past coaches include Jeanne Cotter, Peter Straub, Clarke Thibault, Liz Ryan, Colleen Wedge, and students John Gordon, Lauren Diette, and Melody Hoff.
The AAU program was designed to give elementary through high school students the opportunity to improve swimming skills and compete in AAU sanctioned meets. Any hardworking swimmer, regardless of skill level, was made a member of the team. Members came from most Addison County towns. In the winter of 1979, the AAU team became known as the Addison Otters.
Currently the Addison Otters are under the leadership of Janet Cole of Ferrisburg, Kristin Hirsch of Wey- bridge, and Vivian Weston of Bristol.
The team has sixteen members who compete for over five months in dual and invitational meets. This past season one team member competed in the New England AAU Champion- ships. The team is financed by swim- mers' fees and fund raising.
Thanks to dedicated parents, coaches, and swimmers, the teams have continued on undaunted and the individuals involved have gained much. The pool at Mount Abraham Union High School has been a well- used asset to the Bristol area communi- ty, as well as an excellent part of the educational development.
Information compiled by Rosemary Bryden and Janet Cole.
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XIX Campgrounds
Elephant Mountain Camping Area
The Elephant Mountain Camping Area, located on Route 116 five miles south of Bristol Village, is owned by Rolan and Rodna Farr. The original farm this camping area is situated on was settled by a Sumner family in 1803. For a time in the 1920-30's, the farm was known as the Bristol Poor Farm where the homeless and poor were housed in return for labor on the farm. Potatoes were evidently a main crop for the number of bushels harvested each year was written on the walls of the basement. The original brick house was destroyed by fire in 1956.
Rolan and Rodna Farr puchased the farm in 1950 and sold it in 1972 to Richard and Lydia Terrier, keeping the area where the campground is located. The campground was started in 1966-67. It is a member of the Ver- mont Campground Association. Originally a bathhouse and seven tent sites comprised the campground. Later a swimming pool fed by a mountain spring was added. Because of demand, more and more sites were built until now there are approximately fifty sites, more than half with sewer, water, and
electrical hookups for travel trailers. The camping area is open year round. Howard and Kolona Zeno are now resident winter managers and keep roads plowed and water running freely for winter campers.
In August of 1978, a tornado hit one section of the campground, clear- ing a path one-hundred feet wide. In 1979, the sites were restored but that part of the campground remains almost treeless.
The area around Bristol and Elephant Mountain could not be more beautiful nor more relaxing for the weary traveler. Elephant Mountain Camping Area will continue to welcome visitors to this area.
Compiled by Rolan and Rodna Farr.
River Haven
River Haven Grocery Store and Campground is situated one mile east of Route 116 on the Bristol-Lincoln Road. The campgrounds are owned by James Parrotto who maintains fifteen campsites, eight with electrical hookups. Also, there are five Ranger Cabins which are insulated and heated
Tornado on Elephant Mountain - August 1978
and can accommodate four persons. All the campsites and cabins have fireplaces and picnic tables. Recreation at River Haven includes a playground, horse-shoe pits, basketball, volleyball, and badminton. The campgrounds are open May 1 through December 1. The grocery store on the premises is open year round.
Mr. Parrotto purchased River Haven in May 1979 from Burton J. and Miriam Murphy. They had operated a year-round venture and had purchased the property from the Burl- ington Savings Bank in 1967. Prior to that time, it was known as "Brookside Hide-Away Cabins" and was built in 1965 by John and Theresa Bouchard.
The New Haven River flows just behind River Haven Grocery Store and Campground. The location is well suited for tourists the year round with camping, swimming, fishing, and hunting along the New Haven River; hiking in Lincoln Gap; and skiing at nearby Sugarbush Valley. Ski Resort and Mad River Ski Resort.
Compiled by James Parrotto.
Winona Recreation Area
The Winona Recreation Area, owned by Lester and Sylvia Coffin, is located on their land on North Street, one and a half miles north of the traffic light in the center of Bristol Village. The campground area opened in 1969, and two years later a picnic and swim- ming area was opened across the road. The swimming pond is a man-made, spring-fed pond. For a few years, swimming lessons were offered. The swimming and picnic area was open to the public, but presently is used only by campers. The campground is open May 1 to October 15.
