Twilight Series LbNA #9580
Map
Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | TwoLoons  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 27, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Orleans |
| County: | Orleans |
| State: | Vermont |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Found by: | iTodd (2) |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jul 24, 2011 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jul 27, 2004 |
Directions
These three letterboxes are located in the villages of Orleans and Brownington, Vermont. Driving on I-91, take exit 26 turning left off the exit into the town of Orleans on Route 58.
Fish Are Jumping
Continue on Route 58 through town. Following signs to the Old Stone House Museum, turn left by St. Theresa Church onto East St. for 2 tenths of a mile to a bridge over the Willoughby River. Just after the bridge, turn into the parking lot for the Willoughby River Fishing Access and park. Walk left out of the parking lot down the dirt road to a wooden stairway leading to the river. In the early spring, this area, known as Willoughby Falls, is packed with spectators watching the annual spawning run of trout as they jump the hurdles in the falls through the rushing torrent. It’s the lucky (and patient) photographer that has captured on film the spectacle of a trout suspended in midair with droplets of spray glinting in the spring sunshine. Below the bridge is a fishing spot renowned to anglers around the country.
Walk along the shore upriver past a stone bench and scramble over ledge to the place where the series of falls begin and find a pile of rounded rocks deposited by the current. At the first large rounded boulder, turn your back to the river. Look for a gnarled maple tree growing from the remnants of an old rock wall. Look to the left and just beyond this tree to a deep crevasse in the rock wall at the foot of two “kissing” maples. Here is where your treasure will be found supported by a flat stone and covered with sticks and leaves.
Point of Interest: If you walk back across the bridge, you will find an opening in the guard rail allowing access to a bench for second view of the falls. There you’ll find a monument placed by the Orleans Rod and Gun Club in honor of “The Fishermen of the Willoughby River.”
Brownington 360
*Note: The Brownington 360 has been retired (sadly) due to a lightning strike on and subsequent removal of the "perfect climbing tree." However, it is SO worth it to visit the observatory, identify the sights, and gaze at the view. You may even stumble across a serendipitous stampable find.
Back at your car, turn right out of the parking area and continue up the hill toward Brownington Village for about 2 miles. At the stop sign, turn left onto the Hinman Settler’s Road and travel 1/2 mile to the Brownington Congregational Church on your left. Park in the church yard and take some time to find the graves of Mercy and Alexander Twilight in the cemetery to the left of the church. Alexander Twilight was America’s first African American college graduate (Middlebury College, 1823) and distinguished headmaster of Orleans County Grammar School from 1823 to 1847.
Just past the church on the other side of the fence is a dirt road that winds up through the field ending at the Brownington Observatory. Climb to the second floor of the Observatory and take in the wonderful 360o view. At 160o notice Willoughby Gap. With Mt. Pisgah on the left, Mt. Hor on the right, and Lake Willoughby (sometimes called the Lucerne of America) in the middle, it is one of the region’s most scenic areas. The knobby hill to the left of Pisgah is Haystack Mountain and further to the left is the sloping cone of Bald Mountain. All four mountains boast day hiking trails with spectacular views. At 310o is Jay Peak. It is the northernmost peak on Vermont’s famed Long Trail and you can also ascend to the top via gondola from the ski lodge. From its summit on a clear day you can see all the way to Montreal! Due North is Lake Memphremagog. The lake extends from Newport, Vermont to Magog, Quebec. Most of the lake is in Canada. Canadian peaks visible from where you stand are Owls Head on the west side of the lake and Mt. Orford north of the lake.
After enjoying the view of far-off northern sights, bring your gaze closer and look for the perfect climbing tree in the nearby hedgerow. Beneath and just to the right of that tree look for three largish rocks. Your treasure is hidden among them under a pile of smaller stones and duff.
Old Stone House
Now drive down the road just opposite the church a short distance to the Orleans County Historical Society and Old Stone House museum. (Or you may elect to stay parked at the church and walk.) The large stone edifice on your right where the museum collection is housed was once called Athenian Hall. It was built by the aforementioned Alexander Twilight as a dormitory for his students at the Orleans County Grammar School. The story (probably apocryphal) goes that after the last stone was laid on the building, the ox that had dragged all the stone blocks up to the roof, refused to come down. The solution to the dilemma was to butcher him where he stood and hold a feast to celebrate the project’s completion.
