Although it might be one of the more unusual attractions on the Vermont “must-see” list, Hope Cemetery in Barre is certainly worth a visit. Thanks to a trusty Sony Cybershot digital camera, we snapped a large number of photos on October 23, 2005 and here they are. Not only did we take some of the more “famous” memorials but also some of the more unusual and creative works. Stop by the Visitor’s Center in Barre and check out the granite quarries too. Lots of great things to see and discover!

Hope Cemetery – A Work of Art

Located on a small hillside in Barre, VT, the “Granite Capital of the World”, the Hope Cemetery stands as a magnificent tribute to the stone cutters and artisans peacefully interred amongst their very own creations. Entering the front gate, you will pass by two granite sentries, forever watchful over their abode. From the moment you arrive you’ll notice this is no typical resting place for loved ones gone by. It is truly a gallery of splendid artwork in the most unusual of settings.

Here’s what distinguishes Hope Cemetery beyond the rest. Hobbies of the deceased are perpetually preserved through ornate stone carvings in the shape of soccer balls, bi-planes and even a racing car.

Perhaps in consideration of the restful living, one monument is a life size easy chair with the inscription “Bettini”. Another stone is carved in the shape of a bay window. A lady with a bonnet can be seen washing dishes next to a flower pot through the stone panes. Many other stones depict country scenes of Vermont highways, mountains and forests, beloved homes of the deceased and even a tractor trailer truck presumably the last reminder of a man named Galfetti. A tilted cube rests precariously on a stone base marked with “Tree of Life” and the inscription of “Salesman” on the adjacent side.

The truly awe inspiring statue monuments are perhaps the most ghostly of all. See Giuseppe Donati’s stone, a raised relief depiction of a soldier smoking a cigarette, while the face of his wife or person close to him floats in a wisp of smoke.

Bored Angel, which is also known as the “Sitting Angel”, the work of carver Louis Brusa, rests between columns, legs crossed, head balanced on her chin. Brusa’s own grave features a strange sculpture of “The Dying Man,” slipping away, held by his wife. Brusa passed away in 1937 to a common stone carver’s ailment, silicosis, from a lifetime of breathing in airborne stone particles. Ventilation equipment added to the stone carving buildings in the mid-1930s help to elimintate the hazard.

Elia Corti has one of the most fascinating stones of all. It was cut from a single piece of granite by the brother of the deceased. The outstanding hand carved life size figure sits quietly contemplative for an eternity to come. The detail of the clothing and the tools of the granite trade almost bring this figure to life.
One remarkably eerie tomb is shaped like a bed. William and Gwendolyn Halvosa are shown sitting up in pajamas, holding hands, their tombs stretched out before them. No doubt, preparing for what will be a very long night of sleep.

Hope Cemetery was established in 1895. Originally, it contained 53 acres. Since then, it has expanded to a total of 65 acres. Edward P. Adams, a nationally known landscape architect, created the original plan for the cemetery. There are over 10,000 monuments made of Barre Gray granite. Hope Cemetery is a popular tourist destination and part of the Rock of Ages granite quarry tour.

The colors of autumn are just around the corner. Two things that signal the upcoming Vermont foliage season are country fairs and corn fields with 7-ft cornstalks almost ready for harvest. I received an e-mail a few weeks ago from someone suggesting that I write an article about the declining amount of fun to be had at the Vermont county fairs. In his words, “none of the fairs have been worth a tinker’s damn ever since the hoot shows went away”. He may be right. I was in my teens when the last of the girly shows took place at the Orleans County Fair. I was always too young to get in and from what I heard later on, that’s one experience I’m probably better off for missing out on. I did notice that since those infamous “hoot shows” disappeared, the amount of fun things to do at the fairs have also declined.The “freak shows” are no longer part of the fairs and probably fell victim to the politically correct, “holier than thou” folks who successfully ended the era of the girly shows. Ironic, how these days you can find much more hardcore perversion, indecency and deviant lifestyles every day, just about anywhere in America. Who knows? Maybe all the sensationalism at the fair just became obsolete because it couldn’t keep up with the dose of what we get everyday on TV and in real life, for free. We get Jerry Springer on TV every day so I guess no “freak show” at a Vermont county fair could compete with that.

