New Book Releases

How did Stowe become the ski capital of the East? From the beginning, the community of Stowe has made the most of its natural setting-Mount Mansfield, the forests and fields, the clear mountain streams and fine air-to carve out an appealing, enduring, distinctively New England style of life. That appeal is beautifully presented in Images of America: Stowe. This book combines historical images with detailed narrative to document life in rural Stowe from the 1870s through its emergence as an unrivaled tourist and recreation center in the middle of the 20th century. Beyond their own appeal, the images describe how Stowe has managed to change with the times yet maintain its inviting character and amenities. Images of America: Stowe contains scenes from stereo views, photographs, and postcards. It shows the working side of Stowe: industries that involved logging, sawmills, farming, maple sugaring, and tourism. It also shows the more leisurely side of Stowe: the Lake Mansfield Trout Club, the Trapp Family Music Camp, hiking, skiing, Old Home Day parades, and school activities.

An interesting history of Colchester, one of Vermont's oldest and largest communities.

Chartered in 1763 and rumored to be one of Vermont's best-kept secrets, Colchester is among the state's oldest and largest communities, with twenty-seven miles of shoreline on Lake Champlain. Colchester's spirit reflects the bustling industrial activity of Winooski Falls and the agrarian roots of its pioneers. Ethan and Ira Allen were notable early residents, as was the flamboyant Captain Mallett, after whom Lake Champlain's largest bay is named. Colchester is divided into five distinct geographic parts-Colchester Village, Malletts Bay, Clay Point, Fort Ethan Allen, and Winooski (the urban village that would separate from Colchester in 1922)-and includes many images of the glorious lake that continues to influence the town's character.

Since 1800, the University of Vermont has pursued a progressive mission of enlightening individuals and, through them, society.

When university president Daniel Sanders welcomed the first class of students into the school, he envisioned the college as a "temple of knowledge.'? Balanced against the demands of national development, cultural change, and increased emphasis on academic specialization, UVM has seen generations of students who are intellectually curious and utilize their education into the practical needs of society.University of Vermonttells the story of the students, curriculum, and campus through a unique collection of drawings, paintings, and photographs, many of which are published here for the first time.

Pictorial history of beautiful Lake Champlain from one end to the other...highlighting nature and recreation along with commerce and trade.

Nestled between the Adirondacks of New York and Vermont's Green Mountains, Lake Champlain offers 120 miles of tranquil beauty with a rich, bustling history. Picturesque waterfront communities established in the 18th century recall the era when the Champlain Valley's natural resources--iron, lumber, granite, marble, and potash--were shipped to distant ports on lake sloops and schooners. By the early 19th century, Lake Champlain was connected with the canals of New York and Quebec, and the resulting economic boom lasted for 100 years. Apples, hay, bricks, and finished goods were shipped on thousands of workaday canal boats that were also floating family homes. Massive steamboats carried travelers and tourists drawn to the fresh country air, and lakefront camps sprang up everywhere. Automobiles traveled over Lake Champlain on ferries and bridges. Through stunning historical images from the archives of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and other regional collections, Lake Champlain tells the story of this busy commercial corridor and pastoral recreational destination.

Family stories are a part of oral history. They are told to inform younger generations about events heretofore not recorded. Brattleboro Remembers is a collection of such stories accompanied by the rich assortment of historical photographs that stirred these memories of earlier days in the southeastern corner of Vermont.

Brattleboro Remembers emerged as a result of writing workshops sponsored by the Brattleboro Historical Society and made possible by a grant from the Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont. The workshops, facilitated by poet and writing partner Verandah Porche, took place on winter Sunday afternoons. The walls of the room in which the group met were covered with copies of historical photographs. The workshop participants, most of whom still live in Brattleboro, selected photographs that brought back strong recollections. After studying an image, they wrote autobiographical pieces based on what came to mind. For those shy about putting pen to paper, volunteer scribes were on hand to listen to the stories and help the participants get their reminiscences down on paper.

