Route 102, Guildhall and Granby Vermont

As you look at the map you may or may not realize that the border of Vermont and New Hampshire is not Route 91. It’s actually Route 5 and the Connecticut River. for the most part. But if you get to Barnett Vermont, you will notice that Route 5 and the Connecticut River split and now it’s just the Connecticut River that separates Vermont from New Hampshire.

As you look at the map, the Vermont border takes off to the East, following the Connecticut River. In this area of Vermont to the east of I-91, there are many wonderful little towns to explore. Places like Victory, Concord, Burke, Granby, and Guildhall. The rest of this story is just about Guildhall and the Old Crawford Farm Gristmill.

Finding the Guildhall Gristmill

Route 102 will take you from Lancaster NH at the southern end, and north to Canaan Vermont. All along this short 50-mile road of rolling hills and farmland are scenic views of Vermont and (over into) New Hampshire. In this stretch of two-lane road, there are just 7 roads that connect VT to NH and one of them has the Columbia Covered Bridge. (getting excited to explore yet?)

I’m going to concentrate on the Guildhall VT in the southern portion. The big attraction is the Gristmill on the Old Crawford Farm. (images below are all from various years)

I first saw this gristmill on Flickr, (doing my research) and I was intrigued enough to ask the photographer where it was located. All they would say is, “it’s in Guildhall Vermont.” I went up there in 2012 looking for it and there are hundreds of side roads so I was searching for a needle in a haystack. I finally stopped at the town hall to ask where this might be. I knew they could help when I walked in and they were selling cards of this very gristmill. They told me to head south and turn on Granby Road. (Not such a needle after all)

For those coming up from the south, the farm is just north of Lancaster, and if you set your mileage counter to zero, you will travel about 4.8 miles until you hit Granby Road. if you are coming from the South it’s on the left. If you are coming from the North, it’s on the… Well you can figure that out, right?

There is a brass marker on a large rock at the intersection to let you know you are near. Turn onto Granby Road and be ready to pull over. You will see a sign for the Old Crawford Farm and just a little further on the right, you will see the fence and pullover. There is a ditch there so don’t pull over too far. (You’ve been warned)

Photographing the Guildhall Gristmill

I find the early morning light at the Guildhall Gristmill can be wonderful especially if the fall colors are bright. But my best pictures have always been on cloudy days. The main vantage points are from down the road a little way. Then as you approach it you have different points of view (POV) until you are face-on to the gristmill.

For me, I like to include the wooden fence that runs around the front to the backside of the mill as a leading line for the eye. It also adds to the vintage feel of the gristmill. (Believe it or not, this was built in the 1970s, as far as I can determine). Then I walk down the road either towards or away from the wooden mill building and shoot it from less of an angle and then from straight on. (As seen below, all these images are from previous years)

Here is a selection of different views of New England Mills. Follow this link to my art gallery. There you will see both this mill and others that I have photographed in New England.

(Photo TIP) You are the artist creating the final product. Move your feet and turn the camera to a portrait or landscape to make your image come alive.

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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