Rockwell Stephens
Encyclopedia
Rockwell Rittenhouse Stephens (b. February 16, 1900, Portland, Oregon
; d. October, 1982, in South Woodstock, Vermont) was a journalist, author and ski instructor. He was an early member of the National Ski Patrol
, joining in 1938, receiving member No. 74.
, and possibly was related to David Rittenhouse
, after whom Rittenhouse Square
is named. Rockwell's maternal grandparents were Cleveland S. and Cornelia Rockwell. Cleveland S. Rockwell was an engineer for the U. S. Navy and a United States Coast Surveyor. In 1910, ten year old Rockwell Stephens was living with his mother Cornelia in a Philadelphia Ward 22 hotel. By 1920, Rockwell and his mother Cornelia had moved to Chicago. In 1918 his draft registration card, which was signed "Rockwell Rittenhouse Rockwell", indicated that he lived on University Avenue in Chicago, was a student attending University High School, and his nearest relative was "Mrs. Cornelia R. Rockwell" of the same address.
Rockwell was married to Isabella McLaughlin, daughter of Andrew C. McLaughlin
, a Pulitzer Prize winning historian and past President of the American Historical Association
. She survived him and continued to live at their house in Vermont until her own death.
, writing about sport, autos and travel. In 1930, Rockwell R. Stephens, occupation "College Secretary", was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife Isabella and their eight month old daughter Susanna R. Stephens. He was president of Ski Sport Inc. of Boston from 1933-43. He joined the faculty of the Putney School
, Putney, Vermont
, in 1952, and Woodstock Country School, Woodstock, Vermont, from 1953 to 1962. After moving to Vermont, he became a frequent contributor to the magazine Vermont Life.
Retiring to South Woodstock, Vermont
, he became a tree harvester on his property there. His book on the subject "One Man's Forest" is still available, though there have been no recent printings.
One of his assignments at the Chicago Daily News was to report on routes for long distance travel. Before the U.S. Route
system and the Interstate Highway System
, long distance automobile travel was dependent on a knowledge of State, County and Local highways, many not well signposted. Rockwell Stephens travelled these highways and reported routes based on landmarks.
He died October 18, 1982, at Woodstock, Vermont. He was survived by his wife Isabella, their two daughters and a son.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
; d. October, 1982, in South Woodstock, Vermont) was a journalist, author and ski instructor. He was an early member of the National Ski Patrol
National ski patrol
The National Ski Patrol is the largest winter rescue organization in the world. It was founded in 1938 by Charles Minot Dole, at the urging of Roger Langley...
, joining in 1938, receiving member No. 74.
Early Life and Family
Rockwell Rittenhouse Stephens was born February 16, 1900, the son of John Rittenhouse Stephens and his wife Cornelia Rockwell. Rockwell was the paternal grandson of William and Susanna (Rittenhouse) Stephens, of Germantown, PennsylvaniaGermantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
, and possibly was related to David Rittenhouse
David Rittenhouse
David Rittenhouse was a renowned American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman and public official...
, after whom Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme during the late 17th century in central Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park cuts off 19th Street at Walnut Street and also at a half block above Manning Street. Its boundaries are...
is named. Rockwell's maternal grandparents were Cleveland S. and Cornelia Rockwell. Cleveland S. Rockwell was an engineer for the U. S. Navy and a United States Coast Surveyor. In 1910, ten year old Rockwell Stephens was living with his mother Cornelia in a Philadelphia Ward 22 hotel. By 1920, Rockwell and his mother Cornelia had moved to Chicago. In 1918 his draft registration card, which was signed "Rockwell Rittenhouse Rockwell", indicated that he lived on University Avenue in Chicago, was a student attending University High School, and his nearest relative was "Mrs. Cornelia R. Rockwell" of the same address.
Rockwell was married to Isabella McLaughlin, daughter of Andrew C. McLaughlin
Andrew C. McLaughlin
Andrew Cunningham McLaughlin was an American historian born to Scottish immigrant parents. He received his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Michigan. By 1903 he was a respected historian and in 1914 he was named President of the American Historical Association...
, a Pulitzer Prize winning historian and past President of the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
. She survived him and continued to live at their house in Vermont until her own death.
Career
From 1921-26 he worked at the Chicago Daily NewsChicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, writing about sport, autos and travel. In 1930, Rockwell R. Stephens, occupation "College Secretary", was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife Isabella and their eight month old daughter Susanna R. Stephens. He was president of Ski Sport Inc. of Boston from 1933-43. He joined the faculty of the Putney School
The Putney School
The Putney School is an independent high school in Putney, Vermont. It was founded in 1935 by Carmelita Hinton. It is a co-educational, college-preparatory boarding school, with a day-student component, located outside of Brattleboro, Vermont. Emily Jones is the director...
, Putney, Vermont
Putney, Vermont
Putney is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census.On December 26, 1753 Col.Josiah Willard led a proprietors' petition for a Putney charter which was issued by Governor Benning Wentworth of the New Hampshire Grants under King George II of England...
, in 1952, and Woodstock Country School, Woodstock, Vermont, from 1953 to 1962. After moving to Vermont, he became a frequent contributor to the magazine Vermont Life.
Retiring to South Woodstock, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, he became a tree harvester on his property there. His book on the subject "One Man's Forest" is still available, though there have been no recent printings.
One of his assignments at the Chicago Daily News was to report on routes for long distance travel. Before the U.S. Route
United States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
system and the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
, long distance automobile travel was dependent on a knowledge of State, County and Local highways, many not well signposted. Rockwell Stephens travelled these highways and reported routes based on landmarks.
He died October 18, 1982, at Woodstock, Vermont. He was survived by his wife Isabella, their two daughters and a son.
External links
- New England Ski Museum article
- SkiRebel Magazine http://www.skirebel.com