Long Trail School Field Trip
2025-04-10 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251

250th Anniversary Regional Students’ Debate
2025-04-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Arlington High School, 529 E Arlington Rd, Arlington, VT, 05250, United States
On April 19, 1775, the Battle of Lexington and Concord was the “Shot Heard Around the World” that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. On April 12, 2025, just one week shy of that 250th anniversary, high school debate teams from around the region will meet in Arlington, VT to debate the key question of the time; “Shall the colonies seek independence from Great Britain?”
Approximately 8 teams will be competing for a $1,000 prize thanks to the support of the Keelan Family Foundation who is the sponsor for this event along with the Bennington Regional 250th Anniversary Planning Committee. Participating schools include Burr and Burton Academy, Arlington High School, Mount Anthony Union High School, and Grace Christian School.
“The question of whether or not to rebel was very serious. Lives hung in the balance. Indeed the future of the world would be defined by the outcome” says Jonah Spivak, chair of the Bennington Regional Anniversary Planning Committee. “Starting our regional 250th anniversaries with this debate highlights the importance of education in everything we do with remembering and commemorating these events. This is in effect re-enacting that key question, just one week before we stop talking about the question, and start fighting over it.”
The public is invited to come to watch the final debate and be a part of this first 250th anniversary event at noon on April 12. The debate is being hosted by the Arlington High School and the final debate will be held in the Theater. Park in the large lot up behind the Arlington High School and there will be a sign directing to the Theater. Please arrive a little early so as to be seated by noon in time for the debate.
For more information about the 250th Anniversaries in our region, please visit bennington250.org or email bennington250@gmail.com.

250th Anniversary Expedition to Ticonderoga
2025-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Follow in the footsteps of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys! Visit the Dorset Historical Society to have your passport stamped, and for an open house featuring refreshments.
Join us in this region wide commemoration in Bennington County and nearby NY of the lead-up to America’s First Victory, the capture of Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Immerse yourself in local history, exciting events, and family-friendly fun as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Green Mountain Boys’ remarkable journey.
On Saturday there will be events throughout the Southshire in Pownal, Bennington, and Shaftsbury at historic sites, which continue Sunday in the Northshire in Arlington, Sunderland, Manchester, and Dorset. Happenings at the various sites includes reenactors, historical information tables, kids activities and games, musket demonstrations, talks and tours, and a passport book for collecting stamps from the various sites with the chance to win a prize.
Why not make it a day of moving through history? Join the Bike Hub for a group bike ride starting at 10am from the Liberty Pole ceremony in Pownal, continuing to the Jonas Galusha House event. A volunteer biker will carry a commemorative powder horn, just like the Green Mountain Boys of old. Or, lace up your running shoes for a fun run on Sunday afternoon through historic Arlington, starting at the junction of Route 313 and Route 7A, where you’ll pass through the town’s most historic sites.
There’s something for everyone! Whether you’re a history buff, outdoor enthusiast, or family looking for fun, this weekend offers it all.
For more information, please visit bennington250.org or email bennington250@gmail.com.

Author Talk: Jon Mathewson on “Dorset” History Book
2025-05-08 18:00 - 20:00 | The Dorset Village Library, Corner of Church Street and Route 30, Dorset
Join us at both the Dorset Village Library and the Dorset Historical Society on May 8th at 6pm to hear Jon Mathewson discuss the new book Dorset. The book covers the origins of Dorset and its history from 1850-1965. The talk will begin at 6pm at the Dorset Village Library. After the program, we’ll head across the street to the Dorset Historical Society where there will be a reception and more conversation until 8pm!
From 1768 on, people settled in several parts of Dorset, creating 14 school districts and six distinct villages. Join us in Dorset as we examine the histories of these villages through photographs from the 1850s to 1960. Discover the industry and recreation of North Dorset, the marble mills of East Dorset, the quarries of South Dorset, and the businesses of Dorset Village, as well as the people who have called Dorset home: Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson, authors Elizabeth Prentiss and Zephine Humphrey, quarry and orchard entrepreneur Ernest West, and many others.
Dorset, an Arcadia Publishing Images of America book, is available for purchase from Dorset Historical Society. The Dorset Historical Society has been actively preserving and presenting local history since 1963.
Photo credit: Steven Schlussel.

