Come join the Justin Morgan Celebration on September 7. See the Morgan Historical Marker, enjoy some food and watch the exciting Morgan Horse Trotting Races that are held right on the same road that the Morgan Horse Figure, raced on over 200 years ago.
The Randolph side of Neighbor Road is the location that Justin Morgan and his family had settled. The Brookfield side of the road, is where the marker is located and in that field by the marker is where the Morgan Horse was pastured. The road you stand on is the road the Morgan Horse raced.
Vermont was not a nice place to live in 1788 when Morgan arrived. He did have two brothers and several friends from Massachusetts that had moved earlier but Indians had attacked several towns just two years earlier during the Royalton Raid. Snow was deep in the winter and mud was deep in the spring making travel difficult. Hygiene was poor and manners were worse.
Coming from a civilized city like Springfield Mass. to the undeveloped town of Randolph in the month of March was a challenge. Especially for anyone with a wife and children in a sled pulled by ox one hundred and fifty miles.
When Morgan arrived to Randolph, it is said that the was a fire already going in the fireplace. The cabin was on land that was owned by Henry Walbridge which was land that was on the Randolph side of Neighbor Road and the historical marker is on the Brookfield side of Neighbor road which was owned by Judge Fredrick Griswold and is the field that Morgan turned his horse “Figure” out into when he brought him to Vermont from Massachusetts.
Starting time is 11 AM with trotting races beginning at Noon time sharp. Food will be available! Located on the corner of Neighbor and Snow Roads Brookfield. Find out more here.