42nd Rockingham Old Home
Days 112th Year Celebrating the Pilgrimage at the Rockingham Meeting House Rockingham Old Home Days
Come celebrate Hetty Green Park from 4 – 7 p.m. Bring the family out for an eve- nd Friday, ning of good food, fun, and sup- our 42 year of ROCKINGHAM REC CENTER port your community. Old Home Days August 3 CARNIVAL – From 6 – 9 p.m., there will be with fireworks, ICE CREAM SOCIAL - a dunk tank, bounce houses, Saturday, food, and fun, as Ice Cream Social at the United games for prizes, food and August 4 th Church of Bellows Falls from drinks, face painting, clowns, well as our 112 4 – 8 p.m. All proceeds to ben- and fun for all ages. Come down to The Waypoint annual celebration efit the Comtois Family Scholar- Center, located at 17 Depot St. in ship Fund. FIRST FRIDAY SUPPER - Bellows Falls for an afternoon of of the pilgrimage First Friday Supper at First food, fun, and games, with fire- Head to beautiful Rockingham for the at the Rockingham FARMERS MARKET – Baptist Church in Bellows Falls works at dusk. three-day Old Home Days celebration! Greater Falls Farmers Market from 5 – 7 p.m. Profits support Photo by MIChaeL reynoLds Meeting House. has local produce and crafts at the BF Community Bike Project. MAIN STAGE – 7 – 8:15 a.m. Registration at Waypoint Center for Bring It Old Home Days Home 5K 8:30 a.m. Bring It Home 5K 12 – 2:30 p.m. JD & Bees Tune’s N’ Things Karaoke with Jamie Denno and special guests on the patio 12 – 7 p.m. Nimble Arts Circus FARM MARKET Performers 12:30 p.m. Pizza eating contest COME TO ALLEN BROTHERS with Athens Pizza FOR THE FRESHEST PRODUCE! 1 p.m. Dari Joy Ice Cream Eating Contest OUR OWN TOMATOES 1 – 5 p.m. Dunk tank with SWEET CORN Greater Falls Connections BEANS & CUCUMBERS 2 – 5 p.m. Cheryl the Clown with balloons ~GARDEN CENTER SALE~ 3 – 5 p.m. Java Jazz on the patio Old Fashioned Hard Ice Cream 6 p.m. – Dusk Rust performs on Inside/Outside Eating Areas the patio
OPEN 7 dayS 5:30 am - 9:00 Pm FOOD VENDORS – Exit 5 off I-91 • Rte 5 South • Westminster, VT 802 722-3395 • www.allenbrothersfarms.com Athens Pizza, RJ’s, Loyal Or- der of Moose Bellows Falls, Out Support the fireworks Numbered Grill, Fried Bread The Rockingham Old Home Days fireworks will be around 9:30 p.m. Volun- Dough, Fresh Squeezed Lemon- Enjoy teers are needed to help collect funds beginning at 8 p.m. Anyone wanting ade, and Taste of Thai. to donate to the firework fund, send to Great Falls Regional Chamber of Rockingham Commerce, 17 Depot Street, Bellows Falls, VT 05101. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES – Photo by brandy Patterson Vermont National Guard in- Old Home Days! flatable baseball toss, Deb Mon- roe with Diamond the Goat, The This Supplement is brought Roaming Railroad, bounce hous- to you by The Vermont es, Friends for Change children’s Journal & The Shopper activities tent, Rockingham Rec Dari Joy children’s games, face painting with Emily Sodders Bird House Studios, and children’s toys and Kids Ice Cream novelties.
