When you visit Joe’s Pond in Vermont today, you’ll discover the remnants of a once-thriving 19th-century mill community centered around Greenbanks Hollow Mills. Established in 1849 by Benjamin Greenbank, this industrial powerhouse produced 700 yards of cloth daily and employed 45 workers until a catastrophic fire in 1885 destroyed the mill, bridge, and surrounding buildings within two hours. The area’s rich history stretches back to its namesake, Indian Joe, who taught survival skills to early Vermont settlers.
Key Takeaways
- Joe’s Pond became a ghost town after the catastrophic 1885 fire destroyed the Vermont Valley Woolen Mill and surrounding community infrastructure.
- The once-thriving industrial village included textile mills, stores, housing, and community buildings powered by Joe’s Brook.
- Benjamin Greenbank’s departure to New Hampshire after the fire led to community dispersal and the area’s abandonment.
- The fire started when a broken lantern ignited oil-soaked wool beams, destroying the mill within two hours.
- The destruction of the covered bridge during the fire isolated the area from Danville’s town center, contributing to its decline.
Native Origins and Early Settlement Stories
While Joe’s Pond bears the name of a Micmac Indian known as Indian Joe, its indigenous history stretches back to the mid-1700s when Native tribes from Canada frequented the area during summer months.
You’ll find the pond’s original name was “Sozap Nebees” in Abnaki language, reflecting the deep Native connection to this land.
Joe and his wife Molly exemplified Native survival through their seasonal patterns, spending summers hunting and fishing at the pond before wintering with the Coosuck Indians in Newbury.
Their legacy of cultural exchange proved essential when Joe taught significant survival skills to early Vermont settlers and served as a scout for Generals Bayley and Hazen.
Joe’s warnings about impending attacks earned him both a state pension and the eternal honor of having the pond named after him in 1785.
Local folklore suggests that evil spirits in the pond kept pursuers from following Joe onto its waters when he had to flee.
The pond’s current elevation sits at 1,551 feet above sea level, offering stunning views of the surrounding Vermont landscape.
The Legend of Joe Indian’s Haven
This tale of survival holds deep cultural significance in Vermont’s Indigenous storytelling tradition, symbolizing the complex relationships between Native peoples and settlers during the region’s colonial period.
You’ll find Joe remembered as a friendly guide who warned settlers of impending attacks, his story preserved through both oral histories and William Parker Neal’s 1976 documentation.
The area later became home to the prosperous Vermont Valley Woolen Mill, marking a significant transition from indigenous territory to industrial development.
In 1885, the community faced devastation when a massive fire destroyed the mill and the bridge over Joes Brook, forever changing the landscape of this historic village.
Sim Whittier: The Island’s Guardian
You’ll find the remarkable story of Simeon Whittier at Joe’s Pond, where this former Battle of Little Big Horn veteran spent nearly 40 years building his own island retreat stone by stone.
As a skilled craftsman proficient in paperhanging, plastering, boat repair, and rope splicing, Whittier sustained himself while gradually transforming a natural ledge into what locals would come to know as “Sim’s Island.”
His dedication to the pond lasted until his death in 1937 at age 87, leaving behind a physical legacy that would inspire local historians to document his story in 2021 through the Danville Historical Society.
The island was one of several formed by glacial ice retreat around 12,000 years ago, creating a lasting geological feature that Whittier would later call home.
The pond would later become the site of a tragic incident when two nuns drowned during a boat ride in the summer of 1961.
Island Life and Skills
Living on the remote island demanded exceptional adaptability from Sim Whittier, who mastered essential survival skills as its dedicated guardian. Through tropical adaptation, he learned to navigate using natural landmarks while gathering resources and maintaining freshwater reserves through ingenious collection systems.
Much like the elemental guardians, Whittier served as a protector of the island’s natural balance. Just as Electric Surge transformed battlegrounds, his presence altered the island’s energy. You’ll find his resourcefulness reflected in every aspect of island life, from crafting fishing nets from native materials to developing natural remedies from local plants.
