2 | August 22, 2015 • Vergennes Day
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THE DEAD SHALL LIVE — Students from Vergennes Middle School Team Endeavor took part in the “Otter Creek Odyssey” as they prepared to row from Dead Creek to Tom’s Marine on Otter Creek for a presentation by VINS on raptors. Buzz Kuhns photo
34th Annual Vergennes Day to offer events for everyone in the family
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ergennes Day is a great way to see the biggest and best of our Little City. With music, food, races, a crafts fair, and even rubber duckies, itÕ s an event that canÕ t be missed. Vergennes Day is sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vergennes. This year, Vergennes Day will take place on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29. Activities will occur at various locations around the city. A free shuttle to selected venues will be provided by Bet-Cha Transit. Events will include: •Street dance on Friday night •Pancake breakfast •5K and 10K races •Crafters/vendors
•Horse-drawn wagon rides •Live bandstand music •Chicken BBQ •ChildrenÕ s venue •Classic and modern automobile show •Rubber Duckie race For a detailed schedule with locations, visit the Addison County Chamber of Commerce Vergennes Day site. •••
Friday, Aug. 28
Welcoming back Ò The HitmenÓ from 7 to 10 pm. Snacks and beverages provided by the Greater Vergennes Boys & Girls Club. Please support them!
Saturday, Aug. 29 10 am to 4 pm at Vergennes City Park plus other venues around the city. This yearÕ s event schedule will be published in early August. Family fun: Pancake breakfast, Little City 5K & 10K Races, 65+ crafters/vendors, horse drawn wagon rides, bandstand music, chicken BBQ, childrenÕ s venue, Rubber Duckie race. Free shuttle, provided by Bet-Cha Transit, to ALL venues! Sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vergennes.
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Vergennes Day • August 22, 2015 | 3
Guest Viewpoint: Vergennes on the move
ith all its assets, Vergennes epitomizes so much that Vermont communities statewide strive for: a strong village center, surrounded by a beautiful working landscape, strong, committed community members, a dynamic and balanced downtown business sector along with manufacturing, retail, services and food businesses. Starting last year, the Vermont Council on Rural Development has been working with the city through a Ò Community VisitÓ process to identify and advance key priorities for action for the future of the city. The VCRD Visiting Team of state, federal, regional and non-profit leaders has been deeply impressed by the strength and commitment of local residents and by all that has been accomplished over the last 20 years to make this such a great place to live, work and enjoy. A strong and responsive municipal government invited and encouraged the Community Visit process. Wonderful community institutions like the Bixby Library and the Vergennes Opera House are cornerstones of downtown vitalityÑ matched
with the private sector energy of entrepreneurs who have made major contributions to revitalizing the downtown and are continuing to invest in the next stage of its development. Restaurants and shops make this the north Addison County hub. Part of the excitement of the process for our team was the sense that this is a city that has great momentum and where residents, and folks from neighboring towns, are geared to working together to make it the most vital center possible. Another part, which gives great confidence, is that the community has the resources, skills and leadership to accomplish great things. Altogether, Vergennes is an enviable community, one that represents so much of the best of Vermont. While Community Visits are designed to help towns come together, review major issues, develop priorities and line up for action, VCRD has a couple of other goals behind these efforts. We look to build new volunteerism and encourage more local folks to get involved in moving the community forward. We want to help build the connections of the community to
human, technical and funding resources from lead agencies and organizations in the state. And we want to help our Visiting Team learn more about local needs and the dynamics of the diverse towns of rural Vermont so they can better serve these communities. It is always hard to set community priorities. Vergennes chose things that can get done, that are in the power of the community to achieve, and that will leverage momentum for the cityÕ s future. We look forward to working with the Vergennes Task Forces as they advance the priority projects identified in the process to: • Improve Transportation, Especially for Walking and Biking, & Parking • Advance the Vergennes Economy & Expand the Community & Economic Development Capacity of the City • Redevelop the Vergennes Falls Basin & Open a Riverwalk. The Task Forces working to advance these issues are organizing today, please support their efforts, or join them; contact Mayor Bill Benton
