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It’s Vergennes Day Everyday: A Look At Life In Vermont’s Oldest City

photo by City of Vergennes, Ferrisburgh Historical Society More than just the oldest and smallest city in Vermont, Vergennes is a center point in history and in the hearts of people who call it home.

photo by City of Vergennes, Ferrisburgh Historical Society More than just the oldest and smallest city in Vermont, Vergennes is a center point in history and in the hearts of people who call it home.

photo by City of Vergennes, Ferrisburgh Historical Society More than just the oldest and smallest city in Vermont, Vergennes is a center point in history and in the hearts of people who call it home.

Tuesday August 21, 2012

By Cookie Steponaitis

   On Saturday, August 25th the focus will be on everything Vergennes. There will be races, cotton candy, exhibits, music, vintage cars, speeches and games of all kinds for the kids. Civic organizations will raise funds for scholarships, local programs and people will gather from around the state and even Canada to celebrate summer, fun and a city with a hallmark past. Yet, when the hoopla dies down and the tourists are gone, it will still be Vergennes and the essence of what makes it a special city will still ring true. So, like the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carol’s classic Alice in Wonderland, the purpose of this article is to celebrate all the unbirthdays of Vergennes, or the 364 other days of the year where life goes on uninterrupted by focused fun and frolic.

    On those other 364 Vergennes Days expect the following to be the norm. The summer heat will drive the population to the pool, the ice-cream stand or to the lake to cool off. Every morning the locals will congregate with Rita Armell at the coffee counters or others like it around town where the focus of the day is the business at hand. Conversations will include asking about the kids, pets, neighbors and the latest trends in farming and agriculture. There will be talk about trucks, equipment and some of the old timers will share a story of two from back in the day. The phones will ring and people will do business with those they have known for decades.  The rescue and fire departments will work countless hours quietly training and perfecting their craft and the local schools will soon buzz with sports, open houses, college classes and youth wrestling. The musical is approaching in the coming months as are other memorable events like the Pumpkins in the Park and some haunted forests and corn mazes.

    Linking all of this activity together are a network of people, churches, organizations and connections that link generations to a way of life rooted in community, service and helping others. In true Vermont style things like the talents of local artists, the amount of rain at Field Days and the price of milk are heard in the same conversation. Children grow up knowing how to drive a tractor, plant a row of corn and to laugh loudly and with gusto at the antics of the annual Donkey Basketball game. They proudly wear the V-Town blue and white and hope that once again their favorite team is victorious against Mt. Abe while Roland Guyette runs the score clock. Hands will be clasped in greeting and even those who are not sure if they recognize the person in the other car wave just in case. Some will be fiercely independent and others not afraid to seek the help of a friend, but all will be individuals with their own views, political opinions and personal statements. Yet, bound by the geographic lines of a place called Vergennes they will all acknowledge that the real world isn’t quite here yet, and cocooned in this time and place called the Little City is a pretty great place to be and happily await another Memorial Day parade when the voice of Ann Sullivan calls off all the floats, bands and provides a running storyline linking generations to this place. Happy UnBirthday Vergennes and may the footsteps and heartbeats of the next generation to call you home be as proud as this one is today as we celebrate what makes you special all year long!

    Yes, Dorothy, and whoever else is reading, click your heels and repeat after me, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

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