Wilmington, Vermont

It is a rainy, drab day in Vermont, but we ventured out anyway. We found our way back to Wilmington. It is about 20 miles west of Brattleboro and we had driven through last weekend on our way to Bennington. On that bright, sunny day Wilmington was overrun with folks milling around, ducking into shops, or having pastry with their coffee at the bakery. Today, it was quiet around town. I guess we can call Wilmington the quintessential tourist village of Vermont. It is a quaint place with gift shops, inns, and eateries all there to serve the tourists.

Lymon House was an Inn, now the barn is a gift shop

Memorial Hall

There aren’t many ways to get to Wilmington and from Brattleboro there appears to be only one—US 9. It is a fine road and kept that way because of it’s designation as a scenic byway, or more accurately—the Molly Stark Trail. Apparently, Molly never came this way, but there are dozens of things that bear the name “Molly Stark” in her honor in Vermont as well as New Hampshire, including Route 9. Molly was the wife of General John Stark of Battle of Bennington fame during the Revolutionary War. Molly, mother of 11 children, defended the old home place while her husband was at war. Gen. Stark’s victory march from Bennington back to his home in New Hampshire is thought to have been along the path that eventually became Route 9.

Molly Stark Statue

Norton House.  It was moved here by ox cart in 1830.

Police Station and Town Hall

We did just like all tourists do. We strolled up and down the streets and ducked into a few shops, bought a few treasures, and had a cup of coffee at Dots. It was great.