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Ferrisburgh Has a Special Birthday Party Planned

photo provided Come and tour the Ferrisburgh Grange, located in the heart of town and celebrate its rebirth after a tragic fire.

photo provided Check out the meeting hall, also located in the town center and learn its rich history. Imagine if buildings could talk! What could this one tell us of the people who have called Ferrisburgh home since 1762.

Tuesday April 24, 2012

By Cookie Steponaitis

We have all had one, the birthday that made you set up and take notice. For some of us it was a rollover birthday as one decade slid into another. For teens it is the magic eighteen where all life is supposed to change. For others in the community it is celebrating longevity with ninety or even one hundred years young. So, when talking about Vermont towns of which many were settled in the 1700’s, what is that rollover number?

Ferrisburgh, for example is gearing up for a heck of a party and a birth date of note. On June 24th, 1762 Ferrisburgh was incorporated and on June 24th of this year the birthday will be a special 250th. Ferrisburgh, like many other Vermont towns honoring this monumental mark is getting the word out and getting ready to share with people from all around what makes life in a Vermont town such a special thing. When asked to share some events from the history with the Valley Voice readers, Town Clerk Chet Atkins and Assistant Clerk Pam Cousino pointed to the critical role that the town played in the defense of the Vergennes shipyard.  “During the War of 1812, Fort Cassin was built at the mouth of the Otter Creek to protect Vergennes and the Vergennes shipyard,” commented Town Clerk Atkins. “In 1814 the British were at the mouth of Otter Creek, blocking in the Americans who were building a fleet at Vergennes. To escape the blockade the Americans dug a passage from Otter Creek to Kellogg’s Bay in Lake Champlain. The Americans were successful in driving off the British. They then sailed to Plattsburgh and were part of the war effort to drive the British from Lake Champlain.”

Another date of merit in the town history was the opening of the Ferrisburgh Central School in 1955, bringing together the children of the whole town who had previously been schooled in different one room schools around the region. “It gave the children a chance to all meet and to be together,” shared Atkins. This central location went on to serve not only the children but the parents as well, focusing the attention of the town at meetings, events and school plays, sporting events and special presentations. Atkins, who became town clerk in March, 2005 has noted that while a lot of duties in his position have changed little over time like being in charge of the town records and assisting the town residents, the tools he uses have changed quite a bit. He especially remembered one town meeting on March 6, 2001. “There was a huge snowstorm and we had to postpone the town meeting until March 13th at 7:30 p.m. The moderator was unable to make the meeting and there were only a few people that did make it,” reminisced Atkins.

The 250th celebration will be held on June 23rd from 10:00-3:00 p.m. and the bulk of the events will be held at the Ferrisburgh Central School, but there will also be special events at Rokeby Museum, the Maritime Museum and other sites that are still being scheduled in the area. The theme of the celebration is Ferrisburgh, 250 Years of Farm, Family, and Fun, The 250th Birthday Celebration for the Town of Ferrisburgh.  Be on the lookout for events including antique cars and antique tractor displays, horse drawn wagon rides and musicians and music throughout the day, a chicken barbecue at 1:00 pm,  and old fashioned children’s games as well. The Historical Society building will be open with displays and local Farmer's Market vendors will be on site and much more. Besides exploring the history and uniqueness of this community, Town Clerk Aktins simply reminds us all of why life in rural Vermont is such a treasure. “It is all about getting to know your neighbors,” he concluded, “and the friendships you build during a life time. It is the comfort of knowing that in times of trouble they will be there to help each other. It is community.” Congratulations Ferrisburgh! As American songwriter Burt Bacharach wrote in a song, “A small town is a place where there's no place to go where you shouldn't.”

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