Page 4-The Journal Opinion-September 1, 1982
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Grafton County employees
work for their salaries
The Grafton County budget for 1983,
as passed by the county's full
legislative delegation last week calls
for a 6.3 percent budget increase from
that of the current year. In holding the
budget down from an initial budget
recommendation that called for a
budget increase of about 14 percent,
the legislators backed in their final
vote a recommendation from the
delegation's Executive Committee
that called for the elimination of an
increase in salaries and benefits for
county employees.
The idea behind eliminating the
salary increase was an outwardly
sound idea in principle. It was an
alternative to slicing individual item
budgets for county-supported
agencies and exiees,Be,'.ause the •
county will be receiving less financial
help from the stateamt federallevels,
county officials have found that 1983 is
a year in which a relatively small 6.3
percent budget increase can
ultimately be translated into a 25
percent increase in the amount of
county taxes needed to he raised.
This is why many legislators may
have been so reluctant to compromise
on the issue of a county salary in-
crease. This is an election year, which
is an unfortunate time to ask a can-
didate for the legislature to support a
salary increase for government
employees which can be translated
directly to a slight tax increase --
particularly with the party primary
tions just two weeks away.
The delegation last Monday
defeated at least three measures
aimed at offering county employees a
four-percent salary increase; or, in
absence of a pay increase, a merit
bonus system at a cost of about
$60,000. In defending the smaller pay
increase, Rep. Mary Chambers, D-
Hanover, said, "This small amount of
money is to say to the employees that
we appreciate what they've done...
we were elected to take on questions
like this and we have to do our job,"
Ms. Chambers had a point.
County employees who must
operate and maintain the agencies
and services covered under the
county budget may. find their roles
more challenging and difficult in 1983
as they adjust to their new budgets,
many which include increases but
lncreases,m0re -likely chase in
ration than anything else.
County employees operate the
county nursing home, they administer
programs for the disabled and
elderly, they administer welfare
services to the growing number of
individuals unable to find a place for
themselves as our economy worsens,
they operate a crowded county court
system, they are charged with
maintaining an aging correctional
center, and for the most part, they
work diligently for their salaries.
We hope these workers who serve
Grafton County can maintain their
morale and level of commitment to
their jobs in the wake of the county
legislative delegation's decision to
hold their wages at the present level.
* Hydro-power in Piermont
(continued from page I)
of materials yet to be
purchased.
"One of the important
factors that has helped us
to keep our costs so low,"
Evans said, "is that Don
has done all of the
government forms,
completing and reviewing
legal documents, main-
taining contact and liaison
with lawyers and ac-
countants, and responding
to the questions of others
interested in hydro plants.
planning as well as a lot of
hard work on the part of
everyone," Evans said.
Letters to the Edit , ,
Brin00 back Frank Keene
Tothe Editor: The officials must be two months ago Beedecaused
I was a bit shocked to read sleeping, or not doing their a big fight, because he
the article in the Journal job, because most of the time couldn't have his own way.
Opinion on August 25, 1982, they miss what's going on. If Beede is a sore loser and a
about Danny Beede and Frank the officials don't know what's troublemaker. We don't need
Keene. going on or they don't want to people like him to ruin our fun
I can't understand how the know what's going on, then at theraces.
officials did not see.Beede hit they shouldn't be there. Bring Frank Keene back to
Keene, whenallthe]Panssawit I think it's very unfair for Bear Ridge, he's a hell of a
happen, when they were on the Beede to say Frank Keene was good driver.
way to the pits, from the "being a big baby about the YvonneAyola
track, whole thing," when just about Bradford, Vt.
Endorses Scudder Parker
TotheEditor: Vermont Senate, Mr. Parker Committee which meets
The Vermont Primary is has shown vigorous, effective between legislative sessionsto
only a few weeks away and all leadership. His ability to pull hear testimony and recom-
voters should be alert to the people together and provide mend action on energy
candidates and the issues easily understood ex- matters. He has served on the
which they represent when planations of the current Task Force on the Environ-
choosing candidates for the issues has resulted in a con- menu of the Eastern Regional
General Election in structive response to Conference of the Council of
November. problems. This has made an State Governments which has
Scudder Parker has shared important contribution to the worked actively for clean air
the honor of representing the area in the past two years. He legislation at the Federal level
newly reapportioned believes that constituent to combat acid rain.
Caledonia Senatorial District service is a vital part of being Mr. Parker resides with his
during the past two years and a state legislator and spends wife and two daughters in
has announced his candidacy several hours a week East St. Johnsbury, where for
for a second term. The newly throughout the year helping the past 13 years he has been
reapportioned District corn constituents with their minister of the Third
sists of all of Caledonia dealings with the state. Congregational Church and
County, the town of Wolcott in While a first term Senator, the Lower Waterford
Lamoille County and the he served on the Senate Congregational Church.
towns of Newbury, Topsham, Energy and Natural Resource Alice H. Howe
and Bradford in Orange Committee and as clerk of the Member of C.O.V.E.
