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Welcome

The Rutland Historical Society was founded in 1969 to serve the original town of Rutland which includes the present towns of Proctor, Rutland Town, West Rutland and the City of Rutland.

The original Rutland was chartered in 1761 as part of the New Hampshire Grants by the Provincial Governor Benning Wentworth. The first settlers arrived in 1770 led by Colonel James Mead. Almost immediately a controversy arose with New York claiming the same land grants under the name of “Socialborough.” This controversy ultimately led to the Vermonters forming the Republic of Vermont from 1777-1791. Vermont became the fourteenth state in 1791.


Old Fort Rutland

Old Fort Rutland

During the early 1800’s the Rutland area was known for agriculture and for the sheep industry. By the mid 1800’s the development of the marble industry and the arrival of the railroads created an industrial and retail boom which brought many immigrant workers to the Rutland area. Rutland has continued to grow in industry and population to become the largest city in Southern Vermont.


Downtown Rutland, VT

From modest beginnings the Society has progressed to a very active organization. It has received awards of excellence from the Vermont League of Local Historical Societies for its quarterly magazine and for its monthly television series “Historically Speaking”. The Society has produced over 99 episodes in this series that airs on the local public access channel. A companion newsletter about Society activities is mailed to members with the Quarterly magazine.  A weekly Rutland Historical Society column entitled “Tidbits From Then and Now” is featured in “Sam’s Good News”, a local weekly newspaper. The Society also offers live programming for groups of all ages from kindergarten to senior citizens both at the Society and at other locations.

The Society collects and preserves all manner of artifacts including books, manuscripts, photographs, textiles, special collections i.e.: an extensive collection of Rutland newspapers including the Rutland Herald, municipal court records, cemetery records and much more.

The Society has nearly 600 members from 32 states and the District of Columbia. All the activities of the Society are the work of volunteers. We welcome all gifts of items and collections of historical value and bequests or donations so that we may preserve the past and enrich future generations. Your participation is requested, through volunteer work, being a member or just visiting us at 96 Center Street to do some research or see the changing exhibits. Please drop by; we would love to see you.

What's New

Great News!

The Society has just completed scanning its five foot by five foot 1884 Beers wall map of Rutland.  For $10 you can purchase this CD for yourself or as a Christmas gift.  The map sections are in a PDF format readable by a PC or MAC.  A PDF reader, like Adobe reader is required.  A free copy of Adobe  9 reader can be down loaded at: (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat: 

The CD includes (1) a brief history of late 19th Century Rutland maps, (2) a listing of Rutland businesses, (3 )a map of Rutland Town, (4) a map of Center Rutland, (5) a map of West Rutland Town, (6) four maps of the four quadrants of Rutland Village and a map of the heart of downtown Rutland.  Each property has the name of the resident.  All maps can be blown up to a comfortable reading size.

If you like maps don''t miss this one. There is NO shipping or handling fee.

Send a check for $10 per disc to: Rutland Historical Society, 96 Center Street,

Rutland, Vt. 05701 or walk in to make

your purchase.  Sorry, we do not process credit cards.

OTHER NEWS

The Society's 100th episode of "Historically Speaking" is a musical of 1920's jazz played by "The Tailgatorz".  Go to the second paragraph of "Historically Speaking"

and click on PEG- TV On Demand.  Enjoy!

 

The RHS Newsletter and certain out of print Quarterlies are in the process of being made available online.

A list of 19th Century Rutland Photographer's is available here for your research assistance. (Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader Required)

We are sorry to say that "Early Families of Rutland, Vermont" compiled by Marvel G. Swan and Donald P. Swan, edited by Dawn Hance and published by the Rutland Historical Society, 1990, is Out of Print as of 23 May 2008.  The good news is that Rutland Historical Society is in the process of re-issuing this item in a digital format on CD or DVD.  We will announce further details about this item as soon as it is available.

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Monday evenings
6 - 9 p.m.


Saturday afternoons
1 - 4 p.m.

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