Vermont 2023 Historic Flood

Question

Hi Wikitreers

We all have been watching with great interest in the tragedy unfolding in the great state of Vermont. The flooding is horrific and sadly I’m hearing many historic places are flooded not to mention the Montpelier library with books lost.

How many historic records will this flood destroy and we lose forever?

Please post updates

Thank you

Note: Many of us on Wikitree have Vermont roots and I’m one of them so this is very sad to see happening

Comments

A similar situation in parts of southern Québec, up to 120 mm of rain fell in Québec City and Eastern Townships (the area south of the St Lawrence River, with evacuations in the town of Sherbrooke, Saint-François River runs through the town and rose 6 metres!

---

Adding to it the destructive wild fires and smoke it’s tragic. We can only hope that the records are in safe keeping. So many of us have Quebec roots!

---

I see Montreal is flooding also and evacuations underway for its residents. Historic floods!

Rivers here are at flood stage too!

Answer 1

Luckily all of the collections at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library were spared. Sounds like the basement contained the electrical/building systems and books for a upcoming book sale.

Vermont History Museum was above the floodwaters in Montpelier. The Vermont Historical Society no longer maintains any collections in the basement of the Pavilion building.

The Vermont History Center stayed relatively dry and all collections are safe.

The Ethan Allen Homestead buildings and artifacts are safe above the water levels, but the grounds and paths are still underwater

Those are some of the biggies - I think a lot of lessons were learned with Irene in 2011.

Comments

I agree they were a bit more prepared with record storage due to flooding since good ole Irene in 2011.

I would think extra care should be taken for any historical records that need to be protected against flooding so future generations aren’t asking like in my situation with my great great grandmother Evalina Nora Barrett (1874 - 1897) 

“I found this also Franklin County New York I think a fire ruined records.”

Hope not too much was lost to floods

Edited: typos

Answer 2

Sad for sure. Hope they are taking measures to save what they can.

Comments

Added the YouTube link but didn’t work I think it’s in a weather channel