Category Archives: News & Events

The Brattleboro Historical Society and Friends of Brooks Memorial Library are collaborating to generate ideas about how to increase community awareness and interest in Brattleboro’s 200-year printing and publishing heritage. Community members interested in this topic are invited to a brainstorming meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at 7PM at the Brattleboro History Center in the Masonic Center at 196 Main Street. The purpose of the meeting will be to gather ideas for ways to interest and engage our community in learning more about the influential roles that Brattleboro’s publishing and printing industries have played throughout our history. By the early 1800s, Brattleboro was recognized as a major printing and publishing town in Vermont and New England. Ever since, these industries and businesses have made major economic, cultural and social contributions to the town and community. Today, with the emergence of digital publishing and printing, Brattleboro continues to be an incubator and innovative leader in the […]

This letter was shared with Community Council members of Vermont PBS, and has now been made open to the community by Bill Holiday of the Brattleboro Historical Society (and a member of the Community Council of VT-PBS). All questions about this notice may be direct to Bill at holiday@svcable.net. Vermont PBS would like to hear about issues and events of concern in our corner of the state. Dear Council Members: Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend a little time with our newest Community Council colleague, Barbara Morrow, up in Newport.  We had a lunch with several folks from the community seeing how we (Vermont PBS) can solidify our presence in Orleans County.  We spoke about our early childhood and Ready to Learn Materials, PBS LearningMedia, our educational contests, and our kids library screenings and adult programming in the community, including the upcoming Ken Burn’s filmCancer: Emperor of all Maladies. One of the interesting things […]

1847: The ladies of the Brattleboro East Society, will hold a Fair at Wantastiquet Hall, on the third day of March next, when will be offered for sale a variety of both fancy and useful articles. There will be a Post Office connected, where all persons desirous, can be accommodated with letters from their friends in any part of the United States. The celebrated Bishop Glee Club, will entertain the company with some of the choicest music. Refreshments of all kinds will be provided, among which will be a loaf of cake containing a Gold Ring. Admittance 12 1/2 cents. 1860: Larkin G. Mead, Jr., having secured the services of Signor Gagliardi of Rome, Italy, has commenced work upon the statue of Ethan Allen which has been ordered by the State of Vermont for the capitol at Montpelier. 1860: The Festival of the Universalist Society, on Thursday evening of last week, was largely attended and […]

The Brattleboro Historical Society will unveil its new downtown History Center with a preview opening featuring special hours during June’s first-Friday Gallery Walk and Strolling of the Heifers weekend. The new center on the first floor of the Masonic building at 196 Main St. (with a separate south-side entrance and rear-door wheelchair ramp) will feature the first of a series of changing exhibits — starting with a look at local agricultural history, farm life and the former Valley Fair — on Friday, June 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. Since its founding in 1982, the Brattleboro Historical Society has worked to shelter and share locally significant facts and artifacts so present and future generations can learn from the past. The volunteer-run nonprofit hopes its new History Center will give residents and organizations the opportunity to explore their […]