History and Description of New England - Vermont / History of Washington County

Boston, MA: Austin J. Coolidge, 1860. Early days in Washington 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 51page booklet is printed single-sided on 60# opaque paper with 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 Barre, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, Fayston, Marshfield, Middlesex, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterbury, Woodbury, Worcester. Montpelier, capital of Vermont is tucked away in this north central county. A number of early settlers are mentioned: Charles Pine, the Wheelock family, Francis West, Samuel Twiss, Colonel Jacob Davis, Capt. Samuel Upham,and many others. Bears and wolves, a vanishing pot of gold, the adventures of General Wait, are a few of the other items of interest. The WPA excerpts include separate sections on the cities of Montpelier and Barre, including points of interest like Goddard Junior College and the capitol. 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. . Limited Edition Reprint. Spiral/Comb . New/No Jacket. 8.5" x 11". Private Press.