You’ll find America’s last asbestos mining town in Belvidere, Vermont, where chrysotile production once employed 320 workers and supplied 90% of U.S. asbestos by the 1940s. After the Vermont Asbestos Group’s closure in 1993, this isolated mountain community dwindled to just 338 residents. Today, abandoned tramways, deteriorating mills, and toxic waste rock piles create an eerie lunar landscape that tells a deeper story of industrial rise and environmental fall.
Key Takeaways
- Belvidere’s population plummeted to 338 residents after its asbestos mines closed in 1993, ending nearly a century of mining operations.
- Massive abandoned asbestos mine structures, tramways, and processing mills from the 1920s still stand as industrial ruins.
- The town’s landscape features dramatic waste rock mounds and flooded quarry pits, creating an otherworldly, ghost town atmosphere.
- Geographic isolation between mountains and limited road access contributes to the town’s remote, abandoned character.
- Environmental contamination from 16 million cubic yards of asbestos tailings prevents redevelopment and maintains the town’s desolate state.
Origins and Early Settlement
Although Belvidere received its charter in 1789, actual settlement didn’t begin until nearly two decades later when the first pioneers arrived between 1806 and 1808.
You’ll find that brave settlers like Nathaniel Hodgkins, Moody Shattuck, Timothy Carpenter, and John Fletcher were among the first to establish themselves in this rugged wilderness of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
The community grew quickly, reaching 217 residents by 1810.
Early governance began on March 21, 1808, when settlers held their first town meeting to elect officers. They established positions including town clerk, selectmen, constables, and highway surveyors.
The natural features of the area, including Belvidere Mountain with its serpentine formations, waterways, and dense forests, played an essential role in determining where these pioneers would build their new community. Like other areas in northern Vermont, the landscape was shaped by magma solidifying around 300 million years ago.
The town’s original land grant of 30,100 acres was later reduced to less than 20,000 acres through annexations in 1824 and 1828.
The Rise of Asbestos Mining
While early settlers were establishing their community in Belvidere, the mountain harbored a valuable secret that would transform the region’s future. The first asbestos discovery came in 1823, with fiber deposits noted by 1860. You’ll find the chrysotile asbestos embedded within serpentine rocks, part of an extensive geological belt stretching into Quebec.
Commercial mining kicked off around 1900, ushering in nearly a century of industrial activity. As mining technology evolved, the operation grew to become America’s primary chrysotile producer, supplying up to 98% of domestic production. The landscape became marked by waste rock mounds that would permanently alter the region’s topography. Employment at the mine reached its highest point with 320 workers during peak operations.
The mine’s expansion led to multiple quarry sites – Eden, Lowell, and C-area – where crews extracted ore containing roughly 5% asbestos. Various companies operated the mine, including Ruberoid and later GAF, before employees purchased it in 1975, creating Vermont Asbestos Group.
Industrial Glory Days
Beyond asbestos mining, Belvidere’s industrial landscape flourished with diverse manufacturing enterprises throughout the late 1800s.
You’d find Joel C. Hodgkin’s saw-mill leveraging local water power to produce 3 million feet of spruce lumber annually, with his industrial partnerships extending into Vermont and Massachusetts markets.
Hodgkin’s manufacturing innovations continued with his tub factory, churning out 40,000 wooden tubs yearly.
The area’s prominence in mining peaked when it became home to the only operating chrysotile mine in the United States by 1936.
Local quarries also yielded the prized fire orange garnets that would later become Vermont’s official state gem.
Life in a Mining Town
If you’d lived in Belvidere during its mining heyday, you’d have experienced the daily rhythms of a bustling industrial town where life revolved around the asbestos mine’s work shifts and mill operations.
You would’ve been part of a tight-knit community where roles ranged from miners and mill workers to support staff managing the aerial tramways and processing facilities built in the 1930s.
Your daily routine would’ve been shaped by the constant presence of industrial activity, from the early morning shift changes to the steady hum of machinery, all while dealing with the omnipresent dust that characterized life in this Vermont mining town.
Daily Work Routines
During the peak years of Belvidere’s mining operations from the early 1900s through 1993, workers followed demanding schedules that kept the asbestos quarries and mills running around the clock.
Work shifts rotated between day and night crews, with labor divisions spanning underground miners, open-pit workers, and mill processors.
You’d start your day handling heavy machinery and tools, drilling and blasting rock faces to extract ore. After extraction, you’d load the material into carts or trucks bound for the processing facilities.
