Vermont

‘A difficult Founding Father to love’: New biography explores ‘nuanced’ life of Ira Allen

Published

1 year ago

September 25, 2024

‘A difficult Founding Father to love’: New biography explores ‘nuanced’ life of Ira Allen

Practically every Vermonter knows of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen.

Far fewer are likely familiar with Ethan’s youngest brother and one of Vermont’s founders, Ira Allen – the cunning and widely unpopular land speculator, politician, negotiator and pamphleteer.

Earlier this month, local historian Kevin Graffagnino, 69, published what he says is the first book in nearly 100 years, and the second one ever, to focus primarily on the life of the underappreciated revolutionary.

“If you want to write about early Vermont, you’ve got to put him in the picture,” Graffagnino said, adding that without understanding fully who Ira was and what he contributed to the brave little state, “you’ve got a very incomplete tapestry.”

Ira Allen: ‘Nuanced, not always good’

Graffagnino originally wrote “Ira Allen: A Biography” 31 years ago as his doctoral dissertation at the University of Massachusetts while working in University of Vermont Special Collections, where he gathered the majority of his research.

Graffagnino’s new biography fills a literary and academic gap on Ira, who is mostly reduced to a minor character in books about Vermont’s early history.

Ira’s only other biography, written in the 1920s, is verbose and “almost unreadable,” Graffagnino said, and worst of all, an overly flattering portrayal of the morally gray man. In contrast, “Ira Allen: A Biography” offers a more succinct, objective account of Ira’s life.

“He’s nuanced, he’s not always good,” Graffagnino said. “He can usually find a way to advance the public with his own ambition, but if it comes down to a real pinch where you can only get one of them, then Ira will seldom do the heroic thing. If one of the horses is going to drop dead, it’s going to be the one for the public.”

Why has it taken so long for a proper Ira Allen biography?

It’s quite simple: Ira is a “difficult Founding Father to love,” Graffagnino asserts in his book about his subject who was once the richest man in the Champlain Valley.

For one thing, Ira does not fit the American ideal of a Revolutionary War hero like his brawny and bold brother Ethan. In contrast, Ira acquired the nickname “Stub” for his short stature and “couldn’t beat anyone up,” Graffagnino said, instead having to resort to less romantic means to accomplish his goals.

“He has to persuade, he has to make backroom deals, he has to outsmart you,” Graffagnino said.

Ira’s crafty ways – he wasn’t above tricking someone into giving away their valuable land – also didn’t “evoke a lot of affection” while he was alive.

“He’s a practical guy,” Graffagnino said of Ira. “His loyalties and affiliations are determined often, not always 100%, by what’s good for him financially.”

If Ethan was Vermont’s Davy Crocket, Ira was the state’s Aaron Burr, a important American figure who was “driven, brilliant at times” and “distrusted” by most of his peers, Graffagnino said in his book.

“I don’t particularly like him,” said Graffagnino. “But I respect him and he’s important” to understanding 18th-century America.

Is Ira Allen buried in Vermont?

Ira Allen died penniless, irrelevant and alone in 1812 at age 64 in Philadelphia where he fled 10 years prior to avoid paying his debts. Unlike Ethan and many other revolutionary giants who secured extravagant gravesites and burials, Ira’s body was buried in a pauper’s grave at the Free Quaker Burial Ground in Philadelphia.

A few years later, he and the cemetery’s other occupants were dug up and deposited under a tree in Audubon, Pennsylvania. A marker designating the spot as Ira’s final resting place was erected in the 1990s, a project Graffagnino helped complete. Twenty years ago, Vermont lawmakers determined it would be too costly to identify and retrieve his bones from the pile.

However, Ira does have a cenotaph located in Burlington’s Greenmount Cemetery right next to the Ethan Allen Monument.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

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Vermont

Spring-like days ahead, but the risk for additional river ice jams and flooding will continue.

Published

3 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Spring-like days ahead, but the risk for additional river ice jams and flooding will continue.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – It was a pleasant Sunday with spring-like temperatures, but it also resulted in a few ice jams in rivers, which happened earlier than expected. The Ausable, Mad, Missisquoi and Great Chazy rivers flooded today due to ice jams. These rivers will recede tonight as temperatures get close to, or below, freezing. However, new ice jams may form, and additional rivers may flood on Monday as highs get even warmer. Expect partly sunny skies with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. The wind may gust as highs as 40 mph. This will continue to support rapid snowmelt, which will run off into rivers and other bodies of water. Remember to never cross any flooded roads, and avoid going near river banks.

