History of the Dummerston Historical Society

By Chuck Fish

In Dummerston: An ‘Equivalent Lands’ Town, 1753-1986, we read that the Historical Society was founded in 1976 as an inspired transformation of the Dummerston Bicentennial Commission. The Commission’s work was “so stimulating that it sparked a genuine interest in the history of our town.” Interest grew and later led to the Society’s publication of this book.

We are immediately introduced to several names: lawyer Garvan Murtha and the first officers including president Richard Virkstis, vicepresident Harrison Evans, secretary Shirley Annan, treasurer Clarence Harding, and later presidents Susan Miller and John Houghton. The editors of the book were Alice Crosby Loomis and Frances Walker Manix. A special tribute is paid to Freda Carpenter who “spent many hours, days, and years, searching every ‘nook and cranny’” for relevant information.

We are reminded that the history of this society, like that of many other small-town volunteer groups, is as much a story of the people as of the organization. People come together to enjoy the company, to exercise some skill, to compete, to laugh a little or a lot, to help and be helped, and to show their love for the town. They are accumulating so-called social capital, those habits of trust and cooperation that make local democratic self-government possible. Peeling apples for the Apple Pie Festival or playing cribbage at the Community Center is a pre-political act.

The Dummerston Historical Society is a classic example of a small-town volunteer organization. Devoted to preserving traces of the past and fostering interest in town history, it has maintained and improved the Center School, managed a growing archive and collection of artifacts, produced exhibits, and promoted talks, walks, and special events.

In the 1970s the Center School sat by the road across from the town common and served as the town garage. In the mid-late 1970s,

Sponsors

Bruce & Catie Berg

Gail & Lew Sorenson

David & Nina Hutchison

Kevin & Sara Ryan

John & Sheila Pinkney under general contractor Gordon Evans, the town built the present garage and town office buildings. It gave the School to the Society in 1978 and moved it to its present location on town land. Over time, with various funding sources, the building was rehabbed to much of its present form. The first meeting was held there in 1981. The Society leases the land for one dollar per year. In 2015 with the sale of some of Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker’s memorabilia donated by his son Sam, the Society built the Bunker Room addition. Generous help from individuals and the town, including a grant voted at town meeting and the current ARPA funds, has made possible many improvements such as gallery lighting, insulation, moisture protection, structural repair, and a heat pump. The building is in its best shape ever, good for many years.

The Society’s archive holds a great variety of documents including books, genealogies, military and postal records, town reports, maps, cellar hole identification, correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, and memoirs. Among the books are forty-four volumes of the medical library of Dr. Grace Burnett, Dummerston native and Brattleboro’s first woman physician.

Some items in the collection have led to exhibits. There is a large photo archive, pictures from both long ago and recent times. Among the exhibits now kept in albums are photos of houses, West Dummerston, Center and East Dummerston, selections from Dr. Burnett’s family albums, and the current Faces of Dummerston. Other exhibits included antique motorcycles, authors and their books, and art works by and about Dummerston. A major display for local artisans is planned for this fall. The Society is especially interested in preserving activities of today, which will be the history of the future.

2024 Scenes of Dummerston Calendar On Sale Soon

Make sure to get yours early at the town office or

Talks, walks, and special events have dealt with a wide variety of subjects. In 2003 the Society organized a major celebration of the 250th anniversary of the town. Former pilots spoke of flying out of “Dummerston International Airport,” the field on the former Moore farm. Audiences have heard about the challenges of running a CSA, the art of dry stone walling, town pounds, the history of the West River Railroad, Rudyard Kipling’s time in Dummerston and Brattleboro, Native American life in Dummerston and nearby, and school life in the days of the one-room schools, including the Center School. During COVID, Zoom talks were viewed by large audiences here and beyond. On Society Walkabouts people have visited the quarry, old cemeteries, cellar holes, and other places of historical importance.

Three things drive the success of the Society: public interest, financial support, and volunteer effort. Society programs have consistently drawn people who have been welcome whether members or not. Generous funding has been mentioned, but continuing support through memberships and other means will always be necessary. And the Society directors are pleased to announce that new volunteers are bringing fresh energy to the Society’s mission.

Sponsors

Rip Lhamon & Fita Ferguson

Jo-Ann Tier

Tim Knapp & John Bouffard

Linda Rood

Town Meeting, in person, is the only opportunity we have to discuss in real time and amend the budget or any other article that the Selectboard has presented. If we give up meeting in person and move to voting everything by Australian ballot, we lose that power. In the past, this has been a very important aspect of our small town democracy. We have already lost that power with our school, and we should think very carefully before we relinquish it for our town affairs.

We have not yet tried alternative meeting times. We should consider meeting on a Saturday, in the evening, or in hybrid form before we do away with any meeting at all.

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“. . . . the option of Australian Ballots would allow more participation

Linda Hellus

I heartily agree with Zeke’s assessment of town meeting change. He has the background in and judgement of community service and we would be wise to heed his opinions. So much has changed over the years which can be hard to accept; but the option of Australian Ballots would allow more participation of local taxpayers. We have not yet tried alternative meeting times.

to Feature Town Artists

continued from page 1 some artists; others are “closet” artists who may be new to you, but are pleased to have this opportunity to display their work.

Be prepared to see oil and water color paintings, jewelry, wood carvings, weavings, photographs, fiber art, leather works, sculptures, and pottery. You get the idea—a wonderful variety of creations from Dummerston residents.

The opening reception will be at the Dummerston Historical Society in Dummerston Center, August 13, from 2–4 p.m, The exhibit will continue to be open Sunday afternoons, 2–4 p.m. through October 8 (Apple Pie Festival) and other arrangements can be made by contacting Gail. All are invited, admission is free, and the Society Schoolhouse is handicapped accessible, Questions: call or email Gail Sorenson, 802-254-9311, gailsvt@gmail.com.

Hope to see you at the exhibit!

In May a special Town meeting was called by the selectboard to approve adding an additional $100,000 to the previously approved $500,000 for a new fire truck for our West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department. The initial amount was approved by town voters by Australian ballot in March, as there was no in-person annual town meeting.