Early days in Chittenden
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 45 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 and villages include
Bolton, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Hinesburgh, Huntington,
Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, St. George, Underhill, Westford
and Williston.
Early settlers,
physical features, industrial development, notable citizens, like
the Ethan Allen family, the Rev. Daniel C. Sanders, Zadock Thompson,
John G. Saxe, and others, the University of Vermont, a remarkable
fossil, "the imperishable potato factory," and Indian
incidents are among the topics in this booklet.
The WPA excerpts
include a separate section on the Burlington, including points of
interest: various churches, the University of Vermont college green,
Ethan Allen Park, etc. The other WPA excerpts, while out-of-date
as a tour guide, remain a fascinating source of historical tidbits.
The booklet has
a few illustrations, but their quality is only fair.
Wouldn't this make a unique
gift?
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