The Brattleboro Historical Society Podcast

It was this week, 102 years ago, that Vermont's Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as President of the United States...the Coolidge family, and Plymouth Notch, have a connection with Brattleboro's Estey Organ Company and this recording tells the story...

Summer is a time for relaxing with a good book. This week we recommend 4 local historical fiction books for your enjoyment.

Have you ever wondered about the cement foundations and island in the middle of the Retreat Meadows? This recording explains the origins of the cement structures and the man-made island. The recording was written by Brattleboro Historical Society President Lee Ha.

Jennie Melchen was accused of possessing one of the finest stills ever confiscated in Vermont. She was a refugee from the Russian Empire and one of the first immigrants to sail past the Statue of Liberty in NYC Harbor. Here's her story...

Tony Jones was a fighter pilot from Brattleboro who gave his life during World War II. He grew up on the corner of Putney Road and Bradley Avenue. His family operated the Jones Oil Company. At the time of his death, Tony was 25 years old and had hunted German bombers over enemy European territory for almost two years. This is his story...

John Ballard was working at Arthur F. Roberts’ houseware and paint store on Main Street when he received a draft notice telling him to report to Rutland, Vt. for medical examination by the Army. Here's his story...

The Brattleboro Historical Society will hold a ceremony in the small park between Wells Fountain and the courthouse at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 28th to introduce “Moments in Brattleboro History” markers. These local history markers will appear on signs and buildings throughout town. Each sign will be attached to a building or post and include a brief text explaining some of the history of that p...

In 1879 the Bushnell Block on Elliot Street began as a two and a half story wood frame house. In 1887 the size of the building was doubled and partially converted into a boarding house. In 1915 Jason Bushnell moved his grocery store into the building and continued to expand. Here's the story...

Joseph Kellogg was the longest serving commander of Fort Dummer. He established trade with local Natives and was known for his skills as an interpreter. Kellogg was involved with many of the New England and New York treaties negotiated during this time. Here's his story...

Sarah Harris wrote about her honeymoon experiences among the Mormons in 1851. This recording explains how the Brattleboro newlyweds found themselves in multiple life-threatening situations in the days of the Wild West...

The Plows of the Valleys are NOT the Plows of the Hills...in the 1800's Brattleboro's Fred Holbrook designed sidehill swivel plows that were popular in northern New England. Here's the story...

Three generations of women owned and operated a millinery business in Brattleboro for over 75 years during the eighteen and nineteen hundreds. One of the women, Mary Donnell, also spent a great deal of time representing the interests of the seamstresses and female factory workers who were supposed to benefit from the Thompson Trust. Here's the story...

In 1942 Estey Organ on Birge St. went into wartime production for the government. Ammo boxes, pontoon bridges and portable organs for chaplains in war zones were made at the complex. Employment went from 90 to 350 and one third of the employees were women. here's the story...

Anthony Van Doorn came to Brattleboro in the early 1800's and became the largest furniture maker in Vermont. Pieces of his are on display in the Bennington Museum, Historic Deerfield Museum and the Brattleboro Historical Society. Here's his story...

Immigration and Deportation have both recently been in the news. The 1880's thru the 1920's saw major changes in these policies throughout the US and in Brattleboro. Here's the story...

Ernest Gibson Jr. became governor in the 1940's and established the Vermont State Police. Twenty years later he found himself criticizing the organization he helped start. Here's the story...

Brattleboro was chartered in 1753 but not organized as a town until 1761. This is the story of that process, and the first Brattleboro settler acknowledged by the New Hampshire government. His name was Oliver Willard. Here's the story...

Bayard Grant was born in Brattleboro in 1916. He would go on to fulfill a vital military role during the Berlin Airlift in the late 1940's. He benefitted from the belief that furthering one's education could help the individual, and also contribute to the well-being of society. Here's his story...

It took six years for the Harmony Parking Lot to progress from an idea to a reality...that was too long for the Dix-O-Dell Red and White Super Market. Here's the story...

In 2008 Walter Meyer donated handwritten minutes of four Brattleborough Town Meetings to the historical society. They date from 1781 and 1782. The minutes were recorded by Town Clerk Stephen Greenleaf. We summarize the actions of the freeholders in this recording...

This week Westminster, Vt. commemorated the 250th anniversary of what became known as the “Westminster Massacre”. In 1775 two local men, William French and Daniel Houghton, were killed during a confrontation at the Westminster Courthouse between New York-leaning Tories and those who opposed the British/New York government. Here's the story...

In 1823 the Bradshaw's rented a two floor wooden building on Main Street. The building was originally a harness shop, but the Bradshaw’s had other ideas for the structure. They were the first African American family to settle in Brattleboro. Here's the story...

On March 4, 1791 Vermont officially joined the USA. Brattleboro's representative to the convention to ratify the US Constitution was from one of the most loyal Tory families in New England. Here's the story...

Remember when dairy farms used to dot the Vermont countryside? Fifty years ago, there were almost 4000 Vermont farms milking cows. Now, the state has less than 500 dairy farms. Here in Windham County the numbers are similar. Thirty years ago, there were about 75 dairy farms in the southeastern corner of Vermont. Today there are less than 20. This week's story focuses on a few of the local dairies...

Brattleboro Historical Society is about to unveil a project to reach locals and visitors who are either in Brattleboro for a look or visiting via the BHS website. The project is titled “Memories of Brattleboro”. We are in the process of developing historic site markers for Brattleboro’s historic properties. A brief description will include a QR code taking the viewer, if desired, to a more in-dept...