Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-10-09
AN AUTUMN DRIVE IN VERMONT.


The beauties of West Randolph de-
tanned us this morning until 9 o'clock, at
which hour the four in hand stood at the
door Of the inn ready to start for the
days drive. This we decided should be
to Bradford on the Connecticut River,
stopping at Chelsea for dinner.
The route chosen is almost directly
east from Bread Loaf. In this part of
the State, as indeed in nearly all Of
Eastern Vermont, it is impossible to go
east and west roads without constantly
meeting hills of the most pronounced
character. Thus today the beginning
of our trip was by long ascent about
four miles to Randolph Centre. But
though all these east and west roads are
billy they are mostly smooth and of ex-
celleut quality.
The town of Randolph has long been
noted as one of the best farming towns
in the State. 1t is in truth beautiful
pastoral country as we pass over it
from West to East Randolph. But the
marvellous grandeur OF the views from
| Randolph Centre we had entirely for
gotten. These cover very large ex-
tent of country, and can hardly be ex.
celled in beauty or interest by those
seen from any village in Vermont. or
elsewhere. They extend on every side
from the high land on which the Centre
is built.
The long wide street of Randolph
Centre with its old time buildings is in
itself very interesting though not show
ing the thrift one would wish to see.
We could not but feel that there was
no finer site in Vermont for summer
guests. The place should be filled with
them every summer, but of course in
order to be it must have the accommodate
tions. Unfortunately its quite large and
very comfortable hotel was burned sew
eral years ago. together with its normal
school. The last has been rebuilt. but
the first only in part, that is with much
smaller house.
Leaving the Centre we descended
towards East Randolph. at first by a
moderate decline, and later more abrupt
ly to the valley in which East Randolph
lies. From the Centre to East Randolph
is four miles. Turning at East Randolph
again 10 the east the road ascended for
three miles, the first part of the way by
a narrow and the last by wider valley.
to the summit of this range of hills.
probably 1000 feet above the sea. Here
opened another extensive view of the
State to the south and west Passing
the summit six miles further brought us
to Chelsea, the county seat of Orange
county. We reached here at % minutes
past , and left at ,.
The ascent from Chelsea to the East
continued for four miles but was more
moderate than the others had been. Then
followed ten miles mostly descending
among the hills of Vershire, which are
nearly all handsomely rounded and more
or less covered with large second growth
woods of maple. Along the route, too,
remarkable for their very healthy and
beautiful appearance. In this descent
we came to Waite River, and might have
followed it all the way to Bradford, Is
ford were tempted across bridge to a
shorter route over the hills. The after
noon was clouded, and the hour late. but
when we reached the height of land and
began to descend, the mountains of New
Hampshire arose before us apparently
higher and more massive than any we had
had yet seen, and coming down very clost
to the Connecticut River. Continuing
the descent we came to the Waite River
road, crossed IA covered bridge, and en-.
tered the long street upon which Brad
ford is built. This street was both de,
scendng and irregular. At its foot wt
found the hotel, a large wooden build
ing built several years since at an eX-
pense of $1,000. 1t affords us very
good accommodations for the night
Bradford is quite well.built village and
has the usual life and activity of rail
road town.
SILVER LAKE HOUSE, BARNARD, !
Oct. !. 1886.
This is one of the few really first elias;
hotels in Vermont and the only one thai
we strike on this trip. The trouble witt
nearly all is in the keeping. Building,
would be good enough, and the furnish
ing might be, but almost all of then
fail in the quality of neatness, and, as
would naturally follow, do not excel ir
the cuisine. There is in short a deplora
bic lack of good housekeeping. Wheth
err this condition extends into private
homes we do not know. We do know
that it is very rare that homemade but
ter can be secured in that part of thf
State in which we live which will be ac