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Published: July 20th 2006
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I went for my hike in the March-Billings National Historic Park.
It rained most of the night, so I had to wait for it to dry out a bit before I could get started. I took advantage of this to do my service stuff - laundry and a haircut.
The Rockerfellers put a lot of money into this area and influenced the layout of the town in their later years as well as setting aside this estate as an ecologicaly controlled area. It certainly was worth preserving.
My climb up the Precipice Trail provided nice views of Woodstock, even though it was hazy. Of course, the sun came out later on, but I was back down in the town by then. I'm sure the picture of the town with the sun out would have been better. No need to worry about bears here and there were very few bugs. The locals refer to 'bugs' because there are more than mosquitoes to pester you.
The Norman Williams Public LIbrary in Woodstock is unique building for a library. The ceiling of the top flor of the two story building has arched oak beams that are stained a dark colour.
The whole building has a charm created by looking a bit antique, but in first class condition. It is probably being kept the way it was when it was originally opened.
I browsed some books on local history and found Woodstock was chartered in 1761 and settled in 1768. I also learned there used to be a roilroad here that joined the mainline at White River Junction about 20 miles to the east. I'll have to drop in there on my way through.
As I walked past a side street, I noticed a stone building down a bit and discovered it was "Our Lady of the Snows" church. Honest, I didn't make that up. The inside knocked my socks off. The ceiling was arched with oak wood strips running the lngth of the church. In the loft was a pipe organ with wooden pipes, each with hand painted, old grahic designs on the front. I would love to hear it played.
While I was having some tea at the end of the day, I got into a conversation with Marty, while he was getting ready to close the coffee shop. He wasn't brought up in Woodstock, as
is the case with most of its population. I suppose it is a lot like Banff and Canmore.
Marty was of the opinion that Woodstock was an atypical Vermont town.
"Like, this isn't what, like, a Vermont town is normal like. You know, like, this here is all, like, because Rockerfeller wanted to keep it, like, preserved."
"So what town would be more typical?" I asked.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe, like, White River or somewhere like that. You know, like, more like normal service jobs and not, like, you know, tourism stuff."
"I see. I'll try to watch out for the differences. I better get out of here so you can shut down."
"Yah, thanks. I want to get out of this heat. Bye."
I'm not sure Marty has this all thought out. I'm sure the Rockerfellers weren't influencing much here in the late 1700s, so there was some basis for the city layout before they arrived on the scene.
With my exit from the coffee shop, my conversations with the locals at Woodstock came to an end. Now, on to New Hampshire and Maine.
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