BY ANITA RAFAEL
visit Newfane
T
he elevation at the point at which VT Route
30, the road from Brattleboro to Manchester,
bisects the village green in the Town of
Newfane is 1,000 feet above sea-level—it is a slow
and steady climb up into the ski country of the Green
Mountains! Newfane is as old as Vermont, settled eight
years before the town was officially organized. The
early residents were farmers, pioneers really, on rugged
terrain that the Reverend Timothy Dwight IV (1752–
1817) described as “uneven” in the diaries he kept during
his famous journeys through New England. Off the main
road, up in those “uneven” hills, are two more villages
that are part of the Town of Newfane: Williamsville and
South Newfane.
Vacationers who spend a week in town can have the
pleasure of eating at all of Newfane’s restaurants. Rick’s
Tavern has been a hangout, as the expression goes,
for generations. When there is a fish fry dinner on a
Friday night, show up hungry. Rick’s is as laid-back as
it gets, and ideal for family dinners. Fat Crow opened
last season, after a fire destroyed the popular Newfane
Café & Creamery at that same site. Here, the décor and
ambience are the stunners, featuring the inspired work
of the virtuoso metal artist Johnny Swing. A hint!
Seating is limited so plan accordingly. Four Columns is
the gorgeous Greek revival-style inn on West Street, and
the dining room at the inn’s Artisan Restaurant, Tavern
and Garden draws a melting pot of locals, second-
homeowners, and visitors. It has become incredibly
popular in the past few months, thanks to Chef de
Cuisine Erin Bevan, who came to Newfane after a time
40 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine.com
Newfane is as old as
Vermont, settled
eight years before
the town was
officially organized
In the foyer at Four Columns, a Newfane mural by
Lisa Adams.