It all began in 1813, when Timothy Ide, son of John Ide, Revolutionary soldier and pioneer, sold his farm in Lyndon and purchased the grist mill in Passumpsic Village on the banks of the Passumpsic River.
Seven generations of the Ide family have worked at the milling trade since 1813. It served us well and we served the hill farmers of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom well for nearly two hundred years.
The mill was central to our lives and livelihood, and the brightly lit sign was a St. Johnsbury landmark that we never failed to gaze at in passing. The Mill and the Old Man of the Mountain, in nearby Franconia Notch, were contemporaries and a stark reminder that whether built by man or nature, nothing lasts forever. The purpose of this site is to chronicle the remarkable history of E.T. & H. K. Ide and the Ide family in Vermont with the goal of keeping the memories alive.
An article from the Caledonian-Record on December 21, 1963 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of E. T. & H. K. Ide. This edition is not available online, fortunately I have five yellowed copies to choose from.
A century and a half, four buildings an six generations have contributed to the success of E. T. & H. K. Ide, Inc.
A wonderfully written and lavishly illustrated booklet celebrating the 175th anniversary of the business. The oldest family owned and operated feed business in the United States, serving the Upper Connecticut Valley for six generations.
The mill stones were made from local granite. In accordance with an age old custom, the miller was paid in part with a percentage (toll) of the grain he milled. Timothy Ide's toll was a sixteenth part, or two quarts of every bushel he milled.
Rambling reminisces about growing up in St. Johnsbury written by Angus Brooks in 1985.
The following pages involve a number of people but specifically four boys [Angus Brooks, Dick Ide, Bill Ricker, and Bill Sprague] in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, during the 1920-1940 days through grade school, the Academy and later years.
Short biographical and genealogical sketches of the Adams, Felch, Taylor and Ide families.
Just a few facts, which we may be glad to remember...
In 2018, the Vermont Historical Society acquired several cabinet card photographs from a descendant of Francis "Frank" Mason.
A collection of letters written by Horace Ide to the editor of the Caledonian giving colorful descriptions of his trips to Florida.
The woman had on an old, dirty calico dress, open in front; shoes, but no stockings, smoked a pipe, and could beat any Yankee expectorating at a mark. They had a little horse and cart, and a few kettles, etc. Something like the following conversation ensued...
A letter from E. T. to American Miller in Feb. 1914 describing the time he spent learning the milling trade in Indiana in 1865.
In 1865 I worked some weeks as millwright, remodeling this mill.
A booklet published in 1953 on the occasion of the company's 140th anniversary, it presents an idealized version of the business through the first five generations of leadership.
This mill, built about 1789, was the first of several mills that have carried on a tradition of grain and milling for the Ide family through five generations and the trials and triumphs of 140 years of business.
A wonderfully written and lavishly illustrated booklet celebrating the 175th anniversary of the business. The oldest family owned and operated feed business in the United States, serving the Upper Connecticut Valley for six generations.
The mill stones were made from local granite. In accordance with an age old custom, the miller was paid in part with a percentage (toll) of the grain he milled. Timothy Ide's toll was a sixteenth part, or two quarts of every bushel he milled.
A 50th anniversary gift from the daughters of Elmore and Cynthia Ide, Katherine, Mary Ellen and Fanny. Written by Katherine, lettered by Mary Ellen, and illustrated by Fanny Ide. Katherine married George Gray, Fanny married Oliver Sprague, and Mary Ellen lived at home.
Jacob married Ladoska Knights who was called the prettiest girl in Waterford.
A long newspaper article from The Caledonian published on the occasion of the 100th anniversary in 1913
The close of a century’s ownership finds Elmore T. Ide 74 years old but still at his desk giving the business the benefit of his long and successful experience.
A booklet published in 1953 on the occasion of the company's 140th anniversary, it presents an idealized version of the business through the first five generations of leadership.
This mill, built about 1789, was the first of several mills that have carried on a tradition of grain and milling for the Ide family through five generations and the trials and triumphs of 140 years of business.
William Adams Ide's Recollections were compiled and published in 1951 as a booklet by his great nephew Donald Powell. They provide a tremendous insight into the history and the people behind the business.
I will write down some memories in a rambling manner that may be of interest and amusement in future days.
A family portrait of Elmore and Cynthia Ide circa 1895.
A collection of snapshots taken by Richard Ide during World War II service. Most and maybe all these photos were taken in Bremen.
A series of photographs of the St. Johnsbury mill taken by Randall Armor on New Year's Eve 2010.
An article from the Caledonian-Record on December 21, 1963 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of E. T. & H. K. Ide. This edition is not available online, fortunately I have five yellowed copies to choose from.
A century and a half, four buildings an six generations have contributed to the success of E. T. & H. K. Ide, Inc.
A wonderfully written and lavishly illustrated booklet celebrating the 175th anniversary of the business. The oldest family owned and operated feed business in the United States, serving the Upper Connecticut Valley for six generations.
