Bradford, Vt. (InvestigateTV) — Time, of course, stops for no one. Every passing moment becomes history, a collection of stories that, if not carefully preserved, can fade into the quiet hum of the past. But in the small town of Bradford, Vermont, one man has made it his life’s work to ensure that no moment is truly lost.
At 82 years old, Larry Coffin, a retired history teacher, is the town’s unofficial historian, its curator, and its most dedicated storyteller.
From his home, surrounded by the quiet comfort of 57 years of marriage to his wife, Carolyn, Larry taps away at his keyboard. With a pad and pencil by his side, he meticulously crafts his next story.
“I’m working on an article on the history of veterinary medicine in the area,” he says, explaining that the 2,000-word piece will run in the local paper and on his blog. When asked why he dedicates so much time to this work, his answer is simple and humble. “Well, it keeps my brain active.”
But his wife sees it as something more, a continuation of a lifelong calling. “To me, it’s like he’s still teaching,” Carolyn says with a knowing smile.
Larry’s connection to Bradford’s history is deeply personal, and nowhere is that more evident than at the old Bradford Academy. The historic building, which now houses the town offices, was once his professional home.
“Well, this was my first classroom,” he says, standing in a room now used for town business. “I came here in the fall of ’64. Fresh from Plymouth State College. I was very wet behind the ears.”
He taught at the academy until it closed in 1971, then continued his 42-year career at the new Oxbow High School just up the road. The old academy, he says, is like a second home. It’s also where his role in the community expanded beyond the classroom. For 40 years, Larry served as the town meeting moderator, a position that requires a steady hand and a fair mind.
“Listen to the word ‘moderation.’ It’s part of the word ‘moderator,’” he explains. “I think people trusted me. I tried to be fair.”
That trust is the foundation of his legacy in Bradford. On the third floor of that same historic building, history fills the rooms of the Bradford Historical Society. And not surprisingly, Larry Coffin is its curator. For 14 years, he has carefully preserved the artifacts and stories that define his town.
The society’s crown jewel is a terrestrial globe, crafted in 1810. It is a remarkable piece, not just for its age, but for its creator.
“This is the first U.S. globe,” Larry explains. It was made by James Wilson, a local Bradford farmer and blacksmith. “He was not a worldly man. Essentially, he was an uneducated person who did a great job. He made Bradford proud.”
The story of James Wilson, the unassuming farmer who made a world-class contribution, resonates deeply with the spirit of Bradford—a spirit that Larry Coffin embodies today. He is a man who, through quiet dedication and a profound love for his community, has become an institution.
“You seem to be the caretaker for Bradford’s history,” an observer notes.
Larry pauses for a moment, then nods in agreement. “Well, I think in many ways that’s right.”
He is a man passionate about the past, keeping it very much alive in the present.
In a world that moves faster every day, Larry Coffin is a steady hand, a trusted voice, and the living, breathing caretaker of a town’s precious history.