https://simplecast.com Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast Meet fascinating writers past and present from Brattleboro, Vermont, America's most storied small town. en Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:44:57 +0000 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:09:55 +0000 https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/c1b256c8-044b-4592-a910-ccde0e33890a/23bb67f4-b63f-4899-8e40-fa8e6ea58dd5/3000x3000/bratt-words-trail-square.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com episodic Meet fascinating writers past and present from Brattleboro, Vermont, America's most storied small town. Brattleboro Words Project false https://feeds.simplecast.com/J_uL4_r8 #printtown, #vermontvacation, #118elliot, #writeaction, #bratlitfest, #brattleboro, #brattleborowordstrailpodcast, #bratwords, #brooksmemoriallibrary, #litfest, #newenglandhistory, #writersandwriting Lissa Weinmann LRWeinmann@gmail.com 4a71a8bf-ca1d-46a7-a2a7-2f104fd9a79b Marty Jezer: Author, Activist, Optimist This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail was written and narrated by Arlene Distler. Additional narration was Judy Ashkenaz, Steve Minkin and Woody Starkweather.  Producer and Executive Producer was Lissa Weinmann. Editing was Austin Rice with post production by Alec Pombriant. Mastering was by Guilford Sound. Musical selection for opening and closing music was Jeff Lederer's “Right Action” from his 2021 album 'Eightfold Path' and Mary LaRose for scatting in “Tinees Blues”. Special thanks to the crew at BCTV for great studio support.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:44:57 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#arlenedistler, #steveminkin, #judyashkenaz, #jefflederer, #marylarose, #austinrice, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant, #guilfordsound, #woodystarkweather) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/marty-jezer-author-activist-optimist-7uyND6lx This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail was written and narrated by Arlene Distler. Additional narration was Judy Ashkenaz, Steve Minkin and Woody Starkweather.  Producer and Executive Producer was Lissa Weinmann. Editing was Austin Rice with post production by Alec Pombriant. Mastering was by Guilford Sound. Musical selection for opening and closing music was Jeff Lederer's “Right Action” from his 2021 album 'Eightfold Path' and Mary LaRose for scatting in “Tinees Blues”. Special thanks to the crew at BCTV for great studio support.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Marty Jezer: Author, Activist, Optimist #arlenedistler, #steveminkin, #judyashkenaz, #jefflederer, #marylarose, #austinrice, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant, #guilfordsound, #woodystarkweather 00:16:47 Marty Jezer was a writer, columnist, activist and self-help exemplar who was well known in Brattleboro and beyond. Narrated by his long-time partner artist and writer Arlene Distler with commentary from Jezer’s friends and associates Steve Minkin and Judy Ashkenaz, the podcast gives a sense of Marty’s style and commitment to political dialogue. We learn about his books on Abbie Hoffman ('Abbie Hoffman: American Rebel', upon which the film 'Steal This Movie"' was largely based) and others, his attempt to start a new ‘Citizens Party" and relationship with US Senator Bernie Sanders, his daughter Kathryn Jezer-Morton, who is also a writer, and his weekly column in the daily Brattleboro Reformer. We hear from stuttering expert Woody Starkweather who reflects on how Marty’s autobiography 'Stuttering: A Life Bound Up in Words' remains a beacon for the stuttering community. We hear how Marty co-founded with Distler the Brattleboro writers' group 'Write Action,' which is a founding partner in the Brattleboro Words Project. We learn of his love of jazz, especially 'scat' and hear an example from singer Mary LaRose, and how each year scholarships in Marty's name are given to local students studying both jazz and journalism. We hear Distler read her poem 'Centering' about Marty's last days before he succumbed to cancer in 2005. The podcast ends with the image friends carrying Marty’s coffin along South Main Street to the tune of 'Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” to his final resting place at Shir Harim cemetery. He would have loved that. Marty Jezer was a writer, columnist, activist and self-help exemplar who was well known in Brattleboro and beyond. Narrated by his long-time partner artist and writer Arlene Distler with commentary from Jezer’s friends and associates Steve Minkin and Judy Ashkenaz, the podcast gives a sense of Marty’s style and commitment to political dialogue. We learn about his books on Abbie Hoffman ('Abbie Hoffman: American Rebel', upon which the film 'Steal This Movie"' was largely based) and others, his attempt to start a new ‘Citizens Party" and relationship with US Senator Bernie Sanders, his daughter Kathryn Jezer-Morton, who is also a writer, and his weekly column in the daily Brattleboro Reformer. We hear from stuttering expert Woody Starkweather who reflects on how Marty’s autobiography 'Stuttering: A Life Bound Up in Words' remains a beacon for the stuttering community. We hear how Marty co-founded with Distler the Brattleboro writers' group 'Write Action,' which is a founding partner in the Brattleboro Words Project. We learn of his love of jazz, especially 'scat' and hear an example from singer Mary LaRose, and how each year scholarships in Marty's name are given to local students studying both jazz and journalism. We hear Distler read her poem 'Centering' about Marty's last days before he succumbed to cancer in 2005. The podcast ends with the image friends carrying Marty’s coffin along South Main Street to the tune of 'Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” to his final resting place at Shir Harim cemetery. He would have loved that. #brattleboro, #berniesanders, #brattlebororeformer, #life-bound-up-in-stuttering, #journalism, #kathrynjezer-morton, #abbiehoffman, #writeaction, #brattleborowriters, #stuttering false full 29 d9ad9133-b118-4964-8e39-cf984aed2ec0 Circus Capital This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was researched, written by Kevin O'Keefe and Christopher Grotke with research help from Rolf Parker. It is narrated by Kevin O'Keefe. Editing was by Alec Pombriant. Executive Producer and sound design was Lissa Weinmann. Merry-go-round music "Over the Waves Calliope" and "Texas Sunflower' are both by Martha Van Dorn, Boris Yakovleff and Eric Ramberg, from Smithsonian Folkways Records 1955 album 'Sounds of Carnival’. ‘‘Whispering’ from the 2010 Classic Carnival Circus Calyope, Volume 2 from the Carlisle Music Company was used at the end of the segment. Other circus sounds came from Tom Glazer’s 1948 recordings from Smithsonian Folkways ‘The Circus Comes to Town.’ Many thanks to the New England Center for Circus Arts first annual Vermont Circus Festival taking place in and around Brattleboro November 2 through 9, 2025. Thanks for listening, and we will see you next month on...the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast.

 

For more information on Jumbo and circus in Brattleboro, see IBrattleboro story by Christopher Grotke: https://www.ibrattleboro.com/culture/history/2014/06/pt-barnum-in-brattleboro-and-jumbo-in-the-whetstone/

For more information on NECCA and the Vermont Circus Festival:  https://necenterforcircusarts.org/about/vermont-circus-festival/

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sat, 25 Oct 2025 17:10:25 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#circusminimus, #kevino'keefe, #neccavt, #newenglandcentercircusarts, #circussmirkus, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann, #rolfparker, #iBrattleboro, #chrisgrotke) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/circus-capital-e_JpyS0T This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was researched, written by Kevin O'Keefe and Christopher Grotke with research help from Rolf Parker. It is narrated by Kevin O'Keefe. Editing was by Alec Pombriant. Executive Producer and sound design was Lissa Weinmann. Merry-go-round music "Over the Waves Calliope" and "Texas Sunflower' are both by Martha Van Dorn, Boris Yakovleff and Eric Ramberg, from Smithsonian Folkways Records 1955 album 'Sounds of Carnival’. ‘‘Whispering’ from the 2010 Classic Carnival Circus Calyope, Volume 2 from the Carlisle Music Company was used at the end of the segment. Other circus sounds came from Tom Glazer’s 1948 recordings from Smithsonian Folkways ‘The Circus Comes to Town.’ Many thanks to the New England Center for Circus Arts first annual Vermont Circus Festival taking place in and around Brattleboro November 2 through 9, 2025. Thanks for listening, and we will see you next month on...the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast.

 

For more information on Jumbo and circus in Brattleboro, see IBrattleboro story by Christopher Grotke: https://www.ibrattleboro.com/culture/history/2014/06/pt-barnum-in-brattleboro-and-jumbo-in-the-whetstone/

For more information on NECCA and the Vermont Circus Festival:  https://necenterforcircusarts.org/about/vermont-circus-festival/

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Circus Capital #circusminimus, #kevino'keefe, #neccavt, #newenglandcentercircusarts, #circussmirkus, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann, #rolfparker, #iBrattleboro, #chrisgrotke 00:27:03 Brattleboro ‘circus man’ Kevin O’Keefe takes us on a journey through time and space, sprinkling kooky and colorful newspaper accounts of the various circuses that passed through town with his own erudite observations on how the tradition lives on through institutions like the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) launching the first annual Vermont Circus Festival November 2 to 9 in Brattleboro. In his unique and entertaining manner, Kevin makes the case that Brattleboro, Vermont is the circus capital of America. Kevin describes how the train would roll into town in the 1800s, listing a difficult to imagine number of rail cars filled with animals and equipment. He starts at the old Island Park, an amusement pavilion on an island in the middle of the Connecticut River over the old Anna Hunt Marsh Bridge adjacent to the rail station where circuses would perform to thousands. He discusses PT Barnum’s visit to another circus location, Frost Fields, site of today’s Cersosimo Lumber yard, and how Jumbo the Elephant bathed in the Whetstone Brook. He paints an engaging portrait of ‘Tom Thumb’ – the 28-inch tall performer – and other circus acts of the time. He also adds amusing details some of the petty crimes that occurred during the circus performances. He ends at the Brattleboro Fairgrounds, site of today's Brattleboro Union High School, where giant circus spectacles last took place. On more serious note, he reflects on why Vermont has been home to so many circus performers and details several circuses that persist to this day here, including the legendary Rob Mermin's Circus Smirkus, his own Circus Minimus, and Troy Wunderle and his Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures. He also highlights twin aerialists Elsie and Serenity Smith Forchion’s New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), America’s largest professional circus school, and plugs NECCA’s first annual Vermont Circus Week from November 2 to 9, 2025 in – you guessed it - Brattleboro, Vermont. Brattleboro ‘circus man’ Kevin O’Keefe takes us on a journey through time and space, sprinkling kooky and colorful newspaper accounts of the various circuses that passed through town with his own erudite observations on how the tradition lives on through institutions like the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) launching the first annual Vermont Circus Festival November 2 to 9 in Brattleboro. In his unique and entertaining manner, Kevin makes the case that Brattleboro, Vermont is the circus capital of America. Kevin describes how the train would roll into town in the 1800s, listing a difficult to imagine number of rail cars filled with animals and equipment. He starts at the old Island Park, an amusement pavilion on an island in the middle of the Connecticut River over the old Anna Hunt Marsh Bridge adjacent to the rail station where circuses would perform to thousands. He discusses PT Barnum’s visit to another circus location, Frost Fields, site of today’s Cersosimo Lumber yard, and how Jumbo the Elephant bathed in the Whetstone Brook. He paints an engaging portrait of ‘Tom Thumb’ – the 28-inch tall performer – and other circus acts of the time. He also adds amusing details some of the petty crimes that occurred during the circus performances. He ends at the Brattleboro Fairgrounds, site of today's Brattleboro Union High School, where giant circus spectacles last took place. On more serious note, he reflects on why Vermont has been home to so many circus performers and details several circuses that persist to this day here, including the legendary Rob Mermin's Circus Smirkus, his own Circus Minimus, and Troy Wunderle and his Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures. He also highlights twin aerialists Elsie and Serenity Smith Forchion’s New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA), America’s largest professional circus school, and plugs NECCA’s first annual Vermont Circus Week from November 2 to 9, 2025 in – you guessed it - Brattleboro, Vermont. #brattleboro, #brattleborocircus, #circushistory, #serenitysmithforchion, #circusminimus, #circusarts, #vtcircushistory, #vermontcircus false full 28 4b8c2ed3-4ccf-4f7d-9ad4-2b8a7739e0c1 Sandglass Theater - Puppetry, Family, Community This episode was originally produced by Michael Hanish for the Brattleboro Words Trail app; A subsequent interview was conducted in September 2025 with Jana Zeller by Lissa Weinmann and incorporated with original pieces to create the podcast. Ines Zeller Bass, Eric Bass, Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller all narrate. Original bed guitar music to Ines, Eric and Shoshanna segments was by Eric Bass. Other break guitar was by Alec Pombriant, who also edited the podcast. Executive Producer is Lissa Weinmann. 

For more information on Sandglass Theater please visit its website at:  https://www.sandglasstheater.org/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:46:18 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#ericbass, #janazeller, #shoshanabass, #ineszellerbass, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/sandglass-theater-puppetry-family-community-tA7kHufP This episode was originally produced by Michael Hanish for the Brattleboro Words Trail app; A subsequent interview was conducted in September 2025 with Jana Zeller by Lissa Weinmann and incorporated with original pieces to create the podcast. Ines Zeller Bass, Eric Bass, Shoshana Bass and Jana Zeller all narrate. Original bed guitar music to Ines, Eric and Shoshanna segments was by Eric Bass. Other break guitar was by Alec Pombriant, who also edited the podcast. Executive Producer is Lissa Weinmann. 

For more information on Sandglass Theater please visit its website at:  https://www.sandglasstheater.org/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sandglass Theater - Puppetry, Family, Community #ericbass, #janazeller, #shoshanabass, #ineszellerbass, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant 00:21:38 This podcast features three interviews with the founders and family members who founded and continue to grow world-class puppetry at Sandglass Theater in Putne,y Vermont, just north of Brattleboro. Ines Zeller Bass and Eric Bass, co-founders of Sandglass, set the stage in the first seven minutes, discussing how they met in Germany (where Ines is from) and their unique approach to puppetry and ensemble theater. They discuss how being part of community has shaped their work. They emphasize their unique collaborative process of creating puppets and scripts and how they nurture and value the puppet's "soul" over ‘manipulation’ to ‘listen’ to the puppet's voice. Deeply rooted in images and metaphors, they describe how their work goes beyond linear storytelling toward a non-traditional, fragmented storytelling style that invites audience participation. From about seven to 12 minutes, Eric and Ines' daughter Shoshana Bass discusses the theater's origins in Germany in 1982, its relocation to Vermont in 1986, and the transformation of an old livery stable into a 100 seat puppet theater. She says, as an ensemble company, Sandglass creates original works, offers programming for all ages, and addresses pressing community issues like refugees and dementia. She talks about Sandglass' educational offerings including summer intensives, camps, and workshops. She describes navigating a leadership transition from her parents to the next generation while exploring the theater's future and community engagement. Jana Zeller, the elder daughter of Eric and Ines, rounds out the podcast. She discusses her role in continuing the family's legacy overseeing youth programming and outreach and performing in various productions, including children's hand puppetry shows she's inherited from Ines' repertoire as well as her own original work. She discusses how Sandglass has moved beyond Putney to foster partnerships in Brattleboro whose creative mix well supports their work. Jana highlights the unique aspects of puppetry, including its capacity for metaphor and the emotional connection it fosters. She describes her own trajectory in puppetry and special fondness for hand puppets. She details Sandglass's community engagement, such as the "Puppets in Paradise" event and the "Puppets in the Green Mountains" festival, which showcases international puppetry. Jana reflects on how difficult international touring has become and how Sandglass, while maintaining its historically deep connections to the international puppet community, is excited to expand its regional reach by designing a traveling 'Puppet Wagon' to bring this meaningful art form to communities in rural Vermont communities and beyond. This podcast features three interviews with the founders and family members who founded and continue to grow world-class puppetry at Sandglass Theater in Putne,y Vermont, just north of Brattleboro. Ines Zeller Bass and Eric Bass, co-founders of Sandglass, set the stage in the first seven minutes, discussing how they met in Germany (where Ines is from) and their unique approach to puppetry and ensemble theater. They discuss how being part of community has shaped their work. They emphasize their unique collaborative process of creating puppets and scripts and how they nurture and value the puppet's "soul" over ‘manipulation’ to ‘listen’ to the puppet's voice. Deeply rooted in images and metaphors, they describe how their work goes beyond linear storytelling toward a non-traditional, fragmented storytelling style that invites audience participation. From about seven to 12 minutes, Eric and Ines' daughter Shoshana Bass discusses the theater's origins in Germany in 1982, its relocation to Vermont in 1986, and the transformation of an old livery stable into a 100 seat puppet theater. She says, as an ensemble company, Sandglass creates original works, offers programming for all ages, and addresses pressing community issues like refugees and dementia. She talks about Sandglass' educational offerings including summer intensives, camps, and workshops. She describes navigating a leadership transition from her parents to the next generation while exploring the theater's future and community engagement. Jana Zeller, the elder daughter of Eric and Ines, rounds out the podcast. She discusses her role in continuing the family's legacy overseeing youth programming and outreach and performing in various productions, including children's hand puppetry shows she's inherited from Ines' repertoire as well as her own original work. She discusses how Sandglass has moved beyond Putney to foster partnerships in Brattleboro whose creative mix well supports their work. Jana highlights the unique aspects of puppetry, including its capacity for metaphor and the emotional connection it fosters. She describes her own trajectory in puppetry and special fondness for hand puppets. She details Sandglass's community engagement, such as the "Puppets in Paradise" event and the "Puppets in the Green Mountains" festival, which showcases international puppetry. Jana reflects on how difficult international touring has become and how Sandglass, while maintaining its historically deep connections to the international puppet community, is excited to expand its regional reach by designing a traveling 'Puppet Wagon' to bring this meaningful art form to communities in rural Vermont communities and beyond. #brattleboro, #brattleboroarts, #puppetry, #putneyvermont, #puppetsinparadise, #sandglass, @sandglasstheater, #sandglasstheater, #puppetsinthegreenmountains false full 27 b046e94e-4c1e-42b1-ac73-551a43eef574 Mary Cabot: Kipling's Best Friend in Brattleboro This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail podcast was researched and co-written by Angelika Pavlovna and Lissa Weinmann. Narration and editing was by Angelika Pavlovna. The Voice of Mary Cabot was Casey Pareles. Christopher Benfey provided additional commentary. Original music was composed by John Loggia. Lissa Weinmann did the sound design/editing and was executive producer.  Alec Pombriant did the final podcast mastering.

All of Mary Cabot quotes were taken directly from Mary's original letters to her sister as archived in the indispensable Howard C. Rice Kipling Collection at the University of Vermont. Thanks to Johnny, Nolan, Van and Helena and the whole BCTV crew for studio help and general support for the Brattleboro Words Trail. 

The source of Mary Cabot's letters to her sister Grace and other documentation used in this podcast came from the Howard C. Rice Jr.'s Kipling Collection at the University of Vermont Special Collections: https://scfindingaids.uvm.edu/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&op%5B%5D=&q%5B%5D=kipling+collection&limit=&field%5B%5D=&from_year%5B%5D=&to_year%5B%5D=&commit=Search

Professor Christopher Benfey's 2019 book 'If: The Untold Story of Kipling's American Years' can be viewed at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545931/if-by-christopher-benfey/

One can find an original copy of the Annals at Brooks Memorial Library, and it is also digitized online at the Internet Archive at:https://archive.org/details/annalsofbrattleb01cabo/page/n11/mode/2up

For a great read on Cabot's explorer/indigenous photographer brother William Brooks Cabot, see:https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2001/09/william-brooks-cabot-html

For information on renting/visiting Kipling's home Naulakha in Brattleboro:  https://landmarktrustusa.org/rudyard-kiplings-naulakha

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2025 19:24:14 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#caseypareles, #bctv, #johnloggia, #angelikapavlovna, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant, #christopherbenfey) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/mary-cabot-kiplings-best-friend-in-brattleboro-vcPtDc8a This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail podcast was researched and co-written by Angelika Pavlovna and Lissa Weinmann. Narration and editing was by Angelika Pavlovna. The Voice of Mary Cabot was Casey Pareles. Christopher Benfey provided additional commentary. Original music was composed by John Loggia. Lissa Weinmann did the sound design/editing and was executive producer.  Alec Pombriant did the final podcast mastering.

All of Mary Cabot quotes were taken directly from Mary's original letters to her sister as archived in the indispensable Howard C. Rice Kipling Collection at the University of Vermont. Thanks to Johnny, Nolan, Van and Helena and the whole BCTV crew for studio help and general support for the Brattleboro Words Trail. 

