Chittenden County Historical Society

06/10/2026

THIS FRIDAY--JUNE 12, 10 AM: THE BOOK LAUNCH PARTY! HOSTED BY LEAHY BTV & CCHS CELEBRATING THE PUBLICATION OF “BURLINGTON AIRPORT: THE FIRST 25 YEARS”

Hear part of the remarkable story of Harold and Grace Pugh and the building of the Burlington Airport, compiled and edited by Lucy McCullough, their daughter. At the Old Admin Building, now occupied by Heritage Aviation, the first right off Route 2, just before Eldridge Cemetery.

Free. Open to the Public. Plenty of parking. Books on Sale.

Photo: Burlington's First Couple of Aviation--Grace and Harold Pugh. Back cover.

06/05/2026

MALLETTS BAY ITALIAN IMMIGRANT FARMING COMMUNITY TO BE HONORED WITH AN HISTORIC MARKER ON SATURDAY, JUNE 13, AT 10 AM. ACROSS FROM THE FORMER BRIGANTE'S FRUIT & VEGETABLE STAND

The Colchester Vermont Historical Society in partnership with the Vermont Italian Cultural Association will dedicate a new historic marker honoring the legacy and contributions of Italian immigrant families who settled in Colchester and built a thriving farming community.

Well known garden expert Charlie Nardozzi will be the master of ceremonies. The historic marker recognizes the Brigante, Mazza, Lomartire, and Leo families, Italian immigrants and first-generation Vermonters who arrived in the region between 1902 and 1913. Upon settling in the Malletts Bay area, these families cleared more than 500 acres of land to establish what would become one of the largest fruit and vegetable growing regions in Vermont.

When: Saturday, June 13, 8 am
Where: 682 Malletts Bay Avenue. Across the street from the former Brigante's fruit and vegetable stand.

Free. Open to the public.

Photo: The Historic Marker. From the Vermont Italian Cultural Association, https://www.vermontitalianculturalassociation.org/

06/04/2026

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY! HOSTED BY LEAHY BTV & CCHS
CELEBRATING THE PUBLICATION OF “BURLINGTON AIRPORT:
THE FIRST 25 YEARS” BY GRACE PUGH

Join us next Friday, June 12, 10 am, at the old Admin Building of Burlington Airport, the first right off Rte. 2, before the Eldridge Cemetery (1130 Airport Parkway, now home of Heritage Aviation). Hear tidbits of the remarkable story of Harold and Grace Pugh and the building of the airport, compiled and edited by Lucy McCullough, their daughter. More details & surprises to come. Books on sale. (Grace was Vermont’s first licensed female pilot!)

Open to the Public. Plenty of parking.

05/29/2026

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS ON VERMONT COMMUNITY IMMMIGRATION. HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND?

Last year, the Vermont Historical Society Partnered with the Lost Mural Project (https://www.lostmural.org/grants-2) to award Community Immigration History Grants, each in the amount of $500 for projects that focus on such activities as exhibits, publications, talks/presentations, videos, oral histories, student projects and digital collections.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND VERMONT MUNICIPALITIES ARE ELIGIBLE.

All final grant productions will be shown on the Lost Mural Project website at www.lostmural.org.

Go to the Lost Mural Project site for details and an application link.

Photo: From the Lost Mural Project Website.

05/27/2026

ATTETNTION VERMONT HISTORY AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS: MAY 31st IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR SPOTLIGHT VERMONT 250! EMAIL Angie at [email protected]. NOW!

Don't miss out on this fun day to showcase your organization at SPOTLIGHT VERMONT 25O. Provide an interactive activity to show the history of Vermont in action. Bring your cultural contributions to life. A wide variety of non profits have already signed up. Music. Food. All in City Hall Park. Sponsored by the Chittenden County Historical Society, the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, and the City of Burlington.

05/18/2026

Attention Vermont History & Cultural Organizations. The CCHS, together with Ethan Allen Homestead Museum and the City of Burlington, is sponsoring a fun-filled event in City Hall park, July 11, 11-2 pm, to celebrate the Sesquicentennial. Music. Food trucks. And more. Come share an activity with your fellow Vermonters. Registration deadline is May 31. Email Angie at [email protected].