Community Event: Alexandre Caillot Book Launch at ByWay Books & More
2025-05-13 16:00 - 18:00 | ByWay Books & More, 399 Canal Street, Brattleboro, 05301, United States
ByWay Books & More is excited to host Alexandre Caillot, author of Late to the Fight which explores the experiences and contributions of Union soldiers from the 17 th Vermont and 31 st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiments who entered the Army of the Potomac in time to serve during the Overland Campaign.
This event will be of particular interest to aficionados of the Civil War, military war, and regional history as well as anyone who wants to learn about the Green Mountain State’s final Civil War regiment which endured some of the most intense fighting in the conflict. Caillot will share his research and address the motivations, behavior, and combat performance of the men who filled the ranks left empty by veterans whose three-year terms had expired. There will be time for a Q&A and book signing.
Brian Matthew Jordon, Pulitzer Prize finalist for Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War says, “…Methodically rich and carefully argued, this is that rare book that challenges readers to rethink their conclusions – as well as their questions.”
Dr. Sodergren, Chair of the History and Political Science Department at Norwich University and Civil War expert, speaks highly of Late to the Fight, and says that Caillot “…explores the combat performance of the Union soldiers who filled newly raised regiments that fought through the Civil War’s final year. Historians have typically regarded these late enlistees as substandard to those who signed on at the war’s start…Caillot shows that these forgotten boys in blue left behind a record of valor and sacrifice essential to achieving the destruction of the confederacy.”
Alexandre Caillot is from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and earned his doctorate in history from Temple University in 2023. He has previously taught at Norwich University and interned in the National Park Service, where he gave battlefield tours. Caillot has had articles published by the U.S. Military History Review and the Modern War Institute, in addition to authoring over twenty scholarly book reviews in print and online.
ByWay Books & More is located at 399 Canal St. Brattleboro, VT and has been in business for just over a year. ByWay Books & More specializes in general new trade books with a focus on the environment, a large children’s books section, many unique finds at a reasonable price, and a growing collection of foreign language and social justice books.

Community Event: Glenn Fay on "Ambition: The Remarkable Family of Ethan Allen" at Northshire Bookstore
2025-05-16 18:00 | Northshire Bookstore, 4869 Main St, Manchester Center, VT, 05255, United States
The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester will present an evening with Glenn Fay, Jr. for a reading and discussion of his recently released book, Ambition: The Remarkable Family of Ethan Allen on Friday, May 16th at 6pm.
Ambition, published by Onion River Press, dives into the relationships of Ethan Allen’s aspiring extended family of brothers, sisters, wives, children, grandchildren, and associates. Many of these characters helped create the original republic we now know as Vermont while living in the Manchester area. Ambition also describes the Allens’ imprint on the present-day unique state of Vermont. The book is available everywhere. Signed copies will be available at the event and afterward.
Ambition has been endorsed by Vermont historians Kevin Graffagnino, Former Governor Jim Douglas, Elise Guyette, Michael Bellesiles, Gary Shattuck, Phyllis Drury, and others.
Glenn Fay is a native Vermonter and descendant of Green Mountain Boy Daniel Champion and New Hampshire militiaman Jon Powers II. He has researched and written about characters in the American Revolution with two prior books, Vermont’s Ebenezer Allen: Patriot, Commando, and Emancipator, and Hidden History of Burlington, Vermont, both from The History Press. Glenn serves on the board of directors at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Burlington.

Open House: Welcoming Our New Director
2025-05-24 10:00 - 14:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Join us to welcome the new Director and Curator of the Dorset Historical Society at an open house featuring refreshments!

250th Anniversary Vermont Sampler Driving Tour
2025-05-30 - 2025-09-01 | The Dorset Village Library, Corner of Church Street and Route 30, Dorset
This summer the Dorset Village Library is one of the 20 stops on the Vermont Sampler Driving Tour. Drawing from the collections at the historical society, and from local families’ samples, the library presents these samples. Each has been researched to find a revolutionary ancestor.
Come see the samplers, and learn something new about the American Revolution!
The story of our Revolutionary War generation having fought the war for our independence, and then having relocated to Vermont to live their lives, is one that can be illustrated by studying the lives of their descendants. The values, artistry and degrees of hardship and success of these families are often conveyed by the girls who produced these samplers. They are almost always the progeny – daughters and granddaughters of the Revolutionary War generation – and their stories are many and unique!
The VT Sampler Initiative, a 501-c-3 entity, in cooperation with the national Sampler Archive has been documenting Vermont 19th century schoolgirl samplers since November 2022. To date, close to 800 such samplers have been located and documented using volunteer documenters and professional photography.
The VT Sampler Initiative is now producing a statewide driving tour, to view collections of these post-Revolutionary War samplers, in cooperation with the Nationwide celebration of the Semi-quincentennial celebration of the American Revolution.
The dates of the driving tour coincide with the statewide celebration of our national semi-quincentennial celebration, from Memorial Day, May 2025 – Columbus Day, October 2025, for most sites.
Please see the Vermont 250th website for more details: https://anniversary250.vermont.gov/
For more information about the tour, contact Michele Pagan at Mpp1@comcast.net.

