Built in 1899, this lodge was one of several constructed by Joseph Battell, a Middlebury publisher, philanthropist, and one of Vermont’s most influential landowners. Battell built these rustic structures for the enjoyment of his friends and family, reflecting his deep love for the Green Mountains.
At the time of his death in 1915, Battell owned more than 30,000 acres, making him the largest private landowner in Vermont. In his will, he left these lands to “the citizens of the State of Vermont and the visitors within her borders” to be preserved as “wild lands.” His bequest ultimately protected what would become:
- Camel’s Hump State Park
- The Joseph Battell Wilderness
- The forested lands surrounding Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English
Decline After Battell’s Death
Unfortunately, the lodge did not fare well after Battell passed away. Within two years, looting and vandalism had left the once‑well‑equipped cabin in severe disrepair.
The first edition of the Long Trail Guide Book (1917) included a blunt assessment:
“This log cabin in bad repair: affords shelter, is apt to be dirty for picnickers. Stove inside fair. No bunks. Simple cooking utensils. Fine water 1/8 mile south on trail. This Lodge built by Col. Joseph Battell in 1899 for use of his guests, fitted complete with everything needed by campers and kept open for their use. Looted and wrecked by them.”
The guide’s note captures both the lodge’s original purpose and the unfortunate fate it met at the hands of careless visitors.
Sources
- Long Trail Guide Book. 1st Edition ed. Green Mountain Club, 1917.
- "Notes on Hiking ." The Crumb, 1924. Bread Loaf School of English. 7.
- Walter Collins O’Kane. Trails and Summits of the Green Mountains. Pp. 209.
