Town of Grafton, Vermont

Early New England towns often have named sections because of the way they developed socially, geographically, and economically in the 1600s–1800s. These names weren’t just decorative—they usually had a very practical function in identifying where people lived or worked. In our town of Grafton, Vermont (Windham County), we have the recognized historic districts of Grafton Village (the Lower Village), Houghtonville, Mechanicsville, and Middletown Rural (Middletown Hill), as well as a section of early settlements, now seen as cellar holes, known to locals as Howeville. And while state records put Cambridgeport officially in the Town of Rockingham, Grafton’s ties to this hamlet are so old and so strong that we hope Rockingham won’t mind sharing Cambbridgeport history with us as part of the Grafton family.

The mission of the Grafton Historical Society (GHS) is to perform a consequential role in advancing the historical understanding of the Town of Grafton through collecting and preserving information and materials of significance, and publicly sharing that work through outreach projects. The GHS recognizes that the past is revealed by evidence, as provided by documentation and material culture items, while history encompasses a wide range of stories, old and new, about the past. For this reason, we are dedicated to maintaining, curating, and growing the GHS collection with intention and objectivity, while organizing outreach projects to fulfill the role of storyteller. These projects provide narratives and analyses utilizing the collections and other local resources, while welcoming and encouraging evolving and alternative viewpoints. We are committed to fairness and diversity in our collections, projects, and activities. The GHS works to provide and expand public accessibility to our collections through media and programming and outreach projects, and through our support of the Town of Grafton and its citizens in preserving archival materials and the historic environment of the Town.

Our Board 2025-2026

President: Mario Hernandez Kenyon
Vice-President: (to be announced)
Secretary: Maryanne Donald
Treasurer: Robert Donald

We rely on the dedication of our local volunteers and museum docents to share with us their knowledge and love of Grafton, to keep the Grafton History Museum open and a vital part of our town, to offer many local outreach programs throughout the year, and to pursue our IDEA project that will bring online resources to our community and beyond while protecting our local history museum collections. Thank you all ! And new volunteers are always welcome - just email, call, or stop by to join us as a volunteer and explore your interests.