or City Manager Mel Hawley to sign up. With over 170 local people participating in the process and over 70 volunteers now engaged in active Task Forces to advance priorities, we know that there is great energy for real progress in Vergennes today. We also see strong, practical work plans, great leadership, and direct connections for help from the Addison County Regional Development Corporation, the Addison County Regional Planning Commission, the Agency of Commerce (especially Tourism and Marketing and Economic Development) and the Agency of Transportation. Vergennes has a map, and is on the map, to move its projects forward. At VCRD we see people working hard to make the best future for their communities and for the next generation of Vermonters; we deeply appreciate everyone who put themselves on the line for Vergennes in this process Ð you make us proud of Vermont. Paul Costello, Executive Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development
Brett Ward: Making a difference in local athletics By Louis Varricchio
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or Vergennes businessman Brett Ward, being a member of the community means giving backÑ in the amount of over $228,000 since 2001. For nearly 15 years, Ward has been quietly helping local teen athletics through his generosity. At a recent meeting, members of the Vergennes Commodore Booster Club officially recognized WardÕ s contributions and efforts. Meanwhile, Ward continues to funnel his assistance through the booster club which supports the Vergennes Union High School boosters and athletic programs. Ward, the owner of the City Limits Night Club in the Little City, contributed $22,000 to the Commodore Booster Club during this year. According the Vergennes resident and booster Steve Alexander, WardÕ s City Limits business has contributed well over $228,000 since 2001. “We are fortunate to have Brett’s financial
support,Ó according to Booster Club president Kim Haigis. Ò All of the school athletic programs have benefited from his generous contributions.Ó WardÕ s kindness has helped keep the club alive and well as well as active in the school community. Financial contributions are visible in the form of new gear and well-groomed athletic fields. Ò We have been able to make repairs on our fields, purchase new uniforms and equipment, and provide scholarships to college-bound students,Ó Haigis added. Ò We are lucky to have someone like Brett in our community.Ó But Ward isnÕ t one to take the spotlight alone; he is happy to recognize that others helped, too. Ò I would like to thank all the customers of City Limits who have helped us support the Booster Club for all these years. ItÕ s great to see the money put to good use. Thanks on behalf of City Limits and its staff,Ó Ward said.
Vergennes businessman Brett Ward received official recognition by the Vergennes Booster Club for his assistance and community spirit. Pictured: Lisa Rowell, Brett Ward, Jen Russell, Boosters President Kim Haigis, and Steve Alexander.
4 | August 22, 2015 • Vergennes Day
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A new pastor’s first year at Assembly of God By Gail Callahan
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Rev. Mike Oldham believes he was born to be a pastor. The 46-year-old Massachusetts native is now at the helm of the Assembly of God Christian Center and has been so for just over one month.
ev. Mike Oldham believes he was born to be a pastor. The 46-year-old Massachusetts native is now at the helm of the Assembly of God Christian Center and has been so for just over one month. Oldham comes to the congregation, which numbers about 100 parishioners, from a large, vibrant community in St. Albans, where he served as a full-time pastor for seven years and was part of the worshiping community for three decades. His mission in the community-known as the smallest city in the U.S.entails strengthening the groupÕ s faith life. Ò I want to be part of a healthy community of believers that live and walk the Gospel in Vergennes. I want to grow with this community,Ó Oldham said. The married father of four and grandfather of two placed the family home on the market in Tennessee and then moved to Addison County after his youngest child finished the school year. Oldham was excited about discovering nuances of the community. He talked about walking in the downtown area, stopping by 3 Squares Cafe for coffee and to talk with the Main Street shopÕ s patrons. Oldham said he received his call to ministry when he was 21, and was working in a manufacturing plant and studying in college. He is close to finishing his undergraduate degree in Practical Ministry and is an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God faith tradition.
