CCHS Spotlights
Richard Allen : Educator, Historian & Author
CCHS President, Lisa Evans, interviewed the author in August 2020:
What can readers hope to learn from your book?
The story of Truman C. Naramore is recounted against the backdrop of some large trends in American society during the last part of the 19th century: the changes in agriculture brought on by increased mechanization with inventions and patents, the challenges Civil War veterans had to face after the war, and the migration to California as a place of healing, all come into play.
The California gold rush had established the state as a goal to hook your dreams to. But it was the completion of the continental railroad that opened the state to safe and rapid migration. Unlike the gold that brought treasure seekers to San Francisco and the central part of the state, the boom of the 1880s was centered around Los Angeles. That is where Truman and his family headed to realize a dream of a new beginning and healing. He continued with his inventions and real estate investments with varying degrees of success, and finally met a tragic end that cut his life short.
What is your personal favorite passage from this book and why?
The most interesting section for me is on the migration to California by Truman and other Civil War veterans. It is a dramatic example of how the combat experience impacted the direction of veterans after the war. They sought a chance for a new beginning, a warm climate to assuage their physical and mental health, and some distance between them and reminders of the conflict. It also impacted the growth of California and helped establish the state with a reputation as the place where your future could be realized. It is a pattern that can is seen today with the concern for the health of our veterans that return from such places as Afghanistan.
Tell us about yourself and your connection to Chittenden County.
I started teaching in Vermont in 1968. After graduate school in North Dakota, I returned to Vermont for a teaching position in Williston. For 15 years I team taught in grades 4-5 where the curriculum called for Vermont history and geography. That is where my professional duties intersected with my personal interests. The six-teacher team developed a Vermont Studies curriculum that was eventually published as the The Vermont Geography Book by Northern Cartographic in 1986. After 40 years of teaching, I retired in 2010 which gave me more time to devote to local history research and writing. So, my connection to Chittenden County is through living and working here since 1973.
What motivated you to write this particular piece described in the audio?
I met Paul Wood, a collector of farm implements and tools, in 2003 at the Vermont History Expo. He had a stump puller patented by Truman C. Naramore of Williston. I had never heard of Naramore, so I did some research and discovered a man who had a penchant for self-promotion and led a very adventurous and interesting life. I was hooked.
What motivates you in general to research and write about history?
I enjoy the research and modern technology makes it much easier compared to just 10 to 20 years ago. It is kind of like solving some mysteries as you put the clues together and a more complete story emerges. With local and national history, I can visit some of the sites where it happened and talk to people who remember past events or are experts in the field. Interviewing people is great fun and I get to meet such interesting personalities. Also, it is a real kick to discover some hidden aspect of our history that has not been revealed in any of the standard historical references.
What fascinates you most about local history and how do you think CCHS can grow that interest in others?
Local history, by definition, is so close by and easily accessible. It fosters a sense of place by connecting us to the past, helping us understand the present, and possibly giving us a path to the future. CCHS could sponsor history walks with guides and brochures.
Can you describe your research and writing process for other aspiring writers and/or Historians?
I am constantly looking for interesting topics related to area history. That includes people, places, social movements, etc. Finding enough rough material is always a concern. Sometimes the sources are just not there. First person accounts via journals are wonderful sources, but the topics do not always lend themselves to a lengthy work. Generally, the research starts first, and the writing comes later. The research continues along with the writing because questions come up, new sources are revealed, and the story can take off in another direction. I like to give myself a generous timeline. There are times when I just leave a project to simmer for a period and come back to it refreshed. That does not always happen. I have transcribed several journals from the 19th century and then found my interest has waned and the project is brought to a reasonable conclusion without a publication.
Do you have any other advice for people looking to write about our local history?
Go where the resources lead you. Keep an open mind and write about what interests you. Do not expect great financial rewards, the audience is small. Do it for your own satisfaction and to provide a service to the community. Take field trips to where it happened.
Do you have any new projects lined up that we can look forward to seeing in the future?
I am working with the Williston Historical Society to produce a photographic history of the town to be put out by Arcadia Publishing.
Do you currently have other works or projects for readers to explore?
I contribute articles to the Williston Historical Society newsletter: http://www.willistonhistoricalsociety.org/newsletter
My most recent book (2018) Reed Brown’s 1841 Journey: American Through the Eyes of a Vermont Yankee is available from Phoenix Books: https://www.phoenixbooks.biz/book/9781949066098
Ambition and Grit can be purchased by visiting the CCHS Publications page.
What can readers hope to learn from your book?
The story of Truman C. Naramore is recounted against the backdrop of some large trends in American society during the last part of the 19th century: the changes in agriculture brought on by increased mechanization with inventions and patents, the challenges Civil War veterans had to face after the war, and the migration to California as a place of healing, all come into play.
The California gold rush had established the state as a goal to hook your dreams to. But it was the completion of the continental railroad that opened the state to safe and rapid migration. Unlike the gold that brought treasure seekers to San Francisco and the central part of the state, the boom of the 1880s was centered around Los Angeles. That is where Truman and his family headed to realize a dream of a new beginning and healing. He continued with his inventions and real estate investments with varying degrees of success, and finally met a tragic end that cut his life short.
What is your personal favorite passage from this book and why?
The most interesting section for me is on the migration to California by Truman and other Civil War veterans. It is a dramatic example of how the combat experience impacted the direction of veterans after the war. They sought a chance for a new beginning, a warm climate to assuage their physical and mental health, and some distance between them and reminders of the conflict. It also impacted the growth of California and helped establish the state with a reputation as the place where your future could be realized. It is a pattern that can is seen today with the concern for the health of our veterans that return from such places as Afghanistan.
Tell us about yourself and your connection to Chittenden County.
I started teaching in Vermont in 1968. After graduate school in North Dakota, I returned to Vermont for a teaching position in Williston. For 15 years I team taught in grades 4-5 where the curriculum called for Vermont history and geography. That is where my professional duties intersected with my personal interests. The six-teacher team developed a Vermont Studies curriculum that was eventually published as the The Vermont Geography Book by Northern Cartographic in 1986. After 40 years of teaching, I retired in 2010 which gave me more time to devote to local history research and writing. So, my connection to Chittenden County is through living and working here since 1973.
What motivated you to write this particular piece described in the audio?
I met Paul Wood, a collector of farm implements and tools, in 2003 at the Vermont History Expo. He had a stump puller patented by Truman C. Naramore of Williston. I had never heard of Naramore, so I did some research and discovered a man who had a penchant for self-promotion and led a very adventurous and interesting life. I was hooked.
What motivates you in general to research and write about history?
I enjoy the research and modern technology makes it much easier compared to just 10 to 20 years ago. It is kind of like solving some mysteries as you put the clues together and a more complete story emerges. With local and national history, I can visit some of the sites where it happened and talk to people who remember past events or are experts in the field. Interviewing people is great fun and I get to meet such interesting personalities. Also, it is a real kick to discover some hidden aspect of our history that has not been revealed in any of the standard historical references.
What fascinates you most about local history and how do you think CCHS can grow that interest in others?
Local history, by definition, is so close by and easily accessible. It fosters a sense of place by connecting us to the past, helping us understand the present, and possibly giving us a path to the future. CCHS could sponsor history walks with guides and brochures.
Can you describe your research and writing process for other aspiring writers and/or Historians?
I am constantly looking for interesting topics related to area history. That includes people, places, social movements, etc. Finding enough rough material is always a concern. Sometimes the sources are just not there. First person accounts via journals are wonderful sources, but the topics do not always lend themselves to a lengthy work. Generally, the research starts first, and the writing comes later. The research continues along with the writing because questions come up, new sources are revealed, and the story can take off in another direction. I like to give myself a generous timeline. There are times when I just leave a project to simmer for a period and come back to it refreshed. That does not always happen. I have transcribed several journals from the 19th century and then found my interest has waned and the project is brought to a reasonable conclusion without a publication.
Do you have any other advice for people looking to write about our local history?
Go where the resources lead you. Keep an open mind and write about what interests you. Do not expect great financial rewards, the audience is small. Do it for your own satisfaction and to provide a service to the community. Take field trips to where it happened.
Do you have any new projects lined up that we can look forward to seeing in the future?
I am working with the Williston Historical Society to produce a photographic history of the town to be put out by Arcadia Publishing.
Do you currently have other works or projects for readers to explore?
I contribute articles to the Williston Historical Society newsletter: http://www.willistonhistoricalsociety.org/newsletter
My most recent book (2018) Reed Brown’s 1841 Journey: American Through the Eyes of a Vermont Yankee is available from Phoenix Books: https://www.phoenixbooks.biz/book/9781949066098
Ambition and Grit can be purchased by visiting the CCHS Publications page.
