Category Archives: Brattleboro

November 24, 2017

Creamery Covered Bridge (Brattleboro, VT)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 6, 2017

Location: 9 Guilford St, Brattleboro, VT (Guilford Street off Route 9 west, over Whetstone Brook, VT-13-01)

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a small free parking lot to the left side of the bridge

Hours: Accessible all day, everyday

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Creamery Covered Bridge

Highlights: covered pedestrian bridge

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As I  have been going through my photos and getting ready for next year’s adventures, I have come across quite a few photos from photo shoots from weeks and in some cases months ago that I have not posted yet.  So, in my effort to play catch up, you may see some photos in my posts from places I have visited during the summer and early fall.  It will be nice to see what green leaves and pretty flowers look like since they are no longer with us.  O.K, so next year’s there’s another resolution for next year: get more organized!

Vermont is known for maple syrup, snow and more snow.  Oh, and they also have a few covered bridges.

In fact, covered bridges are a staple of Vermont.  They have the most covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the country.

There are over 100 (109 to be exact) covered bridges in Vermont.  But the Creamery Covered Bridge in Brattleboro, VT,  is no ordinary bridge.

The Creamery Bridge so called after the old Brattleboro Creamery which stood beyond the bridge is Brattleboro’s last surviving 19th-century covered bridge.

The bridge, which only allows pedestrian traffic, is 80 feet long and 19 feet wide, with a 15-foot roadway; the attached sidewalk is 5.5 feet wide.

The sidewalk attached to side of the bridge offers some pretty views of the Whetstone Brook below.

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The bridge was built from spruce lumber 1879 and it had been used be vehicles until it was closed to vehicle traffic in 2010.  It now only allows traffic from cyclists, joggers and other pedestrians.  The sidewalk was added in 1920.

To the side of the bridge there is an area with benches where you can sit and admire the bridge.

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This marker was located near the bridge.  I could not find any reference to it on the internet.  If anyone has any information on it, I would appreciate it if you left a comment about it.  Without making too many assumptions, it appears as though it may have been dedicated to someone who was a covered bridge enthusiast.

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Below is a video of the inside of the bridge.

17 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Brattleboro, bridge, Creamery Covered Bridge, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, Vermont

September 4, 2017

Twice Upon A Time (Brattleboro, VT)

By New England Nomad

 

Date Of Visit: August 6, 2017

Location: 63 Main St, Brattleboro, VT

Hours:

10:00am – 6:00pm Monday through Saturday

11:00am – 6:00pm Sunday

Parking: There is metered parking located throughout the city

Handicapped Accessible: No

Dog Friendly: Yes

Website: Twice Upon A Time

Tips:

  • there are three floors to the building (includiing the basement).  Make sure to hit them all.
  • Parking can be difficult in the center of town where the store is located.  It could be better to park farther away and walk a short distance (and taking in the sights along the way)

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Second hand clothes and dog-eared books aren’t the only things you’ll find at Twice Upon A Time.  Memories and laughs are also not in short supply at the store.

The three floor (if you count the basement) and 10,000 square foot store has everything from vintage clothing to old lighting fixtures and skis that have seen better days..

Nostalgia poured over me as I looked back at all of the items that were once popular during my childhood and younger years.

My favorite part of the shop was rummaging through the books, toys, audio recordings and collectible collections.  It’s not only fun to see books and music you recognize it also gives a glimpse into what life was like at an earlier time.

Raise your hand if you remember sitting at these types of desks. OK, it can be just our little secret.

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I was also fascinated by the more unusual and vintage items at the store.  I was also struck by how much corporate culture has invaded both our current and past.  I mean, who wouldn’t want that vintage Coke temperature gauge hanging in their kitchen?

Twice Upon A Time…is no fly by might store.  The store has  been around, in various locations in Brattleboro, since 1987.  They have been at their current location on Main St since 1996.  And, based on the constant flow of shoppers and visitors to the store it foes not appear to be closing any time soon.

Twice Upon A Time…is a dog friendly store,  And who knows; you might even find something for your pup there.  Molly, a 3 year old Shih Tzu, was there shopping with her human during my visit.

When you are paying for your purchases, you might meet Nugget, an 8 year old Pomeranian and pet of one of the owners of the shop.

Below is a short video of a tour of the Twice Upon A Time store from the Brattleboro Community TV YouTube page:

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Brattleboro, dogs, photographs, photography, photos, Twice Upon A Time, Uncategorized, Vermont

August 22, 2017

Grafton Village Cheese Co (Brattleboro, VT)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: August 6, 2017

Location: 400 Linden Street, Brattleboro, VT

Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Parking: There are about 15-20 parking spaces in the lot in front of the store

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: a store that sells hand made cheese on site as well as an assortment of other snacks, household items and novelty items

Website: Grafton Village

Tips:

  • It gets very busy, especially during the summer and fall.  So, you may have to park across the street (the road can be very busy so use caution) or on the side of the road in front of the store
  • Retreat Farm, a family friendly farm, with animals and a short trail is located next to the Grafton Village Cheese Co

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Vermont is known for more than just maple syrup, Ben and Jerry’s and its lakes.  Tucked away along the mountains and lakes of Vermont stands one of the oldest cheese making companies in Vermont, the Grafton Village Cheese Company.

The original store, called the Grafton Cooperative Cheese Company, was founded in 1892 by dairy farmers who gathered together in a cooperative to make their surplus raw milk into cheese.  Before we had refrigeration, many of the cooperatives in the area would turn the abundant creamy milk into food that could be stored for longer period of times.  They’ve come along way from these beginnings.  As technology progressed, so did the Cooperative.

Unfortunately, the original cooperative burned down in 1912.  But, a non profit organization restored the company in the 1960’s and they have been a mainstay in the area ever since.

But, don’t let their name fool you.  Grafton Village Cheese also sells a variety of spreads, snacks, tea and other

Walking through the store, I was reminded of the general stores that used to seem to be around every corner when I  vacationed with my family as a child.  The barn-like wooden structure and

I love the rustic feel of the store and the area.

 

 

They have a wide selection of cheeses, chocolates, salsas and spreads.  And, if you’re lucky, you might be able to taste test samples of the  various jams, salsas and other jellies and spreads.

 

 

The store also supports the community with environmental, educational and philanthropic efforts.  You’ll find the donation boxes along the checkout counter.  There is also a farm next to the store that I will cover in my next blog post.

The staff at the Grafton Village Cheese Company are super friendly.  They posed for me with their signature product.

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The video below shows how they hand make the cheese at the store.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Brattleboro, cheese, Grafton Village Cheese Company, New England, photographs, photography, photos, store, Uncategorized, Vermont