Hidden History of Franklin County, Vermont

Tucked between the Canadian border and Lake Champlain, Franklin County was one of colonial Americas earliest economic, military and cultural byways. From Native American occupation to Americas early wars and bootlegging, many of the regions stories remain untold. Revolutionary War heroics in Swanton included skirmishes over Simon Metcalfs prized sawmill. Tory families settled in the border town of Highgate right after the war, mistakenly believing they were in Canada. Lake Champlain and the small rivers of the county were a key resource for the once-thriving ice harvesting industry. From the development of the first poor farms to the Back to the Land movement, the region has experienced fascinating social and economic change. Join local historian and author Jason Barney as he unveils the areas forgotten past.