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August 16, 2014

33rd Annual Vergennes Day 2014 Schedule of Events Aug. 22-23, 2014 V

ergennes Day is a great way to see the biggest and best of our Little City. With music, food, races, a crafts fair, and even rubber duckies, itÕ s an event that canÕ t be missed. Vergennes Day is sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vergennes.

This year, Vergennes Day will take place on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22 and 23.

Activities will occur at various locations around the city.

A free shuttle to selected venues will be provided by Bet-Cha Transit.

This is Vergennes DayÕ s 33rd year!

Events will include: Street dance on Friday night Pancake breakfast 5K and 10K races Crafters/vendors Horse-drawn wagon rides Bandstand music Chicken BBQ ChildrenÕ s venue Car show Rubber Duckie race

Friday, Aug. 22

Street dance featuring live music from The Hitmen--7 to 10 pm

Saturday, Aug. 23

10 am to 4 pm at Vergennes City Park plus three other venues.

• Family fun: Pancake breakfast, Little City 5K & 10K Races, 80 plus crafters/vendors, horse drawn wagon rides, bandstand music, chicken BBQ, childrenÕ s venue, car show (802-475-2853), Rubber Duckie race.

• ree shuttle, provided by Bet-Cha Transit, to five venues!

Sponsored by the Addison County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vergennes.

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Vergennes: The Little City looks to the Future V

ergennes was Vermont’s first city 1788 and bills itself as AmericaÕ s smallest city.

The cityÕ s name was suggested by Ethan Allen to honor the Comte de Vergennes who served as the French minister of foreign affairs and negotiator of the Treaty of Paris.

Vergennes is certainly the stateÕ s smallest city only two square miles in size with a population of 2â 700Ñ and one of the prettiest downtowns around.

Just west of downtown are the scenic Vergennes Falls where Otter Creek traverses the city and water-powered sawmills once operated.

You’ll find the elements of both a vital city and neighborly town here. The City Hall and Vergennes Opera Houseâ constructed in 1897â is still the center of VergennesÕ business and

cultural life.

The beautifully restoredâ acoustically superb Opera House presents a year-round schedule of jazzâ operaâ folkâ classical and theater performances as well as a monthly Friday Night Flicks event.

City Parkâ in the center of the downtownâ hosts Monday evening summer band concerts community festivals such as French Heritage Days in July and Vergennes Day in late August, and encourages strolling on a summerÕ s evening.

The park serves as the location for a farm and craftsperson market from May through October.

Within the three-block downtown area, traditional businesses mix with the new.

Revitalization has attracted eclectic, locally-owned shops and

restaurants to become neighbors of deep-rooted Vergennes businesses. Main StreetÕ s 150-year old commercial blocks built with local stone and eye-catching window displays entice people to stop and explore.

It is a very walkable community, too.

A walk down Main Street brings you by Bixby Library, with its beautiful stained-glass domed ceiling.

A trek down the sidewalk-lined side streets takes one past houses that speak of the cityÕ s 19th century prosperity.

The stately Federal homes, Greek Revival cottages, and Mansard-roofed and bracketed dwellings, feels like stepping back into the Victorian era. Vergennes strives to be a friendly, welcoming place.

Addison County Chamber of Commerce

The arts come alive at the Vergennes Opera House T he Vergennes Opera House is certainly part of a grand tradition of community-based Ò Opera HousesÓ that served, historically, as cultural centers and performing arts facilities throughout Vermont.

Built in 1897 by, and for the people of Vergennes, it cost $12,000 and took one year to complete.

Adorned with the same beautifully painted mainstage curtain you see today, it opened its doors and welcomed many famous people including U.S. President James Garfield and 1960s pop culture icon Tiny Tim. It hosted political rallies and debates, weddings, school graduations, town meetings, and scores of musical and theatrical performances.

In 1901 the Edison Company brought an amazing invention to the Opera House, the Projecting Kinetoscope and showed three short films by the famous director Edwin S. Porter. That was the first time moving pictures were seen in the Addison County area.

Since those early days, both the movies and the Vergennes Opera House have undergone a great many changes.

By the early 1970s the Opera House had fallen into a bad state of disrepair and was closed. It stayed in darkness for 24 years until a group of volunteers decided to raise money to save it.