County. Senate Education Committee. (Coalition of Vermont Elders)
During his first term in the He serves on the Joint Energy St. Johnsbury
Consideration for Chamberlain
To the Editor: Delegation where the budget percent increase proposal
Earlier I had written a letter was finally adopted the offered by Representative
supporting Nelson Cham- County Budget was increased Waiters of Lebanon. For-
berlain in his quest for a seat by $52,801 on the tie-breaking tunately for the taxpayer,
in the House of Represen- votes of Chairman Paul these were all defeated.
tatives from the Haverhill- LaMott. It was LaMott who I still feel that Nelson
Bath-Piermont District. At also proposed another in- Chamberlain warrants your
that time I suggested if the crease in the budget of $60,000 consideration on September
taxpayer is interested in" to fund a bonus for County 14.
holding down expenditures employees. He proposed an Fred W. Snell
Nelson would do a good job. increase in salary for elected Rep. Grafton District 4
At the meeting of the County officials and voted for the 4 Lisbon, N.H.
Urges support of Cattani
To the Editor : candidacy. He is honest, in- State of Vermont needs men
Ourfriend, LouisJ. Cattani. telligent, industrious, likeLouCattani.
is a candidate for the office of dedicated, and well qualified Mnriel R. Stimpson
Orange County State's for the office. Charles H. Stimpson, Jr.
Attorney. We strongly urge all To achieve the best Bradford, Vermont
voters to support him in his government possible, the
Cigarette smokin00 and
To the Editor : cancer has increased at an
Regarding the recent article alarming rate due to the in-
in the Journal Opinion on crease in smoking by women.
teacher smoking, the latest The lesson to be learned
medical report says that from this report is very ap-
t00,000 die each year from parent, don't smoke and
lung cancer mostly due to anyone who does must have a
cigarette smoking. The death back hone like a piece of wet
rate among women with lung spaghetti.
or/ricer
The report also stated that it
cost the taxpayer billions of
dollars to care for the smoke
addict in the final stages of
lung cancer because very few
can afford the extended and
expensive medical treatment.
M. Nevins
Etowah, N.C,
, New faculty members be00in
(continued from page 1) studied abroad in Rouen. athletics.
laude) from Norwich
University. Her previous
experience includes teaching
physical education in the
Montpelier schools, water
safety instruction in a com-
munity recreation program,
elementary and college
gymnastics instructor, and
collegiate ski instructor
Taft is a free-style skier,
was captain of her college
gymnastics team, is ex-
perienced in field hockey and
soccer competition, and has
participated in dramatics
activities at the college level
Lesley Rowe of Middletown,
Conn., has accepted the
French teaching position,
which was recently expanded
to include grades seven and
eight. She holds a B.A.
and M.A. in French language
and literature from the
University of Connecticut. and
. School delayed
The Lamarre Brickyard
At the turn of the century and dumped into the "bed". time to move them hill
This was a wooden-sided the storm broke, they
there was a large and busy
brickyard at the foot of Mt.
Gardner (the present Charles
Bristol place), in the Town of
Bath, across the covered
bridge from Woodsville. The
brickyard was established and
run for about 25 years by
Eustache Lamarre, who had
come from Canada and had
worked at other brickyards in
the area, Martin Gibson's in
East Ryegate and Whitcher's
on Mill Street in Woodsville
(probably Ira Whitcher's).
Mr. Lamarre started the
brickyard around 1896. He and
his growing family lived in
various houses nearby, in-
cluding the upstairs of the
Abbott house, which happens
to be the present home of
Wilfred and Margaret
Lamarre (Eustache's son and
daughter-in-law). Wilfred
says that in those days his
father used to complain that
the house was so cold that the
water would freeze in the
teakettle. Later Eustache and
his family lived in a house on
the riverbank -- which was so
undermined by the currents of
the river that there was i
chain around the house to keep
it from falling in. Eventually
the washout became so
serious that two houses there
were moved to safer locations
nearby.
After renting various
places, Eustache built the
house that is now Charles
Bristol's. Wilfred remembers
the family telling about one
time before he was born, when
his older brother Eugene took
their baby sister Lena up the
hill in her carriage, then let it
roll all the way down the hill
by itself. It scared them all to
death, but Lena was none the
worse for the experience.
Eustache brought four of
his brothers down from
Canada to help run the
brickyard. They were
Augustin, Justinin (known as
Lawrence), Auricle and
Emile.
Augustin was known in the
family as "Uncle Cook",
because he always worked in
the brickyard's boar-
dinghouse as the cook. In 1918
the boardinghouse was sold
and moved to its present
T - 1-1°cation beyond Wilfred's
at []l [ [ house, where it was the home
J--'- of Sternie Graham, and now
He is an ac- the vacation home of the
Sraders.
At its height, the
brickyard employed 25 men.
Most of them were French-
Canadians. Eustache liked to
have them as workers because
they could not speak English,
therefore didn't waste a lot of
time talking to other people in
the village and show up late
for work -- or not at all.
Edwin Chamberlin. tells
about when he was a little boy,
standing out in his dooryard
and watching the groups of
men walking by on the road
after coming down from
Canada on the train.
After the beginning of
World War I it was hard to get
men from Canada, so Mr.
Lamarre brought in workers
from Berlin, N.H., many of
them Russians (exiles from
the Russian Revolution) and
Polanders (Polish). Some of
the names in the old timebook
are Alia Shestak, Wajill
Lanian, Frank Bedavich, John
Soucapau, Sava Carolich,
Adam Lapin, Vickolay
Shostick, Steve Mesolocisky
and Andrey Urinck. Some of
them used to read Russian-
language newspapers,
probably sent here for them
by relatives in Berlin.
For awhile there was an
Egyptian, Warele Shrami,
who lived at the boar-
dinghouse, but when Uncle
Cook was away, he and the
others ate their meals at the
Lamarres' house, and
Wilfred's stepmother cooked
for them. After each meal,
Warele would express his
appreciation by coming
around the table to Mrs.
