Museum Catalog

Bottle

1987.6.1a

Brown glass beer bottle with a metal cap. The bottle has two paper labels, one around the neck and one around the body. The lower label has an illustration of a mountain lion (catamount) with the title, "CATAMOUNT GOLD".

Distributed by Catamount Brewing Company in White River Junction, Vermont

Bottle

1996.44.1

Green soda bottle with the label "University of Vermont" around the neck. The center of the bottle is printed with the label, "Coca-Cola" on one side and an illustration of a catamount with the label "Catamounts" on the other side.

Made by Coca-Cola for the University of Vermont

Bottle Holder

1987.6.1b

Cardboard six-pack holder. The carton collapses by folding along the center support piece. Each exterior side is printed with an illustration of a mountain lion (catamount) with the title, "CATAMOUNT GOLD".

Distributed by Catamount Brewing Company in White River Junction, Vermont

Bottles

1992.28.3

Six-pack of Ethan Allen Ale, in a cardboard carrier with a special label saying, "Especially brewed for the Vermont Bicentennial." A label on each bottle reads, "In honor of the Vermont Bicentennial, Catamount Brewing Co. proudly presents Ethan Allen Ale, a toast to the spirit of our past and promose of our future." Cardboard carrier is green with an image of Ethan Allen on each side. Bottles are brown glass with gold caps and green, gold and red labels that match the design on the cardboard carrier.

Produced to celebrate the two-hundredth anniversary of Vermont's statehood by Catamount Brewing Co. of White River Junction, Vermont

Box

1959.9

Crumpled, empty box pierced throughout with holes. The lid of the box has a hand-written paper labels that reads, "This box contains a Live Baby Panther / Caution / Do not feed in Transit". The reverse has hand written address label with two 3-cent stamps, the return address, "From Horace M. Abrams / Schoharie. N.Y" and sending address, "To / Dr. Arthur W. Peach / Vermont Historical Society / Montpelier / Vermont". A small note written across the bottom of the label reads, "Contains Merchadise - 4th Class. - POSTMASTER. - This parcel may be opened for Post Office inspection of merchandise." One side of the box is missing a flap, and the other flap is crushed open. The lid hinges open with a fabric tape hinge.

Inside the box is a flat piece of paper with (presumably fake) small animal poop glued to the center top and the handwritten inscription, "Well, he Was here, but he must have got away."

Given to Vermont Historical Society Director Arthur Peach as a prank by Horace Abrams, during the "panther craze" when several sightings of catamounts were reported across the state of Vermont. The phrase on the inside is a reference to people not being able to prove their claims because the catamount was not present.

Brochure

1987.6.1c

Small, bifold informational brochure. The cover is printed with an illustration of a mountain lion (catamount) with the title, "CATAMOUNT GOLD". The inside is printed with advertising copy about the company's philosophy and products.

Distributed by Catamount Brewing Company in White River Junction, Vermont

Brush

2023.14.7

Shoe polishing brush with a painted handle. The brush has horsehair bristles stemming from the entirety of one side of the handle. The other side of the handle is painted with the image of a monument of a mountain lion (the catamount monument in Bennington, Vermont) set in an exterior scene. The bottom is labeled, "Souvenir of Bennington".

Made by Pasquale "Patsy" Santo of Bennington, Vermont.

Carving

2015.26.3

Small wooden carving of a catamount, or mountain lion. It is shown lying down with a rock between its front legs and something in its mouth.

Made by William W. Warren in Windsor, Vermont

Carving

1959.32.1

Wooden carving of a catamount, or mountain lion, leaping. The catamount is shown with its front paws off the ground and its tail curled on the ground behind it. The weight of its body is held up by a metal support. The tail is broken in two places and held in place by an interior wire. The base is rectangular, with a roughly carved top and smooth sides. It is labeled, "Arthur W. Peach". The tall base sits on a wider, but shorter rectangular base.

Used on the desk of Arthur W. Peach, former Director of the Vermont Historical Society.

Casting

1995.44.2

Plaster cast of a panther print, painted dark red. On the back of the casting is a piece of masking tape with the inscription, "1934 Chester, Vt. - original is in the Bennington, Vt. museum."

Duplicate of plaster cast made from footprints at Grafton Gulf, December 1934, by Rev. William J. Ballou. The original is held in the Bennington Museum.

Casting

1995.44.3

White plaster casting of panther print, from the original in the Bennington Museum.

Duplicate of plaster cast made from footprints at Grafton Gulf, December 1934, by Rev. William J. Ballou. The original is held in the Bennington Museum.

