History and nature coexist in Southern Vermont’s Newfane
A classically rural Southern Vermont town, Newfane is peppered with farmsteads, charming bed-and-breakfasts and historic sites. And with two waterways, – the West River and the Rock River – the Windham County community offers outdoor recreation and secluded creekfront properties. With a backdrop of vibrant maple, birch and pine trees, the densely forested New England town provides a tranquil atmosphere. “Newfane couldn’t be a more beautiful town,” says David Hull, a local who owns the Newfane Store with his wife, Apple Gifford. “People say our small-town commons are the most photographed in Vermont.” Additionally, Newfane receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score.
Originally called Fane in 1753, the town settled as New Fane after the French and Indian War. The populated village area sat atop a hill in the northern part of the area, but with winters making this trek too dangerous, the village moved to what’s now Newfane Village. President Roosevelt visited Newfane jail’s unique hotel wing, famously saying that he should commit a mild crime so he could stay in the jail hotel to get his reading done. Today, the quaint village center highlights the town’s Victorian history, as buildings in Greek Revival and Romanesque architectural styles are home to eateries, boutiques and museums. “Newfane is experiencing a bit of a revival,” Hull says. “Our inns reopened last year, and our music hall is starting to get bigger acts.”
Cafes, eateries and markets make up Newfane Village
Frequently serving as a retail center for some of the more rural surrounding towns, Newfane Village features markets, eateries and boutiques. Locals can grab a cup of coffee and waffles from Bigfoot Coffee, which operates out of a cozy wooden shed. Fat Crow Restaurant offers American fare like wood-fired pizza and burgers in a modern rustic atmosphere adorned with vintage motorcycles. The Newfane Store is a go-to market with a deli and gift items like maple syrup and home goods. “Newfane is a meeting spot for a great mix of people from different backgrounds, political viewpoints and socioeconomic status. We give small businesses a chance to sell their books or crafts here,” Hull says. “And since we’re right off Route 30, we get a lot of outsiders, too.”
Also in Newfane Village, residents can select from an eclectic mix of wines, craft beers and ciders at Green Mountain Wine Stop before a staycation at The Lodge at West River, a pet-friendly bed-and-breakfast with Green Mountain views. Moore Free Library includes the Crowell Gallery, which displays rotating exhibits by local artists. Before heading out of town, locals can stop at River Bend Farm Market to fuel-up with gas, grab fresh produce and made-to-order lunches. Or they can visit Dutton Farmstand, an indoor and outdoor market with fresh produce, breads, flora and other locally made items.
Newfane features museums and a historic covered bridge
In Newfane Village, The West River Railroad Museum allows visitors to explore a historic train station built in 1880. Open from Memorial Day weekend to Indigenous Peoples’ weekend, the museum displays artifacts and exhibits like an old track switch and an interactive handcar. Located outside of the train station, a Water Tank House is one of the only enclosed water towers in the United States. Residents can further explore Newfane’s history from Pre-Colonial times through the present day at the Windham County Historical Museum, which is inside a renovated 1825 jailhouse located in the village. “It used to be a jail and an inn, so guys would purposely commit a crime so they could eat the same food that they served people at the inn,” Hull adds. “A preserved section of the jail is still there, along with historic costumes and artifacts."
About 4 miles south of the history and railroad museums, the Historic Williamsville Covered Bridge is a truss bridge built over Rock River in 1859. Part of the Vermont Covered Bridge Tour, the landmark is thought to be the oldest covered bridge in the county, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Over time, the bridge could no longer hold emergency vehicles and was structurally replaced in 2010.
Festivals and live music shows around Newfane Common
Newfane attracts a crowd for the Newfane Heritage Festival, a weekend-long artisan street fair that takes place each October. Visitors can peruse handmade crafts and other items while listening to live music and observing the backdrop of fall foliage. With the help of local volunteers, Newfane Congregational Church sponsors the festival. The church was built in 1839 in the Gothic Revival style and welcomes members from all walks of life. Next to Newfane Church, Union Hall was built in the same architectural style. The building is mainly used as a music hall, hosting live music all year, from solo acoustic and ukelele artists to five-man bands and electronic DJs. “We give local acts the chance to perform and give the music scene a shot,” Hull says. “And now we’re getting bigger acts who have heard about the venue.” Outside the two historic white buildings with black shutters and towering steeples, Newfane Common hosts the annual WinterFest Newfane, complete with Santa visits and a tree lighting ceremony.
Winding roads feature both quaint and sprawling log cabins
Homes in Newfane are dotted along narrow, winding backroads, many tucked deep into the woods, perched high on a hill with Green Mountain views or nestled along a creek. Several properties are marketed as second homes for skiers or snowboarders who frequent Mount Snow in Dover, about 20 miles west of town. Styles vary from historic Victorian and Georgian builds from the early 1800s to contemporary log cabins with lodge elements built in the 1990s. Rustic cabins and bungalows, some in need of repairs, usually sit on a half-acre to 7 acres, offering one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. While sizes range between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, price tags usually span from $125,000 to $350,000. Larger colonial-style cabins and farmhouses, including those with modern updates that still maintain the home’s original Victorian charm, can rest on 10 to 15 acres, but there are a select few that sit on more than 50 acres. These spacious properties generally include a detached garage and range from 2,000 square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms to 4,000 square feet with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Depending on their size and level of seclusion, these houses can cost from $400,000 to upwards of $1.5 million.
Nature preserves and hiking trails offer an outdoorsy lifestyle
Outdoor enthusiasts have access to several hiking trails throughout Newfane. To the east, Deer Run Nature Preserve offers a 2-mile trail through protected forests, with the occasional visit from a moose. Also located east of town is Putney Mountain, where more than 15 miles of hiking trails transform into snowmobiling and snowshoeing trails in the winter. Townshend State Park, north of town, has hiking trails and camp sites. In the southern region of Newfane, the Manitou Project maintains several trails that pass sacred Native American sites. Hikers can catch music at the Forest Theater, an outdoor area where musicians and sound healers sit and play melodies. Near Manitou Trail, Old Jelly Mill Falls cascades into the West River, attracting summer visitors for swimming and river floating.
A combined middle and high school serve multiple towns
Students in Newfane can begin at NewBrook Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche and serves around 100 students. Learners can then progress to Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School, a combined middle and high school that holds a C-minus and serves about 250 students. Leland & Gray, founded in 1834, welcomes students from the towns of Newfane, Brookline, Jamaica, Townshend and Windham. The high school offers traditional athletics, as well as a snowboarding team. Additionally, the school offers Journey East, a Chinese-American collaborative arts program that allows students to learn abroad.
Vermont Route 30 serves as the town’s main thoroughfare
Vermont Route 30 weaves along the east side of the car-dependent Newfane, intersecting with Interstate 91 about 10 miles outside of town. With the help of the interstate and the surrounding state routes, Boston is about a 125-mile commute east, Hartford is around 100 miles south and Albany is a 95-mile drive west. For farther destinations, all three major cities offer international airports.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
