This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: OHaraHaworth68 Surnames: ARBOUR GOWER Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.arbour/306/mb.ashx Message Board Post: 02 May 1908 - Born in Pownal, Vermont, Harold John ARBOUR was the younger of 2 children born to cotton mill worker, liveryman, and farmer John Adelard ARBOUR and his wife Rebecca GOWER. Harold grew up in Pownal and appears to have applied himself in school, where he made the honor roll. On 24 June 1926, he graduated from Williamstown High School and shortly thereafter became employed by the Irving Bank Trust Company in New York City. The following year in August 1927, Harold entered Allen's School of Commerce in Troy, NY, where he took a 2-year commercial teachers course. After graduation he found employment as a Business College Teacher, where he worked during the taking of the 1930 Census. In September 1935, Harold seems to have returned to Schenectady, NY, where he was engaged by the Spencer Business School as head of the secretarial department for the ensuing year. He held this position at least through the 1939-1940 school year. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor! , Harold felt his call to duty. In February 1942, he enlisted in the US Coast Guard, then under US Navy supervision, at the Albany, NY, recruiting station. Throughout his stint in the Coast Guard, Harold served in Curtis Bay, MD; New London, CT; Groton, CT; Palm Beach, FL; West Palm Beach, FL; and Manhattan Beach, NY. At the time of his departure from the Coast Guard in October 1945, Harold received an honorable discharge. Newspapers further noted that prior to the war, he served as Assistant Principal of Spencer Business School in Schenectady. Utilizing these skills, he taught shorthand and typing while in the service. He trained about 250 men and 2,000 women - the men for immediate sea duty and the women each replacing a man on shore duty. At the time of his separation, Harold had no plans for his immediate future. By April 1947, though, Harold seems to have found work - this time in Roanoke, VA, as teacher and principal of the School of Secretarial Science of the Nationa! l Business College. The following June he enlisted in the Navy Reserve at Norfolk, VA, for a term of 4 years. By April 1956, Harold was an instructor at Hollins College in Roanoke - a position he held for 15 years. Harold finally retired in 1970 and returned home to Pownal. In May 1984, he was elected historian at the local American Legion Post. Shortly after this, Harold seems to have fallen ill. He died in Bennington, VT, of congestive heart failure on 21 December 1985. He was buried in the North Pownal Cemetery in Pownal. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.