You’ll find Somerset, Vermont’s ghost town deep within the Bennington Triangle, where a once-prosperous logging community met its end through devastating floods and the construction of Somerset Dam (1911-1914). The town’s decline accelerated after severe flooding destroyed essential railroad infrastructure, leading to its disincorporation in 1937. Today, abandoned structures peek through the reclaimed wilderness, while tales of unexplained disappearances and mysterious phenomena add an eerie dimension to this forgotten mountain settlement’s legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Somerset, Vermont became a ghost town after devastating floods destroyed railroad infrastructure and the Somerset Dam submerged much of the town.
- The town was officially disincorporated in 1937, marking the end of its existence as a chartered Vermont community.
- Located within the mysterious Bennington Triangle, Somerset’s abandonment coincided with unexplained disappearances and paranormal folklore.
- Somerset’s decline reflected the boom-and-bust cycle of logging economies, as resource depletion and environmental challenges forced residents to leave.
- The remnants of Somerset can still be explored via hiking trails, though nature has largely reclaimed the former logging town’s structures.
The Rise and Fall of a Logging Empire
While Vermont’s early settlers initially cleared forests simply to create farmland, the region’s abundant timber resources soon sparked a transformation into a logging empire. By 1794, you’d find intensive logging operations shipping valuable oak and white pine to Quebec, with Lake Champlain becoming a bustling timber highway.
Vermont’s wilderness rapidly evolved from simple land clearing into a timber powerhouse, with Lake Champlain serving as nature’s logging superhighway.
Burlington emerged as America’s third-largest lumber port by 1840, showcasing the industry’s explosive growth. The devastating 1938 hurricane provided an unexpected bounty of White Pine that flooded the lumber market.
The timber industry relied on traditional logging techniques – axes, bowsaws, and animal power dominated the landscape until the 1950s. You’d see seasonal workers gathering logs near waterways during winter, waiting for spring thaws to transport their harvest.
Somerset exemplified this boom, strategically positioned to extract old-growth spruce from the southern Green Mountains, floating logs downstream to sawmills through an intricate network of rivers. The area’s massive scale of operations yielded 300 million feet of spruce and hardwood, along with substantial pulpwood harvests.
Environmental Forces Behind Somerset’s Abandonment
Although Somerset thrived during its logging heyday, powerful environmental forces ultimately sealed the town’s fate. Natural disasters struck when a devastating flood destroyed the essential railroad infrastructure, cutting off Somerset’s economic lifeline.
The town’s challenging mountainous terrain and dense forests had always restricted growth, but three key factors delivered the final blow:
- Construction of Somerset Dam (1911-1914) submerged much of the town and remaining infrastructure.
- The reservoir’s flooding permanently transformed the Deerfield River valley’s ecosystem.
- The region’s steep topography made rebuilding and recovery virtually impossible.
Today, ecological succession has reclaimed the land where Somerset once stood. Like the fire-ravaged mill at Green Banks Hollow, Somerset’s industrial remnants were erased by forces beyond human control. The entire area is now surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest, offering a stark reminder of nature’s reclamation.
You’ll find a serene national forest campground where mills once hummed with activity – nature’s quiet victory over human industry, marking the end of Somerset’s brief but vibrant existence.
Life in the Bennington Triangle’s Shadow
Beyond its role as a logging town, Somerset carried a darker legacy as part of the infamous Bennington Triangle – a region steeped in mystery and unexplained disappearances.
Living in Somerset meant confronting the weight of mystery folklore that permeated daily life, from Native American warnings about a “devouring stone” to tales of strange creatures lurking in the mountains.
Ancient legends whispered through Somerset’s streets, where stories of supernatural dangers haunted residents’ everyday lives.
Community memories from 1920 to 1950 tell of neighbors vanishing without trace, most significantly Paula Jean Welden, whose disappearance intensified local fears.
You’d find residents organizing search parties while grappling with supernatural explanations passed down through generations. Locals reported seeing unexplained strange lights and phantom figures in the dense forest.
