The Crown Point Road Association Blog

(Posted for Tom Hughes by Admin.)
The public is invited to a gathering for all those interested in the 1776 Hubbardton Military Road. This get-together will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2011 inside the wheelchair-accessible Visitor’s Center at the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site in East Hubbardton, located some seven miles north of U.S. route 4 and six miles east of Vermont highway 30.

The 1776 road that was built between Mount Independence and the Otter Creek falls at Rutland had an important military past. But will its route eventually be ignored or will it be re-discovered and remembered by future peacetime generations? Many Vermont residents hope that it will someday be mapped using modern technologies. Mapping the +30-mile route would honor the efforts of the road-building patriots whose efforts contributed to the American victory in the War for Independence.

A half-dozen speakers will each devote about three minutes apiece to discussing the route of this ancient road as it crossed through each township: Orwell, Benson, Hubbardton, Castleton, West Rutland, and Rutland Town. The discussion leaders are (west-to-east) Steve Zeoli, Jim Rowe, Carl Fuller (our host), Tom Hughes, Jim Moore, and Elaine Purdy. The most research into the history and location of the road was conducted and gathered during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s by the late Joseph and Mabel Wheeler of Benson. Their papers were given to the Vermont Historical Society.

It is hoped that teachers of history, scout leaders, historical society members, property owners, town officials, history buffs, and hikers will attend the October 29 meeting. The November-December issue of VERMONT Magazine will include an article about the Hubbardton Military Road.

The year 2011 marks 235 years since the Hubbardton Military Road was constructed, providing overland access between the 1776 patriot fort at Mount Independence on Lake Champlain and the 1759 Crown Point Road at Rutland.

Free refreshments will be available. Anyone with a question may telephone Tom Hughes at 802-388-2967.

Marker Near the Original Homesite of Early Settler John Coffeen

The Crown Point Road Association’s September 10 hike in Cavendish was held despite flood- damaged roads caused by tropical storm Irene. It actually provided an opportunity for hikers to assess marker damage in the area.

Joe Pasquariello, hike leader, provided commentary on the early sites and settlements to be visited. Starting at the location of early settler, John Coffeen, the group traveled to Coffeen’s later home and the cemetery that bears his family name as designated by Marker #29A.

 Nearby homeowners, the Durkins, offered additional information.

Mr. Durkin, Owner of Coffeen's Later Homesite

Hikers then took the South Reading Road and headed to Marker #30. Their walk was documented by some well-preserved old signs and they located a number of cellar holes.

Hikers Pass Marker #30

The tour continued on to Marker #31 which had been washed out some and passed Marker #32 on 20-mile Stream Road. The final destination was Marker #33 in Plymouth. Some hikers camped overnight at member Belle McKnight’s Meadow Brook Campground.

Joe Pasquariello, Offering Commentary

In spite of all the devastation in the area it was apparent that the markers had survived. However, Becky Tucker and Dan Keebler, concerned about the two original markers, #18 and #22, set out the next day to do a survey and found that only #18 had seen much flooding and was undamaged.

CPRA President Jim Rowe at Marker #32

The 2011 edition of the CPRA’s annual auto tour, which runs from monument to monument, was held on August 14. This is the tour’s 5th year and it has proven to be quite popular due to ease of access and the open forum which it provides for all to discuss local history and their personal experiences.

Tour Leader Jim Moore Greets Participants at Clarendon Village

CPRA President Jim Rowe Speaks at Marker #41A about Socialborough and the Valuable Work of CPRA Surveyor and Historian Al Ransom

Mead's Falls in Center Rutland

CPRA Historian Elaine Purdy Speaks in Center Rutland about Early Settlement and Industry at Mead's Falls

Jim Moore Speaks in Proctor Village about Marble Marker #44

At Marker #45 in Proctor (near Gorham Bridge) Jim Moore (standing knee-deep in poison ivy) Points Toward the Ruins of the Early Homesite of Roger Stevens

At the Completion of the 2011 Auto Tour, Historian Bill Powers Speaks about the Early Settlers of Pittsford at CPR Marker #45B, Near the Location of Pitt's Ford (Hammond Covered Bridge in Background)

Hikers Pause at the Unknown Revolutionary Soldier's Grave in Mount Holly.

(Posted by Admin., Photos and Content by Becky Tucker and Barb Griffith)

On June 11, 2011 CPRA members were joined by a group of Green Mountain Club members for the hike from Marker #34 to the Coolidge Home Site. The hike, which commenced at Vermont’s own “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”, drew a group of 33 dedicated souls willing to spend a very rainy day outside.

Sign Marking One of the More Notable and Long Abandoned Cellar Holes Visited Along the Route of the Hike.

The hike was held in conjunction with the GMC’s annual meeting. Many of their scheduled hikes at higher elevations in the Green Mountains were canceled due to the poor weather conditions, but a group of GMC members, undaunted by the rain, joined in on this hike.

Hikers Pause at the 1780 Coolidge Home Site Located on the Crown Point Road in the Town of Plymouth.

Participants on this hike were treated to a visit to the site of Captain John Coolidge’s homesite, Circa 1780. Thereby tracing the roots of our 30′th President, John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. and his early family history in Vermont. Capt. John Coolidge was the great, great grandfather of President Coolidge.

The CPRA was given a prominent location in the Mill Village Chapel to set-up a modest display of information regarding the relationship between the Crown Point Road and the early settlement of Rutland Town. The Town incorporated a celebration of the history of the Town into their overall Fourth of July schedule of events sponsored by the Selectboard and a number of businesses within the Town. The event was well attended and the CPRA display, manned throughout the day by Association President Jim Rowe, attracted a significant number of inquiries and served to foster discussion regarding the history and patterns of early settlement within Rutland Town.
The 250th Event Committee sent a very nice thank you note to the CPRA signed by all those involved which I have posted below for all members to see.

Elaine

Place: For historical orientation and to carpool, we will gather first at the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site (802-273-2282) in East Hubbardton, seven miles north of U.S. route 4 off exit 5.  There are picnic tables available here.  B.Y.O. lunch or snack. 

Date/Time: Sat., July 16, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.; to observe the 235^th anniversary of this military road and the 250^th anniversary of Castleton. 

Activity: Walk a guided hike on a very rarely-explored stretch of the “1776 Orwell – Hubbardton – Center Rutland falls military road.“ 

Bring: Footwear suitable for a moderate hike through fields, woods, and for stepping-stones across small brooks; wear clothing to protect your skin from thorns & insects.  Bring water.  Lemonade in the shade will be offered at a private home after the hike.

Expect: We’ll trace the route of the military road where it passes through Belgo Valley, below famed Grandpa’s Knob (elevation 1976). The hike is not particularly strenuous, as it will begin at 1,040’ elevation and end at about 500’ elevation.  The hike crosses, with one-time permission, private properties.  Our group must be respectful of private land and must stay together. 

Leaders: Three trustees of the Crown Point Road Association. 

Follow-up: Find out at the conclusion of the hike how to become a founder of
“Friends of the 1776 Hubbardton Military Road.” 

More Info: There is no charge for this hike.  Leave your question as a voicemail message for Tom at 802-388-2967.