Early days in Addison
County, VT, are recalled through a mix of colorful tales, factual
data and trivia, in this booklet comprised of excerpts from three
rare vintage books: The
Geography and History of Vermont by S.R. Hall (1871); History
and Description of New England - Vermont by A.J. Coolidge and
J.B. Mansfield (1860); and Vermont, a Guide to the Green Mountain
State, written by the Workers of the Federal Writer's Project
of the WPA (1937).
The 55 page booklet is printed single-sided
on 60# opaque paper
with the print size enlarged as needed to fit the 8 1/2 x 11 size.
A vinyl sheet has been added to protect the front cover.
A major part of
the booklet consists of histories of each township (town), which
vary in size depending on the prominence of the town and its historical
significance. The towns include
Addison, Bridport, Bristol, Cornwall, Ferrisburgh, Goshen, Granville,
Hancock, Leicester, Lincoln, Middlebury, Monkton, New Haven, Orwell,
Panton, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham, Starksboro, Vergennes, Waltham,
Weybridge and Whiting. Some
villages have names different from the town name, such as: Ackworth,
Borough, Barnumown, Monkton Ridge, East Monkton, New Haven Centre,
New Haven East Mills, Brooksville, Lower Falls, and Upper Falls.
The WPA excerpts include a section
on Middlebury, including points of interest: the Middlebury College
Campus, the Congregational Church, the Sheldon Art Museum, etc.
The tour portions, while out-of-date as a tour guide, remain a
fascinating source of answers to history and trivia questions.
What mountain was once called "Potato
Hill?" What's the story behind Uncle Sim's Lost Gold? Where's
the Morgan Horse Monument? Who was in exile for 12 years because
he thought he'd killed a man?
The booklet has a few illustrations,
but their quality is only fair.
Wouldn't this make a unique
gift?
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