The Brattleboro Historical Society Podcast

John Ballard was working at Arthur F. Roberts' houseware and paint store on Main Street when he received a draft notice telling him to report to Rutland, Vt. for medical examination by the Army. Here's his story...

The Brattleboro Historical Society will hold a ceremony in the small park between Wells Fountain and the courthouse at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 28th to introduce “Moments in Brattleboro History” markers. These local history markers will appear on signs and buildings throughout town. Each sign will be attached to a building or post and include a brief text explaining some of the history of that place. In addition, there will be a QR code on the sign that can be scanned with a phone. The QR code will connect the phone with a four to five minute audio-video clip designed to share historical images and stories of the location. The signs are the historical society's latest attempt to share local history with the public. Each sign will be attached to a building or post and include a brief text explaining some of the history of that place. In addition, there will be a QR code on the sign that can be scanned with a phone.

In 1879 the Bushnell Block on Elliot Street began as a two and a half story wood frame house. In 1887 the size of the building was doubled and partially converted into a boarding house. In 1915 Jason Bushnell moved his grocery store into the building and continued to expand. Here's the story...

Joseph Kellogg was the longest serving commander of Fort Dummer. He established trade with local Natives and was known for his skills as an interpreter. Kellogg was involved with many of the New England and New York treaties negotiated during this time. Here's his story...

Sarah Harris wrote about her honeymoon experiences among the Mormons in 1851. This recording explains how the Brattleboro newlyweds found themselves in multiple life-threatening situations in the days of the Wild West...

The Plows of the Valleys are NOT the Plows of the Hills...in the 1800's Brattleboro's Fred Holbrook designed sidehill swivel plows that were popular in northern New England. Here's the story...

Three generations of women owned and operated a millinery business in Brattleboro for over 75 years during the eighteen and nineteen hundreds. One of the women, Mary Donnell, also spent a great deal of time representing the interests of the seamstresses and female factory workers who were supposed to benefit from the Thompson Trust. Here's the story...

In 1942 Estey Organ on Birge St. went into wartime production for the government. Ammo boxes, pontoon bridges and portable organs for chaplains in war zones were made at the complex. Employment went from 90 to 350 and one third of the employees were women. here's the story...

Anthony Van Doorn came to Brattleboro in the early 1800's and became the largest furniture maker in Vermont. Pieces of his are on display in the Bennington Museum, Historic Deerfield Museum and the Brattleboro Historical Society. Here's his story...

Immigration and Deportation have both recently been in the news. The 1880's thru the 1920's saw major changes in these policies throughout the US and in Brattleboro. Here's the story...

Ernest Gibson Jr. became governor in the 1940's and established the Vermont State Police. Twenty years later he found himself criticizing the organization he helped start. Here's the story...

Brattleboro was chartered in 1753 but not organized as a town until 1761. This is the story of that process, and the first Brattleboro settler acknowledged by the New Hampshire government. His name was Oliver Willard. Here's the story...

Bayard Grant was born in Brattleboro in 1916. He would go on to fulfill a vital military role during the Berlin Airlift in the late 1940's. He benefitted from the belief that furthering one's education could help the individual, and also contribute to the well-being of society. Here's his story...

It took six years for the Harmony Parking Lot to progress from an idea to a reality...that was too long for the Dix-O-Dell Red and White Super Market. Here's the story...

In 2008 Walter Meyer donated handwritten minutes of four Brattleborough Town Meetings to the historical society. They date from 1781 and 1782. The minutes were recorded by Town Clerk Stephen Greenleaf. We summarize the actions of the freeholders in this recording...

This week Westminster, Vt. commemorated the 250th anniversary of what became known as the “Westminster Massacre”. In 1775 two local men, William French and Daniel Houghton, were killed during a confrontation at the Westminster Courthouse between New York-leaning Tories and those who opposed the British/New York government. Here's the story...

In 1823 the Bradshaw's rented a two floor wooden building on Main Street. The building was originally a harness shop, but the Bradshaw's had other ideas for the structure. They were the first African American family to settle in Brattleboro. Here's the story...

On March 4, 1791 Vermont officially joined the USA. Brattleboro's representative to the convention to ratify the US Constitution was from one of the most loyal Tory families in New England. Here's the story...

Remember when dairy farms used to dot the Vermont countryside? Fifty years ago, there were almost 4000 Vermont farms milking cows. Now, the state has less than 500 dairy farms. Here in Windham County the numbers are similar. Thirty years ago, there were about 75 dairy farms in the southeastern corner of Vermont. Today there are less than 20. This week's story focuses on a few of the local dairies that operated in Brattleboro...

Brattleboro Historical Society is about to unveil a project to reach locals and visitors who are either in Brattleboro for a look or visiting via the BHS website. The project is titled “Memories of Brattleboro”. We are in the process of developing historic site markers for Brattleboro's historic properties. A brief description will include a QR code taking the viewer, if desired, to a more in-depth media presentation about the property. This recording shares info that will be available at the Hooker-Dunham building on the eastside of Main Street.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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 from one town to another. Here's the story...

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...

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

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...

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 the 12th amendment to the Constitution, which modified how Presidents and Vice-Presidents were chosen.

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.

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.

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 company in the world. This recording focuses on four employees who made great contributions to the success of the company.

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 church

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...

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..

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...

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. Woody Guthrie was one of the featured performers. Here's the story...

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...

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. Here's the story...

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

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 Reformer Christmas Stocking. Band and, later, the First Regiment Band. Society chairs, tables, utensils, cups and other supplies were stored under the bandstand for these gatherings. Here's the story...

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...

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 an Oscar...