History Quiz

The Adam Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Circus comes to town in 1903. This photo was taken at the junction of State and Elm Streets in Montpelier. A trolley can be seen in the lower left of the photograph. The trolley tracks were laid in 1898. The tracks ran from lower State Street to Main Street, down Main Street to Barre Street, up Barre Street to Sibley Avenue and Sabin Street, and then up Seminary (College) Street. The trolley line also went to Barre. A trip to Barre around 1913 was five cents. By 1923 the rate had jumped to 20 cents. Extensive damage from the 1927 flood put an end to trolley service in Montpelier.

M O NTPE LIE R

Special Pull-Out Supplement to The Bridge | January 19, 2012

1. Who is the man on the left driving the bulldozer? a. William Gilbane b. Deane C. Davis c. Ernest W. Gibson Jr. d. Edward F. Knapp

2. What is he constructing ? a. Blue Cross building in Berlin b. Central Vermont Hospita l in Berlin Nationa l Life building c. d. New railroad station

3. What prominent building is shown under construction in this photograph? a. Montpelier City Hall on Main Street b. Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Main Street c. Christ Church on State Street d. St. Augustines Church on Barre Street

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THE

Quiz

Compiled by Paul Carnahan

Design by Dana Dwinell-Yardley All images courtesy of the Vermont Historical Society

4. The sign on this car says We Want Kambour. What was the purpose of this 1938 event? a. A strike by MHS students in support of their principal b. A political rally in support of a gubernatorial candidate c. A parade in support of a candidate for homecoming queen

8. What was this yo ung womans job ? a. Dispatcher for a taxi ser vice b. Insurance clerk c. Teacher d. Hotel receptionist

9. The man on the right is U.S. Senator George D. Aiken. Who is the young man on the left? a. Tim Heney b. Wade Walker c. Phil Dodd d. Ed Brynn 5. What prominent building is shown under construction in this photograph? a. St. Michaels School on Barre Street b. Montpelier City Hall on Main Street c. Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Main Street d. Union School on Park Avenue

6. This charming little building on State Street served as Montpeliers first post office building. Where is it now? a. Court Street b. Barre Street c. Pitkin Court d. Main Street

7. This fine old house stood on Main Street. Which American politician was entertained here? a. James Madison b. James Monroe c. George Washington d. Thomas Jefferson

10. Evelyn Lease played an important role in Montpelier civic life. What was her position? a. First woman mayor b. Librarian of KelloggHubbard Library c. A popular midwife d. A childrens book author

THE RENAISSANCE CONTINUES AT THE VERMONT HISTORY CENTER

by Mark S. Hudson

n the late 1990s the Vermont Historical Society (VHS) launched a bold initiative to expand from the Pavilion building in Montpelier to the vacant Spaulding Graded School in Barre. This action coincided with advancement into innovative public programs like the Vermont History Expo, the Community History Project and the awardwinning Freedom and Unity exhibit at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier. By renovating the Spaulding complex as the new Vermont History Center, VHS saved an important Barre landmark and provided appropriate space to house archives and museum collections that had languished under cramped quarters, the threat of flooding and harmful climatic conditions in the basement of the Pavilion building in Montpelier. The history center symbolizes the remarkable renaissance of the VHS. Thousands of researchers use the resources of the Leahy Library at the history center each year. With 42,000 published sources, 30,000 photographic images, hundreds of linear feet of manuscripts, and thousands of maps, broadsides, ephemera and other historical materials, the librarys collection documents all aspects of Vermont history. The center also provides space for the care of over 30,000 artifacts from the museum collection of VHS and is the administrative hub of the organization.

Last year VHS completed fundraising for the Saving Vermonts Treasures capital campaign that is continuing the transformation of Old Spaulding. Thanks to a Save Americas Treasures challenge grant and contributions from hundreds of individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations, VHS exceeded its campaign goal by raising over $900,000. Last fall Southgate Steeplejacks of Barre began work on the bell tower, the buildings signature architectural feature. They have strengthened the interior framing of the tower, repaired damaged features on the towers cap, and are making masonry repairs that will promote the stability and appearance of the structure. Many people have commented upon the scaffolding that surrounds the tower. It will be exciting to see the rejuvenated tower emerge in early spring. Work on the development of three new gallery spaces on the first floor of the history center was initiated by Summit/Catamount Construction of Berlin at the beginning of the year. Their work will create venues for changing exhibitions on Vermont history. The Barre Heritage Gallery will present the history of the local community as a window into Vermonts past and will open with The Emergence of the Granite City: Barre 18901940. Visitors to the Special Exhibitions Gallery will be treated to changing shows that will explore significant themes in Vermont history. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this gallery will be launched with