The source of Mary Cabot's letters to her sister Grace and other documentation used in this podcast came from the Howard C. Rice Jr.'s Kipling Collection at the University of Vermont Special Collections: https://scfindingaids.uvm.edu/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&op%5B%5D=&q%5B%5D=kipling+collection&limit=&field%5B%5D=&from_year%5B%5D=&to_year%5B%5D=&commit=Search

Professor Christopher Benfey's 2019 book 'If: The Untold Story of Kipling's American Years' can be viewed at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545931/if-by-christopher-benfey/

One can find an original copy of the Annals at Brooks Memorial Library, and it is also digitized online at the Internet Archive at:https://archive.org/details/annalsofbrattleb01cabo/page/n11/mode/2up

For a great read on Cabot's explorer/indigenous photographer brother William Brooks Cabot, see:https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2001/09/william-brooks-cabot-html

For information on renting/visiting Kipling's home Naulakha in Brattleboro:  https://landmarktrustusa.org/rudyard-kiplings-naulakha

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mary Cabot: Kipling's Best Friend in Brattleboro #caseypareles, #bctv, #johnloggia, #angelikapavlovna, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant, #christopherbenfey 00:28:37 Mary Rogers Cabot (Aug 20, 1856 to April 30, 1932) is mostly known for writing a two-volume history of Brattleboro entitled 'Annals of Brattleboro, 1681-1895' (Brattleboro, Vt.: E. L. Hildreth & Co., 1921 ) but her true claim to fame, hardly recognized, was being famed writer Rudyard Kipling's best friend during the years he and his budding family lived in the Brattleboro area until a legal battle between Kipling and his brother in law erupted into a globally publicized circus and the Kipling family escaped back to England. Mary's account of Kipling's time in Brattleboro is the best source of his incredibly productive life in Vermont. The episode also breaks new ground in exploring Kipling and Cabot's shared love for the same man as the basis of their bond. The episode begins discussing Cabot's life as a 'cosmopolitan villager' -- a wealthy, independent, intellectual and world-wise woman of the late 1800s, who possessed an unbridled curiosity about the people and goings-on in the town and its place in the world. Her extensive volunteerism, philanthropic life and approach to town history is presented and the Kipling quote she used as an epigraph to the Annals is offered. We hear her origin story and the source of her father's fortune as a merchant trader in the cotton port town of Wetumka, Alabama. We meet her sister Grace Holbrook and brother William Brooks Cabot, a noted engineer and explorer who documented Canadian indigenous peoples in books ('In Northern Labrador,' 1912) and photographs collected under the William Brooks Cabot collection at the Smithsonian. We learn that Mary was likely the prototype for William Dean Howell's 1888 novel 'Annie Kilburn' and hear a quote from that book. We learn about Cabot's deep feelings for Wolcott Balastier, Kipling's wife Carolyn Balastier (Carrie's) brother. Details of the Balastier family's Brattleboro home, Wolcott's life as a literary wunderkind in London, his shocking death at age 30 and his relationship with Kipling and Cabot are discussed. Mary's voice comes to life in multiple excerpts from ther letters to her sister Grace found in the Howard C. Rice Kipling Collection at the University of Vermont. Sleigh rides at midnight, 'chafing dish suppers', Kipling and his wife's relationship, children and their home 'Naulakha' (still preserved in Brattleboro by Landmark Trust) and aspects of the artistic collaboration between Cabot and Kipling are revealed with select commentary from Kipling scholar Professor Christopher Benfey. We share Cabot's feelings about the feud that ripped the Balastier family apart and experience Kipling's tearful farewell to Cabot and departure from Brattleboro, one of the two places he loved most in the world (the other was 'Bombay'). The episode ends with Mary's last days, how she lived her whole life at the Terrace Street house in Brattleboro that still exists today, her family's burial grounds and how she was remembered by peers of her time. Mary Rogers Cabot (Aug 20, 1856 to April 30, 1932) is mostly known for writing a two-volume history of Brattleboro entitled 'Annals of Brattleboro, 1681-1895' (Brattleboro, Vt.: E. L. Hildreth & Co., 1921 ) but her true claim to fame, hardly recognized, was being famed writer Rudyard Kipling's best friend during the years he and his budding family lived in the Brattleboro area until a legal battle between Kipling and his brother in law erupted into a globally publicized circus and the Kipling family escaped back to England. Mary's account of Kipling's time in Brattleboro is the best source of his incredibly productive life in Vermont. The episode also breaks new ground in exploring Kipling and Cabot's shared love for the same man as the basis of their bond. The episode begins discussing Cabot's life as a 'cosmopolitan villager' -- a wealthy, independent, intellectual and world-wise woman of the late 1800s, who possessed an unbridled curiosity about the people and goings-on in the town and its place in the world. Her extensive volunteerism, philanthropic life and approach to town history is presented and the Kipling quote she used as an epigraph to the Annals is offered. We hear her origin story and the source of her father's fortune as a merchant trader in the cotton port town of Wetumka, Alabama. We meet her sister Grace Holbrook and brother William Brooks Cabot, a noted engineer and explorer who documented Canadian indigenous peoples in books ('In Northern Labrador,' 1912) and photographs collected under the William Brooks Cabot collection at the Smithsonian. We learn that Mary was likely the prototype for William Dean Howell's 1888 novel 'Annie Kilburn' and hear a quote from that book. We learn about Cabot's deep feelings for Wolcott Balastier, Kipling's wife Carolyn Balastier (Carrie's) brother. Details of the Balastier family's Brattleboro home, Wolcott's life as a literary wunderkind in London, his shocking death at age 30 and his relationship with Kipling and Cabot are discussed. Mary's voice comes to life in multiple excerpts from ther letters to her sister Grace found in the Howard C. Rice Kipling Collection at the University of Vermont. Sleigh rides at midnight, 'chafing dish suppers', Kipling and his wife's relationship, children and their home 'Naulakha' (still preserved in Brattleboro by Landmark Trust) and aspects of the artistic collaboration between Cabot and Kipling are revealed with select commentary from Kipling scholar Professor Christopher Benfey. We share Cabot's feelings about the feud that ripped the Balastier family apart and experience Kipling's tearful farewell to Cabot and departure from Brattleboro, one of the two places he loved most in the world (the other was 'Bombay'). The episode ends with Mary's last days, how she lived her whole life at the Terrace Street house in Brattleboro that still exists today, her family's burial grounds and how she was remembered by peers of her time. #brattleboro, #annalsofbrattleboro, #rudyardkipling, #landmarktrust, #brattleborohistory, #vermonthistory, #vermontwriters, #uvmspecialcollections, #maryrogerscabot, #kipling, #marycabot false full 26 3805d35d-59bc-41a5-bdc9-9b116a34ed50 Robert Frost's Marlboro College 'An Act of Creation' Research, Script and Narration: Dan Toomey. Voice of Frost and reading 'The Road Not Taken'  is William Edelglass. Editors and recordings: Lissa Weinmann, Donna Blackney. Mastering by Dave Snyder, Guilford Sound. Music used: ‘A Place Beyond Belief’ by Sander Kalmeijer (storyblocks.com), ‘Horses’ by Pictures of the Floating World’ (freemusicarchive.org), ‘Cove Instrumental’ by Chad Crouch (freemusicarchive.org). Photograph is Walter Hendricks with Robert Frost on Marlboro College campus, photographer unknown, part of Marlboro College archives.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:20:56 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#williamedelglass) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/robert-frosts-marlboro-college-p7azNkrQ Research, Script and Narration: Dan Toomey. Voice of Frost and reading 'The Road Not Taken'  is William Edelglass. Editors and recordings: Lissa Weinmann, Donna Blackney. Mastering by Dave Snyder, Guilford Sound. Music used: ‘A Place Beyond Belief’ by Sander Kalmeijer (storyblocks.com), ‘Horses’ by Pictures of the Floating World’ (freemusicarchive.org), ‘Cove Instrumental’ by Chad Crouch (freemusicarchive.org). Photograph is Walter Hendricks with Robert Frost on Marlboro College campus, photographer unknown, part of Marlboro College archives.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Robert Frost's Marlboro College 'An Act of Creation' #williamedelglass 00:08:48 Narrator Daniel Toomey, who researched and wrote this podcast for the Brattleboro Words Trail, discusses Pulitzer winning poet and playwright Robert Frost's (1874 – 1963) influence and philosophical imprint on Marlboro College. 'The Road Not Taken' is read by William Edelglass, a Philosophy Professor at Marlboro for the last 12 years of its existence (who also provides a more complete reflection on the college and its impact in a longer podcast accompanying this 'bonus' podcast). Edelglass also quotes from Frost poems 'Kitty Hawk' and 'Directive', and the piece ends with a line from that last poem: 'Here are hour waters and your watering place / drink and be whole again / beyond confusion.' Toomey, who also taught at Marlboro College, describes college founder Walter Hendricks devotion to Frost and how he brought him into its 'act of creation'. In the years subsequent to its opening in 1947, Frost spent considerable time on the new Marlboro College campus, visiting the Hendricks family, talking to students informally as a visiting associate in teaching, as Hendricks called his unpaid position, and participating in the 1948 inauguration graduation, as well as the 1950 graduation during which he received from Marlboro his 22nd honorary degree. Frost's democratic and characteristically American ideal of the shoestring start pointed toward a grander notion, carrying echoes from his reading of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henri Bergson and William James that was at the heart of much of his thinking, forming something out of nothing, making an immaterial idea substantive, convinced that the act of creation itself is the central purpose of our existence. Narrator Daniel Toomey, who researched and wrote this podcast for the Brattleboro Words Trail, discusses Pulitzer winning poet and playwright Robert Frost's (1874 – 1963) influence and philosophical imprint on Marlboro College. 'The Road Not Taken' is read by William Edelglass, a Philosophy Professor at Marlboro for the last 12 years of its existence (who also provides a more complete reflection on the college and its impact in a longer podcast accompanying this 'bonus' podcast). Edelglass also quotes from Frost poems 'Kitty Hawk' and 'Directive', and the piece ends with a line from that last poem: 'Here are hour waters and your watering place / drink and be whole again / beyond confusion.' Toomey, who also taught at Marlboro College, describes college founder Walter Hendricks devotion to Frost and how he brought him into its 'act of creation'. In the years subsequent to its opening in 1947, Frost spent considerable time on the new Marlboro College campus, visiting the Hendricks family, talking to students informally as a visiting associate in teaching, as Hendricks called his unpaid position, and participating in the 1948 inauguration graduation, as well as the 1950 graduation during which he received from Marlboro his 22nd honorary degree. Frost's democratic and characteristically American ideal of the shoestring start pointed toward a grander notion, carrying echoes from his reading of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henri Bergson and William James that was at the heart of much of his thinking, forming something out of nothing, making an immaterial idea substantive, convinced that the act of creation itself is the central purpose of our existence. #marlboromusicfestival, #marlborocollege, #robertfrost false bonus 6d0d5c65-a7c4-4059-87ae-e606eb1a1c30 Marlboro College: A Beautiful Thing This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was narrated by William Edelglass, a Professor of Philosophy and a co-founder of the Brattleboro Words Trail. Executive Producer Lissa Weinmann interviewed William at BCTV with engineering support from their staff. Alec Pombriant – that’s me – edited and designed the sound. The interstitial music heard in this episode is 6 Épigraphes Antiques by Claude Debussy as performed by Peter Serkin.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:00:40 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#williamedelglass, #marlboro, #marlborovt, #marlborocollege, #lissaweinmann, #marlboromusicfestival, #brattleborotv, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/marlboro-college-a-beautiful-thing-TwhiQWQJ This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was narrated by William Edelglass, a Professor of Philosophy and a co-founder of the Brattleboro Words Trail. Executive Producer Lissa Weinmann interviewed William at BCTV with engineering support from their staff. Alec Pombriant – that’s me – edited and designed the sound. The interstitial music heard in this episode is 6 Épigraphes Antiques by Claude Debussy as performed by Peter Serkin.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Marlboro College: A Beautiful Thing #williamedelglass, #marlboro, #marlborovt, #marlborocollege, #lissaweinmann, #marlboromusicfestival, #brattleborotv, #alecpombriant 00:37:54 Narrator /Philosopher William Edelglass, PhD taught the last 12 years of Marlboro College before it closed in 2020 amid strong feelings in the community about the loss of a 'sacred place' of learning of particular import to Brattleboro. The gorgeous campus is now owned by the Marlboro Music Festival which brings world-class musicians to Potash Hill in Marlboro every summer and had enjoyed close ties to the college. Edelglass reflects on what attracted him and others to Marlboro and made the college the 'beautiful thing' it was and also a victim of changes in American higher education and society at large. He discusses the origins of Marlboro College, founded by Walter Hendricks who brought in Robert Frost as the college's first trustee and whose educational philosophy shaped the college's approach to students and learning. He shares how Hendricks founded the school after creating a post WWII college for veterans in Europe, and how veterans helped build the college, literally and figuratively, and shaped it as 'a training ground for democratic citizens to participate fully in civic life.' Universal particpation in a regular 'town meeting' gave students a rare say in essential campus decision-making. He discusses how Hendricks was fired after accusing colleagues and students of being Communists during the red scare. He discusses the shift in leadership to Tom Ragle who led the school for 23 years and brought in the 'plan of concentration' where students did a PhD-like defense of their topic for sometimes prominent outside examiners. He discussed the impact Marlboro had on the larger Brattleboro area and how many creatives and politically minded folks who went and/or taught at Marlboro have enriched the region, especially people like political leaders Emilie Kornheiser Sara Coffey and others and artists John Willis, Jay Craven, Blanche and Louis Moyse, Met Mott, and more. He spoke of the importance of the writing requirement and how many authors arose from Marlboro like T. Hunter Wilson and Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina. He described the painful process that led to the decision to close the campus and partner with Emerson College in Boston to form the Marlboro Institute of Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies. He discusses the current stewardship of Marlboro Music Festival over the some 65 buildings and lush grounds and new programs happening in the old Marlboro campus, like the Marlboro Studio School and the Contemplative Semester. He ends with reflections on how Marlboro College lives on through the festival and in the many people who came there and settled to contribute in many ways to the greater Brattleboro area, and how it was 'a beautiful thing.' Narrator /Philosopher William Edelglass, PhD taught the last 12 years of Marlboro College before it closed in 2020 amid strong feelings in the community about the loss of a 'sacred place' of learning of particular import to Brattleboro. The gorgeous campus is now owned by the Marlboro Music Festival which brings world-class musicians to Potash Hill in Marlboro every summer and had enjoyed close ties to the college. Edelglass reflects on what attracted him and others to Marlboro and made the college the 'beautiful thing' it was and also a victim of changes in American higher education and society at large. He discusses the origins of Marlboro College, founded by Walter Hendricks who brought in Robert Frost as the college's first trustee and whose educational philosophy shaped the college's approach to students and learning. He shares how Hendricks founded the school after creating a post WWII college for veterans in Europe, and how veterans helped build the college, literally and figuratively, and shaped it as 'a training ground for democratic citizens to participate fully in civic life.' Universal particpation in a regular 'town meeting' gave students a rare say in essential campus decision-making. He discusses how Hendricks was fired after accusing colleagues and students of being Communists during the red scare. He discusses the shift in leadership to Tom Ragle who led the school for 23 years and brought in the 'plan of concentration' where students did a PhD-like defense of their topic for sometimes prominent outside examiners. He discussed the impact Marlboro had on the larger Brattleboro area and how many creatives and politically minded folks who went and/or taught at Marlboro have enriched the region, especially people like political leaders Emilie Kornheiser Sara Coffey and others and artists John Willis, Jay Craven, Blanche and Louis Moyse, Met Mott, and more. He spoke of the importance of the writing requirement and how many authors arose from Marlboro like T. Hunter Wilson and Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina. He described the painful process that led to the decision to close the campus and partner with Emerson College in Boston to form the Marlboro Institute of Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies. He discusses the current stewardship of Marlboro Music Festival over the some 65 buildings and lush grounds and new programs happening in the old Marlboro campus, like the Marlboro Studio School and the Contemplative Semester. He ends with reflections on how Marlboro College lives on through the festival and in the many people who came there and settled to contribute in many ways to the greater Brattleboro area, and how it was 'a beautiful thing.' #marlborocollege, #vermontvacation, #johnwillis, #marlboromusic, #rudolfserkin, #brattleborohistory, #collegesclosing, #marlborohistoricalsociety, #jaycraven, #blanchemoyse, #vtstudioschool, #smallliberalartscolleges, #brattleborowordstrail, #peterserkin, #constitutionwrangler, #vermontliving, #gretchenholbrookgerzina, #marlborovt false full 25 37b082a5-7d9e-4b08-a69a-8be55d9f8304 News and Nursing: The Rice Family of Chestnut Hill This episode was a labor of love from the Rice/Hooper family who wrote and produced most of it. The Nurse Marion piece was written, produced and narrated by Steven L. Hooper, who also narrated the intro to the podcast. It was edited by Donna Blackney. Research was by Steve and Jackie Hooper. The voice of Nurse Marion was by her great, great niece, Althaea Carroll.

Music used:
‘Endless’ by Dana Boule (freemusicarchive.org)
‘The Bluff Trail Instrumental’ (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Werdenfelser Trompeten Landler’ by Strassmeir Dachaur Bauernkkapelle (freemusicarchive.org)
‘La Marseillaise’ by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, Performed by United States Navy Band https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Marseillaise.ogg (public domain)
‘Streetlife’ by Lobo Loco (freemusicarchive.org)

The second segment on the Rice Family of Chesnut Hill was researched, written and narrated by Jackie Hooper.  Audio Producer & Editor was Donna Blackney. The Voice of Amy Jones Rice was: Shannon Ward  and the Voice of Howard C. Rice was Riley Goodemote. Executive producer, Lissa Weinmann. Podcast editing, Alec Pombriant. Original selections were mastered by Guilford Sound. 

Music used: 
‘Old Strange’ by Black Twig Pickers and Steve Gunn (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Wild Horse of Stony Point’ by Black Twig Pickers and Steve Gunn (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Fisher’s Hornpipe’ (traditional by James A. Fishar) Performed by Adam Boyce and Harold Luce. Archive recording courtesy of Vermont Folk Life Center
‘Not Drunk’ by The Joy Drops (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Dill Pickles’ by Heftone Banjo Orchestra (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Patriotic Songs of America’ by New York Military Band and the American Quartet (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Parisian’ by Kevin MacLeod (freemusicarchive.org)

Steve Hooper produced a History Channel documentary about his Aunt Marion's war time experience “An American Nurse at War” which can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mmy2kdYGWo

Steve also mounted a July 2021 Brattleboro Words Trail exhibition "You Have No Idea What It's Like Over Here..." on same at 118 Elliot Gallery https://118elliot.com/event/july-2-opening-you-have-no-idea-what-its-like-over-here-photos-letters-from-brattleboro-ww1-nurse-marion-mccune-rice/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Fri, 30 May 2025 21:12:53 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#stevenlhooper, #althaeacarroll, #donnablackney, #jackiehooper, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/newspapers-and-nursing-the-fascinating-characters-of-chestnut-hill-dx1fsYPv This episode was a labor of love from the Rice/Hooper family who wrote and produced most of it. The Nurse Marion piece was written, produced and narrated by Steven L. Hooper, who also narrated the intro to the podcast. It was edited by Donna Blackney. Research was by Steve and Jackie Hooper. The voice of Nurse Marion was by her great, great niece, Althaea Carroll.

Music used:
‘Endless’ by Dana Boule (freemusicarchive.org)
‘The Bluff Trail Instrumental’ (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Werdenfelser Trompeten Landler’ by Strassmeir Dachaur Bauernkkapelle (freemusicarchive.org)
‘La Marseillaise’ by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, Performed by United States Navy Band https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Marseillaise.ogg (public domain)
‘Streetlife’ by Lobo Loco (freemusicarchive.org)

The second segment on the Rice Family of Chesnut Hill was researched, written and narrated by Jackie Hooper.  Audio Producer & Editor was Donna Blackney. The Voice of Amy Jones Rice was: Shannon Ward  and the Voice of Howard C. Rice was Riley Goodemote. Executive producer, Lissa Weinmann. Podcast editing, Alec Pombriant. Original selections were mastered by Guilford Sound. 

Music used: 
‘Old Strange’ by Black Twig Pickers and Steve Gunn (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Wild Horse of Stony Point’ by Black Twig Pickers and Steve Gunn (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Fisher’s Hornpipe’ (traditional by James A. Fishar) Performed by Adam Boyce and Harold Luce. Archive recording courtesy of Vermont Folk Life Center
‘Not Drunk’ by The Joy Drops (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Dill Pickles’ by Heftone Banjo Orchestra (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Patriotic Songs of America’ by New York Military Band and the American Quartet (freemusicarchive.org)
‘Parisian’ by Kevin MacLeod (freemusicarchive.org)

Steve Hooper produced a History Channel documentary about his Aunt Marion's war time experience “An American Nurse at War” which can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mmy2kdYGWo

Steve also mounted a July 2021 Brattleboro Words Trail exhibition "You Have No Idea What It's Like Over Here..." on same at 118 Elliot Gallery https://118elliot.com/event/july-2-opening-you-have-no-idea-what-its-like-over-here-photos-letters-from-brattleboro-ww1-nurse-marion-mccune-rice/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> News and Nursing: The Rice Family of Chestnut Hill #stevenlhooper, #althaeacarroll, #donnablackney, #jackiehooper, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann 00:21:53 Narrator and Words Trail co-producer Steve Hooper introduces Chestnut Hill, a special little neighborhood just above Downtown Brattleboro marked by an old reservoir, houses with spectacular views and access to the lovely Retreat Trails network. Steve describes visiting his grandparents, Howard Crosby and Amy Rice, his aunt Marion McCune Rice and uncle Howard C. Rice Jr. at their respective homes there. The Rice family's creative, cosmopolitan and community-minded lives and spirits helped shape the identity of Brattleboro. Howard and Amy were the first to build a house at the apex of Chestnut Hill after a former park created by publisher George Crowell was closed. That house at 105 Chestnut Hill, with its wonderful view of the Connecticut River, still stands today. Howard C. Rice was the first editor/publisher of The Brattleboro Daily Reformer, launching its first edition in 1913. (The Reformer was founded as the weekly Windham County Reformer in 1876.) He led the paper for more than 40 years until his son-in-law John S. Hooper (Steve's dad) took over for a collective and continuous leadership of the daily paper for more than 60 years. John S. Hooper married the Rice’s eldest daughter Marion in 1931 in the rose garden behind the house. Together they founded and led the Stephen Daye Press, one of the best regional book publishers in New England at that time. The press was sold after WW2 and John Hooper assumed the reins of the Reformer when Howard C. retired. Steven introduces the story of his Aunt Marion, who lived at 90 Chestnut HIll, a World War I American Red Cross nurse for four years in the thick of fighting in France. Her extraordinary body of letters and photographs, which Steve discovered after her death, poignantly describe her war experience. Steve's daughter Althaea reads from the letters in the first half of the podcast. Steve's wife Jackie Hooper narrates the second half of the podcast about the founding of the Reformer and family life with Howard C. Rice and Amy and gives a brief history of Chestnut Hill itself. Actors recount colorful vignettes of life at the time, including tales of stolen rings and dogs. She also tells of Steve's Great Uncle Howard C. Rice, Jr.and his wife France Chalufour Rice, who lived at 160 Chestnut Hill in a house closer to the famed Retreat Tower. Howard Jr. was an assistant librarian for rare books and special collections and an associate professor at Princeton University from 1948 until his retirement in 1970. He wrote several books on Kipling including “Rudyard Kipling in New England.” His research papers, originally housed at Marlboro College, are now at the University of Vermont library providing crucial information on Kipling and his Brattleboro friends. All in all, the podcast provides a charming account of the achievements of an extraordinary family with a very special place in Brattleboro history. Narrator and Words Trail co-producer Steve Hooper introduces Chestnut Hill, a special little neighborhood just above Downtown Brattleboro marked by an old reservoir, houses with spectacular views and access to the lovely Retreat Trails network. Steve describes visiting his grandparents, Howard Crosby and Amy Rice, his aunt Marion McCune Rice and uncle Howard C. Rice Jr. at their respective homes there. The Rice family's creative, cosmopolitan and community-minded lives and spirits helped shape the identity of Brattleboro. Howard and Amy were the first to build a house at the apex of Chestnut Hill after a former park created by publisher George Crowell was closed. That house at 105 Chestnut Hill, with its wonderful view of the Connecticut River, still stands today. Howard C. Rice was the first editor/publisher of The Brattleboro Daily Reformer, launching its first edition in 1913. (The Reformer was founded as the weekly Windham County Reformer in 1876.) He led the paper for more than 40 years until his son-in-law John S. Hooper (Steve's dad) took over for a collective and continuous leadership of the daily paper for more than 60 years. John S. Hooper married the Rice’s eldest daughter Marion in 1931 in the rose garden behind the house. Together they founded and led the Stephen Daye Press, one of the best regional book publishers in New England at that time. The press was sold after WW2 and John Hooper assumed the reins of the Reformer when Howard C. retired. Steven introduces the story of his Aunt Marion, who lived at 90 Chestnut HIll, a World War I American Red Cross nurse for four years in the thick of fighting in France. Her extraordinary body of letters and photographs, which Steve discovered after her death, poignantly describe her war experience. Steve's daughter Althaea reads from the letters in the first half of the podcast. Steve's wife Jackie Hooper narrates the second half of the podcast about the founding of the Reformer and family life with Howard C. Rice and Amy and gives a brief history of Chestnut Hill itself. Actors recount colorful vignettes of life at the time, including tales of stolen rings and dogs. She also tells of Steve's Great Uncle Howard C. Rice, Jr.and his wife France Chalufour Rice, who lived at 160 Chestnut Hill in a house closer to the famed Retreat Tower. Howard Jr. was an assistant librarian for rare books and special collections and an associate professor at Princeton University from 1948 until his retirement in 1970. He wrote several books on Kipling including “Rudyard Kipling in New England.” His research papers, originally housed at Marlboro College, are now at the University of Vermont library providing crucial information on Kipling and his Brattleboro friends. All in all, the podcast provides a charming account of the achievements of an extraordinary family with a very special place in Brattleboro history. #chestnuthillbrattleboro, #ww1nurses, #brattleborohistory, #brattleborowords, #brattlebororeformer, #downtownbrattleboro, #brattleboronews false full 24 cb67bd3c-9547-4eb7-b5b6-cca9ab9afce4 Rumi in Vermont This episode was written and narrated by Amer Latif, who also played the ney. Producer and editor was Lissa Weinmann. Guilford Sound mastered the Words Trail content and Alec Pombriant did post-podcast production. 

