This will be our Tour of Memories for our family reunion in Vermont. I hope to add pictures to each memory that could apply. I don't remember much of this area, we went when I was a little girl. I remember going to the farm and there was a stream running through. Susie says she remembers us falling in. Yep, that sounds like me.
Welcome to the Charles - Gale - Rand Tour of Memories
For those of you who have been here before, we hope you will bear with us as we take you on a tour of the area, beloved by Cozbi Virginia Charles and Grace Clara Rand. We are doing this by memory, so some places may not be quite as we remember. You are the descendants of these women whose ancestry dates back to the Mayflower. These memories are so strong because we, the Charles and Rand grandchildren, spent their early summers here in this beautiful countryside.
We are leaving the Winding Brook Lodge on Edson hill Road to go north on the Mountain road to Smuggler’s Notch and Mount Mansfield, the highest points in Vermont. Turn right and we pass Miguel’s Stow- Away restaurant, this is the house which Dwight and Virginia Charles purchased in 1932, but never lived in, when he lost his job in Cleveland during the depression. Uncle Dean was born in January, 1933 in Morrisville.
As we drive up into the Notch, always look up, as the views are ever changing. The first Ski Area we get to is the Toll House where the Toll Road on the left takes you to the top of Mount Mansfield.. On the right we will see Bingham Falls, a beautiful waterfall with numerous pools. It is a 1 mile hike to the falls.
As we proceed, on the right will be the Spruce Peak Ski Area, where you will see the Alpine Slide. Across from Spruce peak, is the Mount Mansfield Ski Area and the Gondola ride to the top of the mountain. Peter can well remember sleeping in a lean -to with Scott and Marshall as we camped in the State Park, then hiking to the top of the mountain.
As we drive up into the Notch, the Big Spring will be on the right and we will stop there for a drink of water. You will look up and see “The Singing Bird”, “The Hunter and His Dog” and “The Elephant’s Head” on the mountain side. We will stop at the top of the Notch and see the caves. Years and years ago there was a man who would camp in this area in his truck during the summer and whittle small animal figures and give them to the children. Somewhere, Sara has a bear made by him and saved all these years.
As we start back down the Mountain Road, we come to Notch Brook Road. Just past it is Brook Road where there is a small covered bridge over the river. On the left is Mr. and Mrs. Poor’s farm where we got milk every day. Then on to the Cemetery where your Grandparents, Great Grandparents and numerous cousins are buried. Beyond are the back pastures where we would walk the cows from Uncle Ed’s farm each morning. And bring them back in the afternoon. Uncle Ed is Grandpa Gale’s older brother and the grandfather of Lee and Emma. On further was the Sugar House, where maple sugar was made and sold. It is no longer there. We played up here often. You can still see the holes from tapping for sap in the old maple trees at the sugar place.
Turn left on to The Mountain Road past the Magoon’s house and notice the little Church on the right, which was a one room schoolhouse where Grace Clara attended school. The schoolhouse in now in a farmer’s field past the Golf Course Road and will soon be moved to the village to house the Stowe Historical Society. On the left is the Church where Dwight and Virginia were married .The church is where Jennie Gale lived and changed it into a ski lodge. Grandpa Gale kept the key and looked after the church and schoolhouse, so we played many hours in these two places, always aware of our responsibility for their care.
Across from the old church is the home of Grandpa and Grandma Gale, originally the manse for the church. They needed a large house, not only to have room for our summer visits, but to board skiers during the winter and occasional summer guests in rooms we did not occupy. We will stop there either before or after lunch and talk to you about Grandma’s garden, Grandpa’s waterwheel and the house, and our days playing in the river.
We spent every summer there until Grandpa died, being put on the train in Cleveland the day after school was out until our Dad would come up late in August. Grace Clara , Ben and Gale would come down to stay too. They lived in Alburg, VT.
We will stop at the Shed for lunch. This was a hostelry where bike riders to the mountains stayed. We will see pictures of the original building at lunch, and hear stories about it..
We will now start up the Luce Hill road past Grandpa Gale’s Wood Mill and his large vegetable garden on the right. We cross the West Branch of the Little River, with the swimming hole beside it. This was a great place to play in the water. Then we come to Ten Acres Farm on the left. It was the home of Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Gale when they retired. To the left is the Barrows Road where Virginia was born. Grace Clara was born in Ohio.
Now up to the Trapp Family farm. This was the farm that Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Gale homesteaded, having bought the land from Henry Luce. When they moved to Ten Acres, they sold the farm to people who eventually sold it to the Von Trapp family.
Coming back down the Luce Hill road, we will pass, and will stop at, Grandma and Grandpa Gales house on the right, the Sears Home and hostelry, Charles and Ruth’s house, now the Gale farm Center, and arrive at Uncle Ed and Aunt Jenny’s home and Rocky River Farm, the largest dairy farm in northern Vermont. The house remains but the barn and silo have been replaced with shops. How many hours we spent in the barn!
As we leave the West branch area, we will pass Uncle Elmer and Aunt Angie’s retirement home (she was Grandpa’s oldest sister). It is now a ski lodge. Then to Mrs. Ferrin’s Three Green Doors Gift Shop. On the left is the Cape Cod Road and just beyond it is Uncle Angus’ farm.(Grandpa Gale’s younger brother). We will now cross the River again where there was a covered bridge and also a favorite swimming hole, although Janet was the only one old enough to swim there. Just over the bridge lived the Bedells, their daughter, Neola, was a favorite friend of Margie’s. Next to it was the Gables, a lovely tourist home, then go past the Ledges and the Stowe Theater. All the shops and motels were not there. We could walk along this road into the village on Wednesday evenings to go to the movies at Memorial Hall and Grandpa would pick us up afterwards. Nothing along here but farms and pastures.
As we approach the village, on the right is the Rocky Mountain Creamery, where Cousin Charles would take the milk from the farm and Janet would ride to town with him. You will see a very long pedestrian covered bridge which replaced the original bridge over the river.
Find a parking place and we will meet in front of the Green Mountain Inn.
Tour of the village. Green Mountain Inn
Shaw’s General Store ( cousins of Grandpa)
Memorial Hall (Akeleys are in our genealogy as family members).
Stafford’s Drug Store
Community Church(where we had “sugar on snow”)
Shops
Grocery Store
All of this may have to be postponed until Saturday, depending upon our time. You will want to spend some time roaming around the village.
After we tour the village , we will drive down School Street, across from the church, to see an original Covered Bridge, much like the ones near Bedells and the village, which are no longer there. We come out to RT 100 and will see the Cold Hollow Cider House on the left and Cabot’s Cheese House on the right
The original Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory is on right. We will take a tour at 4:30. $3.00 adults, $2.00 seniors, 12 and under free.
As we return back north to the lower village, we will see the first wood mill that Grandpa worked in. Uncle George, Grandpa’s younger brother, lived across the street. Grandpa’s own larger wood mill was in Morrisville.
We will then turn up Rt 108 (the Mountain Road) to our lodge.
If you have access to Janet’s wonderful story and genealogy of the Gale and Double families, please read it before you come. It will give you a feeling of the heritage of the early settlers, the Gales of Stowe, Vermont, 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls, Grandpa being the second son. Of his descendents only Sara has returned to live nearby.
AS YOU CAN SEE IT WILL BE A FULL DAY-HOPEFULLY ONE YOU WILL TREASURE AND GIVE YOU THE DESIRE TO RETURN
