This curiosity, a piece of wood measuring 3” x 4 ½” with attached label, “From Fort Dummer/Brattleboro, Vt. 1724”, is an unusual link to the Academy’s history. Fort Dummer, once located in Brattleboro, Vermont, was built while William Dummer was the acting Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Constructed of sturdy white pine the fort protected the English colony from invasion by the French and their Native American allies the Abenackis.
Today, Fort Dummer State Park in Brattleboro, Vermont, overlooks the site of Fort Dummer which was flooded when the Vernon Dam was built on the Connecticut River in 1908. The actual site of Fort Dummer is now underwater.
Kate:
ReplyDeleteI think your blog is a wonderful addition to the Governor's Academy community. I congratulate you on your effort and hard work at preserving our history and making it "come alive" in such cutting edge fashion. The Headmaster owes you a "Kudos" bar and we all owe you our gratitude. Thank you!!
Henry Eaton
Kate,
ReplyDeleteAs you know I love this stuff. Thanks for doing it.
Not to be too nerdy, but our Governor WD was Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay which included Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, the Province of Maine and what is now Nova Scotia.
Stanley Greenberg '67
Kate,
ReplyDeleteI've never met you, but want to thank you. I look forward to a new way of keeping abreast of events, history and stories from Byfield while living out here on the West Coast.
Thank you!
Rand Pendleton 80'
Great to learn more history. Seems odd they did not change the name of fort dummer to governor's fort.
ReplyDelete? who was richard dummer?
/ when did the dummer's arrive in the colony?
I hope you are rewarded for your good work in developing the Dummer history. In the days when I lived in Williamstown, MA I often drove through a southern Vermont village which I recall as Dummerston. I can't find it in the only atlas I have here and I no longer live up there -- but there really is such a village and I am sure this could be developed as part of the Fort Dummer story.
ReplyDelete