History of Rutland County Vermont; History and Description of New England - Vermont

Early days in Rutland County, VT, are recalled through a mix of colorful tales, factual data and trivia, in this booklet comprised of excerpts from three rare vintage books: The Geography and History of Vermont by S.R. Hall (1871); History and Description of New England - Vermont by A.J. Coolidge and J.B. Mansfield (1860); and Vermont, a Guide to the Green Mountain State, written by the Workers of the Federal Writer's Project of the WPA (1937). The 58 page booklet has the print size enlarged as needed to fit the 8 1/2 x 11 size. A vinyl sheet has been added to protect the front cover. A major part of the booklet consists of histories of each township (town), which vary in size depending on the prominence of the town and its historical significance. The towns and villages include Benson, Brandon, Castleton, Chittenden, Clarendon, Danby, Fair Haven (Fairhaven), Hubbardton, Ira, Mendon, Middleton, Mount Holly, Mt. Tabor, Pawlet, Pittsfield, Pittsford, Poultney, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Tinmouth, Wallingford, Wells and West Haven. Tales of Indian captivity, native son Stephen A. Douglas, Early settlers, Battle at Hubbardton, Capture of Colonel Nathan Hale, Castleton Medical College, Clarendon cave, the Iron industry, etc. are among the items of interest. The WPA excerpts include a section on the shire town of Rutland, including points of interest. The other WPA excerpts, while not up-to--date as a tour guide, remain a fascinating source of historical tidbits. There are some illustrations, but their quality is only fair.