112/11/D5

Bag

Brown paper bag printed with the logo for the Vermont Bicentennial. The logo consists of a simplistic line drawing of a church set into hills with fireworks in the sky.

1989.4.1

Produced for the Vermont Bicentennial celebration in 1991.

Button

Button from the 2010 Northfield Labor Day celebration. The button has a bearded wizard in the center of the button holding up his wand. A 4-pointed star is at the tip of the wand and a swirl is coming off the star. The wizard's back is to us, we see his profile. He is wearing a white garment and has a hood draped down his back. Around the edge of the button reads: "www.northfieldlaborday.org 2010" And starting at the top by the wand is: "Hocus Pocus - Bring out your magic!"

2010.59.2

Donor said the button cost $3.00. Button was designed by Emily Dumas, 16, of Northfield.
She was the 2010 button design contest winner.

Hair Wreath

Hair wreath with tintype of John & Nettie Dodge of Barre, VT. Wooden shadow box with hair wreath in the shape of a rounded horseshoe (opening at the top), the inside most band, closest to the glass is of gold/gilt and there are two bands painted black. In the center is a tintype of a woman & man in a gold colored fillagree frame-like mat. Paperboard back is stapled to the back of the piece.

2015.23

Pennant

Green pennant with image of the Bennington Battle monument and in white lettering, the words, "Sesqui Centennial, Bennington, Vt. Aug. 13, 1927" and to the side, "1777."

2021.40.2

Made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Bennington

Pin

Red and white Chittenden County Beard Boosters pin.
In the center of the pin is a cartoon drawing of a man with a full beard and long moustache wearing a derby hat pulled down over his eyes. Below his beard is '1609 - 1959'. Around the perimeter in red is "CHITTENDEN COUNTY BEARD BOOSTERS / CHAMPLAIN FESTIVAL"

2009.46.4

An object from the festivities in 1959 marking the 350th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's first visit to the lake that today's bears his name.

Pin

Gray, red, white and black pin that was used as admission to events on New Year's Eve in Burlington. The name of the event, First Night Burlington, is printed in the center of a white star. At the bottom is the date when this pin was the admission ticket -- 1991.

1999.18.15

First Night Burlington, "a sprawling variety show" that marked the new year for 35 years, was discontinued after the 2018 event after freezing temperatures reduced crowds and caused significant financial loss. Also the lead sponsor said it would reduce its future participation. First Night began in 1983 in Burlington. For the final First Night in 2018, "nearly 100 performers at 19 downtown venues performed music, dance, theater, storytelling and comedy from 11 a.m. Dec. 31 until a fireworks show in the early hours of Jan. 1."
Source: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/04/17/first-night-burlington-ends-35-year-run-done-cold-and-lack-money/525725002/

Pin

Mad River Valley Winter Carnival 1995. Central to the button is a sleigh being pulled by a horse. Light green/gray printing and graphics on a white background.

2007.61.2

The Mad River Valley had a winter carnival for a decade or more, but as of 2021, it had been discontinued. No information was found on when it was started and when it ended. Below is a description of the Mad river Valley winter carnival from a list of winter carnivals in New England in the early 2000s.

"A ten-day winter Carnival that capitalizes on Vermont's famous winter and combines small town fun with big city activity. Lots of food, skiing, snow shoe races, as well as the Jeep King of the mountain Downhill series. The Mad River Valley is active Vermont, pastoral, but never passive. The Valley is best seen by doing."

Promotional Button

Round white button with an image of a jumping trout in the center. The words, "GUNNER BROOK FISHING DERBY 75TH ANNIVERSARY" are printed around the edge and the dates "1928-2003" are printed beneath the fish. The back of the button is signed, "Best Wishes! Susan Winter" in sharpie. There is a hinged pin on the back.

2008.56.18

The Gunner Brook Fishing Derby for children is sponsored by the Barre Fish and Game Club. The club was founded in 1919.

Promotional Button

Round metal button that is blue on the top half and pink on the bottom half. It is printed in white with the inscription, "CENTRAL VERMONT RAILWAY 100 years DEC. 15, 1945".

1945.36.1a

Produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Central Vermont Railway

Promotional Button

Round, pink-and-white button showing two men shaking hands. The man on the left has white hair and a full beard and is wearing a grey suit. The man on the right has black hair and a small chin beard and is wearing a red-and-white striped suit. The button reads, "BROTHER of the BRUSH / BARRE HERITAGE FESTIVAL JULY 18-25 1970."

2006.61.20

Produced to commemorate a group of men who grew beards during the Barre Ethnic Heritage Festival in 1970. In this period (1960s-70s) having beard-growing "brothers of the brush" contests was common for community anniversary celebrations. The idea was to look like men did at the founding. "Sisters of the swish" was for women and the swish referred to the swish of long skirts.