Eating Contest VENDOR BOOTHS – Saturday, Aug. 4th at 1:00 p.m. Great Falls Regional Chamber ROBERT MILLER, Publisher [email protected] At The Waypoint Center of Commerce, LuLaRoe with Kassandra Maxfield, Red Moon Prizes for the first 3 Groups Artisans with handmade jewel- VINCE WEST, Ad Salesman [email protected] 2 Age Groups: 10 and Under & 10-15 ry, Emblem Club, Shauna’s Bags and more, PVD Hockey Booth of SHAWNTAE STILLWELL, Graphic Director [email protected] 6 r Saxtons River, Golden Phoenix Years On The Corne School of Martial Arts with dem- onstrations, Greater Falls Farm- AMANDA WEDEGIS, Editor [email protected] 32 Flavors of Hard Ice Cream 16 Flavors of Fresh Soft Serve ers Market, US Cellular, The Ver- Non-Fat Yogurt Sugar-Free Ice Cream mont National Guard, and more. We’re located at: 8 High Street in Ludlow • 802-228-3600 Large Fast Food Menu Including: Street vendors will be walking •Hamburgers •Hotdogs •Fries •Chicken Fingers •Onion Rings & More! Fax:802-228-3464•(Above the Black River Senior Center)•Handicapped Accessible the streets in the Square selling 140 Rockingham St. • 463-9816 • BellowS FallS, Vt children’s toys and novelties
2 2018 Rockingham Old Home Days Events Schedule August 3 - 5 later in the day and during fire- GREEN MOUNTAIN RAIL- you the good old day,” history works. ROAD FIREWORKS TRAIN – and memory in Vermont’s folk Avoid the congestion in Bel- song. The day will include mu- ANTIQUE TRUCK SHOW – lows Falls and take the train sic, history, and food. Antique Truck Show present- from Chester to the Rocking- ed by American Truck Society, ham Old Home Days Fireworks the Green Mountain Chapter of show. Enjoy free parking at the A special thank you Vermont at Bellows Falls Union Chester Depot and a reliable and to all of our sponsors: High School from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. enjoyable commute to Bellows The Vermont Country Store, Falls. The train departs Chester BRING IT HOME 5K – at 7 p.m. and arrives in Bellows Best Septic, Chroma and A road race has been part of Falls at 8 p.m. There will also Hennessy Electric, Savings Rockingham’s Old Home Days be boarding at the Bartonsville Bank of Walpole, Cota & since the very beginning. For covered bridge at approximately Cota, and The Shopper. many years, it was hosted by 7:15 p.m. After the show, the train Thank you also to our the Rockingham Recreation De- departs Bellows Falls at 10:15 contributors: Halladays partment. It started as a 4.2-mile p.m. and arrives in Chester at race that included a daunting 11:15 p.m. For more information Harvest Barn, The Ver- climb up Pond Road and a har- about tickets, go to www.rails-vt. mont National Guard, The The Rockingham Meeting House. Photo ProvIded rowing descent on North Ridge com/old-home-days. American Truck Society – Road. In the 1980s, it was short- Green Mountain Chapter of ened and flattened to the more Vermont, Berkeley & Veller Joining with our friends and common 5-kilometer distance. Sunday, Inc., Kurn Hattin Homes This year’s race is hosted by the neighbors to CELEBRATE Bellows Falls Rotary Club. The August 5 for Children, and Village Square Booksellers. course has been adjusted to Rockingham Old Home Days start and finish at the Great Falls Finish the weekend cel- Chamber of Commerce home at ebrating the 112th annual Pil- For more information, Bill Stevens the Waypoint Center on Depot grimage at the Rockingham www.edwardjones.com contact the Great Falls Financial Advisor Member SIPC Street in Bellows Falls. Preregis- Meeting House at 1 p.m. on Regional Chamber of 16 The Square tration is available at www.matt- the Meeting House Road off Bellows Falls, VT 05101 guildruns.com/rockingham-old- Route 103 in Rockingham. Da- Commerce at 802-463- 802-463-0083 home-days-bring-it-home-5k. vid Deacon presents “I’ll sing to 4280 or [email protected].