Lamarre and kissing her
hand. This caused her con-
siderable embarrassment, it
not being a local custom, but
even if she disappeared into
the kitchen he would follow
her and kiss her hand.
semicircle where the clay was
mixed with water and left to
soak for a day to soften the
hard chunks.
Next, two shovelsfull of
clay per shovelfull of sand,
along with the necessary
amount of water, were mixed
in the "brick machine." This
was a large hopper with
revolving blades, propelled by
a horse turning a sweep in a
circle around the machine and
the bed. (This is why the bed
was semicicular.) Therd were
three brick machines, and
when times were busy, all
three were going at once. The
horses had to be swapped and
rested fairly often, as they
would get dizzy, going around
and around in circles.
The bricks were formed in
wooden molds, usually made
of cherry wood, and each
would hold six bricks. The
mold was dipped in a tub of
water so the bricks would slide
out of it more easily -- making
"waterstruck" bricks, as
opposed to "sandstruck"
bricks which have come from
a mold dipped in sand.
Waterstruck bricks were
more desirable, but harder to
make and therefore more
expensive.
A skilled brickmaker or
"striker" would push the mold
under the blades of the brick
machine by means of a lever,
then step on a treadle which
would press the clay mixture
into the mold and scrape off
the surplus.
Next in the production line
was the mold carrier, who
loaded three full molds on a
two-wheeled cart and wheeled
them away to the yard. On the
way he had to watch out not to
get run into by the horse that
was powering the machine.
Wilfred says that some of the
horses were pretty good and
would slow down if they saw
the brick carrier coming out,
but others wouldn't pay any
attention. Also, if the brick
machine hit a stone, some of
the horses would stop, while
others would keep going and
force the sweep pole and
break it.
The yard was a fiat area
of ground about 40 feet wide
and perfectly smooth, where
the bricks were first dried.
The mold carrier would slide
the mold off the cart and flip it
pull a lightweight
the remainder.
started blowing
drying shed, they
panels on the sides
place that the
leaking through
steady drip on one
make a hole
brick. After the
burned (baked or
didn't have to worrY
rain anymore.
Burning the
The kiln for
bricks was a long
with a series of
arches along the
Behind each
bricks to be fired were
in such a way as
long, narrow
opening was
bricks,
down the draft,
against it was a
metal door with
Wilfred has one
doors, which
found on the site
brickyard.
Firewood was
through the arch
replenished as it
the arches with a
pole 12 to 15 feet
pushed quickly,
pole caught fire
tremendous heat.
beginning, as the
the last of their
could see the steam
them. The more
out, the hotter they
the more draft was (
and the more
needed in the fires.
kilns had burned for4
days, the loose
roof of the
off -- otherwise
have burned from the
The complete
firing time was
days, and a batch
was fired
were enough to fill !
sometimes only
season, but three
business was
Selling
Eustache b
bricks were used
the area, inclUC
Woodsville High
building, the
(Hovey's), and
engineering and can do a Their two teen-age sons, of a serxes of annUal School
lot of, ff not most of, the Andrew and Peter, have Meetings in July, said Munn.
electrical work. This has worked all summer doing Walls(tom has predicted the
been a substantial saving all the necessary "odd sprayed insulation in the
to the whole venture." jobs." school's gymnasium may take
Smith is a broadcast "We havecompletedthis slightly longer to dry than
engineer employed at the project with an eye to long- most of the other sections of
broadcast tower on Mr. term investment. But the school building.
Ascutney. because it is a high risk Munn said Monday morning
Evans handles all of the venture we recognized the that the insulation project is
paper work which includes need for good, thorough part of a $35,000 energy
(continued from page l) project approved by Fairlee
voters as a line item at their
annual School Meeting. Munn
said workers have installed
storm windows on the outside
of the building in addition to
the insulation measures.
The school also was treated
to a new coat of paint this
summer and Munn said the
school will be in fine shape for
the 87 or so students expected
to attend the school this fall.
Enrollment is expected to
increase only slightly com-
pared to an enrollment figure
of 85 students attending the
school last year.
"We've also done a lot of
work to the playground over
the summer which has turned
out pretty well," Munn added.
The Fairlee principal said
that no new major staffing
cha-ges have occurred at the
school since last year and that
all of last year's teachers
would be returning.
"Actually, the insulation
isn't the only thing that made
us wait," said Munn about the
opening day delay, "we've
still got a lot of blackboards to
put back up and the con-
struction company doing the
work still needs some time to
get things cleaned up."
School officials say the five
., days lost during the delay will
%:. € most likely have to be made
up by adding those days to the
rest of the school calendar,
Eastman Brook Hydro Dam upstream.
France.
Her work experience in-
cludes teaching French at the
college and high school level,
serving as assistant director
of the University of Con-
necticut Junior Year in
France program, and director
of a high school chorus. In
addition to a strong French
background, she is certified as
a teacher of mathematics, has
some knowledge of German,
and is experienced in amateur
dramatics.
Guidance
Serving as school counselor
will be Brian Garrigan. He
holds a B.A. degree (cum
laude) from Salem State
College < Mass.) and M.Ed. in
Counseling from Northeastern
University.
He has experience as a
secondary school counselor,
college resident director,
counselor m a group home,
and playground supervisor.
He has been active in com-
munity affairs, attended
several conferences in order
to maintain professional
skills, and is active in
complished brass musician,
and ha been very active in
student government ac-
tivities.
