Historical people | Danville Vermont Historical Society

Lincoln movie brings public awareness to Thaddeus Stevens’ important role

By Patty Conly May 16, 2013Historical events, Historical people

By Patty Conly, President of the Danville Historical Society

For a video of the event, produced by Kingdom Access, click here.

screening at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury, VT, on May 4, 2013. — A full house at Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury, VT, on May 4, 2013, for the screening on *Lincoln* and discussion on Thaddeus Stevens’ role in the film and Constitutional history.

Two students from the Thaddeus Stevens School introduced the evening's program with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, host of the event. — Two students from the Thaddeus Stevens School introduced the evening’s program with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, host of the event.

Despite a spectacular spring day in the Northeast Kingdom and a vast array of events in competition, a large crowd was on hand at St. Johnsbury Academy’s Fuller Hall Saturday evening May 4, for a screening of the recent film Lincoln. This free public event was hosted by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who began the evening by introducing three students from the Thaddeus Stevens School in Lyndonville. The students spoke eloquently, giving a brief summary of the life and times of Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens and the period during the Civil War.

Senator Sanders told the audience how he became intrigued with the life and career of Thaddeus Stevens, particularly after his first viewing of the movie. It became apparent to him that Stevens was a much more monumental figure in the political issues of the period during the Civil War, of which he was previously unaware. He found it amazing that a constituent who was born, raised and educated in two very small towns in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, as well as being from a poor family, could rise to become one of the most influential and instrumental congressional representatives for the abolitionist movement. Stevens was passionate about his cause and deeply dedicated to ensuring the passage of the 13^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution to abolish slavery.

May 1863–North Star takes a shot at its hometown boy

By Patty Conly May 4, 2013Historical events, Historical people, Historical sites

The Efforts of Union Generals in the Eastern Theatre Comes to Naught and the North Star Takes a Shot at Its Hometown Boy

By Gary Farrow, Danville Historical Society

May 9, 1863 North Star–Radicalism

Nothing is more common now, when everything depends on a united North, than for the Radicals to fulminate their extreme abolition notions – ignoring both the Constitution and the Union. Their leaders in Congress have boldly proclaimed this sentiment. “Who,” shouted the Abolitionist Bingham, Ohio member of Congress, at the last session, “in the name of God wants the Cotton States, or any other State this side of perdition, to remain in the Union, if slavery is to continue.” Thaddeus Stevens has uttered, if possible, still more extreme sentiments. It tells the whole story. They do not want and do not mean to have the Old Union. It is a direct assault upon the loyalty of the Border States, which have furnished thousands of troops for the Federal army – of States which have ever claimed the right to regulate their own internal negro policy. But the Radicals make no distinction between those slave states which remain true to the Old Flag, and those which have fought against it so long. Were the seceded states to lay down their arms to-day, and propose a full return to loyalty and the Union, these men would say “No” to their submission. And what is more, this class of radicals has always wanted, in some way or somehow, to drive off the slave states.

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It’s time for a Thaddeus Stevens postal stamp!

By Patty Conly April 25, 2013Historical people, News from Choate-Sias house

Stamps–Telling great tales in the smallest of spaces

By Sharon Lakey

Don Gallagher, A Stamp for Stevens volunteer

Don Gallagher is a man on a mission; he thinks it is the right time to get Thaddeus Stevens on a first class forever stamp. But he needs a lot of help to further the cause. He came by the Choate-Sias one day last week and shared his enthusiasm for the project. “Now, since the movie Lincoln has been released, a lot more people are interested in Thaddeus and the role he played in the passage of the civil rights amendments,” said Don.

Arlene Hubbard–Danville’s oldest woman

By Patty Conly April 25, 2013Historical people, North Danville

Arlene Hubbard is Danville's reigning oldest woman at 101 years old. — Arlene Hubbard is Danville’s reigning oldest woman at 101 years old.

