Business and Recreation in Sheldon Junction
Prior to the final decision to use the label “Sheldon Junction” attempts were made to call the area “Riverside”. That name prevailed for one of the hotels but “The Junction” persisted. An article appearing in one of the local papers in April 1887 mentions “a contract has been let for a new bridge at this point and Sheldon Jct. is expected to boom.” And Sheldon Junction boomed for over `100 years with hotels, several stores, creameries, a gas station, feed stores, a post office, a school, and other individually owned businesses
The Landon House (Riverside)
The Landon House 1870
William Landon built the Landon House. It opened on June 1, 1869, and accommodated 25 guests. August 1869 The Landon House is situated on the right bank of the Missisquoi at the end of the toll bridge and across the road from the fair ground. The main part is 32 feet x 60 feet.
William Landon sold the hotel to O.S. Rixford in July 1871. It became better known as the Riverside by 1882 with many managers. The hotel finally burned on May 11, 1922
Riverside News Reports
Jan 27, 1883 Riverside Hotel Sheldon Junction, VT proprietor Philip Beers
June 1887 C E Toof, owner of the local creamery, is also one of the proprietors of the Riverside Hotel
which has been vacant for some time
Nov 1890 The Riverside Hotel, which has been occupied by private families, is being restored to its former use
by the new proprietor Mr. George H Thomas
Nov 1894 C F Skeels takes possession of the Riverside Hotel at Sheldon Junction Nov 15
Dec 1896 A meeting of millers of Franklin County was held at the Riverside Hotel.
Dec 1887 David Erwin is laying the water pipe for O. S Rixford. He is going to run water into the Riverside Hotel
March 1896 The New England Telephone Company placed a phone in the Riverside Hotel
March 1897 The Riverside Hotel at Sheldon Jct. was raided by State Attorney Chase,
Deputy Sherriff Draper and Justice Hare and a quantity of liquor was secured.
July 15, 1898 A prohibition county convention will be held in Sheldon Junction on July 20
Nov 1, 1898 Skeet shoot at Riverside
Sat Nov 5 1898 C F Skeels has all of his good packed at the Riverside Hotel Sheldon Junction and left for Milton.
A A Marvin has started the Riverside
Goodspeed Hotel
June 1872 There is to be an opening hop at the Goodspeed House Sheldon Junction on July 3, 1872 This house is situated on the line of the Missisquoi Rail Road. The hall is arranged with windows on each side and has one of the latest spring floors and will accommodate 150 couples.
Thursday March 18, 1875 Goodspeed’s Hotel in Sheldon, occupied by R J Ashton proprietor was destroyed by fire. The building was owned by A Jones of St. Albans
Missisquoi Valley House
The Missisquoi Valley House, comparable to The Congress Hotel in size and age was constructed at the onset of the Mineral Water Boom. At three stories with a large middle additional it could accommodate over 50 individuals. The owners deliberately built the structure immediately adjacent to the Sheldon Depot. Tourist departing the train knew of a variety of accommodations but the proximity, size and popularity of the inn drew many residents in.
1865 November The house and the farm were sold in November 1865 to Mr. Dutton of Stowe who will move into occupy it only as a homestead.
On Monday December 23, 1872 the former Missisquoi Valley House at Sheldon Junction was totally destroyed by fire.
Sheldon Junction Hotel
August 1901 L E Willard, proprietor of the Sheldon Junction Hotel, has leased the Riverside hotel and will be open for the Franklin County Fair. Entertainment encouraged locals to patronize the hotel. On May 31, 1902 a dance was held at the Sheldon Junction Hotel with about 25 couples attending.
The Landon House is noted to have become the Riverside Hotel and later The Sheldon Junction Hotel which on Thursday May 11, 1922 it was entirely destroyed by fire The property was owned then by W E Lampman. Some of the sparks landed on the nearby highway bridge and burned some of the planks so badly that had to be replaced.
Junction House
John D Shedd opened The Junction House at Sheldon Junction on Sept 10 1877 guests occupied the premises and other events including the annual meeting of the Franklin County Medical Society on May 10, 1892. Hoping to not add too much confusion we also found that on May 9 1892 A F Durkee has purchased the Carlisle Place in this village (Sheldon Junction) The Junction House renamed by Mr. Durkee was opened to the public soon thereafter.
