Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-06-07
BOOMING WEST RIVER VALLEY.

The West River Valley association has
issued beautiful booklet of 80 pages
entitled THE Call of the Country"
which is illustrated with handsome half
tone cuts. The printing is well done and
the whole effect of the publication is
wonderfully attractive
The general description of the region
says: Bordering a stream which rises
in the mountains of Winhall, Peru,
Landgrove and Weston and flows south
easterly for some 40 miles or more until
1t effects a junction with the Connecti-
cut, Is a country whose picturesque beau
ties are as old as its granite hills, but
whose reputation as pleasure ground
has been confined among comparatively
few-no small proportion of them sons
and daughters of the region-who have
been content each year to enjoy these
manifold attractions with the small cir
Gle of their immediate friends
Yet in spite of their erstwhle OBJ
security these attractions are not beyond
the reach of the city dweller of limited
time and moderate means True, they
are away up in the Vermont hills but
these particular hills happen to be sit
uated in the extreme southeastern cor
ner of the state-within six hours Of New
York city. Nowhere in the Berkshires
can be found the expansive vistas to be
gained from scores of prominences that
erty values are not to be compared with
those that prevail in widely exploited out
ing resorts. The intelligent vacation
seeker, he who has gained what rest and
recreation mean and no longer looks for
them in an environment of artifciality,
will find abundant opportunity for the
gratifcati of his tastes in this portion
of the Green Mountain state"
Descriptions of the various towns in
the valley are given. Brookline is IA
nous for one of the best trout streams
| in southern Vermont. The views from its
mountains include Ascutney, Monadnock,
and the Holyoke range. The water of
mineral spring is bottled and sold all
| over the country. Dover occupies the
high ridge dividing the Connecticut and
| Deerfield river valleys, extending down
| either flank like a pair OF saddlebags.
| The mountain views are remarkably fine.
| On a clear day Mount Washington, Kear-
sage, and Greylock may be seen. Sew
| eral summer places have been established
| in this town Among those who have
| come to this locality are Clifton l.. Sher
man, managing editor of the Hartford
| Courant and Professor Flint, curator of
| the geological museum at Harvard uni
| versty.
Jamaica is famous for it's mountain
| views and good fishing. The town at its
last annual meeting voted to exempt
| from taxation for five years any improve
ments to the value of $3.50 or more made
| on abandoned farms or the expenditure
| of $3.50 or more in the erection of new
buildings on unoccupied or unimproved
| land.
Townshend, a restful old New England
| village, was the home of President Tafts
| grandfather. 1t is situated in the heart
| of the Green Mountains, and Theodore
Robinson, a we'll known American artist,
has said: From an artistic standpoint,
| the grandeur of the scenery about
| Townshend is equalled only by that of
| the Hartz Mountains of Germany"
Newfane, the county seat. contains
many beautiful drives. Londonderry con-
tains Glebe Mountain, Lowell Lake. and
many other scenic attractions. Wind
ham, away up on the roof OF Vermont,
| commands a splendid outlook over great
| stretches of rolling mountains and hills
| Wardsboro, Winhall and Stratton are
mountain towns furnishing variety of
| scenic attractions.
This is an ideal summer tourist region
| Probably it comes nearest to being the
| abandoned farm district Of any region In
Vermont and it needs just the kind of
| exploiting that it is getting. This region
| ought to be as famous and as well pat
| ronized as the Berkshires.
| TIL West River Valley association is
| going about this task in just the right
| way and is conducting the enterprise on
approved business principles. Other por-
| tons Of Vermont will do well to follow
the example. Washington county ought
| to form such an association and If 1t
was really in earnest in desiring summer
| tourist trade it would do so. Vermonters
| as a whole will wish for the West River
valley abundant success. - montpelier
| Journal