Portal:Vermont/Selected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Vermont Republic was a North American independent republic founded in 1777 and continuing until 1791, when it became the state of Vermont—the fourteenth state of the United States of America. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War, giving the area to the British. Parts of the region were controlled by the Province of New York and the Province of New Hampshire, with overlap due to controversy surrounding the New Hampshire Grants, and George III's decision to make that part of New York. (more)
Montpelier is the capital of the U.S. state of Vermont and the county seat of Washington County. Known for its lively downtown driven by the activity of state government, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, visible from the outskirts of town, is located on State Street on the west side of downtown. The Winooski River flows along the south edge of downtown and is fed by several smaller tributaries that cut through residential districts.
Along with Barre, the city forms a small metropolitan area in the center of the state. As of the 2000 Census, it was the least-populous state capital, with a population of 8035. It is famously the only state capital without a McDonald's franchise, and home to the last remaining clothespin manufacturer in the United States. Granite quarries are a major part of the city's economic activity; timber was once a large industry in the region in the 19th century but has largely declined. The city is also home to the New England Culinary Institute. (more)
Phish was an American rock band started in the University of Vermont, running from 1983 to 2004. They were noted for their extended jam sessions and musical improvisation. It featured Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman from the start, and Page McConnell joining in 1985.Former members include Jeff Holdsworth (1983–1986) and Marc Daubert (1984–1985). The group performed a wide variety of genres, including rock, jazz, bluegrass, and funk.
Their first gig was a Halloween dance in the basement of the ROTC dormitory at UVM, but they performed as "Blackwood Convention". The first time they were billed under the name "Phish" was their second gig, a few days later in the basement of Slade Hall. For a senior project at Goddard College, Anastasio penned The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, a nine-song concept album. Since then, the band has been very earnest, sometimes locking themselves into rooms for hours playing. The band steadily increased in popularity, eventually starting to headline in amphitheaters by 1993. In 2000, the band took a hiatus, surprising people with no Halloween shows, nor a summer festival. Two years later, they started playing again, until their last concert on August 15, 2004 in Coventry, Vermont. (more)
Ben & Jerry's is a brand of ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream novelty products, manufactured by Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc. It is headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, with the main factory in Waterbury, Vermont.
In 1978, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened up an ice cream parlor in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, instantly popular. In 1979, on the 1 year anniversary, they celebrated the first ever Free Cone Day, still popular across the country. The company kept getting increasingly popular until in 1984, Häagen-Dazs tried to limit distribution of Ben & Jerry’s in Boston, prompting Ben & Jerry’s to file suit against the parent company, Pillsbury.
Recently, the company has managed to go to environmentally friendly packaging, using unbleached paperboard Eco-Pint containers. (more)
The Flag of Vermont consists of the State Coat-of-Arms upon a field of azure. Below the escutcheon is a red ribbon with the state name "Vermont" and the state motto "Freedom and Unity." The motto is central to the Vermont ideal of balancing personal freedom with the individual’s responsibility to their community. The current flag was adopted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont on 1 June 1923.
A flag of similar design, but hand painted on silk satin, was used as the Governor’s Flag from c. 1830 until 1923. A civil war era infantry flag of similar design can be seen at the Vermont State House in the Old Supreme Court Chamber, now used as an assembly members’ reading room.
Because the format is similar to many other state flags, especially Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan, some have called for adopting the flag of the Vermont Republic (the original Green Mountain Boys infantry standard) or an altogether new design. (more)
