By Liz Shafer                       Period photos courtesy of Dorset Historical Society The historic narrative of many an old house is often broken—even lost—with the passage of time. People move out, circumstances change, and a different story begins and ends with each new household. But when several generations of the same family spend their lives...

by Liz Shafer  Linda O’Leary, pictured above with her faithful companion, Rosie, is perhaps one of Dorset’s most universally known denizens. Not from celebrity or notoriety, mind you, although she is recognized for acting as consultant by acclaimed author Anita Shreve in her novel ‘Rescue.’ And it’s not because she comes from a large, extended family with a long history in the...

by Liz Schafer Elizabeth Payson was an accomplished and industrious young woman who began a writing career at the age of 16. George Lewis Prentiss was the son of a prosperous shipmaster who became known as a forceful messenger of God’s Word. The two married in 1845, moving from their native Maine to Manhattan, New York, where George’s skill as...

By Liz Schafer. Above, The Bley House Museum, home of the Dorset Historical Society.   When you ask Jon Mathewson about his job as curator for the DHS (Dorset Historical Society), he talks a lot about synergy. He credits a list of volunteers with running the show at the organization’s Bley House Museum. Folks of all ages, including local business people,...

By Liz Schafer “I’ve lived a long life in three wildly different chapters,” says 95-year-old Peter Davis as he describes his pilgrimage from child actor in 1930s and 40s Hollywood working with such luminaries as Shirley Temple and Jack Benny, to a 33-year career with the US government working under nine presidents, to becoming deeply involved with conservation efforts in...

By Liz Schafer Some older homes are dynamic archives to generations of one family. Others have more mysterious stories to tell; they’ve seen inhabitants come and go. One East Dorset couple on Mad Tom Road has encountered a few clues about the history of their circa 1800 homestead. But while they may not be able to chronicle a complete narrative...

By Liz Schafer. Photo courtesy of Dorset Historical Society. East Dorset (circa 1895) If you travel through East Dorset along today’s Route 7, there is little to indicate that it was once a thriving center of commerce. Old photographs from the mid-19th century show clusters of buildings - now gone - that were devoted to the quarrying, polishing and shipping of marble....

By Liz Schafer Dorset Hollow’s six-mile loop, formed by the Upper and Lower Hollow Roads, is one of the area’s most scenic drives, and a popular destination for walkers, who enjoy its beauty and solitude, and where well-kept historical homes and barns mingle with beautiful estates amidst a dramatic landscape formed by the steep, wooded mountainsides of Dorset Peak, Netop...

By Liz Schafer Alan Calfee grew up spending his summers at the Dorset home his parents purchased in the 1950s. To Alan, the best part of that home was what he fondly calls ‘the family woodlot.’ “I knew every corner of it,” he says. He and his siblings would spend hours “playing, exploring and camping,” encouraged by their mother’s joy...

By Liz Schafer Dave and Rene Wilson love to talk about their kids; there are hundreds of them. As founders of the Long Trail School, “We have stories upon stories upon stories which we love to reminisce about and share,” says Rene. “And the absolute joy of our retirement has been the continued connection with our alums.” Dave had been...

By Liz Schafer Dorset’s Pinnacle Tower and a few ancient trees are all that is left to tell the story of Miss Cecelia deNottbeck, great-grand daughter of John Jacob Astor and a descendent of Finnish nobility. Cecelia’s life was touched by tragedy, beginning in 1891 with the loss of her father. General John deNottbeck, New York Consul representing Czar Nicholas...

By Liz Schafer The Honorable Ellen Holmes Maloney’s engaging manner and warm smile are refreshingly different from the stereotypical view of a courtroom judge as someone who is stern and unsympathetic. In fact, this 80-year-old Dorset resident has always been driven by a sense of justice, especially for those who suffer inequality. She recalls having a keen awareness while growing...

By Liz Schafer The Gilbert family has a very large presence in the story of Dorset. It began when they migrated from Cavendish in the 1850s, most likely enduring the 42-mile journey by oxcart or horse over rough roads through what must have been rather treacherous terrain. When they arrived to this beautiful valley, they must have felt that they’d...

By Liz Schafer An interest in environmental issues while a student at Burr & Burton Academy (BBA) is what led Mara Hearst of Levy Lamb to farming. Climate change was a rising issue in 2008, and as she and her classmates learned that improved agricultural practices could be a huge part of the solution, Mara wanted to know more about...

By Liz Schafer Arthur Jones’ humble beginnings as the son of a tenant farmer led him to more opportunities than he might have imagined as a young lad who loved to draw. He wasn’t the least bit interested in following in his father’s footsteps, and found school to be tedious. Nonetheless, the elder Jones encouraged Arthur’s artistic bent, even when...

By Liz Schafer If you pull up a stool next to Terry Tyler in one of the area’s local eateries, you’ll notice a neatly dressed man with a quiet, gentlemanly demeanor. If you strike up a conversation, you’ll most certainly enjoy his humility and wit as he shares some personal anecdotes. What may not be immediately apparent is that he...

