Annual Meeting and Sandbar Restaurant Program by Bill and Ron Phelps

Sept. 18, 2013 Dear SHHS Members, We would like to invite you to our very first SHHS Annual Meeting on Oct. 4, 2013 at the Folsom School starting at 6:30. We will be voting on the By-Laws which a committee worked on this year. We will present a Treasurer's report and a budget for next year. We will ask for your input into projects you would like to see the society consider and future programs you would like to see the society host. We will also host Bill and Ron Phelps telling stories of their grandfather Benajah Phelps and their great-uncle Sydney Phelps who built and operated the Sandbar Restaurant, otherwise known as the Phelps House. In addition to collecting tolls for the bridge, they operated an inn and a restaurant. This grandfather also planted the trees at the south end of South Street. Great-grandfather Benajah was also postmaster, as well as having fought in the Civil War. All are welcome to share in an important part of our local history. Members have received via email or snail mail

the President's report of the society's activities for the past year and a copy of the By-Laws which we will need to vote on that night. Please take a moment to look them over and if you have any questions you may email us or call our president, Terry Robinson at 372-3933. Thank you for your input and support. We hope to see you Friday, Oct. 4. Your SHHS Executive board, President-Terry Robinson Vice-president-Peg Clark Treasurer-Sue Crowley Secretary--Dolf Wirsing Trustees-Bret Corbin, Judy Duval, Ken Rocheleau and Hazel Quelch

Pictures From Two Campgrounds--Lakeside and Skyland

A few stories from our program;
Ron Phelps would pick raspberries for 10 cents a quart for his Grandma and she would sell them to Skyland for 65cents!!
Loved the stories about the vacationers who ended up having summer romances with the locals and ended up married and living in South Hero!

Friday, Sept. 6th at 7PM at Folsom School--Two Historic Campgrounds

Two Historic Campgrounds Featured by So. Hero Historical Society Friday, Sept. 6th at seven o’clock at Folsom Ed. Center the So Hero Historical Society will reminisce about Skyland and Lakeside Campgrounds. Both at one time offered campers delicious communal dinners. Both hosted campers who returned season after season and now have become residents of South Hero. Priscilla Norton Arnold, third generation owner/manager of Skyland will share stories of Skyland, which was purchased by her grandparents, William and Mable Norton in l927. Many of us have fond memories of her father, our local doctor, whom we would see every day at eight o’clock as he drove up South Street to make his rounds. He was one of the last to make house calls. Skyland no longer serves meals, but it does have rustic cabins, RV campsites, as well as tent sites. Priscilla and her husband, Jack Arnold have managed the popular campground for several years. Lakeside was managed by the Giffords for many years. Although it is no longer operated as a campground it holds many happy memories by many former campers , such as Sandy Gregg, who will share stories and photos. Both the Nortons and the Giffords were not only business people, but also active in the community as a whole. Participating in church, plays, masons, and many other community activities. All are welcome to share our memories of an important part of our community. Email southherohistoricalsociety@gmail.com if you have any questions.

South Hero Historical Society to present TALES FROM THE INN-This Program has been postponed. We will let you know when it has been rescheduled. Once a tavern offering spirits and a bed to the weary traveler, now a respected financial institution. Join the South Hero Historical Society on Friday, August 16th at 7:00 P.M. and learn about the evolution of the South Hero Inn or Island House as it was called in the early years. Christine Allard, branch manager of our local Merchants Bank, will share her collection of Inn memorabilia assembled from customers and former town residents that had connections to the old stone building long ago. Christine is intrigued by the Inn's long history and will show photos of building modifications over the years and chronicle the institution's colorful proprietors. Ruth Gregg Evans, owner of the Inn in the 1960's and former Congregational Church organist and soloist, will join us for the evening. She will share many stories of her experiences running the bustling establishment with its wide array of intriguing guests. We will learn hidden secrets such as how, in the absence of a town bank in years past, she would exchange large bills for dollars from the church's Sunday collection plate in order to make change for customers. This was know as the "Money Changers in the Temple." Other tales will include how Ruth's daughter conveniently changed her waitress schedule in order to coincide with dinner visits from boys athletic teams from New York and the tale of the bleak winter night the furnace went out and Ruth nearly burned down the building trying to relight it. Be with us for an evening of history, a good measure of country humor and a song from Ruth's repertoire.

South Hero Bicentennial Museum

The museum is located in the old Landon Memorial Library building on Rt. 2 which was erected in 1925 by Susan Hall Landon as a memorial to her son Arthur, who died in France after serving our country in WW I.

Images taken during the Bicentennial Open House

History of the Bicentennial Museum

The Landon Library served the town well for many years. When Folsom School was remodeled and enlarged during the 1970’s the town decided to incorporate the contents of the old library into the modern school facility to better serve both student and adult patrons.

The Landon building’s vacancy inspired thoughts of having a place to educate the public through exhibiting and demonstrating the usage of artifacts relating to the town’s rich history. A group of dedicated volunteers applied for and received a grant for $700.00 during the Bicentennial year to begin the South Hero Bicentennial Museum. The remainder of the establishment’s initial expenses were obtained through private donations.

The new museum opened to the public on July 1, 1976 with Bob Lawrence’s hand-carved sign above the door.

Volunteers

Many people helped make this dream come true. Initial organizers included Edna Lahue, Helen Tressler, Mary Sue Tourville, Mary Lou Fowler, Virginia Lyman, Polly McBride and Barbara Winch. Later Barb Winch, Pat Atwood and Lorrie Janick attended workshops sponsored by the VT Historical Society where they learned the proper handling of artifacts, the necessity of proper air circulation and humidity control, and how to encapsulate objects correctly.

Lorrie Janick made authentic curtains adhering to conservation standards for protecting the pieces from the sunlight. Later on Kay Anderson, Nancy Allen, Mary Pringle and Phyllis Johnson joined the team. Kay is responsible for the amazing scrapbook of South Hero newspaper articles that you will find inside.

For his Eagle Scout project, Zerai Hagos labeled objects and created a notebook of identification. Harlow White made the screens for the cellar windows and Malcolm Allen was kind enough to check the kerosene levels. Jonathan Wells is a faithful volunteer who has kept the lawn mowed and continues to today.

Currently on the board of directors are Hazel Quelch, Lorrie Janick, Bret Corbin and Patsy Robinson.

We thank you all!!

Heroes of South Hero

South Hero Rescue Squad and Fire Dept.

On May 3, 2013 we had a wonderful program with Allen Kinney, Guy Winch, Ray Allen and Malcolm Allen. Here are some pictures. Video will be coming soon.

Malcom Allen Trucking and Towing in the Islands--April 5, 3013

Hi All,
     We have been working hard to figure out how to get the most recent two videos on this website. If you put your email in the space to the right of the page, you will get an email when this website is updated. I will post a pictures here from Malcolm Allen's talk. We want to thank Malcolm immensely. The evening was most enjoyable and we have received numerous positive comments. We want you back! You just have a way of telling stories that warms the heart.