The group named themselves the Friends of the Vergennes Opera House and with a great deal of help from the community, successfully raised and invested more than $1.5 million in the building Ð a monumental effort for such a small community.

The Opera House proudly reopened its doors in July 1997 with a performance by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Today it serves the 2,500 residents of Vergennes and a population of over 20,000 people from the surrounding area. It is once again a vibrant, cultural and community performing arts facility presenting a diverse range of high quality, accessible performances and educational programs for children and adults year round. It is indeed unique and the concerted effort to restore it has served as a catalyst for the revitalization of the entire Vergennes community.

The Friends of the Vergennes Opera House are proud of our role in providing that initial Ò sparkÓ and we delight in the opportunity to continue to play a starring role in a revitalized and reenergized community.

The Vergennes Opera House

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A brief history of Vergennes

By Catherine Oliverio

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he history of Vergennes is quite unique in the way it attracted its population. Rather than the traditional Vermont farmers, a different class of people settled here, such as manufacturers, merchants, and professional men including mechanics and laborers. The stretch of 1,200 acres did not afford many to use the land for farming.

Vergennes ranks as one of the third oldest cities in New England, as well as the smallest American, historical Vermont communities settled in 1766 and incorporated in 1788. The brick, wood, and stone of Main Street resonate with history. VergennesÕ central business and residential district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Instead, Vergennes served as a commercial center for the surrounding agricultural areas.

To date, Vergennes maintains a strong industrial base with two major companies, Goodrich Aerospace (where vital parts for NASA’s soon to be retired space-shuttle fleet and defense craft are manufactured) and Nathaniel Electronics. The convenience of Otter Creek and the presence of the Monkton Iron Company, one of the largest iron works in the United States, enhanced the growth of Vergennes into a visible commercial success. With the success, elaborate homes appeared block after block with diverse architectural structures.

Early in VergennesÕ history rapid industrial growth appeared with forges, blast furnaces, a wire factory, and other facilities.

Such growth made Vergennes the most suitable location for and played an integral part of the War of 1812.

It was during the War of 1812 that Commodore Thomas MacDonough established a shipyard at the foot of Otter Creek where he prepared his navy and built numerous ships including, the flagship Saratoga, the largest military vessel ever launched in Vermont.

After the war and within ten years, the Lake Champlain Steamship Company built four lake steamers at the same shipyard MacDonough established. In 1824 the opening of the Champlain Canal connected Lake Champlain with the Hudson River and led to increased passenger traffic on the lake. The railroad in 1855 also increased production as lumber was transported.

Aside from VergennesÕ history, there are also cultural and recreational attractions. Visit the Opera House, the Greek Revival style Bixby Library, Rokeby Museum, Round Barn Merinos, and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Picnic on the banks of the Otter Creek or the city green where one can experience a true farmerÕ s market. Another fabulous idea would be take a cruise down the Otter Creek to Lake Champlain. Whether one wants

adventure or serenity, Vergnenes will satisfy all needs in a hometown away from home. Vergennes will have one in awe viewing the historic buildings and picturesque Main Street with plenty of things to see and do.

Vergennes offers a variety of restaurants varying and offering an eclectic array of fare including a touch of the Asian realm and al fresco dining, lodging, and shops including just about everything from Vermont handcrafted products, quality clothing, as well as fresh produce.

Further information on some of the historical buildings and businesses include the following: Find the National Historic Landmark Underground site in nearby Ferrisburgh. This fully furnished house holds 200 years of treasures, as well as eight historic farm buildings to explore and plenty of land to hike.

The Stevens House, originally PainterÕ s Tavern, built in the late 18th century still remains and features the original architecture. This building served as a stagecoach stop, a tavern, and a hotel. Currently, it houses two restaurants and a bank. The Stevens House is the oldest existent structure on Main Street, a true landmark, and a fine example of Italianate architecture.

Vergennes City Hall and Opera House was erected in 1897 is the only Romanesque Revival building on Main Street. By the early 1970Õ s the Opera House had deteriorated having been closed for 24 years. A group of volunteers, known as The Friends of the Vergennes Opera House, raised $1.5 million in a grassroots effort to restore the building, which reopened in 1997. It remains the cultural and educational hub of Vergennes, as well as home to the City Hall offices.

