2013 Ice Out!

During heavy rain, in the wee hours of Saturday morning, Dunkin, the ice-out monitor on Brookfield’s Sunset Pond, lived up to his name again.

At 12:32 am on April 20, Dunkin fell through the last remains of the rapidly melting ice.

Twenty individuals guessed times late on April 19 or on April 20, but the closest, with a guess of 6 am on 4/20, was Kym Anderson of Brookfield, so she wins the prize.

The Brookfield Historical Society thanks all who participated in this year’s contest.

Dunkin is headed into the barn until next winter.

Stuart Edson’s YouTube video of time-lapse photos of the ice melting on the Lake:

VPR News Interview: Brookfield Floating Bridge Slated for Repair

Vermont Edition, Monday, 01/28/13, 12:45 p.m.

LISTEN (6:55) | MP3 | Download MP3 - Jane Lindholm, Produced by Ric Cengeri

Brookfield may be best known for the Floating Bridge.  This is true despite the fact that cars are no longer able to travel across Sunset Lake on the iconic bridge.  The bridge is technically part of State Route 65.  The Agency of Transportation, which is responsible for the bridge, wants to see it replaced.  Eighty percent of the expected $4.7 million price tag for the new bridge would come from the federal government, leaving just under a million to be funded by the state.  Perry Kacik of the Brookfield Historical Society, explains the cultural cache of the floating bridge.

2013 Brookfield Ice Harvest and Winter Carnival

Saturday, January 26th, 10:30 a.m.

Now in its 34th year, the Brookfield Ice Harvest will be held on Sunset Lake in picturesque Pond Village in Brookfield on Saturday, January 26th at 10:30 a.m.  The morning will begin with a discussion of the history of ice harvesting in New England, an ice-cutting demonstration, followed by a competition for young and old to see who can harvest a block of ice the fastest.

Winter carnival activities will begin after the ice harvest, which will include a tug-of-war on the ice, a snowshoe race on the pond, and a timed ice-sled obstacle course for the kids.  Skating and x-c skiing will also be available, conditions permitting. The Brookfield Ice Harvest and Winter Carnival is a FREE event for the whole family.  Food and drink will be sold by the Brookfield School Club to support enrichment programs at the school.  Be sure to dress warmly!

Floating Bridge Meeting, Jan. 21, 2013

There will be a Vermont Dept. of Transportation (VTrans) Public Information Meeting on the Floating Bridge project at 7:00 PM, January 21st at the Brookfield Elementary School on Ridge Road.  Jennifer Fitch, Project Manager, Structures Section, of  VTrans and Josh Olunda, lead design consultant working on the project, will be attending.

10th Annual Ice-Out Contest

To access the ticket form click on the following PDF file:

2013 Ice-Out Ticket

Diary of Lorenzo D. Cilley, 1879-1880

Lorenzo D. Cilley was born on February 20, 1854, at Topsham, Orange, Vermont and died April 3, 1892. He learned the blacksmith’s trade and in 1879 opened a shop in East Brookfield and later worked on setting up. (Source: The Cilley Pages.)

Susan Modelski Horst kindly provide the follow images for use by the Brookfield Historical Society.

Cilley diary title page PDF

Cilley diary 4-7 March 1879 PDF

Cilley diary 3-4 January 1880 PDF

Cilley diary blacksmith art PDF

2012 Annual Meeting

Date: Sunday, October 21th

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Place: Pond Village Church, Brookfield, Vermont

What: Program on the Civil War Letters to Vermont by Donald Wickman. A potluck supper will follow the program and annual meeting.

The Civil War saw newspapers come of age in reporting war news. Soldiers not only recorded their daily activities in journals and letters; they also shared their experiences in the home press. Thirteen correspondents wrote anonymously to the Rutland Herald from different regions of the United States. This presentation by Donald Wickman introduces the audience to the eloquent prose of the writers, and tells of their careers during the war. Nearly all the letter writers have been successfully identified.

Donald Wickman is a Vermont historian whose intense interest in the American Civil War led him to conduct extensive research on thirteen Vermonters identified only by initials, and the campaigns in which they took part.

Don’s latest book, “A very Fine Appearance:” The Vermont Civil War Photographs of George Houghton (Vermont Historical Society, 2011), is the winner of the 2012 AASLH (American Association for State and Local History) Award of Merit for Vermont

Presentation sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council (VHC) Speakers Bureau and the Brookfield Historical Society.

Floating Bridge Might Be Replaced

“The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has filed a formal application to rebuild the Brookfield Floating Bridge….” Click HERE for the complete Herald of Randolph story by M.D. Drysdale.

2012 Ice Cream Social and Civil War Exhibit

The Brookfield Historical Society is hosting the annual Ice Cream Social along with a Brookfield Civil War exhibit on Sunday, August 12th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Marvin Newton House (headquarters of the Society), located on Ridge Road in Brookfield, Vermont.

A special exhibit Remembering Those Who Served: Brookfield men in the Civil War identifies more that 175 Brookfield soldiers and sailors. Among those featured are Cassius Peck, a Medal of Honor recipient and Dr. Egbert Allis, Assistant Surgeon, who was lost at sea. His surgeon’s tools are on display. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view a selection photos, letters, diaries, and other materials assembled and interpreted by historian Elinor Gray. Public Invited. Donations accepted.

Click HERE for the poster.

Marvin Newton House 2012 Summer Hours

The Marvin Newton House is open each Sunday in July and August from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

The Marvin Newton House on Ridge Road in Brookfield Center was built in 1835 by Marvin Newton. The house was donated to the newly formed Brookfield Historical Society on December 13, 1937. It contains exhibits unique to life in a nineteenth century rural community. Collections include costumes, 19th-century home furnishings, locally manufactured articles, photographs, and local ephemera. There are guided tours and other special events.