Stories from a Small Village

Vermont's smallest township is the subject of a new book from author Steve Aikenhead. “There Really is a Baltimore... VERMONT” is hot off the press and available at several local outlets.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/stories-small-village

Stories from a Small Village Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 11/27/2012 - 1:31pm Weathersfield author Steve Aikenhead holds his new book 'Stories from a Small Village - There Really is a Baltimore ... VERMONT' By Julia Lloyd Wright BALTIMORE, VT -Author Steve Aikenhead started compiling stories and anecdotes related to him by during Senior Pot Luck lunches of life, mostly past, some present, in the small town of Weathersfield, VT. Over several years he collected enough material to fill four paperback books. “Weathersfield Tales” Volumes I through IV are still in print and contain stories of early farms, families, creatures and the unexpected. Aikenhead has now turned his talents to the neighboring even smaller village of Baltimore. “There Really is a Baltimore ... VERMONT” is hot off the press and available at several local outlets. Baltimore resident Orson Kendall read Weathersfield Tales and asked Aikenhead, “Would you do a Baltimore book?” "It took three Pot Luck dinners," Aikenhead said, "We talked, people had stories and were enthusiastic." A committee was formed to work on the book; members of the committee included Kay Faust, Debbie Griswold, and Frank and Orson Kendall. Sadly committee member Marjorie Constantine, did not survive to see the final volume in print. But in 1992 Constantine recorded conversations of since deceased residents talking about the town, some are included in the book. Baltimore was also fortunate to have town historian Annie Pollard who had started “The History of the Town of Baltimore, Vermont.” Aikenhead said he gave posthumous thanks to Annie’s ‘delving’ which she called her thorough and extensive research. Annie Maydora Olney was born in Chester, Vermont in 1883 where she started her early schooling before attending Baltimore’s old stone schoolhouse. She married Walter Pollard in 1902. She taught in the Baltimore School and became a school director. She was the State Representative from Baltimore in six consecutive terms from 1933 through 1943. Her ‘History’ was not completed when she died in 1946, but her daughters Dorothy and Mary published the book in 1954. "We were lucky," Aikenhead said, "to have two such historians and be able to borrow material from their records." Some people reported their own stories, Aikenhead said, and he conducted interviews and set up the book for the printer. The Baltimore book also contains stories on a mountain lion, the 1969 plane crash and Vermont’s fifth season -- MUD! Will there be a Volume II? “Yes,” said Aikenhead. He has saved some of the best material for another book. Call Steve Aikenhead at 802-263-5439 if you have stories for the committee. Books are on sale at the Baltimore and Weathersfield Town Offices and at the Proctor Library in Ascutney for $5. Copies are also available for slightly more in Springfield at the Coop and Black River Used Books and at Misty Valley Books in Chester.