We are happy to offer these Vermont items:
The University of Vermont in the Great War.
In the years immediately following
World War I many entities published books like this – documentation
of residents or alumni or members who participated in some way in
what was then known as the Great War. At a time in American history
when connection to the military is as tenuous as it is today, this
sort of volume helps us understand how different things were a
hundred years ago, give or take a few. Like most books of this
type, this one begins with a history of the university in the war.
The next, and most honorable position in the book, is the section of
biographies of those who were killed or died in the conflict.
Particularly noteworthy here is the number who “died in the service”
– usually of influenza or pneumonia. It’s important to remember
that in 1918 not only was the nation involved in a war against the
Germans, it was also involved in a major influenza epidemic that
produced large numbers of fatalities, both military and civilian.
Next following those who died are those who were wounded (or gassed
– poison gas was part of the arsenal of all combatant powers in the
First World War). Next are those who were decorated, and then comes
the alphabetic listing, with details of military service, of all of
those with a UVM connection who served. They (the men who served)
are followed in a separate section by the women who served, the
YMCA, the YWHA, and those who performed auxiliary war work. Some
memorabilia, some poetry, and an address complete the volume.
286+ pages, in PDF format. Download now for $5.00.
The Vermont Directory for 1869. This
volume was clearly designed to be portable. The pages measure 3 ¾
by 5 ¾ inches, which fits a pocket neatly and also permits us to
publish facing pages as they would have appeared in the book itself.
In addition to abundant advertisements, the book contains the
following sections and features: a full-page map of the state (4x
the page size); an almanac and diary; an alphabetic list of towns
including town officers, postmasters, businesses and professional
people; lists of newspapers and normal schools; a section on civil
governance with names of officials; a list of representatives by
town with the vote for that town for the three gubernatorial
candidates, the population, and the grand list; a list of insurance
companies in the state; county officers; state institutions;
societies in the state; colleges; a list of authorized text books
(standardized curricula are nothing new in American history); banks
and savings banks; railroads (including stations and distances, as
well as officers); a Masonic calendar; a section on the Federal
government with names; and Post Office and stamp regulations. It’s
a whole lot of information in a small package. As was the fashion
for directories at the time, while the bulk of the book is printed
on white paper, there were special sections at the beginning and end
printed on colored paper (presumably to attract attention to the
advertisers on those pages). We’ve provided color scans of those
pages for a better sense of what the original looked like.
Original was 162+ pages, most shown here at two original pages per
page. PDF format, download now for $5.00.
Walton’s Vermont Register and Farmers’ Almanac for 1882.
This volume was also clearly
designed to be portable. The pages measure 3 ¾ by 5 ¾ inches, which
fits a pocket neatly and – conveniently for us -- also permits us
to publish facing pages as they would have appeared in the book
itself. As with publications of this type, there are numerous
advertisements, often highlighted by different color paper. The
volume contains the following sections and features: a particularly
nice map of both Vermont and New Hampshire (reproduced in extra-high
definition); populations, mountains, capsule state history, grand
lists by town; state finances; county officers, including justices
of the peace, societies in the state; a Masonic calendar; Grange
(Patrons of Husbandry) information; railroads in Vermont; a section
on the US Government; and an index to advertisers.
Original was 274+ pages, reproduced here two original pages to the
page. In PDF format, download now for $5.00.
A Pilgrimage to the Monuments of
the Early Settlers of Brandon
by the Rev. William V. Berg.
This historical address on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of
the granting of the town patent (the town's original name was
Neshobe) is heavy with historical detail and absent most of the
religious trimming one often finds in historical addresses by clergy
in this period. In addition to the address, two other
historical documents are appended: one on the proceedings of
the early school committee of the town, and the other regarding the
demise of two local men who were killed when the town was settled.
It's noteworthy that Brandon was the birthplace of the great orator
of the pre-Civil War period, Stephen A. Douglas. 42+ pages, in
PDF format. Download now for $3.50.
The Annual Reports of the
Town of Chelsea for the year ending February 19, 1908.
Town annual reports like this are a wealth of local history
information, and genealogists will find the list of births,
marriages and deaths in the town during the year to be of
interest as well. If you want to know about life in
Chelsea VT in 1907-08 in excruciating detail (down to the amount of
reimbursement for feeding the tramps), this is for you. This
was our first Vermont items, and
we're eager to see if initial demand for Vermont material
continues. 47+ pages.
Download it now in PDF format for $2.50.
The Vermont Central
Railroad Investigation of 1872-74.
This document, 571+
pages in length, includes verbatim testimony gathered by the
commission and will be of interest to those interested in the
Vermont Central, those with an interest in government in Vermont,
those with an interest in crime and corruption in the years
following the Civil War and culminating in the age of the robber
barons. Due to extensive testimony about manufacture of
railroad car wheels, it will be of particular interest to those who
are interested in the history of railroading and heavy
manufacturing. Download it now in PDF format for $5.00.
PLEASE NOTE: if you are NOT using a high-speed internet
connection (usually DSL or cable) this document will take around 50
minutes to download. You may want to consider downloading it
at a location where you can establish a high speed connection, such
as your local public library.
Hartford, Vermont Historical Pageant
(1911)
The town of Hartford, VT
includes the villages of Hartford, White River Junction, Quechee,
West Hartford, and Wilder. This sesquicentennial production
tells the history of the town (and the surrounding area); the
booklet includes several pages of synopsis that constitute a gloss
of the area's history in the early years. Also included are
nice advertisements of area establishments, and a list of sponsors
of the pageant, which was performed four times at a location near
White River Junction. Please be advised that there is no cast
of characters in the booklet. 28+ pages, PDF format, download
now for $4.00.
Windsor, Vermont Town Register - 1905
The main purpose of this
volume appears to have been to publish the 1905 census of the town
of Windsor. That said, the volume also contains an account of
Windsor’s early history and settlement, political history, town
officials, local industries, churches and schools, some military
history, so “facts of interest” and short articles about the public
library, banks, the village corporation, and the electrical lighting
system (in 1905 these were not universal, of course). The census,
arranged by family, is of considerable interest. It includes
addresses, occupations, and, for those who have left Windsor, a best
effort at saying where they settled. We suppose by the notation
that the census was taken in April and May 1905 by Hiram W. Carr of
Pittsfield, Maine, that this was not a governmental census.
Notwithstanding, it should be of great value for anyone with
ancestry in that Vermont township. 77+ pages, in PDF format,
download now for $4.25
Annual Report for the City of Montpelier for the Year Ending
February 1, 1908
We're particularly fond of annual reports of New England
towns and cities for all the information they contain about the
minutiae of life in New England in the year upon which the report is
based. Some of these are more informative than others, but
this one, we think, provides a useful look at what it actually what
it was like to live in Montpelier a hundred and ten or so years ago.
There is lots of detail here, most notably the names and dollar
amounts of support provided to the resident poor who were not housed
in the city farm. Another high point is the extensive
reporting on civil works -- roads, especially -- and on causes of
mortality for the year. Unless you happen to live or visit in
the municipality upon which the report is based, these tend to be
hard to find. Approximately 125 pages, in PDF format, ready to
download for $5.00.
Please do let us know if you are interested in our efforts in
re-publishing Vermont material. Obviously we're just getting started
with Vermont, and we'd love to hear that people are interested.
to contact us at Between the Lakes Group if this -- or some other Vermont
topic -- is of interest to you -- or,
better yet,
join our mailing list!
Did you know that many settlers of Vermont came from
Connecticut? Specifically, Litchfield County in CT. When
you're stuck in Vermont, sometimes
Litchfield County,
Connecticut has your answer!
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