OldhamÕ s journey to the Ferrisburgh-Vergennes-area congregation started with prayer and conversations. At the time, OldhamÕ s senior pastor and his supervisor at The Northern New England District Council of the Assemblies of God, similar to a bishop, thought OldhamÕ s talents developed to a point where he was ready to be a senior, or lead pastor. Oldham, his wife, Lisa, and other ministers started to pray about the possibility of a promotion, but without informing each other. Then, word of a pastoral opening in Vergennes was announced. After the decision for Oldham to take the spiritual helm of the congregation was sewn up, he discovered the number of people who prayed about the move, but without telling each other. Oldham plans on developing his congregationÕ s spiritual life through three components: song, the written Word of God and prayer. He also added he feels Vergennes will be his spiritual home indefinitely. “I will be here until the day I retire, or the day the Lord calls me home,Ó he added. Oldham grew up in Foxborough, Mass., and he jokes he played high school football on the turf of the PatriotsÕ home stadium. Oldham talked about his work as a pastor as a vocation, rather than just a job. He noted he wakes up daily, knowing he was meant to do this, and also talked about his daughter, who is a teacher in Pittsburgh, pointing out she shares the same enthusiasm for her profession. Ò I love to pastor, and I do it well,Ó Oldham said. Ò I look forward to growing with this community and ministering to them, and IÕ m still learning.Ó
Vergennes is for bicycles By Tim Mathewson
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n Vergennes, Little City Cycles is the place for bicycles. When I was 12, I started fixing bikes and selling them to my neighbors. When I was 14, I got my first job at a bike shop and started racing bikes around New England. During the following 35 years I have owned 3 different bikes shops, worked at shops in Florida and Vermont and given clinics to many schools. In addition to working as a mechanic, salesman, manager, buyer, and owner at bike shops, I have been involved in many other related parts of the industry as well. These include being a sales representative for a bike company, designing frames, building frames out of steel, purchasing parts directly from overseas, and custom fabricating parts for customers. I have also been involved in advocacy work, which includes giving away bikes that I have fixed to kids at Christmas -46 to date. I am a cofounder of Bike Recycle Vermont (BRV), an organization that gives away bikes to refugees that come to this country from the third world and to Vermonters of little or no means. To date BRV has given away over 2000 bikes! I am also patented in 28 countries (U.S. Pat.6902177) for an all terrain wheelchair that is giving access to children in India and Ethiopia who are either polio or land mine victims. It’s very rewarding to provide basic transportation to those who might otherwise not have it. There is a saying that goesÑ Ò Freedom is nothing without access.Ó Here in America, most of us take for granted the ease in which we can get around. This being said, there are still people in this country that have various issues around getting around. One group of people is those who are too heavy for the normal bicycle design. Helping to get anyone from this group to be able to ride is very rewarding, as I believe that everyone deserves to be able to ride if they choose to do so. Currently I own a bike shop called Little City Cycles in Vergennes where I fix and sell bicycles, as well as teach and build and service and sell Zize Bikes. My shop also allows me to be involved in giving away bikes to immigrants that have come from Mexico and Central America to work on farms around the county in which I live. I am married to my wife of 20 years and have a son in college at Beloit College in Wisconsin. I live in a geodesic dome that we built ourselves. I also ride my bike as often as I can, always feeling better after I do. I am always happy to chat about thoughts and ideas in the bike world. Tim Mathewson owns and operates Little City Cycles at 10 N. Main St. (across from Kennedy Brothers) in Vergennes.
When it comes to bicycling in Vergennes and beyond Tim Mathewson is the Big Kahuna. Eagle photo
VUHS alumnus named to editorial board
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ustus Sturtevant, of Vergennes, has been selected to serve on the editorial board of The Crusader student newspaper at Susquehanna University. Sturtevant will serve as managing editor of content for the 2015-16 academic year. The Crusader staff consists of students from a variety of majors. Staff duties include writing and editing articles, taking photographs, assisting with layout and production, updating the online version and seeking advertisers. The Crusader is a weekly newspaper with distribution every Friday during the academic year. Sturtevant, a communications and business major, is a 2013 graduate of Vergennes Union High School, and the son of Todd and Laura Sturtevant.
You can bank on it
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or Vermontiana buffs, March 2015 will go down in the history books as the moment in time when Vergennes became the Green Mountain StateÕ s bank robbery capital. The unofficial crime moniker of the Little City followed two bank holdups, however, with help from the public as well as bank video surveillance images, the two Friday robberies resulted in the arrest of Addison resident Ricky Putnam, 44 in March. According to comments to local news reporters by Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel, Putnam is now facing charges for the Friday the Thirteenth PeopleÕ s United Bank robbery as well as the March 27 Vermont Federal Credit Union. Money from the March 27 robbery was recovered in PutnamÕ s car, Merkel said. Over the weekend, Putnam was housed at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility until his March 30 arraignment in Middlebury. Merkel said police recovered some money from the robbery at the Federal Credit Union in PutnamÕ s car. Tips from several residents in the area helped direct police to Putnam.
