Archive
Archive
First, Fulham, Thoreau and the Mountain, then The Smithsonian’s take on things.
Swift wrote that the charter of the town was called "Fullum, and it is thought that Wentworth intended the name to have been Fulham, for the town of that name in Middlesex, England...The name of Dummerston was adopted very early, and used almost exclusively for the town. However, it had apparently never been changed officially, so the 1937 Vermont Legislature made legal confirmation of the fact that the town's name was, and had been, Dummerston for over 150 years." The town was named for William Dummer of Massachusetts.
As far as Wantastiquest, Swift says that's the Abenaki or Oennacook name for the West River, and it means, "head or source of the river." No listing for Cheshire Mountain.
--Melody, VPR
Thanks for response on 'FULLUM' (sic) and I found my published article on 'Wantasticut' here (with substantial botanical notes, also the 'puma and mammoth' references http://web.me.com/vermontviews...
which are Thoreau's own words, and I have also seen a 'translation' of the word Wantasticut' given to mean 'West River Overlook.' Sept. 9. Tuesday. 8 A. M.—Ascend the Chesterfield Mountain with Miss Frances and Miss Mary Brown. The Connecticut is about twenty rods wide between Brattleboro and Hinsdale. This mountain, according to Frost, 1064 feet high. It is the most remarkable feature here. The village of Brattleboro is peculiar for the nearness of the primitive wood and the mountain. Within three rods of Brown's house was excellent botanical ground on the side of a primitive wooded hillside, and still better along the Coldwater Path. But, above all, this everlasting mountain is forever lowering over the village, shortening the day and wearing a misty cap each morning. You look up to its top at a steep angle from the village streets. A great part belongs to the Insane Asylum. This town will be convicted of folly if they ever permit this mountain to be laid bare. Francis [sic] B. says its Indian name is Wantastiquet, from the name of West River above.
And Now The Smithsonian have voted Brattleboro #11 in the category ‘Small Towns in America.”
11. Brattleboro, VT
Nestled in southern Vermont, the riverside town of Brattleboro is a common rest stop for travelers driving up Interstate 91 from Massachusetts. Once you’ve strolled through the downtown historic district, lined with galleries, antiques shops, theaters and dance studios, it might be hard to get back in the car. Brattleboro takes pride in its reputation as a hidden artistic haven. On the first Friday of every month, local artists, galleries and museums exhibit new work and put on performances as part of the traditional Gallery Walk. Even if you don’t plan it, your visit will likely coincide with at least one of the many annual festivals in town: there’s the Womens’ Film Festival in March, the summer Brattleboro Literary Festival, and the Brattleboro Music Center’s Northern Roots Festival in January, which celebrates Northern music. In the unlikely event of boredom, take a day trip to nearby Naulakha, the estate of Rudyard Kipling, who once wrote of “a desire to be back on Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.A., and hear the sody water fizzing in the drugstore...and get a bottle of lager in the basement of Brooks House and hear the doctor tell fish yarns.” -- Aviva Shen
Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-in-America.html#ixzz1sIkusTXM
Thoreau and The Smithsonian on Brattleboro
April 17, 2012 9:32 AM