Villages
Vermont's villages, with their greens, white churches, town halls, general stores, inns and depots, were photographed by local photographers throughout the postcard era. Many small villages were photographed only a few times, and real photos of their stores, streets, schools and events are what most Vermont collectors seek. See small-town postcards.
Granite
Barre became the granite center of the country, with quarries on the hills above the town and dozens of stone sheds where skilled carvers, many of them from Italy and Scotland, cut monuments. Real photos of quarries, derricks, sheds and carvers are collected by industrial and immigrant-heritage collectors.
Marble and slate
The Vermont Marble Company at Proctor operated quarries and finishing mills, and marble from the region was used across the country. The slate valley along the New York border, around Fair Haven and Poultney, had slate quarries worked by Welsh immigrants. Real photos of quarries and workers are popular.
Farms and sugaring
Dairy farms covered Vermont's hills, and creameries, cheese factories and milk trains carried their products to market. Maple sugaring, with sap buckets, sugarhouses and horse-drawn sap sleds, is a classic Vermont subject. Real photos of farm work and sugaring are collected.
The 1927 flood
In November 1927, torrential rain caused the worst flood in Vermont's history, destroying bridges, railroads, mills and homes along the Winooski, the White and other rivers. Montpelier, Barre, Waterbury and many smaller towns were hit hard. Real photos of the flood and its aftermath are historically significant and collected.
Covered bridges
Vermont has many covered bridges, and many more were lost in the 1927 flood. Real photos of bridges that no longer exist are more interesting than printed views of surviving ones.
Places and subjects to look for
- Barre: granite quarries, sheds and carvers.
- Proctor and Rutland: marble quarries and mills.
- The slate valley: Fair Haven, Poultney and the quarries.
- Montpelier and the Winooski Valley: the capitol and 1927 flood.
- Burlington and Lake Champlain: steamers and the waterfront.
- Southern Vermont: village centers, mills and resorts.
- The Northeast Kingdom: farms, lakes and small towns.
Lake Champlain
Steamers carried passengers on Lake Champlain, and Burlington's waterfront, lumber yards and harbor appear on cards. Real photos of steamers and lake landings are collected.
Real photos versus printed views
Printed views of the capitol, landmarks and later chrome ski and foliage cards are common. Real photos of villages, quarries, farms, sugaring and the 1927 flood carry most of the value in a Vermont collection.
What is common
Printed state landmarks, Lake Champlain scenics and later chrome ski area, foliage and covered bridge cards are plentiful.
Why Vermont village cards are so sought after
Vermont has hundreds of small villages and hamlets, and each has a historical society or a group of residents who collect its history. Many villages were photographed only by a local storekeeper or a traveling photographer, in small numbers. A real photo of a general store, a depot or a creamery in a small Vermont village can be one of very few early images of that place, and collectors follow them closely.
Mills and railroads
Vermont's rivers powered woolen mills, machine shops and paper mills in towns such as Springfield, Windsor, Bellows Falls and Winooski, where machine tool makers became nationally important. The Central Vermont, the Rutland and the Boston and Maine railroads served the state, and village depots with milk trains were part of daily life. Real photos of mills, machine shops and depots are collected by industrial and railroad enthusiasts.
Questions about Vermont postcards
Are Vermont granite quarry postcards valuable? Real photos of quarries, sheds and carvers are collected.
Are 1927 flood postcards collectible? Yes, real photos of the flood and damage are historically significant.
Are Vermont sugaring postcards worth anything? Real photos of sugarhouses and sap gathering are popular.
Do you buy Vermont collections? Yes, complete collections from anywhere in the state, by mail.