The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, August 2, 1889 Not So Bad After All. 8/2/1889 [From the West Randolph HERALD] Much is said about the deserted farms in Vermont. We don't believe there are many deserted farms in Vermont. There are places where homes once stood and only a mound or a cellar remains. But the farms are there and somebody occupies them. The houses first built decayed or burned up. Newcomers preferred to live in some village and either carry on the farm from a distance or rent it to occupants of adjacent farms, or have sold it by piecemeal. Let any innocent, unsuspecting "feller" come along and squat down on one of these farms, and he would soon receive notice to "move on." Highways have changed and several things have happened to effect the external appearance of old homesteads, but they have not been abandoned. They offer excellent pasturage, or timber for another generation is growing upon them. We are bad enough off in this state but not so bad as some think, for the state is small. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT