WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Part 2: The Unknown Rockwell

Part 2: The Unknown Rockwell

Stockbridge, Massachusetts - October 8, 2009

A Vermont family is sharing a difficult piece of their past with the world. Their story involves a young boy killed in a hunting accident, and the world renowned illustrator Norman Rockwell.

Countless Vermonters have made the journey to the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Today, a Rockwell painting that the public has never seen was unveiled.

The work of Norman Rockwell can be found everywhere. There's the Saturday Evening Post, the calendars, portraits of Presidents and of course Vermonters, like former West Arlington farm boy Bud Edgerton.

The Edgerton's and the Rockwell's were neighbors in the 40's and 50's.

At a special event at the Rockwell Museum, the artists son Jarvis recalled how hid dad found Arlington.

"And  there was two houses, on the right was my father's house, and on the left was Edgerton's house, and it was a match," said Jarvis.

The families were close, if it was hunting or holidays, the two different families were together.

They celebrated the good times, and they were together during tragedy.

"There was an unfortunate accident and we lost him and the whole family was hit pretty hard. The whole town was hit pretty hard," said Rockwell Model Bud Edgerton.

Bud is talking about his cousin John, who at the age of 10 was killed in a hunting accident. His cousin loved Rockwell, the youngster was a frequent visitor in Rockwell's studio.

After his sudden death the artist went to work, creating a charcoal illustration of the young boy.

"As far as we know. He has always painted from a photograph or model direct. This is from memory and he took this portrait and gave it to my aunt and uncle. They lived just up the road. Just presented this to them. I want you to have this, so this is "Unknown Rockwell", said Edgerton.

The family kept it quiet for years, a portrait that was just for the eyes of family and friends until now.

The Unknown Rockwell was unveiled at a special ceremony at the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Edgerton were there and so were some 50 other models who Rockwell used for his illustrations, people who loved being a part of the Rockwell world.

And this portrait also speaks to his friendship with the Edgertons:

"The portrait itself it is so special that Norman would care so much that it just typified how close he felt, because he knew the family, John had modeled for him and it was about community, it was Norman the person would care father to father," said author Nan O'Brien. 

Bud Edgerton now lives in South Burlington. And during his retirement after a long career with UVM, he has written a book with Nan O'Brien called "The Unknown Rockwell". It's about his experiences living next to the famous artist, and today his hands were tired after signing so many copies of the book.

Anson Tebbetts - WCAX News