05/03/2026

NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE: ELIZABETHAN ALLEN'S PRESENTATION ON "VICTORIAN ADVERTISING & THE WELLS RICHARDSON CO'S DIAMOND DYES." ALSO, ON MAY 6TH, HEAR ALLEN ON HER NEW BOOK--"DANGEROUS CHARACTERS."

Just click the link for the video of Elizabeth Allen's fun-filled presentation into the late 19th century advertising world of bright colors, dubious claims, wild testimonials, and clever gimmicks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_OPsoa76FE

Her talk focuses on the Burlington-based Wells Richardson Company and its ads for Diamond Dyes from the late 1880s through the early 1900s. She discusses a a wide range of advertising vehicles from the use of almanacs, how to books, and hold-to-light trade cards to paper dolls, nursery rhymes, and coloring books.
UPCOMING: If you're interested in hearing more about local history, true crime, or outrageous people, come hear Allen talk about her new book, "Dangerous Characters: The Life and Crimes of WIlliston's Notorious Outlaw Duo" at Phoenix Books Burlington.

This non-fiction book tells the wild true story of Delia and Charlie Potter, two Civil-War-era ne'er-do-wells who were [allegedly] involved in everything from bootlegging to counterfeiting to poisoning horses and murdering Delia's adoptive mother. Perfect for fans of local history and/or true crime! For details, go to:
https://phoenixbooks.biz/event/2026-05-06/dangerous-characters-conversation-elizabeth-allen

The event is May 6, 7-8:30 PM, at Phoenix Books Burlington on 89 Church Street.

You can also access Allen's CCHS talk and all of the CCHS recent presentations at: https://www.cctv.org/search/node/cchs. Thanks to Town Meeting TV and the Center for Media and Democracy for making these presentations available to the public.

Proudly independent, Phoenix Books serves book lovers of VT in Essex, Burlington, and Rutland. Let us help you find your new favorite book!

04/25/2026

DON'T MISS OUT! TOMORROW, "SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 1:30 pm: VICTORIAN ADVERTISING & THE WELLS RICHARDSON CO'S DIAMOND DYES" AT THE South Burlington Public Library

Always entertaining and known for her talks filled with fun facts and illustrations, Elizabeth Allen is going to take us on a journey into a world of bright colors, dubious claims, wild testimonials, and clever gimmicks.

Almanacs, how to books, hold-to-light trade cards, paper dolls, nursery rhyme, coloring books--come see it all and learn about the early days of mass marketing and consumer culture. Some things have changed; some remain the same.

Allen will focus her talk on the Burlington-based Wells Richardson Company and its ads for Diamond Dyes from the late 1880s through the early 1900s.

When: April 26, 1:30 pm
Where The South Burlington Public Library, 180 Market Street
Plenty of Parking. FREE. Open to the Public.
Illustration: Private Collection, Public Domain.

04/22/2026

THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 1:30 pm: VICTORIAN ADVERTISING & THE WELLS RICHARDSON CO'S DIAMOND DYES. AT THE South Burlington Public Library

Learn about Victorian advertising with this picture-filled presentation. Concentrating on the Burlington-based Wells Richardson Company and its ads for Diamond Dyes from the late 1880s through the early 1900s. Elizabeth Allen will take you back to a world of bright colors, dubious claims, wild testimonials, and clever gimmicks.

Almanacs, how to books, hold-to-light trade cards, paper dolls, nursery rhyme, coloring books--come see it all and learn about the early days of mass marketing and consumer culture. Some things have changed; some remain the same.

When: April 26, 1:30 pm
Where The South Burlington Public Library, 180 Market Street
Plenty of Parking. FREE. Open to the Public.

Photo: Private Collection, Public Domain.

04/20/2026

REMINDER: EIZABETH ALLEN'S FUN-FILLED, PICTURE TOUR OF VICTORIAN ADVERTISING & THE WELLS RICHARDSON CO'S DIAMOND DYES, SUNDAY, APRIL 26 AT 1:30 PM AT THE South Burlington Public Library

Plenty of Parking. FREE. Open to the Public. The South Burlington Public Library is located at 180 Market Street.