In 1912 soprano Mary Howe was the featured performer at the four day Brattleboro Pageant on Island Park. The Pageant was an historical review of Brattleboro's past. We thought this might be an appropriate topic for our 500th podcast of local history. These podcasts are an effort, on our part, to expand on our understandings of Brattleboro's past.…

The first moving pictures to play in Brattleboro came to town in 1899. In 1921 the first major motion picture filmed in Vermont was shown in the Town Hall Auditorium. It starred Lillian Gish and was filmed north of here in the Connecticut River Valley. The movie was said to be "the greatest entertainment of its kind ever seen in Brattleboro.”…

This week is about Jim Fisk...the man who caused an economic panic known as "Black Friday". He was quite a wheeler-dealer and had several ties to Brattleboro. 7th grade BAMS students tell his story and rap about his impact on the country.Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Edward C. Crosby was part of the 2nd generation of Crosby's to have a positive influence on Brattleboro. He was a prominent businessman who balanced his self-interests with the needs of the community. Here's his story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

BAMS students rap and tell the story of local hero Clarina Irene Howard Nichols. She was a pragmatic, hands-on advocate for Women's Rights, the Abolition of Slavery, and the Temperance Movement. Throughout her life she campaigned for equal opportunity and the protection of the vulnerable. This is her story...…

7th grade students created a rap about local hero Clarina Nichols with the help of artificial intelligence. This is their recording...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Jimmy Carter visited Brattleboro in January of 1976. He was one of fifteen candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Here's the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Elm Corners is located at the intersection of Maple and Guilford Streets. This is the history of this section of Brattleboro which used to be the southeastern boundary of Centreville village. The story goes back to the 1750's...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

In the 1980's a concerted community effort led to the creation of Wells Fountain Park in the area of town that used to be known as Toad Hill. This is the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Larkin Mead was a world-renowned sculptor with many pieces on display in museums across the country. Locally he is remembered for his Recording Angel, Ceres-the Goddess of Agriculture atop the Vt. Capitol Building, statues of Ethan Allen and Abraham Lincoln. Here's the rest of his story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

A pre-1835 silver spoon was recently donated to the historical society. It was made by local silversmith John Burnham. Here's the story of how the 200 year old spoon made its way to our collection...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

This week we feature an interview with local 80 year old motorcyclist Joe Spano. Joe visited Brattleboro Area Middle School last week and shared his experiences with the local history class.Por Brattleboro Historical Society

In late July, 1910, Brattleboro was in the middle of a railroad strike. The town was at a standstill and financial tensions filled the air. There were about 20 trains that stopped here on a daily basis. At the time, most industries in Brattleboro shipped their goods by rail, and passenger transport along the lines was also a preferred way to get fr…

Gene Ferriter was the train depot gatekeeper for 57 years. He saw many changes during his time with the railroad. Here's a bit of his story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Daylight Savings Time first came to the United States during World War I. This recording shares how Brattleboro dealt with the shift in time...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

The creemee first arrived in Vt. in 1951. The first creemee stand in this area was in Dummerston, next to Dutton Pines State Park in 1952. Brattleboro's first stand was the Freeze King Creemee Drive In on Canal Street, built in 1953. In 1955 it became the Hillside Dairy Freeze. Here's the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Stephen R. Bradley, from Westminster, was one of Vermont's first US Senators. In fact, he was on the negotiation team that sealed the deal with New York and the United States, and brought Vermont into the Union. As Senator he put forth the bill which created the Flag Act of 1794. This law placed 15 stars and stripes on the US flag. He also proposed…

Stephen R. Bradley was very influential in the negotiations between Vermont, New York and the U.S. government when Vermont requested to join the United States. This recording tells the story of Bradley's involvement in the judicial, military, and political aspects of the negotiations.Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Stephen R. Bradley was instrumental in winning recognition of Vermont by the newly established United States of America. This is a story of his early experiences in Vermont.Por Brattleboro Historical Society

This recording marks the tenth year of BAMS students' collaboration with the historical society in the production of these local history recordings. For a span of approximately 100 years the Estey Company built over 500,000 reed organs and 3,000 pipe organs. The Estey Organ Company is said to have been the largest, and longest lasting, reed organ c…

Our artifact collection continues to generate stories from the past...Here are two tales researched and told by BHS President Lee Ha...a doctor's scale and an 1830's foot warmer used at churchPor Brattleboro Historical Society

Carol Farrington shares information about the life of Dr. Edward R. Lynch, founder of Melrose Hospital in West Brattleboro, which operated from 1907 until the Doctor's death in 1930...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

In the next few weeks the Brattleboro Historical Society and Estey Organ Museum will offer many opportunities to explore the history of the Estey Organ Company AND experience various free performances featuring Estey reed organs. Here's the story..Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Mary Rogers was likely a child of an enslaved family. She became a housekeeper and may have been the first woman of color in Brattleboro to vote for President in the 1920 election. Here's her story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

In 1944 pianist Mary Lou Williams did something that had never been done before. She headlined an integrated traveling musical revue that toured the country to advocate for a particular Presidential candidate. In the 1940’s most stage and concert performances were segregated. However, this multi-racial revue featured a mixture of musical styles. Wo…

At the young age of 22 Benjamin Hall began compiling early Vt history from the eastern side of the state. In the mid-1800's most Vt history books focused on the western side of the Green Mountains. Benjamin Hall fixed that problem. Here's the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Superior Court Justice Harrie B. Chase sentenced Klan members to the Windsor State Prison 100 years ago as the KKK attempted to establish a foothold in the Green Mountains. This was a time when bigotry and racism were openly promoted by some Vermonters. The attached image is a photo of Harrie B. Chase. Here's the story...…

