St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-07-23
A Summer Vacation Trip.

Vermont abOundS IN WelI-knOWn
summer resorts. There are also hun
dreds of places not known by many
where inspiring scenery and quiet viii
lagos give just the rest and recreation
louged for and often vainiy sought by
those whose ordinary life is in the
hustle and whirl OF our crazy nineteenth
century.
At the extreme eastern part of the
state one finds, in Guildhall, IA model
resting place. Leaving Lancaster, n.
H.. by the Boston 4 Lowell X. r., Il
ride of fifteen minutes drops one at
Northumberland station. Crossing a
bridge spanning the Connecticut, which
separates Vermont and New Hamp-
shire at this point, by a two minutes
walk one. reaches Guildhall village.
A prettier spot for a cluster of fifty or
seventy five homes cannot be imagin-
ed. Standing on the bridge and look
ing north sight rarely surpassed even
in Vermont scenery lies stretched out
Connecticut flows quietly along, with
scarcely a ripple, and gracefully curves
until lost in the distance. High in air,
grand and stately, are mountain ranges
and peaks. Looking down from one
of these on the little village below, one
can keenly understand what the king
" singer of old meant when He said,
GAS the mountains are round about DE-
rusalem, so the Lord is round about
them that fear Him !" "PilOt range"
stretches away mile after mile, run
ming in a northwesterly and southeast
erly direction. Among the peaks are
Cape Horn,n looking from distance
like that famous point elephants
head" much more perfect than the one
at "Crawford's Notch;" aud at the
north, "Stratford peaks" which look
like huge bald headed giants.
CHANGING out between the southern
piers of the bridge Oh which we stand,
a surprising change in the appearance
of the river greets us. Just under
meath, the smooth placid stream which
Il few rods above us looks like an in
land lake, is rushing roaring river.
These are the Northumberland Falls.
es along at fearful rate, over hidden
rocks which lash it into huge masses
OF foam. Near the bridge the water
falls some ten feet. AS one stands
over it and throws in stick, he shud-
ders to- see how like lightning it is
drawn over the falls. And yet the
loggers who bring their boOms to the
large lumber mills on yOnder bank
skIIfully guide their boats, carrying all
their tools and provisions, over these
rapids every spring. a friend by my
side tells me that he has many times
gone over them i'll his canoe but
these feats are eclipsed by that of
Frenchman who, few weeks ago,
balanced himself on single log, and
successfully shot the falls Another
logger fell of from the drive and the
current was So strong it drew him
toward the rapids, he turned about
and made straight for them, went over,
came up, and dodging rocks, finally
swan TO shore far below and was soon
back to work again. Near Lunenburg,
about dozen miles away, are the
"Fifteen Mile Falls" where for that
distance the Connecticut acts like a
crazy man and in its mad freaks jumps
aud dashes here and there at a marvel
ous rate.
Guildhall was originally settled in
I75l. As early as 1871 church was
organized here. The town now has
about 500 inhabitants. In 1872 there
were more persons living here than at
near by are North Stratford, STRAIT
ford Hollow aud GrOvetOn six miles
away. AT the latter place the Boston
* Lowell railroad connects with the
Grand Trunk, so that direct communi
cation with Montreal or Portland is
easily had. a delightful ride of fifteen
miles brings one to Brunswick, where
mineral springs as fine as any in tie
state are found. These are near to
gether, forming almost perfect semi !
circle. Among the mineral properties |
in the water are arsenic, bromide, cal |
cium, iron, sulphur, etc. A hotel with |
for about seventy
five persons is near by, where the
water can be had hot or cold, for
baths or drink. Returning to Guild |
halt and visiting the mills, one finds |
there the chief industry of the town. |
A large quantity of paper is manufac-
tured In one. At another "A kind sell /
dom found in America--wOoden pegs
for boots and shoes are made This
process is very interesting. The wood
used is green birch. In an outer room
a log is run against circular saw.
Beginning at the butt of the log 1t is
cut off in clean white slices as thick as
he length of the pegs. These blocks
IRE fed into a machine run by steam,
which has knives working ap and
Town, like the needle of sewing ma
,hine. This knife cuts a narrow slit
me way across the half dozen slices of