The Brattleboro Historical Society Podcast

St. Michael's Episcopal Church was moved from Main Street and relocated to the corner of Putney Road and Bradley Avenue. A Woolworth's went onto the lot, which was later replaced by a Key Bank. This is the story of the church's beginnings and its move along Main Street...researched by BAMS student Bibi Johnson.

This is Brattleboro High School’s 190th year. The school began in 1831 and was incorporated by the Vermont Legislature in November, 1832. It was originally a private enterprise led by prominent community members John Holbrook and John Dickerman. The establishment of a public high school evolved with time and the changing needs of the community...

Brattleboro High School began 190 years ago...Brattleboro Historical Society began 40 years ago...here's a little bit about both entities and the changing nature of each enterprise

In the 1930's and 40's "ski trains" and buses traveled to Brattleboro from all over New England to experience the outdoor sports community...snowshoe hikes up Mt. Wantastiquet during a full moon, tobogganing down Round Mountain, ski jumping at Cedar Street and skiing at the Guilford Street ski tow were some of the attractions...

The story begins in 1793 when Lucy Goodell was born in Brattleboro. In 1812, while living in Marlboro, Vt., she married Harrison Blake. Over the next eight years they would produce five children who were born in Brattleboro, Marlboro and Newfane. By 1821 the family moved to Salem, New York, and during their first winter away from home they attempted to travel back to visit relatives in Dec. 1821....

January, 1896 local paper quotation, "One of the largest and most elegant parties given in Brattleboro in a long time occurred at the Brooks House Wednesday evening…A company of 125 was present, and many extremely rich and handsome toilets were worn.” Here's the story of Brattleboro toilets...

Susannah Bradshaw grew up in Brattleboro in the 1820's and 30's. She was African American and her parents arranged for her to attend a boarding school to gain a first-rate education. At the same time, Ona Judge was an African American living in New Hampshire as an escaped slave of the Washington family. Ona Judge had run away from the President's House in Philadelphia during George Washington's pr...

Winter memories shared by folks who lived in Brattleboro from the 1940's to more recent times...they are read by BAMS 8th graders from posts on our Facebook page

8th Grade BAMS students interviewed Tim Arsenault, Zach Young and Mary Linney to learn more about the Hunt House, CCV and the BUHS Costume Loft. Here's the story...

January 19, 2022...John & Mary Carnahan honored at the Vermont State Capitol by Brattleboro’s 3 State Representatives; Mollie Burke, Emilie Kornheiser, and Tristan Toleno for their decades of service to the local community...

Mount Snow is located in West Dover, Vermont. Over the years it has had a large impact on the local economy. In this podcast we share the history of its origins and recent Olympic connections.

100 years ago the Harris Hill Ski Jump was created. This recording gives context as to what was happening at the time, how the hill came to be, and how it has changed over time.

A brief history of commercial steamboats on the upper Connecticut River and the story of Alanson Wood, buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery...

In 1907 Santa rode into town from the north on the back of a Shetland pony. He was headed to EJ Fenton's Department Store at the bottom of Main Street (present location of Twice Upon A Time). Unfortunately, he ran into some trouble...

Samuel Wells was the wealthiest landowner in town. He was also a British spy during the American Revolution. This is a part of his story...

On December 7, 2021 the Brattleboro Select Board voted to accept a proposal from the Civil War Monument Committee to establish a new interpretive plaque at the Civil War Soldiers’ Monument on the Brattleboro Common. This is a project that members of the historical society and students from BAMS have been working on for six years. We are pleased with the progress.

A few weeks ago BUHS Assistant Principal Chris Day contacted the BAMS Local History class because of an interesting discovery in a closet next to the BUHS gym. A heavy, dusty bronze tablet was uncovered in the back of the unused closet. No one working at the school could remember the last time the closet had been opened. The closet is under the northeast staircase and brings to mind the place wher...

In December of 1886 local machinist Charles Barrett installed the first electric bulbs in his shop along the Whetstone Brook. The machine shop was in the Tyler Block on Main Street and specialized in the manufacture of paper-making machines. Within a few months the village voted to use electricity to power 4 lights on Main Street. Here's the story...

Corky and Peter Elwell sat down with the historical society and shared their experiences as town managers of Brattleboro. This episode focuses on the development of Putney Road...podcast script read by BAMS students...

Community Service and Volunteerism are both celebrated in this recording highlighting the history and contributions of the local garden club...

In 1901 somnambulism, a loaded bedside gun, and a pesky skunk lead to the death of a college chum. Here is the story...

In the 1950's Edgar Lawton built a race track on farmland in West Brattleboro. Sonny Rabideau began his racing career here and became a New England Stock Car Racing Legend. Here is the story...

1n 1875 it was thought that the Bickford Family Knitting Machine Company would help anchor the Brattleboro economy. Local investors sank $150,000 into the joint stock company in hopes of earning a valuable return. It didn't work out. Here's the story...

The 1869 fire was devastating for Brattleboro's commercial district. Local historian Richard Mitchell took painting classes with Jean Pratt Fisher in the 1970's. He painted a scene of the west side of Main Street before the 1869 fire and the painting is in our collection. Norman Rockwell finds his way into this story as well...

Brosnahan Square was dedicated in 1935 to World War I soldier Private John Brosnahan, who was killed in action in 1918 while serving in France. After more than 70 years the Square had faded from the town's consciousness. In 2008 Steve Barrett and the Public Works Department worked with stonemason Peter Welch to reimagine the park. Barrett invited the Brattleboro Garden Club to populate the Square...