Reading the Forested Landscape: An Interpretive Walk with Tom Wessels
2025-05-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Smokey House Center, 426 Danby Mountain Rd, Danby, VT, 05739, United States
Join us for a walk focusing on unraveling forest histories, intriguing plant adaptations, unique coevolved forest interrelationships, and any other unusual things we may encounter.
Join renowned ecologist and author Tom Wessels for an interpretive walk through the forests of Smokey House Center. This guided tour will delve into the fascinating world of forest ecology, unraveling the histories of the trees, exploring plant adaptations, and uncovering the unique coevolved forest interrelationships. Tom will discuss any surprising and unusual natural phenomena we encounter along the way.
Tom Wessels is a terrestrial ecologist, professor emeritus at Antioch University, and the author of several books, including New England’s Roadside Ecology: Explore 30 of the Region’s Unique Natural Areas. With over three decades of experience leading workshops on ecology, natural history, and sustainability, Tom has become a trusted voice in the field. His engaging storytelling and deep knowledge make this a rare opportunity to connect with the natural world on a deeper level.
Whether you’re a budding naturalist or simply curious about the environment, this walk is sure to inspire and educate. Be prepared to learn, observe, and explore as we uncover the secrets of the forest together!
After the 1.5 hr walk Tom will be available for purchasing and signing books. Please bring personal check or cash.
Visit the Smokey House Center website to register!

Longest Day 5k
2025-06-21 09:00 - 17:00 | J. K. Adams, 1430 Route 30, Dorset, VT
Join Hike Dorset on their Longest Day 5k! Click here to register.

When: June 21st, 2025 at 9:00 AM (Plan to arrive between 8:00-8:30am)

Where: Parking at JK Adams Kitchen Store and Raptor Lane (across from the Dorset RV Park)

Parking will be limited so arrive early if possible. Overflow will be at Raptor Lane.

$30 Registration fee. NO STROLLERS! NO DOGS! Sections of trail are single track technical.

All funds from this 5K will go towards the 2025 Hike Dorset summer crew. Each summer Hike Dorset hires a small crew to perform trail work, trail building and repair, invasive species removal, water feature repair and maintenance, and other tasks needed to maintain the beautiful parkland and forests of Dorset, Vermont.

Before running (or walking) this 5K, you will need to register and fill out liability waiver at the event. Waivers will be available at check-in on June 21st and must be filled out before participation.

Anyone under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian sign the waiver.

The Lincolns and Manchester: A Commemorative Talk at Hildene by Shawn Harrington Celebrating 120 years since the Lincoln Family moved into Hildene
2025-06-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, VT, 05254, United States
Join Manchester Historical Society Curator Shawn Harrington at Hildene’s Lincoln Hall for a glimpse into life in Manchester around 1905, when Robert Todd and Mary Harlan Lincoln settled at Hildene. Harrington will also discuss Mary Todd Lincoln’s Civil War-era visits to The Equinox House and the family’s return in the 1890s to visit Robert’s law partner, Edward S. Isham— visits that inspired the Lincolns to want to build their ancestral home, Hildene, in Manchester.

The program features rare family photos and personal stories that bring the Lincoln family’s nearly 70-year connection to this mountain valley to life.

This program is free with admission. Reservations are required to accommodate the proper number of guests.

Click to register.

Sampler Stories at the Dorset Village Library
2025-07-03 18:00 - 19:00 | The Dorset Village Library, Corner of Church Street and Route 30, Dorset
Michele Pagan, Textile Conservator in Private Practice, will be speaking on July 3rd at 6pm at the Dorset Village Library about the VT Sampler Initiative, and how this national effort has been documenting VT 19th century schoolgirl samplers since November 2022.
She will share the techniques which the Initiative uses to uncover clues about the socioeconomics which can be read from each sampler. Additionally in cooperation with the VT 250th Commemoration, she will share some of the stories of the ancestors of the girls who made the samplers, and what their service was during the Revolution. No registration is required.

