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About Our Area
The Northeast Kingdom is one of the most beautiful areas in the country and Vermont’s most rural. For over 50 years Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia counties have been called the Kingdom ever since Senator George Aiken said; "You know, this is such beautiful country it should be called the Northeast Kingdom." The Kingdom was chosen by National Geographic as a geotourism destination (to promote tourism that enhances and sustains the environment, culture, and heritage of the region) - one of the first of its kind.
Up-East Vermont is the most northeastern corner of the famed Northeast Kingdom and encompasses most eastern and northern portion of Orleans and Essex counties. The hills are dotted with farmsteads, picturesque villages, lush pastures, green forests, clear lakes, and meandering streams. Often called Vermont’s "lake country," Up-East Vermont supports recreation, forestry, and agriculture. The up-east communities are home to many artists, writers, historians, and craftspeople that communicate the area’s unique culture, traditions, and heritage. The up-east byways encourage exploration and a visit to rural, remote "Vermonter’s Vermont."
Derby - Derby Line - Beebe - Holland - Morgan - Charleston
Warner's Grant, Warren Gore and Avery's Gore - Norton - Averill - Canaan - Beecher Falls
DERBY is the largest township within the up-east Vermont area and is the location of the Up-East Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s Office and Information Center. Derby is bordered in the west by the City of Newport and Lake Memphremagog and to the north, the Canadian border. Off Interstate 91 at Exit 28, Derby Center is at the conjunction of Rtes US 5 and 105 which is the hub of the up-east community’s activity and opportunity. There are shopping opportunities along the main roads as well as museums, galleries, antique shops, and a variety of choices for food and lodging.
Within town limits are: Derby Pond, the Clyde and John’s Rivers, Big and Little Salem Lakes, and a small portion of the international Lake Memphremagog which all offer swimming, boating, fishing, and more. The VAST snowmobile trail, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a bike path, motor cross racing at Rider Hill, the Cow Town Elk Ranch, Coutts-Moriaty Summer Camp, are all points of interest. Fishing, hunting, boating, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing are all available to residents and visitors.
Historic Background
Before the settlers arrived the area was home to Wabanaki (Abenaki) family bands, the original inhabitants of the areas around Derby Pond, Salem Lake (originally called Lake Abenaki) and the Clyde River. They have remained here during the early settlement and the growth of the town. Originally granted to Timothy Hinman and associates from Connecticut in October 1779 through the New Hampshire Grants. Hinman came to Derby in 1790 to begin making his pitch and permanently settled in 1795. The name Derby was chosen by the Hinman family to represent the early proprietors from Derby Connecticut - important in early colonial history. Soon after the settlement of Derby Center, Samuel Pomroy ventured farther north to make his pitch in what was to become Derby Line Village.
DERBY LINE Village is within the township of Derby and is named for its location on the demarcation line of the Canadian border and the 45th parallel (half way between the equator and the North Pole) and it’s the last village on US Rte 5 and Interstate 91 at Exit 29. An example of village life is evident by the centrally located Baxter Park, the small family-friendly restaurant, the historic know-your-name drugstore, and neighbors chatting with neighbors at the post office. After the Revolutionary War the 45th parallel was designated as the boundary line between British Canada and the United States. Because the surveys of the granted lands had not been completed markers were placed incorrectly, and the line was drawn about a quarter of a mile too far north. The present 45th parallel is located south of Derby Line Village and can be seen from Interstate 91. If properly drawn earlier in history, a portion of Derby Line, Beebe and Holland would be in Canada. Derby Line is host to two Customs and Immigration checkpoints and boasts the historic international Haskell Public Library and Opera House built in 1901. It is situated in both Canada and Vermont and the demarcation line is painted on the reading room floor. In the upstairs Opera House, the stage is in Canada and the audience sits in the US. Derby Line is one of the Three Villages (a collaboration of across border cooperation). Derby Line, Rock Island, Quebec, and Beebes, Vermont and Quebec are the border towns whose economies and culture are shaped by the residents living in harmony.
Historic Background
Soon after the settlement of Derby Center, Samuel Pomroy ventured farther north to make his pitch in what was to become the business center of Derby Line, incorporated as a village by petition in 1891. The first village meeting was held that same year. Because Timothy Hinman of Derby began to build roads into Quebec, to facilitate trade with British Canada, the settlement grew up quickly. Soon there was a distillery for potato whiskey, a tannery, slaughterhouse, foundry, tin shop, hop house, and blacksmith shop. Trading became easier when a bridge was finally built over the Tomifobia River that separates Derby Line from the Eastern Townships of Canada. Rock Island being the port of entry and one of the Three Villages, where families still reside from both countries as dual citizens.
