Event - Brattleboro Historical Society

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 had happened. History books had written about the reasons and outcomes of the war but new information was coming to light from sources that had not previously been represented in the documentation concerning the Revolutionary War. History books had long established that the Battle of Bennington, between the British and the Americans, was one of the turning points of the war. The Americans won the battle capturing, killing and wounding almost 1000 British soldiers. The British objective of the battle had been to seize as many supplies…including food, horses, cattle, wagon and oxen from the Vermonters as possible. The British […]

Unveiling Moments in Brattleboro History

The Brattleboro Historical Society will unveil its historic markers project at a ceremony behind the Wells Fountain at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Here John Clements of Zephyr Design prepares the sign for his building – where the home of the Bradshaw family, Brattleboro’s first African-American family was located in the 18th Century. Digital Extras The Bradshaw family SoundCloud audio file Moments in Brattleboro Vermont History YouTube presentations

Unveiling Moments in Brattleboro History

The Brattleboro Historical Society will unveil its historic markers project at a ceremony behind the Wells Fountain at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The project is titled ‘Moments in Brattleboro History.’ The public is welcome to join the Historical Society’s unveiling of the first marker. Here John Clements of Zephyr Design prepares the sign for his building – where the home of the Bradshaw family, Brattleboro’s first African-American family was located in the 18th Century. Moments in Brattleboro History (video files) https://youtube.com/@momentsinbratthistory?si=hyMCr5NpRmA-pIkt The Bradshaws (audio file) https://on.soundcloud.com/4PJoGdDjMhmG12dLA

BHS e442-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.

BHS at The Local Historical Societies and Museums Conference May 9 2025

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 Room will be open so you can enjoy photos of Estey buildings, workers and family, numerous pieces of ephemera, books and even play an Estey organ! Volunteers will be happy to answer questions. Join us for refreshments and an enlightening, local history afternoon! Presented by Dennis Waring, president of the Estey Organ Museum Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1 pm 230 Main Street Municipal Center, 3rd floor

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 the bus by Newfane Common at 9:30 a.m. The group will head to Brattleboro and then up the West River Valley to South Londonderry, the terminus of the West River Railroad line. The bus will return to Newfane to the West River Railroad Museum where a bagged lunch will be served. Glenn Annis is an authority on the West River Railroad and will point out landmarks, historic buildings, structures and other features that still exist along the 36-mile route, as well the location of others that have disappeared over the years. Cost: $25.00 (Lunch included) Space is limited! (First come-First […]

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 historical stories with the public. Ten years ago the space at the junction of Depot and Bridge streets, bordering the Connecticut River, was transformed into a small park. The park is a happy result of community efforts to refurbish and reimagine the railroad station area that have their origins going all the way back to the 1970’s. The Vernon Historians were also in attendance and we had a fun time together sharing stories of the Connecticut River Valley. Our Society had a tent featuring a media presentation of historical photos of the river. Images of Island Park, Fort Dummer, boating, […]

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 the town’s attention in January 2020 by Brattleboro Area Middle School students. In 1887 the town erected a monument on the Common which stated 31 men serving Brattleboro had died in the Civil War while 385 had served…research conducted using vermontcivilwar.org, Vermont’s Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion, Cabot’s Annals of Brattleboro, Fuller’s Men of Color, To Arms!, Burnham’s Brattleboro: Early History, and Civil War-era digital newspapers revealed more information. After reviewing the research conducted by BAMS students and historical society members, we believe a more accurate count would be ENLISTED 450 DIED IN SERVICE […]

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 BAMS and BUHS, and members of the public. Here is the text of Mr. Hamilton’s talk: “Good Afternoon. I was born in Brattleboro in September, 1922. I grew up on the family farm on Hamilton Road in West Brattleboro. We had cows and grew corn and hay to feed them. We also had vegetable gardens and apple, pear and peach trees. I had one sister and three brothers. My sister and a brother were older than me and two brothers were younger. We lived in a multi-generational household. In the home were our family of seven. My father’s parents, one […]

Breweries & Prohibition

C2H5OH: BANNED!
Prohibition came to New England much earlier than it did to much of the rest of the country. In 1851 Maine passed a law banning the sale of alcoholic beverages. By 1855 all New England states had adopted a version of the Maine law, including Vermont.

John & Mary Carnahan Honored at Vermont Statehouse

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, on the steps of the Vermont Capitol, John & Mary Carnahan were recognized by the Vermont Senate & House of Representatives for their many civic contributions to the Brattleboro community. Watch a video of the presentation at: https://youtu.be/ABvRSpyAxVY?si=hhblf3kdtsd326TD