New Principal
The principal, Dr. Douglas
Harris, holds degrees from
California State College (A.),
West Virginia University, and
Kent State (Ph.D: in Special
Education Administration).
He brings to BMU a broad
background as an English
teacher, librarian, curriculum
consultant, college instructor,
and evaluation specialist, with
a special emphasis on
programs for talented and
gifted education. Other in-
terests and activities have
included professional
baseball, writing, volunteer
fireman, religious instructor,
civic organizations, and sports
officiating.
Dr. Harris will be con-
centrating on increased
parent involvement in the
school, a five-year plan for
curriculum revision, revised
discipline codes, and effective
staff evaluation.
4¢ Approve county
(continued from page t )
will have to raise.
To give an idea of hew
county taxes have effected
individual towns in the past,
this is how taxes in the town of
Haverhill were broken down
this year: 69 percent of
Haverhill property taxes go to
the Haverhill Cooperative
School District. 25 percent
goes to the Town of Haverhill,
about six percent presently
goes to the county, according
to town officials. How this will
change as a result of a 25
percent county tax increase
will be determined by the
budget
state in the next few weeks.
Final Vote
The final vote on the budget
before the county's legislative
delegation, taken last Monday
at the delegation's meeting
held in the Grafton County
Courthouse, was 16 to six. Six
othei" county legislators chose
not to attend the meeting.
Reported to have voted
against the budget were:
Nelson Chamberlin, R- Bath;
Anthony Pepitone, R&D-
Bethlehem; John Hammond,
R- Canaan; Mary Chambers,
D- Hanover: Michael King, D-
Hanover; and Lorine Walter,
R&D- Lebanon.
Local students accepted to
Vermont Technical CoHere
RANDOLPH-- David Melahn
has been accepted to Vermont
Technical College in Randolph
Center, Vt. for the 1982-1983
academic year.
David, who will" be enrolled
in the Electrical & Electronics
Engineering program at
Vermont Technical College is
the son of John and Priscilla
Melahn. David graduated
from Oxbow High School in
June 1982.
Glen Larkham has also been
accepted to Vermont
Technical College forthe 1982-
1983 academic year. Glen, who
will be enrolled'in the Dairy
Farm Management program
at Vermont Technical College
is the son of Everal and
Cynthia Larkham.
Glen graduated from Oxbow
High School in June 1982.
Making bricks
Wilfred Lamarre has
described how "they used to
make bricks:
The basic raw materials
were clay and sand, both of
which were plentiful at the
brickyard site. In those days
the hard blue clay had to be
cut or chopped out of the
claybank hy hand with a
mattock, then shoveled into a
wheelbarrow (later a two-
wheeled horse-drawn cart)
and wheeled along a trestle
onto the ground, slide out the Block (Mt.
cover (the removable bottom ments). Wilfred
of the mold), and lift the mold when Dick
away from the bricks. He bad ready to construct
to flip the full mold just right and theater building
or it would hit his legs or land what the price of
on his feet. would be, and theY
Both the striker and the thousand- or $6.25
mold carrier worked barefoot, A thousand was
because these were such wet they could deliver ia
jobs. The striker protected his and it took them
clothes with a big rubber hour with two
apron, and a man, horse
The mold carriers used to to take them to
run as fast as they could with struction site and
each load of bricks, to meet a -- all for 25 cents a
quota of 10,000 bricks each day times change l
from each brick machine's Wilfred
crew (5 or 6 men). In the early he was a small boy,
years around 1900 they worked his cousin who
from 6 in the morning to 6 at ster, hauling bri
night, with a break at noon- Haverhill for
time, but later their hours library there
were shorter. They had a large quantitiesof
shower in the woods for sold to
washing off the sticky clay struction Company
before going back to the to the freight
boardinghouse or to their shipment to
homes. Brickmaking was Massachusetts. At
hard, heavy, wet work, and the road from
sometimes cold work, as when bridge turned
they started the season the People's Market
first of May, and there was steep hill, and a
sometimes ice in the tub which the horses
they had to break before they bricks. The
could dip the molds. The loaded into
brickmaking season ran until teamster
about the end of September. two in each hand, 1
the boxcar-
Drying the bricks either catch then
In good drying weather, on his toes. Someti
bricks were left in the yard for throwing the
about a day. While there they show off a little
were smoothed by striking bricks in midair.
with a "spanker", and were job that
flipped onto their sides, six at mitts to cover
a time, with a long handled hands, or they
implement called a"turner".
After the bricks were dry
'enough to hold their shape
firmly they were "hicked"
(also spelled haked), or
stacked in the drying shed,
arranged to let air circulate
among them, and left there for
about a week. Most of the
Russian workers couldn't
understand English, but if Mr.
Lamarre told them,
"Hicking", they would go at
moving the bricks into the
drying shed.
If the bricks got rained on
before they were thoroughly
dry, each raindrop would
make a little dimple in the
brick. Wilfred says that his
father used to watch the sky
over Blue Mountain, and if he
saw a storm approaching they
would hick the bricks in the
yard -- but if they didn't have
Later yea
Eustache Latna
skilled
had very li
education, so he
on his firsl
bookkeeping
management.
in 1906 the
of the
and eventually
ownership of
although he
operator of the
it closed in 1922:
World War I
following it
times at the
one thing, it
labor. Also,
getting too stony,
to haul sand
( Please
Page 4-The Journal Opinion-September 1, 1982
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SocHd cleso postgto peid ut Iredford, Vermont 05033. PubUskod by NortbNst Publishing Compony, Inc.,
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, Robert F. Huminski
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v x
Bradford . Woodsville
02-222-5281 603-7,17-2016
An Independent Newspaper
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Grafton County employees
work for their salaries
The Grafton County budget for 1983,
as passed by the county's full
legislative delegation last week calls
for a 6.3 percent budget increase from
that of the current year. In holding the
budget down from an initial budget
recommendation that called for a
budget increase of about 14 percent,
the legislators backed in their final
vote a recommendation from the
delegation's Executive Committee
that called for the elimination of an
increase in salaries and benefits for
county employees.
