Bayley Hazen Farm is in Greensboro, Vermont near Caspian Lake, along the historic Bayley-Hazen Road, near groomed nordic trails, pristine streams and rivers, and wildlife corridors.
The Bayley Hazen Road: A Story of Ambition, Hardship, and Lasting Legacy
The story of the Bayley Hazen Road begins not with a single journey, but with a grand vision born from the crucible of conflict. During the French and Indian Wars, the need for efficient military transport between southern New England and the contested territories of Canada became painfully clear. This need resurfaced with even greater urgency during the American Revolution, as the fledgling colonies fought for their independence.
Colonel Jacob Bayley, a man of foresight and determination, saw a strategic advantage in a direct route north. In 1776, he embarked on an ambitious project: the construction of a road that would cut through the wilderness, forging a path to Canada. He entrusted the surveying of this crucial route to James Whitelaw, a man already familiar with the rugged terrain of northern Vermont. With a team of laborers, Bayley began carving a road through the dense forests, a task fraught with challenges.
However, the fortunes of war are fickle. Military setbacks and the looming threat of British forces utilizing the road for their own purposes forced General Washington to order a halt to the project. Bayley’s dream was temporarily put on hold.
But the vision refused to die. In 1779, with renewed plans for a Canadian campaign, General Moses Hazen took up the mantle.1 He pushed the road further north, establishing fortified blockhouses at strategic points, including one overlooking the serene waters of Caspian Lake in Greensboro.2 These blockhouses offered not only defense but also served as vital supply depots for the troops.
The road’s path through Greensboro tells a story of its own. It likely deviated slightly from the present-day route along Caspian Lake, where a granite marker now stands as a silent sentinel, commemorating the blockhouse that once stood guard. From there, the road embarked on a more arduous journey, heading towards Mount Sarah, a significant landmark in the landscape. It snaked through treacherous marshlands at the base of the mountain and then began its ascent of the steep western slopes, a grueling passage for both men and wagons. This section of the road would have presented a formidable obstacle, requiring considerable effort to traverse.
Descending from Mount Sarah, the road passed through what is now the Bayley Hazen Farm. Here, a poignant reminder of the past remains: a historic cellar hole, nestled very close to both the historic road and present-day Craftsbury Road. This simple depression in the earth speaks volumes about the early settlers who braved the wilderness, carving out a life along this vital artery. It offers a tangible connection to their struggles and their reliance on the road for survival and connection to the wider world. The location of the cellar hole, so near both the original route and the modern road, underscores the enduring presence of the Bayley Hazen Road on the landscape.
From the Bayley Hazen Farm, the road continued its course to the Hazen Road Schoolhouse, a testament to the road’s enduring impact on the community’s development. It then pressed onward to the Cate farm on Cate Hill, before entering a particularly challenging section that led towards Craftsbury. A map at the East Craftsbury library marks a cellar hole, the site of an early log cabin, further tracing the road’s path.
The road also bears witness to tragedy. In 1781, during a period of heightened tension and conflict along the unfinished road, two scouts, Constant Bliss and Moses Sleeper, were ambushed and killed by Native Americans outside the Greensboro blockhouse.3 This event serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers faced by those who traveled and settled in this frontier region. It underscores the precarious situation of the early settlers and the ever-present threat of conflict during the Revolutionary War.