Ice Cream Social
2025-07-12 13:00 - 15:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
It’s the annual Dog Days and Ice Cream Social! Join us at the Dorset Historical Society on Saturday, July 12th from 1-3pm for an open house featuring free Wilcox ice cream, and visit the Dorset Village Library across the street for their Dog Days hot dogs!

History Hike: The Pinnacle
2025-07-19 09:00 - 12:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Join Kevin O’Toole, and folks from Hike Dorset and the Dorset Historical Society, for a hike to The Pinnacle!
The morning will begin with a bit of history about The Pinnacle at the Dorset Historical Society, then we’ll carpool to the site for a hike. We anticipate being back to the Bley House by noon!

Architectural Gems: Historic Buildings of Dorset and East Rupert
2025-07-22 17:30 - 19:00 | United Church of Dorset, 143 Church Street, Dorset, VT, 05251, United States
Join us for an engaging and in-depth illustrated lecture and discussion about the architecture, history, and development of Dorset and East Rupert, with specific focus on the five houses included in the companion house tour on August 2, 2025. Architectural historian Jennifer Lang and architect Bill Badger will share information about the fascinating history, design, and construction of the houses located in these contiguous communities in the upper Mettawee River Valley, beginning in the late 19th century. This program will be held at the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert, prominently located within the center of the National Register of Historic Places Dorset Village Historic District and adjacent to the green on Church Street.
You may register for the lecture only for $20, or choose to bundle the lecture and the August 2nd house tour for $50.
Dorset resident Jennifer Lang is an architectural historian and conservationist. She has worked in the historic preservation field in New York City, California, and most recently in Hong Kong, where she was the director of the graduate program in architectural conservation at Hong Kong University. Currently, Jennifer writes and consults with UNESCO and ICOMOS on historic preservation projects around the world.
Bill Badger is an experienced local architect and historian with a passion for railroads. He is president of the Rutland Railroad Historical Society and has been a board member of the Manchester Historical Society for many years. Bill’s background includes architectural history and preservation.
This talk will take place on Tuesday, July 22 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert.
Click here to visit the Green Mountain Academy of Lifelong Learning’s website and register.

Author Talk: Jon Mathewson on “Dorset” History Book Commemorating the Dorset Conventions
2025-07-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Northshire Bookstore, 4869 Main St, Manchester Center, VT, 05255, United States
Join us at Northshire Bookstore on July 25th at 6pm to hear Dorset Historical Society Curator Emeritus Jon Mathewson discuss the new book Dorset. The book covers the origins of Dorset and its pictorial history from 1850-1965, but Mathewson’s talk will highlight the era before photography with a special emphasis on the history of the Dorset Conventions.
From 1768 on, people settled in several parts of Dorset, creating 14 school districts and six distinct villages. Discover the industry and recreation of North Dorset, the marble mills of East Dorset, the quarries of South Dorset, and the businesses of Dorset Village, as well as the people who have called Dorset home: Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson, authors Elizabeth Prentiss and Zephine Humphrey, quarry and orchard entrepreneur Ernest West, and many others.
The Dorset Historical Society has been actively preserving and presenting local history since 1963.

Architectural Gems: Historic House Tour in Dorset and East Rupert
2025-08-02 10:00 - 14:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Explore five unique Dorset and East Rupert historic houses at the self-guided GMALL Historic House Tour. GMALL has creatively selected properties that express the unique history and spirit of the upper Mettawee River Valley in southern Vermont representing a diverse range of architectural styles from Federal to Victorian. This tour will offer a rare opportunity to visit inside these intriguing residences, each with a unique history and story to tell. This historic house tour will inspire, delight, and invite appreciation for the stewardship of some of the most charming historic properties in the area. In addition to the house tour, GMALL is offering a companion lecture and discussion about the history and architecture of Dorset and East Rupert on July 22, 2025 from 5:30-7 pm at the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert.
Begin the tour at the Dorset Historical Society where you can pick up your ticket and program and enjoy some refreshments.
$35 for the tour paid in advance
$45 for the tour paid at the door
$50 for the package (tour and lecture on July 22)
This event is rain or shine.
The self-guided Historic House Tour will take place on Saturday, August 2 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, starting at the Dorset Historical Society in Dorset.
Click here to visit the Green Mountain Academy of Lifelong Learning’s website and register.

History Hike: Gettysburg Quarry
2025-08-16 09:00 - 12:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Join Kevin O’Toole, and folks from Hike Dorset and the Dorset Historical Society, for a hike to the Gettysburg Quarry!
The morning will begin with a bit of history about the quarry at the Dorset Historical Society, then we’ll carpool to the site for a hike. We anticipate being back to the Bley House by noon!

