Local author Elizabeth (Liz) Gauffreau has launched a compelling new book, “The Weight of Snow and Regret,” which tells the story of the closure of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968. Poor farms were publicly funded farms established by local governments to provide shelter and support for the indigent, elderly, and disabled. Common from the 1850s to the early 1900s, these institutions were intended to be self-sustaining through residents’ labor.
This new novel is a character-driven work that demonstrates through immersive storytelling that everyone has a story, and everyone’s story is important, regardless of their circumstances. Told with compassion and humor, “The Weight of Snow and Regret” tells the poignant tale of what it means to care for others in a rapidly changing world.
“I wanted to honor the residents who had lived, worked, and died at the Sheldon Poor Farm by creating characters people would care about and remember,” Gauffreau said. “‘The Weight of Snow and Regret’ envisions the lives of the indigent, infirm, elderly, and disabled residents who couldn’t live on their own and support themselves before the government shut the facility down and separated these residents forever.”
Gauffreau, an award-winning fiction writer and sometime poet, lives in Nottingham, NH, and grew up in Enosburg Falls, VT. She holds a BA in English/Writing from Old Dominion University and an MA in Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire. Her professional background is in non-traditional higher education teaching, advising, and administration.
“The inspiration for this book came from an online writers’ group,” Gauffreau said. “I connected with another writer originally from Vermont, who had written an article about the Shelton Poor Farm for Vermont Life Magazine. I grew up only seven miles from the poor farm, yet I didn’t know a thing about it. When I started doing research, the images of the poor farm and the articles about it in the local newspapers drew me in. It was such a compelling story but there was little, if any, fiction written about it, so I decided to write ‘The Weight of Snow and Regret’ to bring awareness to the lived experience of the poor farm’s residents at various stages in its history.”
“The Weight of Snow and Regret” is available now, and the audiobook will launch in January 2026. “The Weight of Snow and Regret” will make a great holiday gift for historical fiction lovers, social justice advocates, and anyone who appreciates compelling stories about the New England area. For more information or to purchase the book, please visit https://paulstreampress.com.
