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Form A
Circumstances of Interview No. 2
Vermont
C. F. Derven
Poultney
August 29, 1938
Subject-- Folklore
1. Interview on August 25, 1938 and August 29, 1938.
The first interview resulted in a promise to tell the
interviewer any material recalled. First interview at
10;30 a. m. Second at 4 p.m.
2. First at home of informant. Second on Main Street.
3. Mr. Andrew Wheeler, Main Street, Poultney, Vt.
4 5 None
6. Mr. Wheeler lives in one qection of a house owned by a
shoemaker, named Peter Bielco. The house also contains the
shoemaker's shop. It is on lower Main Street; that is, the
west end9 and faces the Star Theatre. It is on the south
side of the street, and nextdoor to a hardware store. The
house is rambling; and the architecture of it is a mixture.
A one and a half story building, painted white with bright
green trim, it is dwarfed by surrounding housea. From the
long porch one can see up and down Main Street, and notice
4ccurring
most events creedring on the thoroughfare. There is a small
lawn and cement sidewalks lead across it to the porch and
shop. The interview was on the porch.
Form A
Circumstances of Interview Ne. 2
Vermont
C. P. Derven
Peultney
August 29, 1938
Subject-- Folklore
1. Interview en August 25, 1938 and August 29, 1938.
The first interview resulted in a premise to tell the
interviewer any material recalled. First interview at
10;30 a. m. Second at 4 p.m.
2. First at home of informant. Second on Main Street.
3. Mr. Andrew Wheeler, Main Street, Poultney,
4 5 Nene
6. Mr. Wheeler lives in one section of a house °idled by a
shoemaker, named Peter Bialco. The house also contains the
shoemaker's shop. It is on lower Main Street; that is, the
west end, and faces the Star Theatre. It is en the south
side of the street, and nextdeor to a hardware store. The
house is rambling; and the architecture of it is a mixture.
A one and a half story building painted whits with bright
green trim, it is dwarfed by surrounding housee. From the
long porch one can see up and dewn Main Street, and notice
occurring
most events iteetir*mg on the thoroughfare. There is a small
lawn and cement sidewalks lead across it to the perch and
shop. The interview was en the porch.
Form B
Personal History of Informant
Vermont
C. F. Derven
Poultney
August 29, 1938
Subject
Mr. Andrew Wheeler, Main Street, Poultney, Vt.
1. Ancestry-- English, and part Irish
2. Born in Whitehall, N. Y. on March 2, 1865.
3. He is married. His wife lives. Has three boys living.
4. Lived in Whitehall for 30 yrs. Has lived in Poultney for
43 years.
5. Elementary School education.
6. Has been an experienced carpenter and wood -worker. Employed
by Ripley Lumber Company in Poultney for years. Retired.
7. He was a member of the Poultney Band. Organised, with his
son, Howard's, assisstance the well-known Poultney
Graded School Band. Played bass drums.
8. Masonic Order
9. Mr. Wheeler is a quiet, reflective sort of man now in his
later years. One can see him almost any day sitting on the porch
of his residence, puffing a pipe. He likes children, and pays a
good deal of attention to them. He once had red hair, but now he
wears a hat all the time, and that hair which is visible is not
too red. He wears gold rimmed glasses. His customary dress is a
blue suit and a gray hat. One could not call him a large man. He
is of medium height and weight. He has a keen sense of humor, and
when roused is able to tell a good joke. He is somewhat tempera-
mental, and will defend a just cause with fiery words. He worked
very hard to establish a loys'and girle'band in Poultney, and in
speaking of the band is justly proud of it.
Form C-- Text of Interview No. 2
Vermont
C. F. Derven
Poultney
August 29, 1938
Folklore
Cures and Remedies
Place a cold key at the back of the neck to stop nose -bleeds."
Death and Butial Lore
In past times they used to put a wet cloth soaked in poison on
the face of a corpse, and sit up nights to guard it. They were a-
fraid that a cat might eat the corpse. People were told not to kiss
the corpse because of the poise:a. When ready for burial, the face
was washed free of the poison.(The informant has sat many a night,
he claims, guarding corpses in that manner.)
If rain fell on the open grave of one being buried, it was held
that another of the same family would die within a year.