Dr. Amer Latif is an interdisciplinary scholar specializing in comparative religion and Islamic studies. His research revolves around the translation of cultures. Having grown up in Pakistan and with an undergraduate degree in Physics, Dr. Latif thrives on studying and creating containers that are capacious enough to hold seeming contradictions such as science and religion. Dr. Latif lives in the Brattleboro area, having tought at Marlboro College, just next to Brattleboro. That college closed in 2020 but lives on as the Marlboro Institute at Emerson College in Boston where Dr. Latif teaches today. 

The Sama is ritual of Sufi whirling or whirling dervishes, a mystical practice within Sufism, a branch of Islam, that involves spinning and whirling while chanting and praying, a form of worship, or prayer through movement,  to connect with the divine and achieve a state of spiritual unity.

We honor the special gifts all cultures bring to the world, and hope you enjoy how this segment sheds particular light on the rich artistic traditions around Islam and Sufism's reverence for nature, and humans place within nature.

For a current online class on Rumi recommended by Dr. Latif:
https://www.suficorner.org/events/masnavi

For more info on Threshold Publishing/Kabir and Camile Helminsky

www.sufism.org 

 

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:33:29 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#amerlatifphd, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/ancient-poet-rumi-MKjfQOny This episode was written and narrated by Amer Latif, who also played the ney. Producer and editor was Lissa Weinmann. Guilford Sound mastered the Words Trail content and Alec Pombriant did post-podcast production. 

Dr. Amer Latif is an interdisciplinary scholar specializing in comparative religion and Islamic studies. His research revolves around the translation of cultures. Having grown up in Pakistan and with an undergraduate degree in Physics, Dr. Latif thrives on studying and creating containers that are capacious enough to hold seeming contradictions such as science and religion. Dr. Latif lives in the Brattleboro area, having tought at Marlboro College, just next to Brattleboro. That college closed in 2020 but lives on as the Marlboro Institute at Emerson College in Boston where Dr. Latif teaches today. 

The Sama is ritual of Sufi whirling or whirling dervishes, a mystical practice within Sufism, a branch of Islam, that involves spinning and whirling while chanting and praying, a form of worship, or prayer through movement,  to connect with the divine and achieve a state of spiritual unity.

We honor the special gifts all cultures bring to the world, and hope you enjoy how this segment sheds particular light on the rich artistic traditions around Islam and Sufism's reverence for nature, and humans place within nature.

For a current online class on Rumi recommended by Dr. Latif:
https://www.suficorner.org/events/masnavi

For more info on Threshold Publishing/Kabir and Camile Helminsky

www.sufism.org 

 

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Rumi in Vermont #amerlatifphd, #alecpombriant 00:11:36 Dr. Amer Latif introduces us to the Persian poet Rumi, who, though born in Konya, Turkey, more than than 800 years ago, remains one of the world’s most beloved and inspiring poets. Dr. Latif talks about Rumi ’s surprising connections to Brattleboro, reads a bit of his work in English and in Persian, and plays the sacred Sufi flute - the ney - to accompany this story. He shares the story of how Brattleboro's Threshold Publishing played a pivotal role in introducing the Rumi to America and a larger world. Latif, a professor of cross cultural studies at Emerson College, says: "Scriptures vary, cultures vary; The book of nature is what we have in common, and Rumi helps us read that book." He talks about the Threshold Society and Kabir and Camile Helminsky's bringing musicians and whirling dervishes from Rumi's Sufi order to Brattelboro and on US tours which popularized Rumi and Sufism, and describes how these traditions remain in this area. Dr. Amer Latif introduces us to the Persian poet Rumi, who, though born in Konya, Turkey, more than than 800 years ago, remains one of the world’s most beloved and inspiring poets. Dr. Latif talks about Rumi ’s surprising connections to Brattleboro, reads a bit of his work in English and in Persian, and plays the sacred Sufi flute - the ney - to accompany this story. He shares the story of how Brattleboro's Threshold Publishing played a pivotal role in introducing the Rumi to America and a larger world. Latif, a professor of cross cultural studies at Emerson College, says: "Scriptures vary, cultures vary; The book of nature is what we have in common, and Rumi helps us read that book." He talks about the Threshold Society and Kabir and Camile Helminsky's bringing musicians and whirling dervishes from Rumi's Sufi order to Brattelboro and on US tours which popularized Rumi and Sufism, and describes how these traditions remain in this area. #kabirhelminski, #brattleboro, #amerlatif, #sufi, #rumi, #camilehelminsky, #sufism, #brattleborowriting, #thresholdpublishing false full 23 88765ec2-6390-4a79-bb7f-7de0adfe6eeb Nye Ffarrabas: Fluxus and Then Some This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was written and edited by Adam Silver of CX silver gallery in Brattleboro. Executive Producer was Lissa Weinmann. Adam also interviewed Nye Ffarrabas and selected the pieces that she reads in this podcast. Musical excerpts are used by permission from Annea Lockwood's 1998 composition ‘Immersion’ performed by Rebecca Celebolsky and Peter Scholes, members of Auckland Chamber Orchestra originally recorded for ANZ concert. 

This episode was timed to a new exhibition of Nye's work: Nye Ffarrabas: Truth IS A Verb, opening from March 22 to July 6, 2025 at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Here's some text from the site for that:  At 92, Nye Ffarrabas, formerly Bici Forbes Hendricks, occupies a significant place not only in the postmodern art world but also in our global cultural zeitgeist. During the early and mid-1960s, she (as Bici) was part of New York City’s Fluxus community, an experimental and creative laboratory that viewed life and art as inseparable and, in some respects, one and the same. This exhibition—Truth IS A Verb!—focuses on works published and distributed by The Black Thumb Press, which Ffarrabas founded in 1965, with contributions from her then husband Geoff Hendricks, also a Fluxus artist. Black Thumb’s goal was to expand visual and verbal stimuli, encourage exploration, and investigate new forms of “intermedia,” combining different media in unexpected ways. Truth IS A Verb! includes letters, postcards, and other text-based ephemera, such as a box of cards that provide instructions for different activities or how to achieve certain states of mind.... (read more at BMAC site above). 

Thanks also to CX Silver Gallery.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sun, 30 Mar 2025 21:26:36 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#nyeffarrabas, #adamsilver, #annealockwood, #bookofwhitenoise, #lrweinmann, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/nye-ffarrabas-fluxus-and-then-some-_GajGZdu This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was written and edited by Adam Silver of CX silver gallery in Brattleboro. Executive Producer was Lissa Weinmann. Adam also interviewed Nye Ffarrabas and selected the pieces that she reads in this podcast. Musical excerpts are used by permission from Annea Lockwood's 1998 composition ‘Immersion’ performed by Rebecca Celebolsky and Peter Scholes, members of Auckland Chamber Orchestra originally recorded for ANZ concert. 

This episode was timed to a new exhibition of Nye's work: Nye Ffarrabas: Truth IS A Verb, opening from March 22 to July 6, 2025 at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Here's some text from the site for that:  At 92, Nye Ffarrabas, formerly Bici Forbes Hendricks, occupies a significant place not only in the postmodern art world but also in our global cultural zeitgeist. During the early and mid-1960s, she (as Bici) was part of New York City’s Fluxus community, an experimental and creative laboratory that viewed life and art as inseparable and, in some respects, one and the same. This exhibition—Truth IS A Verb!—focuses on works published and distributed by The Black Thumb Press, which Ffarrabas founded in 1965, with contributions from her then husband Geoff Hendricks, also a Fluxus artist. Black Thumb’s goal was to expand visual and verbal stimuli, encourage exploration, and investigate new forms of “intermedia,” combining different media in unexpected ways. Truth IS A Verb! includes letters, postcards, and other text-based ephemera, such as a box of cards that provide instructions for different activities or how to achieve certain states of mind.... (read more at BMAC site above). 

Thanks also to CX Silver Gallery.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Nye Ffarrabas: Fluxus and Then Some #nyeffarrabas, #adamsilver, #annealockwood, #bookofwhitenoise, #lrweinmann, #alecpombriant 00:08:29 Nye Ffarrabas, a Brattleboro resident for the past four decades, is a conceptual visual artist, poet and writer who for eight decades, since early childhood. In the 60's, publisher and printer of The Black Thumb Press and a Fluxus artist. Growing out of the Happenings of the late 50s and early 60s, Fluxus is an international interdisciplinary community of artists, musicians, and poets, an ongoing laboratory of experimenting and exploring the boundaries of what is considered art, often performance-based, often text-based, intentionally defying definitions of itself, often playful, often contemplative and counter-intuitive drawing inspiration from the Zen Koan without specific contexts of religion. Now in her 90s, Nye is annotating her Friday Book of White Noise in print through CX Silver Gallery Press, the first time these seminal works are appearing in their entirety in public after only excerpts in John Cage's 'Notations' Anthology. You can find her work in The Museum of Modern Art, Walker Art Center and The Getty Research Center, among other venues. She shares poems 'Behind the Dream' and 'Be All' in this thoughtful audio segment narrated and produced by Adam Silver of C.X. Silver Gallery, on Western Avenue in Brattleboro, home to one-of-a-kind art from ancient and modern times, the best dim sum in Vermont, and, for the past several years, the work of Nye Ffarrabbas. Nye Ffarrabas, a Brattleboro resident for the past four decades, is a conceptual visual artist, poet and writer who for eight decades, since early childhood. In the 60's, publisher and printer of The Black Thumb Press and a Fluxus artist. Growing out of the Happenings of the late 50s and early 60s, Fluxus is an international interdisciplinary community of artists, musicians, and poets, an ongoing laboratory of experimenting and exploring the boundaries of what is considered art, often performance-based, often text-based, intentionally defying definitions of itself, often playful, often contemplative and counter-intuitive drawing inspiration from the Zen Koan without specific contexts of religion. Now in her 90s, Nye is annotating her Friday Book of White Noise in print through CX Silver Gallery Press, the first time these seminal works are appearing in their entirety in public after only excerpts in John Cage's 'Notations' Anthology. You can find her work in The Museum of Modern Art, Walker Art Center and The Getty Research Center, among other venues. She shares poems 'Behind the Dream' and 'Be All' in this thoughtful audio segment narrated and produced by Adam Silver of C.X. Silver Gallery, on Western Avenue in Brattleboro, home to one-of-a-kind art from ancient and modern times, the best dim sum in Vermont, and, for the past several years, the work of Nye Ffarrabbas. #fluxus, #cxsilvergallery, #nyeffarrabas, #bmac brattleboro false full 22 39d12714-2abd-4b5d-a55c-b72654ff8cc8 Daisy Turner and Lucy Terry Prince: 'Now that's the truth' This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was narrated and executive produced by me, Lissa Weinmann. Editing for the overall podcast was by Alec Pombriant. Audio Producer for the Daisy Turner segment was the Vermont Folklife Center, with research & narration by Jane Beck. Desmond Peeples produced and narrated the Lucy Terry Prince segment. Author Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina read segments from her book "Mr & Mrs. Prince: How an Extraordinary Eighteenth Century Couple Moved Out of Slavery and Into Legend“  and the reading of Lucy Terry Prince’s poem “Bars Fight” with comments and research was by Shanta Lee, who is also a member of the Brattleboro Words Trail Advisory Team.  The photo of Daisy Turner was taken by Jane Beck.

 A great video of the celebration placing the marker referenced in the podcast can be viewed at https://www.brattleborotv.org/brattleboro-words-project/abijah-and-lucy-terry-prince-dedication-state-historic-marker/

A joint Vermont House and Senate resolution recognizing Lucy Terry Prince brought forth by then State Rep Sara Coffey in 2021 and referenced in the podcast is here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/ACTS/ACTR097/ACTR097%20As%20Adopted.pdf

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:28:31 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#vermontfolklife, #janebeck, #gretchenholbrookgerzina, #shantalee, #desmondpeeples, #lissa, #daisyturner, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/daisy-turner-and-lucy-terry-prince-early-black-storytellers-FRYp6iEP This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was narrated and executive produced by me, Lissa Weinmann. Editing for the overall podcast was by Alec Pombriant. Audio Producer for the Daisy Turner segment was the Vermont Folklife Center, with research & narration by Jane Beck. Desmond Peeples produced and narrated the Lucy Terry Prince segment. Author Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina read segments from her book "Mr & Mrs. Prince: How an Extraordinary Eighteenth Century Couple Moved Out of Slavery and Into Legend“  and the reading of Lucy Terry Prince’s poem “Bars Fight” with comments and research was by Shanta Lee, who is also a member of the Brattleboro Words Trail Advisory Team.  The photo of Daisy Turner was taken by Jane Beck.

 A great video of the celebration placing the marker referenced in the podcast can be viewed at https://www.brattleborotv.org/brattleboro-words-project/abijah-and-lucy-terry-prince-dedication-state-historic-marker/

A joint Vermont House and Senate resolution recognizing Lucy Terry Prince brought forth by then State Rep Sara Coffey in 2021 and referenced in the podcast is here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2022/Docs/ACTS/ACTR097/ACTR097%20As%20Adopted.pdf

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Daisy Turner and Lucy Terry Prince: 'Now that's the truth' #vermontfolklife, #janebeck, #gretchenholbrookgerzina, #shantalee, #desmondpeeples, #lissa, #daisyturner, #alecpombriant 00:21:02 February is Black History Month, so we turn to two extraordinary Black women whose stories point to the important role Black people played in the shaping of Vermont. The episode begins with narrator explaining how Black stories have too often been under-appreciated. For instance, nobody knows Brattleboro's first black landowner, Benjamin Wheaton, an accomplished furniture maker and prominent person, bequeathed the West Brattleboro town common to the town. The host describes the remarkable Grafton storyteller Daisy Turner, whose story begins at 4:05. Narrator Jane Beck first met Daisy Turner when Daisy was 100 years old. Beck says Daisy 'spoke about the Civil War as if it were yesterday.' Beck was "astounded by the scope and significance' of Daisy's family's story from slavery, to Civil War, to freedom in Vermont and life in Grafton. We hear Daisy's vivid voice tell how her father -- Alec Turner - 'the strongest man in Grafton' carried a full flour barrel up the hill to their home "Journey's End' to win a bet. Beck helped found the Vermont Folklife Center and worked with the Windham Foundation to create the Turner Hill Interpretive Center around this work. Beck received a Peabody Award for an audio documentary about the Turner family as told by Daisy. The tape transitions at 9:15 to the mellifluous voice of narrator Desmond Peeples introducing the story of Lucy Terry Prince (1730 - 1821), a freed and learned African woman, whose legal arguments swayed the Vermont Republic's highest court. In 1764, Lucy and her husband Abijah, a free black couple, settled on 100 acres in Guilford as one of Guilford's first landowning settlers. There, they raised six children and defended their rights as landowners against the vicious efforts of certain racist neighbors. By the end of the 18th century, Guilford was the most popular town in Vermont and the Princes were one of its most prominent families. Lucy Terry Prince's only known surviving poem is called 'Bars Fight'. Lucy Terry Prince was about 20 years old and enslaved in Deerfield MA in 1746 when she witnessed an attack by indigenous people of the area on townspeople in Deerfield. The incident became known as the Bars Fight because it happened on the ‘bars’, a colonial term for meadow. She documented this historical incident in her poem, the oldest known work of literature by an African American. 'Bars Fight' survived in oral tradition about 100 years after her death, and appeared in print for the first time in 1854 on the front page of the Springfield Daily Republican. Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, biographer of the Prince family, reads from her book 'Mr. and Mrs. Prince' about the attack on the Prince home. Multi-media artist and poet Shanta Lee shares some thoughts about Lucy and recites the poem "Bars Fight." The host ends the podcast by describing the Brattleboro Words Project's long effort with the town of Guilford to place a state historic marker honoring Lucy and the Prince family in 2021 at the Guilford Welcome Center (at Exit 1 on Interstate 91) and reads the actual text of of the marker. She also mentions that a joint Vermont State Legislature proclamation led by then State Representative Sara Coffey recognizing Lucy, the marker and the Princes. February is Black History Month, so we turn to two extraordinary Black women whose stories point to the important role Black people played in the shaping of Vermont. The episode begins with narrator explaining how Black stories have too often been under-appreciated. For instance, nobody knows Brattleboro's first black landowner, Benjamin Wheaton, an accomplished furniture maker and prominent person, bequeathed the West Brattleboro town common to the town. The host describes the remarkable Grafton storyteller Daisy Turner, whose story begins at 4:05. Narrator Jane Beck first met Daisy Turner when Daisy was 100 years old. Beck says Daisy 'spoke about the Civil War as if it were yesterday.' Beck was "astounded by the scope and significance' of Daisy's family's story from slavery, to Civil War, to freedom in Vermont and life in Grafton. We hear Daisy's vivid voice tell how her father -- Alec Turner - 'the strongest man in Grafton' carried a full flour barrel up the hill to their home "Journey's End' to win a bet. Beck helped found the Vermont Folklife Center and worked with the Windham Foundation to create the Turner Hill Interpretive Center around this work. Beck received a Peabody Award for an audio documentary about the Turner family as told by Daisy. The tape transitions at 9:15 to the mellifluous voice of narrator Desmond Peeples introducing the story of Lucy Terry Prince (1730 - 1821), a freed and learned African woman, whose legal arguments swayed the Vermont Republic's highest court. In 1764, Lucy and her husband Abijah, a free black couple, settled on 100 acres in Guilford as one of Guilford's first landowning settlers. There, they raised six children and defended their rights as landowners against the vicious efforts of certain racist neighbors. By the end of the 18th century, Guilford was the most popular town in Vermont and the Princes were one of its most prominent families. Lucy Terry Prince's only known surviving poem is called 'Bars Fight'. Lucy Terry Prince was about 20 years old and enslaved in Deerfield MA in 1746 when she witnessed an attack by indigenous people of the area on townspeople in Deerfield. The incident became known as the Bars Fight because it happened on the ‘bars’, a colonial term for meadow. She documented this historical incident in her poem, the oldest known work of literature by an African American. 'Bars Fight' survived in oral tradition about 100 years after her death, and appeared in print for the first time in 1854 on the front page of the Springfield Daily Republican. Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, biographer of the Prince family, reads from her book 'Mr. and Mrs. Prince' about the attack on the Prince home. Multi-media artist and poet Shanta Lee shares some thoughts about Lucy and recites the poem "Bars Fight." The host ends the podcast by describing the Brattleboro Words Project's long effort with the town of Guilford to place a state historic marker honoring Lucy and the Prince family in 2021 at the Guilford Welcome Center (at Exit 1 on Interstate 91) and reads the actual text of of the marker. She also mentions that a joint Vermont State Legislature proclamation led by then State Representative Sara Coffey recognizing Lucy, the marker and the Princes. mrandmrsprince, #guilfordvermont, #brattleboro, #vermontpoets, #windhamfoundation, #turnerinterpretivecenter, #brattleborowords, #blackhistorymonth, #blackhistory, #vermonthistoricpreservation, vtafricanamericanheritagetrail, #blackpoets, #graftonvermont, #lucyterryprince false full 21 48b48c33-585b-4738-877d-fc3e60ef4a9e Harris Hill Ski Jump and the 'Art of Flying' Segments in this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast were written and produced specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail by Sally Seymour and Reg Martell. Lissa Weinmann, was executive producer. Seymour wrote, produced and edited the history of Harris Hill narrated by Peter Graves. Reg Martell produced and edited the Chris Lamb and Rich Holschuh segments. Peter Case narrated the podcast. Chris Lamb and Rich Holschuh wrote the segments they narrate. Alec Pombriant assembled and edited the podcast. Original segments were mastered by Guilford Sound. 

