Monkton Museum and Historical Society

05/11/2026

Annual Meeting of Monkton Museum and Historical Society Monday May 18th at 7:00 in the Community Room at the Town Hall. Members should have received the announcement, ballot, and membership renewal form. If you didn't get that, you may not have joined up yet, but you can do so at the door. Only members in good standing are allowed to vote. After brief presentations we will kick off the new Passport to History Program. Be there to pick up your free Passport booklet!

05/08/2026

How many people are buried in Monkton cemeteries? That's a question posted on our flag in the community room. The accurate answer to that question is probably unknowable, but we can tell you that there are 1841 documented burials in Monkton's nine cemeteries. Fortunately for all of us, Monkton's cemeteries have been well documented on findagrave.com. Click below to see a list; take a virtual tour of your favorite cemetery!

The World’s largest gravesite collection. Contribute, create and discover gravesites from all over the world. .

04/30/2026

What if we as Monkton townspeople were still governed by the terms of Monkton's original charter, given by N.H. Benning Wentworth in 1762? The charter in actually not very prescriptive to the town. The boundaries are defined and the number of lots specified (seventy). One lot is set aside for a school, one for the Church of England, and one for the first settled minister. The town is charged with holding a town meeting the second Tuesday of March, annually "for the Choice of Town Officers".

And the townspeople? They were required to cultivate 5 acres in every 50 we owned or risk their land reverting to the Crown. For the first ten years, landowners were required to pay rent to the Crown, in the form of "one ear of Indian corn". Thereafter, the rent was one shilling per 100 acres. AND -- don't cut down any tall pine trees: "That all white and other Pine Trees within the said Township, fit for Masting Our Royal Navy, be carefully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut or felled without Our special Licence. . ."

Whether the original charter is preserved somewhere is unclear. But, it is transcribed in our early town records. A digital copy can be viewed here: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVG-GCFD

04/27/2026

https://www.hinesburgrecord.org/p/monkton-historical-society-ordinary?utm_medium=email
Thanks to Maeve O'Neil for the great article on the Monkton History Museum in the Hinesburg Record. We appreciate the efforts of the whole museum team: Candace Polzella, Bob Turcott, Cindy Walcott and Lauren Parren, all "ordinary people doing extraordinary things!" Museums can't run merely through the efforts of ordinary people - funding is required. Together we can make an extraordinary difference! Please support us by clicking here: https://www.monktonhistory.org/membership/

Small town history comes alive thanks to efforts of dedicated society members

04/19/2026

Reminder for tomorrow night, Monday April 20 at 7:00: the Industrial History of Monkton. Ever wondered where the airport is on Old Airport Road? The industrial history of Monkton extends beyond the advent of airplanes to the colonial period. The State of Vermont was only a year old when Stephen Barnum quite literally stumbled upon an iron deposit on his newly purchased farmland in 1772, yet to be cleared. Six years later Stephen’s cousin Barnabas Barnum would be the first casualty in the Battle of Shelburne in 1778, on the future estate of the man who’d construct the Airport Road as a landing strip for his plane so he could assess his burgeoning Vermont Kaolin Corporation in the 1950s. (Photo below) Learn the story of the iron ore and kaolin industries in Monkton, and discover how these operations have shaped the landscape as we see it today. Join us in the Community Room at Monkton Town Hall, 92 Monkton Ridge Road.

04/04/2026

Ever wondered where the airport is on Old Airport Road? The industrial history of Monkton extends beyond the advent of airplanes to the colonial period. The State of Vermont was only a year old when Stephen Barnum quite literally stumbled upon an iron deposit on his newly purchased farmland in 1792, yet to be cleared. Six years later Stephen’s cousin Barnabas Barnum would be the first casualty in the Battle of Shelburne in 1778, on the future estate of the man who’d construct the Airport Road as a landing strip for his plane so he could assess his burgeoning Vermont Kaolin Corporation in the 1950s. (Photo below) Learn the story of the iron ore and kaolin industries in Monkton, and discover how these operations have shaped the landscape as we see it today.
Samantha Ford is the owner of Turn Stone Research. She researches and teaches Vermont’s history from a land-based perspective. A background as an Assistant Town Clerk first illuminated the vast treasure trove that are the Land Records housed in every town hall in the state. Focusing a historical lens on our landscapes forges new connections that allow us to become closer to our backyards, neighbors, and ancestors. Sam prefers to learn and teach outside, and can usually be found near old hill farms or cemeteries. Sam’s happiest when others are inspired to share their own personal history with her during a walk in the woods.
April 20th, Monkton Town Hall ( 92 Monkton Ridge Road) 7:00 PM. Light refreshments available.
This will be an in-person meeting. However, the option to join the meeting using Zoom will still be available: the link is sent to all members early. Contact Lauren Parren with any questions at [email protected]. Many thanks to our sponsors who are listed at monktonhistory.org

03/25/2026

We heard from a Meader descendant that the photo we posted two days ago from the front cover of the 2005 Monkton Town Report was mis-identified on that report. We think she is right. See the photo below, identified as the James Collins homestead, which we believe was on Mountain Road. We all stand corrected!

03/23/2026

From the front cover of the 2005 Monkton Town Report. Pretty cool!

03/03/2026

Join us for toe-tapping fun on March 16th at 7:00 with Blarney Pilgrims, back for a repeat performance after last year's success. We can't guarantee the same stunning sunset, but the music will be great and light refreshments will be available. Little ones were dancing in the aisles. Free, but donations for the band are warmly encouraged! (This photo from last year was taken at the beginning of the session; the room was full by the end!) Monkton Town Hall, 92 Ridge Road

02/25/2026

Come see us at Town Meeting, this Sat. 2/28. We'll be in the hallway, outside of the gym. Buy a book on Monkton History, or sign up to "DO History," or learn about our new Passport program ... so much to share!

02/18/2026

Did you know that in 1956, Robert Carr finished building a 36 foot boat finished, right here in Monkton? The Sirius was a near replica of another boat that Capt. Joseph Slocum piloted around the world.