ENJOY ROCKINGHAM OLD HOME DAYS! Choice Meats Since 1926 LISAI’S MARKET LITTLE LISAI’S DELI 128 Atkinson St. • Bellows Falls, VT Atkinson St. • Bellows Falls, VT 802-463-4118 802-463-4118 Mon.-Sun. 8am - 8pm Mon.–Sun. 8am - 8pm All Your BBQ Supplies and Needs Come In, Take a Break, Let Us Cook for You
2018 Rockingham Old Home Days 3 Our Rockingham Community
The town of Rockingham is miles in area, Rockingham idents, about 4,000 live with- located in southeastern Ver- is predominantly rural and in two incorporated villages, mont, on the banks of the forested but also includes Bellows Falls and Saxtons Connecticut River. In popu- densely settled residential River. Many others live in or lation and in its impact on neighborhoods, commercial near the small hamlets of Bar- the region, it is the second centers, and several industri- tonsville, Brockways Mills, largest community in Wind- al areas. and Cambridgeport. (“Ham- ham County. About 40 square Of approximately 5,300 res- let” is another word for an unincorporated rural village.) All of the town’s settlements are located on the Connecti- cut River or one of two tribu- taries to the Connecticut, the A colored postcard of the Rockingham Meeting House circa 1920. Williams and Saxtons rivers. Photo ProvIded The balance of the town not included in the geographic ar- eas listed above is referred to as Rural Rockingham. The area encompassed by the town has a rich and varied history, which is highlighted First Run Films • Classic Film Night • Live Music Events in this paper. Live Theater • Meetings • Presentations 2 Venues Available Rockingham Bellows Falls Opera House & Town Hall Lower Theater www.bfoperahouse.com • 463-4766 • Find us on Facebook Town Until about 1825, the now- quiet hamlet near the Meet- ing House was the principal K.BEEBE, INC. village of the town in busi- Abenaki petroglyphs. ness and inhabitants, and Enjoy Rockingham Old Photo ProvIded the town offices were located YOUR Home Days! there. The settlement took WATER SYSTEMS form at the base of the small EXPERT CABLE TOOL WELL Have a Great Time at Old Home Days! hill where the town meeting DRILLING & HEATING houses were located. Develop- ment in Bellows Falls in the Pump Sales & Service 19th century shifted the fo- cus of the town, and a fire in 1909 destroyed the stores and post office. The Rockingham K. SHELDON BEEBE Walpole Valley Tire Meeting House, constructed 802-463-3725 1787-1801, is now operated by Bellows Falls, Vermont 05101 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:00 • Saturday 8:00 - Noon the town as a museum. It has Route 12 • Walpole, NH • 603-445-2060 been declared a National His- toric Landmark. Indigenous people inhab- ited the Connecticut River ORgaNIcally Valley for some 10,000 years. gROWN It is believed that for several OpEN thousand years they gathered here at the Great Falls on the 20 Village Square, Bellows Falls, VT | 802-463-4140 | Online Service: 855-828-9792 9aM - 6pM Connecticut to harvest mi- grating salmon and shad. The You Need It We Have It Enjoy Rockingham Old Home Days! first European settlers tried to establish homesteads in Check out our Certified Organic Produce this area during the first half of the 1700s, when the land Our Own Pork & Grass Fed Beef Products for was still occupied by Native Fresh Free Range Chicken Available Americans, the Abenaki, who your projects joined the French in conduct- Our Own Organic ing a war against English Sweet Corn Picked Daily intruders. Bedrock near the Great Falls retain stone carv- ings known as petroglyphs Visit us on Facebook! that are believed to have been Look us up on the web: HarlowFarm.com created by Abenaki at least Route 5 • Westminster, Vermont • 802-722-3515 300 years ago or more, during a period when their villages (1/2 Mile North off Exit 5/Interstate 91) and burial grounds were set
4 2018 Rockingham Old Home Days out here on the banks of the ham. However, industrial and Enjoy Connecticut in present-day commercial development af- 100,000+ Vermont and New Hamp- ter the Civil War produced a Rockingham shire. concentration of population views on our Old Home Rockingham was chartered and activity in Bellows Falls, Days! in 1753 by Benning Went- where it remains today. worth, the colonial governor Rockingham takes pride ONLINE ADS sitting in Portsmouth, N.H. in its local history and tradi- Have fun, Since then, a Select Board tions and seeks to improve its in June! whose members are elected economic condition, cultural, vermontjournal.com and be safe! by registered voters of the and educational outlooks, town has governed it. After and quality of life, through the conclusion of the French community collaborations and Indian War in 1763, set- and creative approaches. tlement began in earnest. To read more of the history Many new inhabitants came of Rockingham, consult the from previous homes in Mas- two town history books: sachusetts and Connecticut. · “History of the Town of They cleared land and es- Rockingham 1753-1907” by tablished homesteads scat- Lyman Simpson Hayes, pub- tered throughout the town. lished by the town in 1907. The Rockingham Meeting · “History of the Town of House was erected in roughly Rockingham, 1907-1957” by the geographic center of the Frances Stockwell Lovell and town in the hamlet that still Everett C. Lovell, published by bears the name of Rocking- the town in 1958.
