Vermont Historical Society

Barnard Historical Society

Village School, VT Route 12, Barnard, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 234, Barnard, VT 05031
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Contact: Caz Rosenewski, President

The Barnard Historical Society is housed in the former Village School, circa 1850, which is itself a museum, being essentially intact as a one-room school house. It has a complete genealogy section and many artifacts from Barnard's early agricultural days.

Hours and Admission: Museum: Memorial Day - end of October: Saturday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 p.m., or by appointment.

Bethel Historical Society

Museum in Brick Church, 2nd Floor, Church Street, Bethel, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 25, Bethel, VT 05032
Website: http://bethelvt.com
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Phone: (802) 234-5064
Contact: Nick Nikolaidis, President, or Janet Hayward Burnham, Vice President

The museum is located in the Town Hall, 318 Main Street, Bethel, VT.  There are written records, paintings, photographs from the Bethel area, and 19th-century room vignettes. Special exhibits change annually. The society meets once a month, usually on the first Monday, at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room at the Town Hall.

Visitors by appointment.

Black River Academy Museum & Historical Society

Museum, 14 High Street, Ludlow, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 73, Ludlow, VT 05149
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Phone: (802) 228-5050
Contact: Georgia Brehm, Museum Director

The three-story Academy building, built in the Richardsonian style, once housed the Black River Academy (Calvin Coolidge's alma mater) and is now an historical museum for the town of Ludlow. There are academy memorabilia, 19th-century furnishings, costumes, tools, farm implements, a Finnish exhibit, and Coolidge memorabilia, as well as a textile school offering courses in weaving, spinning, and quilt making.

Hours and Admission: June - Columbus Day: Tuesday – Saturday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Winter by appointment. Not accessible to the disabled.

Bridgewater Historical Society

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 98, Bridgewater, VT  05345
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Phone: (802) 672-3745
Contact: Jeannette Sawyer

Cavendish Historical Society

Former Town Hall & Church, Main Street, VT Route 131, Cavendish, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 472, Cavendish, VT 05142
Website: cavendishhistory.org
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Phone: (802) 226-7807
Contact: Margo Caulfield, Coordinator

The museum is housed in the 19th-century former town hall. The society also owns a handsome stone structure, the former Universalist Church (circa 1844), which is used for meetings and special events. Collections are of farm tools, household utensils, costumes, weaving implements, textiles, photographs, and items used or made in Cavendish. The Cavendish Historical Society also has a blog where you can learn about upcoming events, new historical information we uncover, as well as following aloing with our Young Historian's program. The link is www.cavendishhistoricalsocietynews.blogspot.com

Hours and Admission: Late June to mid-October: Sundays, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, or by appointment.

Chester Historical Society

Chester Central School and Academy Building, 330 Main Street, On the Green, Chester, VT
Yosemite Firehouse Museum, Chester Depot, VT Rte 103, Chester, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 118, Chester, VT 05143
Website:  http://chester.govoffice.com/
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Phone: (802) 374-0119
Contact: Ron Patch, President, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The society rents the former school building from the Town of Chester and displays collections of 19th-century household furnishings, quilts, costumes, agricultural machines, documents, photos and postcards, early typewriters, and memorabilia of Clarence Adams, Chester's "Gentleman Burglar" from 1886-1902. Also housed in the building are the Chester Alumni Museum and the Chester Art Guild. The society also owns the former Yosemite Firehouse in Chester Depot, where there is an evolving collection of 19th-century firefighting equipment, including an 1849 Hunneman Handpumper and hose and ladder wagons.

Hours and Admission: Memorial Day - Columbus Day: Saturday and Sunday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, or by appointment. Free. Not accessible to the disabled.

Green Mountain Perkins Academy & Historical Assocociation

Museum, Academy Circle, VT Route 106, South Woodstock, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 143, South Woodstock, VT 05071
Website: www.greenmountainperkinsacademy.org
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Phone:  (802) 457-3779
Contact: Mary McCuaig, President

The Green Mountain Perkins Academy was built in 1848 and served as a private high school until 1898. Students came from the local area and as far away as the mid western United States and Nova Scotia. Many students went  on to college and others stayed in Woodstock and became teachers and farmers.  The local Grange was founded on the third floor of the Academy in 1874 and had meetings there into the 20th century. The building was restored in 1957 and is now open as a museum. The large classroom on the first floor has the original desks and wood stoves. The Academy contains a small library established in So. Woodstock in the late 18th century as well as school books from the time period. There are collections including 19th century georgraphy maps, a loom and weaving supplies, Windsor backed chairs, Grange paraphernalia, musical insturments, sheet music, photos and records pertaining to school Directors and students and more.

Hours and Admission:
July - August: Saturday, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Labor Day Weekend: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, or by appointment.

Hartford Historical Society

Garipay House Museum, 1461 Maple St., Hartford, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 547, Hartford, VT 05047
Website: www.hartfordhistory.org
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Phone: (802) 296-3132 or (802) 295-2701
Contact: Pat Stark, Curator (802) 295-3077

The society owns a turn-of-the-century house with Dr. Garipay's home office, as well as a growing collection of documents, artifacts, and photographs of Hartford's past. There are four public lectures each year as well as various special events. A newsletter is published six times a year.

Hours and Admission:
February - October: first Tuesday of the month, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
May - October: second Sunday, 1:30 pm -4 :00 pm; or by appointment.

Hartland Historical Society

Martin Memorial Building, 14 VT Route 12, Hartland, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 297, Hartland, VT 05048
Website: www.hartlandhistory.org
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Phone: (802) 436-1703
Contact: Carol Mowry, President

The society has a collection of artifacts and a library devoted to the enjoyment and knowledge of Hartland's past.

Hours and Admission: Monday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm; Friday, 9:00 am - noon; July 4: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; or by appointment. Free.

