Springfield (Vermont)

Springfield is a former industrial town on the Black River near the Connecticut River and the New Hampshire border.

Parks and Woolson first began turning out machinery in the 1830s to finish cloth, using the Black River as a source of power. Springfield struggled through a flood which demolished the town in 1869 and a fire which burned much of it in 1880. Jones & Lamson, manufacturer (at various times) of everything from rifles to rotary pumps and sewing machines, moved from Windsor to Springfield in 1888. During World War II, local industry played a strategic role as manufacturers of machine tools. At one point, four manufacturers with 4000 workers called Springfield's Precision Valley home.

Many of the industries were purchased by larger, outside firms in the 1950s and 1960s; they were plagued by costly labor strikes in the 1970s and began to decline as foreign rivals embraced automation and computerization in the 1980s. J&L, Fellows Gear Shaper and Bryant Chucking Grinder all eventually went out of business, leaving the community a shadow of its former self.

• Connecticut River Transit. The Current (CRT) provides public bus transportation around town and to Bellows Falls, Ludlow, White River Junction VT and Lebanon NH. 

• 🌍 Eureka Schoolhouse, 470 Charlestown Road (Vermont Route 11), Goulds Mill, Springfield. Vermont's oldest one-room school, built in 1785-1790. 

• Springfield Community Players, 165 South St, ☏ +1 802 885-4098. Vermont’s longest, continually-running, non-professional theater group; established as the Dramatic Society in 1920. (updated Jun 2017)

• Gallery at The Vault, 68 Main St, ☏ +1 802 885-7111. Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM. Vermont State Craft Center representing 160 artists & artisans with pottery, jewellery, fibre, wooden ware, blown glass and fine art. 

• Black Rock Steakhouse, 284 River St, ☏ +1 802 885-2200. Daily 11AM-9PM. Steaks, chicken, and seafood served on a "hot rock", so that they arrive at the table seared and sizzling on a hot volcanic stone. 
• 56 Main Street Restaurant, ☏ +1 802 885-6987. M-Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM and 4:30-8:30PM. American cuisine with some Mexican, Italian and vegetarian options. 
• Riverside Restaurant, 244 River St, ☏ +1 802 885-2161. 7AM-8PM. Wi-fi. 
• Sheri’s Place, 30 Main St, ☏ +1 802 885-4240. Bar and restaurant, burgers, Mexican and American (traditional) cuisine. 

• Trout River Brewing Co., 100 River St, ☏ +1 802 345-2756. 

• Hartness House Inn, 30 Orchard St, ☏ +1 802 885-2115. Bed & breakfast hotel in a restored country mansion and estate with 40 rooms, a spa, a ballroom, outdoor Garden Pavilion and wedding gardens set on 50 acres of woodlands. Pushkin Restaurant serves local and Russian specialities by reservation only (F Sa 5PM-closing). 
• Holiday Inn Springfield, 818 Charlestown Rd, toll-free: +1-866-230-7221, fax: +1 802 885-4595, hixpress@aol.com. 

• Springfield Town Library, 43 Main St, ☏ +1 802 885-3108, fax: +1 802 885-4906. M-Th 9AM-7PM, F 9AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-1PM.