St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-08-24
RYEGATE.
A Statement in Regard to Publishing
the Town History.

A Statement in Regard to Publishing
the Town History.
On March 9Th, 1906, a committee |
of 20 was chosen to report one year
later in regard to a history OF the
town. This committee was supposed
to be made up of the best and most |
public spirited citizens of the town
and could not be much larger. Every
one was notified of each meeting
when plans for the week were con-
sidered. Some of the committee never
attended these meetings. Crltlclsm
from these people in regard to the
work will be out of order at any time.
The committee organized with Geo.
Cochran, chairman, and w. N. Gill
fillan, secretary. An executive COM
mittee was chosen from the general
committee, viz: Herman Miller, A. M.
Whitelaw and Quincy A. WhltehlH-
The chairman and secretary were
made ex-officio members. Three
meetings of the general committee
and one of the executive committee
took place during the year. Plans
were carefully made and the commit
tee reported on March 9th, 1907.
The report was accepted with but a
single vote opposed. f. P. Wells
was secured as historian. He was
the author of the Newbury history,
one of the best town histories ever
printed. The general plan was to
use the papers collected by the late
| Edward Miller and George Mason,
who for many years had secured val
liable information in regard to the
early history of the town and its
people and in addition to bring the
| record down to date. Every family
| is entitled to a place in the history
| if they are residents and forward re-
cords to the author. A general can
vas to secure historical matter could
not be made as the cost would make
| the book very high priced. Besides
| the people could give more correct
| information after due thought than
! they could in short Interview with
| canvasser. It is intended to make
| this very full and correct history of
their part to make it so and its sue
cess depends largely upon them. The
| contract for printing was placed with
| the Caledonian Co., in the spring OF
1909, and it was hoped to place the
| book in the hands of the people in
lone year. Why has it not been done?
Some blame the author. It must be
| distinctly understood that Mr.. Wells
is not to blame in any degree. He
has been dong his part on time and
waiting for others to do theirs. The
main cause of delay was change in
] the publishing Office which could not
be avoided under the circumstances.
In a large degree, however, the peo-
pie who have been slow to send in
records are to blame for the delay,
for the committees were anxious to
give all a chance. The historical
part is now being printed. There is
still a chance to send in family re-
| cords, but the time will soon come
when it will he too late for place in
volume 1 Of Ryegate History. Vol
ume may not be printed for a hun
dred years. Most records have been
received, still some have failed that
should send in family. sketches at
once. Do not fail to place your re-
cord where it will be safe, a pleasure
to your friends and possibly of I'M
told value to your family and their
successors. It is strange how quick
family history is lost, then it is of
ten gone forever. Send records to
F. P. Wells, Wells River, VT, or tt
any one of the executive committee
The author has had a great amoun1
of material sent in, enough for two
or three books. In order that al
| may have a fair chance it is neces
| sary to carefully condense most o
the records. Some may be disap
pointed in this direction, but Mr.
| Wells does this work in a strictly i'm
partial manner. This is the las
T public call for material. The della,
will make the book larger, it will
! cost more and be worth more. w
I regret that some who we're much in
terested in this work have passed o.
r without seeing It. We were cheere
$ by their presence, by their willin
n help, and trust that all without exceI
ton will do their part to make GU
d history a glad success.
e SEC.