Damian Costello will present "Murder in Plain Sight? An Abenaki/Settler Mystery on the Vermont Frontier" Monday October 21 at 6:45 pm at the Old Brick Church, 60 Church Street in downtown East Montpelier. Sponsored by the Calais and East Montpelier Historical Societies, Damian will examine an unsolved story of murder in Central Vermont. All are invited.

Local history briefly records that in 1790 the original American settler to the Montpelier area, Jacob Fowler, killed an unnamed "Indian" in a dispute over a trapline. The biographies of the two participants will be reconstructed and the bigger questions of this formative time in Vermont history will be explored. Born and raised in Vermont, Damian received his Ph.D. in theological studies from the University of Dayton and specializes in the intersection of Catholic theology, Indigenous spiritual traditions and colonial history.

An optional potluck supper will take place at 6:00. Bring a dish to share and your own place setting. The program starts at 6:45.

Donna Fitch, Calais Historical Society

Event Info

Feb 2, 2025, 3 to 4:30 PM

Feb 5, 2025, 1:30 to 3 PM

Feb 7, 2025, 6 to 9 PM