Green Mountain Power Corporation Newsletter Articles and Related Documents, 1956-1959 MSA 758

Introduction

This collection contains carbon copies of articles written for the Green Mountain Power Corporation newsletter, Echo, during the period 1956-1959. Gino C. Franzi (1917-1961) have been the author of many of these articles. The collection was given to the Vermont Historical Society by Gino’s widow, Olive Franzi, in March 2005. It is housed in one archival flip-top box and consumes .25 linear feet of shelf space.

Biographical Note

Gino Charles Franzi was born, the son of Maria Mollina and John Franzi, in Barre, Vermont, on 11 September 1917. His father, John Franzi, was employed as a stone cutter. Gino Franzi graduated from Spaulding High School in 1936 and served for three years in the Army Air Force before eventually coming to work for the Green Mountain Power Corporation. He married fellow Green Mountain Power employee Olive Romerio on 21 May 1949 and the couple lived in Montpelier, Vermont. Gino Franzi worked for Green Mountain Power for many years and may have been an editor or contributor to the company’s newsletter, Echo, during the period, 1956-1959, documented by this collection. At the time of his death in 1961, he was serving as assistant to the general superintendent of Green Mountain Power.

Scope and Content

Most of the newsletter articles in this collection document the social lives of Green Mountain Power Corporation employees in Montpelier, Vermont, and the surrounding area between 1956 and 1959 (folders 1-2). News items range from birth and retirement announcements to social events to a “Man of the Month” feature. Gino C. Franzi may have been the author of many of these articles and/or an editor or compiler for the “Montpelier News” appearing in the newsletter. Additionally, some editorials and other news items may be contributions of Green Mountain Power Vice President J. H. Baker. As a number of articles appear to have been drawn from local newspapers, related clippings and other supporting material are sometimes attached.

Newsletter articles focused on more specific topics have been separated from the social news. These articles cover a variety of subjects including the history of Green Mountain Power (folder 3), specific power plants (folder 4), and town histories for Montpelier, Vergennes, Barnet, and Burlington (folder 5). More detailed listings of articles within each topic can be found in the inventory section below.

The collection also includes 3 assignments (Nos. 9-11) in the “Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electricity (General Course)” that may have been required reading for Gino Franzi for his “Certificate for Electric Utility Operation” or at another point in his career.

Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209

GMP Newsletter Articles 2

Related Collections

The VHS library includes a collection of Olive Franzi’s papers (MSA 635). That collection includes Gino’s high school diploma and his “Certificate for Electric Utility Operation.” Also included in the library is a scrapbook from Olive and Gino Franzi’s wedding (MSA 443:05).

The VHS museum collection includes several family items donated by Olive Franzi (acc. no. 2005.14), including items that belonged to Gino.

Inventory

MSA 758:01 Newsletter articles, carbon drafts, May 1956 – June 1958 02 _____, _____, July 1958 – 03 _____, _____, history of Green Mountain Power (2) Also includes: “A Brief Biography of Vice President, J. H. Baker” “Green Mountain Power Corp.” by Harold H. Young 04 _____, _____, plants Includes: Plants No. 1 & 2 Plant No. 3 – Montpelier Plant No. 6 – Marshfield Plant No. 15 – West Danville Plant No. 18 – Winooski Gorge Plant No. 19 – Essex Junction No. 11 Hydro Station – Boltonville Falls Ralph N. Hill Generating Plant – Waterbury 05 _____, _____, town histories Includes: “Early History of Montpelier” “Vergennes and the Green Mountain Power Corporation” “Barnet, Vermont” “A Bit of History” (Burlington) 06 General course assignments, 9-11

Paul Carnahan & Gail Wiese April 2016 GMPnewsletterDrafts.docx

Vermont Historical Society • Barre 05641-4209