The area’s reputation for paranormal activity, documented by folklorist Joseph A. Citro, cast a long shadow over Somerset, ultimately contributing to its abandonment and transformation into the ghost town you’d discover today.
James Tedford’s vanishing from a bus in 1949 added another layer of mystery to Somerset’s already haunting reputation.
Lost Souls in the Vermont Wilderness
The dense Vermont wilderness surrounding Somerset became a forbidding domain where souls could vanish without a trace.
You’ll find a region steeped in eerie folklore, where mysterious disappearances like those of Middie Rivers and Paula Welden have never been solved.
Local author Joseph Citro first referred to this haunted area as the Bennington Triangle in 1992.
The vast, untamed forest that swallowed the abandoned logging town continues to challenge even the most experienced explorers. Standing at 3,748 feet tall, the imposing Glastenbury Mountain towers over the desolate landscape.
The area’s notorious reputation stems from three distinct elements:
- An overwhelming sense of isolation within the mountainous terrain
- Unexplained phenomena, including strange lights and unsettling sounds
- The psychological impact of knowing you’re walking where others have disappeared forever
Today, you’ll feel the weight of Somerset’s dark history in every shadowy grove and forgotten trail, as nature reclaims what humans briefly borrowed.
Legacy of a Vanished Mountain Community
While Somerset’s brief existence as a chartered Vermont town ended with its disincorporation in 1937, you’ll find its legacy deeply woven into the fabric of Vermont’s mountain history.
Similar to the remains found along the Slate History Trail, abandoned structures tell the silent stories of those who once called this land home. The town’s cultural heritage mirrors a familiar story of resource depletion and environmental consequences that shaped early Vermont settlements. Similar to Glastenbury’s decline, the area saw its population plummet after the devastating effects of severe flooding. You’ll discover Somerset’s historical significance in its role as a cautionary tale of boom-and-bust economics, where logging operations stripped the mountains bare before abandoning them to nature’s reclamation.
Today, you can explore the remnants of this vanished community through hiking trails that traverse its former boundaries, while tales of mysterious disappearances in the Bennington Triangle add an element of intrigue to Somerset’s story.
The town’s dissolution represents both the harsh realities of mountain life and Vermont’s evolving relationship with its wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Remaining Structures or Ruins Still Visible in Somerset Today?
Only three historical relics exist, with a locked one-room schoolhouse being the main remaining building you’ll find. The other structures have crumbled away, leaving few traces of their previous significance.
Can Visitors Legally Explore the Somerset Ghost Town Area?
You’ll need to verify access permissions with state authorities before exploring this ghost town. While there aren’t specific regulations, always check land ownership and prioritize visitor safety in remote areas.
What Happened to Somerset’s Former Residents After the Town’s Abandonment?
Imagine packing up your family’s entire life overnight. You’d find, like most residents did, that life after abandonment meant relocating to thriving Vermont towns like Bennington, where economic opportunities and transportation networks remained intact.
Has Anyone Successfully Lived in Somerset Since Its Disincorporation?
You’ll find that successful long-term survival in Somerset hasn’t happened since disincorporation, though census data shows 6 isolated residents in 2020 making minimal life amid the challenging mountain terrain.
Are There Documented Native American Settlements or Artifacts in Somerset’s Territory?
You won’t find specific documented Native American settlements or artifacts directly in the territory, though historical significance exists through regional evidence of Abenaki and Algonquian peoples using the surrounding lands.
References
- https://obscurevermont.com/tag/somerset/
- https://happyvermont.com/2014/10/23/glastenbury-ghost-town/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennington_Triangle
- https://vermontcountry.com/2023/10/26/the-haunting-of-glastenbury-mountain/
- https://www.thetravel.com/glastenbury-mountain-ghost-town-history-vermont/
- http://johnswoodchuckin.blogspot.com/2015/03/history-of-logging-in-vermont.html
- https://vermontwood.com/client_media/files/History of Woodworking Low Res Final.pdf
- https://northernwoodlands.org/blog/article/a_reservoir_of_history
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C17Jc85Ts0M
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrQNbrIrNT8