Norwich Historical Society

Museum, 277 Main Street, Norwich, VT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1680, Norwich, VT 05055
Website: www.norwichhistory.org
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Phone: (802) 649-0124
Contact: Nancy Hoggson, President, (802) 649-5740

The society owns an 1807 house that contains a collection of Norwich documents, maps, photographs, textiles, furniture, and hand tools. The society conducts genealogy and land deed research. There are excursions, Old Home Day activities, a Christmas tea, lectures, and local television panel discussions.

Hours and Admission: Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Saturday, 10:00 am until noon, or by appointment.

Pioneer Memorial Society

Chester, VT
Mailing Address: 1192 Farrar Road, Chester, VT 05143
Phone: (802) 875-3205
Contact: Peter Farrar

Visitors by appointment.

Plymouth Historical Society

Plymouth Union, VT Route 100 and Town Office Road, Plymouth, VT
Mailing Address: c/o Plymouth Town Clerk, 68 Town Office Road, Plymouth, VT 05056
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Phone: (802) 672-3547
Contact: Melissa Lynds, President

Hours and Admission: June - September: Wednesday, 1:00 pm -3:00 pm, or by appointment.

Pomfret Historical Society

Pomfret, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 54, South Pomfret, VT 05067
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Phone: (802) 457-1021
Contact: Alan Graham, President

Visitors by appointment.

Reading Historical Society

Museum, Main Street, Reading, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 252, Reading, VT 05062
Phone: (802) 484-5738
Contact: Laura Griggs, Secretary

The museum is located on two floors of a 19th-century house with an additional gallery containing farm implements, 19th-century gadgets, and machines. Collections are of town records, church documents, clothing, furniture, tools, books, photographs, portraits, and paintings.

Visitors by appointment. Not accessible to the disabled.

Rochester Historical Society

Rochester Library, Main Street, Rochester, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 428, Rochester, VT 05767
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Phone: (802) 767-4453
Contact: Nancy Woolley, Secretary

The museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Rochester Library, in the center of the village opposite the park. Exhibits include farm tools, military items, clothing, verde antique marble, and paper trivia.

Visitors by appointment.

Royalton Historical Society

Royalton, VT
Mailing Address: 4184 VT Route 14, Royalton, VT 05068
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Phone: (802) 763-8567
Contact: John Dumville, President

This local historical society is located in the 1840 Town House with exhibit rooms and collections. The society maintains the 1840 Town House, the 1844 Center Schoolhouse & privy, and the 1836 St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Articles in this society's collection relate to Royalton's history, artifacts, photographs, diaries, as well as manuscripts.

Visitors by appointment.

Sharon Historical Society

Museum, On the Green, Exit 2 off I89, Sharon, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 176, Sharon, VT 05065
Phone: (802) 763-8549
Contact: Mary Ayer, Vice President

The society's collections include gifts from residents past and present.

Hours and Admission: July 9 - August 27: Sunday, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, or by appointment.

Weathersfield Historical Society

Reverand Dan Foster House, 2656 Weathersfield Center Road
Mailing Address:  PO Box 126, Weathersfield, VT 05151
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Phone: (802) 263-5230
Contact:Ellen Clattenburg

Hours and Admission:  Late June - Labor Day, 4 afternoons a week 2 pm to 5 pm and by appointment.

Weston Historical Society

Farrar-Mansur House Museum, Old Mill Museum, and Band Wagon Museum at the Historic Millyard, Weston, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 247, Weston, VT 05161
Website: www.westonvt.com
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Phone: (802) 824-5294
Contact: Jean Lindman, Museum Director

The society curates three museums on the National Register of Historic Places. The Farrar-Mansur House, built by Oliver Farrar in 1795, served as a home, tavern, and community center. It was sold to Franklin Mansur in 1857 and remained in his family until 1932. Displayed in room settings, the extensive, multifaceted collection includes many fine pieces of New England furniture; outstanding examples of early 19th century, Vermont-made brass, copper, silver, pewter, and tin items; toys; musical instruments; china, pottery, and glassware; costumes, quilts and samplers; and significant 19th century portraits. The Mill Museum overlooks a picturesque mill pond and waterfall. Built in 1785 as a sawmill, and later as a grist mill, its collection of early trade tools and products includes equipment used in farming, cheese making, coopering, blacksmithing, woodworking, weaving and spinning, and tinsmithing. The Bandwagon Museum houses a red Concord coach used as a bandwagon by the Weston Cornet Band fron 1880 to 1930.

Hours and Admission: July - August: Wednesday & Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, or by appointment.

Windsor Historical Society

Town Hall, Windsor, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 300, Windsor, VT 05089
Website: www.windsorvthistoricalsociety.com
Phone: (802) 674-2326
Contact: Barbara Rhoad, President

Visitors by appointment.

Woodstock Historical Society

Dana House Museum & Woodstock History Center, 26 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT
Mailing Address: 26 Elm Street, Woodstock, Vt 05091
Website: www.woodstockhistorical.org
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Phone: (802) 457-1822
Contact: Jack Anderson, Director

The Woodstock History Center's Dana House Museum and Canaday Gallery showcase a wide variety of art, furniture, silver, ceramics, toys, clothing, textiles and much more. They also interpret both Woodstock's history and nineteent-century village life. The Woodstock History Center's research library contains thousands of local history resources such as maps, diaries, historic photographs, and genealogical reference materials. Lectures and workshops are held in a 50 seat auditorium.

Hours and Admission:
Museum: Mid June - mid October: Friday – Sunday, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Monday - Thursday by accommodation
Administration and offices: Open year round, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Research library: Open Wednesday - Friday.
Adults: $5.00 Students 16 and under: Free
First floor and auditorium accessible to the disabled.