By Dale Lynaugh

Arlene was born in Kirby, VT on September 20, 1911 to Carl and Maude Ailes. She lived there until she was three years old and then she and her family moved to St. Johnsbury. Arlene lived in St. Johnsbury for five years, attending Grades 1 and 2 at the Portland Street School. In 1920, her family moved to North Danville. Arlene continued with her education in a three room school house in North Danville. She finished grade school, Grade 3 through Grade 8, at the same school, as well as her Freshman and Sophomore years of high school before going to Phillips Academy in Danville where she finished her Junior and Senior year and graduated in 1929.

Granite post to honor Thaddeus Stevens as part of the Green project

By Patty Conly April 5, 2013Danville Green, Historical people, Historical sites

Andy Wasserman, the lead artist on the Danville Green project, was impressed by the movie Lincoln and the part Thaddeus Stevens played in the passage of the 13th Amendment that…

Thaddeus Stevens in the Limelight–Congressional Career

By Patty Conly April 4, 2013Historical events, Historical people, Historical sites, NSM articles

By Paul Chouinard

The historical marker located on Danville Green in Danville Vermont.

Elected as a Whig to Congress in 1848, Stevens served the traditional two terms. While in Congress he delivered several major speeches against the Compromise of 1850, protesting the Fugitive Slave Law and the extension of slavery into the territories. During his first term Stevens gave an emotionally charged speech, “The Slave Question,” in which he challenged his colleagues: “You and I, and the sixteen millions are free, while we fasten iron chains, and rivet manacles on four millions of our fellow men; tear their wives and children from them; separate them; sell them and doom them to perpetual, eternal bondage. Are we not then despots – despots such as history will brand and God abhors?”

Upon the passage of the Fugitive Salve Law of 1850, Stevens defended runaway slaves. In the celebrated 1851 Christiana trial, Stevens served as one of two defense lawyers for thirty-eight blacks accused of murdering a slaveholder. All defendants were acquitted.

Thaddeus Stevens in the Limelight–Public Life in Pennsylvania

By Patty Conly April 4, 2013Historical events, Historical people, Historical sites, NSM articles

By Paul Chouinard

A portrait of a much younger Thaddeus when he was becoming well known in Pennsylvania.

Thaddeus Stevens’ friendship with Samuel Merrill, who shared his experience of being from Peacham, attending Caledonia County Academy and graduating from Dartmouth College, led him to move from Peacham to York, Pennsylvania, in February of 1815. Merrill, who was preceptor at Dr. Perkins’ Academy in York, recommended his friend for employment, and Thaddeus spent a year teaching while continuing his study of law at the office of David Cossett. His salary as a teacher was about $100 for the year.

By the beginning of the summer of 1816, Thaddeus felt he was prepared to take the bar exam. The members of the York County Bar Association had adopted a rule that no one could be admitted to the bar who had not devoted at least one year exclusively to the study of law. For that reason, Thaddeus made a decision to take the exam in Bel Air, Maryland, the shire town of Hartford County. Toward the end of August, 1816, Thaddeus made his way to Bel Air to take the exam. The examining committee consisted of Chief Justice Hopper Nicholson, Theoderic Bland, Zebulon Hollingsworh and General William H. Winder of the Sixth Judicial District. They met in the dining room of a local inn. The Judge informed Stevens that before questioning could commence, “there must be two bottles of Madeira on the table, and the applicant must order it in.” Stevens complied, the wine was poured, and the questioning began. What law books had he read? He replied that he had read Blackstone, Coke upon Littleton, a work on pleading, and Gilbert on evidence. Three more questions were asked.

Thaddeus Stevens in the Limelight–The School Years

By Patty Conly April 3, 2013Historical events, Historical people, Historical sites, NSM articles

By Paul Chouinard

An artist's rendition of the old school. The site of the building is marked in Peacham at the top of the hill near the cemetery. — An artist’s rendition of the old school. The site of the building is marked in Peacham at the top of the hill near the cemetery.

