This Week in History June 4-10

10 years ago:
North Branch Fire District, operator of West Dover’s wastewater treatment system, sent violation notices to 54 commercial property owners, telling them they had nonfunctioning meters and threatening them with fines of up to $500 per week unless they install new ones. Irate business owners complained about the size of the fines, a lack of communication and transparency from NBFD, and high costs and fees associated with the district.
15 years ago:
The South Newfane Baptist Church celebrated its 220-year anniversary with an Old Home Day reunion, drawing people from around the country. The festivities included morning worship, a potluck lunch, and other activities. In 1781, the earliest members of the church began meeting in the home of Nehemiah Fisher, just over the town line in Marlboro. The new church drew congregants from Marlboro, Newfane, Dummerston, and Brattleboro. For the first 26 years, church members met wherever they could, in private homes or barns. In 1817, the group built their first church in Marlboro. The current church in South Newfane was built 24 years later, in 1841. Many members of the church 15 years ago were direct descendants of the original founders.
20 years ago:
Developers of the Haystack Club expected to break ground on resort development by July 1, with the close of their Act 250 hearing in late May. Phase one of the development was to include the construction of several residential units and the renovation of the existing “upper” base lodge. The Act 250 permit was to include 162 hotel units, 89 condominium units, and 40 units at the upper base area, as well as 81 condominiums and 78 townhouses at the lower part of Haystack.
25 years ago:
Searsburg resident Gary Sage proposed the creation of a new state Senate district made up of the small towns at the interior edges of Windham and Bennington counties. Sage said small towns weren’t being represented in the Senate because the efforts of senators in both counties were focused on larger towns. “Small towns with small schools in the middle of the state have different concerns than the larger border towns.”
30 years ago:
A man wearing a shirt, shoes, and nothing else, walked into the Grand Union, picked up a basket, and began shopping. Shocked staff and customers reported the incident, and one employee escorted the man outside the store. Police took the man, who appeared to be intoxicated, into protective custody, although he wasn’t charged with any crime. The man claimed he “forgot” he wasn’t wearing his shorts when he hopped out of his truck.
35 years ago:
Wilmington and Dover were considering a jointly operated transfer station. Under a state mandate, towns were required to close all unlined landfills.
Dover residents steeled themselves for big increases in appraised property values after their first reappraisal in 12 years.
40 years ago:
More than 100 descendants of the Martin Brown family held a reunion at the White House of Wilmington, Brown’s former estate. Martin Brown, Leonard Brown, Ina Brown, and Roy Brown, children of Martin and Clara Brown, were in attendance.
Ed Metcalfe’s North River Winery officially opened for business. At the time, it was Vermont’s second winery, and the only one in operation. Metcalfe’s wines were produced using a variety of local fruits, honey, and maple syrup. Metcalfe said he thought there was a market for a local winery in a state that is known for tourism. And it appears he was right.
45 years ago:
Grand Union assistant manager Jake White was arrested, the victim of a battle over Vermont’s “blue law” that, among other things, prohibited businesses with over 5,000 square feet of retail space from opening on Sundays. White said “It’s ridiculous,” a sentiment echoed by the arresting officer, Wilmington Police Chief Agostinho “Augie” Fernandes. In fact, it appeared that nearly everyone thought the law, which has since been repealed, was ridiculous. Representative Bill Hamilton said he thought the law was unconstitutional.
50 years ago:
It was 1976, and the nation was celebrating its bicentennial. In Wilmington, the bicentennial Memorial Day Parade was bigger than ever, and included several appropriately themed floats, one of which depicted a meeting between Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen. Horse-drawn carriages and buggies, antique cars, and a squad of cyclists were also featured in the parade coverage.
55 years ago:
After 21 years as principal of Wilmington High School, Russ Hanson was planning to “retire.” Retirement for Hanson meant teaching science and math to seventh and eighth grade students. Hanson started his teaching career in 1936 as a high school science teacher, and served as principal at three New Hampshire schools before coming to Wilmington.
John Plonski, 24, became the youngest town manager in Vermont when the Pennsylvania native took the manager’s job in Wilmington.