The Poultney Historical Society, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1935, preserves and interprets the history of the Town of Poultney. An all-volunteer association supported through memberships and contributions from community members and visitors, the Society owns three historic buildings on-the-green in East Poultney…the East Poultney Schoolhouse (1896), the Melodeon Factory (1849), and the Union Academy (1791).
These museums house collections of a broad range of records and artifacts accumulated over the years, including genealogical, church and cemetery records and objects from many periods including costumes, military memorabilia, restored melodeons, furniture, photographs, glass plate negatives, books, ironworks, farm tools and household items.
Volunteer docents open the museums to the public on Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 PM from July through September and by appointment during the summer or the rest of the year.
The Society has produced five audio tours of historic Poultney that you can take in person or virtually. Listen to Vermont’s master storyteller, Willem Lange, as he leads you on tours of Main Street Poultney, East Poultney Village, or the surrounding countryside of slate quarries, hollows, and farms.
Genealogy research and assistance is available from Poultney Historical Society volunteers and on this web site.