The Winona Recreation Area is not to be confused with Lake Winona, commonly known to local residents as Bristol Pond, which is located further north of the Village.
Information compiled by Sylvia Coffin.
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XX Interesting Spots
Lord's Prayer Rock
One of the most unique spots of interest in Bristol is the Lord's Prayer Rock. It is located at the foot of Drake's Hill at the entrance to Bristol Village from the east on Route 17. The Lord's Prayer is chiseled upon this great rock which sits just by the side of the road. There is a picnic area there maintained by the Rotary Club. It is a refreshing place to pause along the New Haven River. It is said there is only one other Lord's Prayer Rock in the entire world.
The story of the rock varies somewhat. When Joseph C. Greene was a boy and lived in South Starksboro, one of his tasks was to take the logs from the mountain top to the sawmill in Bristol. The Nine Bridge Road, or Drake Woods Road, in those days was a terrific ride. Not only were there nine bridges to cross, but the logs were big and apt to slide off. When he arrived at the "Big Rock," he knew his problems were over, so he said a little prayer, and breathed a sigh of relief knowing he would once more get his logs to the mill safely.
Years later, when he was a practic- ing physician in Buffalo, New York, he and his brother Dr. S. S. Greene, took a trip around the world. After seeing the hieroglyphics in Egypt, he decided to come home and have the Lord's Prayer chiseled on the rock that had given him peace of mind and a feeling of security when he was a boy so many years ago. In 1891, Dr. Greene came to Bristol for his vacation, and at that time hired W. N. McGee to do the engraving for him. After the engraving was done, the letters were painted with white paint, which has been frequently applied so that the letters can be seen easily from the road.
Much of the information above comes from Dr. Greene's daughter, Mrs. Julia Greene Willard (Mrs. Frederick B.) of Buffalo, New York, as told to the doctor's granddaughter, Juliet Greene Willard.
BRISTOL AGCK
THE LORD'S PRAYER. 189;AD. : QUA FATHER WHICH' AST IN NEWEN. HALLOWED BE THY WAME. THY. EINCOOM COME. THY. WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US TINS DAY OUR DAILY
BREAD. ANG FORGIVE US OUR OCHTR. AS
WE FORGIVE OUR DERTORS. AND LEAD VE NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US
ยท FROM. EVIL: FOR THINE 18 - THE KINGDOM.
AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, POR EVER
JOSEPH C. GREENE MO.
BUFFALO,
NEW YORK.
Lord's Prayer Rock
There is another story handed down from one generation of local residents to another that when the early woodsmen brought their logs to the mills in Bristol in the spring, there was a very bad mud hole. Their wheels would sink into the mud up to the hubs. The woodsmen would utter con- siderable profanity trying to get their log teams out of the mud, and this was the reason for Dr. Greene having the prayer chiseled on the rock.
Perhaps there is some truth to both of these reports. In any case, the citizens of Bristol appreciate the fact that Dr. Greene and Mr. McGee left this inspirational rock for our benefit.
Money Diggings
The story of the buried treasure at the base of South Mountain in Bristol started about 1800 when an old Spaniard, named DeGrau, appeared in Bristol. Having procured the necessary supplies, he took up residence near the foot of South Mountain where he began digging among the rocks. At first he refused to account for himself,
but when forced he claimed that as a small boy he accompanied his father and a group of other people to this same spot where they mined a quantity of silver bars. When winter came, they had to leave but had no way of transporting the silver so they secreted it in a nearby cave which they closed up with stones and clay. They were to return the next year but events oc- curred which prevented their ever returning. They were now all dead ex- cept DeGrau and he had come to claim the treasure. His story seemed accurate in detail and he spent some time dig- ging, but he finally became discour- aged and left, saying that he must have been mistaken in the location.
A few years later, an odd-looking vessel was found near this spot and some people thought that it might have belonged to the party that DeGrau told about. From that time on, various par- ties started digging there, one group would give up discouraged and another would begin. About 1840, a group of a dozen men came from the Canadian border and began to work with system and diligence. They formed a stock company, inviting the public to join
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them. Every dollar that a person in- vested in the company entitled him to $100 worth of the treasure, when it was found. The leading spirit of the enter- prise was a man named Simeon Cor- eser who, being a salesman of great ability, talked many people into buying stock. This group worked twelve years on the project and spent $10,000 tun- neling in the rock but finally gave it up as hopeless. In 1860, Coreser came back but gave up after two months dig- ging.
