Anticipating a great Monday to start out this new week of our New England adventure, we are driving some beautiful territory in Vermont today. We are leaving Burlington and taking State Route 100 and smaller routes 7, 11, and 313 to Bennington. Running along the eastern edge of the Green Mountains, the Scenic Route 100 Byway is located in south-central Vermont. Vermont Route 100 is a north–south state highway in Vermont. Route 100 is a restless road. As it salamanders its way through the mountainous middle of Vermont, it seems perpetually on the verge of decision, only to change its mind in a mile. One minute, it’s slaloming along a rocky riverbed through dense cover of birch and maple; the next, it’s soaring up to a sudden vista as if God has suddenly pulled away a curtain. Hitting the peak of fall foliage not once but many times as it traces an up-and-down course along the unspoiled edge of Green Mountain National Forest. When civilization does break through, it’s in the form of some of Vermont’s most quintessential villages. We had a non-disappointing day with all of this beauty!
As we headed towards Proctor, Vermont we came upon The Cooley Covered Bridge that crosses over Furnace Brook in Pittsford, Vermont. This covered bridge was built in 1849.
Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Cooley, we came upon The Gorham or Goodnough Covered Bridge which is a 114 foot long town lattice truss. It spans Otter Creek. This bridge was built in 1842.
On to Proctor! In a countryside setting we reached our destination, Wilson Castle. Wilson Castle is a nineteenth-century estate. The house was built in 1867 in a mix of nineteenth-century architectural styles including Dutch neo-renaissance, Scottish baronial, Queen Anne, and Romanesque Revival. Set on 115 acres of grounds, the house contains 32 rooms on 3 stories. Its facade is built of English brick and French marble in a fanciful architecture with 19 proscenium arches, 84 stained glass windows, 2 turrets, parapet, and balcony. Its interior includes 13 fireplaces finished with imported tiles and bronze. Furnishings include Asian and European antiques, statuary, Chinese scrolls, and oriental rugs.
Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Cooley, we came upon The Gorham or Goodnough Covered Bridge which is a 114 foot long town lattice truss. It spans Otter Creek. This bridge was built in 1842.
On to Proctor! In a countryside setting we reached our destination, Wilson Castle. Wilson Castle is a nineteenth-century estate. The house was built in 1867 in a mix of nineteenth-century architectural styles including Dutch neo-renaissance, Scottish baronial, Queen Anne, and Romanesque Revival. Set on 115 acres of grounds, the house contains 32 rooms on 3 stories. Its facade is built of English brick and French marble in a fanciful architecture with 19 proscenium arches, 84 stained glass windows, 2 turrets, parapet, and balcony. Its interior includes 13 fireplaces finished with imported tiles and bronze. Furnishings include Asian and European antiques, statuary, Chinese scrolls, and oriental rugs.
The side entrance is just as stunning as the front. This could be a spectacular home and/or museum but really needs a lot of TLC with a ton of money to fix crumbling brick and mortar plus a wide array of other general maintenance. To gain some much needed money, the owners host Halloween parties to raise funds. Both the exterior and interior had Halloween predominately throughout. However, with a little insight, we could just imagine how wonderful Wilson Castle could be.
The buildings' brick turrets, stain glass and other architectural designs are beautiful!
Inside, the stain glass is prominent in every window … just gorgeous!
There are antiques throughout the entire three floors of the castle. The furnishings in every room are an antique dealers dream! We are allowed to wander on our on, touch whatever there is with no restrictions and basically do whatever we want. Whether it be the sitting room, art gallery room, dining room, bedroom or any other, the stories those walls could tell! We enjoyed it tremendously and tried to overlook the Halloween theme for this time of the year.
The second floor has a porch with a beautiful porcelain tiled floor that over looks the property and the beautiful Vermont countryside. The porch swing goes back to the days of the late 1800's and of huge skirts allowing the ladies to swing and keep their dresses down and feet on the floor. In later years, a couple could leisurely swing together and look at that Vermont beauty in front of them!
In 1939, Herbert Lee Wilson, a pioneer in the AM radio field, purchased the estate and created radio station WHWB-AM in its stable which can be seen here. Mr. Wilson passed the ownership of this sprawling estate down to his daughter and it has now been in the Wilson family for five generations.
What an interesting and intriguing site Wilson Castle was to stop at. Now onward into Bennington. On the northern outskirts of Bennington is the old paper mill site with a waterfall which helped in early industry. The Paper Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1889.
And next down the road going into Bennington was the Silk Road Covered Bridge, built in 1840, crossing the Walloomsac River between downtown Bennington and the village of North Bennington.
Before going to our night accommodations we visited the Bennington Battle Monument. On August 16, 1777, British forces sent by General Burgoyne to seize supplies at Bennington were turned back by New Englanders under General John Stark and Vermont's Colonel Seth Warner. The 306-foot Bennington Battle Monument commemorates the August 16, 1777, Revolutionary War battle fought by the Americans against the British and their German allies to defend a vital supply of Americans military stores at this location.
And next down the road going into Bennington was the Silk Road Covered Bridge, built in 1840, crossing the Walloomsac River between downtown Bennington and the village of North Bennington.
Before going to our night accommodations we visited the Bennington Battle Monument. On August 16, 1777, British forces sent by General Burgoyne to seize supplies at Bennington were turned back by New Englanders under General John Stark and Vermont's Colonel Seth Warner. The 306-foot Bennington Battle Monument commemorates the August 16, 1777, Revolutionary War battle fought by the Americans against the British and their German allies to defend a vital supply of Americans military stores at this location.
Bennington Battle Monument - 306 foot Oblique built and dedicated in 1891
On this site stood the Continental storehouse - object of the British attack that was repulsed by the Colonial Forces at the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777
Bennington Battle Monument - 306 foot Oblique built and dedicated in 1891 with Colonel Seth Warner statue
Brigadier General John Stark - 1728-1822 - Victor of The Battle of Bennington 1777. "There they are boys! We beat them today or Molly Stark sleeps a widow tonight!!!"
With all of the Fall foliage and leaf changes, Mary Anne wanted to be part of the season with this Fall leaf at The Bennington Battle Monument!
At the Bennington Memorial is a Moose art piece with paintings all over its body of covered bridges and other attractions around Bennington painted by a local artist.
When making our travel arrangements, the Harwood Hill Motel in Bennington drew me in. I really didn't know what to expect. All of the reviews were positive with high praise. Were they legitimate or written by family and friends? The Harwood Hill was to have art pieces by locals in the yard and also all art in the rooms was for sale with price tags on each piece. It turns out all of those reviews were right-on. The rooms were great and the art fit in the décor, even with the hanging price tags. We enjoyed staying at the Harwood with great views!
At the Bennington Memorial is a Moose art piece with paintings all over its body of covered bridges and other attractions around Bennington painted by a local artist.
When making our travel arrangements, the Harwood Hill Motel in Bennington drew me in. I really didn't know what to expect. All of the reviews were positive with high praise. Were they legitimate or written by family and friends? The Harwood Hill was to have art pieces by locals in the yard and also all art in the rooms was for sale with price tags on each piece. It turns out all of those reviews were right-on. The rooms were great and the art fit in the décor, even with the hanging price tags. We enjoyed staying at the Harwood with great views!
Even the bathroom basin was unique …. loved it all!
There may be a few additional pictures in the album at this link.
There may be a few additional pictures in the album at this link.
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