The threat for ice jams will continue into Thursday. A backdoor cold front may touch off a few showers on Tuesday, otherwise it will be partly sunny with highs ranging from the 40s north to the 50s and low 60s south. Computer models continue to bring a low pressure system in our area on Wednesday. It’s continuing to look a little warmer, though the heavier rain is now inching farther into Canada. That said, some rain is likely, and high temperatures will be at least in the low 40s, and may reach the 50s in southern parts of the region. Morning rain on Thursday will change to afternoon snow. A few inches accumulation is possible. Early highs in the 30s will fall through the 20s by afternoon, and overnight lows will be in the teens and low 20s, so everything will freeze up.

Friday will start off with some sunshine, then another, weaker system could bring a light rain/snow mix late in the day and overnight. A few inches of snow can’t be ruled out. A return to more seasonable temperatures will happen over the weekend with highs mainly in the mid-30s and lows in the teens and 20s. There’s the chance for snow showers both days, but significant weather isn’t expected.

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Vermont

20th Annual Vermont Composting Summit kicks off on March 25

Published

15 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

20th Annual Vermont Composting Summit kicks off on March 25

MONTPELIER — The 20th annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) will be held on Wednesday, March 25, at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub. It is organized by the Composting Association of Vermont (CAV) and the Agency of Natural Resources.

VORS brings together composters, farmers, businesses, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to advance solutions to keep clean organic materials out of landfills and return nutrients to Vermont soils. Additional workshops, tours, and hands-on learning opportunities will be held across the state on March 26..

“The 20th annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit is guided by the theme, Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Misty Sinsigalli. “This is a cornerstone gathering for Vermont’s growing organics recycling ecosystem. Whether you’re a backyard composter, a farmer, a municipal leader, or a sustainability advocate, VORS provides a critical forum for cross-sector collaboration.”

A highlight of this milestone year will be the keynote presentation from Jayne Merner. Merner is a lifelong compost practitioner and co-owner / operator of Earth Care Farm in Rhode Island. She grew up working in compost production and now leads one of the region’s best-known large-scale compost operations. Merner also hosts The Composter podcast and has taught composting and soil stewardship around the world.

Each year, VORS fosters connections, sparks innovation, and helps translate policy and research into real-world action. The summit welcomes all who are passionate about creating healthier communities through composting.

CAV is partnering with ORCA Media to record sessions for post-event viewing.

To learn more and register for VORS, visit compostingvermont.org/vors-2026.

The Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for protecting Vermont’s natural resources and safeguarding human health for the benefit of this and future generations. Visit dec.vermont.gov and follow the Department of Environmental Conservation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Vermont

Vermont National Guard holds change of command ceremony

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Vermont National Guard holds change of command ceremony

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The Vermont National Guard held a change of command ceremony Saturday, with a new adjutant general taking the helm.

The passing of the state’s colors marked the transfer of authority. The flag used was the Green Mountain Boys flag, which has flown around the world.

Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight stepped down after seven years leading the Vermont National Guard. Incoming Adjutant General Harder, who previously served as deputy adjutant general, has 36 years of service across multiple roles within the organization.

At the ceremony, Knight reflected on the periods when the National Guard was deployed, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 floods and current overseas deployments with soldiers in Iran.

“Our duty is to hand both the uniform and the mission forward in better condition than when we received it,” Knight said. “The mantle of leadership doesn’t belong to us. We borrow it for a time and our responsibility is to leave it stronger for the next person who wears it.”

Harder said the role carries significant personal meaning.

“Leading this organization is the honor of a lifetime,” Harder said.

Gov. Scott, a Republican, spoke to Harder’s qualifications during the ceremony.

“General Hank Harder’s service to our nation has proven him to be a distinguished leader with the right character and curiosity to continue the work of guiding the guard into the future,” Scott said.

Harder acknowledged Knight’s tenure during the ceremony.

“Your leadership has left the Vermont National Guard stronger, more capable and ready for the future,” Harder said.

160 Vermont soldiers are currently in Germany on a training mission with Ukraine. Several hundred more are deployed in the Middle East.

Harder addressed the deployed service members during the ceremony.

“We are so proud of what they do each and every day and we’re supporting them from afar and we know what it’s like and we look forward to them completing their mission and coming home,” Harder said.

Harder said the guard has no control over what happens once troops are overseas but is actively providing support to service members’ families in Vermont.

The ceremony was attended by Gov. Phil Scott, members of the military and family members.

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