Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-06-24
SONS AND DAUGHTERS RETURNING
Homes In Picturesque Dover-seenery
Reminds one Of Switzerland.

turesque localities i'm southern Vermont.
the town of Dover, Il miles from Brattle-
boro up the West river valley is seeing
a return of its sons and daughters to the
family homesteads and the incursion of
others who find in its high hills a sum
mer residence to their liking. The range
Of hills that separates East Dover from
West Dover is the highest between the
Green mountain range and the Connect
cut river suitable for dwelling purposes
This range runs north and south, and at
its top was formerly located the centre
Of the town, where there was meeting
house and number Of dwellings. These
were located on an Old road, now aban-
doned that ran from the East village
to the western settlement over the Burt
Howard hill. a number Of years ago
the location OF the road was changed con-
siderably to the south, and at the mid
die town" there is now fine old meet
ing-house and a cemetery, a large pub
lie square Of common and number
OF dwellings Running at right angles to
| this road is one on the crest Of the ridge
| OF hills, running very near the summit
! and extending north and south from
| Marlboro to Wardsboro. 1t is maintained
! by the town as far as the old Burt How
| ard place at the corner Of the old high
| way leading to West Dover, but beyond
! there has been abandoned II Is along
| this road that summer residents have
| begun the makings OF a colony.
! one OF the first sons OF Dover to re-
| turn and make a summer home on the
! hills of his native town was Albert S
| Howe OF Springfield, whose parents were
! for many years residents Of Dover. Mr.
| Howe a few years ago bought the Knapp
/ homestead. located between the middle
| town and the highest point on the ridge.
| The Knapp house was built Of hewn tim
| beers, large and substantial. after the
! style Of the early settlers Mr. Howe
nod -1a4vr
in, and the house put in good repair, and
! has since been occupying IL during the
| summer with his family Soon after Mr.
| Howe's return Rev. Flint NJ Bissell. for
! merry the pastor OF St. Pauls Universal
| list church here bought the Warren Hig-
! ley place and rebuilt the house He also
| bought the Luke HiGley place adjoining
| to the south. and carries on both a. one
I farm. his farmer living on the Luke
! Higley place. These places are to the
south OF the Howe place. He has all
| told 80 or 60 acres. much Of il grow
ing up to spruce, In which he considers
his investment is drawing better than
savings bank interest. Mr. Bissell first
went TO Dover 20 spend only his summers
during his passionate In Springfield. but
he liked the outdoor life on the hills so
much that he gave up the ministry to
become "A farmer. and now spends his
time the year round on his place He
has large and fine residence Another
! Springfield man who veutured into this
region is Frank +. Wheeler He has
built bungalow near Mr.. BisSell's house
that IS in copse OF spruce on an ele-
walton comma ndinE a sweeping view TO
the south east and west
An old schOolhouse which was ahan-
doned has been made over into a dwell
ing and is used as a summer home bv
Oscar +. Drury OF Providence r. l.. who
was born in Dover He has made an
. a ira - Mo
Gated just north OF Mr. Howe's North
| OF Mr. Drury's Is house built by Mrs
Dana Boyd, whose husband was a grand
son Of Burt Howard She has since
died and the place is now occupied by
! her daughter. Mrs Harry Turner ~
brooklyn. y. Y. on the saddle Of the
hill on the south side OF the road lead
ing to West Dover. is the remains of the
old DR.. Esterbrook place. The location
Is one OF the prettiest on the range
Nothing is left OF the old place but the
cellar. This tract has been bought bv
Mr.. Fhnt, curator Of the geological mu-
scum AT Harvard university. He spent
some time there last season. and is plan
nlng TO build a stone house there this
summer. The old Burt Howard property
which Is to the north Of the common. %
! has been bought by Clifton L, Sberna n
managing editor OF the Hartford Courant
VINO Is making repairs on the house and
expects 70 occupy II this summer Mr.
Sherman's ancestors lived in Dover and
he was born there
The view from this range OF hills. ex.
tending from the Burt Howard plar,
: down 10 Mr. Rissell's is unexceued Tt
the north can be seen Kearsarge, and or
? clear day Mt Washington. To n,
east Monadnock looms UP I'm all II,
o. majesty and 10 the west Haystack anC
Efeylock Of the Green mountain rang,
. 1 overtop the Intervening hills Accorilnl
! m a Of h- ~v.fk
lcaI survey. the altitude Of Fairview. Mr.
Howes place, is Zoo feet. the Ester
brook place 2l50 feet and the Boyd plac,
g -5p feet The eastern view takes ~
Ascutney. WachuSett and large mum
Der OF other peaks The country 10 m,
\ east slopes abruptly, so that the ian,
. lying below seems TO be IN a hav. III,
farms dotting the basin. and with III,
| Ndricolored foliage, crops and dwellings :
b picture is presented that is Of extraordi
nary variety and charm The distan
y View extends for 90 miles or more as IA
a as the eye can reach halfway around tn,
horizon, from north TO south by the wa,
. OF the east. The air and sun are adora
: BILE, while the soil is fertile. Ii is doubt
- ful II anywhere in the state farms ar
cultivated that are at such an altitude
?, This range Of hills is the watershe,
K which divides the flow Of streams wa
ter on the eastern flank flowing into Roc
5 river, thence into the West, and inaIl
8 into the Connecticut. while brooks tina
o rise on the western slope flow into tn
Deerield river. Rock river, in its up
4 per reaches, Hunter brook. Cooper broo
e and a number OF other streams provid
y very good trout fishing while the wa ter
g falls of Rock river, as it tumbles throug
z the gorges between the hills are mos
picturesque. Ray pond, called by som
e who like to tamper with old-fashione
n names, Raponda, Is only two or thre
r; miles away, and is one OF the charmin
e small lakes in the foothills of the Gree
/: mountains, 1t contains an abundance q
d bass, perch and piCkerel. The "summe
e visitor the transient, has not yet al
e rived in Dover, and there are no hotel
r. to accommodate him. The town Is eigf
"a miles from the railroad by way of Wi
n Evansville, the distance being covered b
"a stage, and six miles by way of Whining
n ton. Views from the narrow gauge roa,
" that zigzags up from HoOsac tunnel {
Wilmington, reminds one strongly of Swit
= Zerland. Both the steam roads that lea
~ part way up into the hills by way of III
- valleys afford glmpses of scenery RAJ
a and beautiful, and when the summit
4 the hills, six miles beyond the railroa
~ limit, is reached, a panorama is unfolde
is of the hill valley that fulhls all expect;
"a tons. The comparative remoteness al
20 lack of accessi bility have hitherto prett
y well kept outlandeTs from these hill farm
- but their charm in summer Is leading
- | a closer inspection and acquaintanceShi