Visit the Emblem Club Booth During Saturday, August 4th Old Home Days!
RIP 41 Square, Suite B, Bellows Falls, VT TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE! Salon: 802-463-3992 • Home: 802-463-3573 Email: scissors@sover net
The savings bank of giving back to your community.
For over 140 years, Savings Bank of Walpole has been the savings bank of your community. Whether it’s a ball game, dance performance or school play, we’re proud to sponsor activities that bring us closer together. The savings bank ofyou . walpolebank.com O a
Fall Foliage Trains Sept. 14 - Oct. 21
Schedules & Tickets Available at: www.rails-vt.com Enjoy Old Home Days!
2018 Rockingham Old Home Days 5 Our Neighboring Communities
and mills that took advantage a regional reputation for arts as the Great Falls. The short dis- constructed in the country and Bellows Falls of hydropower and plentiful and antiques, live music, and tance between shores enabled was completed more than two water. As a transportation hub innovative bricks-and-mortar the construction of the first decades before the famous Erie Village and manufacturing center, Bel- projects that combine economic bridge (1785) anywhere on the Canal. lows Falls became the “market development and historic pres- entire 410-mile-long river, mak- In 1849, two railroad lines The Village of Bellows Falls is town” for the regional agricul- ervation. Within a short walk of ing Bellows Falls an important converged in Bellows Falls, mak- the largest population center tural economy. It has been the downtown are residential neigh- river crossroads. At a time when ing the village a railroad hub. (about 3,500 residents) within seat of town government since borhoods that include many travel by river was more practi- The railroad stimulated the the town of Rockingham and 1869. The village itself was incor- gems of Victorian-era architec- cal than overland, a series of growth of local industries like has long served as the civic, porated in 1909 and since then ture known as “painted ladies.” eight locks on the Bellows Falls the Vermont Farm Machine commercial, and cultural hub has been overseen by a Board of At Bellows Falls, the Connecti- Canal (1791 - 1802) lifted boats Company, which manufactured of the community. In the 18th Trustees elected by residents of cut River long ago created a se- a height of more than 50 feet farm and dairy equipment, and and 19th centuries, the local the village. ries of level terraces adjacent to around the gorge. It was one of the Bellows Falls Cooperative topography of the Connecticut Today, the tall clock tower of a long and narrow gorge known the first transportation canals Creamery, which processed and River inspired the construc- the brick Town Hall rises above a distributed milk from farms in tion of a canal system, bridges, vibrant downtown that’s gained the region. After the railroad ar- rived, the transportation canal Full Service became a system of flumes that The directed water to one of the larg- Print Shop est papermaking complexes in 1-4 Color Offset the world. The company that in 1869 was among the first to use Village & Digital Printing wood pulp for making paper was later one of 13 consolidated Wide Format to form the International Paper Printers Digital Printing Company in 1898. 5CanalStreet•BellowsFalls,VT05101 All of this industrial activity Laminating ph/fax:802-463-9697•[email protected] promoted the growth and evolu- tion of a downtown commercial district and nearby neighbor- A colored postcard of the new Arch Bridge. hoods. Three historic districts Photo ProvIded by the beLLoWs FaLLs hIstorICaL soCIety listed in the National Register of Historic Places encompass industrial, commercial, and resi- Your Hometown Full Service Tire Store dential areas. Enjoy thE firEworks & havE fun at rockingham old homE days! Sponsored in part by Cheever Tire Saxtons River Trade in your Family Owned and Operated The Village of Saxtons River old mower and Save Time foR aN is the second largest popula- UpgRade? CHEEVER TIRE SERVICE, INC. tion center (about 500 residents) % Rt. 5 North, Bellows Falls, VT within the town of Rockingham. 10 Trade your mower for a New 802-463-3320 Several falls on the Saxtons or get up to River provided opportunities in masport Lawn mower the early 19th century for water- $ 00 powered mills that stimulated 50off the growth of the village. Among the early businesses were woolen and saw mills, a gristmill, tan- aCTiVe oR aLL miLiTaRy & fiRST ReSpoNdeRS ReTiRed nery, distillery, clock manufac- turer, and hotel. In 1820, the town Save up to or get up to Flowers, Wine & Gifts established boundaries of the vil- % $ 00 Dips & Seasoning Blends lage, and in 1905, the village of 10 50off Saxtons River was incorporated as our thank you for your service ONLINE VISIT US and since then has been overseen www.halladays.com 59 The Square by a Board of Trustees elected by Like us on Facebook Bellows Falls, VT [email protected] 802-463-3331 registered voters of the village. Storewide From 1900 - 1924, the Bellows Falls & Saxtons River Railroad, mid-Summer Clearance Sale an electric train system, linked . Rockingham’s two villages. The . Now through august 30, 2018 . company created Barber Park . east of Saxtons River to which . . summertime crowds took the trolleys to baseball games and amusement rides. Located just outside the village STORE HOURS:
( ) Monday thru Friday boundaries – but a strong influ- 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Fast & Easy Saturday ence on the character and econo- 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 1292 Langdon Road • Charlestown, NH • 603-826-6842 TRANSFERS Closed Sundays my of Saxtons River – is Vermont Academy, a private, co-education- When you are our customer, we will make your health our priority.
