Vermont Woodworking School In Fairfax??

Of course, I would be a little remiss if I didn't stroll down memory lane again on this. I have received several notes, all telling me that the place the Development Review Board is talking about is what I remember as the Old Giddings Place. Haven't driven up by there in a long time, but back in the 50s there used to be a little building in the pasture just beyond the farm going toward Cambridge where Maple Producers from around the area used to bring their barrels of Maple Syrup. I am not sure whether it was a Cooperative or what, but during that time I was working at Vermont Confectionery, a candy manufacturer, and Fred would come down and my boss and Fred would dicker over the price of the syrup. We used the syrup to make Maple Candy. Our candy maker was a man who had worked at the trade from the age of 15 and he and his wife lived in Shelburne near the Windmill Motel. His name was Frank Delorme and he worked with his wife, Florence (McGreevy) Delorme at the 67 King Street 3 story candy maker for many years. Frank was the father of Kenneth Delorme who used to live here in town.

In regards to the woodworking school, the town of Fairfax had many, many carpenters. Carleton Minor who used to live on School Street, was an outstanding cabinet maker. When he pieced lumber together, he did such a precise job that you had to look very closely indeed to see where the boards came together. We also had carpenters that lived here in town that worked on projects like Northgate down in Burlington. I believe some of those were Frank Rooney, Ralph McGue, who lived on the corner of School & Main, Charlie McArdle, who lived where Tom Ferrick lives now and I am sure many others.

We renovated the Old St. Luke's Church a number of times, which for those of you new in town, is now the Steeple Market. There was no job that couldn't be done with the talent we had here in town. Carpenters, Plumbers, Roofers, they all worked together. Every once in a while, there was a "Forgive Me Lord," because of the language, there might even have been a beer or two drank in the Church and I am absolutely sure there was a cigarette or two smoked. For sure, Charlie could not have worked without his pipe in his mouth.

Bottom line, the work got done - The Cost - Nothing for labor - Materials, well sometimes these carpenters would bring home scrap materials and you would be surprised what they could do with them.

I'll bet some of these old time Fairfax Woodworkers will be trying to put in their two cents to the instructors of The Vermont Woodworking School when it comes to Fairfax.