Vermont Humanities Events
Lamoille
June 4 — A Sense of Place: Vermont's Farm Legacy. The character of a place is shaped by its cultural heritage and folklife, the informal traditions of family and community that guide the ways in which a person plans a meal, treats a neighbor, or understands civic responsibility. In Vermont the cultural legacy of farming has strongly influenced the identity of Vermonters, and it is these distinctive traditions, which have persisted even with the decline in farm numbers, that help make the state unique. This lecture by Gregory Sharrow explores the fabric of farm culture in the past and probes its relationship to the world of Vermont today. Hosted by the Morristown Centennial Library. Morrisville, Morristown Centennial Library, 6:30 pm. Scott McLaughlin, (802) 888-7617.
August 14 — The Roaring '20s in Fox Trot Tempo. Perhaps more than any other decade, the history of the 1920s is captured in the popular music of the day. From Lindbergh to Ford's Model A, from the Scopes Trial to the Florida land boom and the crossword puzzle craze, the music of the 1920s tells the story. This lecture by Martin Bryan traces historical events, from the sublime to the ridiculous, and illustrates them with archival recordings. (Lecture can be tied in with Frederick Allen's Only Yesterday.) Hosted by the Morristown Centennial Library. Morrisville, Morristown Centennial Library, 7 Richmond St, 7:00 pm. Scott McLaughlin, (802) 888-7617.
Orange
May 8 — The Irish "Wave" in the Green Mountains. Beginning in the late 1840s and lasting through the 1860s, thousands of Irish immigrants, escaping the potato famine in their homeland, settled in Vermont. They arrived in the Green Mountain State just as Vermont was undergoing a mini industrial revolution—a revolution based on railroad construction, the quarrying of slate and marble, and on textile production. Vince Feeney, author of the recently published history of the Irish in Vermont, Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers, tells the little-known story of the impact of Irish immigrants on Vermont life in the middle of the nineteenth century. Hosted by the Bradford Historical Society. Bradford Academy, 172 North Main Street, 6:45 pm. Lawrence Coffin, (802) 222-4423.
May 21 — Vermont History through Song. Singer and researcher Linda Radtke, joined by pianist Arthur Zorn, brings Vermont history to life with engaging commentary about the songs found in the Vermont Historical Society's collection of sheet music. Dressed in period costume, Ms. Radtke takes listeners through state history, using the songs Vermonters published in their communities. Hosted by the Williamstown Historical Society. Williamstown, The Gardens at Williamstown Square, Dining Room, 2844 Vt Route 14, 6:30 pm. Mary Norman, (802) 433-1600.
June 5 — Book Discussion: The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald. Part of the The Romantic Ideal series. The characters in these works seek out their ideal of love, happiness, and fulfillment with consequences that are by turns bittersweet, tragic, noble, unconventional, and even comic. But can an ideal ever be met? Led by John R Turner. Hosted by the Kimball Public Library. Randolph, Kimball Public Library, 67 N Main St, 7:00 pm. Lynne Gately, (802) 728-5073.
June 9 — Vermont History through Song. Singer and researcher Linda Radtke, joined by pianist Arthur Zorn, brings Vermont history to life with engaging commentary about the songs found in the Vermont Historical Society's collection of sheet music. Dressed in period costume, Ms. Radtke takes listeners through state history, using the songs Vermonters published in their communities. Part of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation's "Vermont Days" weekend Hosted by the Friends of the Morrill Homestead. Strafford, Justin Smith Morrill Homestead, Main House, 214 Morrill Memorial Hwy, 3:00 pm. Michael Caduto, (802) 765-4288.
June 15 — An Apprentice Boat Builder in Japan. When people think about Japan, they often think of manga and anime, busy urban centers, and an economy based on innovations in electronics. People may not know of a “second Japan,” with a rich history of traditional arts and crafts, many of which are fast disappearing as modernization has broken down the traditional apprentice system. Since 1996, writer and researcher Douglas Brooks has apprenticed with four boat builders in Japan, building five types of Japanese boats. In this slide talk he shares his experiences with these traditional crafts. Hosted by the Blake Memorial Library. East Corinth, Blake Memorial Library, 676 Village Rd, 7:00 pm. Ken Linge, (802) 439-5338.
