On Sunday, July 28, the Martha Canfield Memorial Library will host a talk on the anniversary of the founding of Arlington, Sandgate, and Sunderland in 1761. It was on this date that New Hampshire's Royal Governor, Benning Wentworth, signed the charters that established the towns. Bill Budde will present the story of the charters impact on our first settlers at 2:00 p.m. in the Sandgate Meeting Room of the library.

At first glance, the charters appear intended to promote settlement in the wilderness between colonial New York and New Hampshire. However, just as important is the fact that the charters can also be seen as a real estate development scheme that benefitted Gov. Wentworth and the investors in the charters. The land disputes between New Hampshire and New York that followed led to organizing the Green Mountain Boys. The dispute would not be resolved for thirty years.

The presentation will open with a preview of the Canfield Gallery's exhibit, Norman Rockwell's Arlington: America's Home Town, which will be installed in the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier on Monday, July 29.

The Martha Canfield Memorial Library is located at 528 East Arlington Road, Arlington, VT. For more information contact the Russell Collection at russell_vermontiana_collection@hotmail.com or (802) 375-6153 Tuesday – Saturday.