Tuesday, July 8, 2025 was a night of celebration as Barstow Memorial School eight-grader, Emery Hummel, received the Chittenden Historical Society’ Annual Muzzy-Davenport Award for Excellence in Chittenden History. Vice President, Steve Welch presented Emery with a certificate and $100. She also received a commendation from The Vermont Historical Society for her work in local history using multiple, original resources. Looking on at the Grange Hall event were her proud parents, family members and local residents.
Emery’s work focused on the Edwin Horton letters home written during the United States Civil War. The letters showed that he had entered and left the Army several times as the war progressed. For Emery, the letters showed that Horton was a common soldier. He was not a big hero but one torn between family and country.
One time period that stood out for Emery was when Horton was captured and imprisoned in Boston Harbor. Apparently, he experienced mistreatment. However, Horton had left the Army to return to Vermont and was charged with desertion. Horton continued to serve until the end of the war when he returned to Chittenden. Horton later became Rutland County Senator, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and helped to salvage the Church of the Wildwood which is still an active church today.
Emery first became curious about Edward Horton after seeing his name on the local Civil War statue and reading about him in the book “Chittenden, Vermont: A Town History” by Karen Webster and Fran Wheeler. She researched text books, articles and online. The Vermont Historical Society was a great resource as they had scans of the original letters. She found the letters very hard to read: “they were all in cursive!”
The evening concluded with the traditional Ice Cream Social where all, including the local fire department members, enjoyed ice cream donated by Stewart’s Shops, topping made or donated by CHS members, brownies, water and lemonade.
Emery likes soccer, loves skiing and will be going to Rutland High School in the Fall.
