Brewster cousins!

 

Photo by Dave Brewster

I enjoyed a special luncheon gathering in May 2027 with my second cousin Stuart Brewster (left in photo above) and many of his Brewster relatives, including his niece Louise and his daughter Andrea (at right). 

Stuart had come east from his home in California and spent a week in Danvers, revisiting old places and reconnecting with family. Much of his childhood had been spent in Danvers, living at "Pine Knoll," the Nichols family home built in 1861 by our great-grandfather Andrew Nichols (1837-1921). 

From childhood I have many memories of Stuart and his older brothers, David and Dudley. They shared many interests and activities (e.g., skiing, sailing, square dancing) with my father, who – being a bit older – often referred to them as "the Brewster boys." 

Ah, how the years have passed!  At the May gathering I mingled with two younger generations of Brewsters, all descended from those three brothers. Some of the youngest had no idea who I was, since I'm not at Brewster descendant, but a cousin on another branch of the Nichols family tree.

My grandfather was the youngest son of that original Pine Knoll family, whereas Stuart's grandfather was the oldest son, a naturalist named Andrew. Annie Nichols, daughter of that Andrew, married a Brewster, and had three sons: David, Dudley and Stuart. I remember Annie very well. I had piano lessons with her for many years on an old upright piano at Pine Knoll.

I'm so glad that Stuart invited me to this family reunion. Here are a few of my photos taken May 27, 2023:  

I enjoyed the story-telling, especially when Stuart stood up to speak about the 1939 World's Fair. His great uncle John drove him there from Danvers to NYC. Two of the great aunts, May and Margaret, also came on that trip. I asked if they had used Aunt May's 1932 Ford (which she later gave to my parents, so I grew up with it in the 1940's and 50's -- even learning to drive on it in the 1960's). No, Uncle John drove his own car.  As Stuart spoke, many of the dozen or so younger relatives in the room lifted cell phones to record his stories. Memorable!  

Montpelier floods

 

July 12, 2023

News of the current flooding in Montpelier triggers memories – memories of my father... and memories of a recent Montpelier visit. 

My father, Nathan "Nick" Nichols, had told us many stories of his youthful years in Montpelier, including a huge flood that ruined his mother's garden and swept away barns. 

This spring on a roadtrip in VT, I had stopped briefly in Montpelier to buy gas, and happened to notice a "High Water Mark" sign on the wall of the gas station.  As I stood beneath it, I tried to reach up, but could not touch it, even on my tiptoes.  I would have been completely UNDER WATER if there in 1927.

That fact startled me, and made me reflect on Daddy's stories. No wonder barns were moved and gardens ruined. The most amazing story I recall was of a barn that seemed to have survived in place, yet a fancy car stored inside that barn had disappeared! Daddy said that a strong cable from the house to the barn had held the barn, allowing it to float upwards while its contents were washed downstream. When the flood waters receded, that barn rested back on the ground, as if it had never moved. Close examination, however, revealed that it wasn't exactly on its original foundation. 

The date on High Water Mark sign enabled me to connect my father's stories to real history. Montpelier was his home base from age 6 in 1918 to 1934, the year he graduated from college. He was born in January 2012, so would have been 15 in 1927. 

His father, Rev. William S. Nichols, was then minister of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 130 Main Street. In April 2023 I took these photos of that same church, which is, according to a plaque on the wall, "listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Architect Thomas Silloway, 1865."

Note how close the river is to the rear of the church building (right) 

My thoughts go to that church, which must have been damaged in 1927 and again this week. Here's an update on the church's website, written by the current minister: 

7/15/2023 6:45am. A lot has been accomplished since Tuesday night! Thank you to ALL the volunteers who have mopped floors, hauled buckets of mud, moved ruined items, and dropped off food and water.

We have a couple of teams lined up to help today with removing damaged sheetrock and power washing the basement. ... 

With our cleanup moving along, I encourage you to help out in other places if you can. There’s a great opportunity to do so tomorrow (Sunday), July 16 starting at 9am across the street at Trinity Methodist Church and the Montpelier Food Pantry.  

See also the minister's earlier message reporting on the flooding:

             https://ucmvt.org/2023/07/12/historic-flooding-july-12-2023/