Groceries
Martin’s Store appearson the Sheldon Junction insert to the Beers map of 1871.
During the time that the Lamoille and Missisquoi railroads were being constructed
1872-3 L E Armington open a store at Sheldon Junction.
In June of 1882 the large store owned by Adams was sold last week for $700
In June 1885 V.D Taylor closed his store in Sheldon Junction and returned to Richford
In 1896 Johnny Gravel was mentioned as running Lyman Willard’s store.
In Feb 1897 Lyman Willard rented a store belonging to O L Hinds
and moved his stock from his Sheldon Junction store to a new location.
In February 1900 L E Willard moved his household from East Highgate to Sheldon Junction and moved his groceries there in April 1900
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The 1871 Beers map of Sheldon Junction to the left shows the location of many of the businesses mentioned.
J B Danyaw, who worked the grocery business in Sheldon Springs, moved to Sheldon Junction in 1939 and bought the Albert Doner store from his father-in-law. He remained in business until here December 5, 1962
In January 1963, Corine and Cleesson Laroche, after a thorough renovation, opened the C & C Store Previously known as the J B Danyaw store,
This structure originally served as a hotel with livery and a carriage house.
They added a 12 x 30 annex in July 1963.
The Laroche’s operated from store 1962 to 1975.
Mrs. Bubba’s store is mentioned in a news article about Sheldon Junction In August 2006,
She appears to be the owner of the store near Bourdeau Brothers.
Feed Fertilizer and Creameries
Dairy Farming exercised a dominant impact upon the village of Sheldon Junction with farms, feed stores and creameries populating the landscape.
Toof and Richards owned a creamery at Sheldon Junction in 1887 which operated on a seasonal basis usually closing from November until April. . C E Toof was also proprietor of the nearby Riverside Hotel.
The United Farmer’s Co-operative Creamery Association Inc. occupied a creamery and was the subject of a photo confirming visit by the Library of Congress in 1936. Harlow H Mower, well-known local businessman, remodeled his property in Sheldon Junction to a receiving station for the United Cooperative Creamery in November 1934.
At some point in time H P Hood Creamery purchased the creamery and remained there until 1961. Clarence A Severance of Sheldon Junction was honored for his years of service by H P Hood and Sons in 1955
Many business enterprises existed in Sheldon Junction to support the surrounding population with an emphasis on agriculture The.1908 letter head to the left contains a letter to his lawyer in Saint Albans, W H Dunton owned of Ardiance Farm Machinery in Sept 1908.
In January 1963 the Ralston-Purina Company of St. Louis obtained an option to purchase four acres of land in Sheldon Junction. The option was taken on land owned by J B Danyaw and situated east of the so called creamery road and north of the Saint Johnsbury railroad bed.
In April 1966 Corenco out of Burlington built a new bulk blending plant at Sheldon Junction due to the tremendous demand for fertilizer.
In 1977 The Wayne Feed Store occupied the site which was purchased by Bourdeau Brothers during 1977 Bourdeau Brothers continues at this location with expansions in Vermont and New York. It is one of the larger business enterprises in Sheldon
Service Station
In Feb 1963 Leslie Bullis of Bakersfield leased the Sheldon Junction Sunoco station and garage from Louis Burns of Fairfield. The station became Burns Citgo by 1970. Lewis Burns offered the garage up for sale in Sept 1962. Many locals remember the garage as owned by Clarence Bocash
Veterinarian
A veterinarian occupied a home and/or office on Route 105 at the Route 78 intersection. Although the building is still there he is long sine departed
Post Office
Nearly every small hamlet in the United States contained a local post office. Dec 23, 1891 a new post office was established at Sheldon Junction. Miss Lou Marvin served as the first post mistress The post office at Sheldon Junction was broken into last Saturday night Dec 12, 1894. Letters were opened, bank books were examined, and a few stamps and pennies were taken. Also noted was the fact that the train station was also burglarized
Feb 12, 1968 Miss Gertrude McEnany became post mistress on Jan 18, 1927 and served 41 years. She will retire in February 1968.
Dances
Most of the hotels in the Junction held dances. The Riverside and the Goodspeed ran advertisements for dances with one dance floor able to hold over 50 couples. In February 1897 nearly 30 couples attended a dance at Maynard Hall but we do not know which of the locations in the Junction that hall was located in..
