Travel Tuesday: Barre, Vermont

Hope Cemetery in Barre, Vermont has some amazing monuments like this soccer ball dedicated to the memory of a young 13-year old soccer player who died 29 years ago.

Also engraved on the ball are the words: "There is no room for second place.  There's only one place and that's first place."  I'm sure this is the feeling of all the World Cup competitors.

 I was told by a local that each gravestone has a story behind it and that the stone carver usually had some kind of personal connection with the deceased.  The gravestones are all carved from Barre (light)
gray granite.

Some of the finest memorial designs and granite craftsmanship are on display here.  It's definitely worth a visit or three.

Travel Tuesday: Barre, Vermont

Driving through the center of town you will see the "Youth Triumphant" soldiers' and sailors' memorial which was carved by local stoneworkers using Barre granite.  This sculpture became Barre's trademark and was adopted as their city seal.  

Travel Tuesday: Barre, Vermont

Quincy calls itself "Granite City" but Barre is the self-proclaimed "granite center of the world."  Barre's population is one tenth of Quincy's but also enjoys great diversity. The light grey columns on the library facade are good examples of Barre granite.  I will be sharing more stonework from Barre in weeks to come.

Travel Tuesday: Burlington, Vermont

There are 587 miles of shoreline along Lake Champlain.  The shoreline touches the states of Vermont, New York and Quebec, Canada.   This view is from Burlington, Vermont's largest city.  I like the Adirondack Mountains in the distance.  I spent many childhood summers at my uncle's camp on the shore of Lake Champlain.  I recall fishing on the lake for bass and perch with my grandfather.