Author: Marjorie Power

Primo Maggio 2020—Thomas C. Davis: A Life in Vermont

April 20, 2020

Friday, May 1 beginning at 12:01 AM right here!
Barre’s historic Socialist Labor Party Hall (The Old Labor Hall) may be closed due to Covid-19, but the Barre Historical Society will still celebrate Primo Maggio 2020 (May Day) with the launching of its first oral history project on the website.

To enjoy virtual Primo Maggio 2020, all you need is a glass of wine or grappa and a plate of antipasti and a computer, tablet, or smartphone to sit back and enjoy the history of Barre, Vermont, and the nation as it was lived.

“Thomas C. Davis: A Life in Vermont” is a tribute to the Barre-born former Vermont Secretary of Human Services, long-time public servant, and BHS board member, who died in 2017.

You can choose from 18 audio segments on topics ranging from family history, to reminiscences of Barre, baseball, politicians, and public service.

Bakery Open—Fresh Bread for You at Last!

October 16, 2019

Jim Haas, resident baker in the restored Bakery

UPDATE: The Bakery Window has extended its hours it is now open on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:30 to 6:00 pm
How can bread be both fresh and historic? If you buy it directly from the "Rise Up Bakery" window at the historic Union Cooperative Store bakery building—now restored as a modern wood fired bakery.

You can now purchase bread right from the wood fired oven.

Rise Up Bakery gets its own Baker—Jim Haas

July 23, 2019

The Barre Historical Society has had the good fortune to find an artisan baker with long and unique experience running a wood fired bakery. This month (July 2019), Jim Haas will become the first baker since Joe Piccolini closed the Bakery in the early 1940s.

Scott Skinner Dies — Former Board Member and Volunteer

December 21, 2018

Scott Skinner in front of the Old Labor Hall

Scott Skinner, former board member and long time Barre Historical Society volunteer died on December 18, 2018. For many years, he served on the Board as the Secretary, and as Chair of the Bricks and Mortar Committee, essentially the building manager, general contractor, and minder.

He brought several major and complex projects to completion, including the Fire Code compliance and the FEMA flood. mitigation project.

Union Cooperative Store Bakery Building Reopening as “Rise Up Bakery”

November 21, 2018

Carolyn Shapiro stoking the wood-fired oven in the Bakery

Saturday, December 15, 2018 from 4:00 to 9:00 pm

The Barre Historical Society announces the grand reopening of the Bakery building, exactly 105 years to the day from its first opening.
The restored Bakery building is now ready to bake. The sewer has been connected and the heating and electricity, and all the other amenities have now been installed to complement the wood-fired oven. The Bakery is already to make the baked goods from start to finish—all right on the premises. Let the festivities begin!

For schedule . . .

The Bakery rises up!

May 29, 2018

The first phase of the restoration of the Union Cooperative Store bakery building is nearing completion. If all goes well, on Labor Day weekend, the doors of this historic building will reopen with a grand celebration as the “Rise Up Bakery”.

Bernie Sanders endorses designation of Old Labor Hall as UNESCO World Heritage Site

August 21, 2017

Senator Bernie Sanders superimposed on picture of Old Labor Hall

Senator Bernie Sanders has generously used his worldwide popularity to highlight the international importance of the Socialist Labor Party Hall National Historic Landmark

Tom Davis Memorial

February 24, 2017

Tom Davis in front of the Old Labor Hall (photo Mark Greenberg)

Barre Historical Society and Vermont Labor History Society Board Member, Tom Davis, died unexpectedly on February 16 at age 85. His was a life well lived to the very last. His contributions to the people of Vermont cannot be overstated.

New Year—New Website—New URL

January 12, 2015

Webmaster putting final touches on website

The Barre Historical Society and the Old Labor Hall have finally unveiled the new website and our new web address oldlaborhall.org. (Please update your bookmark). A long time in the making (as might be expected for a project created using aged, volunteer, manual labor), the new website is now live. We can now add and up-date content without …

Barre’s Past is Present at the Vermont History Center

December 5, 2014

Karen Lane, Director of the Aldrich Public Library speaking at the donation of the Barre archives collection to the Vermont Historical Society

Today at the Vermont History Center in Barre (originally the Spaulding Graded School), Barre’s history officially moved into the safekeeping of the Vermont Historical Society. Anointed with drinks and cookies, the Aldrich Public Library, represented by its director Karen Lane passed the torch. As she described it, the collection has had a checkered past. Originally based …