Waterford’s History Is on Display in Montpelier

 

photos by Donna Heath & Helen Pike

It’s lively, it’s local, and it’s uniquely Waterford: the hands-on archaeology “dig” that’s become an annual feature of the Waterford Historical Society’s partnership with Waterford School and local landowners. Now, from April 7 to July 31, it’s also on display at the Vermont History Museum at 109 State Street in Montpelier.

 

The exhibit features energetic approaches from 14 local historical societies, focused on the stories people share about their families, events, and grasp of the very personal past. Waterford’s portion shows students from the school, examining the remains of dairy farming at the Hale-Bonnett-Koeppl farm on Lower Waterford Road.

 

Also in the exhibit, visitors can find information on the hundreds of other local history organizations around the state via an online directory kiosk, and can “Build Your Own Historical Society” choosing objects for their own historical society, using examples from participating organizations and the Vermont Historical Society. 

Support for the exhibit is provided by the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation. Current hours are 10 am–4 pm, Wednesday­ through Saturday (see vermonthistory.org for updated hours and visitor guidelines).

 

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Barns Crammed With History: Digging Into a Waterford Farmyard

Industrial hemp farming at the Gingue Farm.

Waterford's barns stand for large parts of the town's history, but more and more often, their usefulness dwindles with changes in land use and even in the kind of farming being done. For example, the Gingue Farm, in the district where the Hill family resided in Waterford Hollow in the 1800s, has now left behind dairy farming, for the pleasure and adventure of diversified farming -- going well beyond the farm's traditional rows of sweet corn, to industrial hemp and grains for craft brewing.

"The dig" at a historic barn's foundation.

 But some barns carry so much history with them that the owners invest in keeping them standing, even without a farm use at this point. At the September 25 Waterford Historical Society meeting, a very special set of barns will be identified, as two WHS members demonstrate how some gentle digging around the barn foundations can reveal amazing details of daily life from more than a centure in our past.

Join us at the Davies Memorial Library, on Wed. Sept. 25, at 6:30 pm, for this fascinating presentation from Donna Rae Heath and Craig Brown. Free to the public, partially accessible (rest room downstairs), and of course, local refreshments on hand!

Digging into History, with Waterford's Kids and Coaches

Surveying the barnyard.

Waterford Historical Society Kids’ Presentation 
Wednesday, September 26, 6:30 pm
Community Room, downstairs in the Lower Waterford Congregational Church (next to the library and across from the Rabbit Hill Inn)
Lower Waterford, Vermont
*Free*

A week-long coached "dig" by kids in the barnyard of a historic barn yielded evidence of the farm's past uses, and lit interest in archaeology for grades 4-8 students in Waterford. See their discoveries and hear about this community collaboration.

Learning about Waterford's past.

This presentation the regularly scheduled Waterford Historical Society meeting, and also part of Vermont Archaeology Month.

How do archaeologists do this part?

Are you curious about what the students found? It was part of the local school's summer adventure camp, and was a big success! Each day the students gathered at "Base Camp" in the community room of the Lower Waterford Congregational Church, did some thinking and brainstorming with coaches like Helen Chantal Pike, Craig Brown, and Donna Heath, then walked the mile down the road to the farm.

Sifting the soil and hay -- what's in there?

Base Camp!

[Photos courtesy of Donna Heath and Helen Pike -- thank you!]

State Archaeologist to Speak in Waterford, September 26

State archaeologist Jess Robinson will speak on Tuesday September 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Davies Memorial Library, 111 Lower Waterford Road (across from the Rabbit Hill Inn).

            Robinson’s talk is part of Vermont Archaeology Month and presents an overview of early Native History of the Upper Connecticut River and adjacent areas, focusing on early and overlooked documentary and archaeological evidence.

            There will be time for questions. The Waterford Historical Society, host of the event, will also have related displays to examine.

            The Waterford Historical Society aims “to discover and preserve whatever relates to the history of the Town of Waterford and surrounding communities, for the use, education, and enjoyment of present and future generations.”

            The event is free and open to the public, with limited handicap access. Contact the library director at 802-748-4609 or e-mail WHS president Donna Heath at toughy2017@gmail.com.

Rediscovering an Early Waterford Schoolhouse Location: History Hike

The 1875 Beers map shows the Green School, for District 10, at the corner of today's Green and Remick roads. But the 1858 map at the Davies Memorial Library shows another location, and archaeologically savvy Craig B. examined the earlier spot and found traces of that vanished schoolhouse.

So on Saturday July 18 at 10 a.m., as long as it's not totally pouring rain or crashing thunder, Craig will lead interested walkers down the old Kidder Road and show how he searches for and identifies markers of the past. The walk is flat on an old dirt road; wear sensible shoes and insect repellent! Parking in the barnyard at the Florio farm is available (thank you, M. Florio!).

Looking forward to learning a lot!