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Vergennes Day • August 22, 2015 | 5
Jr. Fishing Derby brings anglers, families, fun to the Little City
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he Vergennes Junior Fishing Derby sponsored by the City of Vergennes and is held in June at the Vergennes Falls Basin. This event is free for all kids ages 3-15. Fishing typically occurs on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. FRIDAY tends to be a full day of fishing from 5 a.m.-8 p.m. The day ends, as it did in recent years, with a Karaoke Dance Party. SATURDAY is a day full of events featuring Lure Taping, LetÕ s Go Fishing Seminar, and Obe White with Cloud Nine Charters will be giving kids a chance to ride on his fishing boat, Free BBQ and live music. SUNDAY wraps things up with fishing from 5-10 a.m. then cleanup until 11 a.m. After the scores are all tallied weÕ ll meet at the Vergennes American Legion for an Ice Cream Party and Awards Ceremony. Throughout the event, special prizes and giveaways take place along the Otter Creek banks throughout the weekend. George from Big River Bait and Tackle is always there for all the angling needs. A Vergennes City Ordinance that closes both sides of the basin at sunset and that ordinance is strictly enforced during the Derby. Anyone caught on the premises after hours will be disqualified from the derby. Camping sites are available at Button Bay State Park 802-475-2377, River’s Edge Campground and Cottages 802-475-2700, or Hillcrest Campground 802-475-2343 as an alternative. For more info or to preregister for the 2016 Derby, contact Martha DeGraaf at 802-877-9986, or marsulli@aol.com. RIGHT: During the annual Vergnnes Jr. Fishing Derby days, a city ordinance closes both sides of the basin at sunset and is strictly enforced during the Derby. Anyone caught on the premises after hours will be disqualified from the derby.
Vergennes man promoted Vergennes Day Race 2015 to Navy captain G B
rian A. Gebo has been promoted to the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy. The Navy’s official announcement was made in June 2014. Gebo is currently serving as a student at the Naval War College, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I. He has served in the military for 22 years. The Naval Command College is a year-long international graduate-level program consisting of 47 senior naval officers from 44 countries. Gebo will be reporting to the National Reconnaissance Office in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Heather, and three boys, Brady, Aidan and Spencer. Gebo is the son of Valli Gebo of Vergennes. He is a 1988 graduate of Vergennes Union High School, Vergennes, Vt. He earned an USN Capt. Brian A. Gebo, wife Heather Holzschuh Gebo and their sons bachelorÕ s degree in 1992 from Brady, Aidan and Spencer stand in Luce Hall at the Naval Command ColMaine Maritime Academy, lege wardroom.
reetings from the Vergennes Day race committee. On Saturday, Aug. 29, we invite you to join us at the 34th annual Vergennes Day race. Please bring your entire family and join us for our annual Little City Race. We have a 5K run and walk that takes you through our city streets and finishes at the City Green. A great opportunity for friends and family to get out and participate in a fun filled and healthy event. We also have a 10K run for those more serious runners, which has a challenging hill climb on Route 66 at the 3 mile mark. The view on the return to Vergennes is beyond spectacular and well worth the hill climb. Both courses have been wheel measured, so you can feel confident our distances are accurate. There will be awards and raffle prizes at the conclusion of our race. We’re hoping for a large turnout of runners and walkers this year, so please register on line. If you don’t like to pre-register online, you can still fill out a paper registration form and register via mail or the morning of the race. A copy of the form can be downloaded from this site. Race Day Registration starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday and at the historic Stevens House adjacent to the Green in Vergennes. All races start at 9 a.m. If youÕ re planning to register the day of the race, please help us out by registering no later than 8:30 am. Also, if you want a race t-shirt, I highly recommend you sign up on line at www.runvermont.org/littlecity. There will be a very limited supply ofs hirts on race day. We look forward to seeing you on Vergennes Day! Scott Gaines Vergennes Day Race Coordinator 802-877-2878 802-877-2873 ( E-mail: scott@gainesinsurance.com
6 | August 22, 2015 • Vergennes Day
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A new gallery in town By Louis Varricchio
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ergennesÕ art renaissance exploded on the scene in the early 2000s. Since then, several art galleries have opened in town and VermontÕ s smallest city is fast becoming a hub for artists in the region. Now a new art venue is part of Main Street. Artist Sean Dye prepared the finishing touches for the grand opening of the Creative Space Gallery & Sean Dye Studio at 214 Main St. in downtown Vergennes last year. The new gallery showcases paintings, prints, sculpture, glass, baskets, textiles, photography and more. The gallery includes more than 30 member artists. ABOVE: Artist Sean Dye is preparing the finishing touches for the grand opening of the Creative Space Gallery & Sean Dye Studio at 214 Main St. in downtown Vergennes. Photo courtesy of Eloise Beal
