South Newbury, VT John Bliss Smith, 92, died at his home on Friday, March 28, 2008, in the same room that he was born in on, September 26, 1915, the son of John Bliss Smith, Sr., and Emily Barber Smith. He married Virginia Maxwell Bradway of Montpelier, VT on August 18, 1942 in the living room at the family farm. She predeceased him on November 27, 1988. John s boyhood was spent in South Newbury when the hamlet was a thriving community with Hildreth s Store and Post Office, Knight s Sawmill, the Conicut Railroad Station, the Bedell Bridge, a grist mill, ten small dairy farms and a new one-room school house. John went to the school through 7th grade, usually by bicycle or by horse and buggy driven by his mother or older sisters. He contracted polio at age 13 and was home schooled by his Aunt Fannie for one year. He then went to Newbury High School graduating in 1934. He graduated with honors from the Easter Radio Institute in 1937. However, his dream of being a ship s radio operator and sailing around the world was cut short by his father s early death immediately following the Hurricane of 1938. John remained in South Newbury to run the farm with his mother, Emily. Years later, John would say, with the war coming on it was just as well, because I might have ended up at the bottom of the sea. He spent the rest of his life as a dairy farmer and maple sugar maker, despite the physical limitations that resulted from the polio illness. Sugaring was a passion he inherited from his Uncle Joe, first on the hill behind the farm, then to a small grove near the meadow, then to Happy Hollow, and then to the present operation in Vershire. The family made the first boil two days before John died. When he took a taste of the lighter than Fancy syrup, his whole face lit up with a great big smile and he said, I can t believe it! His name was synonymous with sugaring that one time a letter from out of state addressed only as John Smith, Sugarmaker actually got to him at the South Newbury Post Office! John was an avid reader and learner with very eclectic interests archeology, ancient civilizations, local, regional, and national history, westerns, and mysteries. His interest in The Western Expansion was sparked by his Uncle George Stearns who always traveled west each winter and came back with many accounts of his adventures such as Indian lore, the building of the railroad, and the gold rush. John and Virginia made several trips to California to visit other relatives who settled there. As a young man, John learned to play the piano and saxophone. This interest in and enjoyment of music continued throughout his life. He played with numerous Newbury, groups, including the Cobb family and played for dances at the hall. He had a special love for Dixieland jazz. John loved to ice skate and play baseball. He taught his four children how to do both. He was a Boston Braves fan attending games at $ 2 a ticket and then he became a great fan of the Boston Red Sox. He also loved watching his family play high school basketball and told about going to see the Celtics play one time in Woodsville. League bowling was another favorite sport that he played. John Smith Notice Page 2 of 2 John was very interested in forestry. He took great pleasure in diligently managing the farm woodlots. John had extensive knowledge of New England, Vermont, and Newbury history. Local authors and reporters consulted him frequently. One story that never got into print was about the ski-tow in the Smith s Happy Hollow heifer pasture. John always maintained that the first ski-tow in the nation was built and used there. After school, John would go over to the tow and watch his friends the Brock boys and the Demick boys ride up the rope tow and ski recklessly down some flying over the good sized jump at the bottom. This tow including ropes, pulleys, poles, and a Model A engine was later moved by David Dodd, the designer and builder to Woodstock, VT. He was extremely proud of his heritage as a descendent of one of the earliest settlers of Newbury, Col. John Smith, a veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill and The War of 1812. He also placed a high value on his English heritage. His mother came from England at age 11 with her father and sisters, following some of the older brothers who came earlier to work on the railroad sending money back for the rest of the family. Her mother had died in childbirth of the youngest sister. John s life reflected a by-gone era. He actually lived through events that most of us can only read about. He witnessed the beginnings of the telephone, electricity, radio, television, the computer, the automobile and the airplane. He lived during a time when the pace of life was slower, when people relied on their own resources and each other. A time when a man s word and hand-shake was enough. A time when just plain visiting with family, friends, and neighbors was the norm. His keen intellect, relaxed manner, and genuine interest in all people and places remained with him until the very end. John is survived by four children; Judith S. Vaughan of East Thetford and Newbury, Bettina S. Peters of Center Conway, NH; Karen S. Sotto of Livermore, CA; and John Bradway Smith of South Newbury. Nine grandchildren: Stephen Vaughan of South Newbury, Darren Vaughan of East Thetford, and Brian Vaughan of St. George, VT, Joseph Peters of Bartlett, NH, Andrew Peters of Huntington Beach, CA, Thomas Sotto of Oakley, CA, Kristina Sotto of Livermore, CA, Jonathan Smith of Milton, VT and Ryan Smith of Winooski, VT. The eleven great grandchildren are: Bradley, Megan, and Jack Vaughan, Kyra and Jocelyn Sotto, Amelie Sotto, Levi, Lilly, and Brennan Vaughan, Logan and Lauren Vaughan. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and two cousins. He was predeceased by two sisters and one brother, Charles J. Smith, Gertrude E. Gregory, and Margaret E. Noyes. Calling hours will be on Thursday, April 3rd, at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville, NH from 6 to 8 PM. A graveside service to celebrate John s life is being planned for later in May, with the date and time to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Tenney Memorial Library, Newbury, VT, or to the Newbury High School Alumni Association, c/o Mrs. Eleanor Placey, Newbury, VT 05051, or to the Orange County Maple Sugarmakers Associaton, c/o Mr. Keith Fifield, 53 Maple Hill Road, Thetford, VT 05075.