Remarkable women from the past: Abby Maria Hemenway

Like other remarkable women in Addison County, Abby Hemenway rebelled against the prevailing, centuries-old, androcentric perceptions of her gender. She was a teacher, poet, author, historian and publisher, proving herself with fortitude, independence and great accomplishments. As the contributions Abby and other extraordinary women made were realized, the collective consciousness shifted towards support of more significant roles for all women.  Abby Maria Hemenway was born in 1828, on a hill farm in Ludlow … (read more)

Emma Hart Willard founded schools for women, published literary and instructive books, and established herself as one of the great champions for women’s equality. Although she left Middlebury in 1819, the struggles and lessons learned during her 12 years … (read more)

Charity Bryant (1777-1851) and Sylvia Drake (1784-1868) Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake met as young women in February 1807 in Weybridge. They spent the next 44 years in each other’s company until Charity’s death. Together they built their family house. T … (read more)

Some women drive change, others survive it. Moving with her family from Connecticut to Addison in 1770 at the age of 3, Sally Kellogg was part of the wave of migrants from southern New England who settled on Abenaki lands after the French and Indian war a … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — In honor of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote, the Henry Sheldon Museum’s Stewart-Swift Research Center has been planning an exhibit of a selection of women who demonstrated the determ … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY —The Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury presents “The Animals Are Innocent,”  a mixed media/ceramic exhibit of colorful, boat sculptures and paintings, both featuring animals, by Maryland artist, ceramist, author, and illustrator Dana Simson. T … (read more)

VERGENNES — What do you get when you take a stage manager from New York City, transplant them in Vergennes and give them chickens, and a knack for making cookies, chocolates and costumes? A messy dining room table. That’s what. Dawn Wagner, a self-describ … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — We all know fairies are real, but where do they live? Why, in tiny fairy houses, of course. Who builds these homes? Well on Sunday, July 21, a group of local kids (and their parents) showed up at the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury to help build … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — A Mad Hatter Tea Party and Hat Workshop is coming to the Sheldon Museum on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 1:30- 3 p.m. Artist Dawn Wagner will conduct this fun-filled afternoon of extraordinary paper hat-making, offering a chance for families to celeb … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — On Saturday, July 13, at noon, Sheldon archivist, Eva Garcelon-Hart, will discuss a recently-discovered unique photographic portrait of Joseph Battell as part of the Henry Sheldon Museum’s Hidden Treasure Series. Battell (1839-1915) was a loc … (read more)