After hiking to the Whale Tails sculpture, we headed east toward Richmond and Stowe, Vermont. The next two stops were historic landmarks.
Old Round Church
The Old Round Church is one of the few surviving examples of a 16-sided wooden meeting house. It was built between 1812 and 1813 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1996.
Located in Richmond, Vermont, it is free to visit but be aware that there are only a few parking spots on the road in front of the church. During the summer and fall, it is open to the public during the day.
The building was used for town meetings and as a place of worship for five protestant denominations: Baptists, Christians, Congregationalists, Methodists, and Universalists. Now it is maintained by the Richmond Historical Society.
According to the historical society, there are three main legends for why William Rhodes decided on that shape. The most likely is that it resembled a church in his hometown. Another is that Rhodes had 17 workers, one for each side and one for the belfry. My favorite option and the most whimsical, is that a rounder building kept the devil from hiding in the corners.
In the park in front of the church there is a plaque dedicated to the Cochran family. While we were there, one of the Cochrans was driving by and stopped to tell us to check it out. They are a skiing family who have participated in the Olympics and world competitions. She especially wanted to tell us about her sister who had won a gold medal in the 1972 Olympics and had since passed away.
Gold Brook Covered Bridge
Next, we journeyed to a nearby covered bridge. Gold Brooke is a Howe truss bridge built in 1844. Since 1974, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Howe truss bridges have vertical iron tension rods between the diagonal brace beams. Many of the beams are original.
The bridge crossed what was then known as Hull Brook. Gold Brook Covered Bridge got its name from real gold. In 1849, a young man from Stowe went to California for the gold rush. After striking it rich, he returned to Stowe only to learn there was gold in Hull Brook. He set up a sluicing operation, which netted $200 in gold before the gold ran dry.
The bridge has also been called Emily’s Bridge due to legend. Some say Emily was a farmer’s daughter deserted by her love on the day of their wedding. In despair she took her life at the bridge and her spirit haunts it today. Others say Emily’s story was made up in the 1970s when witchcraft was popular across the country. In this tale, she was jilted by her intended, rode across the bridge, and when her horses panicked, she was thrown from the wagon to her death.
Like the church, it is free to visit. There is a gravel parking lot that can fit five or six cars just beyond the bridge. Take care when crossing the bridge – it is a one-lane road through there.