August’s End, September’s Beginning
Joshua Smith
August 28, 2025
As summer slips into fall, those days from August 28 to September 4 have carried their share of local color—political stirrings, weather warnings, and county-fair ambitions. Here’s a look back at a few documented stories from our region’s past.
A Prosecutor on the Move — Late August 1900
In late August 1900, Hale K. Darling of Corinth was wrapping up his service as Orange County State’s Attorney, a post he had held since 1896. His steady presence at civic meetings and county court laid the groundwork for a political career that carried him into the Vermont House, the Senate, and the Lieutenant Governor’s office by 1915.
A Tropical Hint Before Disaster — August 1927
The Great Vermont Flood of November 1927 is well remembered, but its prelude was a season of saturated ground. Rainfall in August and September was heavy, and October’s totals ran to 150–300 percent above normal. Though no single storm struck in our counties during the final days of August, the weather was already preparing the stage for the disaster to come.
The Nova Scotia Hurricane — August 22–24, 1927
The so-called Nova Scotia Hurricane swept through Atlantic Canada at the end of August 1927, carrying strong winds and heavy rains. Though Vermont was spared its worst, its outer bands disrupted shipping and rail schedules along the New England coast. Editors in northern New Hampshire and Vermont tracked it closely in their late-August weather columns, noting how storms elsewhere could ripple into local life.
Fair Preparations in Caledonia County — Late August 1915
By the last week of August in 1915, the St. Johnsbury Caledonian was already full of prize rules and exhibitor notices for the Caledonia County Fair. Jam jars needed proper labels, livestock entries had to be filed, and the poultry show reminded farmers not to dye feathers. The excitement of the fair was already in the air, even if the gates had yet to open.
Rail Schedules and Station Chatter — Early September 1923
In Woodsville and Plymouth, the Northern Railroad added extra cars during early September 1923 to accommodate livestock and passengers heading to fairs. Local papers noted delays, crowded depots, and the occasional grumble from conductors pressed into double duty. These short reports, common in weeklies like the Woodsville News, captured how railroads linked rural life to the season’s bustle.
Sources
Vermont Historical Society, Biographical Records of Hale K. Darling (State’s Attorney 1896–1900; Lieutenant Governor 1915–1917).
St. Johnsbury Caledonian, late August 1915, fair prize listings and exhibitor announcements.
Woodsville News and Littleton Courier, September 1923, railroad service notes.
National Weather Service and Vermont Historical Society, “The Great Vermont Flood of 1927” background.
Historical accounts of the 1927 Nova Scotia Hurricane, Atlantic hurricane season reports.
Share Your Story
Do you have a clipping from the Caledonian, a fair photo, or a family note about stormy late August weather? Send it to joshua@thebridgeweekly.com. Your story may appear in a future edition of Then and There: Strange Days in Local History.
A Prosecutor on the Move — Late August 1900
In late August 1900, Hale K. Darling of Corinth was wrapping up his service as Orange County State’s Attorney, a post he had held since 1896. His steady presence at civic meetings and county court laid the groundwork for a political career that carried him into the Vermont House, the Senate, and the Lieutenant Governor’s office by 1915.
A Tropical Hint Before Disaster — August 1927
The Great Vermont Flood of November 1927 is well remembered, but its prelude was a season of saturated ground. Rainfall in August and September was heavy, and October’s totals ran to 150–300 percent above normal. Though no single storm struck in our counties during the final days of August, the weather was already preparing the stage for the disaster to come.
The Nova Scotia Hurricane — August 22–24, 1927
The so-called Nova Scotia Hurricane swept through Atlantic Canada at the end of August 1927, carrying strong winds and heavy rains. Though Vermont was spared its worst, its outer bands disrupted shipping and rail schedules along the New England coast. Editors in northern New Hampshire and Vermont tracked it closely in their late-August weather columns, noting how storms elsewhere could ripple into local life.
Fair Preparations in Caledonia County — Late August 1915
By the last week of August in 1915, the St. Johnsbury Caledonian was already full of prize rules and exhibitor notices for the Caledonia County Fair. Jam jars needed proper labels, livestock entries had to be filed, and the poultry show reminded farmers not to dye feathers. The excitement of the fair was already in the air, even if the gates had yet to open.
Rail Schedules and Station Chatter — Early September 1923
In Woodsville and Plymouth, the Northern Railroad added extra cars during early September 1923 to accommodate livestock and passengers heading to fairs. Local papers noted delays, crowded depots, and the occasional grumble from conductors pressed into double duty. These short reports, common in weeklies like the Woodsville News, captured how railroads linked rural life to the season’s bustle.
Sources
Vermont Historical Society, Biographical Records of Hale K. Darling (State’s Attorney 1896–1900; Lieutenant Governor 1915–1917).
St. Johnsbury Caledonian, late August 1915, fair prize listings and exhibitor announcements.
Woodsville News and Littleton Courier, September 1923, railroad service notes.
National Weather Service and Vermont Historical Society, “The Great Vermont Flood of 1927” background.
Historical accounts of the 1927 Nova Scotia Hurricane, Atlantic hurricane season reports.
Share Your Story
Do you have a clipping from the Caledonian, a fair photo, or a family note about stormy late August weather? Send it to joshua@thebridgeweekly.com. Your story may appear in a future edition of Then and There: Strange Days in Local History.
Have a story?
Let's hear it!
(802) 757-2773
(603) 787-2444
news@thebridgeweekly.com