His sustainable approach included careful waste management and composting techniques that preserved the island’s delicate ecosystem. Beyond physical survival, Whittier’s spiritual connection to the island manifested through rituals and offerings that maintained harmony with nature.
His daily routines encompassed both practical skills and mindful stewardship, demonstrating how isolation could forge remarkable self-sufficiency and resilience.
Building His Haven
After returning from conflicts in the western United States, Rufus Simeon “Sim” Whittier established his solitary haven on a small island in Joe’s Pond, Vermont.
You’ll find his legacy in the challenging island reclamation project he undertook when he discovered that a dam had submerged much of the former Indian Joe’s Island, leaving only a mound with bedrock ledges above water.
Undeterred by nature’s obstacles, Sim transformed this diminished space into his permanent home. He built Sim’s homestead from scratch, crafting a dwelling that would shelter him for 43 years until his death in 1937.
While choosing isolation, he maintained a reputation as a mild-mannered neighbor who’d help others when needed, proving you don’t need to sacrifice community connections to live freely. Today, visitors can explore the area by kayaking through channels, with the area remaining a popular recreation destination, allowing them to discover the historical remnants of Sim’s dwelling.
Legacy Through Local Stories
Beyond the physical transformation of his island home, Sim Whittier‘s lasting impact resonates through the rich tapestry of local narratives that have preserved his memory.
You’ll find his story woven into local folklore, chronicled by historians like Dorothy Larrabee and Jane Brown, who captured his remarkable 43-year residence on the island until his death in 1937.
The mild-mannered veteran of Little Big Horn left a cultural significance that transcends his diverse talents as a paperhanger, plasterer, and poet.
His presence as the island’s guardian has become synonymous with Joe’s Pond’s identity, blending both settler and indigenous histories.
The Danville Historical Society continues to maintain archives of his legacy, while his island stands as a monument to individual determination and Vermont’s enduring spirit.
Natural Forces That Shaped the Region
While the scenic Joe’s Pond of today appears tranquil, powerful geological forces shaped this landscape over millions of years.
You’ll find evidence of ancient Devonian sandstones and shales that were compressed, folded, and metamorphosed into quartzites and schists some 350 million years ago, forming the distinctive Kittredge Hills you see today.
The most dramatic changes came during the Pleistocene glaciations, when massive ice sheets carved out the pond’s basin.
You’re looking at the results of glacial impact that gouged the pond to depths of 100 feet and spread till across the landscape.
The ice sheet’s retreat redirected ancient waterways, transforming what was once a southwest-flowing stream system into today’s pond that drains toward the Connecticut River through the Passumpsic.
Rise and Fall of Greenbanks Hollow Mills
You’ll find the story of Greenbanks Hollow Mills begins in 1849 when Benjamin Greenbank transformed a small woolen operation into New England’s largest textile mill, processing 700 yards of cloth daily with 45 workers.
The mill’s success created a thriving village complete with worker housing, stores, and community buildings, all powered by Joe’s Brook’s natural waterflow.
Your glimpse into this industrial prosperity ends abruptly on December 14, 1885, when a devastating fire destroyed the five-story mill and surrounding village, prompting Greenbank’s relocation to New Hampshire and leaving behind what would become one of Vermont’s ghost towns.
Mill Operations and Power
The rushing waters of Joe’s Brook proved instrumental in powering Greenbanks Hollow‘s industrial heart, driving both the gristmill and woolen mill machinery through sophisticated water channeling systems.
The natural depression of the hollow provided an endless water supply, essential for sustained industrial operations.
You would’ve found this water power turning grinding stones that processed local grain, while also driving the complex textile looms that produced up to 700 yards of wool cloth daily.
At its peak, the five-story woolen mill complex harnessed this natural energy to maintain impressive production volumes, employing 45 workers from 25 families.
The reliable flow from Joe’s Brook enabled continuous operation of saw blades, grinding mechanisms, and textile equipment until the devastating fire of 1885 brought operations to an abrupt end.
