Wallingford Vermont Town Travel and Tourism Wallingford Vermont USA

To the casual tourist, time seems to have stood still in Wallingford. The three distinct communities of the town(ship), Wallingford in the northwest, South Wallingford, and East Wallingford, appear much as they have for the past 100 years or more. Tree lined streets offer vistas of Italianate, Victorian, Greek Revival, and Neoclassical structures.

Like other New England towns, Wallingford is approximately six miles square, a size that made for efficient community management in the 1700s. Traveling from any one of its outlying corners into the town center to shop, attend church, or take part in town meeting was considered a reasonable walk to make between morning and evening chores. Chances were town officials knew all the inhabitants and every piece of property in Wallingford's boundaries. That's still fairly true. If you don't believe us, come and see for yourself.

Early development in Wallingford village sprang up where the Roaring Brook enters Otter Creek, on the stage road between Bennington and Rutland, today's Route 7. On the same stage route, South Wallingford became a separate small population center. As railroads entered Vermont's economic picture, East Wallingford developed as a lumber shipping and manufacturing center, along the train line between Bellows Falls and Rutland.

Rotarians from around the world visit Wallingford to see the Little Red Schoolhouse, built in 1818, where Paul Harris, founder of Rotary International, absorbed the values that led to his developing that service organization. Today, Wallingford Memorial Rotary Club meets in the building, and acts as custodian for a Harris memorabilia collection.

Wallingford Historical Society's museum, on the second floor of the 1906 town hall, contains clothing, furniture, photographs, and town memorabilia, plus a collection of open genealogical records. The free, handicapped accessible museum is open during hours that the town clerk's office is open, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 to 4:30, Friday, 8:00 to noon.

Rotary International founder Paul Harris

Wallingford also contains both the home and the factory (1836) of Lyman Batcheller, founder of Batcheller and Sons, the oldest pitchfork manufacturing company in the U.S. Purchased by the manufacturers of today's True Temper line of tools in 1902, the company continues to turn out ash wood tool handles. Today, known as the Old Stone Shop, the original company factory, built of locally quarried marble, hosts the displays of Handmade in Vermont, a collection of the state's wide variety of handmade goods.

Other places to shop in the unincorporated village of Wallingford are the quilt shop Ann's Pin Cushion, the Wallingford Antique Center, and Wallingford Toy Works. If you're looking for quality Vermont foods to consume on the spot or take home to your loved ones, drop in Cumberland Farms, Perry's Country Market, or the Wallingford Country Store & Deli.

Lodging accommodations include the White Rocks Inn. The White Rocks Inn is also part of the Munson family story, one of five farms initially created by the Munsons and their descendants along the old stage road; special offerings for visitors include a picnic package, a storybook romance, and an elopement special. Elfin Lake Wallingford Vermont

Vacationers with a passion for the outdoors may access Vermont's famed Long Trail at its intersection with Highway 140, between the villages of Wallingford and East Wallingford. Other outdoor recreation spots include White Rocks Recreational Area and Elfin Lake.