Quadricentennial Event Center

Exciting and informative events transported festival goers through the centuries of Vermont Maple History.

A PORTFOLIO OF IMAGES FROM THE VERMONT MAPLE FESTIVAL QUADRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

View an authentic Abenaki style birch bark canoe, similar to what Samuel de Champlain used to travel Lake Champlain.
Visit Rosaire Gagne and his display of historic sap spouts, buckets and other sugaring equipment.
See a 1927 film of the Cary Maple Syrup company of St. Johnsbury and North Danville.
Watch a Fiddlemaker demonstrating his craft.
See the Maple Antiques collection of Don and Betty Ann Lockhart - from late 1700s.
Find out how corn was ground to make foods - by Native People and Settlers.
View the Maple History murals of Vermont artist Grace Brigham, made for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, circa 1974.
At the Center, Children may receive a personal copy of the special Quad booklet, through a generous grant from Key Bank (as long as they last!). Vermont Maple Pages will also be available.
See a wooden trough for sap collection, and a long wooden trough for boiling with heated rocks - how were the troughs made?
Learn more about Vermont maple with activities presented by members of the Shelburne Farms staff.

SPECIAL APPEARANCES: THE SCHEDULE WAS

FRIDAY - OPEN AT 12:00

1:00 – 2:30 - Dr. Fred Wiseman, Baseline 1609: Vermont Abenakis at the Dawn of History. Join Dr. Frederick Wiseman of the Abenaki Tribal Museum as he shares his research concerning the Vermont Abenakis and their allies during and after Champlain's voyage to the lake which bears his name. Family life, culture, worldview and politics will be examined. Following Dr. Wiseman's talk will be a wampum reading and a screening of his new video 1609: the Other Side of History.

2:30 – 3:30 – Maple Sugar Maker Rod Croft helps children to make a wooden sap spout.

2:30 – 3:30 – Maple Queen Katy Sartwell and the Wheeler Family of Swanton help children to Make a Makak (or Mokuk) - a paper basket, simulating those of birchbark used by the Native Peoples to collect sap, store and carry sugar. From a pattern found in Shelburne Farms Project Seasons. (Pictures available of one in the Abenaki Tribal Museum and of some from the book How Indians Used Plants for Food, Medicine and Clothing by Frances Densmore.)

4:00 - 6:00 Fiber Arts Group - What would settlers use to produce their clothing, and the wool filters used to strain their syrup? Watch fiber artists of today using technology similar to that of Vermont’s colonists.

5:00 – 5:30 - Sugaring in the Wilderness - Stories from Maple Sugarin’ in Vermont: A Sweet History - Betty Ann Lockhart.

5:30 – 6:00 - Regimental Drumming and Ancient Music - An explanation and demonstration in costume by Maple Festival Youth Talent Show winner Josiah Raiche and Company.

10:00 – 11:00 - Anita Phillips Native basketmaker demonstrates making a Snowflake.

10:00 – 11:00 – Maple Sugar Maker Rod Croft helps children to make a wooden sap spout.

11:30 and 12:30 - Children dressed in full regalia, demonstrate the authentic dancing and instrument playing of Native Peoples. The children study traditional Abenaki culture with teacher Brenda Gagne at the Abenaki Cultural Center – Circle of Courage in Swanton, Vermont.

12:00 – 12:30 - Rachel May White Bear Story Teller, tells tales in Abenaki and English.

1:00 – 2:00 – Children from the Abenaki Cultural Center demonstrate traditional beadwork.

2:00 – 3:00 – Maple Sugar Maker Rod Croft helps children to make a wooden sap spout.

2:00 – 3:00 - Anita Phillips demonstrates making an authentic Abenaki basket.

3:00 – 3:30 - Rachel May White Bear Story Teller, tells tales in Abenaki and English.

10:00 - 11:00 - Germaine Le Clair – A Vermont farm woman and author - formerly of Canada and Charlotte, reads her stories and fiddles. We may be fortunate enough to hear her play Maple Sugar.

10:00 – 11:00 – Maple Sugar Maker Rod Croft helps children to make a wooden sap spout.

11:00 - 12:30 - Dr. Fred Wiseman ,Champlain Technology. Join Dr. Frederick Wiseman of the Abenaki Tribal Museum as he shares his research concerning the arms, armor clothing and transportation of the 1609 voyage to Lake Champlain. Following Dr. Wiseman's talk will be a screening of his new video 1609: the Other Side of History.

1:00 - 2:30 - Parade - Center will be open with exhibits and ongoing demonstrations.

2:30 – 3:30 - Paper makak basket making and decoration for children. (See above)

3:30 - 4:00 - Josiah Raiche and Company, Regimental Drummng and Ancient Music. Official closing of the Vermont Maple Festival Quadricentennial Event Center.