Exploring in the Northshire -- September 2021
Cumulative Official Town Count | Cumulative Unofficial Town Count |
|---|---|
3 | 1 |
It seemed fitting to start our Vermont 251 journey in Arlington, which, in 1777, became the first capital of the State of Vermont (unofficially known as the Republic of Vermont), an independent state in New England. It was admitted to the Union as the 14th state in 1791.
It is a small town in the Northshire (the southwestern corner of the state nestled between the Taconic and Green Mountain ranges), and is best known as a home to Norman Rockwell (from 1939-1953). The town has a mix of rural landscapes and vistas, as well as a town center with playing fields and a bona fide Dairy Barn (which I have yet to try, but I'm guessing it's pretty good as there are often lines outside during the summer). I will also add that Arlington is home to The Sugar Shack, located on Route 7A; this is well worth a visit for anything maple (including creemees and incredible cider sammiches with maple hot fudge*), Vermont tourist items, local goods, and it even has a Norman Rockwell "museum" (of prints).
Other towns which were visited in the area included East and West Arlington. There is a Chocolatorium in East Arlington (kinda disappointing with a name like that, to be honest), as well as an old mill along a lovely brook built by the Green Mountain Boys in 1764 (before Vermont was even an independent state). West Arlington's claims to fame are Norman Rockwell's house and the Arlington Covered Bridge.
Just north of (West) Arlington, VT is the tiny town of Sandgate (pop. 392 in 2018), where a road literally ends with a sign saying, "you can't get there from here," now memorialized on their town hall sign. Other than a cemetery and town hall, Sandgate (like many tiny towns in Vermont) seemed to have no other signage or public buildings. However, they did have a (likely private) covered bridge (Kreffer Bridge)!
More coming soon!
*Click here for a post with a picture and review of the awesome cider sammich.
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