A recent letter in the Barton Chronicle brings up a question about the lack of amusement rides such as a ferris wheel and other young adult/adult rides at the Orleans County Fair (aka Barton Fair), which was recently held. The writer has a point. It does seem a bit unusual to have a fair or carnival without the typical ferris wheel. Is this a sign that the Vermont fairs we all grew up with are on a slow decline towards becoming obsolete? Maybe so. In this economy where costs are skyrocketing and wages are flat or declining, it’s tough for any business or event to stay afloat.

The Champlain Valley Fair is coming up soon and is Vermont’s biggest fair. Over the years, people gripe that this fair is also “not what it used to be” compared to days gone by. I have noticed that some of the displays that used to take place have dwindled down a bit during the past 10 years but for the most part, the rides, games and of course the food all remain about the same. No “freak shows” anymore though and definitely no “girly show” tents.

I hope this article satisfies the fellow who requested it! Please feel free to add your own comments and thoughts.

The last thing anyone driving along scenic Route 7 in Ferrisburgh, VT. would expect to see is a camel. That’s right a camel…with two humps. The Bactrian camel, named Ollie, is part of what Judith Giusto, owner of Round Barn Merinos, a farm and shop in the small, northern Vermont village, calls her “fiber zoo.” Judith obtained Ollie in September 2002, when he was just two months old. She decided on a Bactrian camel with two humps rather than a Dromedary, which only has one hump.

The down from Ollie’s coat, along with the fibers from over 100 merino sheep are used to create sweaters, scarves, afghans and many other pieces of warm clothing, a must during the cold Vermont winters.
With the Camel’s Hump mountain range looming in the distance, perhaps Ollie the camel isn’t really all that out of place. As a matter of fact, despite the bewildered double-takes by passing motorists, he fits in to the Vermont landscape quite well indeed.

Any Northeast Kingdom local from St. Johnsbury to Newport and all points in between knows the name “Teddy Miller” and probably has a story to tell. Teddy is famous (or infamous depending upon one’s point of view) for aggressive enforcement of motor vehicle violations in or about the Island Pond area. Some people claim to have been ticketed for minor infractions such as air fresheners hanging from rear view mirrors, traveling at 2 or 3 mph over the posted speed limit, accidentally making the wrong turns on one-way streets and the list goes on. One story claims that a local teenager was injured in a snowmobile accident. A friend of the injured teen on another snowmobile, rode along the roadside to get to a phone quickly in order to summon help for his injured companion. Supposedly, Miller asked the person seeking help how he got to a phone so quick. He was rewarded with a ticket for illegally riding a snowmobile along a roadway. This is just one local story and there are many more. Which ones are hard facts and which are “rural legends” are subject to debate. In any case, Teddy Miller has become a legend whether he intended to or not. He is also the topic on many Internet travel websites and snowmobiling forums.

I was a UPS driver for several years and Island Pond was on my daily route. I have to say that I really enjoyed the people of Island Pond and found them very friendly, helpful and accommodating. I delivered packages to Teddy Miller’s home on occasion. I also spoke with him several times when both of us were having lunch at Jennifer’s Restaurant. He seemed like a pleasant enough person and nothing indicated a “Barney Fife” type personality that some have tagged him with. In two years time, as a UPS driver, I never had a problem with Teddy. Perhaps it was because my delivery route throughout Island Pond just happened to coincide with his lunch hour (UPS drivers know everything!), when I knew he wasn’t out and about. I never got the feeling that he would ticket me but just the same, I was always a bit more vigilant while in Island Pond. Not an easy task for a UPS driver with time commitments. It’s been a number of years now and I can’t help but wonder if things would be different if I drove through Island Pond in my own car. I’m sure he has forgotten who I am. In any case, on the rare occasion that I do make a trip to Island Pond, I do tend to be extra careful when driving through town.

