Inside the Kingdom
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INSIDE THE KINGDOM December 6, 2017 the Chronicle Section B – 16 Pages Book samples stories of Vermont’s weirdness Hidden History of Vermont, by that he used an ox to raise and Mark Bushnell. Paperback. 174 position the blocks, and when the pages. Published by The History building was complete and the ox’s Press. $21.99. work done, the builders celebrated by roasting and eating the Reviewed by Tena Starr hardworking animal!” We’re sure that eating a farm Most longtime Vermonters animal, no matter how hard it know the state is a far stranger, worked, was not considered odd in and more complicated, place than the 1800s, or even today. But we’re its marketers acknowledge. Yes, not arguing the main point — that Vermont is the land of maple syrup Vermont’s history, even recent and colored fall leaves, and history — often illustrates a streak Holsteins grazing on hillsides. of pragmatism but can also be But not everything about colorful. Or that the state has had Vermont is picturesque, or its attractions, for wildly divergent wholesome. It’s also populated by people for wildly divergent reasons. some seriously independent-minded Mr. Bushnell’s collection is just people, a lot of quirkiness, sheer as eclectic as Vermont itself. cussedness, and both people and One of the more bizarre stories events that are downright bizarre. in this book is about the eight-acre Longtime Vermont journalist Neshobe Island in the middle of Mark Bushnell, who turned his Lake Bomeseen in Castleton. That hand to writing columns and books chapter opens with the image of a in recent years, has captured some mud-smeared, but otherwise naked, of that in this little history book, Harpo Marx (yes, the comedic which he calls a travel book. actor) wearing a red wig and In Hidden History of Vermont, carrying an ax, screaming at he tackles some of Vermont’s odder tourists who had hoped to picnic on and more radical historical the island. The tourists, confronted moments. The book is made up of by a nude lunatic, quickly altered short nonfiction pieces that range their plans. from the fate of wolves in the state “The island was discovered, as to the evolution, and contrariness, far as the celebrities were of state politics. concerned, by Alexander Woollcott,” “For a very small, rural state, Mr. Bushnell writes. “Little Vermont has a lot of history, much remembered today, Woollcott was of it off the beaten path, some of it perhaps the most influential inordinately strange,” Vermont Life literary critic of his day, and he editor emeritus Tom Slayton writes knew seemingly everybody, from in the introduction to the book. politicians to movie stars.” He’s right about that. Mr. Woollcott acquired half “The state has a heroic origin ownership of the island and invited story that began before the numerous celebrities there. They American Revolution and a formed the Neshobe Island Club remarkable record of social causes and included actors and actresses adopted, advanced and forwarded like Laurence Olivier, Helen Hayes, to the rest of the United States,” Vivien Leigh of Gone With the sheep. Golden Drop, however, was as all sulfur water does. Most Mr. Slayton continues. “The scope Wind fame, writers Ring Lardner, an exception, the granddaddy of people in Wheelock simply ignored of Vermont’s history and the Dorothy Parker, Noel Coward, and the merinos that made so many it, Mr. Bushnell writes. importance of its influence are far Thornton Wilder. Even Walt Vermont farmers so well off, at “But a businessman from out of proportion to its size. Disney was part of the circle. least for a time. Boston named Royal Winter took “But also running through our They often spent their days The chapter briefly outlines the one whiff and smelled money. past is a strain of oddities, unusual nude, played fierce battles of life of Vermont’s sheep economy, Winter bought the Brick Hotel in people and good, old-fashioned croquet and another game they which involves far more town and renamed it the Caledonia weirdness that Vermonters have called “Murder.” Mr. Bushnell international politics and intrigue Mineral Springs Hotel. He long savored and to some degree speculates that there were few than one would suspect. renovated the place and piped enjoyed. people living around Lake And then there are the water spring water into the rooms.” “Sometimes the heroic and the Bomoseen who didn’t keep a pair of cures. Harriett Beecher Stowe, Unfortunately for Mr. Winter, strange are combined in a single binoculars they could train on the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was the water lost its sulfur taste, and legend,” Mr. Slayton writes. “For island. one of the