In late 2017 the library won a grant from the Vermont Humanities Council to capture Canaan in its own words. New audio equipment, a quiet chair, and time to talk. Since then the recordings have covered growing up here, the closing of the Beecher Falls factory, World War II, and the Earth People’s Park commune. In 2018 the project turned its focus to the Ethan Allen factory in Beecher Falls. Every recording is kept for the long term.

Voices so far

Sue: “I was a Christmas present for my brothers.”

Sue and Ron: “When I was four years old I had polio.”

Ed: “Don’t pee on my tree.” “When I went to boot camp.” “We were starting a brave new world.”

Ron: “250 people were going to be laid off.”

Buddy: “I was in Nuremberg after the war.”

Sally: “We had a lot more snow back then.”

Faces from the archive

Canaan Schools marching band at practice, 1947. The dedication of the Canaan Memorial Schools building in Fletcher Park, 1946.