Justin Morgan historic marker unveiled
The new Justin Morgan historic roadside marker is shown by the Randolph-Brookfield line. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
A large crowd from the Morgan horse community showed up on Neighbor Road at the Randolph-Brookfield line in Vermont on Sunday, to witness the unveiling of a historic marker establishing the site where Justin Morgan, this storied breed's namesake, once lived.
The log cabin where Morgan and his family made their home was located on the opposite side of Neighbor Road in Randolph, near where the marker is placed. Figure, the breed's founding sire, pastured in the scenic field that runs alongside the road.
On Sunday, a day of events awaited the crowd, and a number of Figure's proud descendants took part as well — there was a trotting race during the afternoon.
Dennis Tatro speaks before the unveiling of the new Justin Morgan historic marker on Sunday. Linda Trieschmann and Nathan Snow are looking on. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
The newly unveiled historic marker is the result of a lengthy quest by Dennis Tatro; he and his wife, Laura, have owned Morgans since the 1980s. They tried for over a decade to find Justin Morgan's true home site, a process that culminated this past weekend. The experience of solving that mystery led to a self-published book by Dennis Tatro, "Living on the Town Line," which details the successful search.
"It took 14 years to disprove locations, and we know for sure this is the location," Tatro said at Sunday's event.
The new marker states that Morgan and his family moved from Springfield, Massachusetts, to Vermont in 1788, settling in the aforementioned log cabin. Figure, who is commemorated on one side of the marker, was born a year later in Massachusetts, and Morgan acquired the stallion in 1792 and moved him to Vermont.
Dave Ladd is shown at Sunday’s event on Trailhead Tucson, who is donning an original Ted Flowers Parade Saddle that is 70 to 80 years old. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Laura Trieschmann, historic preservation officer for the state, told Sunday's crowd this was the latest of about 280 historic roadside markers in Vermont.
"These roadside markers tell a story, and they've been doing that since 1949," Trieschmann said.
It was a family event for Nathan Snow, whose father, Eaton Warner Snow III, used to live on the property where the new marker stands. The elder Snow passed away last August, and on Sunday, Nathan Snow remarked how his father loved the idea of such history being part of his land.
"He was so excited," Snow said, after unveiling the marker with the help of his family.
Nathan Show, in foreground at far left, stands by the new historic marker with his family. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
"I'm actually really touched by it," Snow said of the marker. "It's history. It's part of what we leave behind."
Denny Emerson, who operates Tamarack Hill Farm in Strafford, said the publicity was a good thing for the breed — which is the oldest in America.
"We've got to keep promoting Morgan horses," he said.
— Gareth Henderson