At the mill, you’d operate crushers and sorting equipment to isolate the valuable chrysotile fibers. The 1930s aerial tramway installation made ore transport more efficient, but the work remained physically intense.
You’d brave Vermont’s harsh weather and rugged terrain while maintaining a constant vigilance against the pervasive asbestos dust.
Community Support Networks
Life in Belvidere’s mining community extended far beyond the demanding work shifts, with residents forging powerful support networks to weather the challenges of their isolated existence.
You’d find mutual aid societies sharing food, labor, and childcare during hardships, while churches and fraternal organizations provided emotional support through regular gatherings and charity events. The first church services were conducted in Timothy Carpenter’s barn in 1810, marking the beginning of organized religious community support.
Community resilience showed in the way neighbors responded to emergencies, particularly when miners were injured. You could count on experienced miners teaching safer techniques to newcomers, while informal healthcare networks transported the injured to medical help.
The local economy’s interdependence meant everyone – from miners to millers and blacksmiths – looked out for each other. Through barter systems, shared resources, and collective decision-making at town meetings, Belvidere’s residents built a tight-knit support system that helped guarantee their survival.
Environmental Legacy and Health Impact

You’ll find the remnants of Vermont’s asbestos mining operations in vast tailings piles and flooded quarries stretching across 1,600 to 3,000 acres of Belvidere Mountain’s southern and eastern slopes.
Vermont Asbestos Group reached a settlement with EPA to maintain the site and prevent further public exposure to the toxic waste.
Wind and water continually erode these toxic mounds, dispersing carcinogenic asbestos fibers that have contributed to higher rates of lung disease in thirteen surrounding towns from 1995-2006.
Despite a 2013 settlement restricting waste movement, the site’s tens of millions of tons of asbestos tailings remain largely unmitigated, posing ongoing health risks to nearby communities through contaminated soil, water runoff, and airborne exposure.
The estimated cost to properly clean up and contain the hazardous waste ranges from $129 million to $200 million, depending on the remediation method chosen.
Toxic Mounds Plague Region
Although mining operations ceased in 1993, the Vermont Asbestos Group’s toxic legacy persists through massive tailings piles and waste rock mounds sprawling across 1,600 to 3,000 acres of Belvidere Mountain’s slopes.
You’ll find these toxic mounds slowly eroding into two stream drainages, creating environmental hazards for downstream wetlands that are now reaching their capacity for contaminated sediment.
The barren, lifeless terrain looks almost extraterrestrial, with flooded pits and soil conditions that can’t support life.
What’s more concerning is that these tailings contain asbestos fibers that become airborne, leading to toxic contamination far beyond the original mining site.
The contamination has created a documented pathway of exposure through both wind-dispersed fibers and waterborne transport, requiring ongoing monitoring and remediation efforts to protect nearby communities. The estimated cleanup costs total $240 million to address the environmental damage and protect public health.
Asbestos Exposure Still Lingers
Even decades after the mine’s closure in 1993, dangerous chrysotile asbestos fibers continue to plague Belvidere Mountain and its surrounding communities.
You’ll find the asbestos dangers spread across 1,600 to 3,000 acres of scarred landscape, where waste rock mounds and flooded pits create an uninhabitable, lunar-like terrain.
EPA monitoring has revealed that airborne fiber levels still exceed safety guidelines, posing serious public health concerns.
The slow erosion of contaminated tailings releases toxic dust into the environment through wind and natural degradation.
While earlier studies downplayed the risks, recent environmental data shows persistent fiber presence that can cause respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Despite cleanup efforts starting in 2013, including the removal of 1,300 cubic yards of ore, the site’s toxic legacy endures, requiring ongoing oversight and management.
Geographic Isolation and Local Lore
Nestled in the northernmost reaches of Lamoille County, Belvidere’s geographic isolation stems from its position between Mt. Mansfield and Jay Peak.
Deep in Vermont’s rugged terrain, Belvidere sits untouched between two peaks, a remote outpost in the mountain wilderness.
The town’s limited road access through Routes 109 and 118, combined with its rugged terrain, creates natural geographic barriers that have shaped its secluded character.
You’ll find these haunting elements that fuel local lore:
- A moon-like landscape of waste rock mounds and flooded quarry pits
- The eerie silence of abandoned asbestos mines that locals describe as “extraterrestrial”
- Strange magnetic disturbances from iron-rich serpentine rock formations
The isolation effects are intensified by the town’s position across two watersheds, with the North Branch valley containing most human settlement.
