The Village Squire, 1981-10, Page 14b
school on another, look much like they
must have nearly 200 years ago.
These states of course are carefully
marketing their old atmosphere. The
Vermont Country Store in Weston, owned
by the Orton family, gets thousands of
visitors, including bus tours, who want to
see a real old fashioned general store. It
sells everything, and Iolts of it. There were
line ups at the several cash registers the
day we were there.
More stylish is the country store in
Newfane, Vermont, full of gorgeous
locally quilted items, fresh grown herbs,
Somehow, in spite of all these visitors
and the many apparently thriving
business enterprises where a lot of money
changes hands, there's little crass
commercial atmosphere. The real estate
business is obviously booming but there's
care being taken to preserve both privacy
and the rural flavour.
Folks are down home and friendly,
service is good but relaxed and those who
just want to look are welcome.
We were in New England to soak up the
fresh clear air and unwind, not to shop.
One of our best afternoons was spent
wandering in a South Londonderry
Easter weekend both bunnies are wearing
tiny bonnets, and the child with us (really
the child in all of us) is delighted.
A big lunch for five, with wine, came to
about $20 American.
Another gem is Windham Hill Farm,
just north of Wester Townshend's rambli-
ing old inn run by a Canadian couple who
once lived in Hamilton and London. From
their friendly greeting at the front door to
an after-dinner chat in front of a fire in one
of the inn's several parlours, it was a
memorable evening.
The four course dinner, served and
prepared by the host ("we take turns")
Self - reliant, reserved but friendly people,
beautiful country and reasonably priced accomodation
kids' clothes and toys and gifts of all sorts.
Though it looks carefully rustic it's owned
by an astute young couple who have
backgrounds in merchandising and
business management.
They, like a lot of those who run thriving
businesses in southern Vermont are
out -of -staters. One lady told us she'd
grown up in New Jersey when it was quiet
and slow, not unlike Vermont. When it got
busier and noisier, she moved north.
Move north is what thousands of
tourists do, from the New York City area,
Connecticut and Massachusetts. In the
winter they come for skiing. . . the Green
Mountains are less than an hour's drive
from anywhere in southern Vermont ...in
summer for peace and serenity, and in fall
for the leaves.
Thousands of others are weekend
residents, who drive four hours and more
each way to get to their country houses.
"It's worth it", the weekenders we visited
sighed, and we were inclined to agree.
PG. 12 VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1981
cemetery, talking to some local kids while
our laundry dried at a nearby shopping
centre Laundromat (the only one we could
find in all of Windham County).
But for those who are shopping -inclined
there are interesting stores in just about
every village. Outstanding, in the middle
of the state on #4 Highway is the
Bridgewater Mill Mall, a collection of
excellent shops in a restored textile mill
beside the Ottauquechee River.
As you'd expect in an area with
countless visitors, there are plenty of good
restaurants. And most of them in the high
season (that's about any time except late
March to early Mav) require reservations.
One of the best we found is The Garden,
in Londonderry, an informal, bright place
where the huge main course salads look as
good as they taste. The owner and chef is
an artist so that perhaps explains it.
It's a family place, with the owner's
daughter waiting on tables. Another
daughter rides herd on her two pet rabbits
in the brick floored greenhouse attached
to the restaurant's main room. In honor of
was excellent. The place aas ten or 12
guest rooms, most with a good view of the
spectacular valley outside, and all
furnished in old fashioned comfort. Rates
are reasonable, but reservations must be
made fairly far ahead. Windham Hill
Farm closes for a breather from mid-April
to mid May.
The inn is a storybook place, made for
someone who wants to retreat and relax,
walk, sun and eat good food.
There are lots of other country inns
tucked all over New England ... guide
books even specialize in rating them. But
Windham Hill Farm has to be one of the
best.
Although most south Vermont towns
are quaint and well preserved, one,
Grafton, is practically an outdoor
museum. Most of its old buildings have
been bought by people who want them
preserved. "Rich New Yorkers," one local
told us. The whole tiny town is under an
architectural trust.
Modernizations which don't fit the
period atmosphere just aren't allowed. A