On their way to Canada most of the slaves escaped through Vermont. It hasn't been until recently that we've known that much documentary evidence on who they were, how they escaped, what their routes were or who they hid or were hidden. Scholars today are just discovering new materials on the Underground Railroad. The Vermont Historical Society is helping teachers to understand more about the Underground Railroad. In 1843 a society called the Vermont Anti-Slavery Society was formed. One hundred non-slavery believers came to the first meeting from over 30 towns. Rowland Robinson was the Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Vermont Anti Slavery Society. This organization's purpose was to:
The Anti-Slavery Society's wish was not to intervene with slavery and they also didn't wish for slaves to revolt. Instead the Anti-Slavery Society tried to accomplish it's goals (listed above.) The society wanted to "expose the guilt of holding men as property." They did this by making and publishing newspaper articles and pamphlets. They would write songs and lectures, and then sing or read them in public meetings and churches. By 1837 there was over 5000 members of the 89 anti-slavery societies in the state of Vermont!
The first of Vermont was designed by Ira Allen (Ethen Allen's brother) and then was made by Reuben Dean (from Windsor Vermont) in 1778. The second seal was more pictorial than the first. The current seal was adopted in 1937. The original seal consist of a row of wooded hills, which indicate the Green Mountain, sheaves of grain and cows that represent Vermont's agriculture. The sky and water are represented by wavy lines at the top and bottom. The central pine is located in the middle of the seal and is the most dominate feature on the seal. This is because a long time ago these trees were sometimes 100 ft. taller than the others around them.
The coat of arms was made in the year of 1821, when the original seal was revised. The Seal was placed on a shield which then had a stag's head crest mounted. The state motto was placed underneath the stag's head. The whole was then placed under an American eagle's outspread wings. The eagle was ready for war. It is unknown who invented the crest. It was thought to be invented by either a Boston engraver or Secretary Governor and Council Robert Temple. The coat of arms had slight modifications until the year of 1862.
Vermont was admitted to the U.S, in 1791. It had two state flags before we decided on the one we see today. When people first invented the Vermont State flag it was almost identical to the U.S. flag. The people of Vermont decided that when their flag is hanging on a pole they wanted people to say "hey, that's Vermont's flag." They didn't want people to get their flag confused with the U.S. flag. People decided to put the state coat of arms on a blue field. Guess what? The design was approved, and the flag has stayed the same ever since!
The song " Hail Vermont" is the official song for Vermont. Written by Josephine Hovey Perry (from Barre Vermont.) In 1938 it was official named. Here is our state song:
Here's a look at some of the state symbols: