October 21, 2020 Volume 131 Number 42
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HardwickTHE Gazette Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Volume 131 Number 42 photo by Doug McClure courtesy Hardwick Historical Society The "East Hardwick Lockers" were old, refrigerated meat lockers. White Wa- In this undated photo of East Hardwick, the old Post Office is clearly visible ter Gallery owner James Teuscher restored the building over 14 years ago.. to the left of the (then-covered) bridge across the river. East Hardwickians Express Concern Over Contested Street by Doug McClure the street itself was their property Doug Cassavant of the EHFD little village to two very important and therefore parking on River said in an e-mail “’River street’ in structures,” and if not solved, “we’ll EAST HARDWICK – At the Street was not allowed. While East Hardwick is not a town road, lose that [old] Post Office [build- October 15 select board meeting, some maps recognized River or I would consider it a driveway!” ing’s prospective tenants]”. She the board heard a long-standing Mill Street, what is unclear at this Resident Tracy Martin noted that said her research had unearthed concern raised by some in East juncture is whether the street is in White Water Gallery’s former two documents in town records Hardwick over one particular street in fact town-owned or if it is just a use as East Hardwick Lockers, that suggested the road was town- that may or may not be a legal town private drive. customers parked diagonally on owned. In 1929, she said a deed street. That street is now known as While the issue has been perco- the street. showed one Clarence Smith had “River Street,” but was previously lating for some years, bringing the Martin said the disagreement “deeded what we call the Grist Mill known as “Mill Street,” since a mill issue to the board now centers on is “limiting development in our See STREET, 2 was sited there in years past. the former Post Office adjacent to The East Hardwick Fire the bridge. Like the White Water District (EHFD) has property on Gallery, it is effectively locked Twinfield Principal Calls Student’s that street which it has allowed a to just its footprint, and as such, resident to use, and those present relies on that street for parking. Threatening Posts a “Cry for Help” tonight said the resident had The resident who feels the street by Mara Brooks assumed or been told that meant is theirs believes otherwise, and MARSHFIELD/PLAINFIELD – Twinfield Union Principal Mark Mooney said a student who posted threats against the school on social media last Friday will not return to campus “for some time,” but charac- terized the posts as a “cry for help” and not a serious threat to the school. “There was no imminent threat,” Mooney said. The Plainfield school went into “modified lock down” October 16 after a Twinfield student contacted Mooney to report disturbing posts on social media made by another student. Neither student was present on campus at the time, Mooney said. No injuries occurred. The principal said after reading the student’s posts he immediately contacted Vermont State Police and the student’s family. “The original posts were concerning because the person was just being negative about themselves,” Mooney said. “But then in the inter- actions, one of the posts kind of turned to something that could happen here on campus.” Mooney said he imposed the modified lockdown on campus while police investigated the matter. “We immediately located where this young man was, which was not photo by Vanessa Fournier even in Marshfield or Plainfield but farther removed from us, and the Since the COVID-19 outbreak, part of the town of Hardwick’s parking lot next police eventually did meet him,” Mooney said. to the Village Restaurant has been reserved for outside seating. Some people During the modified lockdown, “we secured the building, we weren’t who parked in the lot walk up the bank and cross at the intersection, causing letting anybody in and out, we secured and watched anybody that came a dangerous situation. The Pedestrian & Traffic Safety Task Force noted that up or drove up into the parking lot,” Mooney said. a fence would both look nice and hopefully would deter people from climbing All students ate lunch in their classrooms and were not allowed in the bank. On Sept. 30 the Hardwick Highway Department personnel put up an 80-foot split rail fence. See CRY, 4 The Hardwick Gazette, Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Page Two Contents Street the options held by the Village Kate Brook of the East Police Report ........................ 3 Continued From Page One COVID Refugees .................. 5 Electric Department at East Hardwick Neighborhood Orga- Lot and the right-of-way and water Obituaries ............................. 