Visiting Historic Cavendish

Whether it’s to see the site of the famous Phineas Gage accident, the town where Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn lived or to research family genealogy, Cavendish is a small town with a big history that attracts people from all over the world. To help visitors interested in Cavendish history, below are resources to assist you in planning a trip. 

Note that the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) Museum, 1958 Main Street (route 131), is open from Memorial weekend to Columbus weekend on Sundays from 2-4 pm and by appointment at other times. Because the building is unheated during the winter months, we recommend visiting at other times. If we make arrangements to open the Museum and meet with you, we appreciate notifications if you are going to be delayed.

If you have questions or need more information, call 802-226-7807 or e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com

General Resources

• Visitor’s Guide to Cavendish: Provides information on places to stay, eat and recreate.

 • What’s Nearby:  While it has many merits of its own; Cavendish is centrally located to places like Okemo Mountain Ski Resort, Woodstock and Hanover, NH.

• Cavendish Connects: Includes a calendar of events, the latest news and other types of information.

• Cavendish Pinterest

• Cavendish Facebook Page

Phineas Gage

Each year, the Sunday closest to Gage’s accident (Sept 13, 1848) is CHS’s annual “Walk and Talk.”

• CHS Gage Facebook page 

• Self Guided Phineas Gage Walking Tour  For best visibility, it is recommended that you visit in the spring or fall when the leaves do not block views.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The Museum has an exhibit as well as the archives of his time in Cavendish. There is also a selection of videos that can be screened. Note that the permanent exhibit will be at the Cavendish Stone Church, which is currently undergoing restoration/preservation. Both the Museum and Stone Church can be visited. With enough advanced notice, we can arrange for translators.

In planning your visit, start by checking out the sidebar of the CHS Blog’s Solzhenitsyn section which includes links to videos, speeches, writings etc.

Other CHS websites on Solzhenitsyn include:

• Facebook page 

• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who Changed History: CHS’s newest publication, this is a biography of Solzhenitsyn for students in grades 4-7. However, it contains many pictures from the family’s private collection, some of which have never been seen in the West. www.thewriterwhochangedhistory.com

• Pinterest

Please be advised that we do not give directions to Solzhenitsyn’s home.

Genealogy

• Researching Cavendish Families: Includes a list of CHS publications, links to sites and contact information for genealogist and author of the series "Families of Cavendish."

• Researching Your Cavendish Roots (Pinterest site) 

• Cemeteries of Cavendish Vermont: This is a good resource to find where ancestors are buried. Note that cemeteries are generally closed for the winter on Oct. 15 and don’t reopen until May. Dates can vary due to weather.  Best to contact CHS if you are unsure of an ancestor’s burial location and/or if the cemeteries are open.