The Bayley Hazen Road’s origins are deeply intertwined with the American Revolution and the strategic need for improved supply lines and potential invasion routes into British-held Canada. As detailed by sources like Wikipedia and the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA), the road was conceived during the ill-fated 1775-1776 campaign by Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery to capture Quebec. Recognizing the crucial need for reinforcements and supplies, Jacob Bayley, head of the frontier militia in Newbury, Vermont, repeatedly urged General George Washington to authorize the construction of a new, shorter route.4
Despite the risk of the road being used by British forces for a counter-invasion, Washington, recognizing the desperate situation at Quebec, approved the project on April 29, 1776.5 This decision highlights the strategic importance placed on the road despite the inherent risks. The road was intended to connect Newbury, Vermont, to St. John’s, Quebec, near Montreal, a distance significantly shorter than existing routes.6
The road is named for its primary proponents, Jacob Bayley and Moses Hazen, both prominent figures in the early settlements of Newbury and Haverhill, New Hampshire.7 Hazen also had property interests near St. John’s. The concept of the road featured prominently in proposals, primarily from Hazen to Washington and the Second Continental Congress, for further invasions of Quebec after the failure of the 1775 invasion.8
While the initial construction, overseen by Bayley, began in 1776, it was Moses Hazen who, in the spring of 1779, was directed by Washington to resume work.9 Hazen’s regiment, along with Colonel Timothy Bedel’s, labored throughout the summer of 1779, extending the road through present-day Cabot, Walden, Hardwick, Greensboro, Craftsbury, Albany, and Lowell. Blockhouses were strategically placed along the route at locations like Peacham, Cabot, Walden, and Greensboro to provide protection and supply depots.10 However, construction was once again halted when the road reached what is now known as Hazen’s Notch in Westfield, due to rumors of approaching British forces. Only 54 miles (87 km) of the planned route, running from Newbury to Hazen’s Notch, were completed.
Today, portions of the Bayley Hazen Road’s original route are still used by modern roads, a testament to the enduring impact of this ambitious project. Traced and marked during the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, the road serves as a tangible link to the past, reminding us of the human ambition, resilience, and the hardships faced by those who shaped this region. The small dotted line on maps, like the one showing its passage through the Bayley Hazen Farm near the Stone Hill House, helps us visualize the original route and its connection to the present landscape.
More History
The road also bears witness to tragedy. In 1781, two scouts, Constant Bliss and Moses Sleeper, fell victim to a Native American ambush outside the Greensboro blockhouse, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in the wilderness.
Today, the Bayley Hazen Road stands as a testament to human ambition, resilience, and the enduring power of history. Traced and marked during the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, it invites us to walk in the footsteps of those who came before, to imagine their struggles and triumphs, and to appreciate the lasting legacy of a road that helped shape a region.From Wikipedia: “The Bayley–Hazen Military Road was a military road that was originally planned to run from Newbury, Vermont, to St. John’s, Quebec, not far from Montreal. 54 miles (87 km), running from Newbury to Hazen’s Notch near the Canada–United States border, were constructed between 1776 and 1779 during the American Revolutionary War. Portions of the road’s route are used by modern roads today.
The road is named for the principal proponents of its construction. Jacob Bayley and Moses Hazen were among the founders of Newbury and nearby Haverhill, New Hampshire, and Hazen also had property interests at St. John’s. The idea for the road featured prominently in several proposals (promoted primarily by Hazen to George Washington and the Second Continental Congress) for invasions of Quebec by Continental Army forces following the failed 1775 invasion.”
The small dotted line on this map represents the original route of the Bayley Hazen Road. The red arrow is the location of the Stone Hill House and Bayley Hazen Farm.
“The history of the Bayley-Hazen Military Road begins with the ill-starred campaign of 1775-1776 during which Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery attempted to capture Canada. The American army urgently needed reinforcements and supplies to continue the siege of Quebec, and Bayley, head of the frontier militia and a resident of Newbury, Vermont, repeatedly wrote to General George Washington urging upon him the importance of constructing a new road that would shorten existing supply routes. Washington, determined to act without the approval of Congress, approved construction of the road on April 29, 1776 aware of the critical situation at Quebec, but equally aware that a road to Canada could just as easily facilitate an attack of British troops from the north.” – Source NVDA (Northeastern Vermont Development Association)
“Moses Hazen, then colonel in the Continental Army, was directed by Washington in the spring of 1779 to renew construction of the road. His regiment and that of Colonel Timothy Bedel worked on the road throughout the summer of 1779, extending it through the present-day communities of Cabot, Walden, Hardwick, Greensboro, Craftsbury, Albany, and Lowell. Blockhouses were also constructed along the route, at Peacham, Cabot, Walden, and Greensboro. Work was abandoned when the road reached the place now known as Hazens Notch in Westfield, again on rumors that the British were sending a force to stop the construction work.” – Source Wikipedia
Learn more about the Bayley Hazen Road here: Cross Vermont (Northeastern Vermont Development Association) and Wikipedia.
Lidar Maps
Our consulting forester kindly shared these maps which reveal some potential paths for the original road.