As stated in the bylaws, the purposes of the organization are:
- To discover, collect, catalog and safely store documents, photographs, maps, letters, articles, research notes, manuscripts, museum material and related information about the history of the Town of Ferrisburgh and its inhabitants; and
- To share and disseminate historical information through public presentations, open houses, publishing historical material, books and articles in paper form and through other media; and
- To cooperate with the State Historical Society to collect and preserve materials of statewide significance so that these materials are easily available to students and scholars.
The bylaws were last updated on October 13, 2024 and can be found here: Bylaws of the Ferrisburgh Historical Society.
New members and guests are always welcome at meetings of the Ferrisburgh Historical Society.
For more information, please call Silas Towler at 425-3380, email Ferrisburgh.Historical.Society@gmail.com, or write to: Ferrisburgh Historical Society, PO Box 85, Ferrisburgh, VT 05456.
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2024-2025 MEETINGS
September 15, 2024, 11:00-3:00
Ferrisburgh Day - Open House at the Ferrisburgh Historical Society
October 5, 2024, 2:00 - Basin Harbor, Ferrisburgh
A cruise aboard the Escape, Basin Harbor’s own tour boat, is a wonderful way to experience a Lake Champlain tour. During this 1-2 hour cruises (depending on weather and what there is to explore), our captain and crew will bring you out to explore the New York and Vermont shores. See a bald eagle nest, spot an osprey on Otter Creek, and hear all about the rich history of the area, including the many naval battles that occurred nearby. Please contact Gail Blasius at gblasius@aol.com with your name and telephone number as space is limited.
October 13, 2024, 2:00 - Ferrisburgh Historical Society
Please join us for the FHS Annual Meeting. Refreshments served. A wonderful way to meet your neighbors and plan for the year ahead.
November 10, 2024, 2:00 - Ferrisburgh Community Center
Jean Richardson, Silas Towler and Eliot Lothrop
Charles C. Miller (1866-1921), great grandson of Simeon Miller, one of the earliest settlers in Ferrisburgh, was a Master Builder whose work helped create the Vermont landscape we see today. From the elegant house that Charlie built on Old Hollow Road in North Ferrisburgh, to the grandeur of the East Monitor Barn in Richmond and the multitude of houses and barns scattered throughout Chittenden and Addison counties, his work reflects the Golden Age of enthusiastic growth of early twentieth century America.
Jean Richardson will set the stage for this wonderful story, describing the Family history, surviving Typhoid Fever, and rural life in that time period. She will also share some of the actual diaries of Sheldon Miller (Charles’ father) from 1856 and 1859, and Charles Miller’s Notebooks from 1875-1902. Silas Towler will share some of the many newspaper articles about the work of Miller, and his large crews of men; and Eliot Lothrop, timber framer and owner of Building Heritage in Huntington, will explain the technical aspects of Miller’s work and the restoration work underway at the East Monitor Barn in Richmond.
This will be an illustrated talk and the speakers welcome your questions and comments.
March 9, 2025, 2:00 - Ferrisburgh Community Center
Douglas Brooks
The stories of Vermont naval history and commercial shipping have been well documented by generations of historians. However, the traditions of small boat building from throughout our state have remained untold. The bulk of our historic boatbuilding traditions involves Vermonters building their own boats, whether for pleasure or commercial use. The historical record illuminating this subject resides today mostly in family stories and photo collections.
In this slide presentation, Douglas Brooks shares his research on these traditions, and his work in recreating some of these historic vessels.
May 11, 2025, 2:00 - Ferrisburgh Community Center
Will Gusakov
Our May speaker is Will Gusakov, a Vermonter with a very special French connection. He is a timber framer, working out of Lincoln, Vermont, and has been instrumental in building and repairing timber frame homes and barns in the area for years. But after a devastating fire in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, he found himself called to work on helping to restore one of the most iconic buildings on the planet. He and his wife, along with their two young children, moved to France and helped recreate part of the roof structure of the cathedral in Normandy, which was eventually shipped to Paris for final installation. Now back in Vermont, Will joins our group to discuss his experience using techniques dating to medieval times, and working with other tradespeople from many countries. We will also likely hear about some of his projects closer to home.
June 8, 2025, 2:00 - Ferrisburgh Community Center
Richard Alther
Join us for his presentation on Fort Cassin. After several years in Manhattan, M. Alther moved to Ferrisburgh, Vermont and earned his family’s living writing extensively about vegetable gardening and homesteading. His second home is at Fort Cassin.
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