April 17, 2025 @ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Old News
Celebration of Chittenden’s Town Buildings (currently offline but we are working on a replacement)
A unique display of Chittenden buildings and some history along the way.
Show & Tell
April 8, 2025 @ 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Bring an historical item to show and tell of its significance to you. This has become a very popular event. Chittenden Historical Society Building, Holden Rd., Chittenden, VT. This will include a very short business meeting. Refreshments available.
From Parlor to Polling Place: Stories and Songs of Suffragists
October 8, 2024 @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
On 10/8/2024 at 7:00 PM, Linda Radtke will be speaking at the Chittenden Grange Hall, 3 Middle Road, Chittenden, VT on From the Parlor to the Polling Place: Stories and Songs from the Suffragists. Singer and historian LInda Radtke, in period garb and “Votes for Women” sash, celebrates the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, specifically highlighting the decades-long persistence of Vermonters, both women and men. Radtke also traces the movement’s alignment with other social justice initiatives such as temperance, labor conditions, wage equity, peace and children’s welfare. Both the songs and stories in Radtke’s engaging presentation, accompanied by pianist Cameron Steinmetz, highlight Vermonters’ efforts from 1840-1921, as they lobbied in churches, at “parlor meetings” at town halls and at the State House for total enfranchisement.
This talk is free, open to the public, and accessible to those with disabilities. For more information contact Chittenden Historical Society through its website, www.chittendenhistory.org.
From the Parlor to the Polling Place: Stories and Songs from the Suffragists is a Vermont Humanities Council program hosted by Chittenden Historical Society. (Supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or VHC.)
CHS Monthly Meeting
August 13, 2024 @ 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Business meeting focusing on plans for Chittenden Day, printing the history book, September program, building lease
Luke Valcour Presented the Muzzy-Davenport Award for Excellence in Chittenden History
Thirty-five friends and neighbors gathered at the Chittenden Grange Hall on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 to congratulate Luke Valcour for his hard work to earn the Muzzy-Davenport Award for Excellence in Chittenden (VT) History which is presented each year to a deserving Barstow Memorial School eighth-grader. President Elaine Meyers called the session to order at 6:40 PM and called on all to join in The Pledge of Allegiance. Jim Harrison lead the assembly in a moment of silence to honor long-time firefighter Charley Parker who passed away on July 8, 2024 after responding to a fire call. Charley was Captain of the Chittenden Volunteer Fire Department and a beloved member of the Chittenden community.
Luke’s presentation was entitled Chittenden Economics in the 1800’s. He found that Chittenden is the second largest town in terms of area following closely behind Stowe. Stowe became larger when it absorbed the towns of Mansfield and Sterling.
He reported that farming was very difficult in the rocky soil of Chittenden so business leaders had to find alternative sources of income. He focused on three areas, logging, iron ore and lead mining and charcoal manufacturing.
Luke ended his talk by sharing items that he had found in his ramblings of old sites and answering questions. He had found a shovel head that had probably been used for charcoal. A saw blade was found in the woods near East Creek. Chittenden Historical Society member George Butts who everyone agrees is a walking encyclopedia identified the saw as a crosscut saw and that the teeth were designed to sweep sawdust away. Luke also found a lump of slag at the Forestdale Furnace. Slag develops during the smelting process of iron ore and usually is discarded.
President Meyers presented Luke with the Muzzy-Davenport Certificate and a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. Everyone then adjourned to enjoy the Ice Cream Social and fellowship.
Middletown Springs Historical Society Strawberry Festival
June 23, 2024 @ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Middletown Springs Historical Society will be holding its annual Strawberry Festival on the Green in Middletown Springs. It’s a great opportunity to learn a little history of Middletown Springs.
Chittenden Civil War Monument
Grange Hall renovations
