22 Joint Bulletin 8 



"Willoughby Lake 



"This lake, which has became a favorite place of resort for pleasure 

 parties in the summer, is in the township of Westmore, Orleans County, 

 Vermont. It is 5% miles long, and from half a mile to 1^^ miles wide. 

 Its south end lies in a chasm between two granite mountains, the sides 

 of which, facing each other, are nearly perpendicular, and about half 

 a mile asunder. That on the east side is called Pisgah, and that on 

 the west Hor. These names were given to the two summits long before 

 there was any settlement in that part of the county, and there is no 

 good reason why the former name should be supplanted by that of 

 A7inance, which some are endeavoring to substitute for it. The surface 

 of Willoughby Lake is 1,1G1 feet above the ocean, and the summit of 

 Pisgah 1,586 feet above the lake, or 2,747 feet above the ocean. The 

 bed of the lake is, for the most part, a clean white sand and pebbles, 

 and the water clear and pure. The coldness and purity of the water, 

 the salubrity of the air, and above all, the wild grandeur and beauty 

 of the scenery (and I must add, the savory longe), render it one of 

 the most inviting summer retreats from the dust and heat and turmoil 

 of city and village, anywhere to be found. Three years ago the lake 

 was hardly accessible, on either side. Now a good road passes along 

 the whole length of the eastern shore, and at the south end a spacious 

 public house, called the Lake House, has been erected for the accom- 

 modation of travelers and visitors, where stages arrive and depart 

 daily, evening and morning, in both directions. The site of the Lake 

 House is 122 feet above the lake. The Natural Flower Garden, so in- 

 teresting to the botanist, is situated on a sloping surface, in the western 

 declivity of Pisgah, 583 feet above the lake. The ascent to the garden 

 is somewhat difficult, but that from the Lake House to the summit of 

 Mt. Pisgah is quite easy, and the view from it exceedingly fine. Wil- 

 loughby Lake and the adjacent mountains, from a point three miles to 

 the northward, form one of the finest views found any where in New 

 England. 



"From Burlington there are three principal routes to Willoughby 

 Lake. The most direct is by way of Johnson, Craftsbury, and Iras- 

 burgh, mostly by stage. Another route is by the Vermont Central 

 Railroad to White River Junction; thence by the Passumpsic Railroad 

 to St. Johnsbury, and then by stage to the lake. Another route is by 

 way of Montreal and Sherbrooke to Island Pond (page 43), then by 

 stage 11 miles to Willoughby Lake." 