250th Anniversary Lunchtime Lecture: Rutland County Forts with Joseph Kinney
2025-08-21 12:00 - 13:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Join historian and archaeologist Joseph Kinney for a Lunchtime Lecture exploring the Revolutionary War-era forts of Rutland County and how they’ve been remembered, or forgotten, over time. Drawing from his undergraduate thesis and ongoing research, Kinney will introduce attendees to key military sites including Castleton’s Fort Warren, Pittsford’s Fort Vengeance, and Rutland’s Forts Rutland and Ranger.
This talk, titled The Lost Forts of Rutland County: A Discussion of Public Memory of the American Revolution, will trace the history of these forts from the late 18th century through their evolving place in public memory up to the twenty-first century. Whether you’re a longtime Vermonter or new to the area, you’ll gain insight into the region’s overlooked Revolutionary War heritage, and maybe even recognize a few places from your own experience. The lecture will be accompanied by a visual presentation, offering images and maps to bring this history to life.
Joseph Kinney earned his BA in History from Castleton University in 2023, where he participated in the Castleton Hidden History Project. He currently works as a field archaeologist for Heritage Consultants in Connecticut and is pursuing a master’s degree in Historical Archaeology at UMass Boston. His research interests focus on New England’s Revolutionary War and Early Federal period history and material culture. His most recent work explores the 1777 Skirmish of Castleton, an event closely tied to the construction of Fort Warren.

Annual Meeting
2025-10-03 17:30 - 19:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Dorset Historical Society
2025 Annual Meeting Notice
FRIDAY OCTOBER 3rd at 5:30 p.m.
The Dorset Historical Society’s Annual Meeting will be held FRIDAY OCTOBER 3rd at 5:30 p.m. at the Dorset Historical Society. If someone cannot attend and they wish to watch the meeting livestreamed on Facebook, please email DHS for instructions.
There will be a review of the events and accomplishments of the past year as well as an acknowledgement of some of the donations to the collection.
The new business will include the election of directors:
Sallyan Pelletier
Donn Hutchins
(Rich Grip)
(Chad Smith)
Immediately following the Annual Meeting, the Board of the Dorset Historical Society will convene to elect the following slate of officers:
President- Rache Simmons
Vice-President- Sallyan Pelletier
Treasurer — Rocco Maggiotto
Secretary — Donn Hutchins
For more information, stop into our offices, go to dorsetvthistory.org, or call DHS at 867-0331.

Fall Festival
2025-10-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Dorset Green
Gather your friends and neighbors – we’re having a Fall Festival!
Please join us on Saturday, October 11th from 11a-3pm for a Fall Festival on the Village Green, hosted by The Union Store. Wagon Rides and games for the kids, local vendors, and a bake sale for The Dorset School’s DPV. Don’t miss this day of fun, food, and community spirit!

Halloween at DHS!
2025-10-31 16:30 - 18:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
The Dorset Historical Society will be joining other Downtown Dorset Entities handing out candy and our unique Dorset Historical Society Trading Cards to visiting trick or treaters!

Holiday Open House
2025-12-06 11:00 - 14:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Join us for our annual Holiday Open House! Taste a selection of sweet treats, and view our newest exhibit on the history of Dorset’s apple orchards.

