480 Main Street, Orwell VT
Saturday, September 26th, 2026
Limited Spots Available – Register Now!
To ensure a high-quality experience for all participants, we are capping registration for The Silver Heist & Little Bandits Bolt at 150 runners. Once we hit our limit, registration will close—so don’t wait to sign up! Secure your spot today and join us for this exciting race through history.
We'll see you on September 26, 2026 in Orwell Vermont!
An event to support the Orwell Village School Booster Club and Orwell Historical Museum!
Endorsed by NE65Plus.org – Supporting healthy, active lifestyles for all ages!
Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K
A historic town, a daring heist, and a race for silver—lace up and step into the Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K! Orwell, Vermont, was chartered in 1763 and has a rich history filled with resilience and community spirit. Among its earliest settlers was Deacon Ebenezer (Eber) Murray, who arrived in 1783. Known as the only man in town with a clock, Eber would blow a conch shell at 9 p.m. every evening to signal the time for evening prayers. In tribute to this tradition, the Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K will begin with the blast of a conch shell.
Our town is no stranger to bandit heists. In October 1862, just before the town fair, outlaws swept through Orwell, robbing several homes. Among those affected was Marcellus Royce, who lost $30 in silver to the thieves. The following year, in 1863, the First National Bank of Orwell was chartered, making it the oldest national bank in New England.Over its 162 years of dedicated service, the local Young family has managed it including the 5th generation and current bank manager, Bryan Young.
Decades after the town’s first brush with crime, bandits returned—this time setting their sights on the bank itself. In 1902, they attempted to dynamite the safe but failed. However, they did manage to steal safety deposit boxes, among them a ring belonging to Mrs. Josiah Wilcox (Myrtie P. Brooks). After fleeing town, the thieves camped at the county line, leaving behind the scattered contents of their stolen loot. It was Mabel Young (né Wells), the great grandmother of the current bank manager, who identified the stolen ring.
To honor Orwell's storied past, participants will collect a wooden token resembling Mrs. Myrtie Wilcox's ring at the bandits' camp, located at the race's halfway point before dashing south on scenic North Orwell Road. The race will finish at the town green, where runners will be greeted by cheers from friends, family, and local history enthusiasts.
The winners will claim $30 worth of silver—the very same amount stolen from Marcellus Royce in 1862! Whether you’re a seasoned runner or prefer a leisurely walk, the Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K welcomes participants of all paces. Step into history, embrace the thrill of the chase, and race through history on a dash for silver!
All in-person participants will take home a custom Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K T-shirt and a wooden token. Don’t miss these exclusive race-day rewards!
Little Bandits Bolt
For the youngest racers, the Little Bandits Bolt offers a pint-sized thrill! Kids will dash across the soccer field at Orwell Village School (OVS), sharing in the spirit of the Silver Heist as they race their way into local history. Every participant will receive a custom Silver Heist Walk/Run 5K T-shirt and a finisher’s token at the finish line—a special memento of the event’s historic theme.
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