50 years ago this week: Jul. 2

Addison County residents were gearing up for Independence Day celebrations 50 years ago this week. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the July 2, 1970 edition of the Independent: •  New Haven Mills Church, built in 1797 but inactive, was slated to reopen on July 5. •  David Beach and his wife (whose first name was not given in the story), managers of Basin Harbor Club in Ferrisburgh, took over management of the historic Middlebury Inn. •  Vince Quenneville of Middlebury, nicknamed “the Flying … (read more)

The arrival of summer in Addison County 50 years ago was marked by a flurry of summer weddings — eight alone in one week. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the June 25, 1970, edition of the Independent: •  Eight-month-old Heidi Shackett of … (read more)

As high school seniors all over Addison County celebrated graduation, young people filled the headlines 50 years ago this week. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the June 18, 1970, edition of the Independent: •  Fourteen-year-old Donna Mar … (read more)

There were lots of numbers in the news 50 years ago. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the June 11, 1970, edition of the Independent: • The 1970 census report showed Addison County had a population of 24,001 people. Of all the towns, Middl … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — June began quietly in Addison County 50 years ago this week with the local newspaper brimming with stories that look similar to life today but also different. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the June 4, 1970, edition of … (read more)

Free from the constraints of social distancing, Addison County 50 years ago this week prepared to celebrate Memorial Day on Saturday, May 30, with the usual speeches, parades and wreath-laying ceremonies. Back then Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30 re … (read more)

It seems that Addison County residents have been politically involved for a long time — important political issues dominated the headlines 50 years ago this week. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the May 21, 1970, edition of the Addison I … (read more)

Fifty years ago this week, 112 residents of the Vergennes-area UD-5 school district voted against the proposed $725,825 budget for the upcoming school year, according to a front-page story in the Addison Independent. While that was less than 8% of registe … (read more)

While many of us today stay in our homes and practice social distancing, Addison County residents 50 years ago were out and about enjoying warm weather deemed perfect for spring cleaning. However, the week also brought an unusually high number of crimes t … (read more)

The inauguration of Vermont’s first-ever Green-Up Day on April 18, 1970, and celebration of Earth Day four days later meant that concern for the environment was fresh in the minds of many Addison County residents 50 years ago this week. Here are some of t … (read more)

There were some familiar names and events in the newspaper 50 years ago this week. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the April 16, 1970, edition of the Independent: •  The Beach Family, owners of the Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes, became … (read more)

Fifty years ago this week people in Addison County had things on their minds other than COVID-19. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the April 9, 1970, edition of the Addison Independent: • Lucy A. Sturtevant of New Haven celebrated her 99t … (read more)

Fifty years ago this week people in Addison County had things on their minds other than COVID-19. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the April 2, 1970, edition of the Addison Independent: • Forty census-takers, headed by Robert Herrick of M … (read more)

Fifty years ago this week no one in Addison County had heard of COVID-19. Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the March 26, 1970, edition of the Addison Independent: •  Harold Zedlitz of Southwick, Mass., was hired as the new Bristol police … (read more)

Here are some of the top stories that appeared in the March 19, 1970, edition of the Addison Independent: •  The top floor of Lyle Emmons’s home in Lincoln was destroyed by a fire; luckily nobody was hurt. •  The Addison Northeast Supervisory District una … (read more)