6 Hardwick consist of and for infor- nization said that the parking Our Communities ................. 7 rights to the Village of Hardwick.” mation of the voters the Gazette dispute created a problem and as Clean Water Project ............. 8 Town Manager Shaun Fielder clar- gives a general outline: an organization “our interest is to Caledonia-House ified for the audience that while “C.A. Smith Option— promote growth and community Candidates ............................ 9 Hardwick Village is no longer an Gristmill, water and flowage rights, in the village, and we really would Washington Senate extant entity, the 1988 disincorpo- right in dam, horse sheds, rights of like to see a resolution to this that Candidates ...........................11 ration and merger with Hardwick way; lot of land near tracks known provides equal right-of-way… Essex-Orleans Town meant that the village’s as the Eldridge property; frame it sounds like we’re headed in a Candidates .......................... 12 property then became the town’s. block, sheds and storehouse known positive direction.” Halloween Activities .......... 15 Board chair Eric Remick said as the Pope property and land on The owner of one of those COVID-19 Cases ................ 17 the odd fact that this property which it stands. Price $10,000. structures is White Water Absentee Ballots Arrive ..... 18 was not contiguous to Hardwick “Wallace Thomas option— Gallery’s James Teuscher. He said Wolcott Buys Truck ............ 18 Village’s boundaries at the time sawmill property and all the he has operated that gallery that This Week’s Events ............ 19 might indicate water rights were remain of sawmill, lot on which “is morphing into a museum” for Judy Dales Celebration ..... 19 behind the sale. At the time, same stands the mill yard, small fourteen years and the conflict over Rural Ramblings ................ 20 as noted in Hardwick Gazette house and lot and all Thomas real parking has been ongoing. Another Opinion ................. 21 archives, Hardwick Village was estate house in which he resides “This is an aberration to Something Unseen ............. 22 trying to secure water rights to and small building lot near Smith the thought of community devel- In the Garden ..................... 23 avoid befalling the same fate of store. Included are individual or opment,” said Teuscher. He Letters from Readers .... 24-25 other towns that had caught fire. joint water rights in the dam, right expressed specific concern over Lady Trojans Big Week ...... 27 On January 17, 1929, the to draw water, and right of way to whether the parking situation Split Week for Trojans ....... 28 Hardwick Gazette reported that property. would make the Post Office building Local Runners Excel .......... 29 “Inquiry has been made as to what Wildcats First Loss ............ 30 “Eldridge property—the untenable for the prospective occu- Lady Cats Win .................... 30 pasture land and meadow land pants looking to use it for an office lying southerly of the Thomas space. “[That building] is a gem, sawmill property consisting of an absolute gem,” said Teuscher, about 20 acres of land. Price $700.” adding that if not for that use it Just a week later, on January might prove difficult to find another 17, the Gazette reported that the given the footprint and proximity October 21 - October 27 Kid's town had bought all three prop- to the Lamoille River. He said the Snow Bibs Labonville erties using funds from the electric river sometimes got so loud that are here Insulated Pants department. the building would be difficult to All Ages Now in Stock Martin said a second deed justify for residential use. unearthed was from 1963 and was For his own use, he said the Bar Harbor San Pellegrino 6 pk. the Village of Hardwick deeding White Water Gallery has “maybe Kame just the “Grist Mill lot” to the five feet” more than its footprint Rice Crackers Fish Chowders Sparkling Beverage East Hardwick Fire District, and, to work with. He said the resident $ $ $ 2/ 5 3.5 oz. 2/ 5 10.5-15 oz. 4.99 66.9 oz. Martin said, “that deed specifically would often create a problem any spells out that it does not include time that boundary was disrupted, Old Orchard Natural Swiss Miss Bisquick the right-of-way or water rights.” such as Teuscher trying to put in a Cranberry Juice Instant Cocoa What is unclear is whether set of stairs to access a new section $ the right-of-way mentioned in both of the gallery at the back which is 64 oz. $ $ 1.99 1.99 11.04 oz. 1.99 20 oz. deeds means River/Mill Street was several feet higher than the ground an official town street, as would level. At the select board meeting, Barilla Barilla Hunts normally be the case when rights Teuscher recalled “when I went to Pasta Pasta Sauce Tomatoes of way are mentioned. Martin said put in a set of steps, I was immedi- $ $ $ ately opposed by the neighbor.” 4/ 5 12-16 oz.