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Mount Independence, Orwell, Vermont

ORWELL

Vermont
Shop the collection

Orwell enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity after the war's conclusion, marking a time of great emotional uprising and town glee. Landmarks include First Congregational Church and Fort Independence. Orwell is the birthplace of William Pitt Kellogg, United States Senator and Governor of Louisiana.

The Orwell Collection

Made for Orwell. Printed to order.

Every piece is drawn from Orwell's own map data and historic archives, then printed and shipped from the USA when you order. No two towns look alike.

Orwell Street Map Poster · Linen

Orwell Street Map Poster · Linen

Every road in town, on archival matte paper

from $34
Orwell Street Map Poster · Midnight

Orwell Street Map Poster · Midnight

The same map, in navy and silver

from $34
Orwell “Born In” Poster

Orwell “Born In” Poster

Famous natives, by birth year

from $34
Orwell History Timeline Poster

Orwell History Timeline Poster

The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom

from $39
Orwell Map Placemat

Orwell Map Placemat

Map of local landmarks, washable fabric

$25
Orwell Varsity Crewneck

Orwell Varsity Crewneck

Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back

from $48
Orwell Est. Tee

Orwell Est. Tee

Soft Bella+Canvas jersey

from $28
Orwell Town Line Mug

Orwell Town Line Mug

Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe

from $19
Orwell Hometown Ornament

Orwell Hometown Ornament

Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon

$18
Orwell Garden Flag

Orwell Garden Flag

Weatherproof, for the front walk

$26
Orwell Welcome Doormat

Orwell Welcome Doormat

24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back

$45
Orwell Hometown Wood Sign

Orwell Hometown Wood Sign

12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang

$39
Orwell Map Throw Pillow

Orwell Map Throw Pillow

Soft-touch, zip cover

$36
Orwell Market Tote

Orwell Market Tote

Sturdy all-over-print tote

$32
Orwell Cork Coaster

Orwell Cork Coaster

Glossy top, cork back

$12
Orwell Street Map Throw Blanket

Orwell Street Map Throw Blanket

Soft fleece, 50″×60″

from $64
Orwell Est. Tumbler

Orwell Est. Tumbler

20 oz, double-wall stainless

$40
Orwell Mount Independence Landmark Print

Orwell Mount Independence Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Orwell First Congregational Church Landmark Print

Orwell First Congregational Church Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Orwell Chipman's Point Landmark Print

Orwell Chipman's Point Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Orwell Mount Independence Postcard

Orwell Mount Independence Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Orwell First Congregational Church Postcard

Orwell First Congregational Church Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Orwell Chipman's Point Postcard

Orwell Chipman's Point Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Orwell Congregational Church, North side of State Route 73 Archive Print

Orwell Congregational Church, North side of State Route 73 Archive Print

From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town

from $39
Orwell Baptist Church, North side of Route 73 Archive Print

Orwell Baptist Church, North side of Route 73 Archive Print

From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town

from $39
Orwell Congregational Church, North side of State Route 73 Archive Print

Orwell Congregational Church, North side of State Route 73 Archive Print

From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town

from $39
Orwell Willcox-Cutts Mansion, East side of State Route 22A, 1.4 miles south of intersection with State Route 73 Archive Print

Orwell Willcox-Cutts Mansion, East side of State Route 22A, 1.4 miles south of intersection with State Route 73 Archive Print

From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town

from $39
Orwell Baptist Church, North side of Route 73 Archive Print

Orwell Baptist Church, North side of Route 73 Archive Print

From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town

from $39
Orwell Willcox-Cutts Mansion, East side of State Route 22A, 1.4 miles south of intersection with State Route 73 Archive Print

Orwell Willcox-Cutts Mansion, East side of State Route 22A, 1.4 miles south of intersection with State Route 73 Archive Print

From the Library of Congress collections: a historic survey drawing or photograph of the town

from $39
Hometown roll

Born in Orwell

On the National Register

Historic places

Population 2010: 1,250 → 2020: 1,239

From Wikidata (CC0).

A short history of Orwell

After the construction of Fort Independence on Mount Independence in 1775, rebel soldiers bravely manned the lesser fortifications of the Vermont-side defenses. While those soldiers billeted at Fort Ticonderoga enjoyed comparatively splendid conditions in the French-style fort, Mount Independence proved a trying and difficult environment for its small cadre of revolutionary defenders, who frequently returned to their farms in the surrounding countryside to tend to their homesteads. The fortress was passed between the British and Colonials, until it was eventually abandoned at the cessation of hostilities on the northern front of the war.

Orwell enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity after the war's conclusion, marking a time of great emotional uprising and town glee. However, these bright times would be marred by several major tragedies that coincided with the attempted industrialization of the area's farmlands in the 1870s, when several young men were lost in a thresher accident near what is now the intersection of Main Street and Route 22A. This tragedy was keenly remembered by the community, which banned industrial farming later that year in a special town meeting. Industrialized farm equipment was only allowed back into Orwell after the economic collapse of the early 1900s, and even then, special restrictions were placed to limit the capabilities of such farm instruments. The town's law against the use of "Modern Farm Machinery of All Kinds" was never actually repealed, and continues to be a curio law on the books that the town refuses to repeal.

Orwell attempted in the late 1990s to obtain a franchised fast-food restaurant, as a vital link in the food availability between Whitehall, New York, and Vergennes, Vermont, but the residents of the surrounding townships blocked the move, claiming it would upset the rural beauty of the western Vermont countryside. Orwell is known as the Fortress of America. The town motto is "First in Revolution, First in Recreation".

Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Orwell, Vermont, revision 1378605008 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

For local organizations

Are you with a Orwell historical society?

We share a part of every Orwell sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.

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