BARRE, Vt. -
After years in the works, the Vermont Historical Society unveiled a first-of-its-kind exhibit space in Barre this week.
The Historical Society moved into the former Spaulding school back in 2002, but up until now it has primarily been a place of research. The new Vermont Heritage Galleries will eventually take up three separate rooms. They cover everything from Barre's radical reputation for anarchists and socialists at the turn of the century to the dark history of Silicosis, or Stone Cutters Disease.
Another exhibit showcases oddities that have ended up in the society's collection, like a sword from Lord Byron or locally made dolls.
"For the Vermont Historical Society it gives us the ability to pull some of our collections out and put them on exhibition. We've been pretty limited in terms of changing exhibition space. We have the freedom and unity exhibits in Montpelier, but that's a permanent exhibit," said Jackie Calder, the exhibit curator.
The exhibit grand opening is Thursday at 5 p.m. It's free. It also comes as local residents are gearing up for this weekend's Barre Heritage Festival.