Vergennes Rotary sponsors annual speech contests
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ach year, Rotary of Greater Vergennes sponsors a local speech contest for students in grades 9 through 12. The winner of the local contest moves on to the district contest and the competition continues at regional, state and finally, national levels. Winners are awarded monetary prizes which are increased at each higher level. In 2014, Vergennes Union High School fielded a total of 13 students to compete for the local prize. Held over a period of two weeks at the weekly Vergennes Rotary Club meetings, the contestants each wrote and delivered a 3 to 5 minute speech based on the theme of applying the Rotary Four Way Test to some situation at a personal, local, state, national or international level. Then, the overall winner was Sophia Parker, with River Hoffmann earning second place and Julia Johnson placing third. In addition to building a connection between Rotary and the local high school students, the annual contest offers a platform for young people to use their freedom of speech and to increase their personal speaking skills. “Every year the students look forward to the Rotary contest,Ó said VUHS history teacher and
speech coach Cookie Steponaitis. Ò They start months ahead of time and they are delighted to have this opportunity.Ó
Sophia Parker of Vergennes
Vergennes Lions Club members are reflective this month as the service organization celebrates its 60th birthday locally.
Vergennes Lions Club: 60 years of service to the community
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ast year, the Vergennes Lions Club celebrated its 60th Anniversary at Basin Harbor Club with International Director Ed Farrington, from New Hampshire, thanking the club for their support to the community and presenting awards to a few members. The club was chartered in November 1954 with 25 members, having been sponsored by the Middlebury Lions Club. Two of the original charter members, Robert Barrows and Richard Poquette are still members. Presently, the Vergennes club is the largest Lions Club in Vermont with nearly 85 members. Over the past 60 plus years, the club has contributed well over $900,000 to the Vergennes area communities. Even though the primary mission has always been sight conservation, where funds are donated for eyeglasses, eye exams, and eye operations, the club has also donated funds for hearing aids for needy folks, winter clothing for elementary school children, funds for Bixby Library, Porter Hospital, Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, Project Independence, Boys and Girls Club, John Graham Shelter, elementary school playgrounds, city parks, holiday food baskets for shut-ins, many handicap accessible ramps, supporting the Vergennes Community Food Shelf, etc. One of the biggest projects is the Lions Club Scholarship Fund which recently has given five $1,000 scholarships each year to graduating seniors at Vergennes Union High School. To be able to donate all these funds, the club has had many different fundraisers over the years, including the New Year’s Eve dance, annual vehicle raffles, scholarship ticket raffles, Memorial Day activities (food, flag, balloon and popcorn sales), Vergennes Day barbeques, an-
nual LionsÕ Auctions, birthday calendars, Memory Trees and LionsÕ Bazaars in the park, variety shows, Texas Hold Ô em tournaments, painting houses, selling light bulbs, selling firewood, and others. Vergennes Lions members have expressed appreciation to the residents of all the area communities for their support in fundraisers and projects. Veteran club members said they are fortunate to have members, in the 20s and others in their 80s, representing diverse backgrounds and talents. In 1976, the Vergennes club sponsored the Bristol Lions Club and in 1996 sponsored the Hinesburg Lions Club. For several years, they also sponsored the Vergennes Leo Club for high school aged youth. Vergennes Lions are a part of District 45 (Vermont) with 34 other clubs. District projects include Vermont Lions Charities, Austine Green Mountain Lions Camp for hearing impaired youth, Lions Twin-State Soccer matches, sight and hearing conservation, etc. Being part of the District, the Vergennes club has provided many leaders in several different positions including District Governors (Larry Simino [1977-78], Larry Myott [2004-05] and Bruce Bushey [2009-10]). Two current members, Debra Bushey and Michael OÓ Daniel, have served as District Cabinet Secretary/Treasurers. Robert Keith was Membership Chair during a period of strong growth. Standing in front of grocery stores recently, Lions ask shoppers if they would consider picking up an extra item or two for the local food shelf. Several tons of food have been added to the Bristol and Vergennes area food shelves in the past 6 years.
