The kids during that time period would walk the railroad tracks to school and hope to find coal that fell off the coal cars. The kids might leave early from home and stop by the Granite Shed to offer to do a bit of work before school. They might earn coal to bring home. The Granite Sheds had blacksmiths that made tools and sharpened chisels. A typical task might be gathering up tools that need to be sharpened or returning tools to the workers.

North of Montpelier is Wrightsville Reservoir, with a long sandy beach and beautiful forests surrounding the lake. I’ve even seen bald eagles catch fish in the lake while sunbathing.

Just across from the entrance to Wrightsville is Shady Rill. Where there are a few pull offs and nice little swimming holes next to the road. Not too much of a climb to the water. Shady, and shallow at first, so easy to get in, with lovely cascades of waterfalls.

Beautiful! I love the raven pair that patrol the North Branch Nature Center.