Wicked Curious Radio With Roxie Zwicker - Haunts and Hidden History of Waterbury, Vermont

Send us Fan MailDeep in the forests of Waterbury, Vermont, the remains of a forgotten community are quietly being reclaimed by nature. In this episode, we explore Ricker Basin and Kelty Corners, two interconnected nineteenth-century hill-farming settlements that once stretched across thousands of acres and were home to roughly 50 families.We’ll uncover the story of the hardy settlers who carved farms from the rocky Vermont hillsides, built schools, operated sawmills, raised families, and created a thriving community in what now feels like wilderness. We’ll also explore why the settlement gradually disappeared—including the challenges of farming, the devastating 1927 flood, and the construction of the Waterbury Dam, which ultimately submerged portions of the old community.But the story doesn’t end there.Today, hikers can follow old settlement roads through Little River State Park, discovering cellar holes, stone foundations, the Ricker Cemetery, the remains of the Waterbury Last Block Company sawmill, and the remarkable Almeron Goodell farmhouse. Nearby, the ruins of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp tell another chapter in the area’s history.Plus, discover a wonderful inn, where the spirits have been looking over their guests for almost 200 years. It’s a fascinating journey into a Vermont - where the may seem distant—but the stories haven’t disappeared.Support the show