Brattleboro Historical Society Founder John Carnahan Final Interview

Brattleboro Historical Society founder, John Carnahan has passed. We interviewed John in August of 2022 at his home. We think the is the last recorded interview with John. It’s about 35 minutes long. Throughout the interview John’s intelligence, thoughtfulness, humility, and love of Brattleboro are evident. If you did not know John, we think you will like and respect him. Reggie Martell , also recently passed, filmed and produced the video . BHS interview August 22, 2022 https://youtu.be/YvE4e9wD-cQ?si=O2h1E4HHL7VouCUP

Continue reading

Competing Interests on the Connecticut River, a Talk with Joe Rivers

A talk by Joe River, Brattleboro Historical Society trustee. August 6, 2022. Latchis Theater, Brattleboro, Vermont covering over 350 years of Connecticut River history in 45 minutes. Some of the topics include commerce, recreation, food, government, transportation, energy, ecosystems, pollution, and culture. Most people have good intentions. And so they’re there often they’re doing things because they think it’s going to be good for themselves. And maybe for those they care about. What happens though, is that those interests bump into each other a cause conflict. And often there are unintended consequences as a result. And so, some of those things will come up during this presentation.

Continue reading

Oral History Project: Peter Gould

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT: THE VIETNAM WAR ERA with PETER GOULD In 1969 Peter Gould was, “tired of the Vietnam War, [and] angry at my county,” as he fled the disconsolate urban chaos in search of an alternative. He found it in at Packer Corners, in Guilford, Vermont and spent the next 9 years at the farm. In June of 2016 Peter sat with Brattleboro educator and historian Bill Holiday to recount those times in Peter’s personal narrative and the narrative of a remarkable place that lives on, nearly 50 years later

Continue reading

Here We Are with guest Stephanie Greene

Here We Are with guest Stephanie Greene Stephanie Greene is an author, free-lance writer, and VPR commentator who grew up here in Brattleboro. She is on the the organizing committee OF the Brattleboro Literary Festival and is hosting the “Vermont Voices” events. She is currently ON the leadership team in the “PEOPLE, PLACES & the HISTORY of WORDS in BRATTLEBORO” Project which kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 11th at Brooks Library with an exhibit, “Brattleboro’s Letterpress Years.”

Continue reading

Video – Brooks Memorial Library 1st Wednesday Series, from December 2015: The Buildings of Vermont

Middlebury College professor Glenn Andres examines the remarkable range, quality, humanity, and persistence of Vermont’s built landscape, in this talk that looks beyond Vermont’s pastoral stereotypes to examine the remarkable range, quality, humanity, and persistence of its built landscape. Glenn Andres has taught, primarily in the areas of architectural and urban history, at Middlebury since 1970. His research spans from the Italian Renaissance through 19th century America to postmodernism. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University and a PhD in architectural history from Princeton University. His doctoral dissertation on the Villa Medici in Rome was pursued while a fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Recorded at Brooks Memorial Library on December 2, 2015 as part of the Vermont Humanities Council sponsored First Wednesdays statewide lecture series.  

Continue reading

PO3 John Charles Blake

On November 21, 2015, Brattleboro’s American Legion Post 5 honored local soldiers killed in action during the Vietnam War. A ceremony, at the post home on Linden Street, included students from Brattleboro Union High School reading the names and a brief biography of each of the 11 men, followed by a brief address by Dr. Robert Tortolani, a combat battalion surgeon during the Vietnam War. Below visitors will find photos shared by the family, a brief biography and a student tribute by Aidan Paradis remembering the life and service of John Charles Blake. March 24, 1945 – March 21, 1970 John Blake was born on in Brattleboro son of Stetson and Irene Blake and was raised with his brothers Stetson (Bob) and Andrew (Andy) and his sisters Patricia (Partlow) Manch and Mary Lou (Jarvis) Potvin. John attended St. Michael Grammar and High School and graduated in the class of 1963. He was a class leader […]

Continue reading