BEEBE is the second village that is within the township of Derby and one of the Three Villages. Beebe is located west of Derby Line and is divided by the Canadian border, so there is a Beebe, VT and a Beebe, Quebec, Canada. This village is also host to a small Customs and Immigration checkpoint.
In 1772, a surveyor’s mistake had the line drawn incorrectly. It had been decided to use the 45-degree north parallel of latitude for the line of demarcation. It was uncertain where the exact location was into the 1800s. When the boundary was drawn and surveyed in 1842, it was discovered that the village of Beebe, part of the Derby Township, was no longer a single village but instead two separate towns in two separate countries. One of the adjustments that had to be made was the establishment of separate post offices. The solution was to build a wall and cut out a space to hang another door. The population still considers itself one community. In an unusual situation, the international border runs down the center of a residential street in Beebe that runs east toward Rock Island and Derby Line. The houses on the north side are in Canada and the ones across the street south side are in the United States. The street was named Canusa more than 60 years ago to illustrate the situation. (CAN-USA) the friendliest unguarded border section in the world.
HOLLAND is situated east, out of Derby Line, on the Canadian border by way of town highway offering scenic pastoral views and rolling farmlands. Even though it’s just a dot on the map Holland offers up scenic vistas, enduring family farms, and wilderness experiences. Surrounded by similar small dots representing an interesting shared history and culture; Holland has a rural byway character all its own. As progress changed the way of life; recreation, agriculture and forestry are the standard of today. Because of Holland’s streams and ponds, it is a quiet little-known vacation destination and favored for its hunting and fishing territories as well as the call of the loon. Holland Pond and its accompanying smaller wilderness ponds and forest surrounds are dotted with summer camps, deer and fish camps. The Silvio O Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is a favorite place for fishing, hunting, trapping, canoeing/kayaking, hiking, and wildlife observation. Holland Historical Society boasts an extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, and archives in its Museum and Replicated Horse Shed Building complete with the original double privy. Groomed snowmobiling is available with the VAST trail. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also favorite winter pastimes. Holland developed into its own entity but maintains family and rural ties with neighboring towns, which interact as one larger community.
Historic Background
Long before the town of Holland was chartered, the land was considered to be a part of the Hampshire Grants and went by the name of Elysiana. It was also included in the 3,000 square miles known as Phillip’s Grant - land that Philip, an Abenaki chief, transferred in 1796 to the Eastern Company (land speculators). Timothy Andus (Andrews) and associates received a charter for the town in 1779. The first settler arrived in 1800 and the first town meeting was held in 1805. From 1810-the 1820s most of the families arrived and many descendants of these families are still living in town. At one time Holland was made up of seven school districts, many lumber and shingle mills, a couple stores, a dance hall, blacksmith shops, a post office and a much larger population. Mail now comes by way of Derby Line and the one paved road. The scenery, wildlife, and people are well worth the trip off the beaten path.
MORGAN is located on VT Rte 111, which connects US Rte 5 to VT Rte 114 and is situated on the shore of beautiful Lake Seymour. Lake Seymore, the largest lake located entirely within Vermont’s borders, is shaped like a man’s boot and is most often the last lake to completely freeze over in winter due to being fed by many deep spings. Summer homes and camps wind around the Lake’s public beach, it is famous for its record winning fish, Lake Seymour provides scenic boating and quiet canoeing, while hikers enjoy Mount Elon and its view of the lake and surrounding vistas. Favorite winter activities are ice fishing when Seymore’s frozen surface is dotted with ice shack communities, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and groomed snowmobiling on the VAST trails. Other points of interest are the Morgan Historical Society’s building, the Country Store at Morgan Four Corners which houses the country post office, the historic community center building, and the Rte 111 Potash Kettle.
Historic Background
Morgan was originally chartered as Caldersburgh. A Morgan was one of the first grantees and Nathan Morgan come to settle in the township in 1799 where he raised 13 children. The town name was changed to Morgan in 1801. The first town meeting was held in March of 1807. It was at that meeting it was voted that a old hemlock tree at the fork in the road to Charleston (now Morgan Four Corners) be used to set up warnings for future town meetings. The early settlers sold or traded potash to obtain the supplies they needed - burning cleared trees from their pitches produced potash. Much of it was taken to Montreal, then the closest market that brought good prices. Morgan’s Potash Kettle, an iron kettle made in Scotland in 1811, was handed down through the Cummings generations. When the wooden trough at Morgan Corners rotted out a descendant st the kettle to replace it. Eventually the kettle was presented to the town of Morgan by another descendant in 1944 and was moved to Route 111 where a spring runs into it. Today the potash kettle is visited by visitors and residents for a taste of excellent spring waters.
