Manchester
Manchester was founded in 1761 but it wasn’t until the mid 1800’s, when the small hamlet became a desirable vacation destination that the area truly begin to thrive. Initially known as a summer retreat for the Nouveau Riche, Manchester’s growing popularity transformed the town into a robust year round resort facility that offered seasonal events and attractions. Hunting, fishing, hiking and bird watching were just a few of the many out door diversions available at this new social “hot spot”. Manchester’s centralized location made it the obvious choice for the seat of the county government and the location of the Bennington County courthouse. Several industries have flourished in Manchester over the years but the Orvis Corporation (a leading manufacturer of quality sporting goods) has become the town’s signature industry.
Manchester has a population of 4,180 and is the largest of the nine towns that comprise Bennington County. The median household income for the residents of Manchester is over $47,000 with a low unemployment rate of 2.2%. Over 88% of the population have graduated high school and over 40% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Within close proximity to major metropolitan centers, Manchester is less than a four-hour drive from both New York City and Boston. Located in Southwestern Vermont, Manchester lies close to Interstate 7 and Highway 11. It is south of Dorset, west of Richville and north of Arlington. Burlington International Airport is within three hours drive of Manchester. The small town of Manchester has two private high schools and one public high school.
Today’s Manchester is a congenial combination of both exclusive affluent areas and middle class family neighborhoods. Anxious to combat its elitist image, Manchester has created a wide range of seasonal events meant to appeal to a diverse population. Popular factory outlet stores have replaced the lumber mills and marble quarries that originally characterized the town. Fishing, hunting, swimming and hiking beckon visitors from nearby cities to seek refuge from the stress of urban living and many view Manchester as the perfect weekend escape. The town is replete with historical landmarks and stands as a living legend of America’s past. The Equinox Hotel, one of the grandest accommodations in Manchester, has the distinguished privilege of housing President Lincoln on one of his upstate tours. Until recently visitors could sleep in the specially constructed 6’4” bed made to accommodate The President’s formidable stature. In an area known throughout the world for its breathtaking beauty, Manchester offers a wealth of state parks that provide mile upon mile of natural wonder. Jamaica State Park, located on the West River offers the inspirational beauty of Hamilton Falls. Townsend State Park, also nestled along the West River boasts several hiking trails that wind along the majestic Rattlesnake Mountain and the inspirational beauty of Emerald Lake State Park has enchanted visitors since the 1900’s. The citizenry of Manchester value and thereby take measures to ensure a constant calendar of cultural events and regional festivals. Manchester has its own music festival, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra makes regular town appearances and musical legends such as Judy Collins and John Waite are frequent guest artists. Immersed within the beautiful countryside, the area surrounding Manchester is dotted with distinguished Equestrian farms and breeding stables. One example, Northshire Farm offers instruction in classical horsemanship and a chance to visit some of the most magnificent horses in the county. For another taste of country charm, Mad Tom Orchard welcomes visitors to pick their own apples among an ancient orchard overlooking a spectacular valley. Open house tours, pumpkin hunts, classic car shows, food and crafts fairs, antique shows and fall foliage tours are just a small sampling of the many wonderful and fun filled activities that Manchester offers its residents and visitors throughout the year.
Londonderry
The idyllic town of Londonderry is famed for its unsurpassed beauty, its scenic vistas and historic and cultural attractions. Perched alongside the West River, this charming town attracts tourists in search of the quintessential New England town. Londonderry was officially recognized in 1770 and given the name of Kent to honor the cousin of King George. Eventually however, the name fell into disfavor as the colonists’ relationship with Great Britain soured. Following the Revolutionary War, the town was renamed Londonderry after a small town in Ireland, the original home of many of its settlers.
