Events
Plainfield Historical Society Annual Meeting
Each year, the Plainfield Historical Society invites the public to our Annual Meeting. At each Annual Meeting, we focus on a different topic.
2018 Annual Meeting
For our 2018 Annual Meeting, the Society presented Plainfield Remembered: Back In The Day, a roundtable discussion with 7 long-time Plainfield residents who grew up the 1940's.
They shared stories of life in the village, life on the farms, school remembrances and stories of some of the notable and colorful people of Plainfield in the mid-twentieth century.
Video of the roundtable discussion
2017 Annual Meeting
The 2017 Annual Meeting was titled Plainfield Remembered: Moving Upcountry in the 60's and 70s. A lively discussion led by Plainfield resident, Ben Koenig about the "hippie invasion" into central Vermont. That era left an impact on the area that is still felt today.
In the 1960's and 1970's, a wave of hopeful idealists abandoned city life and headed to Vermont, convinced that a better life awaited them. Plainfield became a hub for the counterculture eruption that spread across America.
2016 Annual Meeting
The 2016 Annual Meeting was a very well attended presentation by Frank J. Barrett, S, A.I.A. about Vermont's railroads. The first half of the program covered the development of railroads in Vermont including the political, financial and geographic issues that shaped them. The second half covered the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad that served Plainfield. The presentation included a virtual ride (in photographs) from Montpelier to Wells River.
The slides of the presentation are also available for viewing:
Part I - The Politics, Economics, and Technology of Early Railroad Development in VT 1825 to 1855
Part II - The Montpelier & Wells River Railroad 1867 to 1956
Plainfield Old Home Days
Each year, in September, the Plainfield Historical Society participates in Plainfield's Old Home Days.
In 2017 and 2018, The Society presented a walking tour of Plainfield's historic Main Street and Creamery Street in the heart of Plainfield village. The tour was facilitated by Susan Ross Grimaldi. She discussed several of the buildings and locations including their historical and architectural significance.
For 2015 and 2016, the Society presented "The History of Plainfield". This event used slides of historical Plainfield photos and was narrated by Susan Ross Grimaldi. Susan described the development of Plainfield from the time of the Native Americans through 1950. The success of the event was underscored when Susan was asked to repeat her presentation for participants in the fall foliage tour.
Also in 2015, the Society had the exhibit "On the Rails: A History of the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad in Plainfield" in the Town Hall. You can view a sample of the exhibit here.
Vermont History Expo
For 2016 Vermont History Expo, the Plainfield Historical Society had our popular display of "On the Rails: A History of the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad in Plainfield". You can view a sample of the exhibit here.
For other Vermont History events, go to the Vermont Historical Society website.
Heating Oil Delivery, c. 1925 (from the 2015 Annual Calendar)