Taken in May, 1974, this photograph is from the EPA’s DOCUMERICA Program to document subjects of environmental concern in America during the 1970s. The caption reads: "Resident of Roxbury, Vermont, draws off the finished syrup from a homemade evaporator. Instead of working in a sugar house he sets up a makeshift rig in a new spot each year to use fallen timber and loose brush to fire the sawed-off oil drum, 05/1974."

Vermont was admitted as a state On March 4, 1791. This is also close to the start of the traditional maple sugaring season. Shown here is a Vermont dairy farmer collecting sap to make maple syrup. The caption reads: "This dairy farmer near Randolph Center, Vermont, averages about 400 gallons of maple syrup each spring. [...]

Approved by President George Washington on January 13, 1794, this act called for the Flag of the United States to have fifteen stripes and fifteen stars, reflecting the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. Faced with the admission of five more states in 1818, the flag design would return to the original thirteen [...]