The idea behind eliminating the
salary increase was an outwardly
sound idea in principle. It was an
alternative to slicing individual item
budgets for county-supported
agencies and exiees,Be,'.ause the •
county will be receiving less financial
help from the stateamt federallevels,
county officials have found that 1983 is
a year in which a relatively small 6.3
percent budget increase can
ultimately be translated into a 25
percent increase in the amount of
county taxes needed to he raised.
This is why many legislators may
have been so reluctant to compromise
on the issue of a county salary in-
crease. This is an election year, which
is an unfortunate time to ask a can-
didate for the legislature to support a
salary increase for government
employees which can be translated
directly to a slight tax increase --
particularly with the party primary
tions just two weeks away.
The delegation last Monday
defeated at least three measures
aimed at offering county employees a
four-percent salary increase; or, in
absence of a pay increase, a merit
bonus system at a cost of about
$60,000. In defending the smaller pay
increase, Rep. Mary Chambers, D-
Hanover, said, "This small amount of
money is to say to the employees that
we appreciate what they've done...
we were elected to take on questions
like this and we have to do our job,"
Ms. Chambers had a point.
County employees who must
operate and maintain the agencies
and services covered under the
county budget may. find their roles
more challenging and difficult in 1983
as they adjust to their new budgets,
many which include increases but
lncreases,m0re -likely chase in
ration than anything else.
County employees operate the
county nursing home, they administer
programs for the disabled and
elderly, they administer welfare
services to the growing number of
individuals unable to find a place for
themselves as our economy worsens,
they operate a crowded county court
system, they are charged with
maintaining an aging correctional
center, and for the most part, they
work diligently for their salaries.
We hope these workers who serve
Grafton County can maintain their
morale and level of commitment to
their jobs in the wake of the county
legislative delegation's decision to
hold their wages at the present level.
* Hydro-power in Piermont
(continued from page I)
of materials yet to be
purchased.
"One of the important
factors that has helped us
to keep our costs so low,"
Evans said, "is that Don
has done all of the
government forms,
completing and reviewing
legal documents, main-
taining contact and liaison
with lawyers and ac-
countants, and responding
to the questions of others
interested in hydro plants.
planning as well as a lot of
hard work on the part of
everyone," Evans said.
Letters to the Edit , ,
Brin00 back Frank Keene
Tothe Editor: The officials must be two months ago Beedecaused
I was a bit shocked to read sleeping, or not doing their a big fight, because he
the article in the Journal job, because most of the time couldn't have his own way.
Opinion on August 25, 1982, they miss what's going on. If Beede is a sore loser and a
about Danny Beede and Frank the officials don't know what's troublemaker. We don't need
Keene. going on or they don't want to people like him to ruin our fun
I can't understand how the know what's going on, then at theraces.
officials did not see.Beede hit they shouldn't be there. Bring Frank Keene back to
Keene, whenallthe]Panssawit I think it's very unfair for Bear Ridge, he's a hell of a
happen, when they were on the Beede to say Frank Keene was good driver.
way to the pits, from the "being a big baby about the YvonneAyola
track, whole thing," when just about Bradford, Vt.
Endorses Scudder Parker
TotheEditor: Vermont Senate, Mr. Parker Committee which meets
The Vermont Primary is has shown vigorous, effective between legislative sessionsto
only a few weeks away and all leadership. His ability to pull hear testimony and recom-
voters should be alert to the people together and provide mend action on energy
candidates and the issues easily understood ex- matters. He has served on the
which they represent when planations of the current Task Force on the Environ-
choosing candidates for the issues has resulted in a con- menu of the Eastern Regional
General Election in structive response to Conference of the Council of
November. problems. This has made an State Governments which has
Scudder Parker has shared important contribution to the worked actively for clean air
the honor of representing the area in the past two years. He legislation at the Federal level
newly reapportioned believes that constituent to combat acid rain.
Caledonia Senatorial District service is a vital part of being Mr. Parker resides with his
during the past two years and a state legislator and spends wife and two daughters in
has announced his candidacy several hours a week East St. Johnsbury, where for
for a second term. The newly throughout the year helping the past 13 years he has been
reapportioned District corn constituents with their minister of the Third
sists of all of Caledonia dealings with the state. Congregational Church and
County, the town of Wolcott in While a first term Senator, the Lower Waterford
Lamoille County and the he served on the Senate Congregational Church.
towns of Newbury, Topsham, Energy and Natural Resource Alice H. Howe
and Bradford in Orange Committee and as clerk of the Member of C.O.V.E.