Londonderry is a part of Windham County with Weston, Andover, Landgrove and Peru as its closest neighbors. Northeast of Manchester and North of Jamaica, Londonderry lies at the intersection of Highways 11, 100 and 30. Over 35 square miles in size with a population of only 1709, Londonderry has plenty of room for expansion. The median age of the residents in Londonderry is 41.5 years and the median household income is $121,900. The small town has one school for children from kindergarten through 8th grade. Children receive excellent attention as the student to teacher ration is 9:1 and the per pupil expenditure allowance is over $6,000.
The biggest attraction around the town of Londonderry is the area itself. Exquisite fall foliage draws thousands of visitors each year to enjoy the lush landscape and brightly colored trees. The prolific seasonal snows call skiers and snowboard fans to tackle the mountains. Olympic medallist Ross Powers honed his snowboarding technique on the nearby slopes. Spring and summer visitors enjoy hiking, camping and all manner of water sports. Because of its intimate relationship with nature, Londonderry is the site of the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. Each December, bird lovers everywhere converge on the town to help monitor the status of migratory bird populations. The beauty of Londonderry is so infectious; many visitors find it difficult to leave. This proved to be the case for one of the nation’s famous citizens, Robert Todd Lincoln the eldest son of President Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. Following a visit to the area in the early 1900’s, Mr. Lincoln was so enthralled with the surrounding countryside, he hired a Boston architectural firm to build a stately home on a promontory overlooking Battenkill Valley. Today Hildende, as the resulting estate was christened, attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to enjoy this meticulously restored home with its elegant formal gardens and sweeping views of the valley.
Stratton Mountain
The beautiful Stratton Mountain community was the brainchild of a handful of inspired visionaries who couldn’t get enough of a good thing. Through the combined efforts of Malvine Cole, a former correspondent to the New York Times and Robert “Rainbow” Wright, a former competitive skiing enthusiast, the seeds of the Stratton Mountain Resort community were firmly planted. Both Cole (more affectionately known as the Mother of Stratton) and Wright recognized the overwhelming potential of the area. The mountain was the highest in southern Vermont, an area already famous for outdoor winter sports, and more importantly it was possible to ski from the very top of the peak. The aspirations of the small group didn’t stop there. The promise of Stratton Mountain was so pronounced it appeared perfect for a year round residential community. As the 1950’s advanced so did the friends of Stratton Mountain. Many new converts joined the campaign including novelist Pearl S. Buck and Frank Snyder, outdoors enthusiasts and professional athlete who had long ago recognized the need for a resort community in southern Vermont. With Snyder’s initial investment of 10,000 and that of 19 other entrepreneurs the future of Stratton Mountain seemed bright. Finally, on December 29, 1961, the Stratton Mountain ski lift ran its maiden voyage carrying the first lucky passengers up majestic Stratton Mountain and the famed resort was officially in business.
This popular resort community is located four hours from NYC and three hours from Boston. Accessed by smaller mountain roads, Stratton Mountain is off Highway 30. West of West Jamaica, south of Pikes Falls and north of Stratton proper, Stratton Mountain is refreshingly secluded but far from isolated.
Stratton Mountain supplements outdoor recreation with special events held throughout the year. Festivals that feature country music, jazz and reggae pack the town with music lovers from near and far. Crafts fairs, storytelling contests and snowboarding demonstrations provide wonderful activities the family can enjoy together. Wildlife weekends introduce visitors to the many animals native to the area and the annual autumn Brewfest keeps the town lively until the wee morning hours.
Education in Stratton Mountain takes place on the slopes. The Stratton Mountain School is unique in many ways-primarily it combines the sport of skiing with the academic challenge of accredited college prep. Resting at the base of Stratton Mountain, a more perfect setting could not be imagined. Stratton Mountain School is the first ski academy accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Proud of the challenging curriculum SMS is well respected as a solid college preparation academy. Situated at one of the most famous ski resorts in the nation, SMS offers the most comprehensive and innovation training program available to young alpine and Nordic ski racers and snowboarders. The daily training program is supplemented by field trips that include the performing arts, cultural events and special workshops.
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