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Vergennes Day • August 22, 2015 | 7
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Vergennes’ top officer highlights K-9 program successes By Keith Lobdell
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he head of the Vergennes Police Department came to the Nov. 13 meeting of the Ticonderoga town board to back a plan to bring a K-9 program here. Ticonderoga, N.Y., Police Chief Mark Johns recently presented his plan to bring in a K-9 unit using leftover funds along with budgeted funds for 2015. He said when looking into the possibly of bringing a dog onto the force, Vergennes was the main town he researched. Ò They are a similar size, they have similar drug issues and they have had success with this program,Ó Johns said. Johns then turned the time over to Chief George Merkel, who talked about how having a K-9 in Vergennes has helped their drug program. Ò The K-9 program is worth every penny you put into it,Ó Merkel said. Ò The dog allows you the tools to get the drugs, but you have to have the right guy to handle the dog and the program. You have to have someone who is wanting to stop cars and go to the trouble areas and be aggressive. You have to have a philosophy in your department and you also need to have a philosophy in your town.Ó Merkel said a K-9 can also help reach youth before they can be influenced by a drug culture. Ò The dog gives you a great asset some might not think of,Ó he said. Ò Kids will come up to me and want to meet the dog. The connections I have made in the community because of the dog have been great. I got word people were leaving because they did not want to deal with Merkel and his dog. Good for them and good for me. The good guys love to see it. The bad guys hate to see it.Ó Merkel said the K-9 allows police to search for drugs they might not be able to detect with human senses.
Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel. Photo by Keith Lobdell
Vergennes girl is essay winner
A brief history of Vergennes J T
he history of Vergennes is quite unique in the way it attracted its population. Rather than the traditional Vermont farmers, a different class of people settled here, such as manufacturers, merchants, and professional men including mechanics and laborers. The stretch of 1,200 acres did not afford many to use the land for farming. Vergennes ranks as one of the third oldest cities in New England, as well as the smallest American, historical Vermont communities settled in 1766 and incorporated in 1788. The brick, wood, and stone of Main Street resonate with history. VergennesÕ central business and residential district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Instead, Vergennes served as a commercial center for the surrounding agricultural areas. To date, Vergennes maintains a strong industrial base with two major companies, Goodrich Aerospace (where vital parts for NASAÕ s soon to be retired space-shuttle fleet and defense craft are manufactured) and Nathaniel Electronics. The convenience of Otter Creek and the presence of the Monkton Iron Company, one of the largest iron works in the United States, enhanced the growth of Vergennes into a visible commercial success. With the success, elaborate homes appeared block after block with diverse architectural structures. Early in Vergennes’ history rapid industrial growth appeared with forges, blast furnaces, a wire factory, and other facilities. Such growth made Vergennes the most suitable location for and played an integral part of the War of 1812. It was during the War of 1812 that Commodore Thomas MacDonough established a shipyard at the foot of Otter Creek where he prepared his navy and built numerous ships including, the flagship Saratoga, the largest military vessel ever launched in Vermont. After the war and within ten years, the Lake Champlain Steamship Company built four lake steamers at the same shipyard MacDonough established. In 1824 the opening of the Champlain Canal connected Lake Champlain with the Hudson River and led to increased passenger traffic on the lake. The railroad in 1855 also increased production as lumber was transported. Aside from VergennesÕ history, there are also cultural and recreational attractions. Visit the Opera House, the Greek Revival style Bixby Library, Rokeby Museum, Round Barn Merinos, and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Picnic on the banks of the Otter Creek or the city green where one can experience a true farmer Õ s market. Another fabulous idea would be take a cruise down the Otter Creek to Lake Champ-
