The Best Musical Performance Ever Heard in Brattleboro (1898)
In 1898 Brattleboro hosted a concert in the town hall auditorium on Main Street. The concert was organized to raise funds for the Brattleboro Soldiers Aid Society. This organization existed to support the soldiers serving in the Spanish American War and planned to raise $1000 at the event.Continue reading→
Battle of Bennington Revised History (1843)
In 1843 the local paper, The Vermont Phoenix, published a revised history of Vermont’s influence during the Revolutionary War. The events in the Revolutionary War that were up for reinterpretation concerned Brattleboro and the Battle of Bennington. In 1843 the War for Independence had been over for 77 years and people thought they knew what...Continue reading→
Oz and the Latchis Memorial Theatre
BHS and BAMS podcast the Wizard of Oz and The Latchis Memorial Theatre. Click on the link for the Youtube Video.
Juneteenth
Making a Correction Two years ago, on June 19th, 2022, three young people honored seventeen African American soldiers who represented Brattleboro during the Civil War. The town installed a corrective plaque next to the Civil War Soldier’s Monument on the Common. A ceremony was held to acknowledge those who served during the war and were...Continue reading→
Brattleboro Historical Society Annual Meeting 2023
ANNUAL TALK ”The Extraordinary Mr. Estey: A Celebration” Local author Dennis Waring, Manufacturing the Muse, will fill us in on what made Jacob Estey so extraordinary, the possibility of EOM and BHS under the same roof at the Estey Organ Complex and ”EsteyFest” 2024 is coming to Brattleboro! What is that all about? BHS Research...Continue reading→
Saturday, October 22 – Tour of the Old West River Railroad
Take a ride on the West River Railroad! Actually, along the route of the West River Railroad! Glenn Annis will lead this tour of the West River Railroad’s 36-mile route from Brattleboro to South Londonderry, sharing the Railroads history, while seeing first-hand the vestiges of the old railroad line along the way. Participants will board...Continue reading→
Riverfest
Riverfest August 6, 2022 The town of Brattleboro exists within the Connecticut River watershed. The West River and Whetstone Brook feed into the Connecticut and, together, they have supported communities of people for centuries. As part of the Connecticut River Conservancy’s “Riverfest”, on Saturday, August 6 the Historical Society set up a tent and shared...Continue reading→
Fort Dummer and the Vernon Dam
In 1976 the Brattleboro Reformer reported on the archeological dig that occurred at the Fort Dummer site along the Connecticut River.The site is about 1 mile south of downtown Brattleboro, along the Connecticut River. Fort Dummer was built on the banks of the Connecticut River in 1724. Its purpose was to protect English settlements in northern...Continue reading→
Steamboats and Connecticut River
Gravestone epitaphs have led us on interesting journeys. At Prospect Hill Cemetery there is a stone that overlooks the Connecticut River. Carved on one side is the following; “The grave of Alanson D. Wood, who was killed instantly on this river by the explosion of the Steamboat Greenfield, May 18, 1840, age 30.”Continue reading→
Soldiers’ Monument Tablet on Juneteenth
On June 19, 2022 the town of Brattleboro unveiled a corrective and interpretative tablet that was placed next to the Civil War Soldiers’ Monument. A town committee crafted the text of the tablet and the Select Board approved the new installation and funding for the project. The inaccuracy of the monument was first brought to...Continue reading→
Richard Hamilton Speaks At Memorial Day Remembrance
On May 27, 2022 Richard Hamilton, a 1940 graduate of Brattleboro High School, spoke to an audience of more than 400 people on the front lawn of BUHS. He shared stories of growing up in West Brattleboro and attending public schools. This was part of a Memorial Day Remembrance that included students and staff from...Continue reading→
Hinsdale Bridge
Saturday, March 28, 1920 the Hinsdale Bridge between Brattleboro and Island Park collapsed into the Connecticut River. The winter had produced a great deal of snow, a warm spell caused a quick melt, and eight to ten inches of ice were still on the river. The Brattleboro Daily Reformer gave the following description of what...Continue reading→