Promotional Button

Square First Night 2009 (Montpelier) button. White background with orange, purple and yellow writing. Reads: "Central Vermont's New Year's Eve / Celebrating our 15th Year / First / 2009 / Night / Montpelier" Multi colored stars 'swirl' around "First Night."

2009.1.1

In 2012-13, the city of Montpelier discontinued the First Night event that had run for 15 previous years.

Promotional Button

Round yellow button with red hand-drawn illustration of a hand holding several small flags, including a United States, Canadian, and Japanese flag. The handwritten inscription "JULY 1980 BARRE, VT. ETHNIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL" rings the edge. The back is stamped with the inscription, "Badge-a-Minit Lasalle. Ill. 61301".

2012.58.2

Made for the Barre Heritage Festival in 1980

Promotional Button

Round promotional button printed in blue with an illustration of a train in front of a town. The train has a car holding 2 giraffes, and there is a large, striped circus ten in the center of the town's main street. There is the inscription, "COUNTRY / '93 / NORTHFIELD, VT. / CIRCUS".

1995.29.4

Produced for the Northfield Labor Day Celebration in 1993

Promotional Button

White pin / button with berry pink design and lettering. It reads (around perimeter): "MARDI GRAS/ NORTHFIELD. VERMONT.1998" In the center is a masked cartoon face.
white/berry pink

1998.41

The tag attached to this button says Northfield Observances Inc. which is the organization that run the town's annual Labor Day weekend parade/festival. No information could be found tying that organization to a Mardi Gras event now (2021) or in the past.

Promotional Button

Rough white metal button printed in the center with a blue violin and around the edge with the red inscription, "CRAFTSBURY, VT. FIDDLERS' CONTEST".

2013.9.24

Souvenir of the Craftsbury Fiddlers' Contest, founded in 1966

Promotional Button

Round button celebrating Woodstock (VT) in 2000. Design has 'WOODSTOCK.VERMONT' along top edge and "Celebrate/2000" on bottom. In center is a profile of a hill/mountain (below it in black, above in hues of blue) with colorful fireworks/swirls/star shapes in green, pink, turquoise and orange.
multi

2000.22

Promotional Button

A pink, white and blue pin with the image of a woman in a bonnet on the top left and the words "heritage belle." Below in blue lettering are the words, "Barre Heritage Festival, July 18-25, 1970."

2003.89.14

The donor, Ruth R. Smith of Barre, was active in Republican politics and in many communities organizations.

Her obituary from https://www.hookerwhitcomb.com/obituary/4000351


Ruth R. Smith, 91, of Camp Street, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at home with her family at her bedside.
Born on December 27, 1924 in Northampton, MA, she was the daughter of the late Ralph Ernest and Maria W. Reynolds.
Ruth graduated from Northampton High School in Northampton, MA with the class of 1942. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA in 1946 and continued her graduate studies in the field of economics at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.
On October 11, 1947, she married Donald Ladd Smith of Barre Town, VT in Northampton, MA. He died on March 7, 2001. After their marriage, the couple moved to Vermont.
Ruth worked in the office of Cook, Watkins, and Patch before working as a reporter for the Montpelier Argus and Burlington Free Press for several years. In 1969, and she and her husband bought Windy Wood Orchard which she continued to operate until 2004. Ruth was also a licensed Casualty Insurance Agent and a Welcome Wagon Hostess for several years.
In addition to raising her family and working, Ruth was a member and former chair of the Barre Town School Board for 7 years, and Chair of the Barre Town Bicentennial Committee. She was also very involved in politics, she was a member of Washington County Republican Committee, former chair and secretary of the Barre Town Republican Committee, and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1987-1994 representing Barre Town. Ruth served as Secretary of the Vermont State Republican Committee for 4 years, Chair of the Republican Mental Health Task Force for 6 years, Treasurer of the Vermont Federation of Republican Women, and as past President of the Vermont Legislative Women’s Auxiliary. She was an Incorporator and former member of the Board of Trustees of the Austine School for Deaf in Brattleboro, former member of the Vermont Federal Bank Advisory Board and a former member and co-chair of the Barre Granite Museum Study Committee.
In 1984, Ruth received a Greater Barre Community Service award, she was also presented with an Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award from the Sportsmen’s Alliance for Vermont’s Environment in 1988, and in 1996 she was awarded the Barre Town Citizenship and Service Award.
Ruth was the founding member and President of the ABH Extension Homemakers Club, as well as President of the Washington County Extension Homemakers. She was a Girl Scout troop leader and went on to serve as District Chairman and Officer of the Board of the Vermont Girl Scout Council. Ruth was a former officer of the Cobble Hill Grange and a member of the State and National Granges. She also served as Treasurer, Vice-President and eventually President of Altrusa International of Barre from 1995-1997. In 1948, Ruth joined the Barre Congregational Church and served in the roles of clerk and treasurer.
In her spare time, she enjoyed playing Contract Bridge, reading and travel.
She is survived by her son, Donald Reynolds Smith of Barre; her daughter Rebecca Ruth Smith Miracle of East Montpelier; and her granddaughters Brittany Jane and Halen Elizabeth Miracle of East Montpelier.
Besides her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her sisters Ernestine Moore and Marilyn Gray.

