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Newfane and Townshend
Vermont

Always Wear A Helmet

Brian MacTavish (my West Highland White Terrier) and I season camp in Townshend, Vermont. One of my favorite rides is from the campground (Camperama) south on Route 30 to Brattleboro (round trip about 36miles). The road is somewhat narrow in spots between Townshend and through the adjacent town of Newfane, but has a good shoulder as you ride along side the West River. This area abounds in antique shops, auctions and has one of the best flea markets in New England, the Newfane Flea Market, which is held each Sunday from the first of May through the end of October.

Newfane Center, one of the most picturesque towns in Vermont.

This is the Newfane home of Archer Mayor, author of the Joe Gunther series of detective stories centered around the Brattleboro area. He does much of his writing from the tree house on the left. Some of his books include: Open Season, Borderlines, Scent of Evil, The Skeleton's Knee, The Dark Root.

Two covered bridges are within just a few miles of each other. Along Route 30 on the right you will see the Dummerston covered bridge, which is still in use. It underwent restoration over the last couple of years and has just reopened.

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If you cycle through the Scott bridge from Route 30, you will find a back unpaved road which is great for hybrids or mountain bikes. This road goes past the Townshend State Park (camping, hiking, picnics), Bald Mountain Campground, and comes out on the lower end of Route 30 past a small waterfall on the right just before you return to pavement.

Businesses of Interest in the Area:

	Big Black Bear Shop Featuring Mary Meyer Stuffed Toys Townshend, VT Tel: 888-758-BEAR IT'S LIKE BEING ON NOAH'S ARK!
	Harmonyville Antiques Route 30 Townshend, VT 05353 802-365-7679 Country Antiques
	Townshend Outdoors 1796 Vermont Route 30, PO Box 534 Townshend, VT (802) 365-7308 Outdoor Gear - Consignment & Rentals - Thursday Evening Paddles (I got a terrific buy on a pair of Tubb snowshoes)
	Townshend Country Inn Lodging and Restaurant Vermont Turkey Dinner - $7.95
	Olde & New England Books 47 West Street, Newfane, VT www.oldandnewenglandbooks.com
	The British Clockmaker Shop Newfane, VT 05345 http://www.thebritishclockmaker.com
	Photographic Discovery Specializing in Fine Art Photography
	Beverly G. Bates, Proprietor 49 West Street Newfane, VT Tel: 802-365-4500 Fax: 802-365-4294 bgbates@sover.net

E. Dean Barrel Staves and (new line) Spice Boxes (by Beverly G. Bates) It has been difficult to gather a history on "E. Dean," whose work has been highly coveted for many years among collectors of primitive art. The following information has been gathered from a variety of sources: "Betty" was born around 1910. She evidently learned the basics of painting from an antique dealer in Boston, who taught her how to restore old oil paintings. It is questionable as to whether or not she ever had any formal art training. She began painting little scenes on anything she could pick up in antique shops, second hand shops, or on furniture which she bought or people brought in to her. The staves are from old whiskey barrels, which apparently cannot be reused. Her son-in-law used to pick these up locally, but they have gotten so hard to find, he has had to go to Canada for a supply. Her grandson knocks them apart, belt sands the outside and wire brushes the back side (they are charred when used to store whiskey), and then she starts the painting - ground color, background and then the scene, followed by varnish, antiquing, and more varnish. It is estimated that she has painted at least 2000 staves over the years. Nearly all of her whaling and wharf scenes are sent to Nantucket where they are sold in the Whaling Museum. Many others go to antique dealers. When requests are made for specific subjects to be painted on the staves, it always is a surprise to see what she produces. One customer requested that she paint a "Customs House" on one of her "Wharf" scenes, but the building, while it somewhat resembled the Customs House on a postcard of the Newburyport dockside, was labeled "Counting House." Several years ago someone brought her an old two-man saw and wanted a rendition of the Battle of Lexington - Concord on it. She did a wooden bridge in the middle of it, but other than that, it could have been "The Storming of the Bastille." Her only comment was, "If he doesn't like it, too bad!" * * * Photographic Discovery has a fascinating display of merchandize, including vintage prints, books, posters, magazines and other photographic items. Website: http://www.photographicdiscovery.com

	Newfane Country Store PO Box 56, 598 VT Route 30 Newfane, VT 05345 (802) 365-7916 Located in the center of Newfane Many "country" items, quilts, crafts, candies, etc.

NU-tique Shop Main Street, Route 30, Newfane, VT General stock and out-of-print books. Specialties: town histories, poetry, novels, Civil War, WWI, WWII, genealogy, children's and travel.

	Square Peg Workshop - Nostalgic Gifts Designed and Handcrafted by Brenda and Chris Hadden 50 Blueberry Circle, Newfane, VT 05345 Phone: (802) 365-7853 e-mail: squarpeg@together.net Some really unusual jewelry - pins and barrettes made from old watch parts. I also liked the old tools with the birdhouses on top.

	Townshend Furniture - Country furniture and accessories hand crafted from New England hard and soft woods. Route 30, Townshend, Vermont 05353 (802) 365-7720

Lawn set up for tag sale of items from Antiques and Collectibles. She also sells through E-Bay (Her daughter is becoming an entrepreneur in her own right (photo to right). Please contact: (802) 365-9605
Auctions ... Townshend, Vermont ... Kit Martin, Auctioneer ... See a typical Vermont auction in action!	Auctioning a pair of Victorian panels
An old-fashioned barber shop up for bid, piece by piece.	(I wonder what the blond haired gentleman in the purple T-shirt is thinking!)


Winchester Stables Southern Vermont's premier full service equestrian facility River Road Newfane, Vermont 05345 Tel: (802) 365-9434 Fax: (802) 365-7802 e-mail: pdwsinc@sovernet.net Website: www.winchesterstables.com Check out their website for further information. Lessons are necessary if you are not an experienced rider. (The llamas are pets)