Despite our “office” being closed by the pandemic considerations, our collections have been improved by two significant donations.

Bob Muzzy donated items related to the Barstow family. A little pamphlet contains the purpose and agreement of the Barstow Endowment Funds. Two copies of a leather-bound booklet of the “Frederic Duclos Barstow Foundation for American Samoa Barstow Foundation in Samoa,” are a reprint of the article appearing in the Mid-Pacific Magazine in April 1933 by Frank E. Midlafff. A second leather-bound booklet was written by Frederic Duclos Barstow himself. “Under the Southern Cross” tells of his adventures travelling to and in American Samoa. Additionally, a scrapbook kept by Juna Rollins, great-aunt of Bob Muzzy, containing interesting news clippings, poems and obituaries of the time was donated.

In July, the second donation was by Lynn Chernoff of items from her grandmother Clara Atwood’s days as a member of the Arza Noyes Grand Army of the Republic Women’s Relief Corps No. 82. Included were three journals from the Corps’ initial meeting in 1907 through 1928, which were very exciting to see. They have provided answers to questions we have had about their endeavors, such as when the Civil War monument fence was put in.

The journals note that purchase of the Civil War monument was proposed in October 1911. A town-wide meeting the following April determined its placement, and the monument was dedicated in October 1912 — quite an endeavor because we have learned that it cost $900. The surrounding curbing was installed “immediately” after the November 1912 meeting, and now we know that the fence apparently was not erected until 1926.

Other items include a book with details of the Women’s Relief Corps national convention that was held in Rutland, Vermont, in May 1933. Some beautiful needlework sample items were part of the donation. They are now wrapped in conservation tissue, and we will work out a way to display some of them.

We are grateful to receive all of these historical items, and we look forward to the day we can show them to you.

     Even though Covid-19 social distancing restrictions and closure of town buildings deleted our Ice Cream Social this July, there IS, however, a Muzzy Davenport Award winner: Marko Svoren, son of Jan and Elana Svoren of Chittenden.
     For his eighth-grade history project, Marko chose to write a paper about Chittenden resident Merald Paul Clark, known as Kip to his friends and family, who spent time as a POW in World War II. Following an interview at the Chittenden Historical Society in March with Kip’s son Leland Clark (which was taped by Steve Welch), Marko wrote a 2,469-word paper using facts from the interview plus further research.
     Marko’s paper, “ ‘Kip’ Clark: Vermont Local and American POW,” was submitted to the 2020 Virtual Vermont History competition. sponsored by the Vermont Historical Society. Marko was the Junior Division Winner! Moreover, he placed second overall in the competition, qualifying him for the National History Day competition! Congratulations to Marko, his parents, his teacher James Gallagher, and Barstow School!
     At some point in the future, the Chittenden Historical Society hopes to host Marko for a presentation of his paper before the Society. The Society does have a copy of his beautiful, insightful, well-written and documented paper, plus a video of the interview with Leland Clark, son of “Kip.”

Thank you to all who participated in the Chittenden Historical Society Town Meeting Bake Sale. Bake sales are our major fund-raiser for our activities, most of which are open to the community, and we appreciate the community support. This year baked goods were plentiful and more varied than ever. A surprise item was homemade dog biscuits, which went quickly. Some pies never got to the table before they were sold. All in all, we had a great time seeing everyone and are grateful for both buyers and sellers. New members had an opportunity to join, too.

What is Town Meeting without a bake sale? Come visit with us on Town Meeting Day at the bake sale in the Town Clerk’s office. We promise to have lots of pies, cakes, bread, and other goodies. Whether you are baking or just buying, we’d love to see you. This year we are also offering free coffee or tea.

Or, join us for our first meeting of the year on Tuesday, March 10, at 7:00 PM in the Chittenden Historical Society building next to Town Hall. Our meetings are open to everyone. We meet the second Tuesday of the month, March through November. During the same months we are also open from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, or by appointment throughout the year. For more information, contact Steve Welch at 483-2323 or Karen Webster at 483-6471.

10 am til 7 pm in Town Office

Crown Point Road

In October Dennis Devereux of Belmont, Vermont, past president of the Crown Point Road Association, gave a presentation on the marking of locations for markers along the historic road. His presentation included a map for everyone to follow as he told the history of setting out the road from the straight line originally planned to the settled placement that took into account the land features that made the straight line infeasible.