As you admire this unique structure from all sides, you will reach two crescent moons. Turn your back to the Old Stone House to find a nearby maple tree with a small pile of stones beneath. Look under those stones and your search has ended!
These three letterboxes are located in the villages of Orleans and Brownington, Vermont. Driving on I-91, take exit 26 turning left off the exit into the town of Orleans on Route 58.
Fish Are Jumping
Continue on Route 58 through town. Following signs to the Old Stone House Museum, turn left by St. Theresa Church onto East St. for 2 tenths of a mile to a bridge over the Willoughby River. Just after the bridge, turn into the parking lot for the Willoughby River Fishing Access and park. Walk left out of the parking lot down the dirt road to a wooden stairway leading to the river. In the early spring, this area, known as Willoughby Falls, is packed with spectators watching the annual spawning run of trout as they jump the hurdles in the falls through the rushing torrent. It’s the lucky (and patient) photographer that has captured on film the spectacle of a trout suspended in midair with droplets of spray glinting in the spring sunshine. Below the bridge is a fishing spot renowned to anglers around the country.
Walk along the shore upriver past a stone bench and scramble over ledge to the place where the series of falls begin and find a pile of rounded rocks deposited by the current. At the first large rounded boulder, turn your back to the river. Look for a gnarled maple tree growing from the remnants of an old rock wall. Look to the left and just beyond this tree to a deep crevasse in the rock wall at the foot of two “kissing” maples. Here is where your treasure will be found supported by a flat stone and covered with sticks and leaves.
Point of Interest: If you walk back across the bridge, you will find an opening in the guard rail allowing access to a bench for second view of the falls. There you’ll find a monument placed by the Orleans Rod and Gun Club in honor of “The Fishermen of the Willoughby River.”
Brownington 360
*Note: The Brownington 360 has been retired (sadly) due to a lightning strike on and subsequent removal of the "perfect climbing tree." However, it is SO worth it to visit the observatory, identify the sights, and gaze at the view. You may even stumble across a serendipitous stampable find.
Back at your car, turn right out of the parking area and continue up the hill toward Brownington Village for about 2 miles. At the stop sign, turn left onto the Hinman Settler’s Road and travel 1/2 mile to the Brownington Congregational Church on your left. Park in the church yard and take some time to find the graves of Mercy and Alexander Twilight in the cemetery to the left of the church. Alexander Twilight was America’s first African American college graduate (Middlebury College, 1823) and distinguished headmaster of Orleans County Grammar School from 1823 to 1847.
Just past the church on the other side of the fence is a dirt road that winds up through the field ending at the Brownington Observatory. Climb to the second floor of the Observatory and take in the wonderful 360o view. At 160o notice Willoughby Gap. With Mt. Pisgah on the left, Mt. Hor on the right, and Lake Willoughby (sometimes called the Lucerne of America) in the middle, it is one of the region’s most scenic areas. The knobby hill to the left of Pisgah is Haystack Mountain and further to the left is the sloping cone of Bald Mountain. All four mountains boast day hiking trails with spectacular views. At 310o is Jay Peak. It is the northernmost peak on Vermont’s famed Long Trail and you can also ascend to the top via gondola from the ski lodge. From its summit on a clear day you can see all the way to Montreal! Due North is Lake Memphremagog. The lake extends from Newport, Vermont to Magog, Quebec. Most of the lake is in Canada. Canadian peaks visible from where you stand are Owls Head on the west side of the lake and Mt. Orford north of the lake.
After enjoying the view of far-off northern sights, bring your gaze closer and look for the perfect climbing tree in the nearby hedgerow. Beneath and just to the right of that tree look for three largish rocks. Your treasure is hidden among them under a pile of smaller stones and duff.
Old Stone House
Now drive down the road just opposite the church a short distance to the Orleans County Historical Society and Old Stone House museum. (Or you may elect to stay parked at the church and walk.) The large stone edifice on your right where the museum collection is housed was once called Athenian Hall. It was built by the aforementioned Alexander Twilight as a dormitory for his students at the Orleans County Grammar School. The story (probably apocryphal) goes that after the last stone was laid on the building, the ox that had dragged all the stone blocks up to the roof, refused to come down. The solution to the dilemma was to butcher him where he stood and hold a feast to celebrate the project’s completion.
As you admire this unique structure from all sides, you will reach two crescent moons. Turn your back to the Old Stone House to find a nearby maple tree with a small pile of stones beneath. Look under those stones and your search has ended!