The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-09
63 YEARS A PRINTER.
Remarkable Record of Thomas H. Cave,
Who Retired This Week.

as boy he started III as an apprentice
printer in the office of the old Vermont
Patriot, WHICH was published for 50
many years in Montpelier by Charles G.
Eastman, the well-known poet. Mr.
Cave will be 76 years old May IS, and
Iit is doubtful if his record as a printer
can be equalled by any other member OF
the craft in Vermont or even in New
England. With the exception of short
period, when i'll health compelled him to
retire temporarily, Mr.. Cave has worked
necessarily at his trade and for few
years was a joint proprietor of weekly
paper in Plymouth, Mass.
He was born on the Isle of Wight,
England, in 1888. At the age of three
he came with his parents, james and
Hannah Cave, to Montreal p. @. Later
they removed TO Montpelier, but re-
turned shortly to their former Canadian
home. 1t WAS there, before reaching the
age of thirteen that Mr. Cave worked
for a time in the Office of the Montreal
Gazette, doing odd jobs about the office,
but never enrolling as an apprentice.
On a staff Of editors, reporters and
printers considered quite large in those
days, he was probably the Youngest man
! INphHttbtu Win lAt IOItf llldl lHHufu L ht
Gazette, one OF the pioneer secular jour
nails OF the dominion. Early in 1880 his
parents removed to Montpelier and it
was then that he became an apprentice
/ in the office OF the Vermont Patriot,
where he served five years.
In telling of his apprentice days
passed in the dusty .sanctum of The
Patriot Mr.. Cave describes the ancient
! Adams press from which the sheet was
struck each week The machine was pro-
PEELED by the Drawn Of single man.
who ground out the papers by turning
large wheel The paper was owned
and edited by the poet Eastman, and
Mr.. Cave recalls vividly the alert form
OF the man who guided the destinies of
The Patriot.
Upon the death OF Mr. Eastman in
1853, Mr.. Cave went to work as Jour
neyman printer in the office of the Yer
mont Waterman, which was owned by
the Hon. Eliakim p ~Nalton, who was
later to serve as a Vermont representa-
tive in Congress from 1857 to 1903.
Congressman Walton and Mr. Cave came
into constant contact with each other
and perhaps it is interesting to note in
this connection that it was Walton's
father who founded and firmly estab-
lished the famous Waltons Vermont
Register
In giving his "reminiscences OF these years
spent in Congressman WaIton's employ,
Mr. Cave tells Of many interesting hap
penings of the war period. More impor-
tant news of the doings at the 'front.'
were received by wire, but many Of the
columns were filed from the metropoli
tan exchanges. Mr.. Cave recalls having
been called ont Of church on Sundays
TO assist in issuing extras giving the
details of some new turn OF affairs on
the field During the stormy days OF
The rebellion. The Watchman was issued
daily, although ordinarily weekly pa
per
IN 1866, in company with w. w.
Avery. he went to Plymouth, Mass,
where the two purchased the Old Colony
Sentinel, sheet which then boasted OF
some 5000 subscribers. In connection
with the paper they conducted a job
office. The Sentinel was Democratic
sheet. but as both proprietors were Re-
publican in their political faith. they
ran their paper as an independent organ. |
Early in 1870, Mr.. Cave sold his share
in the business to the other partner and |
returned 10 Vermont. He resumed work |
in The Watchman Office at Montpelier |
the paper having been bought in the in.
term by the late Joseph Poland and |
his son. Mr.. Cave was appointed fore |
man of The Watchman, as well as the I
Vermont Chronicle, a Congregationalist /
organ, issued from the same press. The |
Polands purchased the property from
Walton and it was their |
original intention to issue daily. This +
idea was eventually given up. Illness
in Mr. Caves family, which later cost
him the lives of five OF his children, led 4
him to dispose of his property in Mont
peler and for two years he was again
employed with Mr. Avery ON The Old
Colony Memorial in Plymouth.
Meanwhile. The Natchman having
been purchased by w. W. Prescott,
Advent sect. Mr.. Cave was again engaged
TO act as foreman in the office where
many years before he had begun to
serve as a journeyman. He returned to
Vermont and took mp his duties with
The Watchman in 1882. where he con-
tinued until the paper was sold to 7. w.
Dxson in 1885. In that year he came
TO Barre and opened job printing shop
in the old city building, so called. Local
people will recall the time when the roof
of the building heavily weighted with
snow, caved in and caused considerable
Repairs on the property were
Just completed when Mr.. Cave estab-
ished his shop there. After conducting
the business for five or six years, Mr.
Cave sold it to William Smith I'll health
obliged him to temporarily retire for
year. Thereafter he operated printery
N the present quarters of Ned J. Rob
,rts. to whom he sold the business six
years ago. He next located in the Quin-
en- block, where he remained until re-
.iring this week.
In telling something of his career to
Times man yesterday, Mr.. Cave said that
le had retired from business activity for
rood. He viii devote his time hence
orth to minor duties about his home
md in this less strenuous occupation he
eels that he will be enjoying something
If a well-earned rest. Mr.. Cave was
married in Montpelier September I. 1850,
o Miss Coralinn Dodge, Rev. William
one of the early Methodist
minister's of Vermont, performing the
ceremony. Three years ago, the worthy
ouple observed their golden wedding an
liversary. They have four children liv-
ng as follows: Frank +. Cave of Barre,
reasurer of the Smith, Whitcomb & !