Except for those who’ve taken a class in Vermont history or those who are familiar with the history of higher education in America, the name Justin Morrill is likely of no great significance. But this 19^th-century Vermonter helped change life in America by making a college education more accessible to people of ordinary means. 

Born in Strafford, Vermont, in 1810, Morrill was the son of a blacksmith. His economic circumstances necessitated that he leave school at the age of fifteen. He became a merchant’s clerk and was so successful in his business pursuits that he became a merchant himself and amassed a personal fortune that enabled him to retire at age 38 for the pursuit of gentlemanly pleasures, among these, landscape gardening. 

However, retirement was short lived. In 1855 Morrill was elected as Vermont’s Representative to the US Congress, an office he held until 1867. In 1867 Justin Morrill successfully ran for the US Senate and dedicated the remainder of his life to public service, continuing as one of Vermont’s Senators until his death in 1898. 

Today Morrill is best remembered for his legislative achievements, perhaps chief among these, his primary sponsorship of the Land Grant College Act, signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and now known as the “Morrill-Land-Grant College Act. This act established federal funding for higher education in every state, the purpose of which was “to provide a liberal and practical education for farmers, mechanics, artisans and laborers.” (See http://www.historicvermont.org/morrill/) 

Today Morrill’s seventeen-room Gothic mansion in Strafford is an historical site and is open to the touring public seasonally on a limited basis. The first time I visited the house, I was fascinated by the window screens. Ordinary mesh screens are painted with outdoor scenes, which prevent people on the outside from looking into the house, affording privacy to Morrill and his family. They are both practical and decorative. 

I hope you’ll pay Strafford a visit the next time you are traveling in Vermont. And when in Strafford, don’t forget to check out the Town House. Like many small Vermont towns, Strafford still holds an annual town meeting where citizens from the community gather together to discuss the running of the village, budgets, etc. The annual Strafford town meeting has been held in the Town House since 1801. 

http://www.townofstraffordvt.com/townhouse/townhousehistory

After the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene in late August and the subsequent plummeting of tourism in September, Vermonters were hoping that December would bring bountiful snows to attract the adventurous, winter-sports enthusiasts that drive Vermont’s tourism-dependent economic engine. But alas, December was a miser, doling out snow by the dusting and not by the blizzard. 

But January has played the harbinger of better things to come, bringing with it more seasonably cold weather and snow, if not in abundance, at least in adequacy. Our ski slopes statewide are now, for the most part, blanketed with a combination of natural and human-made snow, beckoning alpine skiers and snowboarders. Here in my section of the state, we have sufficient snow for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling too. 

While emerging from the devastation of Irene, Vermont, strong though it be, still needs “a little help from her friends.” So please do come to Vermont this winter. Come for the great skiing and snowboarding. Come for the clean air and pristine landscapes, for the beauty, tranquility and adventure. 

There’s a lot going on in Vermont’s ski industry.  Please click on the link below to read more about what’s new at Vermont’s ski areas across the state: 

http://www.liftopia.com/blog/whats-vermont-maine-201112-season/

I just got back in the office this morning (1/12/12) after spending nearly a week in Dallas, Texas, attending the American Bus Association conference. It is a great show, and since all of the attendees are in the hospitality industry, I was made to feel right at home. ABA pulled out all the stops in providing us great evening entertainment, sponsored by Branson and Nashville. But my favorite experience was getting to eat Texas BBQ right on the AstroTurf of the Cowboys Stadium and meeting the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. 

But as much fun as it is to attend a professional travel show and charge your battery for the coming tourism season, it is always a delight to return home to beautiful Vermont. In fact, Vermont is such a great place to live or to visit, that all of the tour coach operators with whom I had appointments at ABA, were very positive because they know they can sell Vermont as a great destination getaway.

Now many of you know that Vermont had a tough 2011.  Our part of Central Vermont, the Barre-Montpelier area, endured horrific flooding last May, a mere prelude to the statewide devastation that was to be wrought in late August by Tropical Storm Irene. So naturally folks have been disappointed by a slow start to the winter season, Vermont witnessing unseasonably mild temperatures and a paucity of snowfall. 

Naturally, therefore, I am delighted to return to my great home state to be greeted by the much applauded white stuff. And I’ve vowed not to complain about the shoveling and snow blowing required to keep my decks, walks, fuel paths and driveway ‘open for business.” But as delighted as I am to see the much-needed snow, my tourism counterparts in the alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling industries are doubly glad to have this crystalized, moisture-magic dropping from our skies onto a welcoming landscape. We are especially thankful in light of the upcoming holiday weekend, one of the busiest of the ski/winter activities season. 

Yes, we are Vermont strong. We’ve endured floods, widespread devastation and a slow start to a much needed winter tourism season. So please do visit Vermont this weekend. There are great winter activities awaiting you. 

Please see the following article about our nearby ski town, Stowe, Vermont: 

http://blog.vermont.com/there%e2%80%99s-plenty-of-snow-so-head-to-stowe/

Well the holidays have come and gone in a whirl and we are now faced with a brand new year. The birth of a new year symbolizes hope for new beginnings; many of us make, whether we put pen to paper or not, New Year’s Resolutions, expressing the things we’d like to change about ourselves or our circumstances in the coming year. 

If one of your resolutions is to get more active, then the latest Vermont attraction offering may just be for you. While to date this winter has provided a paucity of snow for alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowman making, there is snow in the air today. I am hopeful it will blanket the rolling hills and peaceful meadows of this lovely state so that they may spring to life with winter activity. 

Nonetheless the temperatures have been sufficiently cold in the higher elevations to allow our ski areas to produce snow. So we invite you to come to Vermont to ski and recreate this winter.

But if you’d like a little more than a quiet evening by the fireside après ski, I encourage you to check out the great new indoor water park that just opened this holiday season at Jay Peak. 

The new Pump House water park isn’t your parents’ water park. Oh sure, they have the requisite hot tubs and cabanas for those who want to put a little “sedentary” into their evening after a fun-filled day on the slopes; but for the adventurous, there are no disappointments here. Check out their FlowRider: 

http://raisedjay.com/pumphouse

It’s for cruisin’ not snoozin’

So try it out and make a splash in the New Year.

And while you are in Vermont, don’t forget to check out all of the great things to do and places to visit:

http://www.vtattractions.org/