In October of 1997, our research group held one of its occasional two-day retreats at Talbot House, an MIT-owned retreat in South Pomfret, VT. This is a lovely old farm house, donated to MIT by the Rockefeller family, in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, across the road from the Suicide Six ski area. In October, the justly famous Fall foliage of Vermont made the scenery especially spectacular.
One of the main attractions to me was the Woodstock Library on the
Woodstock Green, next to the Woodstock Inn.
Touring in text order, this bank stands at the main intersection
of the town. The imposing stone building stands
by the side of a stream crossing the main street, and must have
served as a mill before it became a haven for costly
artsy businesses. The Middle Bridge is recent, the original having
been destroyed by fire about thirty years ago.
Its joinery and all-wooden construction, however, date back to the
origins of this human attempt to save bridge
surfaces from the devastating effects of severe winters. Woodstock
is rich and whimsical, as the selection of goods
and prices at the Huneck gallery attest. The town is also endowed
with a number of bells cast by Paul Revere, one
of which is admired by Pete Szolovits, Fearless Leader.
The photo below serves as an index to other pictures, at least for those who stuck it out at the meeting to its closing moments. Others are accessible via the attractive photo of Phil Greenspun's Alex, the Samoyed.