The previous information was taken from History of the Treasure Diggings written by Franklin Harvey in 1889-90. Mr. Harvey died in 1893, but that was not the end of the money dig- ging's story. People are still gullible regarding the buried treasure as is shown by the fact that in 1934 a man from the nearby town of New Haven went to the same spot. He began dig- ging and dynamiting until little re- mained of the original cave and the ex- cavations made by the party who started digging there in 1840. This man did not go to conjurors for advice, as did the early seekers, but used a "divining rod" which he believed would find the treasure for him. This man's luck was the same as that of all the previous searchers and there is little doubt that DeGrau was mistaken in his site, for silver has never been found in this vicinity.
The site of the Money Diggings can be reached by starting at Holley Hall and driving down South Street and River Street. Stay on the east side of the river on the Lower Notch Road. Continue south to a plateau with open pastures on the west. The road goes up a small rise where a brook crosses via a double culvert. A hiking path leads across the brook and up a grade where the trail swings toward South Moun- tain. As the glen narrows, a small stream is followed for a short way leading to the Money Diggings area.
Rattlesnake Den
Near the center of the west side of South Mountain, not far above the "Money Diggings," is an area of several acres of what appears from a distance to be smooth, naked rock but
on closer inspection proves to be a mass of broken stones piled pro- miscuously upon one another as if heaped by some giant hand. This heap of stones can be seen from Bristol Flats and other places in Bristol and adjoin- ing towns. In early days, it was thickly infested with rattlesnakes and conse- quently has always borne the name of "Rattlesnake Den."
In the early days, people in Bristol and adjoining towns made a practice of hunting the snakes early in the spring when they first came out of their dens to curl themselves upon the warm rocks in the warm rays of the sun. At this season, they are very sluggish and are easily captured. It was not uncom- mon for a hundred or more to be killed in a day. A letter from John Stewart of Royalton, Ohio, son of Samuel Stewart, one of the very first settlers in Bristol, states that his father with Cap- tain Cyprian Eastman, Captain Gur- don Munsill, and a few others whose names he had forgotten, once went to the den in the spring of the year and killed one-hundred-eighty snakes. They were piled up like a cock of hay after they were killed and left there as at that time no use was made of their skins.
The work of the early settlers in killing the rattlesnakes was very effec- tive for it has been over one-hundred years since any of these snakes have been seen in Bristol.
This account was written for the History of Bristol, Vermont, First Edition, by Mrs. Jessie Stanton.
Barker Charcoal Kiln
Midway between the Money Dig- gings and Rattlesnake Den, at the foot of South Mountain, lies the ruins of the Barker Charcoal Kiln, so-called from the small stream of that name on which it was situated. The usual method of obtaining charcoal was to heap the hardwood to be burned in a large pile on the ground and pack the earth all around it before firing it. It was a very arduous task as the current of air entering the kiln had to be regulated and the fire watched con- stantly. The Barker Kiln was more ex- tensive than the usual type being a
stone enclosure, laid up with mortar, about ten feet high and twenty feet square. Openings the size of bricks were made on all four sides for drafts and bricks kept on hand to fill these openings when it was necessary to close the drafts. The south side of this kiln is still in almost perfect condition and is an interesting place to visit when one is in the vicinity.
The Cobble Caves
In the extreme south part of Bristol, a short distance from the Mid- dlebury line, is a large round hill known as "The Cobble." It stands considerably above the surrounding land. In this general area, three dif- ferent caves can be explored. They are Bristol Cave, the Shed Caves, and the Barrel Cave.
To reach The Cobble area, drive south on Route 116 from Bristol for 6.5 miles. On the west side of the road, an old road leads off to the southwest. Follow this for eighty-five yards and turn right.
A hiking trail leads up a slope for another eighty-five yards. The trail forks and the right fork leads up a stony trail twenty-five yards to the large entrance of Bristol Cave. A tight passage in the interior of this cave leads to a large interior room.
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