devotees of a Vermont dreadful smell, a bad thing for example, consider the story of Hidden History would lead its water treatment facility. That, business. “Guests liked their water Alexander Twilight, believed to be readers to believe that rural apparently, involved being wrapped fetid; the smellier the water, the the first black college graduate in Vermont was once more prosperous in wet blankets, dunked in cold stronger its curative power, they the United States. In 1829, he than it has been in more recent water, eating a tiresome diet, and believed.” came to Brownington and, as history, some of that due to hard getting a lot of exercise. People Mr. Bushnell started his long principal of the Orleans County work, some owed to cleverness, and who had the money were willing to career as a reporter, then an editor Grammar School, started an a share that must be attributed to spend it since hydrotherapy (which at Vermont newspapers. He academy — a residential school for opportunism. also included drinking 20 to 30 eventually moved onto writing a young people. He built a large For instance, there was the glass of water a day) apparently column called “Life in the Past granite building three stories high obituary for Golden Drop. An could cure everything from Lane,” as well as this, the second of to house the school and its unusual name, perhaps, for most depression to cancer. two books. He says any editor students. And how did he erect subjects of obituaries. But Golden The town of Wheelock took knows that writers have more fun, this imposing structure made of Drop was a sheep, and generally advantage of the craze for a time. so he’s returned to his first love. hefty granite blocks? The story is newspapers don’t publish obits for It had a sulfur spring that stunk, (Continued on page 7B.) IN THIS WEEKLY SECTION, YOU’LL FIND: BIRTHS l WEDDINGS/ENGAGEMENTS l OBITUARIES l KINGDOM CALENDAR l CLASSIFIED ADS l RESTAURANTS & ENTERTAINMENT l REAL ESTATE & AUCTIONS l YOURS FROM THE PERIMETER l RUMINATIONS l AND MORE! Page 2B the Chronicle, December 6, 2017 Obituary Richard G. Gonyaw Richard G. Gonyaw, gardener; every year he planted a and by his ten siblings: Marie 73, died on November substantial vegetable garden with Moeykens of Windsor, Lillian 24, 2017, after a short the intent of sharing his bounty Gonyaw of Walpole, Massachusetts, battle with cancer at the Union with others. He found pleasure in Edward Gonyaw of Sarasota, House in Glover. He was a lifelong working in the woods on his Florida, Dean Gonyaw and his resident of Barton. property where he could be found companion, Denise Marshall, of He was born on December 26, cutting firewood to heat his home Glover, Priscilla Sicard of 1943, in Barton. He was the son of and using his tractor. He was an Bradenton, Florida, Wayne Gonyaw the late Ferdinand and Laura (Gile) outdoorsman and delighted in and his companion, Carol Sears, of Gonyaw. watching the deer come to his apple McGraw, New York, Bruce Gonyaw Mr. Gonyaw served from 1960 trees. and his companion, Lynn Benoit, of to1964 in the United States Air Mr. Gonyaw was a dedicated Barton, Linda Covington and her Force. During this time he was and loving father. He spent many husband, Charles, of Anchorage, stationed at Lackland Air Force hours at ballgames starting with T- Alaska, Marion Irvin and her Base in San Antonio, Texas, and ball and little league all the way husband, Greg, of Myakka, Florida, later spent time at the Goose Bay through high school baseball. In his and Fran Dempsey and her Air Base in Labrador, Canada. early years, he relished being a Cub husband, Fred, of North Carolina; He worked as a machinist for Scout leader. While his son Kevin and by several nieces, nephews, over 30 years at Ethan Allen was growing up, he led his troop in great-nieces, and great-nephews. December 15, at noon. Friends may Manufacturing in Orleans, where he building lean-tos on his property, He was predeceased by his call at the funeral home from 11 built jigs for furniture building and camping in the winter, and teaching daughter Rita Jean Gonyaw; his a.m. up until the hour of the service. maintained equipment. He was a them survival skills. parents: Ferdinand and Laura Should friends desire, dedicated employee who took pride He was also an excellent cook. (Gile) Gonyaw; his brother Carl contributions in his memory may be in his job. He enjoyed visiting with He was very fond of his family and Gonyaw; and several brothers-in- made to the Glover Rescue Squad, his co-workers, often baking them prepared many Thanksgiving law. in care of Sue Medor, P.O. Box 64, treats. He enjoyed staying busy. dinners for his extended family — A funeral service will be held at Glover, Vermont 05839.