Rural Resource Commission Historic Photo Project

Established in the late 1980s, the MRV Rural Resource Commission became the first of its kind in Vermont to be designated as a Certified Local Government (CLG) under the National Historic Preservation Act. Resulting from the collaboration of local government, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, and the National Park Service, the MRV Rural Resource Commission was granted this status through the Certified Local Government Program. The CLG Program promotes the idea that local governments should be actively involved in finding, assessing, recording, and protecting local historic assets.

This year, the RRC is embarking on an exciting journey to gather and showcase historical photographs of the Mad River Valley. Our mission is to create a visual narrative that illustrates the Valley’s evolution over time, providing a unique opportunity for community engagement and the preservation of our rich history.

We Need Your Submissions!

Whether you’re holding onto family albums, antique photo collections, or have captured moments of the Valley’s past, your contributions are invaluable. By participating, you help us weave the story of the Mad River Valley’s heritage for future generations.

History is often a tapestry of diverse perspectives, and we understand that it can be somewhat subjective. This is why we’re seeking photographs that span a wide range of years, not just those from the early 1900s. We’re interested in images from any period up to the early 2000s.

The Rural Resource Commission is available to help digitize photos! There is a suggested cap of 20 photos per submitter, and we can meet you at the location of your choosing with a portable scanner. Digitization will also be offered during standard business hours at the General Wait House (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday) from May 20th to May 31st, with the availability to accommodate appointments outside of those hours as needed. To schedule a digitization appointment, use the scheduling calendar below, or contact Sam Robinson ([email protected]).

Here is how the process will go:

Contact Sam Robinson ([email protected] or 802-496-7179) and schedule a time to digitize your photos. Alternatively, use the calendar app found below this text to schedule a time automatically.
Identify roughly 20 photos that you would like to have digitized. Photos should meet one of the following criteria: be a photograph of a recognizable person, place, or unique snapshot of daily life from a given time period (e.g., a horse and carriage crossing Bridge Street in Waitsfield)
Prior to your digitization appointment, jot down some of the known information about each photo. It's ok if you are unsure, but a few examples of pertinent information are: photo date, subjects, location, activity, or any other information that is unique to the photo you are submitting. We will record that information while the RRC team is digitizing.

Each appointment will be between 30 - 60 minutes, depending on the number of photos that you are submitting, which is why we ask that you prepare the corresponding information for each photo prior to your arrival. This will help streamline the process so we can digitize more photos!

We look forward to collaborating on with unique project with you, and as always, feel free to reach out to Sam Robinson ([email protected]) if you have any questions!