North Pownal

North Pownal Highlights

North Pownal is a part of the town of Pownal. It is difficult to separate information from the main town. Because of this, information that I find which is most important will be in the town description of Pownal. With that being said, here is a story that I think you will enjoy that relates to North Pownal. (I’ll summarize the best that I can. There is quite a story here, one I feel you might want to read in its entirety). THROUGH THE MILL, a story about a little girl named Addie Card who became the poster child for Child Labor Laws. Written by Elizabeth Winthrop in 2006, photo taken by Lewis Hine in 1910, begins, “She leans casually on her spinning frame, staring out at the camera, dressed in a filthy work smock. Her bare feet, planted firmly, are slick with black grease. Her left arm rests easily on the huge machinery but crooked at a strange angle, as if perhaps a bone had been broken and never set properly.” Mr. Hine said about this sad-eyed Vermont girl, “Anaemic 'little spinner' in North Pownal, VT Cotton Mill.” Ms. Winthrop was curious to find out more about Addie. After years of research, finally, when the postal service put Addie’s face on the 32 cent stamp in 1998, information was found. Addie was put to work in the mill at age 8. She stood on a soapbox so she could reach the bobbins. She” lived the dark side of the American dream according to records and relatives.” Hard worker, very poor, and married twice, neither time happily. Addie never knew she had become the poster child for Child Labor Laws, the cover on Reebok Magazine or was on a postage stamp. But her symbol and story will always reside in the Library of Congress and something that we will never forget.