This historical overview documents the evolution of Shelburne, Vermont, from its 1763 charter signed by Governor Benning Wentworth to its mid-20th-century development. The text details the hardships and resilience of early settlers, including colonial boundary disputes with New York and a dramatic Revolutionary War siege at a local blockhouse. It highlights how the economy transitioned from potash production and sheep farming to the establishment of the world-renowned Webb Estate and Shelburne Museum. The narrative also tracks the growth of civic infrastructure, covering the origins of local schools, diverse religious congregations, and the development of modern utilities like public water and sewage. Finally, the source profiles the post-war population boom, characterizing Shelburne’s shift toward a suburban community defined by recreation, craftsmanship, and a professional workforce. It contains a directory of residents of Shelburne, Vermont, in 1963.
The History of Shelburne
Contents
- The Charter
- The Early Settlers
- Life in Shelburne, to the Civil War
- Agriculture and Industry
- Town Affairs
- Church Histories
- Education
- The Halfway Point —
- The Civil War and the Years Following
- The Webb Estate
- The Turn of the Century To 1950
- The Present, and the Future
- Appendices and Acknowledgments
- Directory of Residents
Source
Harding, Marie, The History of Shelburne, The Excelsior Press, 1963.