CHARLESTON, which includes both East and West Charleston, is situated along US Rte 105 which winds along beside the Clyde River. The River (which flows north into Lake Memphremagog) offers many opportunities. The Great Falls in West Charleston offers opportunity for a waterpower dam while in East Charleston the River is a section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The canoe trail follows the early Native American travel routes from New York State to Northern Maine. Besides the river Charleston is home to Echo Lake and Pensioner Pond. Echo Lake, in the East village, is a quiet spot for fishing boating and swimming. Echo was named by the first colonial surveyor James Whitelaw, due to the series of echoes produced there. It has a long history of excellent fishing. Pensioner Pond is located between East and West Charleston and got its name for a Revolutionary soldier who used his pension to build a dam and a mill. The Pond is fondly call Plunkett Pond by locals. Many a school boy learned to fish here with the instruction from elders to "plunk-it-in" referring to the line and sinker. Fishing/hunting and trapping, canoeing, summer camping, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and groomed snowmobiling are available activities. Some of the points of interest are the Country Store, Charleston Historical Society Museum, Northwoods Stewardship Center, Tafts Acres Show Farm, as well as scenic views, river paddles, and wildlife watches.
Historic Background
Charleston was originally chartered as Navy in 1780. It was given to Commander Abraham Whipple and his shipmates for a distinguished Revolutionary War record. The first settler, Abner Allyn, came to the township in 1798 to clear land and plant potatoes. Settlement did not begin until 1802 and the town was organized in 1806. During the early 1800s East & West villages were settled and mills, businesses, and farms were established. In 1818 there were only 11 families in town due to "the year without a summer" and fear of Native Americans. By 1820 the population had risen and the name of the town was changed to Charleston in 1825. Charleston has more than its share of disasters. East Charleston burned (1821) destroying everything except for the church, a home, and the general store. Another fire in 1824 burned mills, a bobbin plant, and a lumber company. The nest day West Charleston burned and 18 buildings were lost. Like many surrounding towns Charleston was affected by the 27 flood and the hurricane of 38. Historic landmarks have been lost but the historical society has a wonderful collection of photos and artifacts for history buffs.
WARNER’S GRANT, WARREN GORE, and AVERY’S GORE are wilderness areas unsettled since they were granted are located on Rte 114 even though most folks associate the Gores with the town of Norton. Within this wilderness area lays the largest portion of Norton Pond, which is dotted along the way with hunting camps. Route114 travels up through them on the way north to Norton via the "Roller Coaster Road". The Canadian Grand Trunk Railroad, laid in the 1850s, passes through on to Norton and was the first international railroad line in North America..
Warner’s Grant originally named Warner’s Gore was granted to Seth Warner, a captain in Vermont’s famous Green Mountain Boys, in recognition of his services during the Revolutionary War. He never settled or visited there.
Warren Gore was granted to General Joseph Warren to accumulate the right number of acres to go with the town of Warren, which was granted to him for military service. It was so far away from the town of Warren it was never settled. Warren Gore was the "Flying Gore" by Warren townsfolk. Avery’s Gore is another granted parcel for military service that was never settled.
This Essex County area is noted for its wilderness preserves, working forestsand outdoor opportunities. The Silvio O Conte Wildlife Refuge areas (part of the former Champion Lands are open to the public for camping, hiking, hunting and fishing opportunities. Winter snowmobiling on the groomed VAST Trails, snowshoeing and cross country skiing are favorite pastimes.The numerous moose population provides ideal viewing and moose watching. Besides the history that formed these name-only towns, Moose watching and Norton Pond’s fishing, hunting, and trapping are their only claims to fame.
NORTON covers a large township area with a tiny border crossing town on Rte 114.