Stage Curtain Program

We moved our annual potluck supper at the Grange Hall this year from October to September and hosted the Vermont Humanities Council Speaker Christine Hadsel, who gave  a very delightful and informative slide presentation “Vermont’s Historic Theater Curtains.” When Christine began her restoration of Vermont theater curtains project, Chittenden’s curtain was among the first to undergo restoration. It is the only theater curtain found so far in New England that depicts the Civil War.

Ice Cream Social

Each year the Chittenden Historical Society gives the Muzzy Davenport Award to the student at Barstow School that demonstrates exemplary interest in local, not necessarily Chittenden, history. The recipient receives $100 and presents his or her project before the Society at our annual ice cream social. In 2019 this award was given to Paige Harned whose presentation on local Civil War veteran Edwin Horton emphasized by the adversities he suffered during the Civil War to later successes through a variety of town offices in Chittenden, the Vermont Legislature, and as a Rutland County Judge.

2019 Memorial Day Observance

At the end of May, the society held a Memorial Day observance at Memorial Park. After the short program, we tossed lilac blossoms into the stream as Taps was sounded to honor our soldiers fallen in service to our country. Then refreshments and coffee was served by the Seniors at Town Hall. With permission from the Select Board, Steve Welch and Chris Baker moved the Honor Role to stand east of the flag pole. Chittenden’s Girl Scout Troop 30332 could present the flag ceremony beside the Honor Role this year instead of hidden behind it.

Also in May, we were treated to a picture and slide presentation by Joseph and Elaine Meyers of their trip by rail in the Canadian Rockies. Spectacular views of the Canadian Southwest were coupled with the quaintness of the fast disappearing era of luxury travel by train.

Chittenden Civil War Monument

After over 100 years of standing in the middle of the village, the Chittenden Civil War monument has been cleaned, and a new fence — made by the original manufacturer — now surrounds it.

Robin Ogg initiated the project, and with Chittenden Historical Society President Steve Welch, contacted the Chittenden Select Board for support of the project. Jan Sotirakis spotted the name identifying the original manufacturer (Stewart Iron Works) on the gate. Steve handled the many details of the fence’s manufacture and also the local refurbishing of the gate. Kim Kinville, Elmer Wheeler and Chris Baker helped Steve with the installation.

July

Jessica Orluck, daughter of Ms. Jennifer Orluck of Chittenden was winner of the 2015 Muzzy Davenport Award given each year to a Barstow student for a winning project in a local history competition. She and her family were guests of honor at the Ice Cream Social on July 14 at Town Hall. Her subject was the Flood of 1947 and the role her great grandfather played in warning residents downstream from his airplane of the floodwaters heading towards them.

August

Business meeting

September

Green Mountain National Forest Archaeologist Tim Watkins gave a slide presentation on the history of the Chittenden area. His talk included pertinent town history, popular folklore, and his personal observations in coming to the East from out West.

Tim Watkins GMNF Archaelogist speaks about Chittenden history, geology and archaelogy. This was the first program to be held in the upper level of the Grange Hall after the walls were insulated and sheetrocked.

October

The potluck supper at the Grange Hall this year was followed by Vermont Humanities Council speaker and Vermont Folklife Center Co-Director and Folklorist Gregory Sharrow exploring the fabric of Vermont farm culture in the past and probes its relationship to the world of Vermont today. The program was much enjoyed, and local audience antidotes enlivened the event.

November

The annual meeting was held at the Grange Hall with the program by Julia Purdy on eugenics movement in Vermont, in which well-meaning reformers tried to “cleanse” the Vermont gene pool by a sterilization program aimed at the hill farmers, the indigent, and the “feebleminded.” It was not a pretty story but was one worthwhile revisiting.
Officers elected for 2016 are President, Karen Webster; Vice-President, Elaine Meyers; Secretary, Marcia Lertola; and Treasurer, Bob Webster; Directors for two years are Bob Muzzy and George Butts. Reggi Dubin and Newt Wetmore will continue to serve as directors until next year.

December

The Chittenden Historical Society does not hold meetings in December, but in 2015, the Society collaborated with the Chttenden Public Library to host a Holiday Tea. The Library provided a craft table for younger ones.

Librarian Christine Tate’s photo collage of the tea