The Sheldon Junction Casino
Without a doubt the most famous dance floor existed at the “Casino” and hosted dances Moonlight Ballroom every Tues, Thurs and Sat $1 per couple in 1956. Ambrose Donaldson owned the Moonlight Ballroom in March of 1956. A local news articles mentions that he was let out of jail after being jailed for failure to operate his dance hall with a police officer present.
Coles Pond Casino opened at the newly remodeled Sheldon Junction Fair Ground building at the intersection of Route 78 and 105 in September 1967. Many locals as well as others from around the state will recall the draw of “The Vermonters” and “Larry King”
“Dance under the crystal ball and our black lights to the music of the newlyorganized orchestra
‘THE VERMONTERS” with Larry King vocalist.”
In June 1983 the Sheldon Junction Casino continued to advertise dances.
Potential Recreational Complex at the Junction in 1964
Long before “The Perley Complex” became a premier sports location for the public and for BFA, the Burlington Free Press, Jan 11, 1964, reported.
Additional research uncovered no further information on this effort.
The Sheldon Fair
Thanks to the Franklin County Agricultural and Mechanical Society, Sheldon Junction became home to the Franklin County Fair also referred to as the Sheldon Fair. The “Beers” map from 1871 shows “Fairgrounds” clearly where the fair would be held for over 80 years. In Jan 1900 they mentioned that a meeting to purchase the fairgrounds was held.” 1866, the organization in charge of the fair re-branded as the Franklin County Agricultural & Mechanical Society, which continued for another 40 years before the group again changed its name, this time to the Franklin County Fair Association. Fair organizers had also moved the location to Sheldon.On August 24, 1892, The Saint Albans Daily Messenger reported “Work on the Sheldon fair grounds is fast nearing completion. Although conflict exists as to the exact date of the “first” Sheldon Fair, all dates point towards the early 1900s with 1906 being one of the dates. The fair began to become less popular in the 1920s and closed in 1931.
Addubg a but if umir we fud an article reported on 9/6/00 “The cannon that Prof. C.C. Bonnette is shot out of in his cannon balloon ascension has already arrived at Sheldon Junction and weather permitting he will make that daring ascension at the Franklin County Fair, Sept 21”
And so we have conflict but the reality remains that the Sheldon Fair continued for many years at this location as a very large and prosperous early fall happening for many years. Our web site will soon cover more details on the fair page.
Franklin County Field Days
Although not solely a “Sheldon” affair, the “field days” organization and maintaining occurred due to the efforts of many Sheldon citizens and was held for a short time in the Junction.
During the time the research was being conducted on Sheldon Junction and on the Franklin County Field Days the following announcement appeared in local papers as posted by the Board of Directors.
“After extensive efforts and exploring more than two dozen potential sites, we’ve received final word that the state
will no longer permit us to host Franklin County Field Days at the airport location. Sadly, despite our best efforts,
we have not been able to secure a new venue that meets our needs. As a result, Franklin County Field Days
will not take place this year.We remain hopeful for the future, though the path forward is uncertain.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable summer.
-Franklin County Field Days Board of Directors
Milestones Dates:
- 1976: The first Franklin County Field Days fair was held at the Northwest Riding and Driving Club in Fairfax, using borrowed tents from the Vermont National Guard.
- 1980s:The Field Days moved to Richard Brouillette’s farm in Sheldon (covered in our People of Sheldon Junction article
- Our research indicates that another location on Rte. 78 in Highgate before moving to its current location in Highgate
40+ Years of Tradition:
For over four decades, the Field Days have become a hallmark of summer in northwestern Vermont, showcasing the region’s strong agricultural roots.
2024 The Last Year on Record
HIGHGATE – Franklin County Field Days will be celebrating 42 years of family fun from Thursday, Aug. 3 to Sunday, Aug. 6.2024
The Missisquoi Valley and Lamoille Valley Rail Trails
The demise of the two railroads serving Sheldon left two railroad right of ways open for public debate. Since the rail beds often divided privately owned property into two parts, many land owners from whom the land was originally “secured” opted for a return of the land to its original owners. Nowhere in the state did that happen. After years of work and effort on the part of citizens and volunteers Sheldon became blessed with two rail trails for recreation. Additional information on the trails can be located on the web.