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During America's golden age of railroading, it was the smaller branch lines that were the most beloved by the people they served. Such was the case of Vermont's Woodstock Railroad, which faithfully served the daily needs of the local populace--farmers, mill owners, carpenters and general store proprietors. From 1875 to 1933, the line provided a vital link between the communities of White River Junction, Quechee and Woodstock. Local families such as the Deweys, Billingses and Williamses led the development of the railroad and contributed greatly to the local economy. Local author and historian Frank J. Barrett Jr. recounts the story of that proud line, its construction, daily operations, growth, triumphs and eventual demise.

Many believe that support for the abolition of slavery was universally accepted in Vermont, but it was actually a fiercely divisive issue that rocked the Green Mountain State. In the midst of turbulence and violence, though, some brave Vermonters helped fight for the freedom of their enslaved Southern brethren. Thaddeus Stevens--one of abolition's most outspoken advocates--was a Vermont native. Delia Webster, the first woman arrested for aiding a fugitive slave, was also a Vermonter. The Rokeby house in Ferrisburgh was a busy Underground Railroad station for decades. Peacham's Oliver Johnson worked closely with William Lloyd Garrison during the abolition movement. Discover the stories of these and others in Vermont who risked their own lives to help more than four thousand slaves to freedom.