A window into 19th‑century Memorial Day history in Castleton
This nonfiction volume presents the Proceedings of the Day for Memorial Day in Castleton, Vermont (1885). It gathers firsthand accounts, biographical sketches, and reminiscences from locals who helped shape the day's program. Readers will find a shift from traditional long speeches to personal stories from veterans, neighbors, and teachers who shared life in camp and on the battlefield. The book also includes rosters of veterans in line, details about the companies and regiments, and an account of relics exhibited by John M. Currier.
The work blends ceremony with memory. It documents the organization and preparation for the event, notes on floral tributes and procession routes, and the order of exercises at Hillside Cemetery. Expect vivid vignettes about individual soldiers, anecdotes from the Civil War, and brief notes on earlier memorial days in Castleton. While it records the day’s formal program, the heart of the text lies in the voices of those who lived through the era and in the lists of graves decorated in the old churchyard and local cemeteries. The edition also preserves historical context about the town’s veterans, local volunteers, and the enduring significance of honoring fallen comrades.
What you’ll experience:
- Personal reminiscences and biographical sketches of soldiers and residents
- Details of the day’s arrangements, speakers, and floral tributes
- Rosters, grave decorations, and lists of veterans in the parade
- Historical notes on prior Memorial Days and relics from the era
Ideal for readers of local history, Civil War memory, and 19th‑century community commemorations.