I might even use my old UPS tricks and drive by Teddy’s house to make sure his cruiser is parked and he’s home for lunch!

LEBANON, N.H. — A Vermont man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to harassment and other charges after he was accused of sending pictures of himself wearing a diaper to a New Hampshire teenager.

Lawrence Robarge was charged with exposing a minor to harm, indecent exposure, harassment and stalking, all misdemeanors. Enfield, N.H., police said that on Sept. 6, Robarge sent obscene text messages to a 17-year-old girl and pictures of himself wearing a diaper. Police said Robarge placed a total of 16 phone calls or text messages to the girl, who worked with police to arrest Robarge.

Police said that one picture sent to the girl shows a bottle of baby powder and two diapers. A caption with the photo reads, “Show this to your lady friends then have them call me if their [sic] interested. OKAY???”

At first, the girl sent a message back: “Gross old man… leave me alone.”

But police said Robarge responded: “I’m wearing a diaper right now,” and attached a picture of him wearing a diaper. Robarge remains free on $3,000 bail, and a trial date was set for Jan. 16.

Are wallets becoming obsolete? Are the days of the “man purse” looming on the horizon? For some of us that is a terrifying thought. Imagine the construction worker finishing up a hard, sweaty day of work. He enters a local mini-mart to pick up a 6-pack of Budweiser and says “uh…I’ll be right back. I forgot my purse.” The image doesn’t fit quite right does it?

The clerk at Barnes & Noble told me not to worry about the card and was able to use my phone number instead. Hmm, now maybe that would be a better method anyway than carrying around a pocketful of cards. He also mentioned that he’s seen people come in with card albums because they have so many to carry around.

What happened to the good old days of simply paying for something without having to carry around a card?

Yes, Bigfoot is still a resident at the Border Motel in Derby where he regularly calls into the Howard Stern show, when he’s not appearing there, in person. Howard recently gave him $500 to get back to Vermont after Mark spent all of his $5000 “Whack Pack” prize winnings on hookers. What a guy.

Yesterday, on the Howard Stern wrap-up show, several folks were concerned about the possiblility of Bigfoot getting mad and running wild. A Taser gun and beefed up security was suggested…just in case. Artie Lange mentioned that the smell permeating the room when Bigfoot was present was unbearable, comparing it to “body odor, crap and old carpet smell from a motel in Vermont”. First Paris Hilton and now Bigfoot. Welcome to America!

Probably the most infamous of all is Mark S., aka “Bigfoot”. His name and presence is well known in the Northeast Kingdom, especially among the local police. Years ago, he gained a small bit of notoriety for stealing the contents out of nearly every lakefront cottage on Strawberry Acres…in broad daylight! It was quite a sight to see his old Torino automobile slowly making it’s way up the road loaded to the bumper with furniture stolen from summer homes. In fact, his whole caper was so casual that most of the neighbors though someone had hired him to help with a move. Only when the State Police came around asking if anyone had seen him driving by did it become apparent that he wasn’t performing any good deeds. When asked why he took his time and was so brazen about it, apparently not worried about getting caught, the police officer said “…winter is coming soon. He usually does stuff like this every fall in order to get caught, so that he’ll have a warm place to stay for the winter months”. The local correctional facility.

Thankfully, during his contest stint on the Howard Stern show he admitted that his days of larceny were behind him. He mentioned that his prize money would be used to help pay his fines, if he were to win. When asked by Howard (jokingly) what he would do if he won the contest and was signed on for 5 million dollars per year, he said he would buy and manage an apartment for homeless people in the Northeast Kingdom. He also put in a plug for the Border Motel in Derby saying that “nobody comes in to clean my room. They’re all afraid of me, it is” One day he sniffed too much lighter fluid and thought he had become the roadrunner after seeing the decal on the side of a car.
They say truth is stranger than fiction and this is certainly proof. But then again if Paris Hilton can become a celebrity then perhaps it’s not so surprising that a local Newport area personality could become (by nearly unanimous votes) Howard Stern’s latest discovery. Howard Stern mentioned giving him an hour long show of his own. Stay tuned…”it is”!