Angie Wood

by Stuart Strothman, August 2002, at Angie Wood’s apartment at 91 Main Street

When Angie Wood was three years old, a woman who had been involved in the founding of Northfield Mount Hermon came to New York City, and came to know Angie’s mother, who was young with many children, and little Angie, the fifth, was sick with the flu that took so many lives during World War I. This woman, Mrs. Dunklee, brought Angie to live in the healthier climate of Vernon, Vermont, where she stayed until first grade.

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Father James Coombs

by Stuart Strothman, August 2002, at the rectory on Old Depot Rd.

Father James Coombs, who resided at the Catholic rectory on Old Depot Road, first came to Putney in 1942 for summer vacations.  His grandfather had lived in Vermont, working as a stonecutter in West Dummerston, and so his father was born here, and had come to know the area’s native beauty; in fact, all of Father Coombs’ brothers and sisters were born in West Dummerston. 

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Doris Fredericks

by Michael C. Morello, Landmark student, April 2002

Doris Fredericks, owner of the Clay School, has been a citizen of Putney, Vermont since 1978.  Her past has had many twists and turns, which eventually led her to this small semi-rural town in southern Vermont.

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Ines Zeller

by Mark Rosen, Landmark student, April 2002

This year, writers of a historical book about Putney relied on engagement of volunteers who interviewed and wrote summaries about people, organizations, businesses, and places in Putney. These materials will be used to make statements about general themes and trends regarding town life in the last 50 years. The purpose of my interview was to interview a Putney resident with intercultural ties about living in Putney, and to gather a sense of some typical occurrences in daily life.

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Curtis All American B-B-Q

by Vashon Townshend, Landmark student, May 2002

In an effort to learn about the history of Putney, Vermont from the perspective of one of its citizens, I interviewed Mr.Curtis Tuff, an African American, who owns Curtis’ Barbecue in Putney. The following are the results of that interview.

Curtis arrived in Putney many years ago following his involvement in a counterculture community, which he said was mostly a recreational experience. He explained that his life was very “laid back” and peaceful. From the beginning of his time in Putney, he enjoyed living in the mountains and the open spaces.

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William Graham: Law enforcement in Putney

By Stuart Strothman, June 2002

For every land where reasonable law is held as the standard for society, there must be people to enforce the law. These people are in a demanding position, not only because bravery and clarity are required as a matter of course, but because a careful balance must be found between law enforcement, peacekeeping, and respect for the constitutional rights of citizens. William Graham, as a longtime citizen and well-respected law enforcement officer in the town of Putney, with more than thirty years spent as Windham County Sheriff, seems to have created a comfortable balance in his lifetime, as has Henry Farnum, also of Putney, fourteen years his chief deputy and recently county sheriff. Though many people in Windham may not realize, citizens of the town of Putney have played a very important role in the development of reliable law enforcement, county wide.

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Annual Meeting: September 11, 2005

Location: Putney Cares Barn

Members present: Ruth Barton, Laurel Ellis, Barbara Taylor, Lindley Speers, Jane Rawley, Stuart Strothman, Tom Jamison, Jacquie Walker.
Also present: Laura Heller, Marilyn Loomis, Bill Darrow Jr., and about forty others.

Minutes
The meeting was called to order by president Ruth Barton, who began by mentioning the accomplishments, and sad passing of Elaine Dixon, whose loss we felt deeply.

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Annual Meeting, Sept. 24 2006

Location: Pierce’s Hall, East Putney

Members present: Barbara Taylor, Ruth Barton, Stuart Strothman, Lindley Speers, Laurel Ellis, MaryJane MacGuire, Jane Rawley
Also present: 18 people, including Marilyn Loomis of the East Putney Community Club.

Meeting called to order by Ruth Barton.

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The Putney Fire Department

By Stuart Strothman and Laurel Ellis, August 2005

Putney has long been rightfully proud of its fire department, which in 2004 responded to a record 343 calls, and gave 4300 additional volunteer hours over to maintenance, education, and training. As we look forward to our new firehouse on the solid ground of the old salt shed property across from the Co-op, it seems like a good time to look back and consider some of the ways our fire department has served our community, and how things have changed over the years.

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