When the weather warms and the days get longer, thousands of visitors flock to Herald Beebe Farm in East Dorset with their four-legged friends – and we’re not talking about dogs. For eight weeks in June through August, top equestrians from all corners of the world call Manchester and the Mountains home during the Vermont Summer Festival. The festival provides the perfect...

When Dan Mosheim first came to Vermont to visit his sister in the early 1970s, he wasn’t expecting to stay long. Today, Dan has called Vermont home for nearly 50 years – nearly half of them in the picturesque town of Dorset.  For him, the best part of living in Dorset is the community.  “There are people who live here...

Vermont is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise and the call of nature can be somewhat irresistible. The Green Mountain State is home to more than 700 miles of hiking trails. Nestled between the Taconic and Green Mountain Ranges, Dorset offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation – whether that’s hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or canoeing in the summer or snowshoeing and cross-country...

Just minutes from the Village, off the side of Dorset West Road, a magnificent marble mansion sits. You can tell it’s one-of-a-kind and nearly impossible to miss. It’s the kind of beauty that makes you slow your car and stare as you pass by, no matter how many times you’ve seen it before.  The Marble House: Then  The marble mansion...

Rows and rows of apple trees line the hillside along Mad Tom Road in East Dorset. The aptly named Mad Tom Orchard is the perfect place to celebrate the changing of the seasons, when Vermont’s warm summer days turn cool and crisp. Beginning in early September, hundreds of trees bear McIntosh (the classic Vermont apple), Cortland (the best for baking),...

You’re missing out if you pass through Dorset without stopping at J.K. Adams. Whether you’re in the market for a new rolling pin, cutting board, or pie dish, or have some time to spare and just want to mosey around their three-level showroom, you’re guaranteed to find at least one thing you want to add to your kitchen.  The 75-year-old,...

Traveling along the Route 30 corridor through Dorset, you pass a quaint red barn, with an attached white building. Above the door hangs a sign that reads general store. To an outsider, H.N. Williams Store might look like just another old Vermont country store, but anyone who has visited knows the treasures that are found inside.  At H.N. Williams Store,...

Anyone who has found himself (or herself) at the north end of DFC on holes 3 through 6 may have witnessed an unusual sight (for Vermont anyway)--ring-necked pheasants running along the edges of the fairways. It’s hard to miss them with their vivid colors and distinctive white collars. The birds occasionally wander onto the golf course from Woodbury Game Birds,...

Southern Vermont is rich in the arts. From intimate concert venues to cozy art galleries, we’re certainly not lacking. Dorset, in particular, offers a variety of robust arts and entertainment opportunities, including its theater flagship, Dorset Playhouse – home of the Dorset Players and the Dorset Theatre Festival.  Dorset Playhouse is the perfect spot to experience live theatre. Built in...

The Dorset Green looks like something you’d find on a postcard. The houses and stores that line either side of the strip are uniform white, trimmed in dark green or black. The Dorset Inn, a three-story, pillared building with marble steps and sidewalk harvested from the nearby quarry, immediately catches your eye – and not just because it’s the first...

As you travel through Vermont’s Route 30 corridor, you pass a sprawling golf course, with beautiful greens and fairways, and breathtaking views of Vermont’s Green Mountains. It’s enough to make even those who don’t golf want to hit the links. The golf course belongs to Dorset Field Club, regarded as the oldest continually operating golf club in its original location...

Every Sunday, bakers, artists, farmers, crafters, growers and other artisans flock to Dorset for the town’s Farmers Market, offering fresh, locally-grown produce, delicious baked goods, and much more.  Whether you are new to the area, visiting for the weekend, or just passing through, you have to visit the Dorset Farmers Market at least once (but we promise you’ll want to come...

Dorset is a bike lovers paradise. With all its mountains and valleys, Dorset is the perfect spot to grab your bike and head into the woods. Vermont, and the Northshire in particular, has some of the best mountain biking on the east coast. But for years, fans of mountain biking went underserved in southern Vermont.  But the times are changing. ...

While it’s always cooler in Vermont’s mountains, summer days in the valley can sizzle. On these hot days, which often begin in late-May, you can join the dozens of families and groups of friends of all ages at the one of the best swimming holes in the state – the Dorset Quarry.  What was once one of the region’s best...

When you first pull up to Dorset Union Store, you almost feel like you’re stepping back in time. Save for the green and white stripped awnings and the smoothly paved road, the store’s idyllic exterior looks nearly the same as it did when it first opened in 1816. When you think of an old Vermont country store, you probably envision...

On the corner of Village Street and Mad Tom Road in East Dorset sits one of the largest buildings in the village, a red and white inn with a deep porch that is home to several rocking chairs just waiting to be sat in. Many who pass the modest sign near the front entrance of The Wilson House may pause...

If you’re looking for a place to connect with nature, Merck Forest and Farmland Center is the place for you. Located just minutes away from beautiful Dorset and Manchester, it’s truly a nature lovers paradise. The nonprofit educational organization that manages the sprawling land has a mission that we can all get behind: inspire curiosity, love, and responsibility toward our...