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Big Plans for the Derby Historical Society

Many Derby residents are looking toward the future of their community with mixed emotions – excitement about some of the new stores that are coming to the Derby Road, while at the same time wondering what the changes will mean to their border community. Yet there is another group of Derby residents who are working to preserve the community’s past before it is lost forever.

The Derby Historical Society’s museum on the south end of Main Street has sat idle for several years. With renewed vigor, and almost a sense of urgency as Derby undergoes unprecedented growth, the historical society has sprung back to life. An organizational meeting of society was held on May 1.

“It’s time to bring some life back to the historical society,” Bill Gardyne said as he and several other people interested in the history of Derby shared their thoughts about the future of the society. Gardyne has served as the president of the society that was founded in 1980 for about 15 years. He said that he is ready to have somebody else take leadership of the group.

Although the museum has stood dormant for several years, Gardyne emphasized that it has been up kept and has served a valuable service to community – preserving historical items from the community’s past. And he said he has continued to field numerous questions from people from around the country, many of them researching their ancestral roots in Derby. Gardyne said that with more tourists visiting the region, the museum could prove a popular place for some of them to stop, visit, and journey back into Derby’s past.

The museum is filled with photographs and artifacts from the community’s past, particularly relating to its agricultural and industrial past. It also houses an enormous amount of photos and artifacts from the now closed Derby Academy.

“There is no time better then now to bring life back to the museum and the society,” Scott Wheeler said. “Although there is currently a huge interest in the future of Derby, there is a growing interest about Derby’s past from both long term residents and newcomers. It’s more important than ever to work to continue to preserve the history of Derby before it is lost forever.” The Derby resident noted that this area is fortunate to have many active local historical societies including in Charleston, Holland and Island Pond, in addition to the Old Stone House in Brownington.

Among the people at the meeting was Chester “Chet” Carpenter of Newport. Carpenter is revered in the local history community for his knowledge of the region’s history, especially of the communities of Derby and Newport. He has been a longtime member and supporter of the historical society. Carpenter’s ancestor is Colonel Chester Carpenter, one of Derby’s early settlers, and a prominent businessman. A humble man now in his 80s, Chet amazed those in attendance at the meeting with his wealth of knowledge about the history of the community.

Plans are to keep the museum open on a regular schedule so people can visit it. In addition, the group plans to hold regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year. But the most exciting piece of the future are plans to host regular speakers who will share information relating to the history of Derby and its people. Bill Alexander, the owner of Alpine Web Media, is already in the process of building a website for the society. Once completed, it will contain information about Derby and the historical society. It will also have a list of upcoming events and contact information. The web address is www.derbyhistoricalsociety.com

An open house is planned for the museum at 2 p.m. on June 11. In addition to serving as a time for people to tour the museum and to learn more about the society, visitors will be treated to a presentation by Allen Yale of Derby. Yale, who is now retired, was a long time educator at North Country Union High School and Lyndon State College. A founding member of the society, Yale will present a unique, fascinating, and off-beat presentation about the life and wives of Curtis Willey, a man who is buried in Derby with four of his five wives that predeceased him.

“I’ve been interested in just the stories I’ve heard tonight,” Corwyn Fagen said as the meeting broke up for the evening. She said she looks forward to future meetings and learning more about her community.

People interested in learning more about the event or the society, can call Bill Gardyne at (802) 766- 5324 or email him at bill@gardyne-vermont.com. Or call Scott Wheeler at (802) 334-5920 or email him at swheeler@together.net.