Terry Tyler Collection-Shelburne Museum

Terry Tyler has been collecting firearms for over 5 decades. His collection of over 100 pieces of Vermont firearms is now on display at the Shelburne Museum. It will be on display until October 30, 2011. Terry is a long time resident of Dorset and Manchester Historical Society Board member. The Shelburne Museum held an opening reception for Terry and his world class collection. An entire building was set aside by the museum. Also in attendence at the opening reception was MHS board member Ted Hopkins and his wife Lois as shown.

"So you think you know Manchester" bus tour May 22

As of Sunday, May 16 the tour is SOLD OUT. If you wish to be on a waiting list please call Dick at 362-4314

May 23: The bus tour was a success based on comments from participants. If there is interest MHS will do another. Please contact Dick at RBSBUS@aol.com or call at 362-4314.

To help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the chartering of Manchester in 1761, Manchester Historical Society (MHS) is sponsoring a fundraiser bus tour of Manchester. Your hosts will include MHS Board members Dick Smith, Judy Harwood and Bill Badger . Lasting approximately 2 ½ hours, the tour will visit sites many people didn’t even know existed. Come see the hidden history of Manchester. Have you seen the remnants of the canals that were in Manchester? Do you know where the town whipping post was? Fun facts and trivia will be frequent and the goal is to have everyone go home learning at least one new thing about Manchester they didn’t know prior to the tour. Some prizes will be offered. We will get out about 2-3 times for a couple of minutes but no long walking. There will be handouts showing places as they existed way back when.

For non-members of MHS, the donation will be $15 payable by check made out to the Manchester Historical Society. Send the check to Dick Smith-Tour, Manchester Historical Society, PO Box 363, Manchester Village, VT 05254-0363. Please indicate the check is for the tour, your name and contact number. For members of MHS the cost will be $10. Any questions? email Dick Smith at RBSBUS@aol.com or call Dick at 362-4314. Please be 15 minutes early for check in so we can be back on time. There has not been a tour like this in decades in Manchester. Check the MHS website, www.manchesterhistoricalsociety.org for updated information.

2011 MHS Programs/Events

(updated August 15, 2011)


The following events and programs are scheduled for 2011. More details will be posted as they become available. These events are intended to be part of the overall celebration of the 250th year of the chartering of Manchester in 1761. Except the May 22 fundraiser, all programs are free. All events are open to the public

January 14 7:00PM at Northshire Book Store Michael Bellesiles will speak on the founding of Vermont and of the New Hampshire Grants settlers who fought for the independence of Vermont in the 1700s. He teaches history at Central Connecticut State University and his book Revolutionary Outlaws: Ethan Allen and the Struggle for Independence on the Early American Frontier" was chosen best book of the year by the American Revolution Roundtable.

February 16 7PM Barbara Keough,will speak on the history of the Manchester Health Services and provide a tour of facility. Manchester Health Services was esatablished in 1942 as Manchester Welfare and Nursing. By changing its name, enlarging its staff and offering more programs it has evolved into the areas local Medicare Certified Visiting Nurse Association. The program will present the organizations history and what it does for the community today. Free. At Manchester Health Sevices

March 16 John Griffith will speak on the CCC Camps in the Manchester area. 7 PM First Congregational Church, Manchester. Free

April 20 7PM Celebration of the Manchester Journal's 150 year of publication. Join the fun. Old issues. Special guests. 7PM First Congregation Church 7PM Free

May 18 7 PM Professor Gerald W. McFarland will give a presentation on the true story of the Boorn-Colvin murder case in the early 1800s in Manchester. It has been said this was the first wrongfull murder conviction in the US. McFarland's book on this murder, The Counterfeit Man, is available at the Northshire bookstore and describes many places in Manchester. Location: NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE. 7 PM Free

May 22 1:30 PM "So you think you know Manchester" fund raiser bus tour of Manchester(see details as a separate listing) Save the date.

June 15 7PM Michael Powers will speak on the history of the Shaw Insurance Company in Manchester. Shaw's is one of the long time local organizstions serving Manchester. Free. First Congregational Church.

July 20 6:30 PM The annual popular MHS neighborhood walk this year will explore the Richville section of Manchester. Learn about the Rich Lumber company's use of the neighborhood. Meet at 81 Cass Terrace for parking. Free.

August 11 Manchester Historical Society dedication with Town of the new marker in Factory Point Town Green as part of the 250th celebration of Manchester's chartering in 1761 by Benning Wentworth. The town ceremonies, of which the multi-color marker is a part, will start at the Factory Point Town Green at 12 PM

August 17 Annual Members Picnic. The picnic will be at Hildene. The Woods Tea Company concert starts at 6:00PM so the MHS picnic will begin at 5:30PM which will allow time to eat and go to the concert. Hildene will charge the donation of $5 which includes the concert. The exact location will be indicated at the welcome center. Become a member and join the fun. Questions? call Dick at 362-4314

September 21: 7PM MHS annual meeting to elect the Board for the upcming year and changes in MHS bylaws. The annual meeting portion is usually only about 10 minutes. The program to follow is the reknown Vermont artist/author Peter Miller. More details to follow but any questions contact Dick Smith at 362-4314.
Free everyone welcome at First Congregational Church

October 19 7:00PM Seth Bongartz Executive Director of Hildene will speak on the past and future of Hildene and its role in Manchester. First Congrgational Church. Free Everyone welcome.

November 16 7PM Ted Bird of the Bennington Historical Society will speak on the Ku Klux Klan in Vermont. It will be a PowerPoint presentation. Free. Everyone welcome at First Congrgational Church.

(Details will provided as available on special MHS projects that will support Manchesters celebration of its 250th year of chartering by Benning Wentworth. These activities include: Special exhibit at SVAC; the publication of the Arcadia book "Manchester".

Holiday Concert December 15, 2010

The Manchester Historical Society is sponsoring a free holiday concert on Wednesday December 15 at the First Congregational Church at 7 PM. The concert will be presented by the Tall Spire Ringers, the resident hand bell choir of the First Congregational Church directed by Lynne Welsh. A variety of Christmas music will be played on handbells and choirchimes. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For further information please call Bob or Sally Treat at 362-2523.

New Officers and Directors of Manchester Historical Society

At the September 2010 Annual Meeting the following officers were elected: Dick Smith, President; Bill Badger, Vice President(Acting); Pat Dupree, Treasurer; Sally Treat, Secretary(Acting; Judy Harwood, Curator. The Directors electer were Ted Hopkins, Larry Lee, Bill Lewis, Kim Rizio, Sally Treat, Bob Treat, Terry Tyler and Marge Wilbur. It is the intent over the coming months to profile these Board members.

MHS is planning on supporting the town plans for the 2011 celebration of the 250th year of of the Chartering of Manchester. These plans and projects will be announced over the next coming weeks and months. If anyone has an interest in volunteering or joining MHS please contact Judy Harwood at 362-3708.

Peter Henry: living at Burr and Burton plus Robert Frost

On November 17 Peter Henry will speak at 7PM at the First Congregational Church about his childhood years living in the headmasters house at Burr and Burton. He will also share anecodotes and bring memorabilia from his familys friend the noted Vermont poet Robert Frost. For more information please contact Bob or Sally Treat at 362-2523. The program is free and open to the public.

Slate Valley Museum Director April 21

HEAVY LIFTING: A Human and Technological History of Moving Slate from Quarry to Market, 1850-Present will be presented by Mary Lou Willits, executive director of the Slate Valley Museum on April 21 at Long Trail School Kiva, 7:30 pm. This is a joint program with the Dorset Historical Society.