Musical credits for the Chris Lamb segment go to its producer, Reg Martell. Brattleboro Words Trail theme music used throughout is by Ty Gibbons. 

We’d like to thank the Harris Hill Ski Jump for its help in producing this podcast and to all the volunteers who work and the jumpers who fly to make this one of Brattleboro’s most unique events. 

See Harris Hill Ski Jump official website: https://harrishillskijump.com/ (Dates in 2025 are February 15 and 16)

See the Brattleboro Words Project website: https://brattleborowords.org/

See info on Peter Graves: https://skihall.com/hall-of-famers/peter-graves/?srsltid=AfmBOortp1LI4F2sqp5fKBD_YT1Z9KuX6FY-tOIAx4eU_AhC5s2Ok35S

See Rich Holschuh's Atowi project: https://www.atowi.org/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:53:18 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#petergraves, #vermontski, #richholschuh, #regmartell, #chrislamb, #sallyseymour, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/harris-hill-ski-jump-the-art-of-flying-Lf_RrclD Segments in this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast were written and produced specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail by Sally Seymour and Reg Martell. Lissa Weinmann, was executive producer. Seymour wrote, produced and edited the history of Harris Hill narrated by Peter Graves. Reg Martell produced and edited the Chris Lamb and Rich Holschuh segments. Peter Case narrated the podcast. Chris Lamb and Rich Holschuh wrote the segments they narrate. Alec Pombriant assembled and edited the podcast. Original segments were mastered by Guilford Sound. 

Musical credits for the Chris Lamb segment go to its producer, Reg Martell. Brattleboro Words Trail theme music used throughout is by Ty Gibbons. 

We’d like to thank the Harris Hill Ski Jump for its help in producing this podcast and to all the volunteers who work and the jumpers who fly to make this one of Brattleboro’s most unique events. 

See Harris Hill Ski Jump official website: https://harrishillskijump.com/ (Dates in 2025 are February 15 and 16)

See the Brattleboro Words Project website: https://brattleborowords.org/

See info on Peter Graves: https://skihall.com/hall-of-famers/peter-graves/?srsltid=AfmBOortp1LI4F2sqp5fKBD_YT1Z9KuX6FY-tOIAx4eU_AhC5s2Ok35S

See Rich Holschuh's Atowi project: https://www.atowi.org/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Harris Hill Ski Jump and the 'Art of Flying' #petergraves, #vermontski, #richholschuh, #regmartell, #chrislamb, #sallyseymour, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann 00:20:15 For more than 100 years, the Harris Hill Ski Jump has stood as a beacon on the local landscape. Every February, Harris Hill comes alive as thousands of people gather to watch ski jumpers from around the world soar above their heads at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. This episode brings the thrills of this event to life as jumpers fly, crowds roar and cowbells ring and the sensations of flight are evocatively shared. Local Brattleboro radio and podcast host Peter Case narrates three perspectives on Harris Hill. First, (from 1:38 to 6:16) the internationally recognized 'voice of skiing' Peter Graves shares the flavor and history of Harris Hill and describes Harris, the man whose vision and persistence shaped this unique Brattleboro event. Then (from 8:20 to 13:20) we hear an evocative memoir written and narrated by jumper Chris Lamb, who held the Harris Hill record for seven years. Lamb eloquently describes the physical preparation required and the sensations he experiences during ‘the art of flight.’ The episode ends (from 14:00 to 18:00) with reflections on the long and deep native American presence at this place we now call Harris Hill from Elnu Abenaki representative and Atowi project director Rich Holschuh. Episode narrator Case closes with a reference to the 2022 book that marked the 100th anniversary of the event: Harris Hill Ski Jump: The First Hundred Years. For more than 100 years, the Harris Hill Ski Jump has stood as a beacon on the local landscape. Every February, Harris Hill comes alive as thousands of people gather to watch ski jumpers from around the world soar above their heads at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. This episode brings the thrills of this event to life as jumpers fly, crowds roar and cowbells ring and the sensations of flight are evocatively shared. Local Brattleboro radio and podcast host Peter Case narrates three perspectives on Harris Hill. First, (from 1:38 to 6:16) the internationally recognized 'voice of skiing' Peter Graves shares the flavor and history of Harris Hill and describes Harris, the man whose vision and persistence shaped this unique Brattleboro event. Then (from 8:20 to 13:20) we hear an evocative memoir written and narrated by jumper Chris Lamb, who held the Harris Hill record for seven years. Lamb eloquently describes the physical preparation required and the sensations he experiences during ‘the art of flight.’ The episode ends (from 14:00 to 18:00) with reflections on the long and deep native American presence at this place we now call Harris Hill from Elnu Abenaki representative and Atowi project director Rich Holschuh. Episode narrator Case closes with a reference to the 2022 book that marked the 100th anniversary of the event: Harris Hill Ski Jump: The First Hundred Years. #skijumping, #wingedtrophy, #brattleboro, #chrislamb, #harrishillskijump, #retreatfarmbrattleboro, #fredharris, #brattleboroskijump, #xcountryski false full 20 77b87bdc-6f2b-487b-bc8c-c6f43c2dbc7d Tom Bodett: Maker of Stories This episode was produced and edited by Sally Seymour for the Brattleboro Words Trail and those segments were mastered at Guilford Sound. Angelika Pavlovna edited the Brattleboro Words Trail segments into this podcast.  Executive Producer and podcast host is Lissa Weinmann. 

Bodett also penned the forward in the Brattleboro Words Project book "Print Town: Brattleboro's Legacy of Words" available at Everyone's Books in Brattleboro.  See a short vid and more info on the book at: https://brattleborowords.org/print-town-brattleboros-legacy-of-words-the-book/

LINKS:

Tom Bodett official website:

https://bodett.com/

Hatch Space is the woodworking school and gallery Tom founded in downtown Brattleboro along with renovating/preserving a historic building which has a printshop and other creative maker spaces.

https://www.hatchspace.org/

'Inside Passage' Tom’s story on The Moth, performed March 16, 2012: 

https://themoth.org/stories/inside-passage

Tom has written seven books and sixteen current audio publications. Writing credits include book reviews for the New York Times and reviews and articles for The Los Angeles Times. His work has appeared in TV Guide, Reader’s Digest, Redbook, Harper’s Magazine’s, In a Word, and he was a regular columnist for Mr. Showbiz, a satirical entertainment magazine published by Starwave Corporation. His voice appears in Steven Spielberg’s animated cartoon, Animaniacs, and the feature length Animaniacs video, The Wishing Star, and the Pinky and the Brain series for Warner Brothers Animation. His voice has been featured on Saturday Night Live, National Geographic Explorer and several Ken Burns' documentaries.

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:03:55 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#tombodett, #brattleborowordstrail, #angelikapavlovna, #lissaweinmann, #guilfordsound) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tom-bodett-maker-of-stories-87atXz_V This episode was produced and edited by Sally Seymour for the Brattleboro Words Trail and those segments were mastered at Guilford Sound. Angelika Pavlovna edited the Brattleboro Words Trail segments into this podcast.  Executive Producer and podcast host is Lissa Weinmann. 

Bodett also penned the forward in the Brattleboro Words Project book "Print Town: Brattleboro's Legacy of Words" available at Everyone's Books in Brattleboro.  See a short vid and more info on the book at: https://brattleborowords.org/print-town-brattleboros-legacy-of-words-the-book/

LINKS:

Tom Bodett official website:

https://bodett.com/

Hatch Space is the woodworking school and gallery Tom founded in downtown Brattleboro along with renovating/preserving a historic building which has a printshop and other creative maker spaces.

https://www.hatchspace.org/

'Inside Passage' Tom’s story on The Moth, performed March 16, 2012: 

https://themoth.org/stories/inside-passage

Tom has written seven books and sixteen current audio publications. Writing credits include book reviews for the New York Times and reviews and articles for The Los Angeles Times. His work has appeared in TV Guide, Reader’s Digest, Redbook, Harper’s Magazine’s, In a Word, and he was a regular columnist for Mr. Showbiz, a satirical entertainment magazine published by Starwave Corporation. His voice appears in Steven Spielberg’s animated cartoon, Animaniacs, and the feature length Animaniacs video, The Wishing Star, and the Pinky and the Brain series for Warner Brothers Animation. His voice has been featured on Saturday Night Live, National Geographic Explorer and several Ken Burns' documentaries.

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Tom Bodett: Maker of Stories #tombodett, #brattleborowordstrail, #angelikapavlovna, #lissaweinmann, #guilfordsound 00:27:54 Story-maker, writer, radio personality, woodworker and Brattleboro treasure Tom Bodett invites us into the story of his life in words -- and near death -- in the utterly straightforward and completely captivating way only he can. Tom's 'way with words' has fueled a fascinating life and career that has led him lately to open a woodworking school and gallery in the heart of Brattleboro, Vermont. The podcast begins with Tom's framing of the piece to follow through the lens of 'Words' for the Brattleboro Words Project. From growing up in a large family in Michigan a bit of a rebellious youth, to his hilarious seventh-grade efforts at poetry and a school assembly where becoming the object of hilarity opens new doors in his mind. A catastrophic accident leads him to hit the road to settle in wild-wild 1970s Alaska where he builds buildings and his writing career with a first piece in the Anchorage Daily News. He moves on to radio KBBI in Alaska where a chance piece on his dog's castration gains quick notice for its style and humor and starts submitting personal essays on a regular basis. Within four months he's a contributor on National Public Radio. In 10 months he has a book contract. He describes signing with Motel 6 and how his mother's adage and seven little words 'We'll leave the light on for you," ignited his 30+ year relationship as spokesperson for that company. He talks about how various genres of writing and spoken words have impacted him in different ways and how he has struggled with the identity of 'writer.' Being a panelist on NPR’s 'Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!' builds confidence in his ability to go 'out without a net.' He says it wasn’t until he was invited to appear on The Moth in front of a live audience at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, Vermont, that he found his a true calling with storytelling. In stark and moving terms, he reflects on the importance of honesty and courage in any art form, and offers advice to those seeking to 'make it.' He shares how facing his relationship with his father through that first moth story (link shared below in Notes) broke through his own limitations toward a more deeply transparent storytelling and vocal art. He reflects on the human need for narrative, and his ultimate identity as 'story maker.' Story-maker, writer, radio personality, woodworker and Brattleboro treasure Tom Bodett invites us into the story of his life in words -- and near death -- in the utterly straightforward and completely captivating way only he can. Tom's 'way with words' has fueled a fascinating life and career that has led him lately to open a woodworking school and gallery in the heart of Brattleboro, Vermont. The podcast begins with Tom's framing of the piece to follow through the lens of 'Words' for the Brattleboro Words Project. From growing up in a large family in Michigan a bit of a rebellious youth, to his hilarious seventh-grade efforts at poetry and a school assembly where becoming the object of hilarity opens new doors in his mind. A catastrophic accident leads him to hit the road to settle in wild-wild 1970s Alaska where he builds buildings and his writing career with a first piece in the Anchorage Daily News. He moves on to radio KBBI in Alaska where a chance piece on his dog's castration gains quick notice for its style and humor and starts submitting personal essays on a regular basis. Within four months he's a contributor on National Public Radio. In 10 months he has a book contract. He describes signing with Motel 6 and how his mother's adage and seven little words 'We'll leave the light on for you," ignited his 30+ year relationship as spokesperson for that company. He talks about how various genres of writing and spoken words have impacted him in different ways and how he has struggled with the identity of 'writer.' Being a panelist on NPR’s 'Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!' builds confidence in his ability to go 'out without a net.' He says it wasn’t until he was invited to appear on The Moth in front of a live audience at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, Vermont, that he found his a true calling with storytelling. In stark and moving terms, he reflects on the importance of honesty and courage in any art form, and offers advice to those seeking to 'make it.' He shares how facing his relationship with his father through that first moth story (link shared below in Notes) broke through his own limitations toward a more deeply transparent storytelling and vocal art. He reflects on the human need for narrative, and his ultimate identity as 'story maker.' #brattleboro, #kbbiradio, #dummerston, #themoth, #vermont, #vermontwriters, #hatchspace, #tombodett, #downtownbrattleboro false full 19 a04ba042-4279-4f0b-a6c8-b1ee70eaa822 Margaret MacArthur, Marlboro Folk Music Legend This episode was written, narrated and produced by Nora Rodes. Editing was by Dave Snyder, Daniel Murphy and Alec Pombriant. Mastering was by Guilford Sound. Musical selections were chosen by Rodes and  are listed below. Photo credit is Megan Littlehales. A historic marker for Margaret is at the Marlboro Historical Society. 

Haughton House – Make the Wildwood Ring CD (Front Hall Records, 1981) (0.59)

(Front Hall, NY label, founded 1973,  published 21 CDs, including a # for Tony Barrand/John Roberts/Nowell Sing We Clear)  Instrumental

Frog Went A Courtin’ – Odis Bird (Max Hunter Collection) (1.04 0r .30)The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection - Missouri State University

Magnolia Tree – Fred Atwood (MM Collection, VFC)  

Barbara Allen - Make the Wildwood Ring, Margaret MacArthur, Megan Littlehales, Dan & Gary MacArthur

The Half Hitch – On the Banks of Coldbrook CD (Tony Barrand and Keith Murphy)

Braes of Yarrow – Ballads Thrice Twisted CD (©1999 MM) Margaret MacArthur

King John and the Bishop – Ballads Thrice Twisted, Margaret MacArthur

Little Red Hen – Winifred Landman,  Margaret MacArthur Collection, Vermont Folklife Center

Single Again – May Nichols, Margaret MacArthur Collection, Vermont Folklife Center

The Tailor and the Mouse – Barbara Linden, Margaret MacArthur Collection, Vermont Folklife Center

Marlboro Merchants – Vermont Ballads and Broadsides CD (Whetstone Records) (©1989 Margaret MacArthur) 

Stratton Mountain Tragedy – On the Mountains High CD (Living Folk Records, 1971) (appears another essentially self/close-connection “label”) (©2001 Margaret MacArthur)

Central Vermont Railway Tragedy –On the Mountains High CD Margaret and family

Mary Shaminski I love you – Make the Wildwood Ring, Margaret MacArthur

Farmers Alphabet – Vermont Heritage Songs (©1994, 2006 Margaret MacArthur) Margaret  MacArthur

Maple Sweet – Vermont Heritage Songs, Margaret and  Megan Littlehales, Dan MacArthur

Newbury’s Bendell Bridge – Vermont Heritage Songs, Margaret and school children

Hills of Dover – The Old Songs CD (Philo, 1975) (Philo bought out by Rounder 1982) Margaret MacArthur

Ranadine – On the Mountains High CD Margaret  MacArthur and family

Peri Meri Dixi and Domini – On the Mountains High, Margaret MacArthur and family

PRIMARY LINKS

The Margaret MacArthur Collection at the Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont

https://vtfolklifearchive.org/collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=MacArthur%2C+Margaret%0D%0A

Margaret MacArthur’s Performance at the Library of Congress - June 6, 2005

Film recording of Margaret MacArthur performing ballads and songs from Vermont.

Part of the Homegrown 2005 Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

https://www.loc.gov/item/2021687781/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:57:55 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#norarodes, #danielmurphy, #davesnyder, #keithmurphy, #meganlittlehales, #lrweinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/margaret-macarthur-marlboro-folk-legend-zf3WtOYi This episode was written, narrated and produced by Nora Rodes. Editing was by Dave Snyder, Daniel Murphy and Alec Pombriant. Mastering was by Guilford Sound. Musical selections were chosen by Rodes and  are listed below. Photo credit is Megan Littlehales. A historic marker for Margaret is at the Marlboro Historical Society. 

Haughton House – Make the Wildwood Ring CD (Front Hall Records, 1981) (0.59)

(Front Hall, NY label, founded 1973,  published 21 CDs, including a # for Tony Barrand/John Roberts/Nowell Sing We Clear)  Instrumental

Frog Went A Courtin’ – Odis Bird (Max Hunter Collection) (1.04 0r .30)The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection - Missouri State University

Magnolia Tree – Fred Atwood (MM Collection, VFC)  

Barbara Allen - Make the Wildwood Ring, Margaret MacArthur, Megan Littlehales, Dan & Gary MacArthur

The Half Hitch – On the Banks of Coldbrook CD (Tony Barrand and Keith Murphy)

Braes of Yarrow – Ballads Thrice Twisted CD (©1999 MM) Margaret MacArthur

King John and the Bishop – Ballads Thrice Twisted, Margaret MacArthur

Little Red Hen – Winifred Landman,  Margaret MacArthur Collection, Vermont Folklife Center

Single Again – May Nichols, Margaret MacArthur Collection, Vermont Folklife Center

The Tailor and the Mouse – Barbara Linden, Margaret MacArthur Collection, Vermont Folklife Center

Marlboro Merchants – Vermont Ballads and Broadsides CD (Whetstone Records) (©1989 Margaret MacArthur) 

Stratton Mountain Tragedy – On the Mountains High CD (Living Folk Records, 1971) (appears another essentially self/close-connection “label”) (©2001 Margaret MacArthur)

Central Vermont Railway Tragedy –On the Mountains High CD Margaret and family

Mary Shaminski I love you – Make the Wildwood Ring, Margaret MacArthur

Farmers Alphabet – Vermont Heritage Songs (©1994, 2006 Margaret MacArthur) Margaret  MacArthur

Maple Sweet – Vermont Heritage Songs, Margaret and  Megan Littlehales, Dan MacArthur

Newbury’s Bendell Bridge – Vermont Heritage Songs, Margaret and school children

Hills of Dover – The Old Songs CD (Philo, 1975) (Philo bought out by Rounder 1982) Margaret MacArthur

Ranadine – On the Mountains High CD Margaret  MacArthur and family

Peri Meri Dixi and Domini – On the Mountains High, Margaret MacArthur and family

PRIMARY LINKS

The Margaret MacArthur Collection at the Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont

https://vtfolklifearchive.org/collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=MacArthur%2C+Margaret%0D%0A

Margaret MacArthur’s Performance at the Library of Congress - June 6, 2005

Film recording of Margaret MacArthur performing ballads and songs from Vermont.

Part of the Homegrown 2005 Concert Series sponsored by the American Folklife Center.

https://www.loc.gov/item/2021687781/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Margaret MacArthur, Marlboro Folk Music Legend #norarodes, #danielmurphy, #davesnyder, #keithmurphy, #meganlittlehales, #lrweinmann 00:36:00 College student Nora Rodes narrates this episode on folk legend Margaret MacArthur, whose love of music led her to preserve and document many old songs, creating a home in Marlboro Vermont, very close to Brattleboro, where she set down deep roots for her family and an extended folk family. Through Nora's storytelling and adroit use of multiple musical selections, we learn about Margaret's peripatetic journey growing up, her college years in Chicago where she met her husband, and the young couple's move to Marlboro to start a family. Margaret discovers local music and begins gathering songs and oral histories with the help of Edith Sturgis’ 1919 book 'Songs from the Hills of Vermont' and Helen Hartness Flanders’ 1937 book 'Country Songs of Vermont.' She forms important relations with the authors and other Brattleboro-area folk musicians and scholars Tony Barrand and John Roberts (who wrote the book 'On the Banks of Coldbrook') and James Atwood, among many others. Margaret collected stories, songs and made numerous field recordings as well as writing her own pieces. We learn about her instruments and marketing of the 'MacArthur Harp' during the American Folk Revival. Her relations with Smithsonian Folkways Records' Moses Asch and her first album with them in 1962 are also covered. The historically significant song "Marlboro Merchants" and its relation to the MacArthur Collection at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury, Vermont are included. She recorded nine albums, appeared at folk programs and festivals with her children performing original songs as well as traditional ballads and other songs of the lives and ways of Vermonters of the past. As a visiting artist at elementary schools, she spread the joy of song-making with many children and helped keep stories alive. Margaret's many accolades are mentioned, including her June 2005 concert at the Library of Congress and songs performed there. The piece concludes with how Margaret's home was a welcoming hub for folk folks who often gathered there in her warm embrace. College student Nora Rodes narrates this episode on folk legend Margaret MacArthur, whose love of music led her to preserve and document many old songs, creating a home in Marlboro Vermont, very close to Brattleboro, where she set down deep roots for her family and an extended folk family. Through Nora's storytelling and adroit use of multiple musical selections, we learn about Margaret's peripatetic journey growing up, her college years in Chicago where she met her husband, and the young couple's move to Marlboro to start a family. Margaret discovers local music and begins gathering songs and oral histories with the help of Edith Sturgis’ 1919 book 'Songs from the Hills of Vermont' and Helen Hartness Flanders’ 1937 book 'Country Songs of Vermont.' She forms important relations with the authors and other Brattleboro-area folk musicians and scholars Tony Barrand and John Roberts (who wrote the book 'On the Banks of Coldbrook') and James Atwood, among many others. Margaret collected stories, songs and made numerous field recordings as well as writing her own pieces. We learn about her instruments and marketing of the 'MacArthur Harp' during the American Folk Revival. Her relations with Smithsonian Folkways Records' Moses Asch and her first album with them in 1962 are also covered. The historically significant song "Marlboro Merchants" and its relation to the MacArthur Collection at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury, Vermont are included. She recorded nine albums, appeared at folk programs and festivals with her children performing original songs as well as traditional ballads and other songs of the lives and ways of Vermonters of the past. As a visiting artist at elementary schools, she spread the joy of song-making with many children and helped keep stories alive. Margaret's many accolades are mentioned, including her June 2005 concert at the Library of Congress and songs performed there. The piece concludes with how Margaret's home was a welcoming hub for folk folks who often gathered there in her warm embrace. #folkmusic, #vtfolklife, #margaretmacarthurvt, #marlboromusic, #tonybarrand, #vermontfolkmusic, #vermontsingers, #brattleborowordstrail, #vtfolklifecenter, #macarthurfamily, #marlborovt false full 18 eee4082b-1b52-4d63-86ab-f8cfdd29d313 Pablo Medina - River of Words This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast featured writer Pablo Medina who reads his essay ‘Home in Vermont’ written specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail mobile app (https://brattleboro.stqry.app/) that guides listeners through stories of people past and present who embody the theme of 'words' throughout the Brattleboro area.  This episode was produced and hosted by me, Lissa Weinmann and was edited by Alec Pombriant. We thank Pablo Medina for his participation as well as his suggestion that we use short clips of his favorite Cuban composer Leo Brouwer performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. 