Casting

1995.43

Rough plaster cast of an animal footprint. The print shows four toes and a center pad with a wide, flat border around the print. There are remnants of dirt and dried plants in the plaster.

Cast from a catamount pawprint in Hartland, Vermont.

Catamount

2013.12.1

Rectangular piece of marble with a bas relief carving of a walking panther, or catamount. The animal is facing to the right and shown walking on a protruding base.

Made by John Broadfield Warren from marble taken from his property in Dorset, Vermont

Catamount

2010.61.1

Small plaster statue showing a catamount walking downward on a craggy rock. The statue has been painted with layers of bronze, copper, and black paint to appear metal. It is mounted onto a rectangular piece of alabaster.

Coaster

2017.31.1.1

Catamount Brewing Company beer coaster. Printed in color on off-white heavy, absorbent paper; the back is blank; shows a cougar (catamount) in the center of a red circle, with green hills behind; circle shows CATAMOUNT written at the top and "Pride of the North Country" in the circle bottom. Above the top of the circle is written "Strictly Fresh - Finest Ingredients" ; along the bottom of the circle is written "Brewed & Bottled by Catamount Brewing Company, White River Junction., Vermont."

Coaster

2017.31.1.2

Catamount Brewing Company beer coaster. Printed in color on off-white heavy, absorbent paper; the back is blank; shows a cougar (catamount) in the center of a red circle, with green hills behind; circle shows CATAMOUNT written at the top and "Pride of the North Country" in the circle bottom. Above the top of the circle is written "Strictly Fresh - Finest Ingredients" ; along the bottom of the circle is written "Brewed & Bottled by Catamount Brewing Company, White River Junction., Vermont."

Coaster

2022.14.5

Square cardboard coaster showing a central image of a catamount (mountain lion) beneath a banner that reads, "CATAMOUNT".

Coin

1967.2.20

Silver-toned metal coin. One side is molded with a bust portrait of a man and the words, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IRA ALLEN / FOUNDER OF VERMONT." The other side is molded with an image of a catamount (or mountain lion) and the words, "BATTLE OF BENNINGTON / IN GOD WE TRUST / 1777-1927 / AUG. 16 / E PLURIBUS UNUM / HALF DOLLAR."

Produced to commemorate the Battle of Bennington and the statewide sesquicentennial celebration.

Commemorative Button

2022.2.1

Round metal button printed with illustrations of the Bennington Monument, the Catamount Tavern building, and the catamount statue along with the years each was erected and the label, "BENNINGTON, VT."

Commemorative Medal

1927.1.1a-b

Bronze medal with the molded image of a soldier on one side and building on the other.

The front shows a man wearing a fur cap with a tail. He is holding a long-barreled flintlock gun. Behind him is a waving flag with 10 visible stars and the number 7 in the upper corner and stripes over the rest of the flag. The inscription, "VERMONT SESQUICENTENNIAL" rings the bottom edge.

The back shows a four bay by two bay Georgian-style building surrounded by a wreath. The building is labeled "FAY'S TAVERN AUG 16", and the names, Warner, Stark, Herrick, Fay, Hubbel, Saffort, Belmond, Brush, Allen, Dewitt, Calysha, Clark, Albrid, Dewey, and Robinson wrap around the wreath. The inscription BATTLE OF BENNINGTON 1777-1927" and 14 stars ring the edge.

The medal is accompanied by a paper information sheet that details the images and symbols on the medal.

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

Commemorative Medal

1928.1.1l

Round, gold medal hanging from a red-white-and-blue striped ribbon. The top of the ribbon is attached to a spring-backed pin. The ribbon is printed in gold with the inscription, "WINDSOR JULY 8-9, 1927". From the ribbon hangs a round, gold medallion molded with an image of a large, clapboard house and the inscription, "OLD CONSTITUTION HOUSE, WINDSOR, VERMONT / IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF VERMONT JULY 8, 1777". The back of the medallion is molded with an image of a walking catamount with the inscription, "1777-1927 VERMONT SESQUI-CENTENNIAL".

Produced for the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Battle of Bennington

Commemorative Medal

2000.12.6

Sterling silver commemorative medal. One side is molded with the inscription, "BARNARD, VERMONT BICENTENNIAL 1775-1975" around the edge and a catamount walking on a rock toward a tree. The other side is molded with the inscription, "VERMONT INDEPENDENCE 1777-1977 AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1776-1976" around the edge and the map outline of Vermont with a house near the center alongside a setting sun and a diamond-shaped fort with the label, "FORT DEFIANCE".

Made to commemorate the US Bicentennial as well the bicentennial of the founding of Barnard, Vermont.

