South Woodstock: Through Ivan's Eyes

Ivan Shove’s Wood Shop in South Woodstock. This building, which was designed by Ivan Shove, originally housed the Kedron Knitting Mill.

By Jennie Shurtleff

During this pandemic, as I continue to work at home and archive the Woodstock History Center’s oral history collection, I find myself keeping company with many delightful people who grew up in Woodstock in the early 1900s.

Today, through an interview conducted by Ava Emerson in 1979, I met Ivan Shove. Ivan was born in South Woodstock in 1910, attended Woodstock schools, and graduated with the class of 1929. For about 30 years, he ran a wood-working business that was located on Route 106.

In his oral history, Ivan relates what life was like in the 1920s. His family moved to South Woodstock from Northern New York in search of affordable farmland. When they arrived, they found the prices were cheaper, but the land — with its rocks and hills — was less conducive to farming. When Ivan was about ten years old, his family sold the farm they had purchased and moved to the village of South Woodstock. His father, while only having about six years of formal education, was an extremely talented and capable carpenter, logger, and country butcher. When not working at these jobs, he was carrying the mail, which during the winter months had to be delivered by horse and sleigh because the roads were not plowed or passable by automobile. During seasons when Ivan’s father was able to drive, he used his truck for hauling logs and, since the back of the truck was covered, he also secured a contract with the town to use his truck to carry school children from South Woodstock to the Village so they could attend school.

For entertainment, in the evenings, Ivan and his family would listen to the radio, which they purchased in 1927 for about $125.00, a princely sum at that time. Other pastimes included card parties, where the favored game in South Woodstock was “500” (a card game that is similar to Bridge). The Grange was also a central part of South Woodstock’s social life. At the Grange, South Woodstockers often held meetings, wedding receptions, and holiday events, such as the annual Christmas party where children would participate in a program by singing songs and reciting poetry, and afterwards they would be given such treats as popcorn, candy, and an orange. 

Another social outlet in South Woodstock was the local inn, which three or four times during the winter would hold large dances in a ball room that was set on rubber balls to help reduce the stress on the building from so many people dancing at one time. Ivan recalled that people would be given a card with a string and pencil attached, and before the dance began, they would ask potential partners for a specific dance. If successful, they would then fill in the name of their partner for that dance on their card.

South Woodstock was a special community. One where if your house caught on fire, as Ivan’s did in 1926, one could expect that all the neighbors would rush to the fire, buckets in hand, to form a bucket brigade in an attempt to put it out. And, if unsuccessful, as in the case of Ivan’s home, they would help by providing materials and labor to build a new home. From listening to Ivan’s interview, it is clear why he cherished so deeply South Woodstock and the kind and generous people who lived there. 

The South Woodstock Grange Hall