County. Senate Education Committee. (Coalition of Vermont Elders)
During his first term in the He serves on the Joint Energy St. Johnsbury
Consideration for Chamberlain
To the Editor: Delegation where the budget percent increase proposal
Earlier I had written a letter was finally adopted the offered by Representative
supporting Nelson Cham- County Budget was increased Waiters of Lebanon. For-
berlain in his quest for a seat by $52,801 on the tie-breaking tunately for the taxpayer,
in the House of Represen- votes of Chairman Paul these were all defeated.
tatives from the Haverhill- LaMott. It was LaMott who I still feel that Nelson
Bath-Piermont District. At also proposed another in- Chamberlain warrants your
that time I suggested if the crease in the budget of $60,000 consideration on September
taxpayer is interested in" to fund a bonus for County 14.
holding down expenditures employees. He proposed an Fred W. Snell
Nelson would do a good job. increase in salary for elected Rep. Grafton District 4
At the meeting of the County officials and voted for the 4 Lisbon, N.H.
Urges support of Cattani
To the Editor : candidacy. He is honest, in- State of Vermont needs men
Ourfriend, LouisJ. Cattani. telligent, industrious, likeLouCattani.
is a candidate for the office of dedicated, and well qualified Mnriel R. Stimpson
Orange County State's for the office. Charles H. Stimpson, Jr.
Attorney. We strongly urge all To achieve the best Bradford, Vermont
voters to support him in his government possible, the
Cigarette smokin00 and
To the Editor : cancer has increased at an
Regarding the recent article alarming rate due to the in-
in the Journal Opinion on crease in smoking by women.
teacher smoking, the latest The lesson to be learned
medical report says that from this report is very ap-
t00,000 die each year from parent, don't smoke and
lung cancer mostly due to anyone who does must have a
cigarette smoking. The death back hone like a piece of wet
rate among women with lung spaghetti.
or/ricer
The report also stated that it
cost the taxpayer billions of
dollars to care for the smoke
addict in the final stages of
lung cancer because very few
can afford the extended and
expensive medical treatment.
M. Nevins
Etowah, N.C,
, New faculty members be00in
(continued from page 1) studied abroad in Rouen. athletics.
laude) from Norwich
University. Her previous
experience includes teaching
physical education in the
Montpelier schools, water
safety instruction in a com-
munity recreation program,
elementary and college
gymnastics instructor, and
collegiate ski instructor
Taft is a free-style skier,
was captain of her college
gymnastics team, is ex-
perienced in field hockey and
soccer competition, and has
participated in dramatics
activities at the college level
Lesley Rowe of Middletown,
Conn., has accepted the
French teaching position,
which was recently expanded
to include grades seven and
eight. She holds a B.A.
and M.A. in French language
and literature from the
University of Connecticut. and
. School delayed
The Lamarre Brickyard
At the turn of the century and dumped into the "bed". time to move them hill
This was a wooden-sided the storm broke, they
there was a large and busy
brickyard at the foot of Mt.
Gardner (the present Charles
Bristol place), in the Town of
Bath, across the covered
bridge from Woodsville. The
brickyard was established and
run for about 25 years by
Eustache Lamarre, who had
come from Canada and had
worked at other brickyards in
the area, Martin Gibson's in
East Ryegate and Whitcher's
on Mill Street in Woodsville
(probably Ira Whitcher's).
Mr. Lamarre started the
brickyard around 1896. He and
his growing family lived in
various houses nearby, in-
cluding the upstairs of the
Abbott house, which happens
to be the present home of
Wilfred and Margaret
Lamarre (Eustache's son and
daughter-in-law). Wilfred
says that in those days his
father used to complain that
the house was so cold that the
water would freeze in the
teakettle. Later Eustache and
his family lived in a house on
the riverbank -- which was so
undermined by the currents of
the river that there was i
chain around the house to keep
it from falling in. Eventually
the washout became so
serious that two houses there
were moved to safer locations
nearby.
After renting various
places, Eustache built the
house that is now Charles
Bristol's. Wilfred remembers
the family telling about one
time before he was born, when
his older brother Eugene took
their baby sister Lena up the
hill in her carriage, then let it
roll all the way down the hill
by itself. It scared them all to
death, but Lena was none the
worse for the experience.
Eustache brought four of
his brothers down from
Canada to help run the
brickyard. They were
Augustin, Justinin (known as
Lawrence), Auricle and
Emile.
Augustin was known in the
family as "Uncle Cook",
because he always worked in
the brickyard's boar-
dinghouse as the cook. In 1918
the boardinghouse was sold
and moved to its present
T - 1-1°cation beyond Wilfred's
at []l [ [ house, where it was the home
J--'- of Sternie Graham, and now
He is an ac- the vacation home of the
Sraders.
At its height, the
brickyard employed 25 men.
Most of them were French-
Canadians. Eustache liked to
have them as workers because
they could not speak English,
therefore didn't waste a lot of
time talking to other people in
the village and show up late
for work -- or not at all.
Edwin Chamberlin. tells
about when he was a little boy,
standing out in his dooryard
and watching the groups of
men walking by on the road
after coming down from
Canada on the train.
After the beginning of
World War I it was hard to get
men from Canada, so Mr.
Lamarre brought in workers
from Berlin, N.H., many of
them Russians (exiles from
the Russian Revolution) and
Polanders (Polish). Some of
the names in the old timebook
are Alia Shestak, Wajill
Lanian, Frank Bedavich, John
Soucapau, Sava Carolich,
Adam Lapin, Vickolay
Shostick, Steve Mesolocisky
and Andrey Urinck. Some of
them used to read Russian-
language newspapers,
probably sent here for them
by relatives in Berlin.
