SWANTON IS HOME TO SWANS, ONCE AGAIN
By Ruthie Laroche
Friday was a day of celebration for the residents of Swanton, braving the rain and the possibility of thunder, a crowd of people gathered to welcome two mute swans to the town park.
Sam and Betty, the names traditionally given to each pair of swans that reside in the park, were officially released into their new home around 6:00 on Friday evening.
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Sam and Betty will enjoy the Village Green Park in Swanton from May through September. During the months of October to May they will spend the winter with a flock of laying hens on the campus of Missisquoi Valley Union High School.
A building that was used by the 4-H Foundation for The Franklin County Field Days, was donated to the high school to house the swans. The plans to divide the building to separate the hens and the swans are in place, and thanks to the size of the building, it will easily house the 17 hens and two swans.
James Messier, who has taught at Missisquoi Valley Union High School for 51 years and founded the Agricultural Sciences and Technology Department, was on site to enjoy the arrival of the swans. This winter his students will have care of the pride and joy of Swanton.
“The kids know all about it. I talked with them before we made a decision as to whether or not it was something they would want to do. So, the kids were involved from the very first day. We wouldn’t be doing it if the kids weren’t behind it,” said Messier, noting that the students will have a hand in the daily care of the swans.
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The high school students aren’t the only ones who are happy to welcome the swans. Young Lochlan Bertrand of Highgate and his mom Nioka Bertrand came out to the park for the celebration. The family sold their home in Swanton last summer, but Swanton was home prior to the move.
“We will definitely be back to visit the swans throughout the summer. Lochlan will ask every day,” said Nioka, “He knew that there was a big surprise happening today at 6:00, but we didn’t tell him until we got here. When he found out about the swans, he was pretty excited!”
The swans of Swanton remained a fixture in the town until 2015, and after a year’s worth of work with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department the town was able to obtain the necessary permits and see to the settling of two birds in the park.
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Mute Swans are not native to the state, so special precautions must be taken to guarantee that the birds will remain captive and not be allowed to escape or to breed.
Swanton’s diligent effort to prove their ability to meet the state requirements and to acquaint the state with the long-standing tradition of mute swans in the town of Swanton made way for the acquisition of the mute swans.
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Ron Kilburn, one of the driving forces in the swan project and a man deeply versed in the history of the town of Swanton, was present at the release of the swans on Friday evening.
Swanton has a long history with swans, beginning in 1961 when the first mated pair arrived as a gift from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth of England. The swans named Sam for Uncle Sam, and Betty, after Queen Elizabeth, arrived in Swanton on July 29, 1961.
“Jerry Lamphere, who has since passed, came up with an idea trying to forge a partnership between Swanton, Vermont, and England. The part of England that was selected was a place called Norfolk Naturalist Trust of Hickling Broad, Norfolk, England, which includes the village of Swanton Abbot,” said Kilburn, displaying a black and white photo of Lamphere feeding the first pair in 1961.
The official charter that proclaimed the gift of the swans to the town of Swanton states that “The Swanton Chamber of Commerce, which plans the Summer Festival, hopes that the swans will serve as an example to all who pass of the international friendship which exists between Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.”
“There have been a lot of things that have transitioned over time that have involved the swans, but they’ve had a major part in our history,” said Kilburn.
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Over the years many additions have been made to the swan area, including an enlarged pond, a new fence, and a new swan house. The renovated swan house is built to match the Swanton Library, complete with white columns and a ‘hip’ roof.
Kilburn pointed out that although the swans are a lovely addition to the town, the town itself is not actually named after the graceful birds.
Captain William Swanton is the man the town was named after when it was established in 1763. Captain Swanton served as an officer in the British Army and visited the area during the French and Indian War.
The new Sam and Betty, a two-year-old pair, received much appreciation and adoration as they swam gracefully in the clear waters of their pond. Mark Rocheleau, vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce in Swanton, expressed his relief that the work of obtaining the swans had come to an end.
“This year, early spring, it really took off. We need the swans for the importance of who we are and our identity, and the tourism plays a big role in them being here, believe it or not. There are a lot of people who stop to see them,” said Rocheleau.
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“We’ve been having conversations with all the parties to get the right plan in place. We got the high school involved, so that’s a big role in the winterization of the swans. We got the agricultural program involved, and the kids are really excited to be part of that. It gets the kids involved in the community in another aspect,” said Rocheleau.
Joyce Bombardier, the treasurer for the Swanton Chamber of Commerce, was in attendance at the swan release. She was in Swanton when the original Sam and Betty made their debut in the park.
“It’s so exciting to have the swans back in the pond again. It’s great to see them here,” said Bombardier.
Mute swans can live for twenty to twenty-five years, so it is the hope of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Swanton that Sam and Betty are here to stay.
Suzanne Washburn, President of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce and another member of the town who has worked tirelessly to see the birds restored said, “Our little birds are going to be our own now!”
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