lain. Whether one wants adventure or serenity, Vergnenes will satisfy all needs in a hometown away from home. Vergennes will have one in awe viewing the historic buildings and picturesque Main Street with plenty of things to see and do. Vergennes offers a variety of restaurants varying and offering an eclectic array of fare including a touch of the Asian realm and al fresco dining, lodging, and shops including just about everything from Vermont handcrafted products, quality clothing, as well as fresh produce. Further information on some of the historical buildings and businesses include the following: Find the National Historic Landmark Underground site in nearby Ferrisburgh. This fully furnished house holds 200 years of treasures, as well as eight historic farm buildings to explore and plenty of land to hike. The Stevens House, originally Painter Õ s Tavern, built in the late 18th century still remains and features the original architecture. This building served as a stagecoach stop, a tavern, and a hotel. Currently, it houses two restaurants and a bank. The Stevens House is the oldest existent structure on Main Street, a true landmark, and a fine example of Italianate architecture. Vergennes City Hall and Opera House was erected in 1897 is the only Romanesque Revival building on Main Street. By the early 1970Õ s the Opera House had deteriorated having been closed for 24 years. A group of volunteers, known as The Friends of the Vergennes Opera House, raised $1.5 million in a grassroots effort to restore the building, which reopened in 1997. It remains the cultural and educational hub of Vergennes, as well as home to the City Hall offices. Not far from the heart of Vergennes is the Basin Harbor Resort, one of the jewels of the Champlain Valley. This historic hotel situated on Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondack Mountains includes fine dining, a full golf course, tennis, lake cruise boat, ropes course, fitness center, and more. The historic city of Vergennes is home to H.J. LeBoeuf & Son, Inc., one of the longest-standing family-owned establishments located at 210 Main St. HJL Inc. has operated for five generations as a general contracting firm specializing in a diverse range of custom residential, commercial and restoration projects. Norman LeBoeuf, President, carries on the Vergennes family tradition started in 1888 by his great, great grandfather. Some of the restoration/renovation projects undertaken over the 119-year history of the family business include the Stevens Residence (1870) and St. Peter Õ s Roman Catholic Church and Rectory both done in conjunction with Joseph Falardo. CL built the Bridport Masonic Hall in 1891 and H.J. LeBoeuf restored it in 1991.
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By Catherine Oliverio
eanine Angier, an 8th grade student from the Champlain Valley Christian School, is the local winner of the DAR American History Essay Contest: “A Child’s Journey Through Ellis Island.” Jeanine competed against other middle school students and was selected as the winner to move on to the state-level competition. Jeanine is the daughter of Mark and Elisabeth Angier of Vergennes.
A Major Leaguer from Vergennes
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alter Henry Porter (1858Ð 1906) was an American Major League Baseball player born in Vergennes who pitched for three different teams during his six year career. Porter began his career in the short-lived Union Association for the replacement team Milwaukee Brewers. It was for this team that he struck out 18 batters in one game on Oct. 3, 1884. The 18 strikeouts in one game by a losing pitcher stood as the record until Steve Carlton surpassed it when 19th century baseball he struck out 19 in one game in 1969. card showing VerWhen the association folded fol- gennes native son, lowing the season, he was picked Brooklyn pitcher Henup by the Brooklyn Grays (the proto ry Porter. Brooklyn Dodgers), with whom he was their star pitcher. In 1885, he had a record of 33 wins and 21 losses, followed up the next year with 27 wins and 19 losses. After having a bad season in 1887, with a 15Ð 24 record, Porter was purchased by the Kansas City Cowboys for the 1888 season. Porter didnÕ t fare much better, going 18Ð 37, leading the league in hits allowed, runs allowed, home runs allowed, and losses. VergennesÕ s favorite picthcer did have at least one shining moment that season, on June 6, 1888. Porter pitched a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. Like a dazzling shooting star across the night sky, PorterÕ s passing was all too brief. He died in Brockton, Mass., at the young age of 48. He rests under his own mound at Calvary Cemetery.
8 | August 22, 2015 • Vergennes Day
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