By Tom Haley
Rutland Herald
July 5, 2008
The man who made the first globe in North America had a farm in Bradford, and it's not difficult to see the town is proud of that distinction. There are signs in town and a historic marker on Interstate 91. Years ago, the local bank had a drawing of a globe on the checks, according to Bradford Historical Society President Larry Coffin.
But the grandest proclamation will come in 2010 when Bradford celebrates the bicentennial of the Wilson Globe. James Wilson might well have made his first globe before 1810, but that is the date of the first recorded sale so the town is using that year to celebrate the event. The centerpiece of the celebration will be one of the first three globes made by Wilson.
The globe is in Williamstown, Mass., where it is being restored by the Williamstown Art Conservation Center to the tune of about $25,000."It was falling apart and fragile," Coffin said. He felt if they were ever going to be able to achieve its restoration, it would be for a bicentennial event. There will also be a stand for the globe and a booklet that Coffin estimates will be 20 pages or so with information on Wilson.
Appropriately, one of the events for raising the funds is a geography bee held at Oxbow Union High School in Bradford. The second bee will be Nov. 15. The first in 2007 was a success financially and in terms of the enthusiasm it generated. With its entry fees, sponsorship money and a matching sum from the Modern Woodmen of America, the geography bee raised about $3,800. But it was the excitement and fun it brought to the community that was its signature."Everyone had a great, great time. It was so successful, we are going to do it again," Nordham said. Who knows? The bee might have a life beyond the bicentennial."It will go at least through the bicentennial," Coffin said. "It might go for awhile."Personally, I love geography."
Evidently, so do many others. The competition of the first bee was spirited and the knowledge impressive by the three-person teams in the two categories: elementary school and high school/adult."Many of the adults were impressed that the kids knew as much as they did," Nordham said. The grand prize is a $300 16-inch Replogle Globe in a Queen Anne style cherry floor stand that was donated by the Replogle Globe Co. The winning team will select the area school or library that receives it. National Geographic Society atlases and other prizes will also be awarded.
Bradford's bicentennial of the Wilson Globe will be a celebration of its heritage, but as much as anything it will be an event honoring ingenuity and hard work.It is fascinating what this farmer/blacksmith went through to achieve his globe business after moving to Bradford in 1796 with little formal education."He was totally self-taught," Nordham said.Wilson sold cows from his farm to buy an encyclopedia and educated himself in cartography and map making. He sought out an expert in engraving, Amos Doolittle in Connecticut."He taught himself geography and astronomy," Nordham said. "He studied all the skills he needed to make his globes."
For the complete story go to http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080705/NEWS02/807050328.
Rutland Herald
July 5, 2008
The man who made the first globe in North America had a farm in Bradford, and it's not difficult to see the town is proud of that distinction. There are signs in town and a historic marker on Interstate 91. Years ago, the local bank had a drawing of a globe on the checks, according to Bradford Historical Society President Larry Coffin.
But the grandest proclamation will come in 2010 when Bradford celebrates the bicentennial of the Wilson Globe. James Wilson might well have made his first globe before 1810, but that is the date of the first recorded sale so the town is using that year to celebrate the event. The centerpiece of the celebration will be one of the first three globes made by Wilson.
The globe is in Williamstown, Mass., where it is being restored by the Williamstown Art Conservation Center to the tune of about $25,000."It was falling apart and fragile," Coffin said. He felt if they were ever going to be able to achieve its restoration, it would be for a bicentennial event. There will also be a stand for the globe and a booklet that Coffin estimates will be 20 pages or so with information on Wilson.
Appropriately, one of the events for raising the funds is a geography bee held at Oxbow Union High School in Bradford. The second bee will be Nov. 15. The first in 2007 was a success financially and in terms of the enthusiasm it generated. With its entry fees, sponsorship money and a matching sum from the Modern Woodmen of America, the geography bee raised about $3,800. But it was the excitement and fun it brought to the community that was its signature."Everyone had a great, great time. It was so successful, we are going to do it again," Nordham said. Who knows? The bee might have a life beyond the bicentennial."It will go at least through the bicentennial," Coffin said. "It might go for awhile."Personally, I love geography."
Evidently, so do many others. The competition of the first bee was spirited and the knowledge impressive by the three-person teams in the two categories: elementary school and high school/adult."Many of the adults were impressed that the kids knew as much as they did," Nordham said. The grand prize is a $300 16-inch Replogle Globe in a Queen Anne style cherry floor stand that was donated by the Replogle Globe Co. The winning team will select the area school or library that receives it. National Geographic Society atlases and other prizes will also be awarded.
Bradford's bicentennial of the Wilson Globe will be a celebration of its heritage, but as much as anything it will be an event honoring ingenuity and hard work.It is fascinating what this farmer/blacksmith went through to achieve his globe business after moving to Bradford in 1796 with little formal education."He was totally self-taught," Nordham said.Wilson sold cows from his farm to buy an encyclopedia and educated himself in cartography and map making. He sought out an expert in engraving, Amos Doolittle in Connecticut."He taught himself geography and astronomy," Nordham said. "He studied all the skills he needed to make his globes."
For the complete story go to http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080705/NEWS02/807050328.
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