“Strong and forever free” the green mountains of Vermont were a welcome site to this President General. Visiting the Strong Mansion, eating ice cream at the home of Ben and Jerry’s and learning about Vermont’s connections to the early days of DAR are just a few highlights of my visit. Heartfelt thanks to State Regent, Catherine Brodeur- Johnson and my personal Pages, Anne Harrigan and Emily Johnson, for their many kindnesses.
-Pamela Wright, President General
The Green Mountain State welcomed our President General, Mrs. Wright, on Thursday, June 1st, with 90-degree temperatures and what looked like snow but was just the Cottonwoods dropping their seeds. Friday, June 2nd was a “Tour of Vermont,” for our President General and out-of-state Pages. This included a scenic drive to the Vermont DAR’s House Beautiful, the DAR John Strong Mansion Museum, lunch at Basin Harbor Club and over the hills to Waterbury for some Ben & Jerry’s.
In 1934, Vermont State Society INC. purchased 160 acres of land and the beautiful Federal-style mansion. VSSDAR INC. owns and operates the John Strong Mansion offering guided tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day. In 1955, 95 acres were donated to the State of Vermont to be used as a State Park, currently called the DAR State Park. The remaining 60+ acres were leased as a state forest to The State of Vermont in 1968.
John Strong enlisted at 38, on August 6, 1776, as a Private and Commissary. By October 1776, he was a Captain in Colonel Ira Allen’s Regiment. In 1777, John was captured; he was paroled by General Fraser. While trying to reach his family John heard that Indian and Tory forces under General Burgoyne had gone down the shores of Lake Champlain burning the settlements they encountered, including the Strong cabin. Agnes, John’s wife, escaped with a newborn and their six other children with the help of neighbors. Agnes and John happened upon each other in Dorset where they remained until the end of the War. John was active in the governance of the independent Republic of Vermont from 1779 to 1801.
We are proud to have several Strong family items in our Mansion. While touring the building and grounds, our President General recognized a red sofa in the parlor as one she had seen at the DAR Museum. She learned that it was the one she had seen, as it was returned to Vermont after the 75-year loan expired in June 2022. Friday evening a casual dinner with the President General, the Vermont State Officers and Honorary State Regents was enjoyed.
On Saturday, June 3rd, 44 Vermont Daughters welcomed our President General to our Spring Board of Management meeting. Vermont Daughters purchased items at the DAR Insignia Pop-up Store, heard their State Officers' reports, learned of our State Good Citizen winners, and conducted some business. Vermont Daughters have recorded over 10 thousand hours for Service to America and discovered how easy it is to record these hours. Vermont Daughters presented the Blue Star Mothers of Vermont Pet Program, a $4725 donation from the State Regent’s Project funds; it was a proud moment. Attendees enjoyed a program about the DAR history and Memorial Continental Hall while viewing and holding the President General’s medallion. After the luncheon, the 2023 – 2025 Weaver administration Officers were installed.
Vermont showed our President General how moody she can be with her weather swings; sending her off with 60-degree weather on Saturday afternoon.
Today's DAR
