Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-08-21
UP AND DOWN VERMONT.

The following is an extract from
long article in recent Vermonter
written by Mortimer Proctor. This
extract will interest Monitor reader
because he speaks of a section
Vermont familiar to all.
About shutdown we reached Hard
wick where we took the opportunity of
glancing briefly about the Woodbury.
Granite Company's lplant. At Hard
wick, we were told that without doubt
the best road to Lyndonvlle was via
st. Johnsbury. In fact we were
warned not to risk the road over South
Wheelock mountain. Feeling, how
ever, that the latter route would
afford finer scenery at the expense,
perhaps, of good road. we decided to
risk it. When we reached Lyndonville
we were glad we had 40 decided. AS
warning to other tourists, let me
say, in passing. that from west to
east ia far the better way to cross the
mountain. The hill on the east side
would be perhaps the steepest and
most difficult to climb we had found
anywhere about the state. We had no
difficulty of any consequence. and
were richly rewarded in the variety
of mountain views. On a hill over
looking the town of Lyndonville is the
village can justly be proud of three
possessions in particular. These are :
Firstly. the museum, in which one
might very proftably spend a day at
least; secondly, the Scale Works.
which we had the pleasure of visit
ing: and thirdly, the vista down the
main street on which the museum is
located. The exceptionally broad
hx, crso~ ay>1o
affords view which few villages ir
the state can equal.
From st. Johnsbury we went north
to East Burke and East Haven, the
latter being the only town we visited
in Essex county. Our next tour will
include more of this county. Evening
was then fast approaching. Before
nightfall, however, we were to see
what we have since thought was
probably the most beautiful scene OF
our whole trip, WilIoughby lake
Every Vermonter at least should visit
that spot. From the south, the ap
exceptionally beautiful residence anc
farm of MIR. Theodore N. Vail. Or
top of another hill directly across
the narrow valley is the equally at
tractive residence and farm of E. A
Darling. Days mileage, Ill.
The next morning we were yer!
kindly given the opportunity of seeing
the Lyndon Institute, an organiz "a tiof
controlled by Mr.. Vail. One of Yer
mont's greatest needs would certainly
seem to be here provided for. The in
stitute, in short, gives the boys
thorough training in practical inten
sive faring. Every form of work ap
plicable to a farm is here actual.
performed by the boys. A certain
amount of class room study accom-
panies the practical application. The
fact that in its second year the in
stitute doubled its membership in
dictates somewhat it's success at tn
very start. From Lyndonville, W
= went down to ST. Johnsbury. Tha
= proach is through the woods for som
5 miles. Between the trees one sud
l denly catches a glimpse of two hug
Q cliffs facing each other. Coming 500
{ to the top of the hill, the view of tn
lake nesting between those tw
: gigantic sentinels is obtained. TIL
road soon drops to the level of tn
lake at it's southernmost point. TIL
view from here is really sublime
Far up beyond the rocky cliffs, tn
lake seems to wind among the mour
O tains until it becomes finally absorbe
q in the distant haze. Rich fertil
: farms reach down to the waters edg
, in-some places, while other parts ar
fringed by the reflection of frs an
hirches which cover the entire moun
# tain side. Along the eastern shor
winds narrow roadway. On tn
g western side of the road. me,
. fringe of white birches separates
! from the water. while on the othe
:. side rocky cliff rises abruptly frol
the roadside. We had intended t
pass on to Newport but could not r,
sist the temptation of ride throug
the birches along the lake at dawr
SO we spent the night in hotel {
= the north end of the lake. While thi
\ hotel affords very comfortable &C
concentrations, we felt that large
and more up-to-date one would b
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