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==History== Originally a part of the town of [[Fairlee, Vermont|Fairlee]], West Fairlee separated in 1797. The town was first settled by [[Nathaniel Niles (politician)|Nathaniel Niles]] that same year. The town remained predominantly agricultural until copper was discovered in nearby [[Vershire]] in 1813. With the opening of the Ely Copper Mine in 1821 the town rapidly began to grow. The mine became the site of Vermont's largest labor revolt, dubbed the 'Ely War,' in 1883. Unable to remain financially solvent the mine was sold to [[George Westinghouse]]. Combined with a fire that destroyed much of the town in 1910 and the mine's closure in 1920, West Fairlee's economy suffered immensely. Today the town is largely a bedroom community. Samuel Graves originally established his brass and woodwind instrument company [[Boston Musical Instrument Company | Graves & Co.]] here in 1824. During the Civil War, 98 residents served, or 11% of the townβs population. Among them was Medal of Honor recipient General [[Stephen Thomas (Medal of Honor)|Stephen Thomas]]. The town also sent men from Company A of the [[15th Vermont Infantry Regiment]], which was organized in West Fairlee in 1862. West Fairlee was the summer residence of Nobel-winning economist [[Milton Friedman]], which he named "Capitaf."{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} It was here that he and his wife, [[Rose Friedman]] wrote the 1980 bestselling book, ''[[Free to Choose]]''. Portions of the 1983 film ''[[The Survivors (1983 film)|The Survivors]]'', starring Walter Mathau and Robin Williams was filmed in West Fairlee. [[File:West Fairlee Village.jpg|thumb]]
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