Around Bellows Falls: Rockingham, Westminster and Saxtons River

With more than two hundred vintage photographs, Around Bellows Falls: Rockingham, Westminster, and Saxtons River explores the fascinating history of these southern Vermont communities. Located along the Connecticut River, Rockingham-the township that includes both Bellows Falls and Saxtons River-was chartered in 1752. Westminster, one of Vermont's oldest towns, was granted in 1736 as Township No. 1.

Around Bellows Falls: Rockingham, Westminster, and Saxtons River chronicles the history of these communities up to the mid-twentieth century with photographs of historic homes, businesses, people, and well-known landmarks. In addition to views of the fantastic beauty of the area, this volume includes photographs of Vermont's oldest public building, the Rockingham Meetinghouse (built in 1787), and the Bellows Falls home of Hetty Green, the infamous "witch of Wall Street." Westminster's Cumberland County Court was the location of not only the Westminster Massacre but also the meeting that declared Vermont as a free and independent republic in 1777. Also included are vintage photographs of the scenic village of Saxtons River (named on the National Register of Historic Places), which once had a strong mill industry that took advantage of three falls along the river.

The authors are delighted to share their communities' histories in this volume. Anne L. Collins is the historian of the United Church of Bellows Falls, Virginia Lisai is the president of the Westminster Historical Society, and Louise Luring is the president of the Saxtons River Historical Society. The images they present are from the Rockingham Public Library, the Westminster Historical Society, the Saxtons River Historical Society, and private collections.