A ceramic marker in Williamsville representing Pablo will now be added to the beautiful Brattleboro Words Trail landscape murals created by local artist Cynthia Parker Houghton.  You can see the murals on display at 118 Elliot in Downtown Brattleboro, but they will move to the town's new Amtrak station in 2026.  You can also see a video by producer Donna Blackney about the making of the murals at:  https://www.brattleborotv.org/brattleboro-words-project/brattleboro-words-trail-cynthia-parker-houghton/. General information about maps, stories and the ongoing community creation of audio stories  can be found at the Brattleboro Words Project website at:  https://brattleborowords.org/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 14 Oct 2024 03:01:09 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#pablomedina, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/pablo-medina-river-of-words-0KiQOj6y This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast featured writer Pablo Medina who reads his essay ‘Home in Vermont’ written specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail mobile app (https://brattleboro.stqry.app/) that guides listeners through stories of people past and present who embody the theme of 'words' throughout the Brattleboro area.  This episode was produced and hosted by me, Lissa Weinmann and was edited by Alec Pombriant. We thank Pablo Medina for his participation as well as his suggestion that we use short clips of his favorite Cuban composer Leo Brouwer performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. 

A ceramic marker in Williamsville representing Pablo will now be added to the beautiful Brattleboro Words Trail landscape murals created by local artist Cynthia Parker Houghton.  You can see the murals on display at 118 Elliot in Downtown Brattleboro, but they will move to the town's new Amtrak station in 2026.  You can also see a video by producer Donna Blackney about the making of the murals at:  https://www.brattleborotv.org/brattleboro-words-project/brattleboro-words-trail-cynthia-parker-houghton/. General information about maps, stories and the ongoing community creation of audio stories  can be found at the Brattleboro Words Project website at:  https://brattleborowords.org/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Pablo Medina - River of Words #pablomedina, #alecpombriant, #lissaweinmann 00:33:14 Host introduces acclaimed writer Pablo Medina, originally from Havana, Cuba, who now lives in Williamsville, Vermont near Brattleboro. Medina will be featured as part of the October 18-20, 2024 Brattleboro Literary Festival reading mostly from his new book of poetry "Sea of Broken Mirrors". Medina reads 'Home in Vermont,' an essay he wrote specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail. It describes how in 1960 at age 12, after leaving on the last plane out of Cuba in the midst of the Cuban Revolution, after embracing a brand new and very different city (New York), after working and teaching in various US cities, he's come to regard Vermont as home. Medina reads several short poems including "El Tiempo en Una Semilla" (in Spanish); 'Canticle of the Moon in Vermont' and 'New Pastures.' He talks about how he moves between poetry, novels, memoir, essays and translation of greats poets like Virgilio Peneira, Rafael Alcide and novelist Alejo Carpentier, and his book on Federico Garcia Lorca "A Poet in New York" co-authored with poet Mark Stanton, to publish his many books of poetry and novels. He reflects on how imagery of his early life appears in his work and his feelings about the ongoing US embargo and 62-year estrangement between the US and Cuba. He discusses his first experiences at the Brattleboro Literary Festival and how he's looking forward to reading again on Sunday, October 20 at 12:30pm at 118 Elliot in Brattleboro and how delighted he's been by the dedicated readers and writers he's found in the Brattleboro area. Host introduces acclaimed writer Pablo Medina, originally from Havana, Cuba, who now lives in Williamsville, Vermont near Brattleboro. Medina will be featured as part of the October 18-20, 2024 Brattleboro Literary Festival reading mostly from his new book of poetry "Sea of Broken Mirrors". Medina reads 'Home in Vermont,' an essay he wrote specifically for the Brattleboro Words Trail. It describes how in 1960 at age 12, after leaving on the last plane out of Cuba in the midst of the Cuban Revolution, after embracing a brand new and very different city (New York), after working and teaching in various US cities, he's come to regard Vermont as home. Medina reads several short poems including "El Tiempo en Una Semilla" (in Spanish); 'Canticle of the Moon in Vermont' and 'New Pastures.' He talks about how he moves between poetry, novels, memoir, essays and translation of greats poets like Virgilio Peneira, Rafael Alcide and novelist Alejo Carpentier, and his book on Federico Garcia Lorca "A Poet in New York" co-authored with poet Mark Stanton, to publish his many books of poetry and novels. He reflects on how imagery of his early life appears in his work and his feelings about the ongoing US embargo and 62-year estrangement between the US and Cuba. He discusses his first experiences at the Brattleboro Literary Festival and how he's looking forward to reading again on Sunday, October 20 at 12:30pm at 118 Elliot in Brattleboro and how delighted he's been by the dedicated readers and writers he's found in the Brattleboro area. #bratlitfest, #brattleboro, #brattleborowriter, #brattleborowords, #lissaweinmann, #brattleboroliteraryfestival, #cubanwriters, #brattleborowordstrail, #bratwords false full 17 029ab4f6-66c5-48ec-b862-8c04415963b5 Jacob Estey & Estey Organ Company Reverberations This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail podcast was written and produced by Sally Seymour and me, Lissa Weinmann.  Original edits were by Sally Seymour, and podcast editing and mastering was done by Alec Pombriant. Jon Potter of Latchis Arts did the main narration. Dennis Waring and Barbara George provided commentary. The Brattleboro Historical Society and Dennis Waring’s book: ‘Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America’ were indispensable resources. Local writers Joe Rivers, Fran Lynggaard Hansen and Kevin O'Connor work on Estey also informed this episode. Thanks also to Lee Ha of Brattleboro Historical Society for help locating Jacob Estey correspondence for use in this podcast. Musical selections were mostly taken from pieces Waring features in a CD that accompanies his book, and some music is from Fats Waller’s pipe organ pieces from Jazz History Online( https://jazzhistoryonline.com/fats-waller/). 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Tue, 24 Sep 2024 20:15:44 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#jonpotter, #barbarageorge, #esteyorganmuseum, #jacobestey, #abbyesteyfuller, #leviknightfuller, #latchisarts, #brattleborohistory, #brattleborostories, #alecpombriant, #sallyseymour, #lissaweinmann, #vermontwriters, #brattleboro, #brattleborowords, #joerivers, #franlynggaardhansen, #kevino'connor, #brooksmemoriallibrary) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/jacob-estey-the-estey-organ-companys-reverberations-X60FJ5bE This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail podcast was written and produced by Sally Seymour and me, Lissa Weinmann.  Original edits were by Sally Seymour, and podcast editing and mastering was done by Alec Pombriant. Jon Potter of Latchis Arts did the main narration. Dennis Waring and Barbara George provided commentary. The Brattleboro Historical Society and Dennis Waring’s book: ‘Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America’ were indispensable resources. Local writers Joe Rivers, Fran Lynggaard Hansen and Kevin O'Connor work on Estey also informed this episode. Thanks also to Lee Ha of Brattleboro Historical Society for help locating Jacob Estey correspondence for use in this podcast. Musical selections were mostly taken from pieces Waring features in a CD that accompanies his book, and some music is from Fats Waller’s pipe organ pieces from Jazz History Online( https://jazzhistoryonline.com/fats-waller/). 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Jacob Estey & Estey Organ Company Reverberations #jonpotter, #barbarageorge, #esteyorganmuseum, #jacobestey, #abbyesteyfuller, #leviknightfuller, #latchisarts, #brattleborohistory, #brattleborostories, #alecpombriant, #sallyseymour, #lissaweinmann, #vermontwriters, #brattleboro, #brattleborowords, #joerivers, #franlynggaardhansen, #kevino'connor, #brooksmemoriallibrary 00:27:31 Narrator Jon Potter of Latchis Arts in Brattleboro introduces Jacob Estey and the Estey Organ Company, builders of more than half a million musical instruments that traveled the globe with their prominent made in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA stamp. Jacob and his remarkable family, down through several generations, fed the dynamism and helped shape the personality of Brattleboro while playing a significant role in the history of American popular culture. Commentator Dennis Waring, who wrote the quintessential analysis of Estey's place in the history of American popular culture “Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America" is featured throughout the episode, along with varied and delightful reed and pipe organ music. Jacob Estey's early life of indentured servitude and poverty is described. His rise in business is profiled as well as locations of his various factories before building a row of iconographic slate covered buildings all in a row along Birge Street, a short walk from historic downtown Brattleboro. Barbara George of the Estey Organ Museum discusses the iconographic buildings and workforce. Assembly line manufacture, dedication to equal pay for women, worldwide distribution and testimonials, contributions of Levi Fuller are described. The drive to build bigger and more ornate instruments and how Estey "a master of words" led groundbreaking advertising and marketing with beautiful and distinctive posters and cards still traded today as well sheet music, books and hyperbolic descriptions of instruments are highlights. Estey and family's dedication to the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Brattleboro is discussed, along with Jacob's financing the first building dedicated to the education of black women at Shaw University in North Carolina. Changes in company structure through generations, manufacturing changes and the giant Estey pipe organ being played in new ways at the old First Baptist Church building now performance space Epsilon Spires is detailed. The episode ends with a discussion of the formation and highlights of the Estey Organ Museum, housed in the old Estey complex on Birge Street. An additional bonus segment on the sounds of the various organs narrated by Dennis Waring, edited by Sally Seymour taken from the Brattleboro Words Trail free app is also featured. Narrator Jon Potter of Latchis Arts in Brattleboro introduces Jacob Estey and the Estey Organ Company, builders of more than half a million musical instruments that traveled the globe with their prominent made in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA stamp. Jacob and his remarkable family, down through several generations, fed the dynamism and helped shape the personality of Brattleboro while playing a significant role in the history of American popular culture. Commentator Dennis Waring, who wrote the quintessential analysis of Estey's place in the history of American popular culture “Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs and Consumer Culture in Victorian America" is featured throughout the episode, along with varied and delightful reed and pipe organ music. Jacob Estey's early life of indentured servitude and poverty is described. His rise in business is profiled as well as locations of his various factories before building a row of iconographic slate covered buildings all in a row along Birge Street, a short walk from historic downtown Brattleboro. Barbara George of the Estey Organ Museum discusses the iconographic buildings and workforce. Assembly line manufacture, dedication to equal pay for women, worldwide distribution and testimonials, contributions of Levi Fuller are described. The drive to build bigger and more ornate instruments and how Estey "a master of words" led groundbreaking advertising and marketing with beautiful and distinctive posters and cards still traded today as well sheet music, books and hyperbolic descriptions of instruments are highlights. Estey and family's dedication to the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Brattleboro is discussed, along with Jacob's financing the first building dedicated to the education of black women at Shaw University in North Carolina. Changes in company structure through generations, manufacturing changes and the giant Estey pipe organ being played in new ways at the old First Baptist Church building now performance space Epsilon Spires is detailed. The episode ends with a discussion of the formation and highlights of the Estey Organ Museum, housed in the old Estey complex on Birge Street. An additional bonus segment on the sounds of the various organs narrated by Dennis Waring, edited by Sally Seymour taken from the Brattleboro Words Trail free app is also featured. #epsilonspires, #brattleboro, #pipeorgans, #vermontvacation, #esteyfest, #brattleborohistory, #organsocietyofamerica, #denniswaring false full 16 d5c4c6ba-7974-47cd-9ae7-1ce31b28fcf5 Two Judicial Legends: Judges James L. Oakes and Harlan Fiske Stone The segments on the two judges used in this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast were produced and edited by Sally Seymour. Research, scripts and most narration is by Meg Mott. Some narration and commentary on the Judge Oakes segment was by Elizabeth Caitlin. The voice clip of Judge Oakes was from an October 23, 1979 James Madison Lecture at New York University and is used courtesy of the James L Oakes Collection at the Vermont Law School. The updating interview with Meg Mott was produced by Lissa Weinmann at BCTV studios in downtown Brattleboro. Segments on Oakes and Stone were mastered by Guilford Sound. Final podcast editing and mastering was by Alec Pombriant. Special thanks to Mara Williams for her help on the Judge Oakes segment. Thanks also to the sixth grade class at Chesterfield School who in 2021 pelted Mott with many questions about the Supreme Court and local hero Judge Stone. 

Archives of the Honorable James L. Oakes https://www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Oakes-guide-Final.pdf

Judge Oakes on being an American citizen:  https://www.myretrospect.com/stories/a-borrowed-story-from-my-neighbor-a-judge/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2024 21:49:26 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#megmott, #elizabethcaitlan, #lissaweinmann, #sallyseymour, #guilfordsound, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/two-judicial-legends-judges-oakes-and-harlan-fiske-stone-acRWLsod The segments on the two judges used in this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast were produced and edited by Sally Seymour. Research, scripts and most narration is by Meg Mott. Some narration and commentary on the Judge Oakes segment was by Elizabeth Caitlin. The voice clip of Judge Oakes was from an October 23, 1979 James Madison Lecture at New York University and is used courtesy of the James L Oakes Collection at the Vermont Law School. The updating interview with Meg Mott was produced by Lissa Weinmann at BCTV studios in downtown Brattleboro. Segments on Oakes and Stone were mastered by Guilford Sound. Final podcast editing and mastering was by Alec Pombriant. Special thanks to Mara Williams for her help on the Judge Oakes segment. Thanks also to the sixth grade class at Chesterfield School who in 2021 pelted Mott with many questions about the Supreme Court and local hero Judge Stone. 

Archives of the Honorable James L. Oakes https://www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Oakes-guide-Final.pdf

Judge Oakes on being an American citizen:  https://www.myretrospect.com/stories/a-borrowed-story-from-my-neighbor-a-judge/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Two Judicial Legends: Judges James L. Oakes and Harlan Fiske Stone #megmott, #elizabethcaitlan, #lissaweinmann, #sallyseymour, #guilfordsound, #alecpombriant 00:32:09 The episode begins with host introducing political science Professor Meg Mott, known as the ‘Constitution Wrangler’ who tackles issues regarding interpretation of US founding documents and the role of three branches of government. Mott will update info on the courts relating to two segments she helped produce on two judges who pertained to the Brattleboro area for the Brattleboro Words Trail: Judge James L. Oakes (Brattleboro) and Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone (Chesterfield, NH). Host interviewed Mott about the relevance of the two judge’s work on our understanding of the court system and Supreme Court today in order to update the two stories about each judge. From about 4:00 to 7:00, Mott talks about the role of judiciary in a republic, how the Constitution differentiates between the three branches of gov starting with how Article 1 lays out power in the legislature. She describes the executive and electoral college and how the judiciary lacks democratic accountability and is the weakest branch of government. She quotes Alexander Hamilton on the judiciary having ‘no sword, no purse’. She starts with Judge Oakes. He was a Nixon appointee but bucked him on Pentagon Papers case in favor of First Amendment free speech, exemplifying the ideal of an independent judiciary. Mott reminds us that the federal judiciary, many of them Trump appointees, rejectedTrump’s challenges to the 2020 election and validated election. We cut to piece on James L. Oakes narrated by Elizabeth Caitlan who worked for Judge Oakes. She describes judiciary structure and 2nd Circuit court of appeals and Oakes role in the Pentagon Papers case, the first time US gov tried to stop a newspaper (The New York Times) from running a story, ruled no prior restraint of free speech. At 9:40 we hear the voice of James L Oakes regarding the interplay between national security vs. free speech. Oakes speaks at 10:25 on the Bill of Rights ‘the idealization of our humanity.’ Caitlan tells us Oakes understood law as a developing system for managing human behavior. Describes Oakes’ relationship with Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor with whom he shared fundamental values. Oakes at 11:50 introduces pressure cooker metaphor, says thinking like a judge requires ‘kitchen wisdom and professional expertise’. At 12:40 we hear how Oakes definition of recreation helped conservationists protect land. At 13:54 the Words Trail story about Harlan Fiske Stone begins. He was 'a Wall Street guy' everyone thought would side with business and ‘liberty of contract’ during the Progressive Era, but he didn’t. He’s famous for ‘Footnote #’ which sets out ‘levels of scrutiny’ for when the Supreme Court should rule on a lower court case. Stone said court should defer to state legislatures, democratic process to make a legislative, rationale basis for law. ‘Tiers of scrutiny’ means court should defer to legislatures, but if a legislature severely restricts, discriminates against the rights of discreet minority, the supreme court should strike it down. Mott discusses how Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been bypassing ‘tiers of scrutiny’ with strict historical assessment of texts and how ‘tiers of scrutiny’ is much more workable. She discusses how ‘operating with self-restraint’ was a Stone legacy, he understood the importance of limits. She discusses 1936 case, US v Butler, Congress enacts progressive legislation, SC Court wants to strike it, Stone dissents saying ‘Appeal lies not to the court but to the ballot and processes of democratic gov.’and how it relates to the Dobbs decision / Roe v. Wade. At 24:39 Harlan Fiske Stone story begins with Mott narration. At 28:44 discusses Footnote 4, judge will rule against anything that discriminates against a ‘discreet minority.’ We hear Stone is known for his legacy on the court for ‘exercising self restraint’ because he always understood the limits of human beings while executing the power of the court. The episode begins with host introducing political science Professor Meg Mott, known as the ‘Constitution Wrangler’ who tackles issues regarding interpretation of US founding documents and the role of three branches of government. Mott will update info on the courts relating to two segments she helped produce on two judges who pertained to the Brattleboro area for the Brattleboro Words Trail: Judge James L. Oakes (Brattleboro) and Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone (Chesterfield, NH). Host interviewed Mott about the relevance of the two judge’s work on our understanding of the court system and Supreme Court today in order to update the two stories about each judge. From about 4:00 to 7:00, Mott talks about the role of judiciary in a republic, how the Constitution differentiates between the three branches of gov starting with how Article 1 lays out power in the legislature. She describes the executive and electoral college and how the judiciary lacks democratic accountability and is the weakest branch of government. She quotes Alexander Hamilton on the judiciary having ‘no sword, no purse’. She starts with Judge Oakes. He was a Nixon appointee but bucked him on Pentagon Papers case in favor of First Amendment free speech, exemplifying the ideal of an independent judiciary. Mott reminds us that the federal judiciary, many of them Trump appointees, rejectedTrump’s challenges to the 2020 election and validated election. We cut to piece on James L. Oakes narrated by Elizabeth Caitlan who worked for Judge Oakes. She describes judiciary structure and 2nd Circuit court of appeals and Oakes role in the Pentagon Papers case, the first time US gov tried to stop a newspaper (The New York Times) from running a story, ruled no prior restraint of free speech. At 9:40 we hear the voice of James L Oakes regarding the interplay between national security vs. free speech. Oakes speaks at 10:25 on the Bill of Rights ‘the idealization of our humanity.’ Caitlan tells us Oakes understood law as a developing system for managing human behavior. Describes Oakes’ relationship with Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor with whom he shared fundamental values. Oakes at 11:50 introduces pressure cooker metaphor, says thinking like a judge requires ‘kitchen wisdom and professional expertise’. At 12:40 we hear how Oakes definition of recreation helped conservationists protect land. At 13:54 the Words Trail story about Harlan Fiske Stone begins. He was 'a Wall Street guy' everyone thought would side with business and ‘liberty of contract’ during the Progressive Era, but he didn’t. He’s famous for ‘Footnote #’ which sets out ‘levels of scrutiny’ for when the Supreme Court should rule on a lower court case. Stone said court should defer to state legislatures, democratic process to make a legislative, rationale basis for law. ‘Tiers of scrutiny’ means court should defer to legislatures, but if a legislature severely restricts, discriminates against the rights of discreet minority, the supreme court should strike it down. Mott discusses how Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been bypassing ‘tiers of scrutiny’ with strict historical assessment of texts and how ‘tiers of scrutiny’ is much more workable. She discusses how ‘operating with self-restraint’ was a Stone legacy, he understood the importance of limits. She discusses 1936 case, US v Butler, Congress enacts progressive legislation, SC Court wants to strike it, Stone dissents saying ‘Appeal lies not to the court but to the ballot and processes of democratic gov.’and how it relates to the Dobbs decision / Roe v. Wade. At 24:39 Harlan Fiske Stone story begins with Mott narration. At 28:44 discusses Footnote 4, judge will rule against anything that discriminates against a ‘discreet minority.’ We hear Stone is known for his legacy on the court for ‘exercising self restraint’ because he always understood the limits of human beings while executing the power of the court. #brattleboro, #supremecurt, #vermontjudiciary, #judgejamesloakes, #chesterfieldnh, #megmott, #supremecourtethics, #constitutionwrangler, #brattleborovt false full 15 1e3af09a-e9b9-4521-bf7a-825538b3aad3 The Enchanting Wesselhoeft Water-Cure This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was written, narrated and produced Lissa Weinmann. Audio Editing was by Sally Seymour. The Voice of Dr. Wesselhoeft is Ned Childs. Voice of Abby Estey was Elery Loggia. Mastering was by Guilford Sound with final podcast editing by Alec Pombriant. 

Wesselhoeft quotes were taken from Wesselhoeft comments in various editions of his ‘Green Mountain Spring' newspaper. Abby Estey Fuller quotes were from her ‘Daughters of the American Revolution’ speech published in 1928. 

Info on Wesselhoeft’s early life was thanks to Starr Willard Cuttings’ “The History of Robert Wesselhoeft’ original manuscripts in Brooks Memorial Library rare documents division. 

This podcast was supported by a Digital Capacities Grant from the VT arts council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Abby Estey's description of the various watercure paths is from an address to the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1912 which was published in 1928. 

Jerry Carbone created a database of Wesselhoeft clients over a three year span, see: https://dbnews.americanancestors.org/2019/01/29/new-database-brattleboro-vt-wesselhoeft-water-cure-1845-1848/ 

 

 

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:30:59 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#nedchilds, #eleryloggia, #sallyseymour, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/the-enchanting-dr-wesselhoeft-watercure-_pSnNWOH This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was written, narrated and produced Lissa Weinmann. Audio Editing was by Sally Seymour. The Voice of Dr. Wesselhoeft is Ned Childs. Voice of Abby Estey was Elery Loggia. Mastering was by Guilford Sound with final podcast editing by Alec Pombriant. 

