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The following tour will take you through the town of Pownal, which is often referred to as "gateway to Vermont." Pownal has an over-abundance of elements which make it a nature lover's delight: panoramic mountain/valley views, rustic farmhouses and barns, endless rolling fields of corn, wandering stone walls, glistening ponds, rivers and streams. Its 3,500 residents take great pride in the simplicity and beauty of the 6 sq. mi. area. and have made definite plans to preserve these elements for generations to come. Start at the jct. of routes 7 & 9 in downtown Bennington. Go 6 miles South and turn right onto North Pownal Rd. Almost immediately, turn left onto Center St. This is "downtown" Pownal Center; composed of a community church, town hall, garden shop, cemetary and several residences. Notice the historical marker stating that Pownal was one of the first settlements in Vermont, dating back to 1724 when the Dutch arrived. Revolutionary war hero Ethan Allen and the famed Green Mountain Boys also frequented this route. Return to North Pownal Rd. and proceed .5 mi to a pull-over on the right. The long mountain/valley view is breathtaking and straight ahead is the point where three states meet. (VT MA, and NY.) Appoximately 2.3 mi. past the pullover, bear left onto Route 346 South. On the left, a marker commemorates the fact that two US presidents lived & taught here. (Chester Arthur & James Garfield). Continue .5 mi and park on the right in a small lot. This is the sight of an 18th century gristmill and 19th century woolen/cotton mill. French-Canadian immigrants and children worked in these mills. (One such worker, Annie Laird, was the inspiration for the child labor reform stamp issued by the US Postal Service in 1998). In 1936 the mill reopened as the Pownal Tanning Co., which converted sheep and cow hides to leather. A decrease in leather demand forced the operation to close in 1988. You may walk across the metal bridge, which spans the Hoosick River and overlooks man-made waterfalls. This site has been enviromentally cleaned up by a $1,850,000 Superfund. (state provided $1,365,000 and the town paid $485,000). 
Looking across Route 346 you will notice a large rock ledge named "Weeping Rocks" by the Native Americans. Legends tell of a tribal territorial war and massacre in this area. During the spring & summer there is a constant dripping of water (weeping) down the sides of the rocks. Continue 2.5 mi., bearing left in Pownal. This will bring you to route 7 South. Proceed for .3 mi for a view of the old racetrack. this was founded in 1963 and was home to thoroughbreds, harness racers, & Greyhound dogs. this once thriving operation, home to over 100,000 fans per season, was closed in 1984, but is now slated for redevelopment into a mixed residential and commercial area. It is in current use for large events, such as the upcoming Bennington-Hemmings Car Show in September. Head north on Route 7 and turn right onto Mann Road (.3 mi. past the Pownal View Barn). Proceed .2 mi. for an awesome mountain/valley view. The United Nations selected a photograph of this valley view to symbolize "peace." The photo appeared on the cover of the U.N. bulletin in october 1946. Go to 7 North for .2 mi. and turn right onto Barber Pond Rd. Follow and turn left onto Middle Pownal Rd., (.8 mi.), bearing left when the road turns sharply. At the stop sign, go straight onto a dirt road. about .3 mi. past the sign, the trees will produce a "tunneling effect." You will pass through rolling valleys between the Green Mt. and Taconic Mt. ranges. Notice the Bennington Monument off in the distance. At about 3.8 mi., turn left at the stop sign. This will return you to your starting point. Sharon O'Connor is a regular contributor to THIS IS VERMONT and is our resident backroads expert. Sharon has been in love with Vermont ever since she first visited and is owner of Backroad Discovery. Learn more about Sharon and Backroad Discovery on page 6. www.backroaddiscovery.com
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