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Seven
miles south of Burlington along Route 7, the town of Shelburne
displays its affluence in the manner of a Grande Dame;
the quality of its homes and businesses is apparent, but
not ostentatious. Chartered by Benning Wentworth in 1763,
the town honors the Earl of Shelburne, a prominent nobleman
in Parliament who upheld New Hampshire's claims.
Hamilton
Child wrote in his 1882 publication, Gazetteer of Chittenden
County, Vermont, "In surface, Shelburne presents a scene
of quiet rural beauty, picturesque in the extreme at some
points, though it possesses no rugged mountains to lend
their grandeur to its loveliness. The land, generally
level, is, however, gently rolling, enough to pleasantly
break the surface into long, sweeping curves." He further
describes Shelburne as "a post village and station on
the Vermont Central Railroad, is very pleasantly located
near the center of town, and contains one church, several
shops of various kinds, one store, and about twenty-five
or thirty dwellings."
Child's
description of the Shelburne landscape still applies,
as modern-day travelers down Route 7 can attest. Although
the land is level, views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks
are definite perks for the Shelburne resident. Several
of the homes Child mentions are still occupied; the Harrington,
Stoddard, and Tracy houses on Route 7, And the Kinney
House on Falls Road. The Shelburne Inn was built in 1796
by the Harringtons, and was continually operated as an
inn for over 200 years.
The
longevity of these buildings is analogous to the stability
of the town. A variety of homes and lifestyles is present
in Shelburne. Retirement communities offer senior citizens
comfortable homes to age in place. Neighborhoods range
from Victorians and Queen Anne's; ranch houses built for
veterans during the post World War boom; to upscale contemporaries
on 10 acre lots.
Many
inhabitants commute to jobs outside of Shelburne. Route
7 is the main north/south highway on the eastern edge
of Vermont. Shelburne is also a stop on the commuter rail
line between Charlotte and Burlington. An extension of
the service into Essex Junction is under consideration.
Activities for children abound. Shelburne Community School,
with students from Kindergarten through Eighth grade,
encourages family participation. Ninth through Twelfth
grades attend Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg.
Volunteers coach soccer and baseball leagues. Community
groups participate in Fourth of July celebrations, book
sales, auctions, and school musicals. Hitorically, school
and town activities are well-attended.
Several
farms and orchards are still in operation. In 1887, Dr.
W. Seward Webb and his wife, Lila Osgood Vanderbilt, purchased
1800 acres of land to be used for horticultural research
and animal husbandry. The public can now follow in the
footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt, Admiral Dewey, and other
prominent visitors to the property, now known as Shelburne
Farms.
Founded
by Electra Webb, the acclaimed Shelburne Museum is located
on a portion of the Webb Estate, giving visitors a glimpse
into life during earlier times. Often referred to as the
"Smithsonian of New England," the Shelburne Museum also
provides research facilities for historians and conservators
of antiques.
At
the tip of Shelburne Point, Shelburne Shipyard docks boats
of all sizes. Established in 1820 specifically for the
purpose of boat construction, the Shipyard launched its
first steamboat, the "General Green" in 1825. The Ticonderoga,
now on exhibit at Shelburne Museum, was built there, and
Lake Champlain Transportation Company wintered and repaired
ferries at the shipyard for several generations.
A
more modern attraction, but one that is quite popular,
is the Vermont Teddy Bear factory on Route 7. Daily tours
delight children and grownups. Shelburne takes pride in
its people and its history. Maps for walking tours of
the Village and Shelburne Falls are available at the Village
Clerk's office. The maps not only show the location of
historic homes, businesses, and points of interest, a
brief history of each site is also given.
Embraced
by the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks,
Shelburne rewards residents and visitors with postcard-perfect
landscapes, well-kept homes, and small-town ambience.
These benefits, added to educational and recreational
opportunities make Shelburne an appealing place to live
for those of all ages.
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