One of the best songs ever written about Vermont is by John Blackburn. Mr. Blackburn spent only two years in Vermont, teaching Drama at Bennington College. He lived the rest of his years in Southern California, as far away as one can get from Vermont, in more ways than just weather! But he must have loved the place while he was there, just read a sample of these immortal lyrics in which each verse is haiku.
Ev’nig summer breeze
Warbling of a meadowlark
Moonlight in Vermont
Icy fingers-wave
Ski trails on a mountainside
Snowlight in Vermont
Written in 1943, the poetic words of this romantic ballad are timeless and describe so well the romantic vision most people have of Vermont. Native Vermonters and visitors alike to this wonderful state know this and keep it close to their hearts.
One Vermont location and Inn that met his criteria is The Brass Lantern in Stowe. The B&B Team is pleased to have been involved with the transfer of the inn on December 16th as Consultants to the Buyers. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Mary Anne and George Lewis, new Innkeepers of The Brass Lantern Inn. The Lewis’s are recent graduates of our Aspiring Innkeeper’s Seminar. With their knowledge and our commitment to an ongoing relationship with our clients, we feel assured of their future success as Vermont Innkeepers.
Some very famous natives, at least to the many fans of the Vermont Country Store, are the Orton family. They are in their 8th generation of ownership! In the beginning, Vrest and Ellen Orton had a family goal, “sell products that don’t come back to people that do”, and “we take great care to treat you right so that you come back often.” These values still exist in the running of the store. You see it everywhere, from their dedication to their product line as ‘Purveyors of the Practical and Hard-to-Find’ to the warm and cozy feel of their two stores and the unique format of their catalog that hasn’t changed much in 60 years. This home grown friendly and practical approach to business is what makes this state’s hospitality so genuine.
Norman Simpson once wrote in one of his Country Inns & Back Roads volumes, that he was always looking for the “lost Vermont”. His vision was of “Gardens, trees, peace, history, laconic natives, covered bridges, mountains, lakes, antiquing, auctions…a sort of warm feeling of coming home.”
“Lost Vermont”…?…sorry Norman but we don’t believe it has ever been lost. If you visit Vermont this winter I am certain you will be welcomed with the warmth of an ‘icy-fingered wave’, a road map to the ‘ski trails on a mountainside’ and a beautiful evening view from your guest room window of ‘Moonlight in Vermont.’ The Lewis’s and the Brass Lantern Inn will be happy to be your hospitable guides and hosts. Oh yes, and while there, do drop in and see the folks at The Vermont Country Store too!
Janet Wolf
