Hidden in the forests of Wallingford, Vermont—near the modern Long Trail crossing of Homer Stone Brook—lie the quiet remains of a once‑thriving mill village. Observant hikers may notice stone walls, scattered bricks, and subtle depressions in the ground, all that is left of a community that flourished at the turn of the twentieth century. The site was the focus of an archaeological dig in 2007, which helped document its surviving features.
Origins and Development
Local businessman and logger Barney Aldrich founded the settlement, known as Aldrichville, in the late nineteenth century. Originally powered by water, the mill was converted to steam—likely in the 1890s—allowing the operation and the surrounding village to expand.
At its peak, Aldrichville included:
- a general store
- a school
- a blacksmith shop
- a boarding house
- roughly a dozen households
The village was divided into two neighborhoods on opposite sides of the stream: one predominantly French‑speaking, the other English‑speaking. Town records, photographs, diaries, and archaeological evidence confirm the presence of families and children. Artifacts even suggest the existence of a local baseball team, hinting at a lively community life.
Decline and Abandonment
For more than twenty years—from the 1880s into the 1910s—the mill operated successfully. Eventually, Aldrich relocated operations to a more accessible site in the valley, closer to town and the railroad. Without the mill, the village was abandoned and gradually reclaimed by the forest. Today, its remains lie within the Green Mountain National Forest.
Aldrichville and the Early Long Trail
When the Long Trail was first established, several buildings in Aldrichville were still standing. Early guidebooks note that at least one abandoned structure west of the trail and north of the road could provide shelter for hikers. By 1930, references to this shelter disappear, suggesting the buildings had deteriorated beyond usefulness.
The Mystery of “Aldrich Camp”
The 3rd Edition of the Long Trail Guide (1921) mentions plans for an official Green Mountain Club shelter—Aldrich Camp—to be built at the site. There is no evidence that this shelter was ever constructed.
The only hint of its possible existence appears in the 5th Edition, where “Aldrich Camp” is shown on the map but omitted from the written description. This inconsistency is likely the result of an overly enthusiastic or mistaken mapmaker. By the 8th Edition, the camp had disappeared from guidebook maps entirely.
Sources
- Long Trail Guide Book 3rd Edition.
- Long Trail Guide Book 5th Edition.
- Long Trail Guide Book. 2nd Edition ed. Green Mountain Club, 1920.
- “Long Trail News.” 1999.
- “Long Trail News.” 2007.
