As dates and activities become more finalized we will post them here. In addition, check the page on the home page titled “2013/2012 Programs” to see the latest information on our monthly programs.

Depot District Wayside Exhibit Interpretive Panel: The Manchester Historical Society applied for a grant for a Wayside Exhibit in December of 2102 and we just received word that we had won that grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Heritage Partner The plan is to have the interpretative exhibit (multi-color, 36 inches by 24 inches) placed in the Depot Street Historic District in the summer of 2013. This area is also now on the newly designated Shires Byway which runs from Manchester to Pownal Vermont. The Wayside Exhibit will be on the Lake Champlain Basin Program website (lcbp.org) for visitors see and possibly then visit Manchester. We hope that this exhibit will help make the Depot area an attraction for visitors to explore. Almost all of the buildings are over 100 years old.

“Little Eli” Hand Fire Engine with Folk Art: The Manchester Historical Society has had in storage for decades a 4 person hand pumper with fire engine folk art.  To prevent deterioration of the artwork and the engine itself we are trying to raise money to preserve the engine. It will cost maybe $5,000-$6,000 to professional preserve this one of a kind piece of Manchester History. It has always been in Manchester and was part of the fire department in the late 1800s and early 1900s. One of the reasons Robert Todd LIncoln had the boundaries of Manchester Village extended was due to the fire coverage of the Village of which this was part. The Manchester Historical Society has received a grant for the partial funding of the preservation of this pumper and its very distinctive folk art.

Raffle: As a fund raiser we are raffling a Norman Champine original oil painting of the 1822 grist mill located by the new roundabout in Manchester Center. Norman has exhibited at the SVAC and other venues in the area. Tickets are $5 or 3 for $10. If you wish to purchase tickets to perhaps win this painting of a very important piece of the Manchester landscape please contact Dick Smith 362-4314.  The raffle itself will be held at September 18 program on Covered Bridges at the First Congregational Church in Manchester at 7 PM.

The annual meeting of the members of the Manchester Historical Society was  held at 6PM  December 12 at the First Congregational Church in Manchester. The purpose was to elect a slate of Board members(Directors and Officers for the calender year 2013. More information is listed under “2012 Programs“. MHS reviewed our program activities, our curator activities, our participation in Vermont History Expo, financial condition, etc. Members asked questions and had suggestions.

1) March 2013 update of the 2012 raffle: To support the Manchester Historical Society programs we had a raffle in 2012 of a Pam Marron original painting titled “Lake Champlain Afternoon”. Tickets were sold throughout the year and during our September 2012 program the winner was drawn.  Pat Dupree was selected as the winner of this beautiful 3 foot by 4 foot painting of Lake Champlain by Ben Spiro the son of Castleton State University’s Professor Spiro son Ben at the September 19 program.  Congratulations Pat!

2) Antique Auction. We are currently trying to identify antiques that might be available for an auction in 2013. If you wish to donate an antique or have it just sold at the auction please contact Dick Smith 362-4314 for information.