A bustling lumber and trading port on the shores of Lake Champlain founded by Ethan and Ira Allen in the 1780s became the city of Burlington in 1865. With a current population of almost 43,000 residents, Burlington is still Vermont's "Queen City," consistently nationally ranked for quality of life and as a great place to both raise a family and to retire. It is not just the beautiful scenery and endlessly interesting weather that makes Burlington desirable but also the amazing people and businesses of Burlington that make it unique. Burlington is the hometown of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream; Horatio Nelson Jackson, the first man to drive an automobile across the continental United States; the Lake Champlain Chocolate Company; first lady Grace Coolidge; the Vermont Pub & Brewery, one of the nation's first brewpubs; philosopher and educator John Dewey; the world-renowned jam band Phish; a small army of accomplished and eclectic artists; and more interesting coffee and tea shops than almost any other small city in the country.

In 1765, pioneers spent their first long winter on the banks of the Connecticut River in the section of wilderness that would become the town of Norwich, Vermont. These settlers and their families fought hard to turn the rough terrain into a thriving farming and manufacturing community that would soon boast 20 school districts and a prominent military academy. Although winters were harsh and the demands of daily chores were never ending, the residents of
Norwich still found time to lead full and varied lives. The manufacturing and military communities are gone now, but that fascinating past will come alive in these remarkable images of Norwich families at work and at play.

Although Springfield was chartered in 1761, residents did not begin taking advantage of the waterpower on the Black River until the 1800s. Once dams were built to harness the water, mills and factories followed. Innovation could not be stopped, and for the next 150 years one invention or improvement after another emerged from this little town. Things like the spring clothespin and sandpaper were invented in Springfield as well as world-famous tool-making machines such as the turret lathe and gear shaping and grinding machines. Improvements were also made to textile-processing machinery. A combination of the right people at the right place and time allowed Springfield, the "little town that did," to transform from an agrarian and mill town to the home of a world-renowned machine tool industry.

Orleans County is a quiet, rural county in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. In the late 18th and early 19th century, southern New England settlers moved north to the hills and valleys where the Native American Abenaki had long resided. Life in Orleans County was hard and isolated, with travel often curtailed by intense winter weather and deep spring mud. But instead of leaving the beautiful land, the people made their own civilization and settled into country life. Images of America: Orleans County highlights the men and women who farmed the land and took part in the growth of industry. Historic photographs portray the county's evolution as the number of farms decreased and factory work increased, transportation progressed from wagon and sleigh to the automobile and railroad, and agriculture moved from horse-powered equipment to gas-powered tractors.

Many years after Jesse Welden became the first permanent settler in St. Albans, the town was the site of the northernmost raid by Confederate Civil War soldiers in 1864. St. Albans went on to earn fame as the "Railroad City." Over the years, the commercial base in St. Albans grew, many churches and schools were founded, and there was a sharp increase in population. Because of these many changes, St. Albans transformed from an agricultural community dependent upon Lake Champlain for transportation to the seat of Franklin County.

Bennington is the oldest incorporated town in Vermont, and the area is one of the most historic parts of the state. The well-known story of Bennington's early days includes tales of the Battle of Bennington and the adventures of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. Bennington carries the story of this community forward into the twentieth century. It pictures the town's development as a producer of textiles, paper, and a wide array of goods, including the town's famous pottery. At the same time, the area has remained a picturesque region that attracts artists, poets, and summer visitors.

Bennington explores the scenic town with more than two hundred vintage photographs from the Bennington Museum and private collections, many of which have never before been published. The area's growth and diversity are evident in views of the changing architecture, transportation, and recreational activities. Victorian estates of industrialists offset the row houses of the mid-1800s mill workers. The family horse is replaced by the trolley and then by the motor car, such as the Martin Wasp. Bennington tells a story that reveals the rich character of this historic Vermont town.