You’ll find Summit Siding‘s remains in Vermont’s mountains, where it thrived as a bustling charcoal production hub in the late 1800s. The town featured nearly 200 kilns, the Summit House hotel, and steam-powered sawmills that drove its economy. By 1907, aggressive deforestation had stripped the landscape, leading to the town’s decline despite attempted revivals through tourism. Today, weathered kilns and abandoned structures tell stories of America’s industrial ambitions and their environmental costs.
Key Takeaways
- Summit Siding was a thriving Vermont industrial town centered around charcoal production, with approximately 200 kiln sites during its peak.
- The town’s decline began with extensive deforestation, which depleted over 75% of the surrounding forest cover by the mid-1800s.
- Summit House hotel, established in 1858, served as the community’s central gathering place until the town’s eventual abandonment.
- Failed attempts to revive Summit Siding as a tourist destination included Mortimer Proctor’s 1940 lodge construction project.
- Today, the ghost town features visible remnants of charcoal kilns, abandoned industrial sites, and structures testifying to its former prosperity.
The Rise of a Charcoal Empire
While Vermont’s iron industry laid the foundation for its charcoal production in the late 18th century, Summit Siding emerged as an important hub in this burgeoning economy.
You’ll find the historical significance of this town deeply rooted in the transformation from simple mound kilns to sophisticated brick and stone structures by the mid-1800s.
As steam-powered sawmills appeared around 1860, they revolutionized wood processing capabilities, accelerating the town’s charcoal output.
You’re looking at an industry that initially relied on ox-carts hauling charcoal to local iron forges, but soon expanded into a vast network of nearly 200 kiln sites across Vermont’s Green Mountains.
The abundant wood supply from land clearance fueled Summit Siding’s rise, making it a vital player in Vermont’s industrial expansion.
Daily Life in a Mountain Town
As Summit Siding clung to its mountainous perch, daily life revolved around the Summit House hotel, which served as both the town’s social nucleus and economic anchor after its construction in 1858.
Perched high in the mountains, Summit House stood as the beating heart of Summit Siding’s close-knit frontier community.
You’d find community gatherings centered here, where locals and tourists alike shared meals and stories, bridging social divides while maintaining distinct hierarchies.
Life wasn’t easy in this remote outpost. You’d need to haul your water by hand and rely on wood stoves for heat. The surrounding breathtaking natural landscapes made the hardships worthwhile for many residents. Residents often sought refuge in the Adirondack style shelters that dotted the mountainside, offering protection from harsh weather.
Seasonal occupations kept you busy – from guiding summer tourists to tending small gardens that supplemented food brought up from lower elevations.
When illness struck, you’d face a challenging journey down the mountain for medical care. Communication remained limited to word of mouth and occasional mail, while your children attended modest mountain schools.
When the Trees Disappeared
During the mid-1800s, you’d have witnessed the systematic destruction of Summit Siding’s pristine forests through aggressive clear-cutting practices that transformed the mountain landscape. The deforestation impacts were devastating – over 75% of Vermont’s forest cover vanished as timber companies stripped the land bare. Today, Vermont has made a remarkable recovery and is now 78% forested.
You wouldn’t recognize the barren slopes where locomotives hauled away massive loads of wood, both for lumber and fuel. The ecological consequences rippled through the entire ecosystem, leaving lasting scars on the mountain community. The exposed mountainsides revealed ancient rock formations that once lay beneath a vast tropical sea.
- Soil erosion and watershed damage permanently altered the land’s ability to sustain new growth
- Wildlife populations plummeted as their habitat disappeared
- Weather patterns changed dramatically, exposing the denuded slopes to harsh conditions
- The local economy suffered as timber resources were depleted beyond sustainable levels
Failed Revival as a Tourist Haven
Despite multiple ambitious attempts to transform Summit Siding into a thriving tourist destination in the early 1900s, you’d have witnessed a string of failed ventures that sealed the town’s fate.
The tourism challenges began when early summit hotels fell into disrepair by 1907, followed by Mortimer Proctor’s hopeful 1919 land purchase and the eventual construction of Charles P. Cooper’s lodge by 1940. Local residents in Dover began taking in summer boarders for extra income during this period.
You would’ve noticed how the town’s historical significance couldn’t overcome its fundamental obstacles: poor accessibility, insufficient infrastructure, and fierce competition from established resorts like Stowe and Mount Mansfield.
The rise of automobile culture and changing tourist preferences toward winter sports further complicated revival efforts.
Even the State of Vermont’s 1945 acquisition for a ski lodge near Killington Peak couldn’t reverse Summit Siding’s declining fortunes.
The area’s fortunes would later change when Preston Leete Smith established the successful Killington Basin Ski Area in 1958, but it was too late for Summit Siding’s revival.
The Ghost Town’s Legacy Today
The rugged remnants of Summit Siding tell a haunting story of Vermont’s industrial past. You’ll find visible traces of its cultural significance scattered throughout the landscape, from weathered charcoal kilns to abandoned iron-making sites. The ghost town‘s legacy lives on through oral histories, paranormal tales, and the ecological impact that’s still evident in the deforested mountainsides. Ancient stone pillars and cairns near the fire tower suggest prehistoric human activity in the area long before industrialization. Like the Hogback Ski Resort, visitors report hearing echoes of past activities in the abandoned structures.
- Surviving structures, including the former general store and lodging buildings, stand as silent witnesses to the boom-and-bust cycle.
- Local families preserve stories of life, tragedy, and mysterious disappearances through generations.
- Hikers and ghost town enthusiasts regularly document their explorations, adding to the town’s digital footprint.
- Environmental scars from logging and industrial activities serve as stark reminders of unsustainable resource extraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Documented Paranormal Activities or Ghost Sightings at Summit Siding?
You won’t find any verified ghost encounters or spectral sightings here, as research shows no documented paranormal activities. The remote location and limited historical records haven’t produced any confirmed supernatural reports.
What Was the Average Population of Summit Siding During Its Peak Years?
While no exact records exist, you’ll find this fascinating: based on Vermont’s historical patterns of railroad settlements, Summit Siding’s demographic changes suggest around 50-150 residents during its peak railroad years.
Can Visitors Legally Explore and Photograph the Remaining Ruins Today?
You’ll need to verify land ownership and obtain necessary permissions before exploring or photographing ruins. No formal exploration guidelines or photography permits exist, making legal access uncertain without proper authorization.
Were There Any Schools or Churches Established in Summit Siding?
You won’t find traces of formal education history or religious significance here – historical records don’t show any established schools or churches during the town’s brief existence as a logging community.
What Happened to the Families Who Owned Businesses After the Town’s Abandonment?
You’ll find that business ownership transferred elsewhere as families relocated to nearby Vermont towns, seeking new economic opportunities. Some maintained family legacies through seasonal properties, while others completely started fresh.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdb-1D_Jc8I
- https://thecuriousadventuresofkat.wordpress.com/2017/11/09/haunted-vermont/
- https://obscurevermont.com/tag/somerset/
- https://obscurevermont.com/tag/ghost-town/
- https://www.geotab.com/ghost-towns/
- http://accdservices.vermont.gov/ORCDocs/_HistoricContext__IndustryandCommerceTheme_00000198.pdf
- https://www.vtarchaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/200_years_ch6_optimized.pdf
- http://accdservices.vermont.gov/ORCDocs/_HistoricContext__IndustryandCommerceContext_00000200.pdf
- http://www.vtarchaeology.org/wp-content/uploads/200_years_Introduction_optimized.pdf
- https://anrweb.vt.gov/PubDocs/DEC/GEO/StGeoReport/Jacobs_1939-1940.pdf
