LUDLOW, VERMONT
The Vermont Tribune.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 1898.
We had received an interesting article describing a visit to Danby by several Mount Holly people, but lack of space forbade us to print it last week. It appears below. -ED.
A Pleasant Trip.
Friday morning, Aug. 12, a party of sixteen, composed of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. H. Packer, Dr. and Mrs. T. A. Cootey, Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Trask, Mr. and Mrs. Darius Tarbell, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Fletcher and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Allard, started at an early hour for Danby, by invitation of Silas L. Griffith, to visit his fish hatcheries and mountain trout lake. Reaching there at a little past ten o’clock a.m., the party was cordially received by Mr. Griffith, who, anticipating our arrival, had teams hitched up to convey the party on to the mountain. Mr. and Mrs. Milton C. White joined the party here. Stopping a few moments to look over the fine grounds and beautiful flowers at Mr. Griffith’s residence, we proceeded on the way to Lake Griffith, ascending the mountain road, which called forth remarks of surprise to see what man, by pluck and push, can accomplish. If it were not for the steep grade and waterbars, necessary to turn the water from washing the road, it would be one of the best roads in the state to drive over, for in the whole four miles you can scarcely find one loose stone. In building this road Mr. Griffith struck a line from top to bottom and said, “We will build the road here,” and he fought it out on that line. No deviating from the course on account of ledges of solid rock to cut through or deep chasms to fill; no going around, but going through and over. And it was over this road that we passed, enjoying the beautiful panorama spread out before us, as from our high elevation we could look off for miles and miles. We arrived at the Mountain house at about one o’clock, and were made welcome by Mrs. Griffith and her friends. The cook, seeing our approach, had sounded the foghorn, and soon we were gatherers at the table and doing full justice to the bountiful spread. After a dinner we went boat riding on the beautiful little lake which we had looked upon from the broad piazza of the Mountain house.
Some went trout fishing, and nearly all caught something. Mrs. J. E. Fletcher caught the largest trout (this being her first fishing trip, she is instilled in feeling proud), Mrs. Trask, I think, claimed the second prize, and Daniel Allard caught a — ducking. Dan is the quickest man ( at times) that I ever saw. In the evening we had vocal and instrumental music, and the woods were made to resound with music from the good old hymnals. Mr. Griffith sang, and whatever he engages in doesn’t drag. Later on we were highly interested by Mr. Griffith relating a few of his personal experiences, and as he has the faculty of telling a good story and holding the attention of the hearer, all enjoyed it—but Jud Packer; at least I suppose he didn’t enjoy it, for he was holding on to his sides as though in pain.
After a night of sleep such as one enjoys at this season in the atmosphere at 2,200 feet elevation above Danby, we were ready for breakfast and any sport to come after. By the way, I think the cook was glad two times while we were there, for our appetites were large and he must have been tired, for every lady of our party wanted his recipe for making bread, pie, cake, tea, cooking trout, etc.
Having taken some time in visiting what they call the “Long Hole,” a great place for trout, and looking at the house which Mr. Griffith is building there, we all started back, as we knew that we were getting up sufficient appetite to eat again. This place is about a mile from the lake by road, but some went through a small piece of the woods to get a little idea of the vastness of the whole, wherein there are millions and millions of feet of lumber and thousands of acres of land. We all reached the hotel, some arriving by team, others on foot, and still others by boat. Dinner being announced, we set down to it with the feeling that it could hardly be possible that we had been there long enough to partake of four meals —and meals, too, that have made me feel ever since that my wife is a very poor cook, or else I am a poor provider.
After dinner we grouped together and Mrs. Packer took a snap shot of us, and if you ever see a copy of the picture I think you will see a group looking as though life was worth living. All but Jud Fletcher—you will know him by a kinder-of-a-fog-horn-pucker-of the-mouth — he was the only one of the party that couldn’t toot the horn. Jud ain’t much on horns, anyhow.
Bidding adieu to our kind hostess and her friends, who had done so much to make our visit enjoyable, we started on our down trip, going over a road built some four years earlier than the one we went up on. I should say this road was a considerably steeper grade, and there is an S curve which makes it a less desirable road to lumber over. From this road you get a view worth traveling to see. Looking back to see the teams corn ing behind, all double, with brakes on the wagons, I thought what would be the result should the brakes refuse to work or harness break, but happily we all reached Griffith in safety, and spent a pleasant hour in looking over the fish hatcheries there. Clear, cold spring water is brought from the mountain side. Mr. Griffith has sunk an artesian well to the depth of 180 feet, and they are now sinking another. Here one sees trout worth looking at; speckled beauties that, as they jump from the water to get their feed, cause a tremor of excitement to run all over one. But I can give you but little description of what we saw to enjoy. Mr. Griffith must have already spent thousands of dollars, yet it is but little compared to what he contemplates doing.
With a regretful look back we left here and arrived at our last stopping place, Danby, where our rested horses were ready to start on our homeward journey. In saying goodbye to our kind entertainer, who made every minute one of enjoyment, we felt that he had enjoyed seeing the pleasure that we had experienced.
It is the unanimous expression of the entire party that we are glad we went.