Badger Brothers Recognized for 'Fading Memories' Book by Vermont Historical Society

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Dr. Robert L. Badger, center, accepts the 2010 Award of Merit from Mark Hudson, right, president of the Vermont Historical Society, with his brother and co-author, William C., left.

POTSDAM, NY (12/03/2010)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam geology professor Dr. Robert L. Badger, and Manchester architect William C. Badger were recently recognized with an award from the Vermont Historical Society.

The brothers were honored with the 2010 Award of Merit from the society in its oral or written history category for their recently published book, "Fading Memories from a Vermont Hillside."

The first-person historical account follows the evolution of their family land in Vermont over four generations of stewardship. Published by Shires Press in Manchester, Vt., "Fading Memories from a Vermont Hillside" makes extensive use of photographs that the boys' father took in the 1920s and '30s, depicting country and village life in and around Landgrove, Vt.

"This has been 10 years in the works. Our family has owned land in Vermont for several generations, and the stories were disappearing. We thought we would try to write something about that," Dr. Badger said. "We wanted to preserve the stories and get the pictures out so other people could see them."

"Memories of that time and era may be fading, but not lost forever, thanks to this family's record on film for all of us to see," Charles Sutton wrote in a review of the book for Vermont Country Sampler.

This is the first book that Dr. Badger has written that hasn't concerned geology or higher education. He is also the author of "Ideas that Work in College Teaching" and "Geology Along Skyline Drive: A Self-Guided Tour for Motorists," and edited the "New York State Geological Association 76th Annual Meeting Guidebook." William Badger is principal architect with Badger & Associates in Manchester, and is past president of the Manchester Historical Society.

"Fading Memories from a Vermont Hillside" follows the evolution of the Badger family land from its beginnings as farmland with a few main buildings and stone walls to its use for logging, sugaring and hunting. It also depicts the changing times in the surrounding community, as it paints a picture of the events that shaped the land and the people who call it home.

"Every place has a history, changes that have occurred, stories that are told, and different uses for the land. Our family's connection to this part of the Green Mountains is far from unique and not of any great duration, but there is a history and a depth of appreciation that we would like to preserve; hence, this manuscript," Dr. Badger wrote in the book's introduction.

"Fading Memories from a Vermont Hillside" is available from the Northshire Bookstore, in Manchester, Vt. and through Shires Press at www.northshire.com/siteinfo/bookinfo/9780578059891/0/.

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Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, the State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 100 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts.

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