Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley

In 2006, Maggie Mae Anderson’s boyfriend was about to tear down a Bolton Valley house — and build another in its place — when he discovered an old trunk left behind by the previous owner. It’s a good thing he opened it. Inside were dozens of yellowing snowflake images by legendary Vermont photographer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, one of the first people to capture the intricacies of the white stuff on film. The relationship between Bentley, who lived in Jericho until his death in 1931, and the former owner of the house, who died as an old woman in the early 2000s is unclear, Anderson says, but they must have known each other: One photo is signed, “Merry Christmas from the snowflake man.” The photos are for sale at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe through April 1.