Looking Back
Mary Ellen Shaw is a long-time Rutland native who shares fond memories of what the city was like “back in the day.” Occasionally, she’ll also share a “looking forward” column, often about the upcoming gardening season in the spring — don’t miss her important tips!
207
Stories
3
Writers
A special friendship
April 2, 2025
An adult friendship between a teacher and a former student probably doesn’t happen very often. I have been both the “student” and the “teacher” in such a friendship. It’s an interesting relationship that develops over time. During my high school days at Mt. St. Joseph Academy, I was a student in classes taught by Sister…
The disappearance of paper
March 19, 2025
Paper is rapidly disappearing from our day-to-day world. Many readers prefer to view newspapers, magazines, and books in digital format. However, I heard recently that young people, particularly Gen Z, are trending toward paper versions. This is an unexpected discovery as that generation is a “tech-savvy” group. If you are anything like me, you don’t…
Visits to Rutland Free Library
March 5, 2025
The Rutland Free Library has been in the news quite a bit lately. Moving the library to a new location is under discussion. It has been in its current location since 1935. An addition to the original building was added in 1966. My love of books most likely began at that library. My mother used…
Neighborhood concept of the ‘50s and ‘60s
February 19, 2025
Young people in Rutland City experienced a true a “neighborhood concept” as they were growing up back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There were neighborhood schools, playgrounds, tennis courts and skating rinks. Back in that time period, most families had only one car. For that reason children walked to school and to activities with their…
Discover More from This Category: Looking Back
Valentines Day from yesteryear
February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. In today’s world it’s a holiday filled with romance and love as shown through flowers, candy and a special dinner. However, the origin of this day does not have romance associated with it. According to history it began as Saint Valentine’s Day and was added to the Catholic…
Ski memories from yesteryear
January 22, 2025
When snow arrives and I see cars with skis passing through Rutland, I can’t help but think about my ski days, which began on some small slopes. The areas where I skied in the ‘50s and ‘60s no longer exist. But the memories remain! Like many kids who grew up in the Rutland area the…
Rooms available in old Rutland
December 26, 2024
Plans are in the making for a new downtown hotel in Rutland. Reading about it prompted me to think about the lodging options available to people in the 1950s when I was growing up. My friend Mary Jane and I took a fun trip down memory lane, recalling the places we could remember. But to…
Remembering Christmas from the ‘50s
December 11, 2024
Each generation has its own memories associated with Christmas. When I was growing up back in the 50s, there were certain trends from that period that are unlike those of today. I think it’s safe to say that there were more “real” trees than “fake” trees in people’s homes back then. Those looking for a…
Remembering past holiday seasons
November 27, 2024
The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving through New Year’s is a busy time for most people. Was it like that back in the ‘50s? Let’s take a look! Preparing Thanksgiving dinner took a lot more time and effort back then. There were no microwave ovens to heat the various components of the meal. Usually…
Recreating memories
November 14, 2024
There are many things that we do in life because of the memories that are associated with them. When I watch garden shows on PBS or CREATE, people often say that they got into gardening when they were kids by planting and caring for gardens along with their parents. It’s fascinating for children to plant…
Remembering fads from the ‘50s, ‘60s
October 30, 2024
Every generation has its fads and they produce some fond memories as you look back at what they were. I grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s and will share with you some interesting fads from that time period. Drive-in movie theaters were very popular during those years. There was one located in Rutland Town…
College life in the ‘60s
October 17, 2024
In my last column I mentioned that I would be taking a look back at my college days in the ‘60s. Join me as I revisit those days. I spent four years at Trinity College in Burlington. It was an all girls’ school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. Unfortunately, it is no longer in…
School days back in the ‘50s and ‘60s
October 2, 2024
By now the school year is in full swing. Students have decided if they like their classes and their teachers. Going to a Catholic school back in the 1950s meant having a teacher clothed in a black and white habit with only her face and hands showing. The teachers at Christ the King School in…
House changes since 1944
September 18, 2024
As sometimes happens when you are sitting next to a stranger for a period of time a conversation begins. Recently a woman asked me if I was from Rutland. I said that I was and then she told me that she had lived in Proctor all of her life. I followed by commenting that not…
Tending to your gardens
September 4, 2024
If you have gardens you will probably agree that they are always a “work in progress.” Garden areas can consist of more than just flowers. Shrubs and flowering bushes also play a role in your home’s landscape. The time will come when you need to get rid of old overgrown shrubs and start over. If…
Rural animals visit Rutland City
August 21, 2024
When you live in Rutland City with houses very close to one another you don’t expect to see animals and critters that are prevalent in rural areas. But that hasn’t stopped these “visitors” from checking out our urban setting. Back in the ‘50s when I was a small child I remember playing in the sandbox…
Memories made from aromas
August 7, 2024
There are certain aromas that bring back memories of people and places from long ago. I remember my father sitting on our porch and saying he could smell the rain. Since I was just a little kid it was a mystery to me how he could do that. I told him I wanted to learn…
Learning to drive in the 1960s
July 24, 2024
I often see a “Student Driver” car going by our house. There was no such vehicle back in the ‘60s because Mt. St Joseph Academy, where I was a student, didn’t have a driving instructor. During that era girls didn’t seem to be in any particular hurry to get their license. Boys were more eager…
Then and now
July 10, 2024
Many of the things that were part of our lives back in the ‘‘‘50s are so different today. Let’s take a look at some of them. When you wanted to reach someone by phone you picked up the receiver of your desk-top or wall phone, dialed the number and if the line was busy you…