Not far from the heart of Vergennes is the Basin Harbor Resort, one of the jewels of the Champlain Valley. This historic hotel situated on Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondack Mountains includes fine dining, a full golf course, tennis, lake cruise boat, ropes course, fitness center, and more.

The historic city of Vergennes is home to H.J. LeBoeuf & Son, Inc., one of the longest-standing family-owned establishments located at 210 Main St. HJL Inc. has operated for five generations as a general contracting firm specializing in a diverse range of custom residential, commercial and restoration projects. Norman LeBoeuf, President, carries on the Vergennes family tradition started in 1888 by his great, great grandfather.

Some of the restoration/renovation projects undertaken over the 119-year history of the family business include the Stevens Residence (1870) and St. PeterÕ s Roman Catholic Church and Rectory both done in conjunction with Joseph Falardo. CL built the Bridport Masonic Hall in 1891 and H.J. LeBoeuf restored it in 1991.

August 16, 2014

Rubber Duckie Race a local tradition

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ultiple venues around town feature everything from running races, 75 plus crafters and vendors, to antique vehicles.

The Vergennes Area Chamber of Commerce, a division of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce, is hosting Vergennes Day 2014.

On the Friday evening before, the event kicks off with a street dance. Vergennes Day is a celebration of city and community and can be enjoyed by all ages.

Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast at the Vergennes Fire Station. The Little City 5K and 10K race and walk will start in front of the Vergennes Opera House. Join or cheer on several hundred runners as they race through the streets of Vergennes. Registration begins at the historic StevenÕ s House on the corner of Main and North Green streets.

The bandstand in City Park will be occupied throughout the day by several musical groups. City Park is also the site of more than 75 crafters’ and vendors’ booths offering fine handcrafts, locally made products, food and more.

Children can participate in games and face painting by the Boys and Girls Club at KidZoneas well as enjoy rides, a bounce house, and more. Also for kids, the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad and Safe Kids Addison County will be at Bixby Library to inspect and fit a limited supply of bike helmets.

Vergennes Union High School is the site of the antique vehicle, tractor and engine show, with a Ò PeopleÕ s Choice AwardÓ .

Go and see this nostalgic display and vote for your favorite.

Free horse-drawn wagon rides are available from Clay Country Farms and the Lions will be selling BBQÕ d chicken in City Park.

The RotaryÕ s Rubber Duckie Race is a tradition at the Basin. DonÕ t forget to purchase your tickets at their booth in City Park.

Also, many of the areaÕ s merchants will be offering sales and specials.

Vergennes Day is held with the support of many sponsors: American Legion Post 14, Everywear for Everybody, FooteÕ s Insurance Agency, Goodrich Corporation, National Bank of Middlebury and VHB Pioneer.A construction crew closed the runway at Middlebury State Airport briefly July 13 to begin work installing on a new, high perimeter security fence around the field.

Addison County Chamber of Commerce

August 16, 2014

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Vergennes Day - 5

Gallery is hub of Vergennes art scene

By Lou Varricchio

T

he Little City art scene, much like its namesake community, is Ò smallÓ compared to big metro areas such as Montreal and Boston, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in vision, heart, soul and vibrancy.

From the Vergennes Opera House to Creative Space Gallery, Main Street in Vergennes is the nexus between a growing number of delightful venues.

Just off Main Street, at 37 Green St., is the new Outerlands Gallery.

This contemporary downtown art gallery officially opened to the public on the first day of Vermont Open Studio Weekend 2013.

According to gallery owners Cat Cutillo and Ross Sheehan, Outerlands exhibits both local and national artists and crafters. WeÕ re sure it will be grow to become a lively, creative space in the coming months.

The gallery itself is a work of art, architecturally. ItÕ s a renovated former 19th century carriage house that looks a smidge like a colorful Provincetown bungalow. In fact, Cutillo and Sheehan describe their circa 1800s gallery as Ò a modern bungalow gallery.Ó According to the galleryÕ s own publicity, some of the spaceÕ s handcrafted furniture uses reclaimed wood from the renovation work.

