Miraculous Picture of the Virgin Mary

pr.1927.303.li, "Pre-1997 Museum" former catalog number 35

Miraculous Picture of Virgin Mary. Framed Lithographic print. Said to be from White River Junction. Before 1927, c.e.

Inscription in wax crayon, dark green, on reverse: “Flood to top wall This picture was in flood a week till water went down” Survived the 1927 Flood with no damage to its finish, colors, or paper support, an example of the power of faith relative to uncontrollable, or horrendous, natural catastrophes.

Bought from a collector in Wells River, Vt. an example of inexpensive prints available commonly for use in the homes of Roman Catholics throughout the region in dry-goods stores and though mail order catalogs. Our copy, however, was used in a drawing room close by the waters of the Connecticut River as they rose to record heights in March of 1927. This was the same disastrous season which brought then President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, to his native State. During a state-wide tour of disaster sites he presented his memorable address at Bennington, beginning, “Vermont is a State I love. I could not look upon the peaks of Pico, Killington, or the Equinox without being moved in way that no other scene could move me...” See: Silt from the 1927 Flood, Minerals.