The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-14
Green Mountains, scenery.

Green Mountains Scenery.
Our friend j. Milton Stearns. Esq,
whom we mentioned as visiting in town
few weeks ago, writes as follows in
the Brooklyn Daily Times, of his city:
Your readers have heard of the Bread
Loaf Inn. When first heard its name
it was suggestive. was in doubt fthe
name had reference TO the table and SER
vice, or had some other significance? |
had supposed it was plain, diminutive
hoStel'1e, where hunters and fishermen
could get substantial refreshments for a
moderate consideration. But this Inn
derives its name from a spur of green
mountains that rises in the shape of q
loaf of bread two or three miles distant.
1t has grown from small farm house
to dimensions large enough to accommo-
date about one hundred guests. / was
induced by Phillip Battell, ESQ.,, the ia
ther of the proprietor, to visit with him
this noted establishment OH Monday
last. had been for about two days at
the Addison House, in Middlebury, a
very comfortable place, filled at present
with guests from New York and Brook
lyn, who find here a comfortable home
for the summer at reasonable charges.
The influence ofthe college here Qhough
now in vacation) gives refinement and
elevation to the tone of society as found
in the circles of responsibility. The
hills are highly cultivated as you look
towards Lake Champlain, and the Green
Mountains in the distance, with the OF
ter Creek winding its varied course
through the valley and running by cul-
tivated fields or meadows smooth as
lawns; while the eternal falls in the
very heart of the village, send forth a
weird music that found echoes in the
overshadowing woods for a thousand
years before man fixed his impress on
this wild unpeopled land. All these
natural beauties endear Middlebury to
the lovers of romance and poetic life.
And the favor with which it is regarded
as summer retreat is more likely to
increase than diminish.
But | was about to say that my friend
Mr.. Battell appeared at the Addison
House with span of steady but strong
and spirited horses, attached to q gen.
teel and comfortable vehicle, with an
invitation to myself and wife TO visit the
mountains. The interest promised be-
ing so attractive, and the Invitation so
cordial, we conld not resist the tempta.
ton. So we accepted, though we should
be compelled to come to New York two
hundred and sixty miles in a sleeping
car the same night. On our road of five
miles to East Middlcbury, we passed
several farm houses that were noted as
the homes of the original settlers of the
town, and were associated with the early
purpose of making the location the site
of the future village. The denizens OF
these ancient habitations are gone; and
their hopes and purposes subsist only in
tradition.
AT East Middlebury we began tc
climb the mountain by what was once
turnpike leading from Middlebury tc
Hancock, on the east side of the Green
mountains. This turnpike was once
owned by the noted Daniel Chipman
1t is now free road maintained by the
towns through which it passes, and i;
probably in quite as good repair as when
toll was paid at its gates. The road uI
the mountain for about two miles i,
bordered with brushwood and fores
trees, and in several places is an exca.
waited shelf in the steep mountain side
from which we have a romantic view o.
the mountains beyond the deep valley
at our side, or we may peer dowi
through the brushwood, from one tC
five hundred feet, to the bed of thu
mountain streams that seem to run in {
depth almost perpendicular from the
side of our roadway, and so far beneatl
us. But our nerves are quieted by tn,
thick woods that have struck their root
into the steep activity and sent III
trunks and branches straight toward
the zenith, hiding the fearful gulch be
low, and assuring that runaway horses
would be gently caught in the tree tops
with vehicles and passengers, and thu
be saved from a forced descent to tn,
depths of this fearful "canon."
About three miles from the foot o
the mountain, we descended to a sort o
bowl or hollow in the hills, that ha
been cleared up, and improved to cult
vated farms. Here are also found
store, post office and mills OH the noun
tain river and two churches. Her
Daniel Chapman formerly resided, KEEP
a hotel and collected the tolls of hi
turnpike. Here he died, leaving tn
remnants of broken estate to his son
But all that represented him are nov
gone; even his hotel and clubhouse
have been burned, and his name her
lives only in tradition of the useful pur
poses and intents of his public and pri
vate life.
This depression in the mountain
said to have been the bed ofa mountain
lake, whose waters, in time remote, es
capped through the gorge wrought b
| cnnn Hnnd M nfhnp Let 80 ,
ture. Passing this "Ripton Hollow,
so called, we again climb the mountain
the road being bordered by farmsteads
and at the distance of some two and
half miles, come to our destination a
the Bread Loaf Inn.
The Bread Loaf Mountain is in ful
view at the northeast, standing out bold
ly from the great mountain range, an
making an elevation of some twenty-fiv
hundred feet above tide water. w
are now eleven miles from Middlebur
and nine miles from Hancock, the east
ern base of the Green Mountain range
and at an elevation of one thousand t
fifteen hundred feet above Middlebury
and somewhat higher above Hanc ocl
, on the valley of the White River east c
the mountains, judging without accul
ate measurement. This noted inn stand
/, /, on prominence jutting out from tn
/, rim of the old mountain basin. Josep
Battell, the proprietor, is the nephe,
of the late Joseph Battell of Brooklyn
of the iron firm of Eggleston a. Battle
of South street, New York. He is an
has been for several years, the represer
D tatiye of his mountain town in the stat
5 legislature. A bachelor, Of marriage,
s BILE age and eligible condition and pros
A poets, he ought to consider il importai
) that the credit his famous inn is givin
[ TO his town should survive in the con
S ing generation.