Apple Pie Festival HISTORY

Cabot Historical Society hosts one annual fund raiser, the Apple Pie Festival, each October. This began in 2000. Membership was low; funds dwindling. Member and benefactor Richard Spaulding generously offered to provide the Main Street Museum building with an alarm system. This meant the building would have electricity for the first time.

This was appealing, but there were drawbacks. Some members thought electrification would destroy the first village school's historical integrity; they opposed it. Yet, clearly our society must grow and protect collections and artifacts. Donors need assurance that artifacts they loan or donate are safe. Electrification would be a step forward, but would add monthly expense. Some members feared electric bills were too costly.

Then-President Amanda Legare asked members to suggest ways to earn money. Several women met and brainstormed, at the home of member Erma Perry. The idea of an Apple Festival was born.

The initial event was in the Main Street Museum on October 14, 2000. It had a display of antique apples, many apple-related items, a craft fair, activities for children, and dozens of pies entered in the contest. Judges included two students from New England Culinary Institute in Essex Junction, Vt. They were Fawn Wells of Cabot and Jon Martin of Snellville, Georgia. Two Cabot residents, Harry Thompson and Larry Gochey, completed the judging panel.

For more space, the event, renamed the “Apple Pie Festival,” was moved to the United Church of Cabot vestry, next door to the Main Street Museum. With more pies and more categories, there were more judges and more prizes. The new location was successful. More apple pies and desserts were entered in the contests than expected. A feature article in Yankee Magazine, generated interest and attracted more people to Cabot for the event. Even more space would be necessary in the future.

The Apple Pie Festival's final move was to the Cabot School gymnasium. There was ample space for vendors, contestants, judges, entertainment and displays. The Apple Pie Festival became Cabot Historical Society’s primary fund raising event, on the Saturday following Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples' Day), and we kept the lights on in the old I.O.G.T. building.

To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.

To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.

To northerners, a Yankee is an Easterner.

To easterners, a Yankee is an New Englander.

To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.

And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast.

- E.B White