The Society was founded in 1965 by area residents who shared a deep interest in the history of Chittenden County and the Champlain Valley Region. CCHS is a non-profit membership organization.
Our mission is to encourage discovery and publication of historical material, to promote original research about the area, to highlight specific topics in our history through informative presentations, and to recognize efforts to preserve our past by making annual awards.
We actively support the work of researching and cataloging historical materials that establish and illustrate the exploration of Chittenden County, as well as the County’s development in terms of population, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and transportation.
Chittenden County includes the Vermont towns and cities of: Bolton, Burlington, Colchester, Charlotte, Essex, Essex Junction, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St. George, Underhill, Westford, Williston, Winooski and Buel's Gore.
About our logo Our logo incorporates the seal of the Onion River Land Company. Established in 1773 by members of the Allen family, the ORLC eventually controlled most of the land in what is now northwestern Vermont, including all of present day Chittenden County. The ORLC's land grants were from New Hampshire's colonial governor, Benning Wentworth, even though the land they were granted in the "New Hampshire Grants" was subject to a territorial dispute between New York and New Hampshire. The Green Mountain Boys were formed as a militia to help protect ORLC land grantees from "Yorkers" who held competing grants from New York.
Our Board Officers Carolyn Gould, Ph.D., President Lisa Evans, Vice President Joe Perron, Secretary and Historian
Members of the Board Judy Allard, Hospitality Paul Theerman, Programming Barbara Bosworth, Co-Editor, Bulletin Tim Clemens, Co-Editor/Designer, Bulletin Kathleen McKinley Harris, Programming Emerita John Thomas, Marketing Kiersten Williams, Board Member at Large Jane Williamson, Research Grants
Ex-Officio Members Tom Donahue, Research Grants Jeff Hindes, Membership
To volunteer or inquire about becoming a Board Member, please contact Carolyn Gould at [email protected].
Archived CCHS Programs on CCTV Channel 17 Did you miss a program or wish to see one again? Check out past CCHS programs on Channel 17.