Rutland resident Julia Caroline Ripley Dorr was a prolific author whose career lasted into her 80s and spanned the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. Her work ranged from poetry and nonfiction to novels, magazine articles, and travelogues. Nature was a dominant theme in her life and writing, including her poem "Over the Wall," a celebration of the Earth and its joys that evokes Vermont flora and fauna. She was also an early and strong advocate for women's rights and education and a community leader who founded the Rutland Free Library and the Grace Congregational Church's women's cultural group, Fortnightly, which she led for 33 years.