ROADS and ROUTES — RAY RECOMMENDS

My explorations of back roads, far away from the interstates, started in my 1929 Model A Ford Roadster in 1962. My “shunpiking” during high school explored all the New England states, camping, poking in barns and antique shops, and touring historic sites. I fondly remember driving down Historic Deerfield’s main street in the pouring rain in the summer of 1963. It was an adventure driving from home in lower Fairfield County Connecticut to the upper woods of Maine to inspect a 1915 Model T Ford for my Dad. In early 2010 I purchased BLACK BEAUTY, my 1958 TR3A. Most of the year was spent bringing her back from an over forty year nap. I then began “shunpiking” in earnest with her. “To write about something is to live it twice,” I read in a book. Loving to write, I decided to document my explorations and started my travel blog “Shunpiking with Ray” on April 8, 2011, almost ten years ago. I write to remember, but also to share, and so far I have shared 350 posts with my readers, hopefully encouraging them to also get out and explore off the beaten path. This month’s “Did You Know That…” provided me with more reading and research opportunities leading to more shunpiking. I love traveling The Molly Stark Trail, and the Mohawk Trail, but did you know there is a John Stark Scenic Byway? I didn’t. The Line of Forts along the Massachusetts border, established during the French and Indian Wars, also deserve deeper explorations. It has been hard to explore this past year. I did not feel it safe to freely exit a car and browse sites, shops or historic places and museums. But, even before that is again possible, I have plans to get out, drive and document, and share my discoveries. As space permits in future CLARIONs I will provide you with some recommended “Roads and Routes” for you to explore. And, you may wish to travel with me, on-line at home, by taking a look at “Shunpiking with Ray.”

Clinton G. Lewis (1930 – 2009) and his family moved to Vermont in 1964, settling in Brattleboro. He soon established the The Old Jelly Mill, an abandoned jelly and cider mill in Dummerston established by John Taft, and transformed it into a truly unique retail store. The mill burned down in 1969 and they relocated to Manchester the following year and renovated the old Munson farm dairy barn into what was the Jelly Mill on Main Street. Clint operated the business until November 2005 when he had to retire for health reasons.

A favorite wading and hangout spot of local residents, Jelly Mill Falls, sometimes called Old Jelly Mill Falls, is a little formation on a pretty mountain stream. The waterfall consists of a series of stepped falls and miniature cascades that mark the last hurrah of a brook that terminates just downstream of the falls.

The total drop may be 30 feet, but no individual fall is greater than 8 feet. Many of the drops photograph extremely well, especially during fall foliage.

Oct 6, 2016 – The Keelan Company sells Orvis Outlet for $2,400,000 –

Officials with Orvis said the company had recently renewed its lease of the building for a second 10-year term. The company’s public relations coordinator told the Banner on Tuesday that the landlords have changed, but the sale will not affect Orvis’ lease.

The building is formerly known as The Jelly Mill. The Keelan Company purchased it from Clinton “Clint” Lewis for $717,000 in 1998, according to a press release from The Keelan Company president Pete Keelan. The Jelly Mill closed in 2005 after Lewis retired. There were offers to tear down or modify the building, but Keelan was selective about who could lease the property.

From 1890 to 1915, The Jelly Mill was operated as a dairy barn for former Vermont Supreme Court Justice Loveland Munson. In the basement of the building there are still remnants of cow stalls, the release stated.

The Keelan Company was founded in 1993.

Orvis is “America’s oldest mail-order outfitter and longest continually operating fly-fishing business” founded by Charles F. Orvis in Manchester in 1856. Since 1965, it’s been privately owned by the Perkins family and accumulated more than $340 million in sales (2012) as an international, multi-channel retailer,

These small but beautiful falls cascade over slanted granite bedrock, with a number of nice shallow wading pools. This is a perfect family outing on a hot summer day

BRATTLEBORO –

L. J. Johnsori s cider-mill and jelly manufactory, located on road 21, was built in 1880. The first year Mr. Johnson made r,ooo barrels of cider and nine tons of jelly. He has since made from eight to ten tons of jelly per year. — L. J. JOHNSON’s cider-mill and jelly manufactory, located on road 21, was built in 1880. The first year Mr. JOHNSON made 1,000 barrels of cider and nine tons of jelly. He has since made from eight to ten tons of jelly per year.

In the early 1800s in the United States, the country was experiencing a surge westward. Of the many legendary characters to emerge during this period was John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. A nursery-man from western Pennsylvania, Chapman walked through the Midwest planting apple orchards. His purpose was to provide crops for the coming pioneers.

One of those pioneers was Jerome Smucker of Ohio who used Chapman’s apples to open a cider mill in 1897. Within a few years, he was also making apple butter. Smucker blended the apple butter in a copper kettle over a wood stove. He and his wife ladled the apple butter into stoneware crocks. She then sold it to other housewives near their home in Wayne County, Ohio.

What is the difference between jam and jelly? Both jelly and jam are made with fruit mixed with pectin and sugar. However, the difference between the two comes in the form of the fruit that goes into them. Jelly is made from fruit juice and jam uses both the fruit pulp and juice. — Jelly is a clear fruit spread made with sweetened fruit juice and jam has both fruit juice and fruit pieces in the spread. The healthier choice will be jam because it has more fruit in it (and less sugar).

Bennington Banner (Newspaper) – July 12, 1969, – OLD JELLY MILL. On Vt. 30 in West Dummerston. 254-2296. Open all week 10-5:30. Sandwiches and no license. Specialty is cob smoked ham with Vt. aged cheddar, grilled at $1.25. Home made bread and pastries. Outdoor deck beside waterfall adjoins one of Vermont’s most unusual gift stores.

Vermont Phoenix from Brattleboro, Vermont on October 4 …1901

https://www.newspapers.com › newspageJohn Tnf t expects to start the cider mill this week. The Jelly made by Mr. Taft is an extra good quality, and Is shipped to customers in many different sections of the …