Wesselhoeft quotes were taken from Wesselhoeft comments in various editions of his ‘Green Mountain Spring' newspaper. Abby Estey Fuller quotes were from her ‘Daughters of the American Revolution’ speech published in 1928. 

Info on Wesselhoeft’s early life was thanks to Starr Willard Cuttings’ “The History of Robert Wesselhoeft’ original manuscripts in Brooks Memorial Library rare documents division. 

This podcast was supported by a Digital Capacities Grant from the VT arts council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Abby Estey's description of the various watercure paths is from an address to the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1912 which was published in 1928. 

Jerry Carbone created a database of Wesselhoeft clients over a three year span, see: https://dbnews.americanancestors.org/2019/01/29/new-database-brattleboro-vt-wesselhoeft-water-cure-1845-1848/ 

 

 

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> The Enchanting Wesselhoeft Water-Cure #nedchilds, #eleryloggia, #sallyseymour, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant 00:28:24 The Brattleboro Hydropathy Establishment, better known as the Wesselhoeft Water-Cure, was the poshest medical 'spa' of its time, a celebrated mecca for mid nineteenth century writers, statesmen and advocates who flocked to 'the healing waters of Brattleboro' and guidance from one Dr. Robert Ferdinand Wesselhoeft. Among its many famous visitors were Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin), Francis Parkman (The Oregon Trail), Helen Hunt Jackson (A Century of Dishonor) and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose experiences in Brattleboro inspired their writings. In just seven years, from 1845 to 1852, the highly cultured Dr. Wesselhoeft left an indelible impression on the town and all who knew him. The episode begins with a synoptic overview of the Wesselhoeft Water-Cure and a later Lawrence Water-Cure across the street. At 7:52, we learn Dr. Wesselhoeft's fascinating origin story - son of a publisher, student of Goethe, lawyer and political prisoner in pre-Germany - who remade himself into a physician when he came to the U.S. to join his brother William (Wilhelm) Wesselhoeft who helped found the first school of homeopathy in the US. The two would eventually move to the Boston area to open a successful clinic serving noted 'Trancendentalists.' At 9:32 we learn that Nathaniel Hawthorne disliked Dr. Wesselhoeft so much he created at least two repellant characters in his fiction reportedly modeled after him. Hawthorne joined forces with another 'Boston Brahmin' Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes (father of the famed jurist of the same name) to humiliate Wesselhoeft and drive him out of town. Dr. Wesselhoeft escaped to Brattleboro where he found the cleanest water on east coast. Starting at 11:55 Wesselhoeft, in his own words as interpreted by actor Ned Childs, describes details of his treatments. Outcomes were meticulously noted in his regular newspaper Green Mountain Spring. Dr. Wesselhoeft describes how 'our water-cure' addressed the sad state of Americans' 'perverse and unnatural habits of life' society, diet and health and answers his detractors. The episode closes with descriptions of the elaborately landscaped paths the Dr. created around the Whetstone Brook and along the Connecticut and West Rivers that define Brattleboro. At 20:05 we hear a vivid historical account from then Brattleboro High School student Elery Loggia as the voice of Abby Estey Fuller recalling Abby's childhood fascination with the 'gloriously beauteous' paths and scenes with Wesselhoeft clients and expresses her gratitude for Dr. Wesselhoeft and the 'brains' that created enchanting settings that formed a sort of wonderland for local children. The Brattleboro Hydropathy Establishment, better known as the Wesselhoeft Water-Cure, was the poshest medical 'spa' of its time, a celebrated mecca for mid nineteenth century writers, statesmen and advocates who flocked to 'the healing waters of Brattleboro' and guidance from one Dr. Robert Ferdinand Wesselhoeft. Among its many famous visitors were Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin), Francis Parkman (The Oregon Trail), Helen Hunt Jackson (A Century of Dishonor) and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose experiences in Brattleboro inspired their writings. In just seven years, from 1845 to 1852, the highly cultured Dr. Wesselhoeft left an indelible impression on the town and all who knew him. The episode begins with a synoptic overview of the Wesselhoeft Water-Cure and a later Lawrence Water-Cure across the street. At 7:52, we learn Dr. Wesselhoeft's fascinating origin story - son of a publisher, student of Goethe, lawyer and political prisoner in pre-Germany - who remade himself into a physician when he came to the U.S. to join his brother William (Wilhelm) Wesselhoeft who helped found the first school of homeopathy in the US. The two would eventually move to the Boston area to open a successful clinic serving noted 'Trancendentalists.' At 9:32 we learn that Nathaniel Hawthorne disliked Dr. Wesselhoeft so much he created at least two repellant characters in his fiction reportedly modeled after him. Hawthorne joined forces with another 'Boston Brahmin' Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes (father of the famed jurist of the same name) to humiliate Wesselhoeft and drive him out of town. Dr. Wesselhoeft escaped to Brattleboro where he found the cleanest water on east coast. Starting at 11:55 Wesselhoeft, in his own words as interpreted by actor Ned Childs, describes details of his treatments. Outcomes were meticulously noted in his regular newspaper Green Mountain Spring. Dr. Wesselhoeft describes how 'our water-cure' addressed the sad state of Americans' 'perverse and unnatural habits of life' society, diet and health and answers his detractors. The episode closes with descriptions of the elaborately landscaped paths the Dr. created around the Whetstone Brook and along the Connecticut and West Rivers that define Brattleboro. At 20:05 we hear a vivid historical account from then Brattleboro High School student Elery Loggia as the voice of Abby Estey Fuller recalling Abby's childhood fascination with the 'gloriously beauteous' paths and scenes with Wesselhoeft clients and expresses her gratitude for Dr. Wesselhoeft and the 'brains' that created enchanting settings that formed a sort of wonderland for local children. #brattleboro, #lrweinmann, #brattleborohistory, #nedchilds, #water-cures, #vermontwriters, #brattleborofiredepartment false full 14 0463299c-2eea-4dfc-8d89-265ebb0f44cd Two Inspiring Women: Eleanor Roosevelt and Wangari Maathai The first half of this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast on Eleanor Roosevelt, Carmelita Hinton and the Putney School, was produced, written and narrated by Anna Kusmer with commentary by Marnie Rosner, Putney School founder Carmelita Hinton's granddaughter. Archival tape of Eleanor Roosevelt's voice at that commencement speech was restored and mastered by Guilford Sound. 

The second half of this podcast on Wangari Maathai was produced and edited by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater. Clips of Wangari’s voice were taken from their documentary film: Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai.  Executive Producer of this episode was me Lissa Weinmann. Final mastering was by Guilford Sound. Final podcast editing and production was by Alec Pombriant. Many thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Humanities Council and the hundreds of volunteers who make the Brattleboro Words Trail a reality. 

Thanks to Christopher Grotke for making composite image of Roosevelt and Maathai for episode image. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2024 23:18:34 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#marnirosner, #annakusmer, #lisamerton, #alandater, #takingroot, #eleanorroosevelt, #wangarimaathai, #lissaweinmann, #guilfordsound, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/two-inspiring-women-eleanor-roosevelt-and-wangari-maathai-ZsKFbDAy The first half of this episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast on Eleanor Roosevelt, Carmelita Hinton and the Putney School, was produced, written and narrated by Anna Kusmer with commentary by Marnie Rosner, Putney School founder Carmelita Hinton's granddaughter. Archival tape of Eleanor Roosevelt's voice at that commencement speech was restored and mastered by Guilford Sound. 

The second half of this podcast on Wangari Maathai was produced and edited by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater. Clips of Wangari’s voice were taken from their documentary film: Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai.  Executive Producer of this episode was me Lissa Weinmann. Final mastering was by Guilford Sound. Final podcast editing and production was by Alec Pombriant. Many thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Humanities Council and the hundreds of volunteers who make the Brattleboro Words Trail a reality. 

Thanks to Christopher Grotke for making composite image of Roosevelt and Maathai for episode image. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Two Inspiring Women: Eleanor Roosevelt and Wangari Maathai #marnirosner, #annakusmer, #lisamerton, #alandater, #takingroot, #eleanorroosevelt, #wangarimaathai, #lissaweinmann, #guilfordsound, #alecpombriant 00:17:29 June is the month of graduations, and this episode tells the story of two strong and inspiring women whose words left an enduring impact on students -- and many others -- in the Brattleboro area. Invited to the Putney School commencement in June 1956 by its founder Carmelita Hinton, Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged graduates to be good global citizens. Narrator Anna Kusmer sets the stage of McCarthy-era America where civil rights were routinely violated especially for people of color. Commentator Marni Rosner, Hinton's granddaughter, helped the Brattleboro Words Trail discover a forgotten reel-to-reel tape of Roosevelt's speech and restored it so it could be heard for the first time and used for the podcast. Roosevelt cautions that democracy can only survive when citizens are educated. She says if the US wants to lead the world, it had better lead by example. She says the world is composed of mainly people of color who would be lifted up to a higher standard of living through the new UN's work and that they would be watching what's happening in the US. Rosner reflects on her grandmother's work in the Progressive Era with Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and education leader John Dewey. Kusmer ends with keen observation on youth, the future and a great Roosevelt quote. The second half of the episode on Wangari Maathai, the first black female (and environmentalist) Nobel Peace Laureate, is narrated by filmmaker Lisa Merton who, along with her partner Alan Dater, made the wonderful documentary "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai." Merton discusses how the filmmakers met Maathai and how potent, communicative and loving an individual she was. We hear archival tape of Maathai speaking stirringly and presciently about the origins of her famed 'Green Belt Movement' and how humans must act to maintain the Earth - our life support system. June is the month of graduations, and this episode tells the story of two strong and inspiring women whose words left an enduring impact on students -- and many others -- in the Brattleboro area. Invited to the Putney School commencement in June 1956 by its founder Carmelita Hinton, Eleanor Roosevelt encouraged graduates to be good global citizens. Narrator Anna Kusmer sets the stage of McCarthy-era America where civil rights were routinely violated especially for people of color. Commentator Marni Rosner, Hinton's granddaughter, helped the Brattleboro Words Trail discover a forgotten reel-to-reel tape of Roosevelt's speech and restored it so it could be heard for the first time and used for the podcast. Roosevelt cautions that democracy can only survive when citizens are educated. She says if the US wants to lead the world, it had better lead by example. She says the world is composed of mainly people of color who would be lifted up to a higher standard of living through the new UN's work and that they would be watching what's happening in the US. Rosner reflects on her grandmother's work in the Progressive Era with Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and education leader John Dewey. Kusmer ends with keen observation on youth, the future and a great Roosevelt quote. The second half of the episode on Wangari Maathai, the first black female (and environmentalist) Nobel Peace Laureate, is narrated by filmmaker Lisa Merton who, along with her partner Alan Dater, made the wonderful documentary "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai." Merton discusses how the filmmakers met Maathai and how potent, communicative and loving an individual she was. We hear archival tape of Maathai speaking stirringly and presciently about the origins of her famed 'Green Belt Movement' and how humans must act to maintain the Earth - our life support system. #eleanorroosevelt, #plantingtrees, #bratlitfest, #brattleboro, #putneyschool, #greenbeltmovement, #neh, #brattleborowords, #carmelitahinton, #janeaddams, #vermonthumanities, #brattleborowordstrail, #takingroot, #womenleaders, #wangarimaathai, #johndewey, #feminist false full 13 f571a143-f1b6-440e-8816-5242b5b485e0 Life and Death of West River Railroad's JJ Green Today you can walk or ride your bike along several lengthy segments of the old West River Railroad thanks to the efforts of non profit Friends of the West River Trail. You can also pick up physical maps at their trailhead on the river near the Marina Restaurant in Brattleboro. That’s also where the West River and Connecticut River meet, just next to the Vermont Canoe Touring Center, where the bridge collapsed and JJ Green died. It’s also where the Amtrak line crosses on a new bridge today.  

The West River Railroad Museum in Newfane and the Historical Society of Windham County nearby in Newfane are well worth a visit.

This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was researched, written and narrated by Deborah Lee Luskin. It was produced and edited by Donna Blackney. Executive Producer was me, Lissa Weinmann. The voice of JJ Green is John Loggia. The voice reading the 1885 newspaper account of JJ Green’s death is Jon Mack. Mastering of the original Brattleboro Words Trail audio and all Brattleboro Words Trail audio was by Guilford Sound. Audio editing for the podcast was by Alec Pombriant. Credit for JJ Green image goes to Daniel Brooks and the Historical Society of Windham County. Thanks to Laura Wallingford at the Historical Society of Windham County for her guidance and support.

Downloadable Trail Maps: 

Link to Friends of West River Trail lower section of the West River Trail map, Brattleboro and Dummerston: https://westrivertrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/west-river-trail-map_11x17-2018.pdf

Link to Friends of West River Trail upper section of the West River Trail map, Townsend to Londonderry: https://westrivertrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/uppersectiontrailmap.pdf

For more on the West River, see Brattleboro Words Trail Elizabeth Florette Fischer story for a glimpse into the unique geology of the site, and the piece on the ancient Petroglyphs on the West River. 

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sat, 11 May 2024 17:36:58 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#bratwords, #johnloggia, #westriverrailroad, #deborahleeluskin, #vermontwriters, #118elliot, #jonmack, #lrweinmann, #tygibbons) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/life-and-death-of-west-river-railroads-jj-green-3SDweKuO Today you can walk or ride your bike along several lengthy segments of the old West River Railroad thanks to the efforts of non profit Friends of the West River Trail. You can also pick up physical maps at their trailhead on the river near the Marina Restaurant in Brattleboro. That’s also where the West River and Connecticut River meet, just next to the Vermont Canoe Touring Center, where the bridge collapsed and JJ Green died. It’s also where the Amtrak line crosses on a new bridge today.  

The West River Railroad Museum in Newfane and the Historical Society of Windham County nearby in Newfane are well worth a visit.

This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was researched, written and narrated by Deborah Lee Luskin. It was produced and edited by Donna Blackney. Executive Producer was me, Lissa Weinmann. The voice of JJ Green is John Loggia. The voice reading the 1885 newspaper account of JJ Green’s death is Jon Mack. Mastering of the original Brattleboro Words Trail audio and all Brattleboro Words Trail audio was by Guilford Sound. Audio editing for the podcast was by Alec Pombriant. Credit for JJ Green image goes to Daniel Brooks and the Historical Society of Windham County. Thanks to Laura Wallingford at the Historical Society of Windham County for her guidance and support.

Downloadable Trail Maps: 

Link to Friends of West River Trail lower section of the West River Trail map, Brattleboro and Dummerston: https://westrivertrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/west-river-trail-map_11x17-2018.pdf

Link to Friends of West River Trail upper section of the West River Trail map, Townsend to Londonderry: https://westrivertrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/uppersectiontrailmap.pdf

For more on the West River, see Brattleboro Words Trail Elizabeth Florette Fischer story for a glimpse into the unique geology of the site, and the piece on the ancient Petroglyphs on the West River. 

 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Life and Death of West River Railroad's JJ Green #bratwords, #johnloggia, #westriverrailroad, #deborahleeluskin, #vermontwriters, #118elliot, #jonmack, #lrweinmann, #tygibbons 00:18:20 The old depot of the West River Railroad in Newfane Vermont was where Station Master JJ Green, a prominent citizen of the town who wore many hats, including telegraph operator and journalist, worked each day and kept a diary for the year 1885. The depot was lovingly restored in recent years by The Historical Society of Windham County into the West River Railroad museum, where the original copy of Green's diary and many other artifacts are preserved. The book, 'The Diary of JJ Green: A Daily Record of the Year 1885 by a Stationmaster on the West River Railroad', gives an intimate view of life at the time, reflections on the seasons and current events, and the woes of the West River Railroad. The story is poignant, the diary ironic: JJ Green died on the train on his way to deliver a story to the Vermont Phoenix in Brattleboro in the infamous “Wreck at Three Bridges” the very next year (1886). The second third of the podcast is an interview with writer and narrator Deborah Lee Luskin on a bit of the history of the West River Railroad, where it fit-in regionally and a sense of how it was used. A description of the museum is also discussed as well as the West River Trail's recreational possibilities. The old depot of the West River Railroad in Newfane Vermont was where Station Master JJ Green, a prominent citizen of the town who wore many hats, including telegraph operator and journalist, worked each day and kept a diary for the year 1885. The depot was lovingly restored in recent years by The Historical Society of Windham County into the West River Railroad museum, where the original copy of Green's diary and many other artifacts are preserved. The book, 'The Diary of JJ Green: A Daily Record of the Year 1885 by a Stationmaster on the West River Railroad', gives an intimate view of life at the time, reflections on the seasons and current events, and the woes of the West River Railroad. The story is poignant, the diary ironic: JJ Green died on the train on his way to deliver a story to the Vermont Phoenix in Brattleboro in the infamous “Wreck at Three Bridges” the very next year (1886). The second third of the podcast is an interview with writer and narrator Deborah Lee Luskin on a bit of the history of the West River Railroad, where it fit-in regionally and a sense of how it was used. A description of the museum is also discussed as well as the West River Trail's recreational possibilities. #friendsofwestrivertrail, #historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty, #neh, #36milesoftrouible, windhamcountyvt, #westriverrr false full 12 83a4ab3e-242a-4842-aa87-268effca775f Packer Corners Communes: Tales of Another Time This episode of the Brattleboro Words Podcast was written, produced and narrated by Maria Margaronis. The voices on Part 1 ‘Total Loss Farm’’ are Maria, Verandah Porche and Richard Wizansky. The voices on Part 2 ‘The Bard of Guilford’ are Maria and Verandah Porche. The voices on Segment 3 ‘Night Walk’ are Maria and Peter Gould. Executive Producer was me, Lissa Weinmann. Mastering of segments was by Guilford Sound. Final podcast editing and mastering was Alec Pombriant.  Photograph is 1971 Packer Corners image by Asa Elliot. For more information about how to join this creative work, visit us at BrattleboroWords.org. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:48:23 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#andrewkopkind, #johnscagliotti, #verandahporche, #richardwyzanski, #guilfordvermont, #petergould, #horsedrawnyogurt, #lrweinmann, #mariamargaronis, #alecpombriant, #tygibbons, #lissaweinmann, #pattycarpentervt, #guilfordvt, #guilfordsound) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/packer-corners-communes-8tIZG_44 This episode of the Brattleboro Words Podcast was written, produced and narrated by Maria Margaronis. The voices on Part 1 ‘Total Loss Farm’’ are Maria, Verandah Porche and Richard Wizansky. The voices on Part 2 ‘The Bard of Guilford’ are Maria and Verandah Porche. The voices on Segment 3 ‘Night Walk’ are Maria and Peter Gould. Executive Producer was me, Lissa Weinmann. Mastering of segments was by Guilford Sound. Final podcast editing and mastering was Alec Pombriant.  Photograph is 1971 Packer Corners image by Asa Elliot. For more information about how to join this creative work, visit us at BrattleboroWords.org. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Packer Corners Communes: Tales of Another Time #andrewkopkind, #johnscagliotti, #verandahporche, #richardwyzanski, #guilfordvermont, #petergould, #horsedrawnyogurt, #lrweinmann, #mariamargaronis, #alecpombriant, #tygibbons, #lissaweinmann, #pattycarpentervt, #guilfordvt, #guilfordsound 00:19:04 Narrator Maria Margaronis introduces us to the writers and creatives who retreated the chaos of the time in the late 60s to Vermont to create intentional communities based on free expression and the idea of a commonwealth in a hamlet in Guilford near Brattleboro, Vermont. Maria discovered this 'little Utopia' in the 80s when she was 'a slip of a girl' and returns frequently from her home base in London. First part introduces the community founded 'around the word at a time of language assassination' with comments from poet Verandah Porche and Richard Wyzanski, one time 'pariahs' who have turned 'pillars' of today's community, 50 years later. Second Part further explores 'bard of Guilford' Verandah Porche. Verandah shares delightful verse and experiences at 'Total Loss Farm.' Part Three takes us on an evocative night walk around Packer Corners with former 'communer' Peter Gould and where we linger at a cemetery to hear Peter's ghost story about early Black villagers Abijah and Lucy Terry Prince, complete with thundering hoofs in the night. Narrator Maria Margaronis introduces us to the writers and creatives who retreated the chaos of the time in the late 60s to Vermont to create intentional communities based on free expression and the idea of a commonwealth in a hamlet in Guilford near Brattleboro, Vermont. Maria discovered this 'little Utopia' in the 80s when she was 'a slip of a girl' and returns frequently from her home base in London. First part introduces the community founded 'around the word at a time of language assassination' with comments from poet Verandah Porche and Richard Wyzanski, one time 'pariahs' who have turned 'pillars' of today's community, 50 years later. Second Part further explores 'bard of Guilford' Verandah Porche. Verandah shares delightful verse and experiences at 'Total Loss Farm.' Part Three takes us on an evocative night walk around Packer Corners with former 'communer' Peter Gould and where we linger at a cemetery to hear Peter's ghost story about early Black villagers Abijah and Lucy Terry Prince, complete with thundering hoofs in the night. #vermontpoets, #brattleborowords, #totallossfarm, #vermontwriters, #vermontcommunes, #communes, #smalltownstories, #downtownbrattleboro false full 11 dddf03e3-825e-4452-88e3-edc1cc026213 Andrew Kopkind: Gutsy, Gifted and Groundbreaking Journalist This episode was produced, edited and narrated by Maria Margaronis.  Interviews were with John Scagliotti, JoAnn Wypijewski. Archival voice of Andrew Kopkind provided by producer.  The parody of Lou Reed's 'Take a Walk on the Wild Side' was performed by Scagliotti and Kopkind on 'Lavender Hour' radio on WBCN Boston. The Allen Ginsberg excerpt was from  Scagliotti's film 'Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community': https://www.firstrunfeatures.com/beforestonewall.html Executive Producer was LIssa Weinmann. Audio Mastering was by Guilford Sound with final podcast editing by Alec Pombriant. 