6 2018 Rockingham Old Home Days al high school founded in 1876. water-powered mill, which Vermont Academy established ground flour at one end and Cambridgeport an annual Winter Carnival early lumber at the other, and for a Located on the town line with in the 20th century, contributing time also served as a tannery. Grafton, a portion of this hamlet to the creation of New England’s The sawmill included a wood- lies in each town. A drop in ele- winter recreation culture. Stu- working shop, which manu- vation of the Saxtons River once dent enrollment is around 250. factured spindles for the furnished waterpower to wool- The commercial core of the vil- pews when the Rockingham en, saw, grist, and soapstone lage is formed by a general store, Meeting House was restored mills. Only one mill remains, as an inn, and a restaurant and in 1907. Like Bartonsville, it a ruin. The hamlet was named is surrounded by a residential was once a stop on the Rut- after J.T. Cambridge, who opened neighborhood that dates back to land Railroad. a clothing business in 1825. the 19th century and historic mill sites. The village center is a Na- tional Register Historic District. Old Home Days Train Avoid the traffic and hassle of parking in Bellows Falls and let us take you! Bartonsville Ride the train to the Old Home Days Fireworks show from Chester to Bellows Falls. Enjoy free parking at the station. This hamlet near the Williams Photo ProvIded by raILs-vt.CoM/oLd-hoMe-days River drew its name from Jer- emiah Barton, who erected the For your small business lending needs first mills for sawing lumber and grinding grains for humans and animals about 1840. In about 2 Church St, Bellows Falls, VT GREATER FALLS 1852, these were rebuilt into a 802-463-4511 paper mill, and the community INSURANCE serving VT and NH since 1996 grew to include two paper mills, a gristmill, blacksmith shop, store, post office, and railroad The Rock and Hammer station. However, a flood in 1869 Crafters of Fine Jewelry P.O. Box 488 Bellows Falls, VT 05101 s www.greaterfallsinsurance.com s (802) 463-1900 th changed the course of the Wil- 29 Anniversary Sale liams River, leaving the village During Rockingham Enjoy Rockingham Old Home Days! and mills some distance away, Old Home Days and the mills were moved to Bel- 20 % off storewide lows Falls. August 3th & 4th 26 Square - Bellows Falls 802-463-2289
Brockways [email protected]
www.therockandhammer.com Mills A high gorge on the Wil- Corn liams River was the site around 1800 of an unusual & Tomatoes are now in! Enjoy Rockingham Old Home Days! Offering Fresh-Picked Locally Grown Vegetables Susan J. Colby Real Estate @VermontJournal Open Daily 9-7 | Route 12 in Walpole, NH | Like us on Facebook 742 Valley Road | Walpole, NH 03608 603-756-2921 | [email protected]
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2018 Rockingham Old Home Days 7 Thank You to all our Rockingham Old Home Days Sponsors!
PLATINUM SPONSOR SILVER SPONSORS EVENT CONTRIBUTORS Vermont Country Store Hennessy Electric Halladay’s Harvest Barn, Chroma Vermont National Guard, GOLD SPONSOR American Truck Society - Green Best Septic BRONZE SPONSORS Mountain Chapter of Vermont, Savings Bank of Walpole Berkley & Veller Inc, Kurn Hattin The Shopper Homes for Children, and Cota & Cota Village Square Booksellers
8 2018 Rockingham Old Home Days