Whitingham
by Becky Cardon Smith

Whitingham, with a population close to 1,300, is a quaint village located near Sadawga Lake in southern Vermont, just a few miles north of the Massachusetts border. It was originally called Sadawga Springs, a name probably taken from the Mohawk word meaning “swift water.” In 1770, Colonel Whiting and six other British soldiers were given the grant of a township as a reward for their loyalty in the King’s service. They named this 36 square mile township Whitingham. Once considered a summer resort, Brigham Young was born in this small village on June 1, 1801.

John Young, his wife Abigail, and their eight children moved to this area in January 1801. Though John’s family originated from Massachusetts, he joined in the land rush to this undeveloped territory. He began farming after purchasing 51 acres of land from his brother-in-law for $100.00. His ninth child was born just five months later. They named him Brigham after one of his great-grandparents. 

PLANNING YOUR TIME

This is a nice rest stop after driving south from Sharon, Vermont and before continuing west to Harmony, Pennsylvania or Palmyra, New York. Allow 30 minutes or more to visit the monument, see the birth site marker, view the lake, and stop at the Whitingham Historical Society Museum. Learning more about Brigham Young at his birth site is a wonderful opportunity.

SITES TO SEE

• Road Sign Indicating the Birthplace of Brigham Young/Whitingham Village Center – On the east side of the road, at the intersection of Highway 100 and Stimpson Hill Road, is a sign commemorating Brigham’s birth. Also at this intersection are a church and the local country store (which carries Ben and Jerry’s ice cream). Though they are old, neither existed during the time the Young family resided here. The road sign, church, store, museum, and birth site marker are all located on what was once the 51 acres owned by John Young.

• Whitingham Historical Society Museum – Houses exhibits and artifacts of local history including a small display about Brigham Young (notice a pair of eyeglasses and a lock of his hair). Open Sundays only, 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., Memorial Day through mid-October. The museum is located in the second building on your left after you turn onto Stimpson Hill Road.

• Birth Site Marker – A small marker reading, “Brigham Young, born on this spot 1801, a man of much courage and superb equipment” was placed here sometime before 1900. Though the exact spot of the John Young cabin is not known, this spot is within the boundaries of the 51 acres that he owned. To see the marker, turn on Stimpson Hill Road and go 0.2 miles. The marker will be in front of a home on your right. (Look for it in front of some evergreens.) Continue just a little further up the hill (also known as Brigham Young Hill) for a beautiful view of Lake Whitingham, also known as the Harriman Reservoir. Over 8 miles long, it is the largest lake entirely within the state of Vermont.

• Brigham Young Monument – President George Albert Smith dedicated this 12-foot high granite monument on May 28, 1950. Erected by Brigham’s descendants and the Church, it honors the man who was a leader, colonizer, and statesman.  The monument is located just off Highway 100 on Town Hill Common (original site of Whitingham Village). It stands at the back of a ballpark (behind centerfield) and across the street from a small memorial park with a pavilion and grassy area. To locate the monument, continue about 1½ miles southeast from the country store on Highway 100. Shortly after passing the tip of Sadawaga Lake, turn right onto Town Hill Road. The monument and ballpark will be on your right.  

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