Waterford, Vermont, History: racing

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Friday, August 15, 2025

Waterford's Racing History Gets a New Milestone with McKenna Merchant

History is being made all the time. Waterford was home of the Northeastern Speedway in 1959 to 1966 and hosts a preserved monument to it today. Now the town's racer McKenna Merchant is collecting wins at White Mountain Motor Sports Park. See the Caledonian-Record article HERE.

And discover (or refresh) the story of the town's historic speedway HERE.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Waterford's Racing History Rides Again: Saturday July 13, 2019

The history and living stories of the Northeastern Speedway get a refresher again this summer, with a reunion event that includes a tour. You don't have to drive at high speed to attend! Bring your curiosity (and a few kids to run around if you like). Details:

And for more about the track and its history as the "birthplace of auto racing in Vermont," click here.

Stories and History of Waterford, Vermont, Chartered Nov. 9, 1780

"The Town of Waterford is located in the southeastern part of Caledonia County, Vermont. It is bounded on the north-east by Concord, on the south by the southerly half of so-called Fifteen Mile Falls or rapids of the Connecticut River, on the southwest by Barnet, and on the northwest by St. Johnsbury.

"The Passumpsic River flows across the western corner of town; Stiles Pond is located in the northern part of the town. Its outlet flows into the Moose River in St. Johnsbury.

"At a meeting of the Governor and Council on Thursday, November 9th, 1780, a charter was granted to Benjamin Whipple and sixty-five associates as proprietors of the Township of Littleton [name would change to Waterford in 1797], the 43rd in the state and the second in Caledonia County, [the town of] Groton being one day older.

"The exact date of settlement is unknown but there is reliable evidence that James Adams was in town as early as 1783. Other settlers were John and James Wood, who settled near Passumpsic in 1782 or '85; and the Pike brothers, (Daniel and Nathan), Jonathan Hutchinson and Luther Knight who came from Royalston, Mass., in 1792 and settled in the eastern part of the town. The first settler in West Waterford was Amasa Hastings." -- From A VERMONT VILLAGE by Dr. C. E. Harris, circa 1942.

Waterford, Vermont, History

Friday, August 15, 2025

Waterford's Racing History Gets a New Milestone with McKenna Merchant

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Waterford's Racing History Rides Again: Saturday July 13, 2019

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