Welcome

This is the website of the Barre Historical Society, owner of the Socialist Labor Party Hall National Historic Landmark, known as the “The Old Labor Hall”. Here you can find information about the history of the Hall, about renting the Hall for your event, and about how you can help the Barre Historical Society preserve the Hall and the Union Cooperative Store bakery building.
 
In December, 2006, singer/songwriter Anais Mitchell premiered her new folk opera “Hadestown” at the Old Labor Hall. “The rest,” Anais writes, “is some kind of history” culminating in the show opening to critical and audience acclaim on Broadway in 2019, receiving 14 Tony Award nominations and winning 8, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Bravo! Recently, the Old Labor Hall received a note from Anais that stated, in part, “I’m forever grateful to the folks at the Old Labor Hall for giving us our first home, and also grateful that in addition to their passion for history, they also have a keen interest in ‘the now’– in helping to foster what is vital today in the community they serve.” For the complete note: https://oldlaborhall.org/a-mitchell-note/ .

Happenings at the Hall:

  • Thomas C. Davis: A Life in Vermont

    Oral history recollections by a 17th generation Vermonter, the son of a former governor, and himself a life-long public servant.

    Tom Davis was a political activist, public speaker, storyteller, author, and statesman. Also known as “Tom Terrific,” he was widely admired for his quick wit, humor, humility, kindness, wisdom, and generosity. Read more →

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History:

  • The Bakery from the Beginning to 2004

    Union Cooperative Bakery BuildingHistory of the Union Cooperative Bakery building, constructed in 1913 as an extension to the cooperative store located in the basement of the Socialist Labor Party Hall. It provided Italian and French baked goods to the community of italian granite workers in the area in the first decades of the twentieth century. Read more →

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Action, Camera!

Check out the Old Labor Hall YouTube channel for video excerpts from events at the Hall. Below are the most recent additions: