Westford: Chittenden County's Northeast Kingdomn
by Emily Stone

Westford may sit in the state's most populous county, but you would never know it from driving along its miles of dirt roads or talking to residents who cherish the small-town feel of their rural community. Westford's approximately 1,900 residents live in 24,768 acres, tucked into the northeast corner of Chittenden County. Most of the houses sit on large tracts of land, many with views of Mount Mansfield or the Browns River, which snakes through town. But the town is not isolated: it borders Essex and Fairfax, and Burlington and St. Albans are only about half an hour away. "It's a good community of friends," said 10-year resident John Doane. "We're interested in active life and enjoying where we're living." One of the focal points of community life is the town Common. The 2.5-acre green was a gift to the town from the estate of Elizabeth Camp in 1819. Today there is a large gazebo with picnic tables where people meet for lunch on nice days and a small playground for kids. In the summer there are a number of events on the green, including an outdoor concert series, farmers markets and a Fourth of July celebration. The town offices and library sit on the north side of the commons. The 104-year-old library is open four days a week and hosts many programs, including book discussion groups for both children and adults. The town's one active church, the United Church of Westford, sits on the west end of the commons. On the opposite end is the old Baptist Church, which is now known as the Brick Meeting House.The church was built in 1822 and had major renovations done in both the mid 1800s and just after the turn of the century. However, when the town's Baptists, Methodists and Congre-gationalists joined together in the 1930s, the church stopped being used for services. An effort is underway now to renovate the building to be used as a public meeting and performance space. While it has been used for community suppers or scout meetings for years, the goal is to create a nicer, more modern space with a new kitchen, and upgraded heating and plumbing systems. There will also be some office space added that different town clubs and organizations will share. A group of residents has been working on the project for about a year and has raised nearly $50,000. They hope to have the first phase of renovations done this fall. Besides the town Common, the other major focal point in town is the Westford School. The school serves about 350 kindergarten through eighth graders, and then students are free to choose what high school they want to attend . Residents pride themselves on the high level of community involvement in the Westford School. For example, there is a parent-lead fundraising effort underway to build a new playground, and some parents volunteer to help teach math classes. The small school also means that there are relatively small classes, usually about 20 students each. Many parents like the idea of having the broad range of kids all in one building, because it fosters relationships between older and younger kids. Community involvement extends past the school as well. A few years ago, a group of residents volunteered to start a town recreation department. Their programs for children and adults have become very popular. They include youth soccer, Tae Kwon Do, yoga and adult basketball and volleyball. Another source of civic pride is the town's 158-year-old covered bridge. By 1987 the bridge needed to be repaired and the Westford Historical Society took on the job. The bridge will soon be restored to its original site on the historic Cambridge Road near the center of town. Aside from a number of home businesses, there is little commercial activity in town. The town was originally made up predominantly of farmers, but only six active dairy farms remain. However, the town still maintains its rural feel, in part because the majority of the land is zoned for 10-acre lots. Residents appreciate the open spaces, and many can be seen going for a morning stroll or a horseback ride along the back roads. Suzanne Kearns, who owns the Westford Market on the Common with her husband, has lived in Westford all her life. One of her favorite things about the town, she said, is driving back at night from Burlington and seeing the light on in the gazebo on the green. "It's a wonderful feeling to drive back into town," she said. "You know you're home."

Westford maintains its rural feel, partly due to the majority of its land being zoned in 10-acre lots. This statue commemorating civil war soldiers stands in the town common. The land was gifted to the town in 1819. Westford School serves about 350 children, grades K-8. Highschool students have a choice of which area highschool they wish to attend. Horses are a common sight in Westford's rural countryside Westford's Common is a focal point of the town, with a small playground, gazebo, & picnic tables. Summer concerts, farmers markets and other events make good use of the town's center.