During my talk, I urged those present to come up to St. Albans to visit the ground on which the Raid occurred.  I told them that downtown St. Albans retains much of its nineteenth-century look and feel, including the town green into which the Confederates herded townspeople 143 years ago.  I praised the St. Albans Historical Society as one of the best local history museums in Vermont, with collections and exhibits that enliven the town’s past for residents and visitors.  Come to St. Albans, I said, and see a town where history is an integral part of the community’s consciousness.  

            Flying home to Vermont the next day, I thought about how much more I could have said about the historical attractions and organizations of northwestern Vermont.  Warren Hamm, Don Miner and their associates have accomplished great things at SAHS, but so have their counterparts elsewhere in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties.  Janice Geraw and company in Enosburgh Falls have documented the era of the B. J. Kendall patent medicine company; Ron Kilburn’s dynamic leadership has launched new initiatives at the Swanton Historical Society; folks in Highgate are working on a video history of their town; widespread enthusiasm in Isle La Motte has continued the good work that Larry Doolin set in motion there 40 years ago; and half a dozen local groups from this area exhibit at Vermont History Expo every June.  Nearly every town in the two counties has an active historical society, and it shows.

            Residents of this area should appreciate their local historical societies.  Preservation of the heritage and traditions of our towns is a key factor in the quality of life in Vermont; if you don’t believe that, think about living somewhere that has no sense of its past.  On an individual level, a knowledge of our local history fosters self-identity in our young people, teaching them that their town is a special place rather than just another spot on the globe. Collectively, a shared sense of nearby history builds community pride and cohesion while providing a bridge to bring natives and newcomers together.  Awareness of the antecedents to contemporary issues and challenges helps us devise more effective strategies towards a better future for our children and grand-children.  For all of those reasons, the historical organizations of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties deserve our support.  If you’re not a member of yours, join; if you are a member, get more actively involved.  You and your town will be better for it—as the man says on those TV ads, I guarantee it.