Heritage Tracks

The artifact presented at the Waterbury Senior Center this month was the Purple Heart awarded to World War II paratrooper and medic Robert (Bob) Haseltine Jr. upon his death behind enemy lines in France.

Members approved the 2026 budget and slate of candidates for the historical society board of directors at the annual meeting in October.

The Colby Little Wringer revolutionized laundry by reducing the effort needed to wring the extra water out of clothes.

Vermont Historical Society staff Eileen Corcoran and Hannah Kirkpatrick, who run the Activating 21st Century Local History project, wrote this article about the 2025 project cohort, of which Waterbury Historical Society is a participant.

The monthly history artifact and pop-up library visits at the Senior Center continued through the summer, with our Outreach Education Committee focusing on objects related to three successful businesses in Waterbury: Roby's Cider Mill, Derby & Ball, and WDEV.

The annual meeting and fall program on October 18 will include stories about the life and legacy of longtime Waterbury resident Dr. Daniel Marshall. Join us in person or remotely via Zoom.

The historical society and Town of Waterbury have partnered to establish a special committee to coordinate and support local activities celebrating the 250th of the founding of the United States and the Republic of Vermont.

Discover Waterbury’s industrial past in a new history exhibit from the Waterbury Historical Society, now on display at the Waterbury Municipal Complex. Learn about the rise and fall of the Derby & Ball Corp., known for producing scythe snaths, baseball bats, and skis.

On June 29, 1825, General Lafayette reportedly stopped in Waterbury at the home of prominent Waterbury citizen Ezra Butler. Accompanied by then-Governor Cornelius Van Ness, Lafayette was introduced to the politician, lawyer, preacher, and Revolutionary War veteran whose home on N. Main St. was among the first wood frame structures in town. Butler was elected the 11th governor of Vermont the following year. Butler’s daughter Fanny was also in attendance to greet the Marquis.

Find Waldo Local has returned to Waterbury and the History Center by popular demand to encourage reading, shopping, and learning local.