Brattleboro Historical Society

Brattleboro Historical Society A local organization interested in researching, preserving and sharing the history of the area.

Brattleboro Historical Society was founded in 1982 as a non-profit organization by a group of local historians and civic leaders interested in Brattleboro’s past. The Society’s mission is to collect and preserve historical artifacts, documents, photographs, and data of persons, places, and events significant to Brattleboro from its earliest days to the present, and to disseminate Brattleboro’s his

tory through research, exhibits, and interpretation of the collection for the education and enjoyment of the community. Over the years, the Society has acquired approximately 50 organs manufactured by the Estey Organ Company. Information about the company and the individuals who built the industry is available at the Society. The Society has bound volumes of local newspapers dating from 1833 to 1981 including the Daily Evening Times, the semi-weekly Eagle, the Vermont Phoenix, the Windham County Reformer, and the Brattleboro Reformer. The Society possesses an outstanding collection of over 4,000 photographs, some dating back to the mid-19th century and the early days of photography. These images capture valuable historical moments and speak to us in a manner more powerful than words alone can convey. In addition to encapsulating the photos in protective mylar sleeves, the Society has embarked on a program of digital imaging the collection for storage in the computer, thereby providing efficient and safe access to photos without disturbing the original prints.

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. Main Street.
05/28/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. Main Street.

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. Main Street.
05/27/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. Main Street.

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. The intersection of High and Main Streets.
05/26/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. The intersection of High and Main Streets.

The Hopkins family moved to Vermont in 1879. Michael Hopkins was an Irish immigrant who took a job constructing the Wes...
05/23/2026

The Hopkins family moved to Vermont in 1879. Michael Hopkins was an Irish immigrant who took a job constructing the West River Valley Railroad and brought his young family with him. The family soon settled in Brattleboro. Hopkins would work in the West Dummerston quarry for twenty years. The image shows men at work in West Dummerston. The recording below shares a bit of the Hopkins family story...
https://soundcloud.com/bratthistoricalsoc/bhs-e567-hopkins-an-immigrant

In honor of Memorial Day, Robert "Bobby" Hamblin, Vietnam War Veteran and Quartermaster of the Carl Dessaint Post 1034 V...
05/22/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, Robert "Bobby" Hamblin, Vietnam War Veteran and Quartermaster of the Carl Dessaint Post 1034 VFW, placed flags at Veterans' graves today at the Mather Road Cemetery in West Brattleboro.
Reuben Church is one of more than seventy five veterans buried in West Brattleboro. He joined Seth Warner's Green Mountain Regiment in August, 1776, when he was sixteen years old. Reuben served in the Revolutionary War until July, 1782. Church was recruited by Brattleboro's William McCune and came from a family dominated by Loyalists and Yorkers. Reuben chose a different path and rose to the rank of Lieutenant in Warner's Regiment.

Brattleboro Vermont then and now.Omega Optical on Putney Road 1934.
05/21/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now.
Omega Optical on Putney Road 1934.

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. Dunham's Footwear truck at the Fort Dummer Industrial Complex.
05/20/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now.
Dunham's Footwear truck at the Fort Dummer Industrial Complex.

Brattleboro Vermont then and now.Furgat Tractor and Equipment Putney Road 1972.
05/19/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now.
Furgat Tractor and Equipment Putney Road 1972.

In 1988 the Brattleboro Historical Society cleaned and painted an old classroom in the former High School (now Municipal...
05/16/2026

In 1988 the Brattleboro Historical Society cleaned and painted an old classroom in the former High School (now Municipal Center) and moved in to create our Research Room. It is now full of documents, photo files, artifact boxes and thousands of local items donated to the Society. It has been our home for 38 years.
The top image comes from 1988 and shows the room just as the Society began moving in. The bottom image shows the room today...with volunteers Carol Farrington and Laura Bloch...
The recording link below shares a brief history of the first Historical Society Board and tells plans for our latest project, displaying items from our collection. We plan to place displays in the Municipal Center hallways that share the local history of the area and stories of some of the people, places and events that make up Brattleboro's past. Click the link below to hear our plans...
https://soundcloud.com/bratthistoricalsoc/bhs-e566-municipal-center

Brattleboro Vermont then and now. Howard Johnson's/Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza Putney Road.
05/13/2026

Brattleboro Vermont then and now.
Howard Johnson's/Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza Putney Road.

The Grand Stand at Valley Fair...the stands were first constructed in 1887. They originally accommodated approximately ...
05/13/2026

The Grand Stand at Valley Fair...the stands were first constructed in 1887. They originally accommodated approximately 2000 people and were 200 feet by 30 feet. A slate roof was built over the stands. Under the stands were two dining rooms with kitchens at each end. In 1895 the stands were enlarged to add about 1000 more seats. In 1904 local contractors, Holden and Martin, were hired to enlarge the grand stand again. The total length was 300 feet and about 4500 spectators could fit into the stands to watch races and performances at the Fairgrounds. A reserved seating section, with a separate entrance was added to the structure. The Fair stopped operating in 1931.
A section of the old grand stand was dismantled and moved behind the newly laid-out baseball field in 1940. A fire in 1946 destroyed the baseball grand stand and, in 1947, the present steel and concrete grand stand was built by the school district. Recently the refurbished baseball grand stand has been re-opened to the public.

Address

230 Main Street Ste 301
Brattleboro, VT
05301

Opening Hours

10am - 12pm

Telephone

(802) 258-4957

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Brattleboro Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Brattleboro Historical Society:

Shortcuts

Share

Category