Regarding their gallery, Cutillo and Sheehan should be applauded for bringing a fresh, chromatic vibe to an otherwise monochrome, typically staid downtown area.

The gallery, weÕ re told, has Ò an eclectic mix of large abstract paintings, distinctive landscapes, innovative metal sculptures, traditional blacksmithing, photography, wearable art and handcrafted furnitureÑ both in traditional and contemporary styles.Ó Kicking off the grand opening and Open Studio Weekend, Outerlands will feature the outstanding works of James Allen, Lee Beck-

with, Michelle Bova, Cat Cutillo, Jesse Emilo, Adrienne Ginter, Peter Jensen, Mark King, Seth Matarese, Todd Monaghan, Kerrin Parkinson, Kaia Porter, and the talented Shee-

hansÑ Jack, Ross, and Sam. Check It Out: Outerlands Gallery Grand Opening Reception during Vermont Open Studio Weekend will be held Saturday, May

25, 10 a.m.Ð 7:30 p.m. The gallery, located next to Antidote, is at 37 Green St. in Vergennes. For more details, call 802-870-7228 or visit the gallery website at www.outerlandsgallery.com.

The Outerlands Gallery on Green Street in Vergennes

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Mayor Adams remembered F

ormer Vergennes Mayor Richard Ò DickÓ K. Adams died Aug. 20, 2013, at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Middlebury. He was born Aug. 23, 1938, at the home of his parents, Lester (Sr.) and Beth (Davis) Adams.

Adams graduated from Stowe High School in 1956 and went on to attend UVM for two years, majoring in history. He married Alva Blanchard in 1959 and they became parents of two daughters, Heather and Alana.

While living in Stowe, Adams had an antique shop on Main Street (now the Annex) and later owned and operated a clothing store on the Mountain Road called the Three Green Doors.

At the request of Dr. and Mrs. Bottamini, through their mutual interest in antiques, Adams moved to the City of Vergennes. He fell in love with the Little City as well as with Joyce Charbonneau and they married in 1970. Joyce had two daughters, Jodi and Laura. Together, they owned and operated the Commodore Restaurant and Adams operated numerous antique ventures in Cergennes and online.

Adams liked to think of himself as an intellectual. His letterhead referred to him as a “dilettante” or lover of the fine arts. He gained a remarkable knowledge of antiques while working for Arthur J. Sussell in Philadelphia.

In his adopted hometown of Vergennes, Adams shared his knowledge and led many young men to enter the world of antiques and art. His love of antiques continued to the end. In addition, he was an active archeologist and student of native civilizations.

Perhaps more telling of AdamsÕ s personality was the generosity with which he shared his time. He mentored untold youth around the corner table at the Commodore Restaurant, often employing them and counseling them about the trials and tribulations of life. Everyone who called Adams a friend, carved his or her initials in that table.

Adams was also a public servant. He served for many years on the Bixby Library Board of Trustees volunteering countless hours and helping to organize its vast inventory of historical documents. In addition, he served for many years on the City Council in Vergennes, ultimately becoming a Democrat mayor of his the city in 1993.

Adams also represented his brothers as a member of the Board of Directors of Former Vergennes Mayor Richard “Dick” K. the George F. Adams Adams died Aug. 20, 2013, at Helen Porter Company as well as Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Middlebeing a shareholder bury. He was born Aug. 23, 1938, at the in the company. Dick home of his parents, Lester (Sr.) and Beth (Davis) Adams.

Adams touched the lives of many.

Adams was predeceased by his parents, a brother David, a sister Vickie, Joyce his wife of 40 years, stepdaughter Jodi and his first wife Alva. He leaves behind his daughter Heather LeVaggi and her son Jamie; Alana and stepdaughter Laura (Charbonneau) Fording; brothers Lester (Janet); Winford (Barbara); Kent (Phyllis) and a sister Andrea (Rich) McKnight.

August 16, 2014

A Major Leaguer from Vergennes

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alter Henry Porter (1858Ð 1906) was an American Major League Baseball player born in Vergennes who pitched for three different teams during his six year career.