Common schools were organized in Danville in 1790 with the creation of five school districts, which included Danville Center. They attended school in Danville before moving to Peacham. Around the year of 1807, Sarah moved her family to Peacham, so her boys could have the benefit of attending Caledonia County Academy, later known as Caledonia County Grammar School and most recently, Peacham Academy.

Sally Morrill moved her family to Peacham and stayed at what is now known as the Graham place. It is located below the village and the walk up the hill, especially in winter, would have been arduous for Thaddeus and his older brother. PHOTO BY PAUL CHOUINARD

According to Ernest Bogart, author of Peacham’s history The Story of a Vermont Hill Town, the primary requirement for admission was: “No person shall be admitted to study reading, spelling or grammar or any higher branch who shall not already have acquired as much knowledge of the English language as to read in any common English book as correctly as to be able to study English grammar to advantage.” Thaddeus’ mother had prepared him well to meet this challenge by the time he was admitted at age 15.

The Academy was open to all students from Caledonia County. A monthly tuition fee of 12 1/2 cents per month was charged in 1808. The Stevens family lived in what was known as the Graham place, now owned by Raymond Welch, about one and one-half miles from Peacham Corner. For the privilege of living there with her family, it is believed that Sally provided housekeeping services for the owners of the home. In 1808 Sarah received the support of her father, Abner, when he returned from Stanstead, Quebec to live with her family following the death of her mother. Thaddeus walked to school, which given his physical disability, was no small accomplishment. The distance to the Academy was about one and one-half miles uphill. The walk was long and arduous in the winter since the roads were rolled rather than plowed. During a thaw one would sink into the deeply packed snow.

Thaddeus Stevens in the Limelight–Early Life in Danville

By Patty Conly April 3, 2013Danville Green, Historical events, Historical people, Historical sites, NSM articles, South Danville

By Paul Chouinard

Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens in Spielberg's Lincoln — Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens in Spielberg’s Lincoln

Thaddeus Stevens has recently been featured in Steven Spielberg’s, Lincoln, released nationwide on November 16, 2012, and was nominated for twelve Oscar nominations. In Spielberg’s film, based on American historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens is portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones. It is the first time since his death in 1868 that he has been portrayed in an objective, historically accurate manner.

For years Stevens’ reputation has suffered as a result of his portrayal of the thinly disguised character, Austin Stoneman, a fanatical villain in D.W. Griffith’s landmark silent film Birth of a Nation. During the 1940s, Stevens was portrayed as a villain in Tennessee Johnson, a biographical film about President Andrew Johnson. As the antagonist in both films, Stevens is portrayed as an unreasonable, hostile, adversarial individual who would let nothing stand in his way to meet his goal of punishing the South and insuring the rights of the freedmen through his vision of Reconstruction.

Spielberg’s Lincoln focuses on divisions within Lincoln’s cabinet and the acrimonious debate within Congress, during the last year of the war, over the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution freeing the slaves. The fear that the legality of the Emancipation Proclamation might be challenged by the southern states, once they were readmitted to the Union, made the passage of the 13th Amendment essential. While the Emancipation Proclamation had freed the slaves, the 13th Amendment made slavery illegal forever.

Man on a Ladder

By Patty Conly April 3, 2013Historical people, NSM articles

Gordon W. Bess–Danville’s oldest man at 92 and climbing

By Sharon Lakey

For photo album, gathered and shared by Linda Bess, Gordon and Gerry’s daughter, click here: Gordon Bess

Danville - Gordon scrapping paint — Gordon learned painting and wallpapering from his father and for many years was seen working on his very tall house on Brainerd Street in Danville.

Gordon Bess is an organized man. He credits this to his twenty-year military career. He was born and raised in Meriden, Connecticut, known as the Silver City. His younger brother, Ronald, was also a military man, joining the Marine Corps and serving during the Korean War. Ronald is still living in Meriden. Gordon’s younger sister, Lois, died in January 2004 at the age of 81.