See Andrew Kopdind's seminal work 'The Thirty Years’ Wars':   'Probably no better record exists of these landmark events than the vivid reflections collected in The Thirty Years’ Wars.”—Washington Post

See Tribute to Kopkind in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/gutsy-radical-journalism-andy-kopkind-who-died-20-years-ago-week/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Thu, 7 Mar 2024 16:01:55 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#mariamargaronis) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/gutsy-groundbreaking-journalist-andrew-kopkind-UTtZtr9f This episode was produced, edited and narrated by Maria Margaronis.  Interviews were with John Scagliotti, JoAnn Wypijewski. Archival voice of Andrew Kopkind provided by producer.  The parody of Lou Reed's 'Take a Walk on the Wild Side' was performed by Scagliotti and Kopkind on 'Lavender Hour' radio on WBCN Boston. The Allen Ginsberg excerpt was from  Scagliotti's film 'Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community': https://www.firstrunfeatures.com/beforestonewall.html Executive Producer was LIssa Weinmann. Audio Mastering was by Guilford Sound with final podcast editing by Alec Pombriant. 

See Andrew Kopdind's seminal work 'The Thirty Years’ Wars':   'Probably no better record exists of these landmark events than the vivid reflections collected in The Thirty Years’ Wars.”—Washington Post

See Tribute to Kopkind in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/gutsy-radical-journalism-andy-kopkind-who-died-20-years-ago-week/

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Andrew Kopkind: Gutsy, Gifted and Groundbreaking Journalist #mariamargaronis 00:14:52 Brilliant chronicler of the 1960s, Andrew Kopkind was a courageous, insightful and remarkably groundbreaking journalist always 'sniffing the zeitgeist' and pushing boundaries while covering race, civil rights, war and poverty. An openly gay man in an era when such freedom was sorely contested, he co-produced “Lavender Hour,” the first gay and lesbian vari­ety program on American commercial radio with his long-time partner John Scagliotti. After obtaining degrees from Cornell University and the London School of Economics, he reported for Time, the New Republic, the Village Voice and many other publications before becoming Associate Editor of The Nation, America’s oldest continuously published weekly magazine. Kopkind wrote two books: America: The Mixed Curse (1969) and The Thirty Years' Wars: Dispatches and Diversions of a Radical Journalist, 1965-1994, an anthology of his writing published posthumously in 1995, edited by JoAnn Wypijewski. In 1974, Kopkind bought Tree Frog Farm in Guilford, Vermont, which became his and John Scagliotti's home and a gathering place for like minded journalists, filmmakers, and other culture makers -- like episode producer/narrator Maria Margaronis -- who shared Kopkind’s passion for social justice. When Kopkind died of cancer in 1994 at age 59, the Kopkind Colony was founded at Tree Frog Farm to remember his work. The Colony, under the continued direction of Scagliotti, Wypijewski and others, mentors journalists, filmmakers and community activists through a summer residency program and other activities that continue there today. Brilliant chronicler of the 1960s, Andrew Kopkind was a courageous, insightful and remarkably groundbreaking journalist always 'sniffing the zeitgeist' and pushing boundaries while covering race, civil rights, war and poverty. An openly gay man in an era when such freedom was sorely contested, he co-produced “Lavender Hour,” the first gay and lesbian vari­ety program on American commercial radio with his long-time partner John Scagliotti. After obtaining degrees from Cornell University and the London School of Economics, he reported for Time, the New Republic, the Village Voice and many other publications before becoming Associate Editor of The Nation, America’s oldest continuously published weekly magazine. Kopkind wrote two books: America: The Mixed Curse (1969) and The Thirty Years' Wars: Dispatches and Diversions of a Radical Journalist, 1965-1994, an anthology of his writing published posthumously in 1995, edited by JoAnn Wypijewski. In 1974, Kopkind bought Tree Frog Farm in Guilford, Vermont, which became his and John Scagliotti's home and a gathering place for like minded journalists, filmmakers, and other culture makers -- like episode producer/narrator Maria Margaronis -- who shared Kopkind’s passion for social justice. When Kopkind died of cancer in 1994 at age 59, the Kopkind Colony was founded at Tree Frog Farm to remember his work. The Colony, under the continued direction of Scagliotti, Wypijewski and others, mentors journalists, filmmakers and community activists through a summer residency program and other activities that continue there today. #kopkindcolony, #guilfordvt, #brattleboro, #allenginsberg, #mariamaragonis, #joannwypijewski, #brattleboroliteraryfestival, #brooksmemorial, #johnscagliotti, #thenation, #brattleborowriters false full 10 20c9581c-31fe-4851-bd9d-005134764c22 Madame Sherri's Ruins This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was produced and hosted by Lissa Weinmann. The Madame Sherri audio was written by Robert Weir, narrated by Molly Melloan, edited by Sally Seymour  and mastered by Guilford Sound. Fnal podcast production and editing was by Alec Pombriant. Theme music for the Brattleboro Words Trail is by Ty Gibbons. Thanks to Elissa Pine, Welcome Hill Studios and the Chesterfield Historical Society for their help.

Information on Ann Stokes women writers' retreat, Welcome Hill Studios, can be found at:  http://welcomehillstudios.org/about

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:19:37 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#mollymelloan, #RobWeir, #tygibbons, #brattleborowords) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/madame-sherris-ruins-khDVaxSo This episode of the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast was produced and hosted by Lissa Weinmann. The Madame Sherri audio was written by Robert Weir, narrated by Molly Melloan, edited by Sally Seymour  and mastered by Guilford Sound. Fnal podcast production and editing was by Alec Pombriant. Theme music for the Brattleboro Words Trail is by Ty Gibbons. Thanks to Elissa Pine, Welcome Hill Studios and the Chesterfield Historical Society for their help.

Information on Ann Stokes women writers' retreat, Welcome Hill Studios, can be found at:  http://welcomehillstudios.org/about

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Madame Sherri's Ruins #mollymelloan, #RobWeir, #tygibbons, #brattleborowords 00:14:38 The evocative ruins of Madame Sherri's 'castle' in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire are about 10 minutes from downtown Brattleboro, but the myths and legends surrounding Madame Sherri have captivated visitors the world over for almost 100 years. A costume designer and vaudeville performer, Madame threw outrageous parties that drew the glitterati of New York and Hollywood to this remote and unlikely place. Our story introduces you to the eccentric Sherri and her exploits while shedding light on the more sobering true facts of her life and legacy. The evocative ruins of Madame Sherri's 'castle' in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire are about 10 minutes from downtown Brattleboro, but the myths and legends surrounding Madame Sherri have captivated visitors the world over for almost 100 years. A costume designer and vaudeville performer, Madame threw outrageous parties that drew the glitterati of New York and Hollywood to this remote and unlikely place. Our story introduces you to the eccentric Sherri and her exploits while shedding light on the more sobering true facts of her life and legacy. #brattleboro, #madamesherriruins, #brattleborowords, #madamesherri, #vermont writers, #westchesterfieldnh, #smalltownstories, #brattleborowordstrail false full 9 e7c8b041-123c-4809-9e22-11f06ebea80a The 'Awesome' John Kenneth Galbraith Fri, 1 Dec 2023 21:33:59 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#joycemarcel, #petergalbraith, #randyholhut, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/the-awesome-john-kenneth-galbraith-r4M9lmmk The 'Awesome' John Kenneth Galbraith #joycemarcel, #petergalbraith, #randyholhut, #lissaweinmann, #alecpombriant 00:15:04 John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) was one of the world's best known economists whose eloquent and internationally recognized writings on economics, public policy and culture helped shape the identity of the modern United States and 20th-century American liberalism. He was a professor at Harvard University for decades. He spent long summers in Newfane, VT for more than 30 years and frequented the Moore Free Library which reserves a special shelf for the dozens of books he wrote the quintessential analysis of the Great Depression -The Great Crash - and The Affluent Society, both of which were bestsellers from the 1950s through the 2000s. He also wrote hundreds of magazine articles and several novels. He served in the administrations of four presidents and was US Ambassador to India under the Kennedy administration. He received the WWII Medal of Freedom in 1946 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 200 for his public service and contributions to science. His sons Peter and Jamie Galbraith are important writers and continue to use the family home and contribute to local dialogue through the Brattleboro-based Windham World Affairs Council, which continues an annual lecture in honor of their father. In the first half of the episode, Vermont journalist Joyce Marcel narrates these facts about the man. Her husband, Randy Holhut, an editor at the weekly The Commons newspaper, relays a personal story of Galbraith's largesse taken from an obituary he wrote upon Galbraith's death in 2006. The second half of the episode focuses on Galbraith as a writer. Galbraith's son Peter Galbraith says that, despite the fact that his father was one of the world's best known economists, he thought of himself primarily as a writer. Peter shares insights on writing he learned from his father and the elder Galbraith himself shares writing advice through archival tape taken from a 1986 talk at UC Berkeley. John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) was one of the world's best known economists whose eloquent and internationally recognized writings on economics, public policy and culture helped shape the identity of the modern United States and 20th-century American liberalism. He was a professor at Harvard University for decades. He spent long summers in Newfane, VT for more than 30 years and frequented the Moore Free Library which reserves a special shelf for the dozens of books he wrote the quintessential analysis of the Great Depression -The Great Crash - and The Affluent Society, both of which were bestsellers from the 1950s through the 2000s. He also wrote hundreds of magazine articles and several novels. He served in the administrations of four presidents and was US Ambassador to India under the Kennedy administration. He received the WWII Medal of Freedom in 1946 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 200 for his public service and contributions to science. His sons Peter and Jamie Galbraith are important writers and continue to use the family home and contribute to local dialogue through the Brattleboro-based Windham World Affairs Council, which continues an annual lecture in honor of their father. In the first half of the episode, Vermont journalist Joyce Marcel narrates these facts about the man. Her husband, Randy Holhut, an editor at the weekly The Commons newspaper, relays a personal story of Galbraith's largesse taken from an obituary he wrote upon Galbraith's death in 2006. The second half of the episode focuses on Galbraith as a writer. Galbraith's son Peter Galbraith says that, despite the fact that his father was one of the world's best known economists, he thought of himself primarily as a writer. Peter shares insights on writing he learned from his father and the elder Galbraith himself shares writing advice through archival tape taken from a 1986 talk at UC Berkeley. #thecommonsvermont, #johnkennethgalbraith, #joycemarcel, #petergalbraith, #brattleborowords, #jamiegalbraith, #randyholhut, #brooksmemoriallibrary, #vermontwriters, #brattleborowordstrail false full 8 0644ed54-44b4-4048-9311-0704738b2af5 Robert Flaherty and Frances Hubbard Flaherty, Legendary Documentary Fllmmakers Frances Hubbard Flaherty collaborated on every Robert J. Flaherty film and devoted her life after his death, according to the Flaherty Seminars website, "to the articulation and explanation of Robert Flaherty's view on documentary film, both in her writings... and especially her establishment of the Seminars."   The Flaherty Seminar is now based in Brooklyn and continues the Flaherty legacy as 'The Flaherty'. 

 The Flaherty's daughter, Monica Flaherty Frasseto, added sound to Moana and directed the Flaherty Study Center in Dummerston for many years before she died in Dummerston in 2008. An obituary of her life appeared in the local Brattleboro Reformer here. 

Other sources include A Documentary Life, 1883-1922, published in 2005 by Robert J. Christopher, which provided insight into the years Flaherty spent in northern Canada making Nanook of the North and Robert and Frances' 1914-16 diaries and correspondence.  Hidden and Seeking (1971) directed by Peter Werner, is another source for those interested in delving deeper into the Flaherty phenomenon.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Fri, 3 Nov 2023 17:36:06 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (#hilerhospitality, #staphaniegreene, #sallyseymour, #lissaweinmann, #guilfordsound, #alecpombriant, #danieltoomey) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/legendary-documentary-filmmaker-robert-flaherty-dGlAeqcx Frances Hubbard Flaherty collaborated on every Robert J. Flaherty film and devoted her life after his death, according to the Flaherty Seminars website, "to the articulation and explanation of Robert Flaherty's view on documentary film, both in her writings... and especially her establishment of the Seminars."   The Flaherty Seminar is now based in Brooklyn and continues the Flaherty legacy as 'The Flaherty'. 

 The Flaherty's daughter, Monica Flaherty Frasseto, added sound to Moana and directed the Flaherty Study Center in Dummerston for many years before she died in Dummerston in 2008. An obituary of her life appeared in the local Brattleboro Reformer here. 

Other sources include A Documentary Life, 1883-1922, published in 2005 by Robert J. Christopher, which provided insight into the years Flaherty spent in northern Canada making Nanook of the North and Robert and Frances' 1914-16 diaries and correspondence.  Hidden and Seeking (1971) directed by Peter Werner, is another source for those interested in delving deeper into the Flaherty phenomenon.

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Robert Flaherty and Frances Hubbard Flaherty, Legendary Documentary Fllmmakers #hilerhospitality, #staphaniegreene, #sallyseymour, #lissaweinmann, #guilfordsound, #alecpombriant, #danieltoomey 00:15:35 Legendary documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty (1884 - 1951) and his wife Frances Hubbard Flaherty (1883 - 1972) lived in Dummerston, Vermont just north of Brattleboro and in later years the Flaherty Film Study Center was located there. The episode talks about the Flaherty's early life and marriage, and delves into Robert's first work documenting his explorations of the Belcher Islands in the Hudson Bay region of Canada. The cinematic result was “Nanook of the North”, released in 1922. The film achieved widespread critical acclaim, introducing documentary filmmaking to the world as an art form that could capture people, nature and convey our common humanity. While not strictly documentary in today's sense of the genre, Frances said in her 1960 book The Odyssey of a Filmmaker: Robert Flaherty's Story,' quotes from which are included in the podcast, that their work was the essential Flaherty method, capturing "the thing itself for its own sake." Frances was an active partner in filmmaking and won an Academy Award in 1948 for best original story for the couples' 'Louisiana Story.' This episode provides synopsis of several of the Flaherty's films including 'Nanook of the North', 'Moana' (which the narrator refers to as 'Moana of the South Seas') and 'Man of Aran.' The work of Flaherty daughter Monica Flaherty Frasseto and her work adding sound to Moana thereby breathing new life into it, is discussed. After Roberts death, Frances founded The Flaherty Seminar, a film study center for filmmakers, curators, and students that continues today. Legendary documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty (1884 - 1951) and his wife Frances Hubbard Flaherty (1883 - 1972) lived in Dummerston, Vermont just north of Brattleboro and in later years the Flaherty Film Study Center was located there. The episode talks about the Flaherty's early life and marriage, and delves into Robert's first work documenting his explorations of the Belcher Islands in the Hudson Bay region of Canada. The cinematic result was “Nanook of the North”, released in 1922. The film achieved widespread critical acclaim, introducing documentary filmmaking to the world as an art form that could capture people, nature and convey our common humanity. While not strictly documentary in today's sense of the genre, Frances said in her 1960 book The Odyssey of a Filmmaker: Robert Flaherty's Story,' quotes from which are included in the podcast, that their work was the essential Flaherty method, capturing "the thing itself for its own sake." Frances was an active partner in filmmaking and won an Academy Award in 1948 for best original story for the couples' 'Louisiana Story.' This episode provides synopsis of several of the Flaherty's films including 'Nanook of the North', 'Moana' (which the narrator refers to as 'Moana of the South Seas') and 'Man of Aran.' The work of Flaherty daughter Monica Flaherty Frasseto and her work adding sound to Moana thereby breathing new life into it, is discussed. After Roberts death, Frances founded The Flaherty Seminar, a film study center for filmmakers, curators, and students that continues today. #vermontfilmmakers, #brattleboro, #vermontvacation, #vermontwords, #greenmountainstate, #documentaryfilmhistory, #theflaherty, #brattleborowordsproject, #dummerston, #flahertyseminar, #brooksmemoriallibrary, #brattleborolitfest, #bratwordstrail false full 7 f50c924f-582a-4236-967e-906ee383841e Upcoming Brattleboro Literary Festival Oct 13-15, 2023 Highlights with Sandy Rouse This episode was produced and hosted by Lissa Weinmann with guest Sandy Rouse. It was edited, composed and mastered by Alec Pombriant and taped at BCTV with help from Van Wiles. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Wed, 4 Oct 2023 14:57:05 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Sandy Rouse, Alec Pombriant, Van Wiles, lissa weinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/brattleboro-literary-festival-highlights-for-oct-2023-with-sandy-rouse-a81Hzh2l This episode was produced and hosted by Lissa Weinmann with guest Sandy Rouse. It was edited, composed and mastered by Alec Pombriant and taped at BCTV with help from Van Wiles. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Upcoming Brattleboro Literary Festival Oct 13-15, 2023 Highlights with Sandy Rouse Sandy Rouse, Alec Pombriant, Van Wiles, lissa weinmann 00:29:49 The episode hits highlights of the upcoming Brattleboro Literary Festival -- Friday October 13 to Sunday the 15th, 2023 -- with our guest, festival director Sandy Rouse who helps host Lissa Weinmann sort through more than 60 writers and various festival events. They discuss how heavy-hitting authors like Tracy Kidder with his new masterpiece 'Rough Sleepers.' We discuss fiction from celebrated authors such as Andre Dubus III, Mary Beth Keane, Jean Kwok, Angie Kim, Holly Black, Kelly Link, Kathleen Alcott, Alejandro Varela, Jennifer McMahon, Margot Douaihy and non-fiction gems from Chloe Cooper-Jones, Ann Hood, Patrick Bringsley, Angela Saini, Neil King Jr. We talk about poetry from Brian Turner, Vermont Governor Madeline Kunin and Diana Whitney, and share news about the Green Writers Press 10 year anniversary party Saturday night, 5pm at 118 Elliot, the two Write Action local writers' group public readings, new bookstores in Brattleboro, address this year's festival theme -- being human in challenging times -- and how 'Rough Sleepers' is the subject of a community read, among other observations. The episode hits highlights of the upcoming Brattleboro Literary Festival -- Friday October 13 to Sunday the 15th, 2023 -- with our guest, festival director Sandy Rouse who helps host Lissa Weinmann sort through more than 60 writers and various festival events. They discuss how heavy-hitting authors like Tracy Kidder with his new masterpiece 'Rough Sleepers.' We discuss fiction from celebrated authors such as Andre Dubus III, Mary Beth Keane, Jean Kwok, Angie Kim, Holly Black, Kelly Link, Kathleen Alcott, Alejandro Varela, Jennifer McMahon, Margot Douaihy and non-fiction gems from Chloe Cooper-Jones, Ann Hood, Patrick Bringsley, Angela Saini, Neil King Jr. We talk about poetry from Brian Turner, Vermont Governor Madeline Kunin and Diana Whitney, and share news about the Green Writers Press 10 year anniversary party Saturday night, 5pm at 118 Elliot, the two Write Action local writers' group public readings, new bookstores in Brattleboro, address this year's festival theme -- being human in challenging times -- and how 'Rough Sleepers' is the subject of a community read, among other observations. #bratlistfest, #literaryfestivals, #kathleenalcott, #michaelruhlman, #madelinekunin, #downtownbrattleboroalliance, #epsilonspires, #neilkingjr#, #margotdouaihy, #dianawhitney, #brattleborobooks, #jennifermcmahon, #vermontvacation, #lovebrattleboro, #brianturnerpoet, #annhood, #vermontevents, #centrecongregationalchurch, #118elliot, #kellylink, #marybethkeane, #dedecummings, #patriarchythebook, #bctv, #andredubusiii, #patrickbringsley, #vermontbookevents, #alejandrovarela, #angelasaini, #chloecooperjones, #hollyblack, #jeankwok, #roughsleepers, #brattleborowordstrail, #dowtownbrattleboro, #easybeauty, #writeaction, #tombodett, #tracykidder, #greenwriterspress false full 6 982756b0-73a1-4e16-87cf-26313bc8dd95 Tasha Tudor, Beloved Illustrator, Author and Lifestyle Icon Fri, 1 Sep 2023 12:02:04 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Lissa Weinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tasha-tudor-childrens-illustrator-author-and-lifestyle-icon-LWv41WGC Tasha Tudor, Beloved Illustrator, Author and Lifestyle Icon Lissa Weinmann 00:14:03 Immerse yourself in the extraordinary art and life of Tasha Tudor, Caldecott honor author, illustrator and early American lifestyle icon, in this delightful podcast narrated by Tasha's granddaughter, Amy Tudor. Tasha Tudor (1915-2008) lived a remarkable 1830s lifestyle in the woods of Marlboro, Vermont, just west of Brattleboro. The first half of the podcast focuses on her work as a self-made and self-realized artist and person. Tasha published more than 100 books while raising a family and maintaining a simple lifestyle of days gone by that has, over time, generated strong appeal among especially fans in Japan and Asia. We learn about her fascination with Corgi dogs and how she used them in 'Corgiville Fair', first published in 1971 and still in print, and other books. The second half of the podcast features Amy Tudor guiding us down Tasha's driveway, to escape the noise and cacophony of modern life to enter Tasha's unique and charming world -- her hand-hewn house, candles and letters and specialty tea, bountiful gardens and handmade frocks, dolls and puppets. Amy tells us how the family's Tasha Tudor Society keeps the spirit of Tasha alive among her many international fans. Immerse yourself in the extraordinary art and life of Tasha Tudor, Caldecott honor author, illustrator and early American lifestyle icon, in this delightful podcast narrated by Tasha's granddaughter, Amy Tudor. Tasha Tudor (1915-2008) lived a remarkable 1830s lifestyle in the woods of Marlboro, Vermont, just west of Brattleboro. The first half of the podcast focuses on her work as a self-made and self-realized artist and person. Tasha published more than 100 books while raising a family and maintaining a simple lifestyle of days gone by that has, over time, generated strong appeal among especially fans in Japan and Asia. We learn about her fascination with Corgi dogs and how she used them in 'Corgiville Fair', first published in 1971 and still in print, and other books. The second half of the podcast features Amy Tudor guiding us down Tasha's driveway, to escape the noise and cacophony of modern life to enter Tasha's unique and charming world -- her hand-hewn house, candles and letters and specialty tea, bountiful gardens and handmade frocks, dolls and puppets. Amy tells us how the family's Tasha Tudor Society keeps the spirit of Tasha alive among her many international fans. #tashatudorsociety, #brattelborowordstrail, #tashatudor, #bratwords, #bratwordstrailpodcast, #marlborovt false full 5 a371afac-a0a0-447d-832d-36b38bdaea78 Fiery Feminist Newspaper Editor Clarina Howard Nichols Script, Audio Production/Editing, Narration: Donna Blackney; Production Assistance and Executive Producing: Lissa Weinmann.
Commentary/Research: Nancy Olson with additional research from: Marilyn Blackwell (U. Mass Amherst), Dan DeWalt (also original piano composition and performance) and Rolf Parker-Houghton. Voice of Clarina: Shannon Ward; Voice of Sen. Joseph Barrett: John Loggia

