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FEBRUARY 2018 • BACKROADS
WE’RE OUTTA HER E
a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads
harTNess house 30 ORCHARD STREET, SPRINGFIELD, VT 05156 802- 885-2115 • WWW.HARTNESSHOUSE.COM Sometimes when we are looking for a special place for our “We’re Outta Here!” column, we run into something so extraordinary, that it not only fits that bill but could also fill in as a Great All American Diner Run, Big City Getaway of even a Mysterious America. With this month’s visit to Springfield, Vermont’s Hartness House you can take your pick, as this is a very special inn indeed. So pack your overnight bag, strap on the helmet and zip up the riding suit – ‘cause we are way outta here! The Hartness House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in the early 1900s by James Hartness. Hartness was an American inventor, a brilliant engineer and an entrepreneur who mentored other inventors to develop their skills in his precision machine factory. He also was an avid astronomer who fostered the construction of telescopes by amateurs in his town, an early aviator who built one of Vermont’s first airports and, not having done enough in his life, was also the 58th governor of the state of Vermont. The famed telescope maker Russel Porter was a student and friend of Hartness and the two did wondrous things together. Russell Porter founded the Springfield Telescope Makers. Earlier, he was navigator on several arctic expeditions, and then spent time founding an artist colony in Port Clyde, Maine. Later, he was recruited by Hale and joined the 200-inch telescope project at Palomar. Yes, this area has remarkable history – but the house is in a class by itself. The Hartness House Inn was built by James and Lena Hartness in 1904. During their time in the home they hosted many influential guests including Charles Lindbergh.
In 2015 the Inn was purchased by new owners who set about returning the Hartness House to its former glory and made additions as well. Today the property offers 40 guest rooms, located in the main house and annex, and sits on 35 stunning acres above the town of Springfield. The truth is we came to see the Hartness - Porter Museum of Amateur Telescope Making, but were swept up in the beauty and class that this inn exudes. Chef Nicholas Matush was kind enough to spend a bit of time with us and gave our group the grand tour of the museum, found at the end of a 250 foot