Barnard General Store
The Barnard general store like most general stores today and is the center of the community. I first found this place (by accident) as I was driving through the hills of Pomfret north towards Groton.
FYI, I don’t usually plan out an entire trip. Much of it I leave up to happenstance and see what happens. So on this morning, we drove up to the Sleepy Hollow farm (click to read about it).(The Sleepy Hollow Farm is now closed for 2 weeks during October) We then drove over Hill and Dale and found ourselves at this sign. It looked promising so we kept going. *We had left home at 4 AM and now it’s 8:25 AM and I was out of coffee. 🙁
The inside of the general store is rustic and cozy. And it’s not as touristy as some I’ve seen but it serves well.
As you can see in these images, it has both a counter with stools and several tables. You can also get your food to go as well.
Barnard Vermont is at the crossroads of Route 12 and Stage Rd. and N Rd. It’s right on the edge of Silver Lake which has a couple of low hills surrounding it (seen below). The Barnard General Store has been around for a long time and is a great place to stop during your fall foliage search for a quick pick-me-up.
Amenities in Barnard Vermont
This was a hub of industry from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. There was a dam that provided water power to a Grist mill, Sawmill, and Tannery. The Business district was known as “Cat Alley” and you would find the local blacksmith, a book Publisher, and even a clothing store. See more images on Barnard here…
Today, you will find a sleepy little town with a meeting House/Church, the general store, and the lake. The lake is small and I would really term it more of a good size pond but with the low hills running above the “lake”, they provide a really nice backdrop with the fall colors.
So that is Barnard Vermont and Silver Lake. You can grab a coffee and run or a sit-down meal, your choice. We rate it very high on our General store scale. Here is a link to the map that you can look at and explore.
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
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Hi Jeff and Lisa. Headed to Hancock Ma oct 5th for the week. Looking for a nice train ride. Any suggestions? How does color look for those times?
Hi Angie, the 5th can be a bit early but with your location, you could head up to Mount Greylock for some elevation or even a bit further and you’ll be in Vermont. It really depends on what the weather does so ask me again on the 5th of October… 🙂
As far as train rides out near your area in Western MA.
Hoosac Valley Train Ride
Train station in North Adams, Massachusetts
Address: 98 Crowley Ave, North Adams, MA 01247
Phone: (413) 663-4189
And while not a train ride here is a museum.
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum – Lenox Station Museum
Museum in Lenox, Massachusetts
The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is a railroad museum located in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, that offers historical exhibits. The museum was founded in 1984 as a not-for-profit organization. Wikipedia
Address: 10 Willow Creek Rd, Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: (413) 637-2210