Jacob Estey - Brattleboro Historical Society

Florence Estey and the DAR Forest (1930’s)

On August 24, 1934 the Vermont Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) dedicated an Addison County land preserve to the memory of Brattleboro’s Florence Gray Estey. Mrs. Estey had died the previous year and the DAR chose her birthday for the ceremony. The DAR purchased the 160 acres nestled against the shore of Lake Champlain in order to protect the land and buildings. According to the Vermont State Parks website, this area was one of the earliest and most intensely settled sections of what would later become Vermont. There is evidence of human habitation that dates back over 7,500 years. Native Americans hunted, fished, and settled this land. In the early 1700’s a French village was constructed in the area and flourished until the English burned them out during the French and Indian War. In 1765 John Strong, from Connecticut, was one of the first English-speaking settlers to move into the region. He was 27 […]

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 with the Estey Organ Company, Levi Fuller. Fuller would go on to become Vice President of the Estey Organ Company and, in 1896, Governor of Vermont. In 1928 a compilation of Abby (Estey) Fuller’s addresses given to the Brattleboro Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution were published. The following text comes from her written recollections of Brattleboro in the Civil War years. “Brattleboro, at the beginning of the war, had business interests in the South. Ira Miller’s carriages and wagons were sold to Southern planters on account of their thorough workmanship and durability. Our Water Cures were patronized […]

February 7 Gallery Walk

Free admission: Open 4-8 for Gallery Walk. Our toy display continues with a truck and a train specially crafted from wood and handmade dolls as well as an amazing Estey employee-built furnished dollhouse. Glimpse at Rudyard Kipling through Mary Cabot’s personal journal entries (“Annals of Brattleboro, 1681-1895” author); peruse her amazing photo albums. Play a locally made Estey Field Organ. Read VT Phoenix weeklies from 1895. Learn about Crosbys, Esteys, and Moodys. Inspect the Ft. Dummer replica; Old signs, maps, prescriptions, gowns bottles and more.

Voices From the Grave Updated

We have added our Voices From the Grave recordings to our SoundCloud. These are voice actors speaking as several well known personalities from Brattleboro’s past. Josie Mansfield, Madame Sherri, and Jacob Estey come alive through sound. Listen here.