Early days in Washington
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 51 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
Barre, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, Fayston, Marshfield, Middlesex,
Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield,
Warren, Waterbury, Woodbury, Worcester.
Montpelier, capital
of Vermont is tucked away in this north central county. A number
of early settlers are mentioned: Charles Pine, the Wheelock family,
Francis West, Samuel Twiss, Colonel Jacob Davis, Capt. Samuel Upham,and
many others. Bears and wolves, a vanishing pot of gold, the adventures
of General Wait, are a few of the other items of interest.
The WPA excerpts
include separate sections on the cities of Montpelier and Barre,
including points of interest like Goddard Junior College and the
capitol. The other WPA excerpts, while out-of-date as a tour guide,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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