August 23, 2014

Got up early this morning with intentions to “ride by” the Vermont state capital in Montpelier, VT.  We made a couple of quick pictures outside our hotel with the “bears” of the area.

 

 

It is a beautiful capital and the flowers are beautiful also. 

As we were on the front steps we noticed a statue of Ethan Allen.  The only thing I knew about Ethan Allen was that there is a furniture store chain with that name.  We learned that he is much respected in Vermont for having led one of the main battles in the Revolutionary War.

 Although we did not plan a tour, the doors opened and a very nice, knowledgeable gentleman invited us in for a tour.  We wound up being there over an hour but it was well worth it. 

First we learned how to pronounce Montpelier – it is pronounced Mont-peal- le-er.  We learned that legislature representatives and senators in Vermont are paid only $600 a year because they want a “citizens” legislature.  They still have manual voting for/against laws and there is no automation of any kind in the senate or representative meeting rooms.  There were portraits of prior governors (which have to be paid for by the governor – not by the state) and there was a portrait of one woman in the governor’s office.  She was an artist who had moved her gallery from NY to Montpelier and had the “Red Stone” building built for the state. 

 We left there heading to Bennington, VT.  Along the way we stopped in a small town, Middlebury, VT, which appeared interesting.  It really was.  I did a little shopping in some neat shops and we again found a pretty waterfall.  This one had a walking bridge where you could really get a good view of the waterfall.  There was also a beautiful church but we could not get too close because they were having a wedding and the lawn was full of guests.  This town provided a neat “rest period.” 

 
 

 

As we continued to drive, we saw some really unusual items and beautiful roadside. 

 

 

Arriving in Bennington we found a small hotel with vacancies which was reasonably priced and very clean.  I called Bobby Austin, a member of our church, to get information regarding the Bennington church that our church had supported.  Several years ago, Bobby and his wife, Stella, moved to Bennington for three years to spearhead the total restoration of an old, stone church in Bennington.  Our church supported this effort with funds, prayers and several mission group trips.  Bobby gave me the information regarding the church (Capstone Baptist) and the pastor (Phil Steadman).  Bobby gave me general directions and we wanted to go by the church before it got dark.  I called the pastor to confirm worship times and we headed to the church.  Shortly after we arrived, the pastor and his wife drove up.  They took us on a tour of the church, expressing how much Bobby and Stella meant to the church and its restoration.  The pastor also expressed the support he received from Pastor Edwin (from our church.)  James and I were really impressed with the restoration and were glad that our church could provide help in that process. 

 

 Bobby also recommended we go to a service station across from our hotel and view the old cars.  We plan that for tomorrow.   It has been a full day.