The Oakledge History Project
To modern residents of Burlington, VT, "Oakledge" refers to a small town park on the shores of Lake Champlain, just south of downtown. At first glance it is an unassuming place, just a few picnic pavilions and tennis courts among a patchwork of forest and grass. Some come to swim in the small cove or jump off the red rock cliffs, while others simply enjoy the land and the view. Those who look more closely, however, find clues to the all-but-forgotten history of this land. During the summer of 2003, a group of high school students from all over Vermont began investigating the natural and cultural history of Oakledge and found more than they had ever imagined.
The original manor house at Oakledge, located on a hill facing west toward Lake Champlain The manor site today; the picnic pavilion is located at the same place and orientation as the manor.
These students were part of the Governor's Institute of Vermont, a summer program for high school students interested in experiencing and learning more about certain subjects. The Science and Technology division of GIV is run through the Geology Department at the University of Vermont, and traditionally focuses on environmental sciences. In recent years, this program has put increasing emphasis on building links between human activities and natural communities. In 2003, one group of students studying Oakledge Park began to realize that there was a much deeper human history there than was originally thought, and spent their week researching the historical development of the park's landscape.
Aerial photograph, 1939
Aerial photograph, 1999
This website is a follow-up on the work the GIV students started, and is intended to provide a more comprehensive look at Oakledge's history. For more information about the project and the people involved, please follow the links below:
Overview