March - The North Star Monthly

After Thurber’s death in the early 1920’s, his hotel was run by his relatives, Wilbur and Frank Worthen.it was a comfortable place and the food was “very good” and there was “plenty of it.” On this nightthe chicken dinner was available for a dollar. The hotel ceased operation in 1938.were frequent guests at thehotel, and they engaged teamsand drivers to take them to nearbystores not reached by the railroad.Regulars or summer boardersusually came in the springand stayed all summer. Manywere older people who camefrom big cities, even as far awayas Chicago. The hotel couldaccommodate 20 or more regularswho paid $20 per week forboard and room.A large garden and three orfour cows on the hotel propertysupplied the hotel table with anabundance of fresh vegetablesand dairy products.Guests found simple countryentertainment available. Theyoften hired the hotel rigs anddrivers to take them on sightseeingtrips over the countryside.Favorite routes were upthe Walden Hill Road, on theOneida Road or down on theWater Andric. And then, therewas always croquet.Most any day the ladiescould be seen rocking on thehotel porch. One neighbor saidshe hoped to live long enough tosit on her own porch withoutbeing watched by summerboarders across the road at thehotel.Mrs. Maggie Smith ofDanville worked at Thurber’sHotel when she was girl. Sherecalls, “At the height of thesummer season there was a fullwork staff, two or three kitchengirls to help Mrs. Thurber, twodining-room girls and usuallytwo chambermaids.“The laundry was done onscrubboards. There were twodining rooms, each with a longtable seating 12. White linentablecloths and napkins wereused. I’ve ironed many a tableclothwith the old irons heatedon the cook stove.“Waitress and chambermaidtips were fairly good, if wecould get them before Mrs.Thurber pocketed them.“Food served to guests wasvery good and plenty of it. Thesteaks were cooked on the hotrimmers of the big kitchenstove, and did they smell good!“Our food was good, but itusually rattled some by the timewe got it. Sometimes one of thegirls would sneak fresh doughnutsdown cellar for us to eat.Occasionally they cooked us asteak.“The perishable food waskept cold in a huge icebox. Icewas stored in an ice bin underthe office building between thehotel and the annex. We weretold the office had once been thelaw office of Judge Davis. Thebedrooms were heated withsmall wood burning stoves.”Beverly Bacon of Danvilleremembers the hotel rigs racingto meet the trains. He sayswhen he was a small boy hisWhen you think insurance...663 Old Center Road, St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819(802) 748-8797 Fax (802) 748-8609Residential l CommercialProviding all aspects of electrical work includingexcavation for underground wiring and services.Matt Pettigrew (802) 751-8201Danville, VermontThe north Star Monthly March 2006 27father sold dressed poultry andbeef to Thurber. He saidThurber was pretty particularabout the meat, wanting only thebest cuts. Bacon said, “Onetime I remember hearing himtell my father that his boardersdidn’t like that damn cat meat.”After Thurber’s death in theearly 1920’s, the hotel was runby relatives of Mrs. Thurber,Wilbur and Frank Worthen. Thehotel ceased operation in about1938.For more than 25 years theold landmark remained besidethe road in Danville, a reminderof the bygone days when lifeprogressed at a slower pace andwhen amusement was simple.Finally, the price was madeso attractive that in May 1965the Danville school board wasauthorized by town voters tobuy the buildings and theaccompanying 16 acres. Thebuildings were demolished.The acreage is adjacent tothe present Danville Highschool buildings, and the schoolboard has plans for a long termexpansion program of buildingand land use.Listen to Josh thomasweekdays from 6:00 - 9:00 a.m.and hear great music,LocaL news, sports andtons of chances to win prizes.NortheastMedical SuppliesMobility Check:If you can answer “yes” to all of the following,you may be eligible for funding assistance tohelp pay for a power chair or scooter throughMedicare, Medicaid or your private insurance.o I can not use a cane or a walker to complete myactivities of daily living.o I can not use a manual wheelchair to complete myactivities of daily living.o I need a power wheelchair or scooter to completemy daily activities in my homeand to maintain some level ofindependence.o I have the capability to safelyoperate a power wheelchairor scooter.o My home environment issuitable for a power wheelchairor scooter.If you answered “yes” to theabove, talk to your doctor.Ask your doctor:Your physician is familiar with the diagnosesthat may entitle you to funding assistancethrough Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance.Only he or she can make the medicalassessment required to ensure eligibility.Insured and licensed inVermont and New Hampshire. Amber L. LasnierCustomer Service ManagerFor prompt professional service call: Phone (802) 748-2455Fax (802) 748-2110818 Old Back Center RoadSt. Johnsbury, VT 05819At a special town meeting inJuly 1968 voters authorized theschool board to procure a bondissue of $468,300 as the town’sshare for construction of anaddition to the school.Regulars or summerboarders usuallycame in thespring and stayedall summer.Plans for the new buildingcontain such facilities as arerequired for an accredited secondaryschool, such as homeeconomics room, additionalclassrooms, teacher’s accommodations,shop facilities, sciencelaboratories, more adequatecafeteria and library space.Construction is planned tostart in the near future.