Henry’s collecting began in 1875 with a Roman coin that eventually led to his decision to establish a museum documenting Middlebury, Addison County, and beyond. In 1882, he bought the Judd-Harris House as the site of his museum, obtained a state Charter, and opened its doors to the public in 1884. For the rest of his life, Henry focused on collecting and maintaining his massive collection, because, as he wrote, “the importance of preserving the history and early records of the first century of Middlebury for the benefit of those who succeed us… cannot be questioned.”
Henry ultimately assembled one of the richest historical collections in New England, ranking Middlebury among the best-documented towns in the entire region. Because of Henry’s extraordinary foresight, we are able to examine our past, hear the stories, glimpse the lives, and learn from previous generations while looking ahead to the future.
