You’ll discover Richville’s ghostly remains nestled in Vermont’s Green Mountains, where Native Abenaki once lived along the Winooski River. This former lumber boomtown flourished in the late 1800s with busy sawmills and a growing railroad community. Nature had other plans – devastating floods and landslides forced residents to abandon their homes. Today, you’ll find the weathered Almeron Goodell Farm, Ricker Cemetery’s ancient headstones, and stone foundations that tell a deeper story.
Key Takeaways
- Richville, Vermont became a ghost town after natural disasters, including floods and landslides, devastated the community and its lumber operations.
- The Almeron Goodell Farm stands as the last remaining structure in Richville, though it’s deteriorating from age and vandalism.
- Railroad destruction and harsh winters isolated the town, forcing residents to relocate and businesses to close permanently.
- Ricker Cemetery remains accessible, featuring preserved headstones that document the town’s former inhabitants.
- Stone foundations scattered throughout the landscape mark where homes and sawmills once operated in this former lumber town.
The Birth of a Mountain Community
While the Abenaki people had long inhabited the area near the Winooski River’s Green Mountain foothills, Richville’s European story began in the tumultuous 1770s. You’d find the first brave settlers, Amos Brownson and John Chamberlain, establishing homesteads in 1775, though they’d soon face threats during the Revolutionary War that forced temporary abandonment.
After the 1784 war’s end, settlement patterns emerged as pioneers returned and new families arrived, spreading from “the flats” into surrounding territories. Like Manchester, which was described as a pleasant land among mountains, Richville nestled perfectly into Vermont’s rolling landscape.
The cultural evolution accelerated after 1794 when the Vermont Legislature officially established the township, combining parts of Huntington, Jericho, and Williston. By 1800, you’d discover a thriving community of 718 residents, with water-powered mills driving early industry and the iconic Round Church serving as both spiritual and civic center. The Round Church’s construction in 1813 provided a central gathering place for both religious services and town meetings.
Life in the Lumber Era
After the railroad’s arrival in the late 1800s, Richville transformed into a bustling lumber town where sawmills and logging camps dotted the surrounding hillsides.
You’d have found a vibrant community of specialized laborers and their families, living both in temporary hillside camps and settled homes throughout the village.
The town’s community dynamics revolved around three key aspects of lumber life:
- Winter logging operations, when frozen ground made timber transport easier
- Year-round sawmill work, processing logs into marketable lumber
- Railroad shipping activities, connecting Richville’s products to Burlington and beyond
Living in Richville meant you were part of an interconnected web of workers, families, and business owners whose livelihoods depended on the steady flow of timber through the local mills. Much of the lumber came from the Great Swamp area, which was rich in valuable timber.
The rhythmic pulse of Richville’s sawmills bound together the fates of every resident, from lumberjacks to merchants.
This bustling era drastically reshaped the landscape, stripping the hills bare of their ancient forests. Early photographs reveal hills devoid of trees, showing the extensive impact of the lumber industry on Richmond’s natural environment.
Nature’s Fury and Final Days
Despite Richville’s early prosperity, a series of devastating natural disasters struck the lumber town in rapid succession, spelling doom for its future.
You’d have witnessed floods washing out crucial railroad lines and landslides destroying roads, cutting off the town’s economic lifeline. Travelers passing through often encountered gravity defying phenomena along the treacherous mountain paths. The harsh winters isolated residents, while storm damage crippled lumber operations – the town’s backbone. Similar to the flooding that destroyed South Glastenbury in 1898, these disasters proved insurmountable.
As nature released its fury, Richville’s population decline accelerated. You couldn’t maintain businesses without reliable transportation, and families relocated seeking stability elsewhere.
The remaining residents faced dwindling services and growing isolation. Environmental damage from logging, combined with toxic runoff and soil erosion, made rebuilding impossible.
Nature steadily reclaimed the land, transforming Richville into a ghost town where only stories of its final days remain.
What Remains Today
Today in Richville, you’ll find only sparse remnants of the once-thriving lumber town amid Vermont’s rugged terrain. The Almeron Goodell Farm stands as the last remaining structure, though it’s succumbing to decay with its moss-covered roof and vandalized interior. Similar to the Bennington Triangle area, erosion and flooding have destroyed much of the original infrastructure.
Nature’s reclamation is evident everywhere you look. The area that once housed three working sawmills has been completely overtaken by vegetation.
For those seeking traces of Richville’s past, here’s what you can still explore:
- The accessible Ricker Cemetery, featuring visible headstones and Florence Ricker’s grave – the final burial in town
- Stone foundations scattered throughout the landscape, marking where homes once stood
- The deteriorating Goodell farmhouse, though you’ll need to exercise caution due to its unstable condition
Cemetery visits remain the most reliable way to connect with Richville’s history, as other physical remnants continue to fade into the wilderness.
Legacy in the Green Mountains
While physical traces of Richville continue to fade into the Vermont wilderness, the town’s legacy endures as part of the Green Mountains’ rich historical tapestry.
You’ll find its story woven into the broader cultural identity of Vermont, shaped by the revolutionary spirit of the Green Mountain Boys and their fight for independence from New York’s authority.
The town’s history reflects the pioneering determination that defined early Vermont settlements. You can trace its roots to the 1770s when settlers first carved their communities from the frontier. The local militia gathered frequently at the Catamount Tavern in nearby Bennington to plan resistance against New York authorities. Ethan Allen’s leadership proved crucial in defending Vermont settlers’ rights through both legal and military means.
Though Richville ultimately became a ghost town, its historical narratives live on through regional tourism, conservation efforts, and heritage projects that celebrate the Green Mountains’ distinctive past.
The town’s transformation mirrors Vermont’s evolution from contested territory to proud mountain state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Wildlife Species Now Inhabit the Abandoned Buildings and Surrounding Forest?
You’ll find diverse wildlife adapted to both structures and forest: deer, raccoons, rabbits, waterfowl, herons, turtles, and frogs showcase remarkable species survival in this unique abandoned-to-nature environment.
Are There Any Documented Paranormal Activities or Ghost Sightings in Ricker Basin?
Like a whisper in empty ruins, you’ll find one notable documented ghostly encounter where a woodsman’s tent was mysteriously slashed and his sleeping bag yanked by unseen hands. Beyond that, spectral phenomena remain unconfirmed.
Can Visitors Take Artifacts Found at the Site as Souvenirs?
You can’t take artifacts as souvenirs – it’s illegal and disrupts artifact preservation. Instead, capture photos and memories while leaving historical items undisturbed for future generations to study and appreciate.
What Precautions Should Hikers Take When Exploring the Abandoned Settlement Ruins?
You’ll need a GPS device, sturdy boots, and first aid kit. Don’t enter unstable buildings, hike with a partner, and inform others of your plans when exploring abandoned structures.
Do Any Descendants of Original Ricker Basin Residents Still Live Nearby?
You’ll find descendant stories and local heritage preserved by families in nearby Waterbury and Bolton, though official records don’t confirm exact numbers of Ricker Basin descendants still living in the area.
References
- https://www.vermonter.com/ricker-basin-vermont-ghost-town/
- https://happyvermont.com/2014/10/23/glastenbury-ghost-town/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScW-H7A8yL8
- http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gtusa/history/usa/vt.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Vermont
- https://www.richmondvt.gov/community/historical-society
- https://www.richmondvthistory.org/town-history
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQvT9nVVZAg
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond
- https://books.google.com/books/about/Richmond_Vermont.html?id=PmkjAQAAMAAJ
