1849 – Melodeon Factory established in East Poultney
In the spring of 1849, the firm of Ross & West established a Melodeon Factory in East Poultney. Paul M. Ross and Elijah West chose for their new business a brick building formerly used as a blacksmith’s shop. At first they produced only the casework and bellows, having purchased the reed and keyboard actions from Carhart & Needham of New York. They were so successful that soon orders outpaced production.
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A recent article in the Bennington Banner reports on a 10th generation Vermonter and Orthodox Jew who is discovering the history of Jewish settlers and communities in Vermont as he works to restore and preserve the Poultney Hebrew Cemetery in East Poultney.
Check out our Fall 2020 Newsletter and learn what has been happening at the Poultney Historical Society this year!
As Vermont continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, it is perhaps worth remembering the last time such an immense challenge presented itself to the residents of Poultney.