In 1968 a young Roger Haydock hitchhiked to Chicago to protest at the Democratic National Convention. Here's his story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

The Ladies Enterprise Society bandstand, built in 1914, is a tangible artifact of the organization's commitment to the Esteyville neighborhood. The Society provided baskets of food, meals, and child care for families experiencing sickness or injury. The organization also donated to many local agencies like Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Reforme…

Brattleboro Historical Society Trustee Peter Root recently shared memories of his father's local trucking company. He spoke about growing up in Brattleboro in the 1940's and 50's and how the company changed with the times...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

In 1973 Ry Cooder played at Windham College. The concert was one of many arranged by Putney Folk. This is the story of two of the main forces behind Putney Folk and how their careers led to many accolades, including a Grammy...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

Nancy and Victor Olson remember the 1970's and the music created at Misty Meadows Farm...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

An early version of local musicians, The Stockwells, began in the 1970's as The Green Mountain Boys. Here's how they started, and found themselves playing with many accomplished performers at Windham College. Putney Folk, the promoters of several performances, is also discussed in this recording...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

One hundred and ten years ago the Esteyville neighborhood bandstand at Fuller Park was dedicated in a ceremony organized by the Ladies Enterprise Society. An audience of 500 attended the dedication and listened to the inaugural band concert. The future of the bandstand will be discussed in the coming weeks. This recording shares some of the bandsta…

In 1955 Clif Taylor moved with his young family to Brattleboro. He became President of the Outing Club and offered ski lessons at Living Memorial Park. He began experimenting with shorter skis to speed up the learning process for beginning skiers. In 1961 the Stephen Greene Press published Instant Skiing, a how-to book for learning to ski with shor…

In 2022 town government placed a corrective plaque near the Civil War Soldier's Monument on the Common. This recording is a collection of excerpts from the ceremony with added context from current BAMS students.Por Brattleboro Historical Society

The northwest corner of West Brattleboro’s Mather Road Cemetery is a solemn spot. The back row of uniform gravestones with inscriptions facing the woods are people who died while under the supervision of the town. Some were living at the Town Farm, others resided at the Brattleboro Retreat, and a few bodies were unclaimed after they died at the hos…

Sue Mitchell will be retiring from Brattleboro Area Middle School this year. She has worked more than forty years in local schools. Sue was born and grew up in Brattleboro, attending St. Michael’s School until it closed, and then finishing her high school years at Brattleboro Union High School. This is a bit of her story...…

In 1906 the “Defenders of the Union” monument on the local fairgrounds was dedicated during a well-attended ceremony at the old military camp. U.S. member of Congress, Kittredge Haskins, was one of the dignitaries who spoke at the commemoration. Memorial Day and a history of the monument are discussed in the recording.…

In 1928 a local columnist, Vrest Orton, wrote an article for the Brattleboro Reformer entitled, “A Weird Writer is in Our Midst.” The column was about H.P. Lovecraft. Howard Phillips Lovecraft was a writer from Providence, Rhode Island who would later become well-known for his science fiction/fantasy/horror stories.Here's the story of how the Bratt…

Mary Palmer Tyler wrote a healthcare book in 1811. It was called "The Maternal Physician" and was the first book of its kind in the United States. A book written for women, by a woman, that addressed health and domestic issues...a second edition was published in 1818. Tyler moved to Brattleboro in 1801, had 11 children and lived to be 91 years old.…

200 years ago Daniel Webster was a strong advocate for keeping the United States together during tumultuous times. He also had some connections with Brattleboro...here's the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

From 1837 to 1950 Brattleboro operated a Town Farm to provide support for those who could not financially take care of themselves. This is the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

BAMS students interviewed Ben Robb of Robb Family Farm concerning this year's sugaring season. The Robb's have been sugaring on Ames Hill in West Brattleboro for four generations. It was a wide-ranging interview touching upon the polar vortex, the Canadian Maple Federation, changing taste palates, evolving technology and predicted long term trends …

Irah D. Spaulding was 19 when he earned his pilot's license in 1912. Irah grew up on Elliot Street. He was the first person to fly an exhibition biplane at the Valley Fairgrounds. He served in World War I and continued flying experimental planes for the Navy after the war. Injuries caused him to leave the military in 1922. He would later have an in…

Pleasant Valley Reservoir is a vital piece of the Brattleboro water system. Here's the story of its 1909 construction and how Italian workers were involved in many of the major infrastructure projects of the time...Por Brattleboro Historical Society

The last major solar eclipse to pass over Brattleboro occurred in 1932. Radio was still a fairly new technology and scientists studied the impact of a solar eclipse on commercial radio signals. The press called this the first "spectator eclipse" as many people traveled to see the rare, natural phenomenon. Here is the story...…

Carrie Balestier and Rudyard Kipling were married and moved to Vermont in 1892. They would remain in the Brattleboro area until a family feud caused them to move to England in 1896. Local historian Mary Cabot was a family friend and wrote about what caused them to leave...here's the story (portrait of Carrie Balestier Kipling)…

Caroline Balestier, a young woman from Brattleboro, married world-famous author Rudyard Kipling in January, 1892 while both were in London, England. The wedding took place during a flu epidemic that was sweeping through England at the time. This is the story of how Carrie and Kipling met and chose to settle in Brattleboro.…

This week’s vocabulary word is hyperbole.In 1893 Daniel Griggs declared Brattleboro “The Best Place on Earth”. Griggs was half of a business partnership that produced a promotional real estate booklet claiming the town was “full of beauty, health and goodness.” Here's the story...Por Brattleboro Historical Society