Memories of Dad's Farm--Ray Allen, Rod Larrow, and Tim Maxham

MEMORIES OF DAD’S FARM The South Hero Historical Society welcomes Rod Larrow, Ray Allen, and Tim Maxham, who will share memories of growing up on the farm. They will meet at 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 7th at Folsom Ed. Center. Each of them comes from multi-generations of farmers. Descended from Ira Allen, at least four generations of Allens have farmed the Allenholm Farm on South Street. Presently we think of it as an orchard with some berries and vegetables, but at one time it was also a dairy, selling individual bottles of milk. The former Larrow farm is now owned by Ron and Celia Hackett. Rod’s Grandfather owned a farm about two miles down the road, also on South Street. As a teenager one of Rod’s chores was to hoe the bean field. At that time beans were an important side crop, and also provided jobs for workers in the bean factory. One year he was called on to substitute for the milkman. Early in the morning he trucked around So. Hero, pulling cans dripping cold water out of coolers. He gained an up close and personal appreciation for the farms of South Hero. Tim Maxham family farmed what is now Good Hope Farm (formerly Contentment Farm) There are stories of other farm families gathering on Saturday nights to dance in the kitchen. The Maxhams then moved to Enosburg where they operated a large farm. When his father, Ivan, developed an illness related to his work in the barn, they moved back to So Hero where his father worked on the Allen farm. They had a sugar house in the back yard. They and the neighbors tapped the maples on South Street. For a number of years South Street enjoyed the sweet smell of maple during the month of March. The SHHS has delighted in the large crowds, children and adults, members and non-members who have attended our meetings. It is a joy to see the enthusiasm that natives and newcomers experience in these meetings. This meeting promises to be another jam packed with interesting stories. Please join us.

Growing Up in South Hero in the Forties

Being a Kid in South Hero in the Forties and Some “Famous” People Who Lived in South Hero Friday, Feb. 7th @ 7PM We were so excited to have Joyce Robinson Blow and Susan McBride Crowley share personal stories of growing up in So. Hero in the forties. Both are from families who have lived here for generations. Joyce is the daughter of Hollis and Dorilda Robinson. Hollis was a carpenter and caught sturgeon which he shipped by train to Boston. As a child Joyce would help meet the train and transport “city slickers” and their servants to their summer homes. Every year on her birthday Joyce and her family would hop on the train in South Hero and go to Burlington for shopping and dinner. It was a big trip and so much fun! Sue is the daughter of Helen and Henry McBride. They lived on a farm on West Shore Road where Dad also had a sawmill. Granddad helped build the fill for the railroad and her grandmother cooked meals for the railroad workers. Sue has vivid memories and wonderful stories including tales about the Baker family and her close friends, the Folsoms, who gave the first $50,000 for the new school. Sue was actually in the first graduation Folsom School Class. Remember Colonel Jackson of Jackson Pt. fame, who drove the first car across the country? Guess who used to play with his granddaughters?

History of the Sandbar Bridge, Phelps House, and Sandbar Motel with Bill and Ron Phelps

October 4, 2013

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.