For awhile there was an
Egyptian, Warele Shrami,
who lived at the boar-
dinghouse, but when Uncle
Cook was away, he and the
others ate their meals at the
Lamarres' house, and
Wilfred's stepmother cooked
for them. After each meal,
Warele would express his
appreciation by coming
around the table to Mrs.
Lamarre and kissing her
hand. This caused her con-
siderable embarrassment, it
not being a local custom, but
even if she disappeared into
the kitchen he would follow
her and kiss her hand.
semicircle where the clay was
mixed with water and left to
soak for a day to soften the
hard chunks.
Next, two shovelsfull of
clay per shovelfull of sand,
along with the necessary
amount of water, were mixed
in the "brick machine." This
was a large hopper with
revolving blades, propelled by
a horse turning a sweep in a
circle around the machine and
the bed. (This is why the bed
was semicicular.) Therd were
three brick machines, and
when times were busy, all
three were going at once. The
horses had to be swapped and
rested fairly often, as they
would get dizzy, going around
and around in circles.
The bricks were formed in
wooden molds, usually made
of cherry wood, and each
would hold six bricks. The
mold was dipped in a tub of
water so the bricks would slide
out of it more easily -- making
"waterstruck" bricks, as
opposed to "sandstruck"
bricks which have come from
a mold dipped in sand.
Waterstruck bricks were
more desirable, but harder to
make and therefore more
expensive.
A skilled brickmaker or
"striker" would push the mold
under the blades of the brick
machine by means of a lever,
then step on a treadle which
would press the clay mixture
into the mold and scrape off
the surplus.
Next in the production line
was the mold carrier, who
loaded three full molds on a
two-wheeled cart and wheeled
them away to the yard. On the
way he had to watch out not to
get run into by the horse that
was powering the machine.
Wilfred says that some of the
horses were pretty good and
would slow down if they saw
the brick carrier coming out,
but others wouldn't pay any
attention. Also, if the brick
machine hit a stone, some of
the horses would stop, while
others would keep going and
force the sweep pole and
break it.
The yard was a fiat area
of ground about 40 feet wide
and perfectly smooth, where
the bricks were first dried.
The mold carrier would slide
the mold off the cart and flip it
pull a lightweight
the remainder.
started blowing
drying shed, they
panels on the sides
place that the
leaking through
steady drip on one
make a hole
brick. After the
burned (baked or
didn't have to worrY
rain anymore.
Burning the
The kiln for
bricks was a long
with a series of
arches along the
Behind each
bricks to be fired were
in such a way as
long, narrow
opening was
bricks,
down the draft,
against it was a
metal door with
Wilfred has one
doors, which
found on the site
brickyard.
Firewood was
through the arch
replenished as it
the arches with a
pole 12 to 15 feet
pushed quickly,
pole caught fire
tremendous heat.
beginning, as the
the last of their
could see the steam
them. The more
out, the hotter they
the more draft was (
and the more
needed in the fires.
kilns had burned for4
days, the loose
roof of the
off -- otherwise
have burned from the
The complete
firing time was
days, and a batch
was fired
were enough to fill !
sometimes only
season, but three
business was
Selling
Eustache b
bricks were used
the area, inclUC
Woodsville High
building, the
(Hovey's), and
engineering and can do a Their two teen-age sons, of a serxes of annUal School
lot of, ff not most of, the Andrew and Peter, have Meetings in July, said Munn.
electrical work. This has worked all summer doing Walls(tom has predicted the
been a substantial saving all the necessary "odd sprayed insulation in the
to the whole venture." jobs." school's gymnasium may take
Smith is a broadcast "We havecompletedthis slightly longer to dry than
engineer employed at the project with an eye to long- most of the other sections of
broadcast tower on Mr. term investment. But the school building.
Ascutney. because it is a high risk Munn said Monday morning
Evans handles all of the venture we recognized the that the insulation project is
paper work which includes need for good, thorough part of a $35,000 energy
(continued from page l) project approved by Fairlee
voters as a line item at their
annual School Meeting. Munn
said workers have installed
storm windows on the outside
of the building in addition to
the insulation measures.
The school also was treated
to a new coat of paint this
summer and Munn said the
school will be in fine shape for
the 87 or so students expected
to attend the school this fall.
Enrollment is expected to
increase only slightly com-
pared to an enrollment figure
of 85 students attending the
school last year.
"We've also done a lot of
work to the playground over
the summer which has turned
out pretty well," Munn added.
The Fairlee principal said
that no new major staffing
cha-ges have occurred at the
school since last year and that
all of last year's teachers
would be returning.
"Actually, the insulation
isn't the only thing that made
us wait," said Munn about the
opening day delay, "we've
still got a lot of blackboards to
put back up and the con-
struction company doing the
work still needs some time to
get things cleaned up."
School officials say the five
., days lost during the delay will
%:. € most likely have to be made
up by adding those days to the
rest of the school calendar,
Eastman Brook Hydro Dam upstream.
France.
Her work experience in-
cludes teaching French at the
college and high school level,
serving as assistant director
of the University of Con-
necticut Junior Year in
France program, and director
of a high school chorus. In
addition to a strong French
background, she is certified as
a teacher of mathematics, has
some knowledge of German,
and is experienced in amateur
dramatics.
Guidance
Serving as school counselor
will be Brian Garrigan. He
holds a B.A. degree (cum
laude) from Salem State
College < Mass.) and M.Ed. in
Counseling from Northeastern
University.
He has experience as a
secondary school counselor,
college resident director,
counselor m a group home,
and playground supervisor.