Desk

1922.14.2

Fall front mahogany desk with four drawers. The slanted portion at the top of the desk folds down to rest on two pull-out supports on either side of the top drawer.

Used by Stephen Fay at the Catamount Tavern in Bennington during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Chittenden, Ethan Allen, and Jonas Fay reportedly also used this desk at the tavern.

Flip Book

2021.19.1

Small flip book with an image of a roaring panther face and the inscription, "CATAMOUNT DINNER" on the cover. The inside is filled with a series of illustrations that, when flipped, show a panther attacking a deer. The back cover is printed with the inscription, "SEE THE LAST CATAMOUNT CHOT IN VERMONT AT: THE VERMONT MUSEUM VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY 109 STATE STREET PAVILION BUILDING MONTPELIER, VT 05609-0901 Copyright 1991 Andy Voda". The book is bound with a single staple at the top.

Produced to advertise the taxidermy Catamount at the Vermont History Museum

Flip Book

2021.19.2

Small flip book with an image of a roaring panther face and the inscription, "CATAMOUNT DINNER" on the cover. The inside is filled with a series of illustrations that, when flipped, show a panther attacking a deer. The back cover is printed with the inscription, "SEE THE LAST CATAMOUNT CHOT IN VERMONT AT: THE VERMONT MUSEUM VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY 109 STATE STREET PAVILION BUILDING MONTPELIER, VT 05609-0901 Copyright 1991 Andy Voda". The book is bound with a single staple at the top.

Produced to advertise the taxidermy Catamount at the Vermont History Museum

Label

2022.14.1

Square paper beer bottle label showing a central image of a tree beneath a banner that reads, "CATAMOUNT". The label "Octoberfest" is beneath the image, and legal notices are along the left and right edges.

Label

2022.14.2

Square paper beer bottle label showing a central image of a catamount (mountain lion) beneath a banner that reads, "CATAMOUNT". The label "PALE ALE" is beneath the banner, and legal notices are along the left and right edges.

Label

2022.14.3

Square paper beer bottle label showing a central image of a catamount (mountain lion) beneath a banner that reads, "CATAMOUNT". The label "GOLD" is beneath the banner, and legal notices are along the left and right edges.

Label

2022.14.4

Square paper beer bottle label showing a central image of a catamount (mountain lion) beneath a banner that reads, "CATAMOUNT". The label "PORTER" is beneath the banner, and legal notices are along the left and right edges.

Margaret Fay Brown

1990.20.3

Portrait showing a dark-haired woman in seated pose. She is wearing a dark gown with a low center-front split and a white blouse or shawl under the outer robe. Her hair is parted down the center and is held in ringlets at the nape of her neck.

Matchbox

2004.58.82a-b

The cover is made of thin cardboard and features a green foil top with a gold embossed catamount and the words "VERMONT CATAMOUNTS" also in gold. The ends of the cover are open to slide the box into, and strikers cover the front and back edge of the cover. The bottom of the cover is made of a gold-tone paper with gold grid lines and the words "Made in Sweden" printed in black ink. The interior box is made of plain white cardboard and has a gray interior.

Produced to advertise the sports teams of the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont

Membership Ribbon

1928.1.1k

Membership ribbon consisting of a bar, ribbon, and medallion. The bar has a decorative scrollwork border and the word, "COMMITTEE". The blue, grosgrain ribbon hangs from the back of the bar and is gathered and turned back at the bottom. From the ribbon hangs a round, gold medallion molded with an image of a walking catamount with the inscription, "1777-1927 VERMONT SESQUI-CENTENNIAL". The back of the medallion is molded with a large building with a hipped room and a wooden fence. There is a sign in the shape of a catamount near the door. The back has the inscription, "CATAMOUNT TAVERN TO COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON AUG. 15, 1777".

The ribbon was pinned to a promotional cardboard advertising the benefits of quality name badges as souvenirs for events.

Produced for the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Battle of Bennington

Membership Ribbon

1928.1.1j

Membership ribbon consisting of a bar, ribbon, and medallion. The bar has a decorative scrollwork border and the word, "GUEST". The green, grosgrain ribbon hangs from the back of the bar and is gathered and turned back at the bottom. From the ribbon hangs a round, gold medallion molded with an image of a walking catamount with the inscription, "1777-1927 VERMONT SESQUI-CENTENNIAL". The back of the medallion is molded with a large building with a hipped room and a wooden fence. There is a sign in the shape of a catamount near the door. The back has the inscription, "CATAMOUNT TAVERN TO COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON AUG. 15, 1777".

