Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-07-29
JAMAICA IN THE VALLEY.
Impressions Of a Summer Visitor IN
Windham County.

Jamaica, Town OF Whitman N's
ty in southeastern Vermont is de-
llghtfully situated on both sides oil
the swift flowing West river ana
among the far famed Green mount
aims. The mountains are of moderate
height, some rising gracefully from
the valley below and spreading out
I'm gentle slopes, others are rugged
and precipltous, but all are green ana
forest clad to their very SUBMITS eN-
cept where cleared for tillage or pas
turage. The atmosphere, entirely free
from the chill and dampness so pre-
Valent along the coast, Is cool ana IN
MIGRATING at all times and comes
from the mountain tops laden win
the odor of the pines and hemlochs
and the sweet, life giving ozone Oh
the forests. The chief occupation Oh
the two thousand inhabitants OF ia
maica, like other Vermont towns, IL
agriculture and the dairy, win some
cattle and sheep raising, ana IL u,
withal an intelligent and prosperous
community.
Within the towns of Windham
county there are no very high eleva-
tions, mostly ranging from one thou-
sand to two thousand feet, those with
I'm the town of Jamaica being College
hill, the highest in elevation, so nam
ed because set apart for the upbuild-
ing of the school system under the
colonial laws; Turkey, Bald and Shat
terack mountains. together with nu-
merous hills and hillocks without
special names. The scenery from
Bald mountain, especially In the
morning at the rising OF the sun when
the air is still and usually very clear
is magnificent, and well repayS the
effort required to climb its rugged
sides. Along three sides OF It's base,
following the sinuous course OF the
river and making a gigantic loop. is
the railroad across which lies turkey
mountain in all its wild and rugged
fairness, while farther away rise the
peaks of mountains in the town OF
Windham. Toward the south Is the
Jamaica railroad station and the COW
cred bridge across West river leading |
TO Jamaica village where are schools,
churches. stores. postoffice, town han, /
saw mill and electric light station
grist mill. savings bank. and what 1
was formerly a church. later an OPP
era house, but now used only oceas-
ionally for entertainments ana lect-
ures Below the covered bridge, IN a 1
wide bend of the river is the so-cail-
ed salmon hole, of which more later
yond Keene in New Hampshire may
he seen the bold outlines of majestic
NIonadnock piercing the line of the
sky Bald mountain has upon IT'S
sides three caves one a sink hole, the
others real caYerns. one OF THESE
latter. however, has unfortunately pc
come closed to easy entrance owing
to the action OF the frost and water
during recent winters. Springs OF
the purest water are plentiful; one OF
intense GOODNESS bubblng up from
under a huge boulder and vending us
way down the slope OF the mountain
and through the valley TO the river
below. Hardly a farm house in the
town but has pure spring water con-
Quoted by pipes from these hillside
spriugs into both house and barn.
Hamilton spring and Hamilton fans.
On Shatterack mountain, are away
from the travelled highway but are OF
easy access by foot travel and are
widely visited by tourists, being not
ed not only for their wild and pie
turesque surroundings but for their
own intrinsic beauty and height OF
fall
This region is not entirely without
rs historic ana literary interest. Fort
hummer. the first English settlement
Within the present boundaries of the
state was built in 1874 and l72S, four
years later, party of is soldiers was
sent from this fort on a punitive ex-
1edition against a marauding band
II Indians up the valley OF the West
liver and beyond. The general fer
ilitv Of the soil and the Immense
imber resources of the country at
rarted the attention of the soldiers
ma based on their report the settle
nent Of the country soon followed. |
The soldiers chased the Indians far
enough. as they thought, toward
heir home In Canada and returned
~ the route they went. Arriving AT
he salmon hole in Jamaica, before !
mentioned having exhausted their s
supply of provisions footsore, weary
ma hungry they tarried TO eaten Il
tome fish TO aprease their hunger ana
q rest. suddenly the Indians who had
,esa following them attacked them
rom ambush and killed tive Of their
lumber and wounded four more. The
i've killed now sleep in marked )
raves in a field near the salmon hole 1
ii Jamaica. graves that are humble Z
md largely forgotten but none the
pss worthy Of their need of fame as F,
hose where repose the heroes OF
more noted and extended engage
reuts The wounded soldiers dragged p
themselves off into the forest 10 es
apa the fury of the Indians and I
,robahly died there as their bodies Z
we're never discovered 3rattleboro Is 1
am the natural and the commercial !,
.ateyay TO this region. Here long
ron suspension bridge spans the )
vide Connecticut river, connecting
termont and New Hampshire here i
re manufactures of organs and other 4
Industries and the town Is the central q
,oint of the rich agricultural towns i
or miles around both OF Vermont :
nd New Hampshire Here Rudyard .
<ipling. the poet of British imperial
SIN had his whilom summer resi- $
ence and numerous other summer 5
ZONES attract the wealthy and the Y
ultured. At Brattleboro are taken I
he ears of the Brattleboro White y
all railroad (Leased and operated u
~ the Central Vermont railway
narrow gauge railroad following the
curse of the West river its entire
angth The ride up this valley is e
cry pleasant and will be remem- I
erred while other events may be for \
often. Now the train passes close to n
he river bed, along level. sandy )
tretches and the water of the river
viii be as calm and placid as mill =
,ond with cattle wetting their fet- Il
,cks in its limpid waters or quench- a
ng their thirst with its cooling t
raughts: now around sharp curves h
nd under projecting crags over Q
ridges and trestles at dizzy heights. y
he rocky river bed strewn with gil
antic boulders and the swirling. ed q
wing. splashing waters beneath; now II
ding upgrade and using every a
ound of available steam, now down t.
rade with all steam shut off except Fl
or use on the brakes: winding in and II
ut. following i'm all places the narrow, II
rocked valley of the river with =
Mountains on every hand, before, be- .
ind and on each side with only y