This separation from neighboring communities has preserved Belvidere’s mysterious atmosphere, making it a magnet for those seeking abandoned places.
Economic Decline and Aftermath
While Belvidere once dominated America’s asbestos production with over 90% of U.S. output in the mid-1940s, the town’s economic foundation crumbled through the late 20th century.
You can trace the decline through GAF’s 1974 closure and VAG’s final shutdown in 1993, marking the end of U.S. asbestos mining.
Without economic diversification, the town’s population sustainability plummeted, dropping to just 338 residents by 2024.
The environmental aftermath has left 16 million cubic yards of hazardous mill tailings, deterring new investment and development.
Today, you’ll find an aging population with a median age of 44.3 years, while poverty affects 8.66% of residents.
The lack of replacement industries and environmental contamination continue to challenge any hopes of economic revival.
Remnants of a Lost Industry
Today’s visitors to Belvidere Mountain encounter the haunting remnants of Vermont’s asbestos mining legacy.
You’ll find stark evidence of the mining techniques that shaped this landscape, from abandoned aerial tramways to processing mills that once buzzed with activity. The site’s industrial heritage is preserved in:
- Massive waste rock piles and tailings that dominate the terrain
- Flooded quarry pits that have transformed into dangerous water-filled caverns
- Deteriorating mill structures and scattered mining equipment dating back to the 1920s
The abandoned infrastructure tells a story of community resilience, where workers fought to keep operations going by forming their own cooperative in the face of corporate closure.
Their $2 million effort to save their livelihoods ultimately couldn’t overcome the environmental and health concerns that sealed the mine’s fate.
The Lunar Landscape Today
Despite ongoing efforts to secure the site, the abandoned Belvidere mining complex stands as a stark reminder of Vermont’s industrial past, with its rusting metal buildings and towering conveyors creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
Crumbling metal monoliths pierce Vermont’s pristine wilderness, their decaying frames echoing the ghosts of industrial ambition.
As you approach this lunar landscape, you’ll notice nature’s determined reclamation efforts. Wild vegetation creeps through cracks and crevices, slowly engulfing the skeletal remains of industrial equipment.
While “No Trespassing” signs ward off visitors, the site’s eerie allure persists through deteriorating infrastructure that pierces the skyline. The environmental reclamation process continues as native plants wage a quiet battle against the asbestos-laden soil, though their progress is hampered by persistent contamination.
The ghostly silhouettes of abandoned structures create an apocalyptic panorama that’s both haunting and mesmerizing against the Vermont wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Visitors Safely Explore the Abandoned Mine Site Today?
While ghost tours might seem appealing, you can’t safely explore this site – toxic asbestos, unstable terrain, and strict safety regulations make unauthorized visits extremely dangerous to your health and well-being.
What Happened to the Families Who Lived in Belvidere After Closure?
You’ll find many families faced tough choices after 1993, with widespread relocation as mining jobs vanished. Community impact was severe – folks scattered to Newport, other Vermont towns, or switched to farming careers.
Are There Any Preserved Artifacts From the Mining Operations?
You’ll find limited preserved mining equipment, though the site’s historical significance lives on through waste rock piles, flooded pits, and structural ruins. Museums house some regional mining artifacts.
What Alternative Industries Were Proposed After the Mine’s Closure?
You’d think an asbestos mine couldn’t become a tourist spot, but eco-tourism potential and historical preservation efforts emerged alongside proposals for renewable energy development and sustainable industry after operations ceased.
Did Any Other Vermont Towns Experience Similar Industrial Abandonment?
You’ll find Vermont’s industrial decline affected many communities like Ricker Basin’s lumber collapse, Springfield’s factory closures, and Greenbank’s Hollow’s wool mill destruction – all victims of dramatic economic shifts.
References
- https://www.vermonter.com/vermont-asbestos-group-mine/
- https://www.uvm.edu/~gdrusche/Classes/GEOL 295B – Medical Geology/Ballen_et_al_2009_NEIGC_VAG mine intro.pdf
- https://obscurevermont.com/tag/northeast-kingdom/
- https://vermontgenealogy.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/history-of-the-town-of-belvidere/
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/vermont/abandoned-asbestos-mine-vt
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1016/report.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell
- https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1344&context=usgsstaffpub
- https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=8889
- https://www.mindat.org/loc-4559.html