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| This is the main line view of the structure. Some trackage can be seen still in place near the structure. |
A past industry still stands in Randolph, Vt.
During my fall 2012 visit to Vermont I stopped by the station area of Randolph, Vermont as I had not been there since 1992. I was very surprised to see the old coal shed still standing and still in not bad shape for the age. I had covered this structure with a group of detailed photos in the CVRHS Ambassador Vol. 10, No. 1 (2000). I am not sure when it was built but an easement map from the Stearns Jenkins collection dates it back to at least 1919 in a reduced size. At that time the structure was used by R.B. Osha Coal Sheds. Warren Dodgson's 1929 fire insurance maps shows the coal sheds as see today. The small lettering under the Randolph Coal and Ice Co. reads A.C. Wells Prop. who must have been the operator when last used. The following photos details how the coal shed looks in 2012...George Dutka
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| Looking north along the main line one can see the overall view of Randolph Coal. The station and frt. house are behind me at the crossing as I take this photo. |
Chronology of Randolph, Vt. Weather
It was noted that there was a coal shortage during 1917-18. Many of the residence were cutting firewood to replace the non existent coal supply. The winter of 1917-18 turned out to be the coldest recorded winter in 50 years in Vermont. Records indicate that the coldest day was on December 30th and 31st with the temperature at 50 degrees below zero. Aren't you glad for global warming...This factor alone may have been enough for such a large coal storage shed to be built shorty after.
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| This is the opposite side of the building from the photos above. |
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| There are many interesting angles to this structure which would make a great modelling project. Seems all the bands are still on the silo's although some have slipped down. |
George,
ReplyDeleteA regional difference I am finding, out along the Front Range of the Rockies in Colorado, the various commercial firms were labeled as Ice & Coal Companies, rather than Coal & Ice. I first noticed this difference when reviewing a 1919 issue of Coal, where Ms. Lewis, at that point still a college student was listed, the owner of Union Ice & Coal in Colorado Springs, as an "influential Coal Man." Her father and older brother both passed away during her Junior year of College. At the time the company owned a retail outlet in Colorado Springs and three producing coal mines. If anyone has any idea on the difference in emphasis I would love to share thoughts.