Lyndon (Vermont) Historical Society

At the October 16 meeting, the Lyndon Historical Society's guest speaker will be John V. LaBarge, talking about long-time Lyndon representative Cola Hudson and why LaBarge felt compelled to write a book about Rep. Hudson. Here's the description of the book from its author : I first met Cola H. Hudson in January of 1993 when I was a freshman representative in the Vermont Legislature; but this story isn’t just about politics, this is a story about friendship. My friendship with a man whose unique character and ability to articulate and capture the essence of life truly influenced my own. Cola was raised on a farm in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, surrounded by three generations of family. He was a humble man who seasoned the changing times yet never lost sight of the simplicities of life. He served his community for 36 years with honesty and integrity, a quality that remained true of him in his public and private life. Cola was my best friend and I doubt I will ...

Restoration stalled, in 2014. Postcard promoting the Sanborn Bridge. First, a little background on the Sanborn family, whose holdings included this utilitarian covered bridge -- and then the Vermont Historic Register nomination's statement of significance of the bridge. (from Child’s Gazetteer 1887). D ea. Benjamin Sanborn was born in Wheelock, October 16, 1798. He was the fifth child of a family of twelve—eight boys and four girls—all but one of whom lived to adult age. At the age of twenty Benjamin purchased of his father the remaining year of his minority, and struck out in life for himself. October 26, 1830, he was married to Miss Abigail B. Stanton, daughter of Isaac W. Stanton, of  North Danville. At the age of thirty-two, having accumulated, by industry and strict economy one or two thousand dollars, he purchased the farm in Lyndon, where he lived and died, a large part of the land being then heavily timbered with the stately maple, elm and h...

Dr. Venila Shores, a historian and author of the book Lyndon, Gem in the Green, donated her home to serve as a museum of Lyndon/Lyndonville life. (The town's origin was as "Lyndon," and "Lyndonville" was the current downtown district, created for the railroad as it established a depot in the town.) In the warranty deed with which Dr. Shores did this (to take effect upon her death in 1980), the purposes is: The aforesaid land and premises ... are to be used as a museum to display and store objects relating to the life and history of the Town of Lyndon. The house was built in 1896 by her father, James Austin Shores, when Venila was a toddler (she was born in 1893). It has three floors and a basement, as well as a small attached barn. The barn probably served to house horses, necessary to transportation at that time. The pen-and-ink drawing of the house shown here was found on a website, and when the artist's name is available, it will be posted here.

Civil War draft registration, John Shores. From Dr. Venila Shores (at base), back into time.