He has been active in com-
munity affairs, attended
several conferences in order
to maintain professional
skills, and is active in
complished brass musician,
and ha been very active in
student government ac-
tivities.
New Principal
The principal, Dr. Douglas
Harris, holds degrees from
California State College (A.),
West Virginia University, and
Kent State (Ph.D: in Special
Education Administration).
He brings to BMU a broad
background as an English
teacher, librarian, curriculum
consultant, college instructor,
and evaluation specialist, with
a special emphasis on
programs for talented and
gifted education. Other in-
terests and activities have
included professional
baseball, writing, volunteer
fireman, religious instructor,
civic organizations, and sports
officiating.
Dr. Harris will be con-
centrating on increased
parent involvement in the
school, a five-year plan for
curriculum revision, revised
discipline codes, and effective
staff evaluation.
4¢ Approve county
(continued from page t )
will have to raise.
To give an idea of hew
county taxes have effected
individual towns in the past,
this is how taxes in the town of
Haverhill were broken down
this year: 69 percent of
Haverhill property taxes go to
the Haverhill Cooperative
School District. 25 percent
goes to the Town of Haverhill,
about six percent presently
goes to the county, according
to town officials. How this will
change as a result of a 25
percent county tax increase
will be determined by the
budget
state in the next few weeks.
Final Vote
The final vote on the budget
before the county's legislative
delegation, taken last Monday
at the delegation's meeting
held in the Grafton County
Courthouse, was 16 to six. Six
othei" county legislators chose
not to attend the meeting.
Reported to have voted
against the budget were:
Nelson Chamberlin, R- Bath;
Anthony Pepitone, R&D-
Bethlehem; John Hammond,
R- Canaan; Mary Chambers,
D- Hanover: Michael King, D-
Hanover; and Lorine Walter,
R&D- Lebanon.
Local students accepted to
Vermont Technical CoHere
RANDOLPH-- David Melahn
has been accepted to Vermont
Technical College in Randolph
Center, Vt. for the 1982-1983
academic year.
David, who will" be enrolled
in the Electrical & Electronics
Engineering program at
Vermont Technical College is
the son of John and Priscilla
Melahn. David graduated
from Oxbow High School in
June 1982.
Glen Larkham has also been
accepted to Vermont
Technical College forthe 1982-
1983 academic year. Glen, who
will be enrolled'in the Dairy
Farm Management program
at Vermont Technical College
is the son of Everal and
Cynthia Larkham.
Glen graduated from Oxbow
High School in June 1982.
Making bricks
Wilfred Lamarre has
described how "they used to
make bricks:
The basic raw materials
were clay and sand, both of
which were plentiful at the
brickyard site. In those days
the hard blue clay had to be
cut or chopped out of the
claybank hy hand with a
mattock, then shoveled into a
wheelbarrow (later a two-
wheeled horse-drawn cart)
and wheeled along a trestle
onto the ground, slide out the Block (Mt.
cover (the removable bottom ments). Wilfred
of the mold), and lift the mold when Dick
away from the bricks. He bad ready to construct
to flip the full mold just right and theater building
or it would hit his legs or land what the price of
on his feet. would be, and theY
Both the striker and the thousand- or $6.25
mold carrier worked barefoot, A thousand was
because these were such wet they could deliver ia
jobs. The striker protected his and it took them
clothes with a big rubber hour with two
apron, and a man, horse
The mold carriers used to to take them to
run as fast as they could with struction site and
each load of bricks, to meet a -- all for 25 cents a
quota of 10,000 bricks each day times change l
from each brick machine's Wilfred
crew (5 or 6 men). In the early he was a small boy,
years around 1900 they worked his cousin who
from 6 in the morning to 6 at ster, hauling bri
night, with a break at noon- Haverhill for
time, but later their hours library there
were shorter. They had a large quantitiesof
shower in the woods for sold to
washing off the sticky clay struction Company
before going back to the to the freight
boardinghouse or to their shipment to
homes. Brickmaking was Massachusetts. At
hard, heavy, wet work, and the road from
sometimes cold work, as when bridge turned
they started the season the People's Market
first of May, and there was steep hill, and a
sometimes ice in the tub which the horses
they had to break before they bricks. The
could dip the molds. The loaded into
brickmaking season ran until teamster
about the end of September. two in each hand, 1
the boxcar-
Drying the bricks either catch then
In good drying weather, on his toes. Someti
bricks were left in the yard for throwing the
about a day. While there they show off a little
were smoothed by striking bricks in midair.
with a "spanker", and were job that
flipped onto their sides, six at mitts to cover
a time, with a long handled hands, or they
implement called a"turner".
After the bricks were dry
'enough to hold their shape
firmly they were "hicked"
(also spelled haked), or
stacked in the drying shed,
arranged to let air circulate
among them, and left there for
about a week. Most of the
Russian workers couldn't
understand English, but if Mr.
Lamarre told them,
"Hicking", they would go at
moving the bricks into the
drying shed.
If the bricks got rained on
before they were thoroughly
dry, each raindrop would
make a little dimple in the
brick. Wilfred says that his
father used to watch the sky
over Blue Mountain, and if he
saw a storm approaching they
would hick the bricks in the
yard -- but if they didn't have
Later yea
Eustache Latna
skilled
had very li
education, so he
on his firsl
bookkeeping
management.
in 1906 the
of the
and eventually
ownership of
although he
operator of the
it closed in 1922:
World War I
following it
times at the
one thing, it
labor. Also,
getting too stony,
to haul sand
( Please
