Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1920-10-01
MANY PRESENT AT
STRATTON GATHERING
Ancient Turnpike Arouses Much
Interest Among Vermonters
Interesting Historical Address by j. X.
Batchelder of Arlington--State High.
way Commissioner Interested in Project
to Restore Road
Especial to The phocnix.)


Especial to The Phocnix.)
STRATTON, Sept. ~.
Unexpected interest was shown by the
road meeting Saturday afternoon Mt the
Kelley Stand in the interest of the old
Stratton turnpike from WardSborO to
Arlington. I'm spite of the fact that the
gathering took place at one of the most
inaccessible points in southern Vermont
the attendance was double what the pro
motcrs of the party anticipated.
Windham and Bennington counties were
about equally represented in the company
that gathered around the old road house
for the picnic dinner, followed by an cx-
tcmpoIancOuS program that proved all
the better for not having been prepared in
advance.
The speakers were Hon. James *.
Batchclder of Arlington. Miss Ethel a.
Eddy of Brattleboro, Mrs. Dorothy Can
cid Fisher of Arlington, senator" George
r.. Durham of Brattleboro. Senator"
Walton f. Andrews of Manchester NJ. j.
IIupgood of Peru, and State Highway
Commissioner Stoddard Il. Bates of
Derby. Frank f. Howe of bennington
presided.
Mr.. Batchcldcr, whose memory of the
subject of the gathering extends back for
more than 30 years, gave an interesting
historical summary, There has been,
said MIR. Batchcldcr, Il highway from the
West river valley to Arlington since
but it did not follow the present route
until about 1890, when what is now
known as the Stratton-S Sunderland turn
pike was built. just how much of the
present highway was included in the turn
pike is uncertain, but probably that part
of it between the forks at the foot of the
gorge in Sunderland and the "Grout job
~. hg hon. Nx-ntn g a n -
Stratton.
The first village of Stratton was consid-
crably north of the present highway and
two or three miles northeast of the now
deserted second village. At this old com
munity center in StrattUn four roads CON
vcrged. one from Winhall one from
Somerset, one from jamaica and Wards
boro. and one from Arlington. OF these
the first two have utterly disappeared and
even the route they followed is now
hardly known. The old road from STRAIT
ton to Arlington wound over the Sundcr-
land mountain tops and at one point was
over 1000 feet above the present high
way. After the turnpike was built the
old road through Sunderland was dscon-
tinucd, though after the big frpshct in the
fall of 1869 the mail was carried on foot
by the old route for several months.
When StrattOn village was moved to it's
second location the highway east followed
to the accommodation of travel.
Before the days Of railroading this old
highway was Il busy line of travel. Four
horse stage coaches were filled with pas
scngers. tavernS and road houses were
frequent. and heavily laden wagons and
ox-carts carried the products of industry
from east and west. The Kelley Stand.
where the meeting Saturday was held.
was one of the best known tavcrns of
southern Vermont 1t was kept by Will
liam Kelley. who was a famous land
lord and popular alike with travellers and
transfers.
History. said Mr. Batchclder, is now
repeating itself. The railroads tool;
away the glories of the old stage and