The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-04-02
RAMBLES ABOUT BARRE.
Some Wonderful Work of Nature Up
Honey Brook"

cation and surroundings as do our visit
ors. 1t is well known fact that our
guests from the prairie-like middle west
go into raptures over our hills and val
ieys, streams and lakes. 1t is also true
that no matter which way one may turn
whether on the highroad, by-road, or
through the fields--the vista is an ever
changing and interesting one However
/ often one may cover the same ground,
there is always something new-some-
thing which had not been observed be-
fore. The panorama obtained from the
encircllng hills, east and west, north and
south, is simply wonderful and this is
true at any season of the year How
true are those lines:
go forth beneath the open sky and
list to natures teachings"
The water scenes near the old wooden
mill; further up the same stream and in
cludlng the miniature gorge at South
Barre; then up the other stream to the
cascade below Phelps mill, are all indi-
vidual points of attraction. An interest
ing and descriptive story might be told
about each and il nearer some of the
larger cities they would be thronged
every week with visitors.
There is one place, however, which is
comparatively unknown and which com
bines not only wild natural scenery but
pre- historic interest az we'll This is off
the road, turning to the left after pass
ing the Dana Smith place and Just be-
fore crossing the first bridge on the way
to East Barre. NV first visit there was
on one bright spring morning IL years
ago. After going up the stream few
yards Honey brook, / think it is called
the outline of an old road appeared and
this was followed up the picturesque
glen-like valley. 1t was puzzling TO ae-
count for road in such place. Pres
emily the dale widened out and separated
to the right and left, the larger stream
coming from the right hand direction.
A hawk went sailing overhead all was
quiet and solitude, and one could easily
have believed that civilization was many
miles away. Great trees, tangled brush
spring flowers, warbling birds--truly it
was a scene of marvellous beauty. The
old road continued with the right hand
stream, the ascent became much steep
er, the underbrlsh thickened and all at
once imagine my surprise when coming
upon a derrick and a few small sheds.
1t seemed Incredible mixture OF
wild nature and commercialism.
At this point it appeared there had
been a natural ledge, or immense block
Of granite, which someone had discoy.
cred years before; they had erected a
small plant, quarried the granite and
manufactured it into monuments on the
spot. The mystery OF the road was now
solved The place had been deserted for
considerable period and decay we'll set
in, but have never learned when ii was
operated or by whom. Continuing the
journey, the appearance OF the valley
changed Instead of the brook now fol.
lowing natural course, its progress
was impeded by large boulders which
still further added to the interest and
attractiveness of the scene. and created
the impression OF glacial action. The
trees draw closer, arched the stream at
times,
"Cedar and pine and fir, and branching
palm,
A sylvan scene, and as the ranks as,
cend
Shade above shade, a woody theatre
OF statellest view" Milton.
trip was again made to this place
on pleasant afternoon early last fall.
The natural springtime charm of the for
mex visit was surpassed by the autumnal
glory with its many colored leaves and
flowers. The former granite plant had
almost disappeared. The rock strewn
brook however, had an added interest as
the result Of a recent visit 10 Lost riv-
er, New Hampshire, for all at once it
flashed over me that right here at home
we had a miniature edition of that won
derful attraction In other words, those
granite boulders, many Of them weigh.
ing scores Of tons, had been lodged in
their present position by some tremen-
dous upheava or contraction of nature,
which loosened them from the original
ledge. At some points the stream seemed
entirely blocked but, like Southey's Cat
aract of Lodore," the water
Runs and il creeps,
For while. till il sleeps
In its own little lake
And thence at departing,
Awakening and starting
"The cataract strong
Then plnges along
Striking and raging
As if war waging
Its cayerns and rocks apong.'
There are no two Of these obstructions
or pools alike and some of the latter are
almost large enough and surely inviting
enough to tempt one to battle on a warm
day 1t is truly marvellous the size,
shape and position Of some of those
stones. Well up the valley there is one
slab about Is feet long, 10 feet wide and
from eight to Ii inches thick. From
the side Of it a long strip has been brok.
en- off and lies close by. Remembering
Lost river the natural question was,
where did those stones come from? No
indication thus far, so | continued up,
until the stream, valley and surround
ings took on more ordinary appear
ance, and finally emerged into partially
open country near the top-but still no
evidence of their origin. This was indeed
puzzling could the Lost river theory he
wrong after all No. For there far
above, almost hidden by trees. glimpses
are caught Of the parent cliff where,
thousands Of years ago, those immense
blocks had been dislodged and sent
crashing into the valley below. In the
dim past when our ancestors were scam
pering around with their painted bodies
partly clad in the skins of wild animals,
these fallen masses of rock had prob
ably been entirely exposed as well as
others below them. Centuries of erosion,
gradual accumulation of dirt, the ap-
pearance Of grasses, plants and trees ac-
companied by the attendant decay of