The ribbon was pinned to a promotional cardboard advertising the benefits of quality name badges as souvenirs for events.

Produced for the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Battle of Bennington

Navigational Rule

1885.1.4a

Straight metal ruler engraved with horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines marking different scales.

Used by James Whitelaw of Ryegate, Vermont's second Surveyor General.

Navigational Scale

1885.1.4b

Hinged ivory ruler. The ruler is hinged at the center with a round brass hinge. Each side is engraved with lines measuring 4 different scales.

Used by James Whitelaw of Ryegate, Vermont's second Surveyor General.

Pen

2011.1.31

Green plastic ballpoint pen with cap. The pen bears the white printed inscription, "CATAMOUNT FENCE CO. Cornwall VT - 802 462 3380".

Made for Catamount Fence Company of Cornwall, Vermont.

Promotional Button

2000.51.1

Round, green button with the orange inscription, "Vermont History Day" at the top, an image of a leaping catamount in the center, and the date "2000" at the bottom.

Used by students for pin trading with other students at the national History Day contest in June, 2000, held at the University Of Maryland, College Park.

History of History Day from https://www.nhd.org/nhd-origins

On May 11, 1974, 127 students from middle and high schools in the greater Cleveland area gathered on the campus of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, to compete in a contest called History Day. The idea was the brainchild of David Van Tassel, a professor of history at CWRU, “to counter the devaluation of history as a field of study.” Van Tassel had witnessed a generation of young people in the 1960s caught up in events during one of the most turbulent decades in American history, who felt that past events were irrelevant to their lives and wanted to help students recognize history's impact. He was especially disturbed by the rote style of learning used in most history classrooms and “wanted to do something to reinvigorate the teaching and learning of history.”
...The growth of the program during those early years was rapid. As history professors and public historians learned about the program, they too wanted to get involved. Recognizing how quickly things were moving, Van Tassel applied to the State of Ohio to incorporate a non-profit organization to run and expand History Day and hired Lois Scharf as its first director. In 1979, the theme was Migrations in History, and like the theme, History Day was moving across the country, almost on its own. Only one year later, in 1980, the first national contest was held with 19 states participating."

Protractor

1885.1.3

Silver protractor. The arch of the tool is engraved with hash lines showing measurements (imperial), and the straight part of the tool is engraved with the words, "Gardner Glasgow".

Used by James Whitelaw of Ryegate, Vermont's second Surveyor General.

Sign

2020.10.1

Large, oval plywood sign. The sign is painted white with the black inscription, "CATAMOUNT STADIUM". The ends of the oval are cut off to create straight edges, and are painted with yellow vertical stripes.

Used outside of Catamount Stadium in Milton, Vermont

Surveyor's Chain

1885.1.5

Surveyor's chain consisting of even lengths of heavy-gauge metal wires connected with rings. The two ends are bent into rough triangles.

Used by James Whitelaw of Ryegate, Vermont's second Surveyor General.

T-Shirt

2020.28.2

Green t-shirt printed with a black-and-white hand-drawn illustration of a catamount with the inscription, "Exploration Encounter Exchange / Vermont History Day 2004". The back is printed with the inscription, "Cargill Animal Nutrition A Proud Sponsor of Vermont History Day".

Produced by Vermont Historical Society for Vermont History Day, 2004.

T-Shirt

2020.28.1

Yellow t-shirt printed in green with the words "VERMONT HISTORY DAY 2003" over an outline of the state of Vermont filled with black-and-white historical imagery. The images within the state outline are a flood, a woman's portrait, a man at the Catamount Tavern, and a protest. At the bottom is a circular logo that says, "Rights & Responsibilities in Vermont". The back is printed with the inscription, "Cargill Animal Nutrition A Proud Sponsor of Vermont History Day".

Produced by Vermont Historical Society for Vermont History Day, 2003.

Taxidermy Mount

1960.8

Taxidermy mount of a North American cougar, also known as a catamount, mountain lion, or panther. The animal is mounted so as to appear to be walking.

The animal was shot by Alexander Crowell on November 24, 1881 in Barnard, VT.

Trail Marker

2022.30.1

Square plastic trail marker printed in black with an image of a paw print and the words, "Catamount X-C Ski Trail".

Used to mark the Catamount Cross Country Ski Trail, a route that spans the length of Vermont

Trail Marker

1995.44.1

Catamount Trail blue plastic sign, with black lettering. The sign shows a panther print above the "Catamount Trail" name. Along the sides are: "C.T.A., P.O. Box 897" and "Burlington, VT 05402."

Used to mark the Catamount Cross Country Ski Trail, a route that spans the length of Vermont