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Tue, 1 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Lissa Weinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/fiery-feminist-newspaper-editor-clarina-howard-nichols-1oQ57V_T Script, Audio Production/Editing, Narration: Donna Blackney; Production Assistance and Executive Producing: Lissa Weinmann.
Commentary/Research: Nancy Olson with additional research from: Marilyn Blackwell (U. Mass Amherst), Dan DeWalt (also original piano composition and performance) and Rolf Parker-Houghton. Voice of Clarina: Shannon Ward; Voice of Sen. Joseph Barrett: John Loggia

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Fiery Feminist Newspaper Editor Clarina Howard Nichols Lissa Weinmann 00:33:16 This episode charts key moments and quotes from the life of Clarina Irene Howard Nichols (1810 – 1885), one of the nation's first female newspaper editors/publishers and a prominent and highly effective human rights crusader, abolitionist and suffragette. Born in Townsend, VT she spent her early years in nearby Brattleboro, where she became the editor/publisher of the Windham County Democrat newspaper, expanding coverage to include women’s rights and equality for all. She was the first woman to address the Vermont Legislature. Left to support herself and her children after a failed marriage and divorce, she began writing for the Windham County Democrat newspapers and later married the editor, eventually taking over the role as one of the earliest female newspaper heads in the country. The episode provides an overview of her life in the first 6 minutes, then discusses her early education, her troubled marriage and subsequent divorce, places her in the bustling milieu of Brattleboro of that era, hear excerpts of her writing and address to the Vermont Legislature and in her newspaper columns including her 'character writing' as Deborah Van Winkle, her birth as an activist and suffragette at the early Women's Rights conventions and as a shaper of the new Kansas constitution and ardent abolitionist throughout the Civil War era when she moved to Washington DC for a time. Her dedication to writing and activism continued throughout her life in California, where she followed her son and eventually died. She is buried in Mendocino County. This episode charts key moments and quotes from the life of Clarina Irene Howard Nichols (1810 – 1885), one of the nation's first female newspaper editors/publishers and a prominent and highly effective human rights crusader, abolitionist and suffragette. Born in Townsend, VT she spent her early years in nearby Brattleboro, where she became the editor/publisher of the Windham County Democrat newspaper, expanding coverage to include women’s rights and equality for all. She was the first woman to address the Vermont Legislature. Left to support herself and her children after a failed marriage and divorce, she began writing for the Windham County Democrat newspapers and later married the editor, eventually taking over the role as one of the earliest female newspaper heads in the country. The episode provides an overview of her life in the first 6 minutes, then discusses her early education, her troubled marriage and subsequent divorce, places her in the bustling milieu of Brattleboro of that era, hear excerpts of her writing and address to the Vermont Legislature and in her newspaper columns including her 'character writing' as Deborah Van Winkle, her birth as an activist and suffragette at the early Women's Rights conventions and as a shaper of the new Kansas constitution and ardent abolitionist throughout the Civil War era when she moved to Washington DC for a time. Her dedication to writing and activism continued throughout her life in California, where she followed her son and eventually died. She is buried in Mendocino County. #vtwriters, vtwomen, #suffragettes, #earlyvtfeminists, #earlyfemalenewseditors false full 4 ba810da3-ec5d-4aa2-8c38-102e17b20a4a Bellow Editor Beena Kamlani's 'A Race Against Time' Audio Production and Narration: Donna Blackney, with assistance from Sandy Rouse of the Brattleboro Literary Festival. Executive Producer, Lissa Weinmann. Mastering for podcast Alec Pombriant from  Brattleboro Words Trail segments mastered by Guilford Sound. Theme music Ty Gibbons. 
Interviews and Readings:
Beena Kamlani, Bellow’s long-term editor at Viking Penguin Press reading: A Race Against Time by Beena Kamlani 2015

 https://lithub.com/a-race-against-time-editing-saul-bellows-last-novel/ Photo of Beena Kamlani and Saul Bellow provided courtesy of Beena Kamani and Lit Hub

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 3 Jul 2023 17:35:00 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Beena Kamlani) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/bellow-editor-beena-kamlanis-a-race-against-time-p3Nmuws3 Audio Production and Narration: Donna Blackney, with assistance from Sandy Rouse of the Brattleboro Literary Festival. Executive Producer, Lissa Weinmann. Mastering for podcast Alec Pombriant from  Brattleboro Words Trail segments mastered by Guilford Sound. Theme music Ty Gibbons. 
Interviews and Readings:
Beena Kamlani, Bellow’s long-term editor at Viking Penguin Press reading: A Race Against Time by Beena Kamlani 2015

 https://lithub.com/a-race-against-time-editing-saul-bellows-last-novel/ Photo of Beena Kamlani and Saul Bellow provided courtesy of Beena Kamani and Lit Hub

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Bellow Editor Beena Kamlani's 'A Race Against Time' Beena Kamlani 00:17:01 As staff editor at Viking Penguin Press, Beena Kamlani worked with Saul Bellow during the last 20 years of his life. She stayed in Vermont for long periods helping Bellow with revisions when he became too unwell to travel. In this bonus to the Saul Bellow Brattleboro Words Trail podcast , she reads her essay ‘A Race Against Time’ in which she describes the delights and challenges of working with Bellow in Vermont in his later years. As staff editor at Viking Penguin Press, Beena Kamlani worked with Saul Bellow during the last 20 years of his life. She stayed in Vermont for long periods helping Bellow with revisions when he became too unwell to travel. In this bonus to the Saul Bellow Brattleboro Words Trail podcast , she reads her essay ‘A Race Against Time’ in which she describes the delights and challenges of working with Bellow in Vermont in his later years. #bratlitfest, #brattleborowordstrail, #bratwordstrail false bonus 27491004-7873-4193-9ada-92b94d3f646b Saul Bellow's Good Place This episode was researched, produced and narrated by Donna Blackney with production assistance from Sandy Rouse of the Brattleboro Literary Festival. Mixing and mastering was done by Alec Pombriant from masters done for Brattleboro Words Trail app for Guilford Sound. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons. Executive Producer, LIssa Weinmann. Many thanks to Saul Bellow’s biographer Zachary Leader, his long-time editor at Viking Penguin Press Beena Kamlani, his friend Larry Simons and the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society for their archival footage of Bellow and help.  

For more info on Project, visit BrattleboroWords.org. 

All audio clips of Saul Bellow from The Writing Life with Saul Bellow are reproduced by permission of HoCoPoLitSo, the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society, www.hocopolitso.org. To hear the entire interview, visit www.youtube.com/hocopolitso.

Excerpt(s) from HENDERSON THE RAIN KING by Saul Bellow, copyright © 1958, 1959, 1974, renewed © 1986, 1987 by Saul Bellow. Used by permission of Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Excerpt(s) from HERZOG by Saul Bellow, copyright © 1961, 1963, 1964, renewed 1989, 1991, 1992 by Saul Bellow. Used by permission of Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from RAVELSTEIN by Saul Bellow. Copyright © 2000 by Saul Bellow, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.

References:

The Life of Saul Bellow: To Fame and Fortune 1915-1964 uby Zachary Leader. Published by Knopf 2015.

The Life of Saul Bellow: Love and Strife 1965-2005 dby Zachary Leader. Published by Knopf 2018.

Saul Bellow: Letters, by Saul Bellow (Author), Benjamin Taylor (Editor) Penguin Books 2012

“Vermont: The Good Place” from There Is Simply Too Much To Think About, a collection of essays by Saul Bellow. Edited by Benjamin Taylor. Penguin Books 2016. Copyright 2015 Janis Bellow.

A Race Against Time by Beena Kamlani 2015 https://lithub.com/a-race-against-time-editing-saul-bellows-last-novel/

Episode Photo: Courtesy of the Nobel Prize 

Music:

Part 1: ‘Now or Never’ by Michael Vignola (storyblocks.com)

Part 2: ‘Backed Vibes Clean’ by Kevin MacLeod (freemusicarchive.org)

‘Cool Jazz’ by Bobby Cole (storyblocks.com)

Part 3: ‘Just A Thought’ by Michael Vignola (storyblocks.com)

‘Empty Days’ by Alan Spiljak (freemusicarchive.org)

Part 4: ‘Just A Thought’ by Michael Vignola (storyblocks.com)

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 3 Jul 2023 17:34:30 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Zachary Leader, Beena Kamlani, HoCoPoLitSo) https://brattleboro.stqry.app/en/story/28745 This episode was researched, produced and narrated by Donna Blackney with production assistance from Sandy Rouse of the Brattleboro Literary Festival. Mixing and mastering was done by Alec Pombriant from masters done for Brattleboro Words Trail app for Guilford Sound. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons. Executive Producer, LIssa Weinmann. Many thanks to Saul Bellow’s biographer Zachary Leader, his long-time editor at Viking Penguin Press Beena Kamlani, his friend Larry Simons and the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society for their archival footage of Bellow and help.  

For more info on Project, visit BrattleboroWords.org. 

All audio clips of Saul Bellow from The Writing Life with Saul Bellow are reproduced by permission of HoCoPoLitSo, the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society, www.hocopolitso.org. To hear the entire interview, visit www.youtube.com/hocopolitso.

Excerpt(s) from HENDERSON THE RAIN KING by Saul Bellow, copyright © 1958, 1959, 1974, renewed © 1986, 1987 by Saul Bellow. Used by permission of Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Excerpt(s) from HERZOG by Saul Bellow, copyright © 1961, 1963, 1964, renewed 1989, 1991, 1992 by Saul Bellow. Used by permission of Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from RAVELSTEIN by Saul Bellow. Copyright © 2000 by Saul Bellow, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.

References:

The Life of Saul Bellow: To Fame and Fortune 1915-1964 uby Zachary Leader. Published by Knopf 2015.

The Life of Saul Bellow: Love and Strife 1965-2005 dby Zachary Leader. Published by Knopf 2018.

Saul Bellow: Letters, by Saul Bellow (Author), Benjamin Taylor (Editor) Penguin Books 2012

“Vermont: The Good Place” from There Is Simply Too Much To Think About, a collection of essays by Saul Bellow. Edited by Benjamin Taylor. Penguin Books 2016. Copyright 2015 Janis Bellow.

A Race Against Time by Beena Kamlani 2015 https://lithub.com/a-race-against-time-editing-saul-bellows-last-novel/

Episode Photo: Courtesy of the Nobel Prize 

Music:

Part 1: ‘Now or Never’ by Michael Vignola (storyblocks.com)

Part 2: ‘Backed Vibes Clean’ by Kevin MacLeod (freemusicarchive.org)

‘Cool Jazz’ by Bobby Cole (storyblocks.com)

Part 3: ‘Just A Thought’ by Michael Vignola (storyblocks.com)

‘Empty Days’ by Alan Spiljak (freemusicarchive.org)

Part 4: ‘Just A Thought’ by Michael Vignola (storyblocks.com)

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Saul Bellow's Good Place Zachary Leader, Beena Kamlani, HoCoPoLitSo 00:36:00 Saul Bellow, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time, lived and wrote several months of each year in the Brattleboro area for the last 20 plus years of his life. This episode captures the essence of the man and his work through his own words, writings and that of his official biographer, Professor Emeritus Zachary Leader of Roehampton University in London, as well as one of his good friends in Brattleboro, Larry Simons (these last two in exclusive interviews with the Brattleboro Words Trail). A bonus episode to follow features Bellow's longtime editor Beena Kamlani reading her delightful essay about her work with this unparalleled writer. Bellow won a trio of National Book Awards for fiction, a record still unsurpassed, for the Adventures of Augie March in 1954, Herzog in 1965, and Mr. Sandler's Planet in 1971. He won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his 1976 novel Humboldt's Gift and, in 1976, was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature for his full body of work. His life story fills two volumes. In this episode, his biographer (Leader) sums up his stature and relationship to Vermont and reads from Bellow's essay 'Vermont: A Good Place." Bellow's Brattleboro friend Larry Simons talks about their friendship, his work, his last years and how Bellow attended the inaugural Brattleboro Literary Festival in October of 2002 (which has grown to become a celebrated annual event). In spring of 2005, Saul Bellow died at his Boston home, but he loved Vermont so much that Brattleboro became his final resting place at the Shir He-Harim Jewish graveyard at Morningside Cemetery. Chiseled into his headstone are the spines of books and the single word epitaph: Writer. Saul Bellow, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time, lived and wrote several months of each year in the Brattleboro area for the last 20 plus years of his life. This episode captures the essence of the man and his work through his own words, writings and that of his official biographer, Professor Emeritus Zachary Leader of Roehampton University in London, as well as one of his good friends in Brattleboro, Larry Simons (these last two in exclusive interviews with the Brattleboro Words Trail). A bonus episode to follow features Bellow's longtime editor Beena Kamlani reading her delightful essay about her work with this unparalleled writer. Bellow won a trio of National Book Awards for fiction, a record still unsurpassed, for the Adventures of Augie March in 1954, Herzog in 1965, and Mr. Sandler's Planet in 1971. He won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his 1976 novel Humboldt's Gift and, in 1976, was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature for his full body of work. His life story fills two volumes. In this episode, his biographer (Leader) sums up his stature and relationship to Vermont and reads from Bellow's essay 'Vermont: A Good Place." Bellow's Brattleboro friend Larry Simons talks about their friendship, his work, his last years and how Bellow attended the inaugural Brattleboro Literary Festival in October of 2002 (which has grown to become a celebrated annual event). In spring of 2005, Saul Bellow died at his Boston home, but he loved Vermont so much that Brattleboro became his final resting place at the Shir He-Harim Jewish graveyard at Morningside Cemetery. Chiseled into his headstone are the spines of books and the single word epitaph: Writer. #vtwriters, #bratlitfest, #brattleboro, #saulbellowwriter, #brattleboroliteraryfestival, #brattleborowordstrail, #audioonwriters, #downtownbrattleboro, #bratwordstrail false full 3 f55da940-bbe7-4e2b-9509-7e059a090606 Chuck Collins Chuck Collins, a nationally acclaimed, Guilford, Vermont based writer and economic inequality activist,  shares the story of how 'the seeds were planted' for his lifelong interest in uprooting the  growing economic inequality that is subverting American democracy.  The piece includes  an overview of his family history. He  details the books he's written, organizations he's formed such as Inequality.org and his program at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Collins describes how the Covid pandemic 'supercharged' the wealth gap and how climate change and inequality are 'webbed together.' He speaks of his early work helping mobile home owners in Western Mass buy the land under their homes and the fruits of these housing efforts.  He also discusses his ties to the southern Vermont and western Massachusetts area and shares a bit of life on Springs Farm along with its history as a 'water-cure' and water bottling facility in the past. He discusses the need to 'rewire the economy toward shared prosperity' and how 'wealth dynasties' are increasingly undermining everything we care about. 

Collins has published his first novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun, Green Writers Press, in May 2023. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Sun, 28 May 2023 18:34:45 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Chuck Collins, Brattleboro Words Trail) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/chuck-collins-3Z_Le2Xx Chuck Collins, a nationally acclaimed, Guilford, Vermont based writer and economic inequality activist,  shares the story of how 'the seeds were planted' for his lifelong interest in uprooting the  growing economic inequality that is subverting American democracy.  The piece includes  an overview of his family history. He  details the books he's written, organizations he's formed such as Inequality.org and his program at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Collins describes how the Covid pandemic 'supercharged' the wealth gap and how climate change and inequality are 'webbed together.' He speaks of his early work helping mobile home owners in Western Mass buy the land under their homes and the fruits of these housing efforts.  He also discusses his ties to the southern Vermont and western Massachusetts area and shares a bit of life on Springs Farm along with its history as a 'water-cure' and water bottling facility in the past. He discusses the need to 'rewire the economy toward shared prosperity' and how 'wealth dynasties' are increasingly undermining everything we care about. 

Collins has published his first novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun, Green Writers Press, in May 2023. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Chuck Collins Chuck Collins, Brattleboro Words Trail 00:19:07 Writer and economic inequality activist Chuck Collins discusses economic inequality in America and how it undermines our democracy, climate and everything we hold dear. Writer and economic inequality activist Chuck Collins discusses economic inequality in America and how it undermines our democracy, climate and everything we hold dear. #bornonthirdbase, #guilfordvt, #chuckcollinswriter, #brattleboro, #economicinequality, #postcarboninstitute, #brattleborowords, #chuckcollins, #vermontwriters, #brattleborowordstrail, #greenwriterspress, #inequality.org, #altartoaneruptingsun false full 2 3cbaaf43-379b-4cfa-b675-8691514a22aa Jody Williams: From Brattleboro to the Nobel Peace Prize This episode was produced by Reggie Martell with Nancy Olson and Lissa Weinmann. Editing and narration by Reggie Martell. Original mix and master Guilford Sound;  Podcast mastering by Jack Pombriant.  Brattleboro Words Trail theme music Ty Gibbons. Photograph of Jody Williams is by Annie Leibovitz.  For further reading on Jody Williams, see her book: My Name is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girl's Winding Path to the Nobel Peace Prize, published in 2013, University of California Press. Also see current work Jody supports at  https://www.stopkillerrobots.org

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 1 May 2023 14:04:50 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Jody Williams, Brattleboro Words Project, #nobelwomensinitiative, #brattleboro) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/jody-williams-from-brattleboro-to-the-nobel-peace-prize-z3limkv3 This episode was produced by Reggie Martell with Nancy Olson and Lissa Weinmann. Editing and narration by Reggie Martell. Original mix and master Guilford Sound;  Podcast mastering by Jack Pombriant.  Brattleboro Words Trail theme music Ty Gibbons. Photograph of Jody Williams is by Annie Leibovitz.  For further reading on Jody Williams, see her book: My Name is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girl's Winding Path to the Nobel Peace Prize, published in 2013, University of California Press. Also see current work Jody supports at  https://www.stopkillerrobots.org

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Jody Williams: From Brattleboro to the Nobel Peace Prize Jody Williams, Brattleboro Words Project, #nobelwomensinitiative, #brattleboro 00:19:23 Jody Williams shares what life was like growing up on the 'shaggy side of the middle class' in Brattleboro, Vermont and early experiences there that shaped her strong sense of social justice. She discusses the work that went into passing an international treaty to ban landmines and how it felt to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. She touches upon current work on the campaign to stop killer robots and the critical importance of civics education and social action. Narrator opens with a bit of history on Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, and the origins of the Peace Prize. Jody Williams shares what life was like growing up on the 'shaggy side of the middle class' in Brattleboro, Vermont and early experiences there that shaped her strong sense of social justice. She discusses the work that went into passing an international treaty to ban landmines and how it felt to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. She touches upon current work on the campaign to stop killer robots and the critical importance of civics education and social action. Narrator opens with a bit of history on Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, and the origins of the Peace Prize. #nobelpeaceprize, #brattleboro, #militaryspending, #buhs, #jodywilliams false full 1 096f2f1d-de36-4a2c-823f-e2d3f939a52c Introducing the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast This trailer podcast was produced by LIssa Weinmann and Jack Pombriant with help from Sally Seymour. The Brattleboro Words Trail theme song is by Ty Gibbons.  The Trail is a product of the Brattleboro Words Project, which was inspired and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. It has worked with hundreds of local citizens to produce more than 100 audio stories linked to places one can explore through a free, gps-triggered app and website, 'Brattleboro Words Trail'. Large ceramic landscape murals exhibited in the town are updated as new content is added; Free printed maps based on the murals guide folks along. The Project also published a 278-page, richly illustrated companion book called "Print Town: Brattleboro's Legacy of Words." Lissa Weinmann  directs the Brattleboro Words Project with an Advisory Team comprised of William Edelglass PhD, Shanta Lee, Starr LaTronica, Rolf Parker-Houghton and Sally Seymour.  Partners in the Project include the Brattleboro Literary Festival, Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro Historical Society, Write Action. Marlboro College was a principal partner until it closed in 2020. The Vermont Folklife Center is now the Brattleboro Words Project's fiscal sponsor. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Mon, 1 May 2023 13:56:24 +0000 LRWeinmann@gmail.com (Lissa Weinmann) https://brattleboro-words-trail-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/introducing-the-brattleboro-words-trail-podcast-9akcMQqn This trailer podcast was produced by LIssa Weinmann and Jack Pombriant with help from Sally Seymour. The Brattleboro Words Trail theme song is by Ty Gibbons.  The Trail is a product of the Brattleboro Words Project, which was inspired and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. It has worked with hundreds of local citizens to produce more than 100 audio stories linked to places one can explore through a free, gps-triggered app and website, 'Brattleboro Words Trail'. Large ceramic landscape murals exhibited in the town are updated as new content is added; Free printed maps based on the murals guide folks along. The Project also published a 278-page, richly illustrated companion book called "Print Town: Brattleboro's Legacy of Words." Lissa Weinmann  directs the Brattleboro Words Project with an Advisory Team comprised of William Edelglass PhD, Shanta Lee, Starr LaTronica, Rolf Parker-Houghton and Sally Seymour.  Partners in the Project include the Brattleboro Literary Festival, Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro Historical Society, Write Action. Marlboro College was a principal partner until it closed in 2020. The Vermont Folklife Center is now the Brattleboro Words Project's fiscal sponsor. 

Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons.Intro voice is Donna Blackney. Thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vermont Arts Council and the hundreds of volunteers and community members who support this work.

 

]]> Introducing the Brattleboro Words Trail Podcast Lissa Weinmann 00:04:00 Host Lissa Weinmann welcomes listeners to the Brattleboro Words Trial Podcast and describes how hundreds of community members share their talent to produce these delightful audio stories celebrating the rich and unique legacy of writing printing and publishing in Brattleboro - America's most storied small town. Host Lissa Weinmann welcomes listeners to the Brattleboro Words Trial Podcast and describes how hundreds of community members share their talent to produce these delightful audio stories celebrating the rich and unique legacy of writing printing and publishing in Brattleboro - America's most storied small town. #brattleboro, #brattleborowordsproject false trailer