William McCune - Brattleboro Historical Society

Marion McCune Rice and World War I (1914-1919)

Marion McCune Rice grew up in Brattleboro and attended the town’s public schools. After graduating from Brattleboro High School in 1900, she attended and graduated from Smith College. She then went on to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to attend Nursing School. In the early 1900’s there weren’t too many professions open to women. Popular options for single women were school teacher, social worker or nurse. Marion enjoyed traveling and adventure. While still in her teens she had gone on a 3 month trip to California with her mother. Marion found she really enjoyed traveling and the nursing profession offered her the independence she appreciated. After graduating from nursing school she remained in the Philadelphia area and worked in a couple of hospitals, specializing as a surgery nurse. By 1914 Marion had already traveled to Europe on three occasions. She had created an independent life for herself and also kept in touch with friends from her college and […]

Battle For New England

Bennington Battle Day is on August 16th. It has been an official state holiday since 1913, but many communities have been celebrating the day since 1777. The holiday remembers a time when New England governments joined together to repel an invasion of British soldiers and their mercenaries during the American Revolution. In July, 1777, it had been a year since the Declaration of Independence was adopted by representatives of the thirteen British American colonies. Great Britain planned to break the rebellion by cutting New England away from the rest of the newly declared United States of America. According to historian James Butler, the British government thought isolating New England from the rest of the North American continent would quell the colonial insurrection. American military leader George Washington believed the British Empire would attack Boston, and invade from the sea. However, British forces began to arrive in Canada during May and, by mid-June, they launched an […]