The mill stones were made from local granite. In accordance with an age old custom, the miller was paid in part with a percentage (toll) of the grain he milled. Timothy Ide's toll was a sixteenth part, or two quarts of every bushel he milled.
Rambling reminisces about growing up in St. Johnsbury written by Angus Brooks in 1985.
The following pages involve a number of people but specifically four boys [Angus Brooks, Dick Ide, Bill Ricker, and Bill Sprague] in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, during the 1920-1940 days through grade school, the Academy and later years.
Short biographical and genealogical sketches of the Adams, Felch, Taylor and Ide families.
Just a few facts, which we may be glad to remember...
In 2018, the Vermont Historical Society acquired several cabinet card photographs from a descendant of Francis "Frank" Mason.
A collection of letters written by Horace Ide to the editor of the Caledonian giving colorful descriptions of his trips to Florida.
The woman had on an old, dirty calico dress, open in front; shoes, but no stockings, smoked a pipe, and could beat any Yankee expectorating at a mark. They had a little horse and cart, and a few kettles, etc. Something like the following conversation ensued...
Article about the development of Bay Street in St. Johnsbury.
A few years ago it was an eyesore, a swamp, an outlet for a number of sewers, a dumping place for rubbish and a dwelling place for bull-frogs.
A 1963 Burlington Free Press article on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the company.
This is the record which surpasses all other companies under same-family management in Vermont, and perhaps in the country.
Describes the closing of the Passumpsic branch office in 1965.
Last Saturday the firm closed its doors on the banks of the Passumpsic River where it had been a grain supplier and miller for area residents.
An article from the Winter 1977 edition of Vermont Life magazine.
The whole structure is rather like a giant, compartmentalized hour glass, in which the constant flow of grain measures the passage of the working day.
A family portrait of Elmore and Cynthia Ide circa 1895.
A collection of snapshots taken by Richard Ide during World War II service. Most and maybe all these photos were taken in Bremen.
A 50th anniversary gift from the daughters of Elmore and Cynthia Ide, Katherine, Mary Ellen and Fanny. Written by Katherine, lettered by Mary Ellen, and illustrated by Fanny Ide. Katherine married George Gray, Fanny married Oliver Sprague, and Mary Ellen lived at home.
Jacob married Ladoska Knights who was called the prettiest girl in Waterford.
The St. Johnsbury Caledonian's account of the 1883 fire that destroyed the original Passumpsic mill.
Jacob Ide, the father of the owners of the mill, and the owner before them, was present at the fire and worked hard at saving the property. He came to Passumpsic seventy years ago, and his father before him was the miller at this same mill.
This post describes the electrification of St. Johnsbury streets in 1889, and a proposal by E. T. & H. K. Ide to install and power the lights from the water power in Passumpsic.
The Ides have owned a valuable water power at Passumpsic for the last 75 years or more. The present firm have owned it for 22 years.
A newspaper article describing the 1904 fire that engulfed the second Passumpsic mill.
The Ide grist mill stood on historic ground.
A newspaper article describing the fire that consumed the original Passumpsic mill in 1883.
The dam was placed there by the one who put rocks into the earth, and gave 23 foot head before it was raised by the hand of man.
A long newspaper article from The Caledonian published on the occasion of the 100th anniversary in 1913
The close of a century’s ownership finds Elmore T. Ide 74 years old but still at his desk giving the business the benefit of his long and successful experience.
A letter from E. T. to American Miller in Feb. 1914 describing the time he spent learning the milling trade in Indiana in 1865.
In 1865 I worked some weeks as millwright, remodeling this mill.
A memorial to H. K. Ide published by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in 1897.
He was nearly four years in the service, was twice wounded, was twice a prisoner of war, and participated&mdash,it is believed&mdash,in forty-two battles and skirmishes.
A booklet published in 1953 on the occasion of the company's 140th anniversary, it presents an idealized version of the business through the first five generations of leadership.
This mill, built about 1789, was the first of several mills that have carried on a tradition of grain and milling for the Ide family through five generations and the trials and triumphs of 140 years of business.
The author of this biographical sketch of E. T. Ide, possibly a school project, is unknown but it may be Katherine Ide Sprague. Katherine was the daughter of Fanny Knights and Oliver Mitchell Wentworth Sprague. She was born in Tokyo, Japan, and lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts as a girl.
William Adams Ide's Recollections were compiled and published in 1951 as a booklet by his great nephew Donald Powell. They provide a tremendous insight into the history and the people behind the business.
I will write down some memories in a rambling manner that may be of interest and amusement in future days.
An article from the September 1958 issue of Eastern Feed Merchant.
Determination and resourcefulness best describe the Ide philosophy for building and maintaining a good business. Going was not always easy.
A collection of photographs of the original and rebuilt mills in Passumpsic
A series of photographs of the St. Johnsbury mill taken by Randall Armor on New Year's Eve 2010.