Service and Sacrifice: Vermonts Civil War Generation. The Special Collections Gallery will showcase specific types of artifacts from the collections of the Vermont Historical Society. With its initial exhibit, Icons, Oddities and Wonders, visitors will experience artifacts which reveal the best, worst and weirdest the VHS has to offer. Exhibitions in the new Heritage Galleries will begin opening this summer. Along with the development of these new galleries, the history center will become the home of Vermont Archeology Center. Through a unique partnership with the State of Vermont, this collection, which includes hundreds of thousands of stone and ceramic artifacts, field notes, photographs, and related materials that document over 12,000 years of Vermont history, will be stored in spaces in the rear portion of the second floor of the center. Development of that space by Trumbell-Nelson Construction is underway, with the project anticipated for completion by June. The transformation that converted the vacant Spaulding School into the history center a decade ago will continue with these endeavors. These projects will promote the preservation of this Barre landmark, provide new venues for exhibitions and public programming, and provide expanded resources for advancing the mission of VHS. Mark S. Hudson is the executive director of the Vermont Historical Society.

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11. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Montpelier was known for common crackers that were made by the Cross Baking Company. This is a photograph of its popular storefront in the 1930s. Where was this store? a. Main Street next to Bethany Church b. State Street next to Christ Church c. Barre Street next to the Catholic Church d. Elm Street near Court Street

12. This is a photo of the Mo ntpelier High School Class of 1930 in front of their school (now Main Street Middle School). The confident young man in the center is the class president , Bill Ryan, wh o became a prominent Montpelier attorney. The you ng woman in the second row, second from left , was the class secretary. After a career in Washington, she is now a well-known Montpelier resident. Who is she ? a. Jan Abair b. Beatrice Lindsay c. Marjorie Conzelman d. Lola Pierotti

13. This company made a significant impact on the economy of Montpelier during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by producing planing machines and circular saws. Where was it located? a. North Branch near Elm Street b. Winooski River across from todays Shaws supermarket c. Winooski River at the Pioneer Street Bridge d. Winooski River at the Granite Street Bridge

15. In the 1890s, elephants marched down Main Street. Some familiar and altered buildings can be seen along the western side of the street. The building on the left edge of the photograph is no longer on Main Street. Where is it now? a. State Street b. Elm Street c. Barre Street d. Langdon Street

14. Lua B. Edson, in the center of this picture, was a Montpelier resident who built a career in a mans world. What was she? a. First female legislator b. First woman secretary of civil and military affairs c. First female president of National Life d. First woman member of the Washington County Bar

16. Businessman Daughly Gould was the first Jewish mayor of Montpelier. What was his business? a. Clothing b. Recycling c. Insurance d. Groceries

17. What prominent building is shown under construction in this photograph? a. St. Michaels School on Barre Street b. Montpelier City Hall on Main Street c. Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Main Street d. Union School on Park Avenue

18. This is the Montpelier City Farm as seen in the 1920s. What is located there now? a. Community College of Vermont b. Central Vermont Medical Center c. Baird Street Apartments d. River Rock School

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19. Where was Kinstead, the Vermont State Board of Charities home? a. Terrace Street b. Upper Main Street c. Northfield Street d. Towne Hill

20. A spectacular fire in 1923 destroyed this Main Street building. What was it? a. Warehouse b. Railroad depot c. Grain mill d. Granite shed

21. This impressive float is preparing for a parade on River Street in Montpelier. The steel girders of the Main Street bridge can be seen in the background. What event did this parade celebrate? a. Victory of Dewey at Manila Bay b. Discover y of America by Columbus c. Allied victory in World War I d. Selection of Montpelier as state capital in 1805

23. This Montpelier resident made a major contribution to this quiz. Who was he? a. Joseph DeBoer b. Charles Dewey c. Fred A. Howland d. Dorman B. E. Kent

Answers on pages 12 and 13 of this issue.

(Hint: Look at the upper-story wind

22. Montpelier has long had a thriving downtown commercial district . What store is now in this space? a. Salaam b. Montpelier Pharmacy c. Drawing Board d. Aubuchon
ows.)