Promotional Button

Round white button with the purple inscription, "19 / BRATTLEBORO COLONELS / 74 / HOMECOMING", around the edge and an illustration of a football player catching a football with the word "WIN!" on it in the center.

2010.11.54

Produced for the homecoming celebrations at Brattleboro High School in Brattleboro, Vermont, 1974.

Promotional Button

White Button with green lettering reading "9TH ANNUAL OLD-TIME FIDDLERS' CONTEST" across the top with a green outlined image of a violin and bow in the center, on top of the date July 24, 1971. The words stamped across the bottom read: CRAFTSBURY COMMON, VERMONT

1998.39.17

Promotional Button

Yellow, blue and white "First Night" pin. Printed at top and bottom: "10th Anniversary/ A Celebration of the New Year" and in the center, printed on a background of a night sky and snowflakes: "FIRST NIGHT/ BURLINGTON/ 1993"

2015.47.25

First Night Burlington, "a sprawling variety show" that marked the new year for 35 years, was discontinued after the 2018 event after freezing temperatures reduced crowds and caused significant financial loss. Also the lead sponsor said it would reduce its future participation. First Night began in 1983 in Burlington. For the final First Night in 2018, "nearly 100 performers at 19 downtown venues performed music, dance, theater, storytelling and comedy from 11 a.m. Dec. 31 until a fireworks show in the early hours of Jan. 1."
Source: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/04/17/first-night-burlington-ends-35-year-run-done-cold-and-lack-money/525725002/

Promotional Button

Green pin with black lettering and graphics - Printed around outside edge: "HARDWICK, VT. FIDDLERS CONTEST/ 1991 10TH ANNUAL/ ALWLAYS LAST SATURDAY OF JULY" and in center, sketch of a violin and two fiddlers.

2015.47.27

Information wasn't immediately available about when the Hardwick Fiddle contest began nor when it was discontinued.

"Fiddle contests evolved from being endurance events to demonstrations of a set number of tunes, judged by certain criteria to determine who was the best.

These events helped raise money for local organizations of every description, and worked to preserve old-time fiddling. In recent years, the fiddle contest has declined significantly, due to the waning interest of competitors and spectators, as well as diminished financial viability."
https://www.vtcng.com/stowetoday/music/state-fiddle-history-explored-in-hardwick/article_c39e7e52-a5bb-5262-a0c5-bba79c623dbc.html

Promotional Button

Small oval-shaped advertising button, white background with red lettering. Graphics shows a stylized person playing a trumpet. Text: Stratton Arts Festival 25 Years." Has black paper backing.

1998.46.7

The Stratton Arts Festival has apparently been discontinued. No information could be found about when it started and when it stopped, but it obviously lasted 25 years.

Promotional Button

Pink button with blue graphics. "Onion River Arts Council/ MIDSUMMER/ 1992" with logo in center. Pin on back.

2014.48.13

From the finding aid for a collection of records for the Onion River Arts Council at the Vermont Historical Society Library:

"The Onion River Arts Council was founded in 1974. It served as the major
presenter of performing arts events in Montpelier and Barre, Vermont, until it ceased
operations at the end of the year in 2004. In the 1990s the organization’s mission
statement read, “To present quality arts programs to the widest possible audience in
central Vermont; to provide cultural education, both in schools and for the general public;
to coordinate and be an advocate for the arts in the community; and to provide
opportunities for Vermont artists.”
ORAC organized community arts programs, sponsored arts programming in area
schools, organized arts festivals such as “Midsummer” and “First Night,” and co-sponsored the “Celebration Series” with the Barre Opera House. The Midsummer Festival probably started in 1982, although the collection includes no material from this event. In 1983 the festival was billed as a celebration of Vermont’s folk life and heritage and was held at Vermont College in Montpelier. It evolved into a festival of the arts held on the State House lawn featuring theater, dance, popular and traditional music, story telling, and mime. The festival usually included a street dance and a “Pops” concert by
the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra. In its last two years, 1995 and 1996, the festival
was billed as a “Midsummer Medieval Festival of the Arts.”