North Sheldon
Continue east on Rte. 105 to the Rte. 120 intersection and turn right onto the Kane Road. ”Dodd’s Corners”, by current recognition, officially remains known as “North Sheldon”.
Beers Map 1871
North Sheldon thrived during the early history of Sheldon and boasted a school, a hotel, a post office, a rail depot, a cheese factory and creamery, a cemetery, and many residents by the surname of “Fish” many of whom remain in the North Sheldon Cemetery. “Continental Springs supplied water to farmers. The village of Sheldon could be accessed by the now defunct road along the south side of the river.
Covered Bridge at North Sheldon
A 180 feet long covered bridge was constructed at North Sheldon about 1860. It served
the Town of Sheldon until it was destroyed during the flood of 1927. This serves as a vital link between Sheldon and Franklin and currently utilizes a new steel truss bridge.
Presently the RTE 105 and 120 intersection is known as “Dodd’s Corner” owing to the large Dodd farm on the corner. The parents of Russell Dodd purchased what was known as the Strait farm in 1945 and sold it to Russell and Eleanor James Dodd in 1955 and it continues in the Dodd family. This home was built in about 1845.Originally it was known as the “Daniel” Fish house and is on the Beers map of 1871.
An early photo of the same property in winter labels it as the Halfway House. A Halfway House existed between St. Albans and Richford and was likely at this location where the former Plank Road ended but we are not able to substantiate that. A clipping from the St. Albans Messenger dated June 14, 1849 states: “The inhabitants of the county of Franklin are hereby notified that a plank road will soon be completed through the Town of Sheldon in the center of said county.”
An article appeared in the Burlington Free Press on January 16, 1941 addressing the signficance of this house in the history of Sheldon.
A small house occupied the south west corner of the intersection but it burned in 2017 leaving an unoccupied barn opposite as shown here. Although the barn structure places it into an historic category we find no record of it in the earlier publication of historic property in Sheldon. A local business woman purchased it and has begun restoration.
North Sheldon thrived during the early history of Sheldon and boasted a school, a hotel, a post office, a rail depot, a cheese factory and creamery, a cemetery, and many residents by the surname of “Fish” many of whom remains populate the North Sheldon Cemetery. “Continental Springs located on a hill to the south and east of the village supplied water to a spring house locate near the creamery on the east side of the “Kane” road. Farmers and residents used the spring water. A story related to us by an older Sheldon resident recalls the day he and another person retrived a dead cow from the spring house. His age at the time of 16 would indicate that the spring was still in use into the 1950s.
Postal Artifacts from the North Sheldon Post Office Collection