Village Economic Growth
Benjamin Greenbank’s purchase of a small woolen mill in 1849 marked Greenbank’s Hollow’s transformation from a quiet waterside location into a bustling industrial center.
You’ll find that under his leadership, the village infrastructure expanded rapidly to include a gristmill, sawmill, store, post office, and worker housing, creating a self-sustaining industrial community.
The mill’s daily production of 700 yards of cloth attracted 45 workers from 25 families, fostering strong community resilience through stable employment and essential services.
Local sheep farmers found a reliable market for their wool, while ancillary businesses thrived in the growing village economy.
However, when fire destroyed the mill in 1885, Greenbank relocated to railroad-connected Enfield, New Hampshire, and the village’s economic significance swiftly declined as workers dispersed.
Fire Destroys Community Legacy
While workers bustled through their daily routines on December 14, 1885, a broken lantern’s fall onto oil-soaked wool beams triggered a devastating fire that would forever alter Greenbank’s Hollow’s destiny.
Within two hours, the flames devoured the five-story woolen mill, store, post office, covered bridge, and several homes. The fire’s intensity drew attention from as far as Saint Johnsbury.
You’ll find it wasn’t just poor fire prevention that sealed the community’s fate. The destruction of the bridge cut off access to Danville’s town center, while debris choked the brook that powered the mills.
Instead of rebuilding, Benjamin Greenbank relocated to Enfield, New Hampshire. Without jobs, residents scattered, and by 1912, even the local school closed, marking the end of this once-thriving industrial hub’s community resilience.
Preserving Vermont’s Industrial Heritage
Since Vermont’s early days as a hub of iron, charcoal, and lime production, preserving the state’s industrial heritage has become increasingly essential to maintaining its cultural identity.
You’ll find at least 288 documented industrial sites across the state, though many face significant preservation challenges.
The Vermont Historic Preservation Act provides a framework for protecting these valuable resources, but you’re looking at complex hurdles when it comes to industrial preservation.
Building code compliance, asbestos removal, and structural deterioration make restoration costly.
However, there’s hope through heritage tourism and adaptive reuse. You can now visit former industrial sites that have been transformed into museums, offices, and residential spaces.
Through grants and community support, you’re able to experience Vermont’s industrial past while contributing to its economic future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Current Recreational Activities Available at Joe’s Pond Today?
You’ll find diverse activities including boating excursions, sailing races, swimming at community beach, hiking trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, pickleball tournaments, yoga classes, and organized social events.
How Deep Is Joe’s Pond at Its Maximum Depth?
You’ll find Joe’s Pond reaches a maximum depth of 78 feet (23.8 meters), though some sources cite it at 76 feet. The average depth is about 21 feet throughout the waterbody.
When Was the First Permanent Settlement Established Around Joe’s Pond?
You’ll find that early settlers established their first permanent settlement in the 1780s, when pioneers like Jesse Levenworth built mills at the pond’s outlet, marking a historically significant moment.
Are There Any Remaining Structures From Sim Whittier’s Time on the Island?
Past pioneering projects perished – you won’t find any historical structures from Sim Whittier’s time on the island. His house was moved over ice in the 1940s, leaving no island remnants of his era.
What Fish Species Can Be Found in Joe’s Pond?
You’ll find brown, rainbow, and brook trout species, plus smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, yellow perch, bullhead catfish, and various panfish. Fishing regulations allow year-round access.
References
- https://www.joespondvermont.com/sims-island.html
- https://www.joespondvermont.com/a-history-of-joes-pond.html
- https://www.vermonter.com/greenbanks-hollow/
- https://www.joespondvermont.com/the-origin-of-joes-pond.html
- https://www.joespondvermont.com/history.html
- https://vermonthistory.org/documents/VermontMagazine/29_4_SeptOct2017IndianJoe.pdf
- https://www.stowelandtrust.org/fileadmin/files/maps/Joes_Pond_Brochure.pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrQNbrIrNT8
- https://www.joespondvermont.com/tragedy.html
- https://jpacurrentnews.blogspot.com/2017/06/we-had-good-meeting-of-west-danville.html
