How a bluegrass festival, a grandmother’s memory, and a determined friend uncovered the real story behind the name “Jenny Brook.”

Jenny Brook has always been more than just the name of our beloved bluegrass festival—it’s a symbol of our roots, a connection to our past, and a mystery passed down through generations.

Our festival began in Weston, Vermont, a town rich in history and storytelling. My grandmother told me the story her mother told her: that Jenny Brook was named after a schoolteacher named Jenny Coolidge, who tragically died after falling into the brook on her way to school on horseback. It sounded like the perfect bluegrass song—that’s why we named the festival Jenny Brook.

Jenny Brook has always been more than just the name of our beloved bluegrass festival—it’s a symbol of our roots, a connection to our past, and a mystery passed down through generations.

Our festival began in Weston, Vermont, a town rich in history and storytelling. My grandmother told me the story her mother told her: that Jenny Brook was named after a schoolteacher named Jenny Coolidge, who tragically died after falling into the brook on her way to school on horseback. It sounded like the perfect bluegrass song—that’s why we named the festival Jenny Brook.

The road sign that kept the mystery alive—Jenny Coolidge Road in Weston, Vermont.

The one-room schoolhouse where Jenny was said to have taught. Though the full truth took time to uncover, this image remained part of our family’s lore for generations.

In the winter of 2023/2024, everything changed. After my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer, her last wish was for the mystery to be solved for me.

Our close friend David Greene took on the search. And like a determined detective with a love for history, he cracked the case.

David discovered Betsey Emeline Jenne Coolidge (1791–1865)—not “Jenny,” but Jenne—a name that had transformed over time through oral history and local signage.

Betsey’s father was Reverend Prince Jenney, the first minister of the first church in Plymouth, Vermont. Her mother and grandmother were both named Lettice, and Emeline, her middle name, was passed down through the family as well.

She later married into the Coolidge family—part of the same extended lineage as our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge.

After David’s discovery, my mother longed to visit Betsey’s grave. We kept putting it off, worried the grave would be hard to find in the snow—unaware it was right near the road. The snow melted, but chemo appointments and festival preparations filled our days, and we never made the trip together.

In August 2024, after a stroke took my mom’s life, David and his brother Sam came to say their final goodbye. On the way home, they visited Plymouth Notch Cemetery and filmed Betsey’s grave and the Coolidge family she married into—so Mom could see it. I’ll forever be grateful.

The final resting place of Betsey Emeline Jenne Coolidge in Plymouth Notch Cemetery—where the truth behind the Jenny Brook name was finally found.

Thanks to my grandmother’s memory, my mother’s last wish, and David’s dedication, the mystery is finally solved.

Betsey Emeline Jenne Coolidge was real—
and her name, her story, and her spirit now live on through the Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival.

We invite you to share this story with fellow fans, bluegrass lovers, and history buffs. Jenny Brook isn’t just a festival—it’s a family legacy that continues to unfold.

In the winter of 2023/2024, everything changed. After my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer, her last wish was for the mystery to be solved for me.

Our close friend David Greene took on the search. And like a determined detective with a love for history, he cracked the case.

David discovered Betsey Emeline Jenne Coolidge (1791–1865)—not “Jenny,” but Jenne—a name that had transformed over time through oral history and local signage.

Betsey’s father was Reverend Prince Jenney, the first minister of the first church in Plymouth, Vermont. Her mother and grandmother were both named Lettice, and Emeline, her middle name, was passed down through the family as well.

She later married into the Coolidge family—part of the same extended lineage as our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge.