-A Vermont historic marker at the Floating Bridge in Brookfield was installed in 2015. Photo by Erica Houskeeper 

15 New Historic Site Markers

The 15 new roadside historic markers recognize Vermont’s contributions to rebellions and wars, outdoors recreation, economic identity and education.

“The Vermont Roadside Historic Site Markers provide summaries of history worth remembering,” said State Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann in a recent press release. “The markers are sharing history that has often been overlooked or forgotten, stories important to our understanding and respect of the past.”

-A new sign installed at the entrance of the Burlington Country Club on South Prospect Street. Photo by Erica Houskeeper

New signs to be installed in 2025 include: 

• Revolutionary War hero Col. Seth Warner in Bennington
• Lt. Col. Udney Hay of Underhill, Revolutionary War hero and State Legislator
• Grand Army of the Republic in Cambridge, recognizing the 1937 designation of VT Route 15 to honor those who fought in the Civil War
• Leonard Lord of Swanton, the first Vermonter killed in action during World War I
• Prosper Ski Lodge in Woodstock, started in 1936 by farmer Rupert Lewis
• Long Trail Lodge in Killington, the 1923 lodge through which the Long Trail once traveled
• Burlington Country Club, the only Vermont club by designer Donald J. Ross, and its predecessor, Waubanakee Golf Club
• Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, New England’s fastest dirt track
• Bag Balm, manufactured in Lyndonville since 1908
• The Vermont Country Store in Weston, founded by Vrest and Mildred Orton in 1945
• Village of Pittsford Mills and covered bridge builder Nichols M. Powers of Pittsford
• Newton Academy, Vermont’s first private boarding academy that became Shoreham High School
• The Old Mill of Shaftsbury where the carpenter’s square was produced in 1823
• Sylvia and Charity, a same-sex couple in Early America living in Weybridge
• Ralph Waldo Ellison, author of Invisible Man, which was penned while he was visiting Fayston

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A Vermont historic marker in Arlington for author Dorothy Canfield Fisher.  -Photo by Erica Houskeeper 

Vermont Historic Markers: Places of Interest, People to Remember

The state’s Roadside Historic Site Marker Program began with the legislature’s 1947 establishment of the Historic Sites Commission, now the Division for Historic Preservation.

Ever since the historic marker program started, Vermont’s green and gold plaques have been made by Sewah Studios foundry in Ohio. The first Vermont markers were installed in 1949 at several locations, including The Long Trail parking lot on Route 2 in Bolton, as well as Mount Independence and Hubbardton Battlefield.

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But the historic marker program isn’t just about history or places of interest. The markers also showcase Vermont people, including globe maker James Wilson, educator, minister, and politician Alexander Twilight, former first lady Grace Goodhue Coolidge, author Dorothy Canfield Fisher and President Calvin Coolidge.

“The markers highlight history, places and people that are not commonly apparent. They provide a spotlight into a building or someone’s story, which sparks interest,” said Trieschmann in a 2021 Happy Vermont interview.

Some signs mark tragic events and deaths. A marker at Huntington Gorge in Richmond lists names of people who died there between 1950 and 1994. In Hartford, a marker stands near the site of an 1887 train crash that killed 30 people.

-A marker lists deaths at Huntington Gorge. Courtesy photo / UVM Landscape Change Program

From Winhall to Glover and Beyond

While Vermont has more than 330 markers, states like Virginia and Pennsylvania have over 2,500. Still, while traveling around Vermont, there’s no shortage of markers to come across.

At the corner of Taylor Hill Road and Stone Cabin Road in Winhall is a marker for activists Scott and Helen Nearing. On Route 30, there’s one for the Dorset Quarry, the first marble quarry in the nation.

On Route 65 in Brookfield, a marker stands for The Floating Bridge, the only bridge of its kind in Vermont. In Glover, there’s a sign for Runaway Pond, where two billion gallons of water drained from the pond in 90 minutes and traveled north, filling Lake Memphremagog in 1810.

In Winhall, a roadside marker honors Scott and Helen Knothe Nearing, who were influential in the Back to the Land movement. Photo by Erica Houskeeper

When I asked Trieschmann back in 2021 to share a marker location with an offbeat backstory, it was challenging to name just one.

–The marker for “Fisk Trophy Race of 1937 and the Longest Running Alpine Ski Race Held at Once Location in the United States” is located at the top of Saskadena Six in South Pomfret so skiers can easily see it. “This is an unusual location for us,” Trieschmann said.

–The first marker recognizing LGBTQ was placed on the lawn of the State House in Montpelier next to the State Supreme Court to commemorate Vermont equality for same-sex couples. “There was great support for the production and location of this marker, which has resulted in other LGBTQ themed markers,” she said.

–The first bilingual marker was the “First International Ice Hockey Game” in Burlington. One side is English and the other side is translated into French.

–One Vermont historic marker stands in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which is exceptionally rare, Trieschmann said. The marker highlights the actions of Vermonters at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

Learn more about Vermont historic markers

Where in Vermont? Test Your Knowledge of Vermont Geography

The answer to last week’s quiz is Monkton.

Winners
Bridget Brennan
Sue Cook
Marcy Wilson
Doug Bovey

Of note: My July 4th post published a couple of weeks ago turned out to be very popular on Google this week. A few more answers to the Vergennes quiz trickled in. Congrats to Wayne Suddaby, Susan April, Robert Mesaros and Karl Riemer!

Can you name the town in the photo below? Share your answer by commenting below (be sure to give your name) or email me at [email protected].

Winners will be mentioned in an upcoming email. Thanks for playing!

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