Montpelier, May 19, 2021

 

Montpelier is the capital of Vermont. According to the 2010 US Census the population of Montpelier was 7,855, making it the least populous capital in the the country. However, the daytime population grows to about 21,000 due to the large number of jobs within the city limits.

https://vermonthistory.org/museum/

Originally chartered on August 14, 1781, "Montpelier" was named after  the French city of Montpellier. 

https://statehouse.vermont.gov/

https://statehouse.vermont.gov/

Looking for a place to eat while touring around the capital city?

I would highly recommend Locally Social.

http://thesocialvt.com/

We had a delightful breakfast with outside seating on the porch.

Lovely atmosphere, excellent food, and awesome service.

South Royalton, May 13

 South Royalton, Vermont is located in Northern Windsor County.

Current population of 668.

Home of Vermont Law School and the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial.

Fun fact, South Royalton is the town pictured in the opening credits of the WB  television show Gilmore Girls.

We also had sandwiches from the Bethel Sandwich Shop in Bethel, grabbed on the way to South Royalton. 

No picture from Bethel today-next time though!

And coffee from First Branch Coffee in South Royalton.

It was a beautiful day for an outside lunch at a picnic table on the green.

Randolph~May 6, 2021

 Randolph, VT is a town in Orange County first settled in 1778 when Vermont was an unrecognized state in defiance of the Government of New York, which claimed Vermont as a part of New York. As of 2010 the population was 4,778, making Randolph the largest town in Orange County.

"In 1921, Randolph was the setting for, and provided some of the cast of, a silent movie called The Offenders. In 1922 the same was true for the film Insinuation."

~Wikipedia

Randolph is home to Vermont Technical College.

https://www.vtc.edu/

And my alma mater, Randolph Union High School. Or more commonly referred to as RUHS.

https://orangesouthwest.org/RUHS

Which brings me to the Whale Tails......

For years I rode by them, stuck on the school bus, longing for the opportunity to get up close to them.

And then they disappeared! Only to be found between the northbound and southbound lanes of I89 in Williston.

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/LiveCulture/archives/2019/07/19/whale-tails-return-to-randolph

Which, to be honest, was kind of a bummer.

And then they reappeared in Randolph, just off Exit 4.

Or at least a new pair of them did.

Happy Day!

And we both thought that this was the place to take our picture for Randolph, so here we are.

Brookfield~ May 6, 2021

 Brookfield is a town in Orange County Vermont established by Vermont Charter August 5,1781. Population of 1,292 as of the 2010 census. Brookfield is best known for the Floating Bridge that spans Sunset Lake. This bridge is the only floating bridge east of the Mississippi and was originally built in 1820 by Luther Adams and his neighbors.

Over the years the bridge has been closed from time to time for repairs. Most recently in 2014 with the bridge being reopened in May 2015.

Sunset Lake is also the site of the annual ice harvest festival.https://brookfieldhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/events/ice-harvest/

I grew up in Brookfield and spent many a hot afternoon swimming here.

https://www.ourherald.com/articles/sculptor-jim-sardonis-to-help-celebrate-father-and-son/

There is a common thread connecting the three towns we visited yesterday, Braintree, Brookfield, and Randolph. And that would be the work of Jim Sardonis who lives in Randolph.You can read more about him here:

sardonis.com

Next up, Randolph!

Braintree~ May 6, 2021

 

Hello and welcome to my travels in my home state of Vermont! Shortly after Covid crept in and put the whole world on hold I joined the 251 Club. I thought it would make for a great home school project. My now 15 year old decided maybe not so much. Clearly I was in need of a new side kick. 

And here we are!

I'm the one on the right with the grey hair and wrinkles.

 

Today was our first day of jumping into our role of playing tourist in our own back yard so to speak.

And we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

We spent the afternoon soaking in the scenery and being truly appreciative for the beautiful day after a long string of rainy days. 

I just love old cemeteries! Don't you?

A relative of mine.....maybe???

And then there is this guy! Mr. Dorcas. Born before the Revolutionary war and lived to be 104 years and 9 months old!

Here we are at the Braintree Historical Society.

Braintree is a town in Orange County, VT established by Vermont Charter August 1, 1781.

Braintree includes Braintree Center, Braintree Hill,East Braintree, West Braintree, Peth and Snowsville.

Population as of 2018 was 1,201.

And Bent Hill Brewery......

They weren't officially open today, but we have plans to go back when they are!

Next up.... Brookfield.