Bradford Rest Stop, I-91 North

Bradford
James Wilson, Glove Maker

Located 100 yards beyond this marker is the site where James Wilson had his home and workshop. Between 1808 and 1810 Wilson made and sold the first terrestrial and celestial gloves in North America. Born in Londonderry, N.H., in 1763, Wilson was a farmer and blacksmith who moved to Bradford in 1795. He taught himself astronomy and geography and studied wiwth Amos Doolittle in CT to learn engraving, skills he needed to make gloves. Wilson died in Bradford in 1855 at the age of 92.

Vermont Division for Historic Preservation – 1995

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Newbury, Vermont

I love Newbury. Not only does Sue live here, but the Atkinson Retreat Center of the United Church of Christ (above) is here. I have attended only one retreat the year that I attended the Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training in St. Johnsbury. The weekend I spent there was wonderful and the food was just outstanding. It was so hot when I was there but they provided a fan. There were hymns, prayers, discussions, and community. It all made me feel loved and part of a community I had always wanted to be a part of. The section between the house and the barn is like a dormitory with small cell-like rooms that make me think of a monastery.

I will be going to another retreat in April with the conference's Women's Fellowship. I can't wait! Perhaps this time I will see the ghost that they claim inhabits the house!

The Newbury store (above) is a great place for muffins, cookies, DVDs and gifts. It is one of the friendliest stores around.

Newbury has a more colonial-era type of atmosphere which is so familiar to me from Connecticut. It was established in the mid-1700s. Barton, where I live now, is younger, poorer and more remote. Hall's Lake is also in Newbury. Sue, Wingnut, and I went swimming and canoeing there last summer.


Rt 5, Newbury, VT:

JACOB BAYLEY
Founder of Newbury and Revolutionary General
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Veteran of the Indian wars, Bayley led a migration of settlers from Newbury, Mass. to the rich lands of the Coos here at the Great Ox-Bow. A staunch patriot, he bitterly opposed the "Haldimand Negotiations" carried on with Canada by Ethan & Ira Allen, during the Revolution.

VERMONT HISTORIC SITES COMMISSION

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Bradford, Vermont

Above: a 1927 postcard showing the Waits River Dam in Bradford during the Great Flood. Today the dam looks like this:

Another winter view of the dam taken by another photographer can be found here.
The powerhouse today (Rt 5 in the background):


From the historic marker on Route 5:

BRADFORD
Home of Maker of 1st Globes and Birthplace of Adm. Clark

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James Wilson, a Bradford farmer and self-taught engraver, in early 1800's made and sold the first geographical globes in the U.S. Adm. Chas. Clark, born here in 1843, was Captain of the "Oregon", which sailed around Cappe Horn to defeat Spanish at Santiago Bay in 1898.

VERMONT HISTORIC SITES COMMISSION

From an historic marker at the Bradford Rest Stop, I-91 northbound (not photographed yet):

Between 1808 and 1810 Wilson made and sold the first terrestrial and celestial globes in North America. Wilson was a farmer and blacksmith b. 1736 in Londonderry N.H. who moved to Bradford in 1795. He taught himself astronomy and geography, studied with Amos Doolittle in CT to learn engraving, skills he needed to make globes. Wilson died in Bradford in 1855 at the age of 92.

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