Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-08-01
LAKES OF
EASTERN VERMONT. /"
CONTINUED from page One).


mont lake region lacks the historical
background Of the English lake coun-
try. 1t cannot be denied that En-
gland can boast of many more centur-
les of recorded history than any por-
ton of America, but northeastern
Vermont Is not lacking IN numerous
historical episodes, replete with IN
teresting and stirring events
1T is supposed that the first
glimpse by a white man Of any por-
ton of the present state of Vermont
was obtained by Jacques Cartier,
French explorer, who assembled the
St. Lawrence river IN the autumn of
1886. as far as the Indian village Of
Hochelega, on the site OF the pres
ent city OF Montreal. While there
the Indians took him TO the height
back of the village, known as Mount
ROYAL. from which he observed the
surrounding country. If the day IA
vored such an observation he must
have seen Jay peak and other sum-
uaits of the Green mountains, posi-
bly, including Mount Mansfield, al OF
which are IN the lake country OF
northeastern Vermont
zone Of the clearly defined charac-
teriStics Of mankind IS TO follow the
line Of least resistance, and this IS
particularly true Of primitive peO-
pies, IN whom little or no engineering
skill has been developed. Therefore
the Indian trails followed the river
valleys. When the entire country was
covered with forests, and the streams
even higher than they are at the
present time, the Indians IN their bark
canoes, which drew little water, could
penetrate far into the interior along
these waterways, even upon very mar
row rivers There were two prln-
cipal routes of Indian travel through
northeastern Vermont. Both Of these
routes, starting IN Canada. came up
the St. Francis river TO Lake Mem
phremagog. One followed the Clyde
river TO Island pond, and a short car
~ brOght the traveller to the upper
reaches of the Nulhegan river which
descended to the Connecticut valley,
from whence another carry led to the
AndrOscOggIn river, by which the
coast OF Maine could be reached. 1t
Is said that as late as the period when
the Grand Trunk railway was built
along the valley of the Nulhegan the
old Indian trail was visible A second
Indian trail, leaving Lake Memphre-
magog, followed the Barton river to
Crystal lake and a carry over the
height of land to the head waters of
the PaSSumpSic river furnished an
other route TO the valley OF the Con-
necticut, which was a broad highway
TO the settlements of southern New
England.
'Al this northern region was a IA
vorite fishing and hunting ground for
the St. Francis Indians, and there are
evidences that this was true before
remnants of the New England tribes
Joined forces IN Canada to form the
St. Francis band. Back and forth
through these valleys the Frnech and
Indians, and an occasional scouting
party from the English settlements,
Travelled during the period Of the Col
onial wars. Among the captIVes thus
taken into Canada was q young man
named John Stark, destined TO play
an important part IN eFrm0nt history.
IN 1859 Robert Rogers and his
Rangers made q swift march TO the
headquarters OF the St. Francis tribe
in Canada, burned the village and
maccacred most Of the inhabitants
Their boats having been burned by
enemies, it was necessary TO return
by way OF the Connecticut valley
rather than by Lake Champlain. Up
on reaching Lake Memphremago
the party scattered, the food supply
being exhausted. and some Of its
members persisted IN the wilderness
Those who finally reached the En-
glish settlements suffered terrible
privations and narrowly escaped
death by starvation.
@In 1927 an ancient shirt of mail,
much corroded, was found holled up
and lying between two large roots Of
a great birch tree IN Irasburg, IN Or
T-1~H ovs W
Of the equipment Of a soldier from
Europe, who had wandered from an
exploring party, or part Of the spoils
Of an Indian warrior, furnishes q wide
field for speculation
During the American Revolution
a military road was built as lar IS
that portion OF Lowell now known as
Hazen's Notch, the intention being TO
construct a highway from the Con
necticut river TO st. Johns, Que.
THAT portion Of eastern Vermont
adjacent TO the Canadian border was
not settled until American indepen-
dence had been achieved. When the
War OF 1912 began the Vermont set
tiers along the border were greatly
alarmed as they still had vivid recol-
lection Of raids from Canada Block
houses were erected as q protection,
D4L A1GA4N SELA4E4S AEA c1NC1 OA4
their valuables. and at least one town,
Westmore, was wholly depopulated.
fertile fields and mills being aban-
doned-
'@The towns Of Barnet and Ryegate
were largely settled by Scatch fami-
lies. acting under the direction Of
foregn land companies, the only Yer
mont towns to be settled IN this man
ner. Col. Alexander Harvey, Scot
fish land agent, located tract Of
about 1000 acres near the lake which
bears his name, and the tract pur-
chased IN Ryegate was obtained n
part from President WItherspoon OF
Princeton university. Barton was
granted 10 Col. William Barton, who
had captured Sir William Prescott,
the British commander IN Rhode Is
land; and one Of his associates IN the