Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-22
View Of the mountains, lend enchantment

Continuing down the valley to Proctors-
lille, we there turned up twenty mile |
stream" to where the monument stands !
the encampment of the
British on their march from Fort No.
N. H., to Ticonderoga. Some
Ave or six miles from here, In tho town OF
there Is a monument to com
meinorate the birth of Elizabeth Captive
Johnson. August 81, 1754-the third child
born In Vermont. Throughout It's entire
length the valley Is dotted with many
noticeably thrifty farms. We then re-
traced our way to Proctorsville. 1t was
past noon but we were anticipating a
dinner at Downer's Hotel in Weathers-
field. This hotel Is located some distance
from any village and at the point where
four roads meet. In olden times the stage
coaches used II as a stopping place. inc
old-fashioned dance hall with spring
floor Is to be found UP stairs. We were
greatly disappointed to find 1t closed ana
deserted. From Cavendish TO Downer's
we had Travelled over q very rough ana
sandy road. The scenery along the river
and through the woods Is very attractive
however. A great opportunity Is mere
presented for the good road" movement.
We passed on from Downer's to Amsden
and then south to Springfield where We
had the privilege Of inspecting the we'll
known Jones and I.amson Machine Co. A
very secondary road extends from here to
Rockingham, on the west side OF the
river In that town one has the extreme
ly rare opportunity of seeing the Oldest
meeting house in the State N7s7). Scarce
~ any alteration has been made since
that date. The box pews. the sounding
board back of the pulpit, can with diff.
Guilty be duplicated to-day. In the old
cemetery back Of the meeting house there
is a quaint inscription on one OF the
grave stones. The mans descendants at
his death arc there inscribed as follows:
I'm memory Of Mr.. Josiah White who
died Sept. LIST. 1903 in the 9sth year OF his
age. The descendants of Josiah White
at his death: children 15: grandchildren.
100; great grandchildren. ri. Children
deceased. 2; grandchildren deceased, 26;
great grandchildren deceased. S." The
above makes a total of 40 descendants of
whom 1856 were living at Josiah White
death. The keeper of the meeting house
lives but short distance away and Is
very glad to show anyone about. When
we were through here, 1t was almost six
o'clock but we pushed on to Lake Suna-
pee, N. H., for the night by way Of Bel
lows Falls. This was the only night we
spent outside Of the State. Days milea ge.
ia.
BY four o'clock on the afternoon of the
following day we were winding our way
up the Connecticut Valley from Spring.
field on the Vermont side. From Spring
field to Windsor the road might be con-
sderably improved North Of Windsor n
decided Improvement has already been
made. The entire distance. however. to
White River Junction. where we spent
the night. proved a most interesting and
attractive ride, especially toward evening.
The highway follows close to the river
the entire way. You pass quite often
| through stretches of woods through which
a vista Is obtained of tho winding Con-
necticut river with the peaks of the
White Mountains rising high in the back
ground. The farms. though not OF great
size. are especially fertile. At Windsor
there Is the building. now used as a
storehouse. in which the Vermont con-
stitution was signed in hi. A society
known as THE Old Constitution House
association has lately been organized
with Mr.. Sherman Evarts of Windsor as
president, to preserve this historic build
ing We spent the night in White River
| Tavern at Hartford One can he assured
of very comfortable lodging and plenty
Of good wholesome food If he stops there
Days mileage, IS.
| On the next day, which was the sixth
there awaited us an unusually enjoyabl,
trip Leaving Hartford rather early We
went up as far as Norwich where We
turned west into the mountains Cop
peras Hill was our immediate destination
Considering the slight travel over tn
road, we found 1t surprisingly good; II
fact. a very comfortable automobile roat
to the foot of the mountain. About tel
o'clock we reached the Copperas Hill
mine. Copper has also been mined a
Vershire and Ely, though perhaps not a
extensively at at Conperas Hill. There l
n crater-like opening In the mountain q
that place.
: The soil over an extensive area is O
such reddish hue as to reveal an I'm
mense deposit of copper Of varied grade
Of richness. Into the side Of the noun
tain, they have opened a shaft /, 400 fee
in length. This merely reaches the vel
of copper which runs at right angles I
the shaft. Three miles farther on Is Stral
ford, the home of the late Senator Justi
S. Morrill,. His house. a large spaciou
building. sets on the hill some distanc
back from the road on the right. Their
Is also a very interesting ana very oil
meeting house at the north end OF the vi
lage.
From STAFFORD to Chelsea they hav
! now what they call tho New Road whic
is said to be very good. We however, b
mistake took the Old road which has M
been used by automobiles for over tw
years. The remembrance Of that road
Chelsea will ever remain vivid In OF
minds; not because Of the scenery or II
a farms nor the topography of the Lam
but because of the originality Of the roa
e for about seven miles. Oftentimes one
Il us was compelled to walk ahead to d.
termine II possible where the road used
II be. The last four miles into Chelsea
down hill with scarcely level stretc
The writer would prefer not to be he
= accountable for a description of the scel
u cry over this mountain, inasmuch as h
u attention was completely absorbed
y lodging trees. Chelsea, the county ses
+" though far from n railroad. certainly HI
~ the appearance Of a thrifty up-to-da
- town The square In the center lends
. distinct atmosphere OF old colonial time
" The remainder OF the day was spent
!" going to Williamstown and from the
~ down through the Gulf to Bethel. Roya