Porter began his career in the short-lived Union Association for the replacement team Milwaukee Brewers. It was for this team that he struck out 18 batters in one game on Oct. 3, 1884. The 18 strikeouts in century one game by a losing pitcher stood as the 19th baseball card record until Steve Carlton surpassed it showing Verwhen he struck out 19 in one game in 1969. gennes native When the association folded followson, Brooklyn ing the season, he was picked up by the pitcher Henry Brooklyn Grays (the proto Brooklyn Dodg- Porter. ers), with whom he was their star pitcher.

In 1885, he had a record of 33 wins and 21 losses, followed up the next year with 27 wins and 19 losses.

After having a bad season in 1887, with a 15Ð 24 record, Porter was purchased by the Kansas City Cowboys for the 1888 season.

Porter didnÕ t fare much better, going 18Ð 37, leading the league in hits allowed, runs allowed, home runs allowed, and losses. VergennesÕ s favorite picthcer did have at least one shining moment that season, on June 6, 1888. Porter pitched a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles.

Like a dazzling shooting star across the night sky, PorterÕ s passing was all too brief. He died in Brockton, Mass., at the young age of 48. He rests under his own mound at Calvary Cemetery.

Vergennes on the move

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ith all of its assets, Vergennes epitomizes so much that Vermont communities statewide strive for: A strong village center surrounded by a beautiful working landscape, strong, committed community members, a dynamic and balanced downtown business sector along with manufacturing, retail, services and food businesses.

Over the last five months, the Vermont Council on Rural Development has been working with the city through a Ò Community VisitÓ process to identify and advance key priorities for action for the future of the city.

The VCRD Visiting Team of state, federal, regional and nonprofit leaders has been deeply impressed by the strength and commitment of local residents and by all that has been accomplished over the last 20 years to make this such a great place to live, work and enjoy. A strong and responsive municipal government invited and encouraged the Community Visit process.

Wonderful community institutions like the Bixby Library and the Vergennes Opera House are cornerstones of downtown vitalityÑ matched with the private sector energy of entrepreneurs who have made major contributions to revitalizing the downtown and are continuing to invest in the next stage of its development. Restaurants and shops make this the north Addison

www.addison-eagle.com County hub. Part of the excitement of the process for our team was the sense that this is a city that has great momentum and where residents, and folks from neighboring towns, are geared to working together to make it the most vital center possible.

Another part, which gives great confidence, is that the community has the resources, skills and leadership to accomplish great things. Altogether, Vergennes is an enviable community, one that represents so much of the best of Vermont.

While Community Visits are designed to help towns come together, review major issues, develop priorities and line up for action, VCRD has a couple of other goals behind these efforts. We look to build new volunteerism and encourage more local folks to get involved in moving the community forward. We want to help build the connections of the community to human, technical and funding resources from lead agencies and organizations in the state. And we want to help our Visiting Team learn more about local needs and the dynamics of the diverse towns of rural Vermont so they can better serve these communities.

It is always hard to set community priorities. Vergennes chose things that can get done, that are in the power of the community to achieve, and that will leverage momentum for the cityÕ s future.

We look forward to working with the Vergennes Task Forces as they advance the priority projects identified in the process to: • Improve Transportation, Especially for Walking and Biking,

Vergennes Day - 7 & Parking • Advance the Vergennes Economy & Expand the Community & Economic Development Capacity of the City • Redevelop the Vergennes Falls Basin & Open a Riverwalk.

The Task Forces working to advance these issues are organizing today, please support their efforts, or join them; contact Mayor Bill Benton or City Manager Mel Hawley to sign up.

With over 170 local people participating in the process and over 70 volunteers now engaged in active Task Forces to advance priorities, we know that there is great energy for real progress in Vergennes today. We also see strong, practical work plans, great leadership, and direct connections for help from the Addison County Regional Development Corporation, the Addison County Regional Planning Commission, the Agency of Commerce (especially Tourism and Marketing and Economic Development) and the Agency of Transportation. Vergennes has a map, and is on the map, to move its projects forward.

At VCRD we see people working hard to make the best future for their communities and for the next generation of Vermonters; we deeply appreciate everyone who put themselves on the line for Vergennes in this process Ð you make us proud of Vermont.

Paul Costello Executive Director Vermont Council on Rural Development

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