A small customs checkpoint into Stanhope, Que. Canada, a school, town clerk’s post office, and store make up the center. In order to travel to Norton, one has to go through Morgan to the intersection of Rte 114 north up though Warren Gore to Norton via the "Roller Coaster Road". The Norton line welcome sign is a favorite photographing subject because of its unusualness. The huge rock at the side of the road is painted on a white background with bog irises and Welcome to Norton - a perfect illustration of country folk’s creativity. Norton Lake, often called Norton Pond was formed from three smaller bodies of water when a dam was built at its north end. The main portion of the Lake is located in Warren Gore, even though it is considered Norton. This area is mostly wilderness with several hunting and fishing camps and one or two year-round homes. The area is a favorite place to go on "moose patrol"(sightseeing for moose viewing). This Essex County area is reputed to have the densest moose population in the state of Vermont. Guide services are also available The VAST groomed snowmobile trail goes through the township of Norton and on through to Canaan and the Connecticut River. This area is ideal for a wilderness experience, and a favorite for hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Historic Background
The town of Norton was chartered in 1769 but was incorporated along with Holland to Timothy Andrus (Andrews) and associates in 1798 The town was not settled until 1860 even though there were certainly folks there earlier. For 50 years there was no road leading out of town into Vermont; the only route was by way of Canada. In 1797 the first recorded pathway (blazed trees for horse travel), cleared by Timothy Hinman of Derby, went from the east side of Holland through the northeastern part of Norton to Averill. In the mid-1800s the first sawmill was built just over the international border in Stanhope.
Lumber camps made up most of the town early on and mills were the main source of income. Logging is still a vital part of Norton’s economy. The Grand Trunk railroad came through Norton in the 1850s and was the first international railroad line in North America. In the 1900s it cost 50cents to ride from Norton to Coaticook, Canada and back home. In those days the average salary was 50 cents to $1.00 a day.
AVERILL is a remote unorganized town in Essex County Vermont. Big Averill, Little Averill, and Forest Lakes rest within its area. The area is a quiet, remote, and beautiful and is noted as a rustic vacation spot. Averill Mountain overlooks the green of the forest that surrounds the waters of the Big and Little Averill Lakes. Forest Lake is famous for its fly fishing vacations at Quimby Country. At one time The Cold Springs House and Cottages on Forest Lake was advertised as "the only Maine camp in Vermont. A similar site, Lake Side Inn, was located on Big Averhill Lake. Visitors would get off the train at the Grand Trunk station at Norton Mills, to be met by a three-seat surry with a fringe on top from the resorts, in order to travel the four miles. Hortense Quimby purchased both in 1928 renaming them Quimby Inn that even today is referred to as Quimby Country. The road from Norton through Averill and on to Canaan is renown for moose sightings, as well as deer and other wildlife. This area is also known as the Kingdom’s Last Frontier and the most remote portion of up-east Vermont. It is said that the moose outnumber the people here. They are the largest member of the deer family and a bull can stand up to 7 and ½ feet shoulder height and way up to 1800 pounds. Their large bulky antlers can be as much as 5 feet in spread. Moose eat plants and are attracted to salts on roadsides and are active dawn and sunset. Muddy hollows where moose frequent are called moose wallows and are seen along the roadways. Ice fishing, hunting, and trapping are also favorite pastimes. Winter snowmobile, snowshoe and cross country ski trails offer a unique out-of-the-way view of the area’s beauty and character.
CANAAN is the easternmost township in northeastern Vermont on Rte 114 and the largest among the dots on the map east of Holland. It is bordered by the Connecticut River and New Hampshire and just up the road is neighboring Canada. Geographically located on the 45th parallel, it is halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. Visitors will discover a small market community for shopping necessities. In town, the Ward Memorial Library houses the public library and on the second floor, a History Museum, the Canaan Historical Society and a Family Literacy Center. The building was once a safe haven on the Underground Railroad.
Wallace Pond, northwest of the village lies in both Vermont and Canada and is a favorite winter snowmobiling and ice fishing vacation spot. Camps buzz with activity during the summer months and with snowmobiles and fishermen during the winter months. Mount Monadnock is just south of town and rises 3,141 feet where an adventurous hiker can seek out an abandoned gold mine site or the fire look out tower.
Canaan was included in the independent Indian Stream Territory during the time when British Canada, New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont were all fighting over jurisdiction and from 1777 through 1791 was considered part of the Independent Republic of Vermont - a declared sovereign country that became a part of the United States when it was admitted to the Union in 1791. The township was chartered in 1782 and was a section of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War because of its proximity to Canada.
BEECHER FALLS is located north of Canaan and is distinctly unique in that is bordered by a different state (New Hampshire) and a different country (Canada). Beecher Falls is a border town with a small customs checkpoint and is the home and birthplace of the Ethan Allen Furniture Company on the Connecticut River. Beecher Falls, Canaan, and the Connecticut River became a major source and beginning journey for the large log drives that carried drivers and logs south through to Massachusetts and Connecticut. This is the farthest north and east one can travel in the up-east Vermont communities.
