It Happened in Vermont (It Happened In Series) by Bushnell, Mark (2009) Paperback

It Happened In...

by Mark Bushnell

From the French and Indian War to the exposure of Maple Corner, thirty-two events that shaped the Green Mountain State

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published April 14, 2009

Reviews

[Tarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a lot of Vermonters weighing in here, so it seems right to admit that I am but a lowly flatlander (and if you don’t know what that is, then you are, too). But despite this unfortunate handicap, we spend a good amount of time in Vermont, and I have been *repeatedly* told by Vermonters that the only true way to understand Vermont history is through oral history- the more the better- and that’s what this book feels like 100%. It is, as some have pointed out, a bit all over the place. The events are not all large or “monumental,” but they are all very much about the character (and often characters) of the state. It’s not a history book in the traditional sense, but then, Vermont prides itself on its difference, so why would this book be otherwise?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a fun read that should have happened much faster, had I not some outside challenges. Each story is but a few pages, which keeps the tone light without lacking in interesting content. Some stories are especially more riveting than others. In fact, I'm guessing a few barely made the cut. On the other hand, several tales left me wanting significantly more, especially in the beginning, and could have inspired entire novels. All in all, I appreciated learning a few stories from Vermont's colored history and now look forward to exploring a few other, similar books in the future. 3.5 stars

[Sarah Hall Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good stories of my home state

These are very interesting stories of Vermont. Well researched and entertaining. Many reveal the personality of my home state. Excellent read

[JC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read about Vermont's historical events in short descriptions. A great book to start off with the understanding of Vermont.

[Don LaFountaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book. Readers will especially enjoy it if they like history and are from Vermont. I learned some new things from the book, and chuckled through some parts. However, I did not feel that all 32 stories held with the part of the title that stated "...32 events that shaped the Green Mountain State." For instance, I don't believe the story about the Maple Field Place men that posed for the calender should qualify. Is is a cute and somewhat inspiring story? Yes! Did it shape the Green Mountain State? As a Vermonter, I don't think so. So the reader needs to be aware of this distinction.

It was written in an easy to read format, with each story being no more than 4 - 5 pages each. This book can whet the appetite of the reader, and there are some, such as the Phineas Gage tale, that can be read in greater detail in other books. Some stories make you reflect on how tumultuous times were in the 18th and 19th century, and how democracy was not as "open" as we are led to believe in the history books.

Some of the stories are:
- "The Cow Wars": Vermonters and New Yorkers fight over land & reparations
- "The 'Black Snake' Affair": Trading with Canada after the U.S. Government declared it illegal
- "The St. Albans Raid": Confederates raid and rob banks in St. Albans
- "The Democratic Resurrection": Believe it or not, Vermont was once a very red state
- "To Dome or not to Dome": Deciding if a dome should be built over Winooski

I think people will enjoy reading this book, but for most people it will probably be a read once and pass it along experience.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a couple dozen quick-hitting chapters on unique moments in Vermont history, quite a few which were tragic. If you have any interest in the history of Vermont, I recommend reading it. Albeit brief, many of the anecdotes offer fascinating snapshots of important moments in the Green Mountain State's history. The book does jump around however, and is far from a comprehensive history of Vermont. The readings are pretty random.