by Paul Andriscin, Michael Blakeslee, and Tobrina Calvin (the project team) Mortar bomb: one of many pieces of ordnance found in Lake Champlain near theGreat Bridge that were discarded when the British abandoned Mount Independence in 1777. This is about the size of a bowling ball but weighs 45 to 50 pounds. Other ordnance found … Continue reading Mount Independence Collections Stewardship Grant Project
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Review: The British are Coming
A review by Stephen Zeoli Rick Atkinson is a history writer best known for his Liberation Trilogy, three books about World War II focusing on action in Africa and Europe. Recently he turned his vaunted narrative talents to the American Revolutionary War. The first book in this Revolution Trilogy is called The British are Coming. … Continue reading Review: The British are Coming
Defiance and the evacuation from Mount Independence
British cannon on Mount Defiance threaten the American position. Or did they? by Stephen Zeoli I want to thank Mike Barbieri and Ennis Duling, my colleagues on the board of the Mount Independence Coalition, for their assistance in getting this account accurate. A common theme for people with some knowledge of the history of Mount … Continue reading Defiance and the evacuation from Mount Independence
Conserving the History of the Mount
This trowel blade was conserved. A number of metal Revolutionary War artifacts discovered over the decades at the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont, have recently been conserved. This project is thanks to a grant received by the Mount Independence Coalition, the site friends group, from the Lake Champlain Basin Program. The conservation … Continue reading Conserving the History of the Mount
Strong Ground: Blockhouse with Guns
Editor's note: For the past two years, the Coalition has teamed up with the Division for Historic Preservation on a pre-season hike of the Mount called The Strong Ground Walk. These walks are intended to explore parts of Mount Independence off the trails in the spring before the undergrowth makes the ground difficult to see. … Continue reading Strong Ground: Blockhouse with Guns
Death Reigns Triumphant
Dr. Lewis Beebe and the Small Pox Epidemic of 1776 by Stephen Zeoli A year after Lexington and Concord, the American Northern Army was floundering from a failed attempt to take Canada from British control. Through the winter of 1776 and deep into spring, the army had languished outside the walls of Quebec with too … Continue reading Death Reigns Triumphant
John Stark, Commander of the Mount’s 3rd Brigade
By Ennis Duling When the American army moved on to Mount Independence in July 1776, Col. John Stark of New Hampshire was awarded command of the Third Brigade, which included his own 5th Continental Regiment and three others. At 47, he was the most experienced American officer in the Northern Army, having served as a … Continue reading John Stark, Commander of the Mount’s 3rd Brigade
The Artifacts of Mount Independence and the Stories They Tell
https://youtu.be/kFWRWmgXC-8?si=JZwmXyovxWoKAe7b Mike Barbieri discussing gunflints found at Mount Independence. Note: This story is about artifacts recovered through official archaeological research. Unauthorized digging for artifacts is looting, and is illegal. The Mount Independence State Historic Site has produced a series of sixteen short videos that focus on artifacts found during archaeological investigations at the site over … Continue reading The Artifacts of Mount Independence and the Stories They Tell
29th Button Donated to the Mount Independence Museum
Editor's note: This article is written by Jim Ross, who taught history for many years at Mount Abraham High School in Bristol, has been an avid living historian, taking part in uncounted re-enactments around the region, and has been an active Mount Independence Coalition board member for years. This is his engaging story of a … Continue reading 29th Button Donated to the Mount Independence Museum
New video available
John Melanson, who has been one of the groundskeepers at the Mount for the past two years, put together this video about the site: https://youtu.be/JA75s-O2NQQ John graciously gave us permission to share the video with you. Thank you, John.
On the Mount 40 years ago
by Stephen Zeoli In 1979 and 1980, I was the caretaker/interpreter at Mount Independence State Historic Site. Things were quite different in those days. I counted it a good week if we got 25 visitors. The Visitor Center would not be built for another 15 years. People would squeeze through the gate and walk up … Continue reading On the Mount 40 years ago
Strong Ground: Guarding a Passage
Editor’s note: For the past two years, the Coalition has teamed up with the Division for Historic Preservation on a pre-season hike of the Mount called The Strong Ground Walk. These walks are intended to explore parts of Mount Independence off the trails in the spring before the undergrowth makes the ground difficult to see. … Continue reading Strong Ground: Guarding a Passage
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