June 26 — Book Discussion: Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert. Part of the The Romantic Ideal series. The characters in these works seek out their ideal of love, happiness, and fulfillment with consequences that are by turns bittersweet, tragic, noble, unconventional, and even comic. But can an ideal ever be met? Led by Gina Logan. Hosted by the Kimball Public Library. Randolph, Kimball Public Library, 67 N Main St, 7:00 pm. Lynne Gately, (802) 728-5073.
July 17 — Book Discussion: Summer by Edith Wharton. Part of the The Romantic Ideal series. The characters in these works seek out their ideal of love, happiness, and fulfillment with consequences that are by turns bittersweet, tragic, noble, unconventional, and even comic. But can an ideal ever be met? Led by Suzanne H Brown. Hosted by the Kimball Public Library. Randolph, Kimball Public Library, 67 N Main St, 7:00 pm. Lynne Gately, (802) 728-5073.
August 14 — Book Discussion: Mating by Norman Rush. Part of the The Romantic Ideal series. The characters in these works seek out their ideal of love, happiness, and fulfillment with consequences that are by turns bittersweet, tragic, noble, unconventional, and even comic. But can an ideal ever be met? Led by Patricia S Norton. Hosted by the Kimball Public Library. Randolph, Kimball Public Library, 67 N Main St, 7:00 pm. Lynne Gately, (802) 728-5073.
September 4 — Book Discussion: Later Life by A.R. Gurney. Part of the The Romantic Ideal series. The characters in these works seek out their ideal of love, happiness, and fulfillment with consequences that are by turns bittersweet, tragic, noble, unconventional, and even comic. But can an ideal ever be met? Led by Jim Schley. Hosted by the Kimball Public Library. Randolph, Kimball Public Library, 67 N Main St, 7:00 pm. Lynne Gately, (802) 728-5073.
Orleans
May 15 — The Allen Brothers: Original Vermont Developers. Little has been said about Ethan and Ira Allen's activities as real estate developers. This presentation by Vincent Feeney explains the importance of real estate speculation in the colonies on the eve of the Revolution, how the grants system functioned in theory and in practice, how the Allens acquired thousands of acres in Vermont with little cash, how American independence ruined their real estate empire, and how Ira sought to recoup his fortune in schemes inimical to United States interests. Hosted by the Lowell Historical Society. Lowell School, 52 Gelo Park Rd, 7:00 pm. Sam Thurston, (802) 744-6859.
June 12 — The Vermont Civil War Songbook. Dressed in period costume, singer/researcher Linda Radtke shares songs from Vermont during the Civil War period, with engaging commentary and letters from Vermont soldiers. Seldom-heard songs from the Vermont Historical Society include the comic but poignant "Grafted into the Army," "Yankee Robinson at Bull Run," "Neath the Pines of Vermont" (in which a soldier returns home to die), a satirical song about Jefferson Davis, and sentimental ballads from Vermont during the period. Linda Radtke is joined by pianist Arthur Zorn in this program for all audiences that brings the Civil War period in Vermont to life through music and letters. Hosted by the Northeast Kingdom Civil War Roundtable. Newport, Eastside Restaurant, 47 Landing St, 7:00 pm. Tyler Alexander, (802) 881-2568.
August 18 — Inventive Vermonters: A Sampling of Farm Tools and Implements. Vermonters have always been inventive, especially when it comes to agricultural innovations. Time- and labor-saving inventions that ease the hard work of farming have always been important in our rural, agricultural state. In this illustrated lecture, retired engineer Paul Wood presents a sampling of farm tools, implements, and artifacts invented or produced in Vermont, examining their use, uniqueness of design, and the often fascinating stories of the inventors themselves. Hosted by the Orleans County Historical Society. Brownington, Old Stone House Museum, 109 Old Stone House Rd, 1:00 pm. Reba Korban, (802) 754-2022.