Carrie Hamilton, Crystal Ice and Women’s Suffrage (1890’s -1930’s)
On August 18, 1920 the Tennessee state government voted in favor of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This caused the ratification of the amendment and meant that female citizens could now vote in U.S. and state elections. The leader of the local chapter of the Women’s Suffrage Association was Carrie L. Hamilton. She...Continue reading→
Audrey Hilley, Wanted By The FBI (1983)
On January 12, 1983 an employee of Putney Road’s Book Press was found to be a fugitive wanted by the FBI for murder. 49 year old Teri Martin, an executive secretary, had been working at the Book Press for two months. She lived just north of Keene, NH and her Book Press supervisors thought she...Continue reading→
Antoinette Sherri (1920’s-1970’s)
In the summer of 2021 the stone staircase at the ruins of Madame Sherri’s “Castle” on the east side of Mount Wantastiquet partially collapsed. Antoinette Sherri, a Paris-born music hall singer, came to America in 1911. With her husband she opened a theatrical costume shop in New York City. For a time they were quite...Continue reading→
Annie Grout and the AMA (Civil War and Reconstruction)
On October 8, 1846 Lewis Grout was ordained a Congregational minister. On the same day he married Lydia Bates in Springfield, Vermont and the newly married couple traveled to Boston that evening. Two days later they boarded a ship bound for South Africa. Lewis was 31 years old and Lydia was 28. The two missionaries...Continue reading→
Annals and Mary Cabot- (1921-1922)
The “Annals of Brattleboro” was printed by the local company, E. L. Hildreth and Company. The Vermont Phoenix said the publication was “by far, the most important history of Brattleboro ever published”. The “Annals of Brattleboro” is a two volume-1100 page-set of books that encompasses Brattleboro’s history through the 1800’s. The first volume was published...Continue reading→
Annabelle Pike and the Brooks Library (1900’s)
It was in 1882 the Brattleboro Public Library opened on Main Street. The library was located in a room in the Town Hall and was open three days a week for 8 hours a day. A large selection of books, and the knowledge found in their pages, was now available to just about everyone. There...Continue reading→
Abby Estey Fuller and the Civil War Years (1842-1865)
Abby Estey was born in 1842, the first child of Jacob and Desdemona Estey. Jacob Estey was the founder of the Estey Organ Company. Miss Estey attended Brattleboro schools, including the Glenwood Seminary in West Brattleboro. The Estey’s lived on the east side of Canal Street. In 1865 Abby married a machinist and mechanical engineer...Continue reading→
William French and the Westminster Massacre
William French lived on Old Ferry Road. He was born in 1753 and died in 1775, 8 days shy of his 22nd birthday. His early death arrived in a hail of gunfire at the Westminster courthouse. His body was struck by five bullets fired by his neighbors. How does a community get to the point...Continue reading→
Thomas Akeley (Revolutionary War)
Akley (Akeley) is a name that has been part of Brattleboro and Guilford since before the Revolutionary War. According to historical records, Francis Akeley Jr. moved to Guilford from the Boston area before the war began. He had been an indentured servant to the Houghton family. The Houghton family moved to Guilford in 1773. Francis...Continue reading→
Stephen Greenleaf and the Revolution
In April, 1772, Stephen Greenleaf was appointed Justice of the Peace for Cumberland County in the Province of New York. He had recently moved from Boston with his family and purchased 800 acres of land and a saw mill from Samuel Wells. The 800 acres would become the most valuable land in Brattleboro, but 250...Continue reading→
Stephen Bradley comes to Vermont 1779
If you are interested in early Vermont history then you should become acquainted with Stephen R. Bradley. He moved to Westminster, Vermont in 1779 and quickly became an important figure in the economic and political establishment of the state. He was born in Connecticut, but we know little of his early life. Bradley graduated from...Continue reading→
Stephen Bradley and Vermont Statehood 1784-1791
In 1784 the southeastern corner of Vermont was in great turmoil. Two hundred and forty years ago, residents loyal to New York were in revolt against the Vermont government. At the time, the Attorney General of Vermont was Stephen R. Bradley. On January 10th he issued a document addressed to those residents refusing to comply...Continue reading→