Author Talk: Tyler Alexander on "If I Can Get Home This Fall: A Story of Love, Loss, and a Cause in the Civil War"
2026-01-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Northshire Bookstore, 4869 Main St, Manchester Center, VT, 05255, United States
On Friday, January 30th at 6pm at Northshire Bookstore, author Tyler Alexander will share the epic story of Dan Mason, a white man who served in the Civil War as a soldier in the Sixth Vermont Infantry and as an officer in the Nineteenth U.S. Colored Troops. It is a story of these two units from very different realities but with a common purpose.
Drawing on Mason’s letters home to his fiancé, Harriet Clark, and on other historical records, Tyler Alexander provides a compelling account of the human cost of war and offers insight about the experiences and attitudes of those who witnessed war firsthand, including enlisted troops and officers, men and women, Democrats and Republicans, and white and Black Americans. Alexander examines how the most controversial issues of the war—emancipation, the draft, military strategy, the arming of Black troops, and Reconstruction policy—were viewed in real time by the participants who found themselves engulfed in the maelstrom of war, particularly those from a strongly anti-slavery farming community in the hills of northeast Vermont. The voices from this distant time offer an example of what real patriotism, courage, and moral conviction look like in times of extreme national divisions over race, identity, and the meaning of democracy.
“These are some of the best and most moving of the thousands of Civil War letters I have encountered. The reader will experience an extraordinary degree of empathy and admiration for Sergeant Dan Mason of the Sixth Vermont Infantry, who subsequently became captain of the Nineteenth U.S. Colored Troops. Tyler Alexander weaves together the letters with biographical and narrative details that tell a remarkable (and tragic) personal, as well as historical, story.”—James M. McPherson, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
“In his splendid book, Tyler Alexander brings alive the Civil War experiences of a young fighter in the Vermont Brigade. . . . The narrative features copious, moving letters written by Dan Mason to his sweetheart Harriet Clark and blends these with public accounts of evolving war aims. The result is a vivid account of how a struggle to restore the Union was transformed and how the promise of freedom and democracy to all Americans, regardless of race, was embraced by the rank and file no less than by political leaders. The poignant, gripping, and tragic story speaks to the idealism of the Civil War era and how this history relates to today’s dire challenges.”—Robert Bonner, author of The Soldier’s Pen: Firsthand Impressions of the Civil War
TYLER ALEXANDER is an educator in Vermont who teaches American history and government. He is a former James Madison Fellow and studied forestry, history, and education at the University of Maine and the University of Vermont. One of Alexander’s ancestors served alongside Dan Mason in Company D of the Sixth Vermont.
If you have questions about this or any other Northshire event, please write the fine folks at events@northshire.com.

POSTPONED Lecture: Archaeology and Tribal Historic Preservation: An Uneasy History with Jeffrey C Bendremer Ph.D., RPA
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Due to inclement weather, this lecture has been postponed. We appreciate your understanding and plan to reschedule at a future date.
Join us for a lecture on Wednesday, February 25th at 4pm featuring Jeffrey Bendremer, Ph.D, RPA on archaeology and tribal historic preservation. Indigenous communities and archaeologists have often been at odds regarding how best to preserve, protect, investigate and venerate tribal heritage. Between amateur collectors, museums and academic archaeologists, Tribal Nations have often felt that their reverence for their own histories had been subordinated to outsiders who had divergent interests, priorities, ethics and goals. The establishment of Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, a provision of Section 101(d)(2) of the National Historic Preservation Act, became open to federally recognized Indian Tribes since 1996. As a result, tribal governments finally had legally-based regulatory procedures for historic preservation and a statutory basis for asserting culturally appropriate approaches to the treatment of their heritage.
Jeffrey Bendremer, Ph.D, RPA received his doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut and is currently the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.
Jeff was founder and director of Salish Kootenai College’s Tribal Historic Preservation Program, the only 4-year degree in THP in America, and held professorships at Mercy College, Indiana University, College of New Rochelle, Eastern Connecticut State University and Connecticut College, teaching courses in Native American studies, anthropology, sociology, and history.
Dr. Bendremer has also worked in cultural resource management and public archaeology, including 10 years as Manager of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut’s historic preservation program and NAGPRA Coordinator for the Connecticut Museum of Natural History and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. He has presented and published numerous academic papers on Indigenous history and culture in the northeast. He advocates for better ethics in archaeology, improved partnerships with Indian tribes and cutting-edge methods in historic preservation.
Dorset is located on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican Nation and Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

250 for the 250th
2026-03-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Mt. Anthony Country Club, 180 Country Club Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join the Cause! The Bennington Regional 250th Anniversary Committee is seeking 250 people to donate $250 to support the 250th anniversaries. The money raised will go to support events, educations efforts, creative works, monuments, and special projects related to the 250th anniversaries that started this year and will continue through 2027. This special group of supporters will enjoy discounts on 250th events and merchandise throughout the anniversary period, invitations to special events, an exclusive newsletter, preferred seating at ticketed events, and their signature on a special 250th proclamation which will be on display for the three year anniversary period and will be included in a time capsule at the end of 2027 to be opened in 2077.
Sign up today to attend our inaugural “250 for the 250th” event which will be held on March 6, 2026 from 5-8 pm at Mount Anthony Country Club in Bennington, VT. Sign up at https://www.bennington250.org/. Each donor to this event will receive a special Bennington 250 pin, and a themed lapel pin for each of the three anniversary years, with the 2025 pin honoring the Expedition to Ticonderoga.
Honor history, by becoming part of history!
