Main Sections

Celebrating Vermont’s Oldest City

photo by Cookie Steponaitis

photo by Cookie Steponaitis

Tuesday September 1, 2009

By Cookie Steponaitis

   A trail of bubbles and water cascades down Green Street; coupled with the sounds of children’s shouts of glee that can be heard by all passersby. Rounding the next corner the eye is presented with the Vergennes Fire Department Open House and a cordoned area full of water, children and hundreds of pounds of bubbles. Just up the street families walk sporting balloons, brightly painted designs on their cheeks and a couple devour an ice cream cone. As the line of traffic comes to a complete halt, perhaps in respect and perhaps in puzzlement, a Belgian team pulled wagon full of people emerges from the side street and into the flow of traffic. At the traffic light the Town Green becomes visible and a sea of humanity ebbs and flows with music, toe tapping, politicians debating with their constituents, craftspeople displaying made in Vermont products, an Alpaca with a sculpted hair-do stares back and the conversation flows as freely as the cider, games and crafts. It is summer in Vermont and once again it is Vergennes Day.

   Further down the street reveals a huge book sale, a historic boat ride, and the streets lined with volunteer civic organizations and groups showcasing their role in the Little City. People stop, converse, and for just a while, the flow of daily life is held to a crawl. Acquaintances become friends and people welcome the curious and those from out of town to an annual ritual that does more than showcase Vergennes. It provides the traveler with a look at what is celebrated, cherished and passed from one generation to the next in rural Vermont. A sense of home, of community and a feeling of family was showcased along with Vermont’s oldest city, and as some still contend, one of America’s smallest cities.

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives