Bellow Falls...
A brief history by Dr. Babosa

First thing to know is that Bellows Falls (and many persons have thought of amusing "rearranging of first letter of words of name" idea, you be not the first) is a village within Town of Rockingham, Vermont.

In 1700's, much of early state of Vermont bought up by land speculators of Connecticut - familiar sounding, no? Dr. Babosa dig elbow into ribs of those standing nearby! Vermont divided up was all into roughly six-mile-by-six-mile squares, which within land speculators - many of whom never go to Vermont - sell parcels to hopeful would-be farmers. Big fun resulted when settlers go to new homes and discover that they are supposed to be farming on side of Killington Mountain, ha ha!

This problem not befall Rockingham, as land good up Williams River and Saxtons River was (the latter of which named, by the way, for surveyor who fell in and drowned), but land around Falls of Bellow (named after resident of nearby Walpole, New Hampshire - who was not Ken Burns) not good for farming was, being up-down, steeply gullyish. Since time immemorial Native Americans people-of-color gather at falls to spear salmon and other piscatorial items. White folk come and quickly remove both salmon and Native Peoples from scene, making for much more pastoral visage. Also remove wolfs, big cats, otter, beaver etc. etc., making world eventually safe for Bland White People to drive SUV's with only moose to get in the way, ha-ha, but Dr. Babosa does digress.

So, yes, in Vermont are villages within Townships. Initial settlements, in Vermont, tended to be high up in hills, toward geographic center of townships. Handy for looking out for Colorful Native Peoples that way, but, once Colorful Native Peoples removed, long way to water was! As soon as CNP threat gone, Bland White Peoples moved from hills down to river valleys where farming better was and access to water power was. So, in township of Rockingham five villages are.

First village was Rockingham, where BWPs settled and built large meeting house, not used much since about 1821. Not much happens in village of Rockingham. Rolled up sidewalks did about 1840 and never unrolled since, ha ha!

Other villages: along Williams River is village of Lower Bartonsvillle (very small, home of Vinnie The Vet and George the Bartender/Photographer). At southwest corner of town is village of Cambridgeport, whose major industry, a woolen mill, burned over 100 years ago but still standing is! Gateway to Grafton (Vermont village preserved) is Cambridgeport; small dose of Real Vermont for visiting tourists like dash of cold spring water across face! Next along Rte. 121 (road from Grafton to Bellows Falls) is Saxtons River, nominee for Village of Most Improved Behavior award. High spirited Saxtons River locals apparently fond of burning cars on Main Street at Halloween in earlier parts of Century 20th, now home of birkenstocks and Vermont Academy.

Brings us thus to Bellows Falls. Bellows Falls get start, as we say, as narrow place in river - big noisy falls make good place to build bridge across river - first place bridge build across river this far north! Also falls provide much power for turbines and water-powered machinery. Canal for navigation built but railroads come in 1840s and put kibosh on canal. Canal rebuilt as power canal for mills after that, then again in 1920s electric power plant built as paper mills torn down and canal rebuilt once again as is today.

Fine manufacturing town booming was from 1880 to 1920 was Bellows Falls, then everything goes galley-west. Paper manufacturing very big (logs float down Connecticut River - first wood-pulp paper mills in US in Bellows Falls!) but muchly die out by 1920's; few mills survive until 1980s; town smell very bad but much money made - imagine if you can continual pall of smoke and rotten-egg smell of paper manufactury hemmed in by Oak and Colley Hills to left, Mount Kilburn to right over in New Hampshire (now called Falls Mountain or Fall Mountain by some, but they wrong be); people still living in town remember could tell what color construstion paper being made each day by what color river be! Railroads big (lines to Boston, New York, Montreal, Rutland) also Vermont Farm Machinery (maker of Vermont Cream Seperator! Powered by dog! Put that Golden Retreiver to productive use!) very big employer until switch to making armaments during World War One and have biggest customer Czarist Russian Government be, and make mistake of not collecting payment up front! Later in Century 20th, Bellows Falls Co-Operative Creamery (maker of "Brookside" milk) big deal in town, until Boston-based First National (Finast) Supermarkets decide to buy milk from New York State. That, as they say, the end of that be.

Bellows Falls thus on tough times did fall, most industry dead by 1950. Eccentric train fancier F. Nelson Blount bring Steamtown USA to Bellows Falls in 1960's. Move to Scranton, PA in 1980. Pretty arch bridge across Connecticut River blown up in early 1980's was (by civic-minded persons who good idea thought they were doing though now short-sighted realized are). Strange group of mysterious investors buy much of town in late 1970's, then disappear. During same era police force discovered to be breaking into houses. Big Old Mansions bought cheap by scabarous absentee landlords who carve up and stuff with persons difficult. Fires decimate town. Old railroad hotel in center of town taken over by, um, alternative-lifestyle entrepreneurs who run very successful operation until caught up in Wave of Scandal and shut down. Tough times for Falls of Bellows!

Alleged writer Archer Mayor write otherwise-forgettable pulp-mystery book, BELLOWS FALLS in 1990s that kick town when town (we quote): "A museum of glories past, the name Bellows Falls had become a statewide joke, solely equated with failure." To which we say name of Archer Mayor not equated with _anything_ except interminable mystery serialized in Herald of Rutland for seeming last eighteen months. Pleased we however be that credulous readers of book perhaps stay away, as we need not wussy mystery-reader types sullying beautiful town.

In 1990s new spirit of renewal sweep over Falls of Bellows like wave of lanolin over inflamed skin. Group OUR TOWN formed by opinionated local (and resident of parallel universe) Cathy Bergman, and start to get town out of doldrums. First thing do is fix and re-illuminate clock in Town Hall tower. Old Home Days with much fireworking (controlled explosions run by Lisai family, otherwise-sane owners of excellent local market) become big statewide event. Local theatre company start. Good bookstore in town square begin. Internet Service Provider SoverNet locate too in town square. Preternaturally personable Robert McBride come to fore and create RAMP arts organization. Exner Arts Block renovated! Now Howard Block to do same! Much business!

Archer-Mayor-believing-types-we-do-not-need you obviously not be, since you reading this thus far have gotten. And to you we say welcome to Bellows Falls!

When visit, download Walking Tour. Be sure to visit petroglyphs Babosian favorite as that is, what to show bizarre minds of Native Peoples (although thoughtfully re-carved by BWPs of the DAR in 1920's, so who knows, really). Be warned that directions as to how to see in Walking Tour brochure inadequate are. Here is what to do: Go to big concrete bridge - The Vilas Bridge - between VT and NH, walk out on sidewalk about forty feet from Vermont side. Look down to cliff below at about 2 o'clock. Look for faded yellow paint thoughtfully painted in and around carvings (seemingly not very politically correct to so demarcate, thinks Dr. Babosa, but sort of cheerfully devil-take-the-hindmost spirit of painting ancient re-carved carvings respects does he!) Carvings look startlingly like have-a-nice-day-smiley-faces with antennae coming out of foreheads!). Also look at Post Office nearby - funny story told that plans screwed up became and Aptos, California get nice Colonial-style Post Office and California-mission-style post office built in Falls of Bellows!

Now, where to eat? Dr. Babosa suggests for breakfast - breakfast burrito at Golden Egg in Saxtons River (dinner there Friday and Saturday also very good - Mexican Night; Dr. Babosa as afraid as you of Ethnic-Food-Cooked-by-BWP's; fear not; restaurant owned by actual Mexicans!); lunch - cheeseburger and fries at Miss Bellows Falls Diner always highly satistfy; dinner- anything from the ever-changing menu at Oona's, but these only personal favorites. Many other fine eating establishments in town there are as well, ranging from RJ's to Leslie's to Averill's to Anatolia's - list of names goes on and on, and not colorless franchise restaurant one will you find! For that must go you to bland, colorless nearby towns.

Download now we suggest walking tour of Bellows Falls. Learn of Fish Ladder, of Queen Anne houses, of Adams Grist Mill and Museum, of railroad-tunnel-under-square, of architectural themes of houses and more. Come you to our town concert and walk around, have good time!

Dr. Babosa please that thus far have you read, and wishes the best of Bellows Falls days to you.

Artwork by Charlie Hunter
© 2002, Charlie Hunter, Hunter Studio.