A Centennial Celebration
Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge by the Coolidge Foundation , cemetery services at the gravesite of President Coolidge at the Plymouth Cemetery , special exhibits by the Plymouth Historical Society , and celebratory marches led by the Vermont National Guard .
The summer ’ s events also include student and professional music concerts , which will be held in a large room at the Coolidge Museum & Education Center . The concerts incorporate a mixture of jazz standards and classical repertoire , and they are played using First Lady Grace Coolidge ’ s beautiful , antique Baldwin Piano . “ It was the first piano to be flown on an airplane ,” says Scherry . “ It was also played by Rachmaninoff . The instrument could stand alone as its own historic artifact , but we ’ re letting the students play it regardless of their skill level . We like to encourage them to explore their love for music .”
On October 7 , The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site will come alive at the peak of fall foliage season for the annual Plymouth Notch Antique Apple Fest . “ We have hay rides , and we have an on-site farmer who can tell stories to guests and show them around the grounds ,” says Scherry . “ We also have apple tastings and samplings , craft demonstrations , and musical entertainment , and the Coolidge Foundation will host a 5K .” Those who prefer walking have the option to participate in the “ I Do Not Choose to Run ” walk , which takes its name from Coolidge ’ s decision to not run in the 1928 presidential election . “ It ’ s been very popular over the past two years , and we ’ re very excited for this centennial anniversary season .”
ALL THE DETAILS :
To sign up for the Gala hosted by former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas , please contact Colleen Stamos of the Coolidge Foundation at cstamos @ calvin-coolidge . org .
Please contact Coolidge debate director Jared Rhoads at jrhoads @ calvin-coolidge . org if you are interested in judging the Coolidge Cup .
Those interested in participating in the 5K should contact Jared Rhoads at jrhoads @ calvin-coolidge . org .
Brave Little State of Vermont
Calvin Coolidge ’ s ties to the Green Mountain State came full-circle with the riveting speech that he gave in Bennington in 1928 in the aftermath of a tragic flood
John Calvin Coolidge , Jr . was born on July 4th , 1872 in Plymouth Notch , Vermont . He lived the first four years of his life in a small cottage , which was attached to the back of a general store and post office that his father owned and operated . His family then moved across the street from the post office to a large white house , where he remained through the duration of his boyhood . This house is known to this day as the “ Coolidge Homestead .”
Coolidge ’ s father John Calvin Coolidge , Sr . was a well-respected community figure in Plymouth who was actively involved in Vermont politics . In the early years of Coolidge ’ s childhood , John Sr . served in the Vermont House of Representatives ( 1872-1878 ), as well as a variety of local municipal positions . He also dabbled in an eclectic assortment of private professions that ranged from woodcutting and blacksmithing to store ownership and insurance brokerage .
Future President Coolidge was an industrious and disciplined boy who idolized the stoic nature of his stalwart and upstanding father . Throughout the course of his boyhood , Coolidge took pride in his household tasks and chores as a family farmhand . At the age of thirteen , he followed in his father ’ s academic footsteps and enrolled at the Black River Academy in Ludlow , Vermont .
After graduating from Black River Academy , Coolidge attended a speech given by President Benjamin Harrison in 1891 at the dedication ceremony of the Battle of Bennington Monument . Coolidge felt a sense of deep connection and admiration for President Harrison . As the words of the ceremonious speech echoed in Coolidge ’ s ears with resounding gravitas , his deep-seated passion for politics grew even stronger than before . He went on to pursue a career in law and rise through the ranks as a politician , using the lessons of hard work and persistence that he learned during his childhood in Vermont as fuel for his political aspirations .
Years later , Coolidge ’ s life came full circle when he visited Vermont as an acting U . S . President in 1928 . In the aftermath of a cataclysmic flood , Coolidge left a permanent mark on the Green Mountain State ’ s political history with his pivotal “ Brave Little State of Vermont ” speech . Record rainfall in Vermont during the months of October and November of 1927 created river floods that wreaked devastating destruction in many communities across the state . While Vermonters everywhere struggled to rebuild in the aftermath of the disaster , Coolidge returned home and embarked on a statewide tour to assess the extent of the damage . In the face of heart-wrenching adversity , Coolidge managed to capture the indefatigable spirit of his home state in a stirring and poignant address he delivered to a crowd in Bennington 37 years after he heard President Harrison speak at the dedication of the Battle of Bennington Monument . In the closing remarks of his speech , Coolidge stated the following :
“ I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys , her scenery and invigorating climate , but most of all because of her indomitable people . They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves to serve others . If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the Union , and support of our institutions should languish , it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little State of Vermont .”
Even in Vermont ’ s darkest hour , Coolidge knew that the citizens of his beloved home state were resilient enough to face any seemingly insurmountable challenge and emerge triumphantly . Nearly a century later , his words ring just as true as the day he first spoke them at Bennington .
22 VERMONT MAGAZINE